Orange Parsons Desk

I know I've been posting a lot on orange furniture lately, but I keep seeing it! And I get excited every time. I think this piece might actually be my favorite so far - an orange parsons desk.

I also think this orange parsons bookcase is AMAZING, and a little more subtle than the desk (ie a parsons desk is nothing new, but the bookcase is a little less common):

Aren't they fantastic? I really, really want the bookcase but it's that same issue of having nowhere to put it. But I'm 100% certain that it would make the most fabulous of focal points in a room.

Buy the desk here...
Buy the bookcase here...

 

Two Beds, One Headboard

I have always gushed about my love for twin beds in a guest bedroom. And this interpretation by Tom Scheerer gave me one more reason to love the arrangement:

Photo by Francesco Lagnese via House Beautiful

That shared headboard is wicked awesome (don't they say "wicked" in the Northeast? This home is in Maine).  Sometimes I am under the impression that twin beds only really work in a rather spacious room, but this headboard allows them to share a rather teeny wall quite well.

And on another note, I don't think you will ever convince me that an upholstered headboard and matching bedskirt are not chic. To me, the combo will always be fashionable. And I'm a huge, huge fan of tucked in blankets and simple coverlets...I sometimes love a plain, "non-puffy" bed for its simplicity. Like I won't drown in a pile of feathers while I'm sleeping.

Nicely played, Scheerer. 

Makelike Succulent Wallpaper

I am considering wallpaper for our kitchen. Specifically, this one called "Succulent" by Makelike:

Carter recently installed this glass subway tile as our backsplash, and it looks AMAZING (pictures coming, promise):

So, I'm thinking Makelike's Succulent picks up the aqua beautifully, and the chartreuse tone of what I interpret to be abstract cacti plays very well with the greenish yellow tones of the paint throughout our living and dining rooms (connected to the kitchen).

I received the sample in the mail yesterday and it's pretty awesome. We don't have a lot of wall surface area in our kitchen, so the paper would not cover much. But it would add a nice little dose of style. But I can't decide if I should go bold with the coral/red, or play it serene with the gray. Our cabinetry is white, and our granite is black and we have a black/white checkerboard floor. Both options would look good.

Which would you choose?

 

Thibaut Marathon

Welcome to happiness.

I discovered Thibaut's Marathon fabric this weekend. The pattern is fantastic and the colorways are perfect. Orange and Lilac are my favorite:

And I would like to use them together.

Happy Monday!

 

Friday Crush

I love the balance of masculine + feminine in this room. The rich, neutral tones are the perfect backdrop to the colors of the modern painting. And I love the deep, glossy floors contrasted with the white textured rug. Modern, artsy, cool, etc. From Massucco Warner Miller.

I've been bitten by the house projects bug again. I've taken a nice loooong break from house to-dos, but I'm itching to get some items complete. Up for possible completion this weekend: re-painting the main floor bathroom (for the 3rd time). Hope it gets done. See you Monday!

 

Olive Daybed

In sourcing CB2's office furniture for a project, I came across this daybed:

And it reminded me of my absolutemostfavoritestever living room from the domino book:

I've posted about this room before (likely several times) but the daybed instantly brought me back to why I love it SO. It's one of those room that I'll never stop staring at. And the daybed was always one of my favorite elements - love how it's smack dab in the center of the room.

Is this room one of your favorites, too? Tell me your favorite part.

 

Sofa as Art

I feel good about this sofa...

Couldn't you see it in a large, traditional living room painted a pale shade of pink with gray linen curtains? It would be the modern focal point that I so often love in a traditional space. Also perfect for an uber-chic, single gal's apartment. Or a nursery. Clearly this piece has many possibilities in my head.

From Anthropologie...

 

Fabric Deal of the Day

I'm your very own Groupon when it comes to fabric. Today's deal is this utterly divine ikat stripe situation in the most lovely shade of indigo:

The pattern is Persian Path Ikat Azure (hello, great name) by P Kaufmann. And it's only $5.58/yard! How can you NOT get it? Can you imagine a pair of matching club chairs upholstered with this? I can.

