House Beautiful's Color Personality Test- Very Fun!

The September issue of House Beautiful revolves around how to "find your COLOR personality." Though there is no key to answering the quiz, you will see that when you are finished, you will have naturally gravitated towards one or two colors. At the end of the quiz, I'll list the colors and the personalities associated with each one.

My answers fell into the Red and Pink categories-And I would have to say, it's not too far off, though nutty isn't listed in either of these :)

RED: The most dominant personality. A visionary and risk taker: energetic, passionate, tenacious, flamboyant, and courageous.

ROSE: Main qualities are strength, love, and leadership. Turns visions into reality.

I have put down all my answers with pictures. Answer the questions yourself and see where you fall into the world of color personalities! The rest of the colors and their meanings are at the end. Enjoy!

1. What color do you see in the morning? The Rainbow

My bedding

2. What color are my eyes? Blue/ Green

3. What color do you wear the most? Black and a lot of color and pattern

4. What color do you never wear? White, I will inevitably get it dirty!

Don't see much white in that closet, do you?

5. What color do you wear when you want to feel sexy? Black or Red

Apparently I love Gweneth Paltrow's Style...
I have many pics of her through the years.

Stella McCartney dress to die for!

This is the epitome of my casual "sexy" style. I am all about denim!

My red patent leather shoes.

6. What color gets you the most compliments? Teal

I just wanted an excuse (it's a terrible pic of me) to put a pic of Penny in here....
I am wearing teal though!

7. What color is my lipstick? All different shades of Pink and Red

8. What color was your living room growing up? Dusty Blue, Ivory, and Peach

9. What color was your bedroom growing up? White and Blue and Pink flowers- you know the matching sheets, matching wall paper, matching border, matching valance....

10. What color are my sheets? White, but only because I wasn't in the mood to commit to a color yet, as I hadn't chosen my bedding yet!

11. What color was my favorite crayon growing up? Magenta

12. What color is my car? Silver Toyota, but I did at one time, drive a Burgundy mini van, a Teal Mazda, and a Purple Nissan.

Moved twice in this car, and especially wonderful for hauling
vintage finds and my pink beach cruiser!

13. What color was your prom dress? Red

Jeannie and I - Circa 1996

14. What's my favorite gemstone? Fancy Pink and Yellow diamonds

15. What is my favorite flower? Peonies

16. What color makes you happiest? Hot Pink

Featured in a an earlier blog

17. What color depresses me? Beige/ Taupe

I know many of you probably love this, but this is the saddest color combination.

I could never live without any color- House Beautiful

18. What color calms me? Birds Egg Blue

Aerin Lauder's Manhattan Apartment Dressing/ Sitting Room- Elle Decor
I aspire to have a sitting room like this one day... divine

19. What color makes me grind my teeth? Dijon Mustard Yellow

20. What color would you like to try, but are scared to? I don't fear color :)

Windsor Smith's Garden Room in her Los Angeles home- House Beautiful


Now see where you where your Color Personality falls!

1. Red: The most dominant personality. A visionary and risk-taker: energetic, passionate, tenacious, flamboyant, and courageous.

2. Orange: Balanced both mentally and physically. Happy, loyal, takes each day as it comes.

3. Yellow: Cheerful, charming, magnetic, intelligent, confident, and creative. Somewhat psychic, and enigmatic. A good leader and negotiator.

4. Green: The perfect balance between the physical and mental. Grounded, logical, not easily influenced, rarely judgmental. An intensely loyal friend — and has lots of them.

5. Blue: Optimistic, empathetic, flexible, idealistic, tranquil, patient, devoted. A natural mother.

6. Indigo: A brilliant old soul who is intuitive, sensitive, impulsive, curious, and ambitious, with a great lust for life.

7. Violet: Also an old soul. Intense, cerebral, wise, loving, generous, sentimental, and artistic.

8. Rose: Main qualities are strength, love, and leadership. Turns visions into realities.

9. Gold: Radiates love, joy, compassion, and understanding.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! Live big in color!

Cheers!

The Designista

Back tomorrow folks!

Hey Everyone! The last two days have proven to be very busy for me. But I promise, I'll be back tomorrow with some great new finds, gorgeous interiors, and random musings about myself! I will post some this weekend as well, so be sure to check in!

Love you guys! Make it a beautiful day!

Cheers,

The Designista

Rooftop Garden Party in the West Village

Summer finally arrived this week in New York. What better way to celebrate than having a party at my friend's grown up apartment in the West Village! They recently moved in, but have yet to host a party on their absolutely fabulous rooftop. Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we had a wonderful time!

