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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Quadrille

Have you checked out the Quadrille website lately? Ever? Well, you're in for a treat!! You can view all the fabulous fabrics and wallpapers from Quadrille, Alan Campbell, China Seas and Home Couture. It was amazing how many of my all time favorite rooms have fabrics or wallpapers from one of these lines. I tried to find a few images that are not on the site for you...


Tom Scheerer
I have had this tagged in an old magazine for years!! I tried to find it under my bed but no luck. It is a disgrace under there. Would you not love this as your entrance hall? I would be greeting visitors all day!!





Same wallpaper in yellow. Love the bed. I imagine this is a guest room and, if you know who it belongs to, tell them I am ready for my visit!

Update: I just got a comment from a reader letting me know this is a room designed by one of our favorites, Kelly Wearstler. It is from a small, boutique hotel, Maison 140 in Beverly Hills, CA. So I CAN go stay there!! Maybe, one day. Check it out here. Don't you love the blogging world? Thank you Dave!!



The ottoman adds all the fun and punch!


Ruthie Sommers

This room is from a Domino makeover feature.


Alan Campbell - Deauville


All the Best

Love the pillows! Quadrille-Paradise Background



Fairfield Country Look

Love the green and brown. I know it is hard to see the fabric but don't you just like this little breakfast nook?

Love it? Do you want to see more? Click here.
Grab your Diet Coke or wine (depending on the time of day) and get ready for some beautiful rooms, it's like a slide show for adults. Enjoy!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Coincidence?



This is just weird. I was looking at My Notting Hill Monday and they had these fabulous shots from the Washington Design Center's Spring Design House. The pictures popped up again on Shelter on Tuesday. Don't you LOVE this built-in bed?


Are you wondering why I think it is weird?
Do you remember the shots from my daughter's room?



Yep! Built-in bed. The difference? Well, many, but the main one is that a decorator designed that bed and I designed my daughter's bed on a piece of scrap paper...next time I will call a decorator.


The other difference? Theirs is finished. I am still looking for the "perfect" fabric to cover the walls with. That will make a HUGE difference and give it a cozier feel plus add much needed color. Plus, I need decent sconces. These were on sale at Pottery Barn and I ordered them in a panic when the electrician said he just had to have something to put up. Does the man have no patience? I would have found something in the next 6-12 months! There is a trundle which I do love and lots of storage. The other thing that I thought was a coincidence was the sconces...


Aren't they great? They are huge. How do I know?



I have the same sconces! I picked the darker shades(mistake? I don' think so. I tried the oatmeal colored shades but they got lost against the wall color), but they are the exact same light fixtures. They look extra dark because the lights are not turned on. I am a little embarrassed to show you this picture as we are in the middle of a little project on the fireplace wall. Don't be scared. It will be much better. I promise!! I hope!!!





Right now it is dreadful, but soon..hopefully soon, we will get it all together. It has been like this for a year. Doesn't everyone live with wires hanging out of the wall? Why has it been so long? I can't commit to a plan. I keep changing my mind. (Ritalin anyone?) Thank goodness my husband is very patient. Right after I took this picture I watered my plants, they look much peppier now.



Can you tell anything from this drawing? The wall will be covered in wainscoting, but I will need to make some adjustments since I bought sconces 4 times bigger than planned. Don't you think it is better to go for it and not have something dinky? I am also on the hunt for something round to hang over the fireplace. I am going to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta in June and hope to find something FABULOUS and unique there. I have something fun planned while in Atlanta....more details later.....

Don't forget to check out My Notting Hill for more pictures of the Washington Design Center's Spring Design House..click here.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

spring fashion

I have a dear friend, Kelley Frey, who owned one of the hippest, cutest stores in Boston..Wish. Maybe you read about the store. It was featured in Lucky magazine. She has since moved to Connecticut and is working as a personal shopper. She was kind enough to make a list of her favorite items for spring. Check out what she is loving right now..All the comments are from Kelley. I saved my two cents for the end.


