Since When Did I Want a Cozy Cottage?

First of all, I have to thank DC reader Elizabeth for reminding me about M. Design Interiors last week.  You know, M. Design, the design firm that brought us the potty that launched a thousand blog posts:

Yes, you know this room, it lives in this house:

On any other day of my life I would move into this house before you could say flexible interest rate, but today, well, today another one of their interiors is catching my eye.   It's an odd choice for me, given my affinity for 70s porn inspired homes, but I think this nesting business has gotten the best of me because today I want to live behind these doors:

Not wanting to change a thing about the landscaping around this cozy cottage.  Yes I know bamboo is invasive.  Zip it.

Look what awaits me inside!  I could sit the hell out of those leather chairs.  Erin can sit in one too, we will then discuss what will replace that sofa.  In this fantasy I'm not pregnant and I'm on my third vodka tonic, fyi.

This is where I sleep off my hangover.

Call me crazy but today this is really working for me

Sorry about the pink color block, it's on the M. Design website and in my cottage fantasy I don't have to use photoshop in order to write a blog post.

Ok, ok, I know the rest of America is knee deep in autumn, but it's still 90 degrees here and this outdoor shower looks like a great place to recover from that boozy nap I took earlier in this post.

On a side note:  Elizabeth also mentioned that the head designer for M. Designs is the sister of the blond on Modern Family.  Hot Goss!  On a side side note, one of the reasons I don't watch that show is because I don't buy the blond and that dude as a couple.  I like both characters just fine, but I really don't believe them together.  Sorry everyone, just sayin.

Emerald City

You guys know that I could never paint a color bolder than gray on any of my walls but that doesn't negate my burning desire to hang out in rooms with some seriously bold color.  Right now I'm being seduced by these moody emerald walls.  Emerald?  I know, go figure.

Twig Hutchinson

Now I'm not going to let a pesky little detail like my current inability to sit on that couch stop me from digging this room.  As soon as the little bambino pops out I can roll all over that yellow beauty.

Zownir Locations

Hmmm, this yellow and emerald combo looks familiar, but that couch is decidedly more practical given my current condition.

Sunset

In person:  could be awesome, could be scary.  I just don't know.  I hope the towel is clean.

VT Wonen

Kinda emerald, right?

Diane Von Furstenberg

And if, like me, you can't paint your walls green and, unlike me, you have a gragillion dollars, you can add the sexiest accessory known to mankind to your room via this Dian Von Furstenburg rug.  Psst, I found this over at If the lampshade fits and have been dreaming of it ever since.  Think I can sneak it onto my baby registry?

If you have to get stuck in a stairwell

Fun fact #1 about me:  I don't ride elevators.  I have a case of claustrophobia that's pretty well under control with the exception of elevator rides.  They send me into panic, so when a client scheduled a meeting with me for yesterday on the 14th floor of her building I almost had a heart attack.  I literally woke up in the middle of the night 2 nights ago freaking out about the impending tiny transport. I arrived at the building yesterday, having employed all my yoga calming techniques on the car ride over, feeling pretty good.  However, as soon as the elevator door opened my face went flush and my heart started racing.  I started to wonder if I could walk up 14 flights of stairs while 9 months pregnant.  I would have done it any other time.  Of course, the answer this time was no.

I did manage to sweet talk a building employee into riding up with me, it always helps to have someone to talk to so I can distract myself.  I made it up without incident, I just had to get back down.

(sorry for the novel everyone)

So I had my meeting, it went well and it was time for me to be on my way.  I walked to the elevator but just couldn't bring myself to step inside.  I thought:  certainly I can walk DOWN 14 flights of stairs.

I walked to the stairwell, checked the levers on the doors: they seemed to be working properly and felt confident I wouldn't get locked in there.  Wrong.  Once the door shut I gave it a test open to be sure I could get out.  Nope.  Locked.  I ran down a flight and checked the door on floor 13:  nope, locked.  Shit.  Totally stuck in the stairwell.

I called my client, whom I had just met with:  no answer.  I called my husband (could he drive downtown and let me out?) no answer.  Who did I know that worked downtown and could put up with my neurosis?  Should I call the police?  WTF??  I was in full hyperventilation mode at this point.  I tried calling my client one last time:  she answered on the last ring and came to my rescue.  Luckily, she's super cool and thought the whole thing was hilarious and not bizarre in the least.  She even offered to ride the elevator down with me.  Thanks Jennifer!

So, the point is, if you have to get stuck in a stairwell (don't! It's scary!) pray to god it looks like this one:

Framed, by the John Jones team in collaboration with Stuart Haygarth, installed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  More here.