When my brother and I moved into our house a few years back, everything happened fast — we had zero time to plan how we wanted our surroundings to look and to complicate matters more, our decorating budget was also close to zero. Most of our furniture was hand-me-downs, thrift-store finds or purchased from the newly-opened IKEA. At that time, I was 27 and he was 25 and we were just happy to have a place of our own. And, IKEA really is awesome.

Our house was previously owned by a much older couple who thought high-gloss beige walls and off-white berber carpet were just fine. Our first impulse was to paint out as many rooms white as quickly possible and to rip out the filthy carpet. To keep things easy, we kept the scheme throughout the house white and black. We really just wanted a blank canvas to build off of.

Over time though, I felt like our place was missing two things: color and those special pieces that make a house feel like a home. Last week, I picked up a custom order from Schoolhouse here in Portland: the City Chandelier. The yellow base and oversized bulbs felt unique and fun and replaced a standard white IKEA fixture we’d had in our dining room. Sometimes, all a room needs is one simple change. In our case, the dining room just needed a splash of color to bring it to life.

Our living room is still a work in progress but a lot of the things we need to change are going to take some serious time and effort. So for now, I’m focusing on what I can change. Our all black couch in the middle of our all white living room has never felt very inviting.

I knew I wanted a blanket to throw over the back to add to the coziness factor but my heart was set on the Crux Blanket by Pia Wallen. I’d been obsessed with this blanket for years but it was totally out of reach until a cotton version, the Cross Blanket was finally released last year. It was still expensive but I knew that if I settled for any other blanket, I just wouldn’t be happy. Sometimes it’s just better to wait it out and to save for what you really want. (Yes, that’s an 8 ft. tall black bear in the corner of our living room. Inviting, huh?)

• Don’t settle for what you don’t want. In our case, we spent the bare minimum on IKEA basics until we could save towards the particular items we loved. It took a few years but we didn’t make any big impulse purchases. If you buy a substitute for the real thing you’ve always wanted, you probably won’t be satisfied and will just keep obsessing over the object du jour you still don’t have. I saw plenty of other blankets that were great…but they weren’t THE Cross blanket. I knew it was better to wait it out for the blanket of my dreams (yes, that sounds crazy. Thankfully, I’m not alone).

• When you move into a new place and nothing feels right, start by painting the walls a neutral color. For us, there were so many details about our house that felt off that it was beyond overwhelming. Starting with white walls gave us a blank canvas to begin with and allowed us to build our own vision.

• Sometimes, all a room needs is a few small changes to come to life. We tried our dining room in a number of configurations early on but it all felt off until my brother found an old workbench for a table that grounded the room. At first, I didn’t like it but what I later realized is that it added some much needed personality.

• If something doesn’t feel right, don’t settle. When we first moved in, we thought it would be funny to have a black living room (haha?) We spent a few days painting it and…it looked horrible. We kept trying to make it work but walking into a cave every day just felt weird. We finally agreed that it had been a huge mistake and repainted the black walls white. What a pain! But immediately, everything felt better. Go with your gut and suck up those mistakes!

• Don’t get too caught up on Pinterest and inspiration sites. If you see something you like, it doesn’t matter if it’s popular. If you love it, you’ll usually find a way to make it work. Our house is filled with ‘oddities’ but it works for us.

We still have a million changes to make to our place but these two recent additions have started to make our house feel more like a home. It’s those special touches that bring your surroundings to life.

Readers: What are your suggestions for making a house a home and is there anything on your must-have list you’d like to share?

Late last year, one of my dreams came true when Joey built me a shoe closet. It’s one of my favorite parts of the house now and here’s how it came to be:

Like most older homes, Wolfgang Manor has some major quirks. There are four full-sized doors just in our small-ish bedroom alone. FOUR! When we moved in, two of those doors led to attic spaces, bare rafters and all. Joey transformed the larger of the two into an all-white art studio last year but that still left another free. I’d been wanting a designated place to store all my shoes because I ain’t gonna lie, I have a lot of them. They’d slowly started taking over my home office, filling up a book shelf and creeping across the floor. In my world, a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind and the shoes needed a new home.

The soon-to-be shoe closet was a dead space with exposed rafters, doing nothing but storing a pile of miscellaneous clutter. I wish we had some good ‘before’ photos because it was really dark and creepy. Since it was upstairs, it peaked with the angles of the roof and was an odd shape. Joey had to first frame and drywall the space, then tape, spackle and sand, then prime and paint. Once the space was complete, we found these great ornate, oversized brackets at Home Depot along with a slab of pine that Joey cut for the shelf and painted white.

All in all, the transformation cost only $150.00 at most from beginning to end, mostly because the labor was free (thanks, Joey!) and we had the flooring left over from his studio remodel. The back wall was wallpapered with a scrap of Cole & Son Woods, which we had left from our dining room.