As I mentioned in a previous post, the hosts asked we bring two of the following: "beer/ liquor/ flowers/ good attitudes." For this basic and slightly embarrassing arrangement, as I usually take much care in preparing my floral arrangements, I had to go on a last minute hunt. I mean, wouldn't you think that one of the biggest Kmarts in NYC would have vases? Apparently not. I told them I just couldn't believe that people who shop at Kmart don't buy flowers. This was just crazy. So I had to improvise.... I found tumblers that resembled small cylinder vases- Perfect! Now we could do six small little vases, instead of two large arrangements.

Obviously I was very proud of my little arrangements and how creative I was at problem solving! Check out the newly laid Astro Turf! Nice, right?

Dan and Heather were the lovely hosts. They always host the most amazing dinner parties. And Heather...... Wow what a cook! Look at the boutonniere on Dan's tank..... Remember last week, I posted about the "do-it-yourself" events at the Museum of Arts an Design? She made this there! Isn't that so fun?

Close up on Dan's pink crocheted boutonniere! Way to dress up the wife beater Dan!

I couldn't get this picture to turn out right, but these lanterns were a real hit at the party! I am so glad, too, because I got them for their housewarming gift. Dan and Heather found fallen branches on the street, dragged them home, hoisted them onto their roof and then stabilized them in two upright pipes. With the night breeze swaying the branches, the sound of moving leaves, the glowing lanterns hanging from the trees, and of course all of this with the back drop of NYC, a beautiful setting was created.

I bought them at Anthropologie. The first one, kept blowing out due to it's small size, but the latter two stayed lit the whole time. For those of you, who like to dine outside, I suggest buying these. They were great!

Moon Garden Votive, $4

Moon Garden Votive, Scallop- $12

Moon Garden Votive, Diamond- $6

Jeannie (my sister) came with me, even though she was exhausted from a crazy busy weekend. Thanks Jeannie! We certainly lived it up once we got there! Despite our exhaustion.

So on that note, I say goodnight and have a wonderful week! I hope your last month of summer is filled with many parties such as this one. And remember, even the slightest addition to a regular evening, such as florals and candles, can change the ambiance drastically, and with little effort.

Cheers!

The Designista

Wish List: Anthropologie Waterloo Bedding

I walked into Anthropologie yesterday to buy a candle and saw their new fall bedding collection, Waterloo. It is a beautiful quilted silk design of coral, ivory, navy blue, and golden yellow, with accents of sequins. I kept walking up to it, and rubbing my hands all over it. I would love to wake up in silk and sequins!

Waterloo Bedding Ensemble

Waterloo Euro Sham

Waterloo Quilted Coverlet

Next time you are in Anthropologie, check it out!

Cheers!

The Designista

The Life of a Single Girl Living in NYC......BUGS

One of the reasons I started my blog was to catalog my experiences here. Yes, mostly about interior design, but also to give examples of the random happenings that occur daily. This is one of those postings. Not one aspect of it is design related, but it will be a memory permanently stamped in my brain, forever.......While happening, we were not amused. But as the half-hour long event continued, we made light of the situation with sarcasm and laughter, mixed in with shrieks of horror.....

So I am laying in my bed, completely engrossed in the "Bella/ Edward" saga of Breaking Dawn, but starting to doze off, as this is my 24th day working strait. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something dark moving down my wall. Am I that tired I am seeing things? Was it my hair covering my eye? No.......... it was a 2" long cockroach moving down the wall towards the ground, where it would surely find a million places to hide in this tiny apartment filled with stuff.

What should I do? How will I get rid of it? I can't hit it, because my biggest fear is that it will jump on me and start to bite me and then I would probably die. But if I let it get to the floor, I won't be able to find it, and therefore will never be able to sleep..... again. So I did what any normal female does, and jump out of my covers, stand up on my bed in my underwear in front of two open windows and scream!!!!!!!!!!! Yelling for help. Were my roommates home? Who would help me? Panic sets in. The sweat starts to pour out of my pores, and I can feel the tears coming just as I hear my roommates coming to my rescue. At this point, the enormous bug had scurried off under my dresser, where Chloe (my cat,) had taken guard.

Liz walks in, ready to fight the beast with her American Flag Doc Martins, but we couldn't see it anymore. We were afraid it had gone into my closet. All I could think about was how I was going to get any sleep. WE HAD TO FIND IT! Thankfully, my roommates were as enthusiastic about that notion as I was. So, Megan laid on the ground with my desk lamp and started looking for it..... Ah Ha! It was posted on the leg of my dresser. At this point, and I am still in my underwear, we are prepared for war. What was the worst that could happen? It could go under my bed? No way.... not with the weaponry of a Doc Martin. As we pulled out the dresser, I backed up ready to jump on the bed again, Liz slammed her boot against the dresser leg, Megan screamed "NO," I started jumping up and down, saw it scurry from under the dresser, and Liz slammed the boot on the floor again. Megan is on my bed now as all mayhem has broken loose, and we are screaming as we realize the horror that now must take place. We have to go under my bed..... NOOOOOOOOO!!

