Reading Round-Up | September Edition

(image via: here.)

Lamp Lift | Poppytalk
Janis, from Pinecone Camp, shares her easy DIY instructions for creating a very lovely lamp shade.

Mini Makeover for my Home Office | Decorology
Using command adhesives to control electronics' cords and hang an inspiration board. Genius.

31 New Things: Eat Dinner in a Fancy Restaurant by Myself | Yes and Yes
Ever thought of going to dinner solo? This article shows you how to pull it off with confidence, poise, and glamor.

Fashion Challenge: Try Over-the-Knee Boots | College Fashion
I'm longing for a pair of black over-the-knee boots.

How Do I Make a Futon Work as a Bed? | Apartment Therapy, Chicago
Futons are a college staple. Read the comments for advice on making the futon comfy and easy on the eyes.

Article Index News

You can now browse select Lovely Undergrad articles by index. For now the index categories include:

♥Fashion & Beauty
♥Safety First
♥College Advice
♥Books, Movies, Music
♥Going Green
♥Friendships & Relationships
♥Do-It-Yourself Projects

Within the next few months, decor content will also be archived into index categories---though that will be a larger undertaking considering how much decor content is on this site! :)

You can find the indexes underneath the different label menus down the right side of this blog.

Little Package, Big Design

I adore this beautiful designed 1,000 sq. foot bungalow that belongs to designer and stylist Liz Carney. Liz works for a design/import firm called Euro Trash, which is pretty much my dream job. (I checked out the website and drooled over everything for sale there.) Liz's lovely small space was featured in Country Living magazine and I came across it via one of my favorite blogs Shelter. The style her place exudes is the style I aspire to emanate in my home one day. So let's break down just how much I love this space:

Well, I'm not a wine drinker... but I love the idea so much that I would love to copy it with empty bottles---although I'm sure that would be a pain to dust. :S What I really love about her dining room is the table. An old country dining table paired with mismatched but similar chairs is sooo chic. I really like the burlap seat on that white chair. Also... the big bust sculpture on the table practically has me swooning.

There's too much to love here! Where to start?! The beautiful moody "greige" wall color. The wooden floor painted white. Open shelving instead of cupboards. A gorgeous chandelier. A TURQUOISE fridge that exudes retro. Modern stools. Pretty pink flowers. Aaaand... a peacock on top of the fridge to top it all off. This gal is just fabulous.

She turned an empty bedroom into her own dressing room. I love the open racks and I could imagine myself very happily plopping down on that pink oversized ottoman to strap on some heels. And that red vanity to the right is to. die. for.

And now for the grand finale. Gray and pink are soul mates. Look at all the crisp, silky texture. Look at the sparkly chandelier. This room is so modern Marie Antoinette. So feminine. So perfect.

(All images were scanned by Shelter from Country Living, Oct 2010. Photographer: Bjorn Wallander.)

Inner Soundtrack

(image via: here.)

Do you have an inner soundtrack? I don't mean the music being blown in your ears by your iPod. I'm talking about the music you hear when there's no music playing at all, the songs that are stuck in your head as you walk to class or eat in the dining hall.

My inner soundtrack usually consisted of stuff from the Marie Antoinette soundtrack, showtunes from Wicked and Moulin Rouge, mellow acoustic songs, and the frequent Lady Gaga. But something happened over the weekend. My inner soundtrack has suddenly become, well... hip hop.

I'm not sure when it happened. Or how. Or where. But suddenly my brain is all:



But I can't say that I dislike it. ;)

End-to-End Beds

If you live in a dorm, this solution is ideal for you. Consider putting you and your roomie's beds end to end---you don't have to put your heads together when you sleep and you probably don't want to put someone's head by the other's feet... so feet to feet would be best. Or if you live by yourself in a single dorm that has two beds, this is an easy way to create a more uniform look.

Or you may find yourself living in an apartment but without a decent couch. If you can at least track down some twin beds (or maybe you have some) you can put them together, dress them properly, and end up having the comfiest hang-out on the block.

(All images from Apartment Therapy)

Images of Inspiration

above: Pink Wallpaper

Sometimes I end up with a few photos of rooms that I just love but have no place for. They're still super inspiring so I'm going to share them with you in a post all their own. I love the bedroom above for its mirror-finished bedside table, oh-so-comfy bed, and beyond-lovely window treatments. It makes me really want some shutters for my bedroom.

above: Design is Mine

Being the bibliophile that I am, how can I resist a room wallpapered in pages from vintage books? Dorm and apartment walls cannot be wallpapered, but I'm wondering if double-sided scrapbooking tape squares would help me to cover just one wall like this?

above: Simply Grove

A handsome corner. I love the masculinity of the chair, the antique gilt mirror, and the feminine green lamp. Oh, and those chevron-esque wooden floors are dandy, too.

above: Simply Grove

I'm not crazy about the chair or the flower paintings... but I love the long, low bookcase and ornate frames against all the white.