Shoes have always been my ‘thing.’ I’m big on only collecting objects that I can use all the time. When I was really young, my mom had stilettos in every color of the rainbow (this was the mid-80s) and she’d pay me a few dollars every once in awhile to arrange them in her closet. I think even back then, I was doing it by color. As I got older, my first few retail jobs in college were at shoe stores. I guess I’ve always viewed footwear differently than most people. Shoes to me are like wearable art. What can I say? I love shoes.

I wanted to set the tone for 2012 by indulging in a few of my favorite things including fresh flowers and a copy of French Vogue. I’ve been on a kick of picking up a bouquet of vibrantly colored flowers every two weeks to add some energy to my all-white office. And, I find French Vogue to be one of the most visually inspiring fashion publications out there.

Small indulgences, visual inspiration and a regular dose of relaxation: this is the tone that I want to set going forward in 2012.

I’m a firm believer that the place we spend the majority of our time should be a reflection of who we are. In a creative environment, having reminders of your favorite things (inspiration, objects and otherwise) around you is important because it adds a sense of comfort and familiarity. When I’m at home at Wolfgang Manor, I spend the majority of my time in my office. This is the one space in the house that is completely mine; I can close the door, escape and create. My computer, printer, scanner, flat files, inspiration board, personal library and other essentials are organized throughout and all within quick reach when I’m creating. Here are some fresh snapshots of my creative space.

It’s only been in the last year that I’ve become a huge fan of fresh flowers. I love the dash of color they add to a mostly white space.

I have an IKEA shelf installed above my desk to display a handful of my favorite things since storage space is low. I also like how it adds a sense of dimension.

I tend to tack up magazine clippings and ads on my inspiration board on a regular basis.

I have my makeup and a fancy mirror that I found at Target a few years back in my office as well.

My two favorite perfumes of the moment as well as a mini Crystal Skull Vodka (a gift from my mom) rest on top of my flat files.

Thanks for joining me on this mini tour! If you have any questions about where specific pieces of furniture or items came from, I can answer those in the comments.

As I slowly but surely make progress with redoing my house, Wolfgang Monor, the more enamored I become with interior design and decor. I realized that it wouldn’t be entirely fair to keep all of my inspirations hidden away. So, without delay, here’s what’s exciting me at the moment!

1. Panton Chairs. The shiny black one is a reproduction, of which I own two (though I can’t recall the source). Next is an authentic Panton Chair in a DWR shoot. 2. Le Klint 172B Pendant Lights. Adding a bit of whimsy to living spaces and originally crafted in 1971, these are so space age and fun to stare at. I just bought a reproduction off Ebay for my bedroom (which you’ll see on Friday!) 3. Minimal Desktops. (Source unknown). Preferably topped with a Mac and cute coffee mug. 4. White Rooms with Black Accents. This living room is really inspirational in its clean, austere stylings. 5. Black Walls. (Source unknown). My bedroom walls are black — nothing like a little drama! 6. IKEA Kassett Boxes. Inexpensive and way better looking than a mishmash of shoe boxes, these storage boxes are perfect for organizing a closet’s clutter.

1. Black Bedrooms. Always and forever. Image from Living Etc. 2. Woods Wallpaper by Cole & Son. We’re doing one of our dining room walls in this timeless pattern. I just have to get my dad to focus long enough to help me hang it! 3. White Workspaces. This shot from DWR manages to perfectly sum up my aesthetic. 4. Crucifixes. In unexpected forms. 5. Marais A Chairs. Our dining room chairs of choice, these originally gained popularity in French cafés. 6. Antler Chandeliers. (Source unknown). If I had a cabin, this would be perfection. 7. Minimal White Rooms. (Source unknown). 8. Square Dishes. These are the dishes that I use and a nice change from typically round offerings.

1. Black & White + Type. (Source unknown). Really, you can’t go wrong. 2. Inspiring Work Spaces. Image from Convoy, an amazing source for interior imagery. 3. Repetition via Framed Photos. What a great way to add some drama to a minimal office! 4. Chandeliers in Unexpected Places. Like the kitchen. Why not? 5. Shelves Above Desks. I added one from IKEA a few months back and not only does it break up an empty wall, but it also holds my overflow of shoes and magazines. 6. Fancy Bathrooms. (Source unknown). Someday! 7. Regal Headboards. I’m totally in love with this look. Still on the hunt for a suitable headboard to dress up my minimal, black-walled room.

Thanks for following me down my path of interior inspiration! I have much more to share in this area in upcoming posts. Oh, and did I mention that my brother and I started painting our all black living room all white over the weekend?! Yep. stay tuned!

