Belly's

ROOMS AND WORDS

I have something to admit... I've been keeping a secret from all of you. Yes, I hinted about it here and there, made some vague promises, but I never actually told you what to expect. Please don't blame me, I only wanted to surprise you and when deadlines, work and life pushed the expected launch a bit further I didn't want to promise anything in vain.

Didn't that sound like a soap opera scene? This was so much fun to write! So, anyway, on a less melodramatic note, let me announce the launch of Rooms & Words this August! (read more after the jump>>)

What is Rooms & Words, you ask? Well, Rooms & Words is actually two blogs - one in English and the other in Hebrew, that will replace Belly's Button. Yeah, this blog outgrew its former name in a heartbeat. Let this be a lesson to all future newbie bloggers... Rooms & Words will be a bit more magazine- (or blogazine-) like regarding its content, photography and design (by the brilliant, brilliant Mishka) but I am hoping to maintain the warm and friendly feeling I enjoyed so much while blogging here. I cannot even start telling you how excited I am for this new phase, and I am so grateful for the support Rooms & Words has been getting on both Facebook and Twitter. So if you'd like to get updated on the R&W whereabouts please subscribe here or here, and you'll be the first to know about the launch! Also, if you have ANY question, concern or enquiry (maybe you'd want to be a sponsor on a shiny new blog? or participate in an upcoming guest post series?) please don't hesitate to contact me here or by email.

See you very soon on Rooms & Words,

xo

Chedva

DIRTY SEXY MONEY

Hi Guys, ready for my first podcast ever? I'm warning you in advance: it's not really polished (because that's how I roll) and the subject isn't really sexy. In short, I'm talking about how product-centric blogging has made me "want" much more than I really do and how that made me go off blogging for a while.

  Download Podcast

(click on the link to listen to the pocast)

Stuff I forgot to mention because I was so excited talking to you:

• I got my first decorating job, yippee! (more on that later)
• I got to interview a really BIG international designer and surprisingly, he said really similar things about design and money, and about investing in a few key quality pieces that will last for generations and will probably cost a little fortune, but not going gaga all over the place. I'll post the entire interview once the magazine is out in March. Promise.
• I'm getting to meet so many interesting people for my writing assignments and I'm learning a lot about decor, design and the human nature (as corny as that sounds). I can't wait to share it all with you.
• I missed you guys!

p.s. the photos in this post are from the blog's Facebook page. Join the fun!

{image credits: Melanie Avecado, Palmer Weiss}

sunday best {wishes}

A lazy Sunday here at casa Belly's. It's not so much that there is not a lot to do, as I lack the will power to actually do anything before it's Monday. A slice from this beauty of a cake wouldn't hurt, would it? I hope your weekend is rolling nicely and restfully as well. Have you entered the giveaway? It ends tomorrow at midnight. Also, thank you so much to Tiina and Will for linking to my blog, and a warm welcome to any new visitors from their blogs. Make yourself at home, take a piece of that delicious cake - why not? We're going to be best friends in no time.

{image: pinterest via life is great}

monday morning coffee

And once again it's Monday. They just keep on coming, you know? Surprisingly, it's a good Monday - and I hope yours is, too. But even if you're having a case of the Monday Blues, I hope I can help remedy that with those links I gathered while y'all were dressing up and stuff. Have a good, good week, you guys!

• Starting with a positive vibe, Karen's "say yes" campaign has pushed just the right button for me. Say yes and go read her post.
• This gorgeous nursery by Lindsey Brier on Haute Mama Daily (a new blog to get addicted to) just strengthens my decisions to write a nursery post, but I have so much to say I really have to edit myself! Until I kick my procrastination habit, you should visit 6th Street Design School, where the best designers and bloggers are giving their two cents about "good design, kids in mind."
• Love this bookcase roundup from Erika- great ideas for styling your own, IKEA or not.
• Brilliant event designer/blogger Kelley Moore does it again- click for a super sweet party idea.
• And let's finish up with some pretty- Oh Joy has a sneak peek of Happy Chic Jonathan Adler's new book series. Don't tell me it didn't brighten up your day...

{image: Windsor Smith}

 

sunday best wishes

Hello friends, how are you this Sunday? Are you celebrating Halloween?

I thought today was a good time to "re-share" the costume I made for my son for Purim last year, which I originally uploaded on my sixth post on this blog. Yeah, that was some time ago...

