I find the LivingEtc forums quite a nice spot lately for drawing inspiration because many “real” home owners and apartment dwellers gather there to share spaces and ask for help.

I found this London loft particularly inspiring as it’s eclectic and definitely not confined to strict rules or some copycat design out of a book. It’s pure style, real, quirky, and a creative use of color and space. Don’t you love the blue tea kettle on the counter? It’s one of those electric ones, I think. I have to look into that… I want one!

And notice the Keep Calm and Carry On poster. Ha ha! I think I need to just frame mine already and stop resisting the trend. Having one is pretty much telling the world that you read design blogs, don’t you think? I mean, you know that if someone has a Keep Calm and Carry On poster that they must have read about them on the myriads of blogs out there. It’s pretty cute to be honest, I was having a love/hate with them for awhile but now I’m starting to see how they’re defining this whole freedom movement when it comes to design from indie crafts to small design firms to blogs and beyond. When I look back on this period I’ll forever remember the KC&CO poster! (If you don’t own one here’s your chance.) That’s got to say something.

Oh and notice the view out of the window beyond the tulip table. How charming is that? So very London.

(images: livingetc)