Do you still pin like a maniac? Yeah, me too. Pinning is how I like to decompress at the end of the day or find inspiration at the start of the week. So I thought I ought to start sharing Apt34’s top 20 pins each month – because I find it rather fascinating to see what you find rather fascinating. I hope this offers you as much Monday inspiration as it did me!

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

A dazzling dining room. Yup, I’m totally with you on this one. And I officially need those chairs in my dining room.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Super modern bathroom vibes. I love it all except those chevron towel on the tub. Not a fan.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34 Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

You’e been feeling some cool, casual summer style. Me too.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Monochromatic fireplace goals – check.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Similarly monochromatic kitchen goals. You guys are nothing if not consistent with your tastes. I throughly approve.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

And even monochromatic flowers.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Creating a perfect shelfie is indeed a never-ending quest.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34  

But this shelfie, featured in a show house I toured a couple years back, is pretty dang good.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Proof you can live in a well-designed home and not spend a fortune – those built-in bookcases are an ingenious Ikea hack!

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

And a similarly monochromatic way to display.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

The green kitchen trend is catching fire right now.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

And so is a bit more playful, saturated design.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34 Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

And apparently you’re already thinking about fall. Or maybe all my Pinterest followers live in San Francisco and so are desperately trying to make sweaters feel summery.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

Never under estimate the power of playing.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

And take the time to create the moodboard. This one is definitely speaking to my summer vibe.

Top 20 Pins of the Month on apartment 34

I am also always searching for the perfect way to make a modern bed. I think this one come close.

 

For more of my favorite Pinterest trends, CLICK HERE.

 pins 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20  

 

 

I have loved Pinterest from the moment it was invented. It remains one of my primary sources of inspiration (and the perfect thing to do on long car trips or while waiting in line). Pinterest is good Diane Keaton designed her entire dream house using the platform and wrote a book about. Even when Pinterest changes this or that to our chagrin, I just cannot quit it. So I decided to take a closer look at what caught your fancy on Pinterest in 2017. It was actually kind of fun to scroll back through all my 2017 pins and see what popped (though you do actually have to manually scroll, hunting for the most popular pins by sight. Ugh. Anyone have the Pinterest analytics silver bullet? I’d love you forever if you cared to share). It was fun to look back at all my 2017 pins, but the following ten pins had over 1.5 million views alone. There’s an interesting mix of spaces and styles. I’m intrigued to hear which one of these is your fave today.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

There’s nothing like a good display. I love how this image dresses up an Ikea cabinet (yes that’s ikea) with a mix of art, empty frames, canvases, books and ceramics. It’s a perfect example of how you can create a stunning set up with ordinary objects.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

It’s impossible to resist a good shelfie. This space was featured in a showhouse I toured in Seattle. Like the image above it plays on a beautifully consistent color palette – this time with hints of blue, gray and black to create an eye-catching entry.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

I was a little surprised this bedroom proved so popular as it’s a bit more rustic than my typical taste, but it’s clean, classic and approachable style certainly makes you want to dive right in.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

The hundreds of thousands of repins of this bathroom prove that square tile is going to stick around for awhile. Black accents too.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

I adore this kitchen and not just because I almost got that chandelier for our dining room or because my kitchen cabinets are virtually the same color.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

Proof that a minimalist shelfie can just as, if not more striking than a maximalist version.

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

Love this departure from the light and bright trend. Those warm wood cabinets are so super yummy and those hex floor tiles are just stunning. I definitely see the no uppers trend taking hold in the US this year. What say you?

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

I was thrilled to see a kids’ space make the top 10 pins, particularly because I’m determined to redo my son’s nursery in the first part of this year. It’s time for a proper toddler room!

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

This space is what wanderlust-filled dreams are made of. This is actually a hotel in Mykonos Greece that I was lucky enough to visit a few years back. Maybe I need to return in 2018!

top 10 pins of 2017 on apartment 34

There are a few consistent themes in this collection. There’s obviously a love for neutral color palettes, bright natural light and an open and airy feel. Certainly, all very easy things to love. And I was intrigued to see a moodboard make the top 10. It’s sentiments  – Carpe Diem, All for Love, Note: the least impressive thing I can be in pretty – are spot on. But I also love its rosy vibe. The ochre hues and hits of black help ground the playfulness, but it still feels fresh, bright and optimistic. After a dark feeling year, I think we could all stand to let more light in.

What are your favorite pins of the year? Share a link to your favorite pin in the comments. I’m always looking for more great pins!

Follow Apartment 34 on Pinterest HERE.

images: pin 1 / pin 2 / pin 3 / pin 4 / pin 5 / pin 6 / pin 7 / pin 8 / pin 9 / pin 10

It’s official. The Eames Shell Chair is giving the iconic Eames lounger a run for its money! It’s all over Pinterest at the moment and our current obsession for This is Very Pinteresting.

It seems like no dining room or office can be complete without a shell chair these days. It gives an instant touch of modern to a room and looks great juxtaposed with other styles. You can find the chair in a variety of colors and price points {like this, ahem, homage to the original} making it an easy addition to the home.

