Scheming: My Spring Inspired Living Room

Find Spring Inspired Home Furnishings At Wayfair

When Wayfair asked me to create a post touting spring style, the sun was streaming through the bay windows in the living room, and I had just received the new May issue of HGTV Magazine which happens to feature our Boston condo. My favorite photograph is the one of our living room. It looks so bright, cheerful, and well, spring-like. So yes, this post is about my spring inspired living room.

Our walls have always been a spring-y shade of green. We first used this color in our dining room in Chevy Chase, and the first thing we did when we moved to Boston was paint our living room a similar shade. We’ve been here 13 years and I haven’t tired of it. And given that my office is in here, I spend a lot of time in it. That it is spring inspired space is important to me. It lifts my mood, especially during the long, gray Boston winters.

StyleCarrot's Art Filled Living Room In HGTV MagazinePhoto by Annie Schlechter  |  Styling by Elizabeth Demos

The plush, sculptural rug by Angela Adams grounds the space (we are blessed with high ceilings) and renders a lush, garden feel. The sofa is ivory, as is the woodwork; the  pillows, books, accessories, and artwork add the color. Yes, I realize the palette is somewhat limited. Flowers and planters add an occasional jolt. I don’t really subscribe to the idea that the room needs a spot of a complementary red. It’s more of a busy monochromatic effect.

Rather than start from scratch creating a spring inspired space for this post, I decided to be (I hope not too obnoxiously) self-referential and create a scheme that echoes the look and feel of my living room. And now that I have a professionally styled and photographed image, life is grand.

Finding similar pieces on Wayfair to create this spring inspired space was simple, given its array of decor and styles. My son confirms that I did a really good job, especially with the rug. Here is my scheme that recreates our spring inspired living room using items sourced on Wayfair. (Links below or in Spring Inspired Style Idea Book on Wayfair.)

G E T  the  L O O K 

StyleCarrot's Living Room As Seen In HGTV Recreated With Wayfair Products

S H O P P I N G 

1 Parvez Taj Canvas Landscape Print

2 DwellStudio Indigo Arches Artwork

3 Gustav Klimt Female Nude Print

4 Jonathan Adler Brass Table Lamp

5 Cast Iron Modern Bird Candlestick

6 Brass Candlesticks

7 Cactus in Cement Planter

8 Blu Dot Strut Table

9 Jonathan Adler Tufted Sofa

10 Aqua Bloom Water Blends Rug

11 Pineapple Throw Pillow

12 Round Coffee Table

13 Faux Cactus Plant

14 Copper Geo Tray

15 Angela Adams Soy Candle

16 Iittala Nappula Candlestick

17 Jonathan Adler Upholstered Bench

18 Modern Sideboard

19 Copper Shaker

20 Martini Glasses

21 Serving Tray

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Chocolate Desserts to Order Online

I’ve been on a bit of a diet of late, but if I weren’t, I would be really, really happy if my UPS or FedEx guy buzzed with any of these chocolate desserts in hand for me. (Is it any wonder I need to cut back my calories?) Let’s discuss the best chocolate desserts to order online.

No, I’ve not been satisfying cravings by fantasizing over photographs. In an effort to be more frugal (how conscientious, saving calories and dollars), I was clicking through to some online coupon sites for promo codes and was distracted by a free shipping offer for Harry & David on Frugga. (While you can order some crazy amazing food online, sometimes shipping can be pricey.)

It turns out Harry & David is so much more than fruit. They’ll ship you full-on Cheesecake Factory confections. Or just go with chocolate covered strawberries, Hailing from New York I’m a longtime fan of Dean & Deluca which not only has delicious food, but gorgeous presentation. Chocolate and salted caramel layer cake anyone? If your mom’s palette is stuck in tweendom, go for chocolate covered Oreos from Neiman Marcus.

I also recommend the honey sweetened, chocolate dipped marshmallows from Boston maker Apotheker’s Kitchen, which I discovered at the Eat Boutique holiday pop up. And let’s not forget another Boston area favorite, Dancing Deer. (Remember when they invited me on a factory tour?) I often send my own mother Dancing Deer brownie snacks.

One of the best gifts I get during the holidays are the chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered graham crackers that Matouk sends as a thank you. But I can’t remember where they come from. (Note to self: Find out!)

Here are 7 of the best chocolate desserts to order online for Mother’s Day, or any time really.

Best Chocolate Desserts To Order Online For Mother's Day

S H O P P I N G 

1 Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel

2 Chocolate Covered Strawberries

3 Parallel Chocolate Bar Set

4 Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

5 Crispy Chocolate Pearls

6 Chocolate Covered Oreos

7 Dancing Deer Chocolate Chunk Brownies

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ARTmonday: Cactus Paintings

Before we get to the cactus paintings, I want to tell you a little cactus story.

Last summer I was surprised to find cacti growing in the sand along the parking spaces at a small beach in Truro on the Cape. It looked as though  someone planted them on a retaining wall, and they spread to the ground, or rather, the beach. I can’t believe I never noticed them before. Could they all have grown over a single year?

They were quite rugged; pale green with short but very coarse and sharp spines. I had to have one. It was a lot more difficult to pull it up than I thought, and I was treated to lots of little prickly stuff in my fingers. (Because I’m not careful like that.) I brought a little one home, stuck it in a small pot with some sandy dirt, and left it on the porch.

