Spring Flowers

Spring has sprung and I'm literally giddy with delight. After a thorough cleaning of my home (which coincided nicely with my annual tax time procrastination) I desperately wanted to bring the season indoors with some fresh flowers. I love the creative process of arranging flowers because you get to play with so many design elements—texture, color, proportions and shape. The overall aesthetic is up to the creator and you can take risks knowing that it will always be inherently beautiful. Flowers, to me, are decadent necessities; they brighten my home and my mood.

I adore simple arrangements of just one type of flower, like these amazing tulips from the Union Square Green Market. When you bring your tulips home, wrap the stems in parchment paper (if they're not already) and secure with a rubber band. Give the bottoms a fresh cut and let them sit in a vase of cold water for a few hours, which will toughen up the stems and hopefully prevent them from drooping.

These antique hydrangea make a statement and I especially love the unexpected whimsy of the viburnum, whose daintier heads pop up above the regal crowd. As much as I cherish hydrangea, they're high maintenance (a character flaw I put up with because they're so gorgeous). After giving them a fresh cut, take your scissors and cut the bottom inch of the stem in half and then into quarters (making an "x"). Put them in hot water from your tap. If they start to wilt, you can repeat the process and then spritz the heads with cold water.

I made this pretty pink bouquet of peonies and ranunculus to try and keep my spirits up in the midst of preparing my taxes. They sat on my desk, whispering sweet words of encouragement when I wanted to curl into the fetal position. Who knew a little floral pick-me-up could save me from such loathsome intensity?

The most important thing to remember about arranging flowers is that no matter how they turn out, you'll soften just a little bit every time you look at your creation. Flowers are a reminder that beauty can be found in ordinary things. Sometimes it's the simplest moments of appreciation that can change the way we look at our experience.

Orange Spice Aromatherapy

It's getting chilly outside and my apartment windows are sadly more closed than open these days. Trading a fresh breeze for some warmth, my home starts to smell stale, what with the remnants of last night's dinner or the perfume of my beloved dog lingering in the air.

My remedy? A pot of boiling water simmering on the stove, filled with the peel of one orange, 1 t cinnamon, and a small handful of cloves. Your house will smell like a magical holiday wonderland. Staying toasty indoors has never smelled so good.

Springspiration

While Spring has decided to hold out on us a little while longer, I've taken matters into my own hands with some "springspiration" for my home. Sure, it may be snowing outside, but the season is alive and well inside my apartment. Here are a few simple ideas to brighten up your space.

The easiest way to capture the essence of Spring is to bring nature indoors. Fresh flowers arranged in large, wild bunches add a bit of unkempt beauty to an otherwise ordinary table or countertop. I love the gorgeous Garden Roses below (and they smell outrageous). The bowl of lemons in an old ironstone bowl add color to my black side table.

These huge pink branches make a statement and yet feel natural, as if they're growing in my apartment.

It's time to put away the wool throws and the dark, heavy fabrics in favor of fresh patterns and textures. My favorite design is Ikat—which has been a popular trend for the past few years—because it really pops against a neutral palette. I have a blue Ikat pillow on my couch that always feels new. No matter where I put it, it brightens up the room.

You can utilize color in simple ways without having to commit to a complete overhaul of your home. Choose "goes with everything" colors like red or cobalt blue (which is the color of this season, both in fashion and interior design). My red French apron hangs in my kitchen and has become part of the decor. I use the old, red-striped tea towel everyday.

I bought the blue chair from a friend years ago and I think it works well juxtaposed with the browns and lucite. I love the mix of old and new.

The last idea just makes me so happy I could scream. I think one of the fastest ways to update your house for spring is to outfit your bed with crisp, white sheets. It's like diving into a clean, blank slate. You don't have to spend a lot of money; the sheets on my guest room bed are from Target. Of course there's always linen (by now you should know about my vintage linen obsession). Restoration Hardware has a a beautiful collection of Belgian linen bedding; I especially love the big linen duvet. An all-white bed is definitely my idea of heaven.

All of this to say, don't waste anymore time waiting for Spring to arrive. Take charge of your own personal indoor climate by bringing the fresh, light qualities of the season into your home. Maybe it will even inspire warmer weather and sunnier days!

Valentine's Day cards

Nothing says "I love you" more than a homemade card. I made a trip to Paper Presentation and found these great heart-shaped cards and just loved the colors. Then I walked across the street to Adorama and bought glassine envelopes used for photographs...there's something special about an envelope inside an envelope and I love that you can see through and get a peak at what's inside. A calligraphy marker creates a whimsical feel (you don't have to have the world's best handwriting to pull it off) and a love-inspired stamp ties it all together.