I immediately yank all the bedding off for fear that bug will somehow find his way into my bed linens and hide there, forever, or at least until I wake up in the middle of the night with it on my face. My things are flying everywhere. Megan and I lift the mattresses and leave Liz to sift through my things, mainly boxes and bags, to see where it could be. Why we allowed the girl who failed twice at killing it to keep trying? I think because neither Megan nor I wanted the job. But it would have made sense to give the job to someone else, because as we lift another box, Liz yells, "it's right here," makes another two attempts and it is gone under the radiator..... ugh..... the mattresses came slamming down.

How are we going to get rid of this escape artist? Megan yells, "Hairspray!" I grabbed my bottle and we sprayed. It wriggled and escaped a bit longer, but we were on his tail, and hairspray combined with Windex is a death trap. He was squirming so much, we actually did get to use the Doc Martin, for final execution, but it was meant to put the guy out of his misery.

I laugh thinking about what my neighbors thought, if any of them saw or heard our behavior. It definitely would have been a show! Three crazy girls running, screaming, and jumping on the bed, while half dressed...... classic!

Besides the fact that I still feel like bugs are crawling on me, I think it is safe to say that I can go to sleep now. At least until I see the next big thing!

Cheers!

The Designista

Wish List: Skull Table Lamp

I have an obsession with skulls. It started when I got some Harley Davidson paraphernalia and now I am hooked. Can't get enough of the morbidly chic decor! Check out these AMAZING skull lamps from Blackman Cruz in Los Angeles. I LOVE THEM!

Comes in Bronze- $2400

Also comes in Nickel- $2700

Cheers!

The Designista

Shop Stop: B-4 it was Cool

89 East Houston, NYC, 10012

Remember my posting about the crazy off-the-wall street antique shop meets circus fair, Billy's Antiques and Props? This place, B-4 it was Cool, is on the other side of East Houston. Intrigued by places that have no signage, I crossed to other side to take a peak and see if this was a junk shop, or treasure shop. Interior design is subjective and what one may find fabulous the other may find horrific. I love salvaged pieces, so though most were items I would probably not use for projects, there were many interesting items that I could definitely place in specific interiors that called for the use of "industrial antiques"- mainly lighting.

Walking into the store, I was greeted by an extremely friendly gentlemen who actually offered to give me a back rub...(I had injured my back and had a slight limp, and yeah, it was as weird as it sounds) but I knew he meant nothing by it, and was quickly followed with a "I didn't mean that to sound the way it did. Sorry." And I...being the friendly girl I am, put his nervousness to rest with a smile and giggle, and ignored the comment. It makes me laugh thinking about it, even now!

Doesn't this look like a store front that should be in a small town in the south, not a busy street in Lower Manhattan? With the chipping white painted wall, the antique fan, and faded American flag blowing in the wind?

He showed me around the store and explained that most pieces are industrial items, meaning they weren't necessarily built for beauty, but rather for its actual purpose- providing light, a seat to sit on, a bench to work on, etc. But I have always found "old" and "unimportant" pieces to be so fun. I love to think of their history and who owned it, the life they had, where are they now. I am just sentimental I guess. As a little girl, I remember digging through remnants at Davis Lumber Co. (my families business and over 100 years old) and finding an old ink jar and a fountain pen. I was so excited about it, and actually kept it on my book shelf for many years.......

Most pieces are from the late 19th century to mid 20th century and have a price point ranging anywhere from $200 to $6000. Here are a few of my favorites.

These are flush mount ceiling fixtures with a faceted mirrored dome and exposed light bulbs.



Change the light bulb to a light bulb with an exposed filament and you have a modern industrial antique fixture.

I picture these kitchen lamps as perfect lights over an island in a huge farmhouse style home in the Hamptons, Nantucket, or somewhere in the Carolinas (I haven't been to any of those, but I sure picture it!) Perhaps even with a hint of a nautical theme, or maybe even Americana! That's for you mom!

These iron exterior wall lanterns were a pair and really beautiful and quite large- probably 36". These are perfect for flanking the entry doors of a home of Spanish or Mediterranean architecture.

Obviously, this is not American industrial, but there are a few items sporadically placed throughout the space, that the owner has collected through his antique travels.

As you walk down the tiny stairs into the basement, it feels like you are time-traveling into the workshop of a blacksmith in the early 1900's. You can't see it, but on the left there is a whole antique tool section.

I really love this piece and would have to say it is my favorite at approximately 48" diameter. I am not sure where this would be used, but its iron and wood workmanship is definitely something to admire.

Stop into this little shop on the corner and I know you will find something unique! And if not, raid your grandfather's garage. I bet there are tiny little treasures with great stories to be found.

Cheers!

The Designista