Pretty Organized

above: The Inspired Room

Yes, a room can be both organized and pretty. I'm scourging my town for a cabinet similar to the one above. I think it would be thee perfect addition to my apartment's living room---it'd be a fantastic place for my roomie and I to organize/store books, mail, magazines, and other odds and ends.

above: Decor Chick

Oh, what a glorious pantry!! I'm definitely taking notes and brainstorming ideas into making use of my little pantry.

above: Jeanne Winters

This amazing message/inspiration/bulletin board was made from a door!! Click here to find out how.

above: Year of Home and Health

And no organization round-up would be complete without a desk space. This one was specially designed for homework.

Fashion on Display as Decor

above: Apartment Therapy

Naturally, we can't all have our own luxurious chamber for dressing---furnished with exquisite chairs and daybeds, draped with lustrous silks, lined with pretty shoes, bursting with neatly arranged wardrobe pieces... all lit by a giant crystal chandelier. [sigh]

above: ...love Meagan

But if your apartment or dorm lacks a closet or ample closet space, displaying your clothes on a clothes rack is a fashionable option.

above: one haute mess

But it's important to know that a clothes rack out-in-the-open straddles a fine line between fabulous and hideous.

above: Belledame73

Keep your clothes tidy at all times. If you try something on and decide not to wear it, hang it back up. Don't throw it over the rack. A rack in the open is not like a closet. You can't just shut the door and hide the mess. Try to adapt a system like organizing the clothes by color, fabric, or type (shirt, skirt, dress, pants, so on). And invest in a set of uniform clothes hangers to pull it all together.

above: ooh_food

Integrate glitzy accessories. Put your favorite shoes and purses on display, too. Raid Hobby Lobby for sheets of fake silk to drape over furniture and hang from the windows. Hit up the antique store for an ornate mirror. And try your luck at vintage dealers for some furniture from a bygone era.

So glamorous.

Decor Muse: a Nursery?!

Okay... so it is kinda weird that I'm posting a baby nursery as inspiration for college dorm/apartment decor. Don't worry---there's no looming stork or anything. I just believe that you can find decor inspiration in a variety of places, including childrens' and babies' rooms. This is one of those rooms. I'm in love with it in all its white and turquoise glory.

Vintage dresser: check. Elegant lamp: check. Pretty pale blue and turquoise poms: check check check and check.

This armoire is p-e-r-f-e-c-t.

I'd love to curl up in that chair with my Kindle.

Basically, take out the crib, stuffed animals, and baby books... replace 'em with a pretty daybed, several pairs of ladylike high-heeled shoes, and some decor books... and this room would be ideal.

I found this lovely space via House of Turquoise, the blog that shares my love for a certain shade of greenish blue. ;)

Floral Patterns

(above via: sweethomestyle)

I came across this image on sweethomestyle and all the patterns caught my eye. It definitely looks like a cozy place to crash after a long day. I love the floral bedding and tapestry on the wall, the furry rug, the bedside desk, the birdcage, and the upholstered headboard.

Darling Desk Spaces

above: cococerise

Pretty desk example: lots of white, organized writing utensils, chic lamp, thin file bins, printed chair, hot pink tree branches that display photos.

In the spirit of all the hours to be spent at our desks doing homework this fall... here are some inspiring workspaces to help you turn your desk into a place you won't mind spending a few hours each night.

above: Dina's nest

A totally uncluttered desktop... ahhhmazing.

above: dottie angel

Gorgeous vintage desk. Elegant lamp. Endearing accessories.

above: Kathryn Estelle

A dining table can also serve as a desk. Storage drawers and shelving can be tucked underneath. You'll be left with a lot of surface space for homework, scrapbooking, crafts, art, etc. Love that French message board, too.

above: kay

I love the mix of modern (desk, chair), vintage (phone, photo), and pattern (wallpaper, lamp shade) in this corner.

above: skyeshell

Daisies instantly cheer up a desk top. And I'm envious of that pretty organizer with all its nooks for notebooks, folders, and the such.

above: Laurie | Liquid Paper

One of my all time favorite desk spaces I've found on the internet. I love the gray walls, black lamp base, plain white lamp shade, and huge bulletin board.

above: Chez Larsson

Let the sun shine in! Look at how a bright white space is illuminated. And look at those pretty butterflies---what a cute detail!

above: everdoll

A young, hip space that encourages creativity and productivity.

Kitchen Small Space Solution: Pegboard

above: christinephotosds

As soon as I get around to taking and posting pictures of my apartment, you'll see that I have an itsy-bitsy kitchen. Sometimes I just sit and stare at it---brainstorming all the storage solutions I've seen on the internet, pondering how I can unleash my creative genius and create a magical place to cook.

I've come to the conclusion that I want some pegboard.

above: theholidaygirl928
above: evsmama
above: giac1061
above: sassyradish
above: .corrie

Pegboard just seems ideal. I can paint it a bright, pretty color. I can free up drawer space. I can feel organized. Handy tools will be right within reach. And it will add visual interest.

I think I may head off to Lowe's soonly...

How do you feel about pegboard?