living with lynsey

I am really excited to announce a new series of posts today!  "Living with {insert friend's name here}" will feature the amazing apartments (and maybe homes, but I'm pretty sure we all still live in apartments) where my friends live.  I can't wait to show you all of the beautiful spaces they've decorated!  First up? Lynsey.

I feel so honored to be showing you my dear friend Lynsey's apartment today.  Lynsey recently moved back to Portland, Maine and has already perfectly decorated what just might be the perfect place.  I have always (i.e. since the 2nd grade) looked up to Lynsey as the big sister I never had, admiring her cool life and accomplishments.  This apartment is no exception.  I only wish I could live somewhere so gorgeous one day.  Lynsey's descriptions of her apartment are just as much fun as seeing the apartment itself! I love how excited she is about her new place :)

My friends Maria and CDR lived here before me. These are some of CDR's drawings that were left behind. CDR is an incredible illustrator and I love looking up from my desk to see that today is the greatest. I also find it can be difficult to fill a large wall, and this was perfect.

I found this table at Goodwill. It was completely covered in crayon. Blue, red, orange, green - someone had had a fun afternoon. I brought it home and scrubbed, and it all came right off. I was so happy! The chairs were left in an old apartment of mine by the previous tenant. I didn't love the fabric so I recovered the seats. They pop right out of the frame, so I just had to wrap some batting and material around them and staple. They are a bit creaky and old, but they are keepers.

This bedroom is the smallest I've ever had, and the coziest. It's really just meant for sleeping, which I think is perfect. The birds are from Blik and were left by Maria. I love them, plus they don't want to peel off of the wall, so they will be in flight as long as I live here.

I love to cook and bake, and since moving here I've found myself doing more of both. I added counter space with a little butcher block I've had for a few years. That is the only place to chop, so I am glad to have it. The poster above is the book jacket from I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot. It makes me happy.

I have a pantry! Where I can put extra things! That's all I have to say. It's very exciting.

The living room feels very protected and leafy, like I'm in a tree house. The map is of Vinalhaven Island where my grandparents live. The red chest is actually an old fashioned bar and has slots for all different cocktail glasses inside. It is one of my favorite pieces, but it's heavy and awkward to carry, and it has caused quite a bit of heartache (and pinched fingers) on every moving day. The painting above I bought just after I graduated from high school. I think it was $500. I had never even conceived of spending that much money. I remember starting to cry as I left the shop, and then I went back in to buy it. I don't know what came over me, but I'm glad it did.

The corner with the small bookshelf is my favorite spot in the apartment. I love books, I think they are the most beautiful thing you can have in a home. They add so much color and they are always interesting to look through. I also love the blue steamer trunk. I just recently pinched that from the attic at home (thanks mom and dad!). It used to hold my great-grandmother's silver, but it had been empty and dusty for years. Now it has a new home.

This is where I work, there is lovely light all day. You walk into this room from the front door, and it's actually quite spare; the only furniture is the desk and two chairs. I like having a calm space to walk into when I come through the door. The desk is a dining room table that was left in another old apartment (apparently the furniture gods like me). It had an old, patchy varnish so I painted it a high gloss white. The hobnail lamp I found at a neighbor's yard sale. And I hope my little cactus guy survives the winter. I'm giving him the sunniest spot.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Lynsey's Portland apartment as much as I did.  Let me know if you want to be up next in the series! Lynsey, thanks again for sharing. I can't wait to visit! xo