Interior Designer Lori Pepe - Lunché : Relaxed and Beautiful

The portfolio of Berkeley, CA interior designer Lori Pepe - Lunché evokes several adjectives: relaxed, unstuffy, warm, welcoming, and refreshing. All very good things. Here are a few of my favorite rooms by Lori.

White bedding...I think white bedding is my favorite.  I have lots of printed linens, but I always think my bedroom looks prettiest when my bed is done in all whites...

I adore this bathroom.  The cool slick marble contrasting with the branch sconces and decor is glamorous, but not too overt.

The small Berkeley kitchen below is full of cool storage solutions

How cool are those utensil holders?  I've never seen anything like them before.

Check out Lori's fab blog, Design Salon.

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Closet organizing inspiration!

I have 3 closets in my small apartment, which is great. The problem is that Chris and I have way more than three closets worth of stuff. So, I've been scouting out some good ideas to maximize that space. Here's what I've found:

I don't know who only has 15 items hanging in the closet, but there are some good ideas here. Install two bars one underneath the other to maximize vertical space while providing double the space for shirts, shorts, and skirts.  I am also soooo coveting shoe cubbies.  I don't know if they're in my immediate future because of my budget...

It's smart to combine a few different storage options in your closet: drawers, cabinets, wall hooks, and shelving.

I've yet to find a belt or scarf hanger that does the job, I always go for hooks like these hanging beside my clothes rack or a full length mirror.

awesome utility closet - I need to find hooks like that to hang my mops and brooms...

Stunning - and check out how the curtains can go all the way around the room!

I have been looking for an over the door rack like this for so long!  You can find it here - Chef's

pegboard on the inside of a door is a great organization tool if you have no wall space! You could do this in the bathroom and store cosmetics and other beauty tools

Oh my goodness... heaven's pantry...this is great to aspire to...and I do have glass canisters in mine like they show here.  I cut out the label on the packaging and tape it to the inside of the canister if it's something that might not be easily recognizable - but all those little canisters and tins?   Have any of you done this with your pantry?

via BHG

Hopefully I've inspired you to maybe do a little closet makeover this weekend!  Does anyone have some closet organizing secrets to share with us?

Have a great weekend!

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Super cute and charming kitchens...

So not all of these kitchens are tiny cottage nooks, but they aren't the glossy granite and marble monstrosities you'd see in the high-end home decor mags either. Most are modest and give me hope that no matter how small the kitchen in my future rental, I can give it some charm and make it work for me...

Some vintage stools add coziness and floor to ceiling cabinets and creative storage solutions makes this small kitchen clever

via Kitchenisms

 

The green dishes are too cute

via Pinterest

via Kitchenisms

adorable coastal kitchen
via Kitchenisms

would love to have me a proper pot rack one day... this island is amazing too
via Kitchenisms

even a galley kitchen can be beautiful and functional!
via Kitchenisms

...amazing butcher block island
via Kitchenisms

 

2 more small but pretty kitchens from House to Home

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Sneaky - but pretty ways to organize your kitchen

Need I go into a lot of explanation? Very few people have enough kitchen space and we can all use a few new tricks to put up our sleeve.

I like this cabinet door that drops down and hides the mixer and/or toaster. Once those things (small kitchen appliances) go in a cupboard or in a drawer they aren't coming back...



I like these floor to ceiling cabinets. They're sleek with frosted glass - and the u-shaped shelves create even more space


organization is beautiful - beautiful is organization

If you are thinking or re-modeling - consider this sweet little coffee nook..

images above via BHG
tupperware is a nightmare - if you have a deep enough drawer, partition it if you can and create a "filing system" if you can. Put super small lids in their own little baskets.

Small kitchens cannot have enough hooks, bars, shelves - any device which lets you hang things or take items off the counter will not go unused.

Keep like items grouped - oils in their own container/basket, small bagged dry goods in another container/basket, etc.

An organizers dream cupboard...ahhh
via Real Simple

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A very cool new kitchen product - especially for tiny kitchens

I got the privilege of testing out a new kitchen product, which I can attest is very cool and would be very beneficial in an apartment like those in NYC where one only has 1-2 cabinets. You can check out the site here, but I've also copied a synopsis:


"An Innovative Product"

FoldTuk is actually the first and only collapsible bakeware that can be used in conventional, convection, infrared, and microwave ovens due to its Green and petroleum free Ceramber material. It is airtight, stackable, dishwasher safe, and naturally nonstick (No non-stick coating applied), making it your most functional bakeware and cold storage container.

Ceramber heats up and cools down faster than silicone bakeware products. Unlike Corningware containers, the FoldTuk can collapse to a one-inch in height, saving valuable shelf space in your kitchen cabinet. The FoldTuk is very durable yet sturdy and has all the function benefits of Pyrex or Corningware. FoldTuks Ceramber construction allows it to transfer from deep freeze directly into a hot baking oven eliminating any risk of thermal impact...and it is 100% shatter proof. If the FoldTuk slips out of your hands as you empty the dishwasher, not to worry, FoldTuk is unbreakable and no damage will be done to you or your kitchen investments!

Want to be Green and have a giant savings on your utility costs? You can bake a meal, serve it directly to the mealtime table and save your leftovers all in the very same FoldTuk! In one meal preparation alone, you have contributed to the protection of our environment by reducing your use of electricity, soap and water."


The cranberry apple crisp ready for the oven

Fresh out of the oven - and yes, it tasted delicious

I sealed up the leftovers (what little there were), and saved them in the fridge for the next night.

It cleaned up pretty easy, and as you can see, collapses for easy storage.

Again, you can see their other products and read more about it here - foldtukbakeware.com

Is this something you could use in your kitchen?

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Great furniture repurposing ideas!

There's no better feeling than finding something (or keeping something) old and having a brilliant idea to turn it into something even better! Take care in spending adequate time and research on your project and you'll end up with a piece that will mean so much more than a bought item for a much higher price. Plus, it'll be custom!

You may have seen this awesome idea around...
Go to Crafty Nest for full article, photos, and instructions.



This chandelier would look like a designer piece in a retro or modern home.



Instructions found at Esprit Canabe

This tray is probably my favorite DIY project, created from a salvaged cupboard door.

Go to Crafty nest for instructions.

A drap wood night table looks like it came from Brocade Home with some sanding, blue paint, and a coat of shellac.
via New York Times

One can never have enough pretty bins to hold supplies or other loose objects!
This pdf from Urban Nest gives the full instructions on how to make these from cereal boxes!

Okay, so this isn't really repurposing furniture, but I love this idea. Find a branch you like and turn it into art by hanging a collection of shells (or whatever you like for that matter).
via Michelle Rago, Weddings

A hoosier separated to be turned into a media cabinet and a console.


Chicken coups as kitchen storage - just make sure they're clean! :)
via Apartment Therapy

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