I also wanted to take the time to thank the fabulous bloggers who took the time and the effort to participate in the "outfit with a past" series. Kate, Noa, Karen, Sue, Nicole, Jess, Ludmila, Dagny, Amy - you're the best. You can see all the posts here.

If you have an outfit with a past, too, you can email me here: chedvakl [at] gmail [dot] com.

{images: Chedva K for belly's button}

outfit with a past: abcd design

This week's outfit with a past comes from Amy of ABCD Design. Not only does Amy has an impeccable taste and a gorgeous blog, full of inspiration and in-depth impressions about art and design, she also celebrated her third "bloggiversary" recently with the coolest series of giveaways. Thank you for sharing your amazing story with us, Amy!

Hello everyone! My name is Amy Beth Cupp (ABC!) and back in 2007, I married Mr.D! I know what you're thinking, it was meant to be, right? ABCD. What are the chances? To be honest, it took us three chances. I first met him at the gym in 2001. We went out on three dates in 2002. After the third date, we went our separate ways, having never even held hands - let alone share a good night kiss! It would be three years before I would see him again. 

We met for the third time in 2005. I had dyed my hair from blonde to black. I was walking out of the gym, and he was walking in. Within 30 days of dating, I turned 30. He took me to dinner and I ordered espresso with my dessert. There were so many grinds in the cup, I suggested "If you were an old Turkish lady, you'd tell me my fortune!" He took the cup and swirled it around. His face got pale and his eyes opened wide...

The espresso grinds formed a heart in the bottom of the cup.

We began traveling together almost immediately after we went on our first date. Within two months of courting, we had already made it to Chicago to meet my best friend, Knoxville and Detroit to introduce one another to family, and just for kicks, he invited me out to San Francisco for a long weekend. 

Enter: the fuzzy, hand-knit cream color boucle sweater. It was just about Halloween (my favorite holiday) and he agreed to take me to a 'Haunted House' tour over in the East Village. I was running behind at the gym, so I decided to shower there. I also ran a razor over my knee cap just *in case* he reached over to touch my knee during dinner. As bad luck would have it, that was a huge mistake. 

The next day we flew to San Francisco. During the flight I noticed a 'bug bite' on my knee. Upon landing, we strolled around the City and I bought the yarn that eventually I knitted into this sweater. The next day I awoke to a sore leg. On the third day I couldn't walk. And on the fourth day, there were red streaks traveling up my leg towards my heart. I ended up in the San Francisco emergency room. Had I waited any longer to have it treated, I could have died. Turns out that I had picked up a staph infection on my knee cap from shaving in the locker room.

Long story short, I knitted this sweater when I was in recovery from the terrible infection I had on my knee. For most of November, I could barely walk. And now, every time I wear this cuddle-love sweater I am reminded of how my new boyfriend (at the time) took such good care of me while nursing me back to health. 

And as I am sure you can figure out the rest of this story, can't you? I caught the bouquet at my best girlfriends wedding... and the rest is history! 

Thanks so much for asking me to tell my story Chedva! It is an honor.

design crush: david easton

One thing I'm drawn to in design is intelligence. Another thing is warmth. Imagine how crush-worthy is a designer that lets both of these sensibilities lead his work.

Yes, I'm talking about David Easton.

Look at this living room. Modern, Classic, Simple, Cozy, Clever - all these big, big words come to mind after just a brief look, don't you agree? But above all, I think, this is A Room I'd Want To Spend Time In- isn't that the ultimate goal of a space (a space intended for living, at least)?

{while his interiors are all about simplicity, Easton's vignettes ooze with old world charm}

His new book Timeless Elegance has been doing the blog rounds, so I was already sold on it, but today when I heard him on The Skirted Roundtable podcast, I fell head over heels for his design philosophy. The fact that he has a great sense of humor and loves reading sci-fi books didn't hurt for sure.

Had any of you bought/read Timeless Elegance already? What are your thoughts?

Make sure to hop over to The Skirted Roundtable, it's always a great listen.

{images: David Easton, The Skirted Roundtable; quote: interview for Glam}

 

 

show time, furniture show time

Last Thursday (I can't believe that's almost a week ago!) I went with Shira Abel to Casa10. Casa10 is an annual furniture show held in Tel Aviv that used some very big words to promise a grand show.

