Guest Curator: Laure Joliet of Apartment Therapy

cesttropchouette

Story by cesttropchouette

Published on Jan 13, 2010 in Shop

Photo by Laure Joliet

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Laure Joliet is a photographer and designer obsessed with interiors, beautiful things and lazy days. Find her most days writing for Apartment Therapy, her own blog At Home At Home and check out her photography at Laure Joliet.

In the new year it’s important to set your intentions, have a list of things you can’t wait to do and, just generally, embrace all things good and exciting and full of joy. Getting my home in order is always at the top of the list because if my home is clean, organized and beautiful, life just seems to go smoother. Starting with a big clean-out of the closets and desk drawers, then the purse and the wallet, starts getting things in order.  

 

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From there add back some choice luxuries that make your home feel more like a home: things that are beautiful, things that help you to relax and things that help welcome others in. As a bonus, I try to have these little luxuries be truly affordable so there’s no stress or guilt. Below find some of my favorite items on Etsy that will bring a little kick into your home and into your year — all for under $40.

Inviting people into my home gives me an excuse to clean up, to bring new life in and is sometimes the best way to motivate myself to splurge on cut flowers. This fun striped serving tray is the perfect piece to offer some drinks or appetizers to guests. The bonus is that when I’m not entertaining I can use it to wrangle mail or all the stuff that accumulates on the nightstand! By afabulousfete, $40.

 

These days I always seem to be checking the time on my phone by pulling it out of my pocket. A much more refined approach would be to have an actual clock on the wall. Keep track of time with a nod to ski lodges and Grimm’s Fairy Tales with this screen printed cuckoo clock that has all the fun and none of the annoyance of the real thing. By decoylab, $28.

 

I’ve been meaning to make some of my own pom poms for a party but I will never just sit down and do it. As such, I’m super excited that PomLove can make them for me in any color I want and within my budget. I want to have a bunch of these stashed away to add some zip to an otherwise normal dinner. $30.

 

 

I’ve been looking for some simple, classic throw pillows and this black and beige one from humblecollection is perfectly fun and geometric and will save my back when I sit at the computer all day. They’re also cozy and durable enough to let the kids play with them. $28.

 

 

 

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Don’t forget to appeal to all five senses in your home. If it’s clean but stuffy from being closed up with the heater on, light this lavender scented candle and inhale deeply. Take a load off, grab your favorite book, your favorite blanket and a cup of tea, curl up and take it easy. By monkeysalwayslook, $9.

 

 

 

Mobiles aren’t just for kids anymore. These light blue whales would look great in the corner of the living room or near your entry so that they move around when the door gets opened. It adds an element of play and fun into the house, not to mention a nice reminder of the ocean and all things larger than us. By paperbella, $40.

 

This little birdhouse is housing an airplant instead which works great for those with black thumbs who want some greenery inside the house. By greenwaredesign, $40.

 

 

 

 

Are alligators the new bird?  Not sure, but a handsome brass one will help keep bills in place by the door and give you a nice hello all in one. From highstreetmarket, $28.

 

 

 

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It’s a brand new year — a new decade, even! It’s a year to celebrate, to plant new seeds for the future and to enjoy what we’ve got now. I love this notecard and am a big fan of framing these — it’s inexpensive (I just shop Ikea or the thrift store for frames) and this one adds a nice punch of yellow to say HELLO! to the new year. By curiousgravy, $4.50.


 

 

Here’s to a new year, friends! Enjoy it!

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