Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

In addition to my passion for great design and skilled craftsmen, I highly value fine art. Recently, I've found the delicately composed work of fine artist Carel Fabritius to be contemplative and profound.

This Dutch, Baroque painter of portraits, genre and narrative subjects was one of Rembrandt's most promising and significant pupils and greatly influenced the 17th century stylistic development of the school of Delft. Tragically, Fabritius passed at the age of 32 in an explosion at a gunpowder magazine in Delft, along with most of his work. He was rediscovered and celebrated by Theophile Thore-Burer the esteemed 17th century French critic.

Today his works can be found at the  Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and National Gallery of Art Washington D.C as well as museums in Canada, London, France and the Netherlands. Should you find yourself with the opportunity to view his work in person, I hope you find it just as mediative as I do.

Can you believe this is my thousandth blog post? I love sharing my style picks and inside looks at my life with you all. I started blogging on July 27, 2009 because I wanted to show you all an inside look at my apartment redesign. It has evolved into so much more! When I'm planning for the blog, I tear out inspirational images and stories that I think you'd love and pin them up to my wall. But, I'm dying to know: What would you like to see more of? Let me know in the comments below.

I have to say, I'm not normally a fan of wall stickers. But Jonathan Adler has managed to prove me wrong with a new line of temporary adhesives that manage to be both cheerful (a must, since temporary decor by definition shouldn't take itself too seriously) and utterly chic.

The nylon decals are a collaboration with Wall Pops, and have the designer's signature trippy, '70s vibe. The seven patterns come in mix-and-match shapes, and are a delightful way to perk up a drab apartment or a dorm room, don't you think?