Well, it was a yawn. But I won't linger on with the negativity because:

-The company was good. Scratch that, the company was excellent! Not only is Shira so much fun to be around, she's also the editor of Tchochkes and she even wrote a Tel Aviv guide for Design*Sponge, and a great one at that.

-Some of the companies and designers shone through the sea of blandness.

Multi media artist/designer Joy van Erven from Godspeed created a living area, recycling and repurposing leftovers from the other stalls in the show. Aside from that, he was so very nice to talk to. <JVE, Godspeed>

 

Vardi can print whatever you wish on their marble and ceramic tiles. I loved the backsplash in this corner, and how cool is the option of matching your textile and tiles?

<Vardi>

 

Another company that offered amazing tiles and lattice-work is Ruchama Sharon. They actually looked even better in person, and I can't wait to use them somewhere.

<tiles, lattice>

 

Gorgeous stoves from Godin. I think these were the highlight of the show. Just gorgeous.

<kamin>

How cool are these bikes? (hint: very cool) Supposedly, they're better for your back and legs. I don't ride so I can only tell you this: pretty.

<electrabike>

Next time: Florentine (a south TLV neighborhood). I can tell you right away we won't be disappoinred there.

{images: jve, vardi and godin- photography by chedva k for belly's button; casa10 logo- casa10; tchochkes logo - shira abel; rucahama sharon images- from the company's site; electra-bike images- company's site}

a fresh look at homes

People have always been intrigued to take a peek into their fellow humans abodes, but ever since sites like Apartment Therapy, and later on, The Selby started to pop, it became all the more popular and "excusable". But as these sites grow and become more magazine-like, we start questioning: how authentic the featured apartments/houses actually are?

Here is a round up of some sites and blogs (it becomes harder and harder to tell the difference) that challenge the authentic/polished ratio in home tours and dare to tell a different story.

 

Frontliners is the joint effort of Natalie Walton, of Daily Imprint fame (where she interviews artists and designers, and which I could write a whole other post about) and Real Living magazine with photographer Kata Varga. In Frontliners, they document the homes of creatives that evolve into couples and families and the impact of this change on their homes and on their passions.

 

Leslie Williamson's blog is a bit different. Her project of photographing designers at their homes was actually published as a book, Handcrafted Modern, this month. In her blog, Leslie shares bits and pieces with the same concept in mind. Fascinating, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the actual book! Aside from the blog, Leslie also has a site where you can see other projects of hers as well.

 

Liz Arnold's Homebodies is a different story all together. Liz writes about interiors for magazine, and in her own words:

"I write about design and interiors for magazines, but—did you know this?—writers like me never set foot in those spaces. We report from emailed jpegs, and ask interior designers and architects a lot of questions. This is my blog about the homes of people I actually visit. There’s no criteria, and subjects approve content.

Invite me over soon?"

What do you think of these sites? Aren't they refreshing? I'm not over my love for styled, polished interiors, be it in a magazine or online, but they definitely keep the balance, don't you think? Do you have in mind more home-tour sites/blogs I should be following?

{images: frontliners, leslie williamson, homebodies; layouts: chedva k for belly's button}

outfit with a past: scandinavian chic

Our outfit with a past contributor today is Dagny a.k.a Scandinavian Chic. With a gorgeous blog and aesthetic, two sweet daughters and a knack for everything colorful and chinoiserie, the only way D could be more fabulous is were she to open an international meeting place online for design bloggers. Oops, she did just that! Don't forget to visit her and join Design Refuge right after you read all about her outfit with a past.

Hi everyone!! Very excited to be sharing a very special outfit with you (at least it is to me). The past this time, is very recent, as we got married in August :)

The outfit is what I wore to both our pre wedding party AND our after party. The pre wedding party was at a beach club in Barcelona with our closest friends and family, and it was such a special night for us. We enjoyed good food, great music and created some memories I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

 

<From the Hotel lobby at H10 Marina, where we spent the first few days in Barcelona>

 

<Later same night, but at Shoko Beach Club>

I don't think I've ever felt more comfortable in an outfit, it really represents my personal style to a T. Fun, colorful and very very me. The dress is by French Connection and the sandals are by Zara (don't they have great shoes??).

At our after wedding party back in Norway, I was supposed to wear my wedding dress the entire evening, but late night, I just HAD to slip into my striped dress again to party the night away and eat the rest of the mini cupcakes :)

Can't wait to wear it again!!

Hope you liked my outfit :)

xoxo