To me, style and organization are interrelated. I don’t know about you, but I find that when my clothing is organized, easy to access and whittled down to what’s most loved, getting dressed and pulling together a look becomes so much more enjoyable. Getting dressed should be an adventure — never a battle!

Though I rely on solid, tried and true basics for most days, I always try to dress things up with great accessories. A simple t-shirt and black skinny jeans can be elevated with a unique pair of shoes, a well constructed jacket and a favorite bag.

When I am investing in my wardrobe, I tend to buy shoes, jackets and bags. My theory is that I can use them every single day and get a better cost per wear. For instance, I would never buy yellow jeans because they’d be so recognizable that I wouldn’t want to wear them more than once a week. But yellow shoes? I could wear the yellow shoes on a daily basis and add a pop of color to any outfit, no matter how casual.

One of my biggest pet peeves is having to buy the same item over and over again because it was poorly made and wore out. Give some thought to what you use the most and buy the best you can afford whether it’s a white t-shirt or a black cardigan.

Back to the topic of organization. I have a strange closet set-up. When I moved into my house over a year ago, I had no closet space (typical of most older homes) but oddly enough, a ridiculously huge bathroom with an abundance of empty space. My two oversized IKEA wardrobes were a perfect match for the wall space but the tops were cluttered with a mish-mash of irregular-sized shoe boxes. Over the weekend, I picked up a bunch of Kassett boxes which now hold everything from shoe bags to hats and spare purses to childhood costumes. They add that look of polished uniformity that random shoe boxes just can’t equal!

Another thing that my closet was sorely lacking were nice quality hangers. At almost 30, it was time for me to trade in cheapo plastic hangers for sturdy, beautifully minimal Erling steel hangers. They make every piece of clothing feel worthy of display!

Everyone has their own method for organization but arranging clothing by color works well for me. I have two IKEA wardrobes that hold all of my clothing. The first consists of all coats, skirts and dresses while the second is all shirts and sweaters (above).

Of course, I have a sizable amount of black clothing (as you can probably tell from my outfit posts). Looking up, there are still some lingering plastic hangers that will eventually be replaced. And, though I recycled a number of shoe boxes, I kept a handful of the Dries ones, tucked away at the very end.

This is the ‘other side’ of my closet, half of which is stuffed with jackets and blazers. Dresses are at the very end, mostly in black. I keep items that are more costume-related and not for every day wear (including fancy dresses and lederhosen) tucked away in the spare closet in my office (also organized by color).

A true Virgo doesn’t stop at just organizing their clothes. My tights (above) and socks (not shown) are both sorted by color and stored in clear plastic trays that I found at Target.

Every mouse needs a place to rest their ears. And, a full length mirror to check out their daily costume. This is the wall next to my IKEA wardrobes.

The jewelry that I reach for most is stored in a plastic container on my windowsill that I found at Target.

Longer necklaces have began to take over the door knob to my office. Some day, I’ll come up with a better solution. Until then, I like the decoration!

I’m a big fan of treating my favorite clothing and accessories like art. If you have something that’s beautiful, let it sit out and become a decoration instead of lurking in a dark closet. I have a love of shoes so I have my favorite pairs organized by color on a book shelf in my office. It’s nice to see them every day and a way to remind myself of what I already own so I can rotate them instead of lazily reaching for the same tired pair of black boots. Since I have fairly small feet, the sale racks and Ebay have been incredibly generous over the years! Fashion may change but well made, unique shoes never go out of style.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my mini sartorial journey and in the process, discovered your own passion to get organized. Show your closet some love and appreciation and return, your personal style will shine through!

When I moved into my house last summer, I wanted a fresh and airy palette for my office. My already white furniture was met with white curtains and white walls. Now, I’m craving some more visual interest and depth. My brother helped me rearrange part of my office a few nights ago and I am on a search for the perfect rug and office chair. In the meantime, I’ve made a few small changes.

Ceramic Hand

To organize some of my jewelry, I picked up this Ceramic Hand Jewelry Stand at Urban Outfitters. It reminds me of the vintage molds I’ve seen floating around shops like Fish’s Eddy in New York.

Red Cross Cabinet

I’ve actually had this cabinet since 2002 – I spotted it at Lancelotti Housewares in New York and had it shipped home. After shifting around some office furniture, I was able to clear the perfect space to re-hang it. The black chair is a Panton reproduction that we were temporarily using for our kitchen table.

Damask Velvet Curtains

Until recently, I had thin white IKEA curtains hanging in my office. While they were breezy and let lots of natural light in, too much daylight when you’re tying to design is a huge distraction (it tempts you to go outside and skip out on work!) These curtains from Urban Outfitters are much more dramatic and though some light is able to leak through the mesh, it is quite minimal and has already helped my focus immensely. My brother hates them and has dubbed them my “goth curtains.” So be it!

