Blog Crushes, Red Couches and Frida Kahlo

Blog Crushes, Red Couches and Frida Kahlo

So, I have red couches.  (I have no fancy introduction.  I feel with red couches you need to get to the point, quickly.)  Yes, red couches.  I love my hubby very, very much.  However, sometimes his overly frugal nature (with the exception of large flat screen t.v's) gets a tad bit annoying.

Now there is really nothing wrong with red couches, but in our case...most of our furniture is thrifted or hand me down...so it's not like we have an interior design plan.   My home looks slightly better than a college bachelor pad.  You know the type, awesome electronics, rent a center couch and not too much else?

On top of the red couches and the huge flat screen t.v., I do have a 5, soon to be 6 year old, whom leaves his mark around the house, with whatever colorful drink, crayon or anything that has the greatest possibility of staining. Yeah, this job is going to be great!  So again, I am working with red couches, a lot of wood, white carpets (well- now they are off white due to the wear and tear only males can inflict) and white walls...and better yet, a limited budget!  I have some great pieces, however uncoordinated they are, and am most likely going to keep them.

I am ready for a makeover.  A married couple with a child should not have a bachelor pad!  (An ugly one at that!) I want to entertain and not be embarrassed by my decor and colorful hand prints and grape juice embellishments my son has lovingly added, everywhere!  I want my home to be my castle...an oasis!  Since I am on a budget, I will not be purchasing all brand new items...ugh!  I need help!

Before, I wallow in self pity...I need your help.  Since, I will be working with said red couches and I am a bit eclectic, my motif will definitely be Mexican, African and Indian inspired.  Yes I know I have a lot of cultures going on, but I can't get rid of Ganesha!

My inspirations for my living room and dining room are Frida Kahlo and my two blog crushes, Key Interiors by Shinay and The Curatorial.

Now Shinay at Key Interiors by Shinay is awesome and she is an interior designer.  Unfortunately, due to budget issues, I can't afford to fly her down here from upstate New York, nor pay her for her services...so she will just have to serve as an inspiration.  Every Friday she does a runway inspired interior design look.  IT.IS.AWESOME.  One of my favorite looks is this:

Check out the original post here

Tell me Shinay isn't fierce!  She has such a great eye and her completed projects are awesome!  Make sure you visit her at Key Interiors by Shinay.

I chose this look because my kitchen is this same color orange (I inherited this color) so I could definitely integrate some of these colors and design accents.

My second blog crush and design inspiration, is The Curatorial's own Rachel Pheasant.  Besides being just purely awesome, Rachel is also a fabulous artist.  From her site,

"Rachel Pheasant is an active member of the art world and Latin American policy community in New York City. She has a B.A in Political Science and Latin American Studies from Bard College and a M.A in Latin American Studies with an Advanced Certificate in Museum Studies from NYU (ok this is a little bit of wishful thinking, she graduates from the program in December 2012).

Rachel has always had a passion for fashion, especially the intersection of fashion and art. She started this blog in order to explore this passion further and elaborate on her thoughts on fashion, art and culture. 

Rachel sometimes exhibits her artwork in NYC. If you are interested in attending any of her gallery shows you can check for updates here."

She serves as an inspiration because I love (I mean LOVE) her artwork and have my eye on a few pieces that could quite possibly work with my sofas.

Pure awesomeness!  Make sure you support Rachel and her art!  Again, please visit her at The Curatorial.  She never disappoints!

Lastly, my beloved Frida Kahlo.  For those who don't know, Frida is my favorite artist ever.  EVER!  Besides her artwork, I always was fascinated by her personal life.  It is easy to be fascinated by her personal life and art-because her art was her autobiography.  In 1953, when Frida Kahlo had her first solo exhibition in Mexico (the only one held in her native country during her lifetime), a local critic wrote: "It is impossible to separate the life and work of this extraordinary person. Her paintings are her biography."

She was severely injured in a traffic accident as a teenager and had numerous painful surgeries which resulted in a lifetime of pain.  She also had a tumultuous marriage to Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist.  "Their stormy, passionate relationship survived infidelities, the pressures of careers, divorce, remarriage, Frida's bi-sexual affairs, her poor health and her inability to have children."  She said it best,

"I suffered two grave accidents in my life…One in which a streetcar knocked me down and the other was Diego." 

I chose her to be an inspiration because of her use of earth tones and the emotion conveyed in her artwork.

Here are my design challenges:

1) I have an oddly shaped living room dining room combo

2) BUDGET!  I am on a serious budget, so most items will be thrifted, gifted, or found!
3) I have two separate sliding glass doors to the balcony and in the middle is this weird elevated fireplace stove dealie.

Positives:
1) I can paint the walls
2) I can't think of any more positives. smh...

Now for the living room pictures...hold on, I am hyperventilating in preparation for exposing this foolishness, I call a living room...whew...okay, here it goes

Weird fireplace thingy

No the vacuum cleaner doesn't have to be a part of the decor...but then again I do have a five year old son!

Weird living room dining room shape.

Two sliding glass doors to balcony

Weird space 

Glorious red couch with wall stain

Ofcourse, the flat screen t.v

Now you have the flavor of what I am working with!  (Don't judge me)  So what to do?  I really have no clue and am hoping you can help me out with suggestions and ideas!

Okay here are a few looks I am totally in love with:

So what would you do Mangoes, with a limited budget, red couches, blog crushes and Frida Kahlo?!  I need help!  

Once I decide on a direction (smile) I will keep you updated on the progress and the final result!!!  

As a thank you I am raffling off a Rimmel London gift!  You will receive one Sweet Stuff Lipstick #200 Be Seen; one Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Peach Glow #003, one Vinyl Jelly Gloss Lip Liner in #004 Sorbet and one Shock Gloss 3D Magnifying Lip Gloss in #208 Amp'ed!
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