Interested in anything? Click on the highlighted description for more info.

Also, for some strange reason all the type is not the same. There are several different fonts and, for the life of me, I can not figure out why! User error? Probably, but after numerous attempts to correct the problem I had to choose between my sanity or several hours on the #@&*%@* computer...I chose my sanity. I hope it is not too difficult to read. At least the pictures look good.


Velvet Martha Dress $106

"I don't love the way this looks on the model...she is too tall for it (poor thing!) I would live in this all summer! Have I mentioned I LOVE dresses?"



"This dress also comes in a BEAUTIFUL shade of cornflower blue. I am not a HUGE fan of the "maxi-dress", mainly because they don't seem that practical to me. I could see wearing this one out to dinner or to a summer bar-b-que, though, with plain ol' flip flops! "


Susana Monaco Dress $141

"You can find this in a jillion pretty colors...
"












"I adore bracelets. I think it is a great way to accessorize without too much "risk!" They don't compete with your outfit the way a statement necklace and earrings can (though I love some of those, too!)"



V-neck Ruffle Dress $78

"Another cute dress form J. Crew
"






Diane Von Furstenberg Diamond Print Dress $325


"I am a huge fan of dresses and I think this is a good mix of casual and dressy enough to wear to a party. Flip flops, sandals, whatever. I have to admit they didn't have it in yet so I haven't tried it on. the ONLY concern I have with this one are the pockets on the upper thigh....hmmm."


















Three Dots Tank Dress With Tie $125

"I think I love this...could be super flattering, but might look best on someone more endowed or someone with a great bra! (I like Le Mystere for that!)
"





"Milly is bar none my favorite designer. Her name is Michelle Smith, she is incredibly talented, adorable, and soooo nice!! She is the kind of girl you want to go to lunch with! (Sissy...she also has amazing style with interiors...I am hoping she will launch a "home" line!) She uses this jersey fabric every season, and it is AMAZING!! Sooo comfortable and magically flattering, as so many knits are not!"





Theory Cropped Pants $225

"These pants are sooo cute!! They have that look of the "boyfriend" pant/jean, without being sloppy and unflattering!! I did not buy them "big"; I bought my regular size...I thought they looked better. Again, I don't quite get showing these with heels...I will probably wear them with sneakers!"





Vince Wrap Tie Cardigan $235

"I am LOVING a long cardigan this season. They seem so practical to me, as I am always cold when I am inside. I think this looks great with shorts, bermudas, capris, and jeans. I like the ones that button, too."





Tibi Butterfly Halter Tank $230


"Another one of my favorite designers! I have this fabric in a dress, though I really want the top too! (The top also comes in navy for those who are afraid of green)I adore dressy tops with white jeans for late Spring and Summer...so fresh!I think this neckline is flattering on many women especially those with narrow shoulders like myself."



Joe's Jeans Chelsea Ankle Jeans $169



"I have not, and do not plan to hop on the skinny jean band wagon. However, these ankle jeans are so cute, so flattering and so comfortable. i personally would not wear them with heels (MAYBE a wedge) but these look great with dressier tops and tees..flip flops and pretty sandals."


Great selections Kelley!!


As for my two cents...I love them all but my very favorites are the long dress, cropped pants and cardigan. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a long dress, I must have 15. I think it is the hippie in me, or Stevie Nicks. I would also love the cropped khakis with the long cardigan. I would pair them a vintage rocker tee and Chuck Taylors if I were running errands. For a dressier look I would mix it with a ruffled tank and a wedge sandal.




picture from The Sartorialist

The cropped pants and cardigan reminded me of this stylish girl from the streets of New York. It just goes to show khakis can look very hip and stylish.



I don't know about you but I've got some shopping to do! Thanks Kelley! Be sure to check out Kelley's website here.