As I pull more of my office together over the next few weeks, I’ll show you the full outcome.

Welcome to The Week in Pictures! We’ve been in Spring cleaning and home improvement mode as of late around Wolfgang Manor and our white room is super close to being complete. Full tour coming soon!

It seems that Paris has taken up residence in my bedroom between Joey’s art shows. At any given time, my house resembles a bizarre, futuristic movie set.

One of my favorite rooms has always been the little back room off the kitchen. It’s the perfectly cozy breakfast nook. In the next week, we’re getting a stainless steel table and mod white chairs. The oddest part of the room? It came with a mirrored wall. It’s like the Bavarian inhabitants of this abode went all disco in the 70s and needed a place to have dance parties.

On Friday, I paid a visit to Exhibit A, by far my favorite Nemo show yet. I loved the use of type and light boxes paired with the desolate landscapes that dotted the photography.

My little gnome table has been keeping me company since 2002. That’s through three moves! He always finds a way to help out by holding a plant or other odds and ends. He just moved into my dressing room last week and is valiantly assisting with my shoes now.

Until next week,

During the summer when I moved into my new office, I cleared my bookshelf of reading material and replaced it with a selection of my favorite shoes in color order. They’ve made it into snapshots here and there, but I’ve never shared close-up images and details until now. So without ado, these are a few of my favorite shoes!

I am notoriously picky about what shoes I buy. I do admit to having a few pairs of shoes that are allocated more for photo appeal but most are in my regular daily rotation. Though it’s a bit repetitive, I’ve listed the order of shoes in each photo so that there’s no need to wonder what kind each is.

Quelques Shoes De Plus distressed white heels with lucite buckles, Marni patent gray wedges, Diana Broussard silver heels with wood soles, Dries Van Noten silk marbled heels, Chloe patent green wedges, Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 patent gray wedges, Miu Miu red 40s inspired heels, Dries Van Noten red buckle boots and Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 patent burgundy wedges.

Close-ups of Dries Van Noten silk marbled heels, Chloe patent green wedges, Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 patent gray wedges, Miu Miu red 40s inspired heels, Dries Van Noten red buckle boots and Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 patent burgundy wedges.

Miu Miu red 40s inspired heels, Dries Van Noten red buckle boots, Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 patent burgundy wedges, Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 smooth burgundy wedges, Michael Kors Firebird wedges and Minimarket wedge zipper boots.

Dries Van Noten Fall 2007 smooth burgundy wedges, Michael Kors Firebird wedges, Minimarket wedge zipper boots, Sam Edelman Zoe boots, Camilla Skovgaard lug sole ankle boots and Acne Atacoma wedges.

Chloe harness boots, Chloe red platform Doc-inspired boots and red buckle boots from Trash & Vaudevile, circa 2002.

Readers: What are a few of your favorite shoes?

IT’S NOT HOW GOOD YOU ARE. IT’S HOW GOOD YOU WANT TO BE.

I’m all packed and ready to fly out to New York tonight for a stay at the Virgo Boarding House with my favorite pink-haired girl. If you want to hang out, have a project in mind that you think I’d be well suited for or know of any agencies that you think I should meet with in New York, please drop me an email at nubby @ nubbytwiglet.com!

This week has been full of preparations, many rounds of work, very little sleep and errand running. Thanks to Lee Z, I managed to get nearly everything crossed off my to-do list. And, thanks to my brother, our living room is almost redone. I use ‘redone’ loosely. I left him by himself for a few hours only to later notice that part of a wall had been ripped out and half of the ceiling was painted the wrong color. Oh, and last night we were pulling out old carpet and he knocked over a half gallon of white paint onto the front porch. We were both horrified but couldn’t stop laughing. Don’t hire him unless you want your house demolished!

First and foremost, I am now officially part of Team Atacoma. It’s like Gene Simmons mated with my Dries wedges. I love them so much!

This issue of Bazaar showed up in my mailbox a few days ago. The MJ tributes just keep coming and it’s all very awesome.

More bedroom details; black with pops of white paired with damask patterned curtains equals perfection. I don’t spend much time in my room because I’m always in my office working, but it really is everything I could have hoped for.

Graphic designer by day, candy striper by night? You be the judge!

On Thursday, I went furniture shopping with my brother and fell in love with this handmade black couch. A cool couch is notoriously hard to find and this one is totally out of our price range, but we’re already scheming on how to make it happen.

Thanks to the Coilhouse girls for sending issue 3 over! I just made my first ever magazine masthead! Pretty exciting stuff.

Waiting for a meeting to start, I had the best hot cocoa over at Tiny’s. So soooo good. Go there and order one.

How was your week?