A few months ago my husband was out there and brought it home, thinking winter would surely not serve this cactus well. (I will be curious to see how all the cacti in the parking lot look this summer.) We put it in a sunny spot on the back windowsill, and while the original plant didn’t look very healthy, it sprouted.

The new growth is green and very tall; three times the size of the original plant. I replanted it in store-bought cactus/succulent soil in a larger pot. If the cleaning people would stop watering it, I suspect it will grow to be very strong. (It’s currently kind of droopy, with a chopstick holding it up.) I’m kind of amazed. Nature.

Cape Cod Cactus In StyleCarrot's Living Room

Cape cactus.

Here are cactus paintings, mostly still lifes.

Abstract Cactus Landscape Painting

King Harvest Has Surely Come, Gareth Kemp

Cactus Terrarium Illustration

Crystal Cactus, Cactus Club 

Geometric Cactus Illustration Print On Etsy

Geometric Cactus, Exile Printed

Cactus In Pink Pot Still Life Painting Affordable Artwork

Cactus, Grace

Illustration Of Assorted Cactus Plants In Pots

Curious Cacti, Sarah Walsh 

Illustration of Cactus In Striped Geometric Pot

Cactus, Elisabeth Fredriksson

Oversize Cactus Painting

Cactus, Tadija Janicic 

Affordable Artwork Of Retro Cactus Still LIfe

Retro Cactus, Cool Hang

Get the Look: 56 Upholstered Benches

Although our master bath is the least pleasant room in our condo, we’ve ignored it for whole time we’ve lived here. Bathroom renovations, as you know, are expensive. Instead, a few years ago we opted to reconfigure our main living space, turning the open playroom into a family room with large glass French doors to block sound, creating a proper entry and huge coat closet, adding a banquette for dining, and relocating my desk to the other side for privacy and peace.

Well, now we are finally taking on the master bathroom. We don’t have proper plans yet, but the idea is to absorb some of our long, unused hallway and decrease the actual bedroom size in order to make a large bathroom with a large bathtub. Plus a decent closet for me. (My husband has the walk-in and my stuff is scattered here and there. )

Probably we will have to lose the white cotton duck sofa that currently sits at the foot of our bed. We don’t really use it much, mostly it was so our son could sneak in at night and sleep there without disturbing us by climbing into the bed. But given that he’s 14 and 5’11” that’s no longer an issue. Probably we will replace it with an upholstered bench.

Here are 56 upholstered bench styles perfect for the bedroom or entryway. Yes, I got carried away, but this should ensure that both you and I find the upholstered bench we need.

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Bedroom

1 Jonathan Alder Double X-Bench  

2 Florence Knoll Two-Seater Bench

3 Blu Dot Bank Bench 

4 Jonathan Adler Mongolian Lamb Bench 

5 Jennifer Taylor Upholstered Bench

6 Indo Indigo Storage Bench

7 Arteriors Rayburn Black Suede & Stainless Bench

•      •     •

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Bedroom

8 Noguchi Free Form Ottoman

9 Silvestre Metal Entryway Bench  

10 Double Bench

11 Jonathan Alder Chippendale Bench 

12 Moller Model 63A Bench

13 Buffalo Check Double X Bench

14 West Elm Upholstered Storage Bench

•      •     •

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Living Room

15 Jonathan Alder Mongolian Lamb Bench 

16 Blue Ikat Upholstered Napier Bench

17 Jonathan Alder Mongolian Lamb Bench

18 Jonathan Alder Mongolian Lamb Bench

19 Royal Blue Tufted Splendor Storage Bench

20 Canopy Stripe Double X Bench with Nailheads

21 Lucia Bench

•      •     •

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Living Room

22 Hot Pink Velvet Edlyn Bench

23 Folio Bonded Leather Bench 

24 Mid-Century Blue Linen Upholstered Bench

25 Cisco Brothers Tufted Bench

26 Cisco Brothers Grill Bench

27 Calypsa Upholstered Hairpin Bench

28 Dauphin Bobo Bench

29 DwellStudio Harper Waterfall Bench

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Modern Upholstered Benches For The Bedroom

30 Mitchell Gold Mosaic Leather Bench

31 Duxbury Bench  

32 Reynolds Cheetah Bench with Pewter Nailheads

33 Jonathan Adler Jacques Bench 

34 Safavieh Champagne Velvet Bench

35 Mitchell Gold Cowhide Bench

36 Cisco Brothers Kilim Upholstered Bench

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Modern Upholstered Benches For The Bedroom

37 Nala Upholstered Bench In Turquoise Print

38 Coalesse Millbrae Green Upholstered Bench

39 Tufted Linen and Metal Bench

40 Cavett Leather Bench

41 Safavieh Hampton Pillowtop Bench 

42 Serena & Lily Bruno Bench 

43 Tropical Palm Print Storage Bench

•      •     •

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Entry

44 Antonia Tufted Mid-Century Bench  

45 Jasmine Storage Bench

46 Miami White Faux Leather Bench

47 Cavett Walnut Bench With Woven Upholstery

48 Ashley Goldberg Abstract Print Bench

49 Safavieh Levi Hot Pink Upholstered Bench  

50 Redford House Bench With Shelf

•      •     •

Modern Upholstered Benches For The Entry

51 Chloe Kilim Bench  

52 Graphite Velvet Taylor Bench with Bolsters

53 Mustard Tweed Mid-Century Modern Bench 

54 Rowan Upholstered Bench  

55 Corrado Bench 

56 Vioski Metro Bench 

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