Monday, April 27, 2009

Earth Day

Last Wednesday was Earth Day. To celebrate we rode our bikes to school. It was a beautiful morning and I felt like June Cleaver..I should have worn a dress and pearls but it didn't seem practical. Sure the school is only a mile away, but I probably saved an ounce of gas and a whole cloud of pollutants by not driving my giant car.



Here we are right before we took off. Poor Butterball, we snatched him right up out of his crib, threw him his bottle and strapped him in his seat. Thankfully he seemed to enjoy it. So Earth Day got me thinking about how I can do my part without getting to granola-y. I know we all want to do our part, but most of us want to do it while wearing deodorant and looking cute. Here are a few ideas and items to help you decorate and live more green...




We all have to clean and if you aren't familiar with Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products you should give them a try. They are environmentally safe and smell divine. I love the Lemon Verbena and even when I don't have time for a good cleaning I love to spray a little of this around to make my house at least smell clean and fresh.

Grocery totes: $9.95 If you are going to schlep bags back and forth to the grocery store at least make sure they look cute. Love these from Swoozie's.




Oyster Shell Candle Holder: $49

Who knew oyster shells could look so good? $49..I don't know. I live at/near the beach and I may just have to get out my handy glue gun and try to make a few of these before I part with $49 for one oyster candle holder. But I sure do like 'em!! Available at Wisteria.


Wine Label Burlap Pillow: $53.55 (on sale) Made from old French grain bags these pillows are available at Wisteria.




Seltzer Bottle Pendant: $395 It must be hard to find vintage seltzer bottles because these are not cheap. Still they're cool aren't they? Available at Sundance.


License Plate USA: $3,895 Also from Sundance. I love that the artist,
Aaron Foster, took old license plates and made something you would actually want to hang in your home. I would love this for my son's room.



Recycle Bangle Votives: $15 (set of 6) Have you ever wondered what to do with that drawer full of old bangles? Well, here's your answer! Available at Viva Terra



Reclaimed Indigo Oriental Rug: $95 (5 x 8) Made from recycled plastic bottles! Indoor/outdoor and reversible. Viva Terra


Misprint Lanterns: Med: $27 Large: $39 Sometimes the metal sheets used to make Coke cans have misspellings and can not be used. Instead of throwing them out, they are now being used to make these festive lanterns...now that's green! Viva Terra


Recycled Glass Olive Lamp: $429 I really love the look of this lamp. The color of the lamp and the shade together is perfect, my two favorite colors. The base and finial are made from recycled glass. Viva Terra

So if you must buy, try to buy green and if that doesn't appeal to you, you could just go green..literally.

Domino


Domino



InStyle Magazine


See, it's not so hard being green.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Backyard & Bikinis

I live in an older neighborhood with alleys that run behind the houses. This means that everyone parks in the back of their houses. There are no driveways in the front, or very few.






This is all very charming, but it also means that everyone can drive down your alley and get an eye-full of your backyard. Not a huge deal, but still, what if I want to mow the grass in a bikini? If that were to happen I would need a lot of privacy. Most people have fences or garages that shield their homes from view. But not us. We are out in plain view.







Well, I have gotten an idea that I must have a gate....we have bushes that form a natural fence and just need something to block off the driveway. A gate would be perfect. It would add privacy as well as charm. I have been looking and came up with a few examples of what I like...



Option #1
I think this is my favorite. Simple, clean and I love how it dips in the middle.



Option #2



Option #3



Option #4



Option #5




Option #6

Keep in mind ours won't be near as grand as these. I am just using these as examples of the style I want.
Do you have a favorite? I am leaning towards #1 or #6. This is all big talk right now because I haven't even called the contractor to get some quotes. You know it will all depend on that pesky little matter of money. I do think it would greatly increase our quality of life, don't you? It will help keep the toddler in the yard safe and sound. It will add privacy. It will add charm as well as additional security. Not to mention hide our dying grass (Bill, are you reading this? These are all very good reasons we NEED this gate). Let me know what you think and I will get some quotes and get back to you.

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