In the 1950’s Charles Eames with wife Ray Eames, reinvented modern furniture. Popular for their molded plywood techniques, and using materials like resin and plastic they began designing for Herman Miller. Their belief in functional, sleek, and simple design has resonated throughout the design world for decades and is to this day, obviously very popular with the Pinners. The only question is which color is the best {editors comment: I’d like a collection of them all!}.There’s also an Eames documentary that I’m dying to watch called Eames: The Architect and the Painter. Have you had a chance to see it? I’d love to know your thoughts on it. And be sure to come pin your latest obsessions with us right here!

image 1 via // image 2 via // image 3 via // image 4 via // image 5 via

This is Very Pinteresting is brought to you by our editorial intern Bianca of A Fabulous Challenge

Everyone was so enthusiastic about the debut of our new coloum, This is Very Pinteresting, so we decided to keep er goin’! For the second installment, we’re talking traditional Kilim rugs, specifically in modern spaces.

There’s no denying why Kilim rugs are oh so popular right now. They bring instant color, warmth and texture to a home, balancing out hard edges and grounding the stark minimalism of modern pieces. Not to mention, Kilims bring an international flare making a room look more collected and eclectic. They look especially good in a kitchen {which tends to be the most modern room of the home with stainless steel appliances and the latest cooking gadgets}.

However, Kilims have taken a place in virtually every room of the house! Let’s have a look.

Kilim {a Turkish word} is used to describe flat weave rugs made in the region between the Balkans and Pakistan. So, to clear this up for us geographically challenged folk, that includes big countries like Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran {formerly Persia, hence the synonym: Persian rug}, parts of North Africa and Asia. Besides the intricate patterns, geometric shapes and bold colors, the main characteristic of a Kilim is that it is pileless {Editors note: there is nothing that grosses me out more than pile rugs! It must be the dog owner in me!}

Kilim rugs are one of the oldest design traditions in the world, making vintage Kilims a sought after piece in the design world, often having a hefty price tag. To find the best deals on vintage Kilims keep up on sites like eBay and Etsy. I’ve been on the lookout for a perfect blue Kilim for a while now. I found one at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and was devastated that it was in horrible condition. However, I regret not getting it because I could have salvaged the good parts of the rug and made some awesome pillows!

What do you all think of adding a pop of color and eclecticism to a modern space? Have you had your eye on Kilim too? We’ll give you our Etsy secrets if you give us yours!

image 1 via // image 2 via // image 3 via // image 4 via // image 5 via // image 6 via // image 7 via // images 8 via

This is Very Pinteresting is brought to you by our editorial intern Bianca of A Fabulous Challenge

If you’ve had your eyes open around Pinterest lately, you have come across the popular Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. The tree has been in rooms featured in Lonny, Elle Decor, and Rue Magazine, and in homes of the likes of Jonathan Adler and Emily Henderson. It’s officially hit au courant status and is the first subject of the newest Apartment 34 Feature, This is Very Pinteresting! 

The fycus lyrata, or Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree {named after its large, leathery leaves resembling the shape of a fiddle} is native to West Africa where it can grow up to 40 feet tall. Loved for its height and the sculptural element it brings to a room, it makes for a perfect indoor plant, especially if you have an empty corner to fill! Let’s take a closer look into the tree that’s stealing everyone’s little design hearts.

fiddle leaffiddle leaf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some things you should know before buying the tree: 

– There are two varieties of the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. The column variety is the tree looking plant, with a bare trunk and leaves starting at about half way up the trunk. The bush variety is smaller {perfect on side tables and night stands} and the leaves start at the base of the trunk.

– You can find a plant measuring about 15” at your local gardening store for around $15. I recently bought a five foot Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree at a flower mart closed to designers, but open to the public during certain hours, for only $35! Anything over 5 feet, expect to pay at least $100.

Some things you should know to keep your tree green and healthy:

– The number one mistake people make is overwatering a plant. Water your Fiddle Fig Tree about every 10 days. A good tip is to measure how many cups of water it takes until the water seeps through the bottom of the pot. That way, you know exactly how much water is enough to soak the bottom of the roots because another mistake people make is not watering the plant enough. {My tree, in a 9 inch pot, drinks 7 cups of water every 10 days}

– The plant needs an abundant amount of sun. So, keep it in the sunniest spot of your room. {It will eventually lean towards the sun, so remember to turn the plant every couple of months}

– Since it’s an indoor plant, dust will collect on the leaves, attracting bugs and creating a barrier between the leaves and the sun. “Wash” the leaves with water and a soft towel every two months to ensure the best sun absorption.

What do you guys think? I’ve certainly fallen for the obsession, and I have to say, the Fiddle Fig Tree brings a life and a height to my kitchen that I love.

Will you be testing your green thumb and introducing this beauty into your home?

This is Very Pinteresting was brought to you by the new addition to Team Apartment 34, our intern Bianca of A Fabulous Challenge! I so hope you give her the warmest of welcomes! 

 images via here, here, elle decor, here, kirra jamison on sfgirlbybay, kim fisher designs on sfgirbybay