The blog and portfolio of Kiersten Timpe

Click on the picture to see these items on Polyvore

When I get my apartment I want it to have a tasteful mix of old and new. I’ve always loved thrift store finds and outdoor markets, but I usually use them to buy more sequined sweaters and costume jewelry. Now I have to make a mental note to pick up more plateware and less 80’s-wear.

At the same time, I love sleek new designs. Even though they are totally unattainable, I can’t stop looking at Apartment Therapy and Design*Sponge’s Sneak Peeks for beautiful spaces. What are your favorite sites for amazing apartments?

Other Must-Haves:

Anything I have has to match this. Junior year, my roommate Maggie and I made this epic mural by collecting bags full of paint samples from home improvement stores. The wall got a bit of attention at school so a friend mentioned it in our campus newspaper and took this picture of Maggie sitting on my bed. It took us a little over a week to collage this masterpiece and we’ve already moved it with us to two different apartments. When we graduate this spring we’re either going to have to cut it in half, steal it while the other is sleeping or make a new one. I vote we make a new one. That way when we live together again we have double the color.

Alexander Milnes built this fort for a ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ contest from Booooooom. Check out the link for seven (!) pages of homemade forts. The photos brought me right back to middle school summers when my brother and I spent every day building tree houses in the woods and playing Peter Pan on wood pallets. Pretty sure building a fort is going to be one of the first things I do in my new apartment.

The ‘Dear Van Gogh’ mug from Mike Mak doubles as a talking piece and earring model. Pretty sure Monday mornings would be easier to deal with if I was drinking coffee from one of these mugs. I would love to make prints of Bukowski’s ‘Working Out’ poem to go with it.

These pillows from designer Thomas Dabner may look familiar to print designers. The ‘low ink’ pattern is available for pillows and totebags – and surprisingly affordable at Envelop. I have to be honest, when I saw them I was sold because I knew they match the mural.

Anything I’m missing? I know I’m not the only one stalking cute apartments or furniture online. What are some of your favorite finds?

Kiersten