Today I have houses on the mind because yesterday, I closed on my very first apartment! Yes, my husband and I are now Brooklyn homeowners and I’m giddy, exhausted, elated, and yes, a little nervous. But mostly elated.

My sister and I had a few dollhouse incarnations as kids (including the Glamour Gals cruise ship that we loved), and we were very fastidious about our decorating choices. Ok, not much decorating happened on the Lido deck, but our next project was a dollhouse taller than we were—a Doll-Mansion, I’d say. My most distinct memory was hanging a locket-size photo of our Uncle Dore on the living room wall.

So as I begin to dream about decorating plans for my real-life home, I’d like to take a look at where the dollhouse has gone in the last twenty years. (My skills would be so refined if I’d had any of these!)

I saw the Emerson house by Brinca Dada at Toy Fair this year. Ridiculously amazing. Really. It even has sliding glass doors, 2 fireplaces, and solar panels. It’s so 2010. Check out their mini-furniture too.

This fold-able dollhouse from Ferm Living is totally the opposite. It’s design is super-simple yet full of imagination and possibility. Found via Decor8.

Here’s minimal for you. This clean shape designed by Eva Shildt for Playsam is soft, yet modern. For the simple child. Found via Minor Details.

I’ve felt very inspired lately by circus iconography…the striped canvas tents, the food-on-a-stick cuisine, the here today, gone tomorrow transience of it all. Here are some lovely finds that have contributed to these recent daydreams…

Super-fun circus tent ring found on Handmade Charlotte. (From Old Gold Boutique via Eat Drink Chic—a new blog for me that I cannot wait to explore!)

Sometimes getting the Anthropologie catalog is better than getting a real magazine. I’m duly impressed by this art direction and this woman’s balancing act.

  

  

  

And lastly, I simply can’t get enough of stationer Eunice Moyle’s whimsical wedding featured in Martha Stewart. She is from Hello, Lucky! and spared no creative moment on her wedding. Simply outstanding! Found via You are my fave and Inchmark.

 

Okay, really, it’s seriously time for warm slippers. It was the rainiest, most abusively awful New York weather this weekend, causing me to arrive home after every outing (and unfortunately, I had many required ones this weekend) with sopping wet shoes and a broken spirit. Yes, it was that bad.

So it really, really made me want a fresh pair of slippers to, er, slip in to. I found these Collégien knitted ones a few weeks ago on LMNOP, and then saw them again today. No joke, there are over 100 patterns and you can get them in both kid and adult sizes. They are machine washable and have a non-slip, aerated sole. If you know where to buy them in the States, please let me know!

P.S…Here is a classic scene that all New Yorkers will recognize: the umbrella graveyard on the street corner. How many did you lose this weekend?

There is so much potential here. Stamps, stencils, and stickers…mix and match them to make fun note cards, stationery, or invitations. Seriously, you could be 5 or 95.

Awesome Cityscape Stamp Set from Yellow Owl Workshop

Facebox Stencil Set from Shop at Moxie.

 

Paperdoll stickers from Korea, found at Nothing Elegant.

Just when I think I’m over them, I come across a reinvention of this classic that slays me. So this post just had to be done. No matter how over silhouettes you may think you are, prepare to get back in…

This brilliant wall installation is by Color Me Katie. Found via A Little Sussy.

I love the playfulness of pattern here. Found on Art that Fits.

Brooke from Inchmark announced her pregnancy with this thoughtful, beautifully made family tree for her parents. She very cleverly added a third child in her lineage.

DIY His and Hers pillow shams, found on Apartment Therapy.

Silhouette cookies from Martha Stewart. Cookie cutters made by Victor Trading Company. Found via Ohdeedoh.

Two in a row from Martha, but I couldn’t resist this amazing Halloween decoration. I mean come on!