Click here to purchase at one of my most favorite online sources, fabric.com (they offer free shipping over $35 and free return shipping).

 

Colorful Otomi

This colorful Otomi lampshade...

Design by Anna Spiro, image from Absolutely Beautiful Things

Reminds me of the GORGEOUS painting that takes center stage in this living room:

Design by Liz Caan, image from La Dolce Vita

I've never seen this traditional Mexican textile depicted in a painting before. Not sure if the artist intended an Otomi motif, but it looks like it to me. 

The scale of the painting makes the room, don't you think? I love how it overlaps the wainscoting and touches the crown molding. And it makes everything else in the room look perfect together. 

On a side note, when I was recently in Mexico, I really had to hold back on buying a zillion dollars worth of Otomi linens at the airport. They are so so beautiful in person!

 

Friday Crush

Spotted this stunning guest room designed by Susan Tucker over on House of Turquoise. One thing I absolutely must have at some point is a guest room that boasts twin beds - I am dying to create this symmetrical look. The actual beds alone of this room are outstanding. But the wallpaper and touches of green and ivory, well, make it sensational.

See more of this room here...

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. See you Monday!

 

Modern Touch

Photo by Pieter Estersohn via Architectural Digest

The modern touch of the electric blue parsons table is wonderfully brilliant in this space. Overall this dining room is a wee bit too traditional for my taste, but with the table, I instantly love it. The juxtaposition of opposite elements always gets me.

Do you lean more toward cohesive spaces or ones that serve up some tension?
 

Orange Velvet Arm Chair

Today, I'm telling you that you need an orange velvet arm chair. And you should pair it with a color-drenched, patterned pillow and paint the room where it will sit a shade of minty-aqua. Like so:

Kudos to Home Decorators for selling this chair because the price is reasonable at $399 and it comes in orange velvet - a risk, as I would guess that the masses don't realize the potential of such a combination. Good thing we do.

 

Wallpapered Ceiling

Photo by Patrick Cline

I have been contemplating the ceilings of my house lately. The majority are all white, and that fact is starting to annoy me. I love a detailed ceiling and I adore rooms where the ceiling gets lost. Like this one by Angie Hranowsky in the latest issue of Lonny.

The only room with a painted ceiling in our house is our bedroom, mainly because it has awkward slanted bits, like this space, and painting it one uniform color made it all flow and feel more open. It's a brilliant little trick, but I like that Angie pushed the envelope by wallpapering with a divine orange and pink Chinoiserie paper - so perfect for a little lady.

 

Chocolate Phoebe

Let's start our week by delighting in this fantastic chocolate space by Phoebe Howard:

I love the herringbone decorative treatment in the fireplace, the rug, the Chinoiserie coffee table, the horn-ish garden stool/end table, and the fact that the whole room (including ceiling and moldings) is painted a glossy chocolate brown. Phoebe is so great at making a cohesive room that is so pleasing to the eye - she works with harmony as opposed to discord.

I spotted these images on the Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper blog - they are from Phoebe's room at the 2010 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

 

Friday Crush

Do you remember my friend Esther who gave me the heads up on this wallpaper? Well, I consider her my Parisian stringer as her job in the art world has her jet-setting between NYC and Paris (yes, I'm jealous). I spent some QT with her last weekend and she was showing me pictures of the venue for her upcoming wedding, in Paris, and this picture of the decorative marble floor was too lovely not to post. She will be getting hitched at le Pavillon de la Musique, Louveciennes whose rooms, let me tell you, leave absolutely nothing to be desired. A stunning place to exchange vows. And I was just looking at iPhone pictures...I can't imagine how gorgeous it is in person. Thanks for sharing Esther!

Have a fab weekend everyone...see you Monday!

 

Butterflies

Illustrator Caitlin McGauley launched a new website recently and I know we all enjoy her work for Lonny. I love that the new site lets you purchase some of her limited edition prints, and my favorite is below.

I think everyone needs a butterfly print. I have one and it's one of my favorite wall pieces in my living room. And this one by Caitlin is fantastic due to the pink background. Give this a black mat and a gold frame and you're in business.

 

The Power of Orange

Imagine a room with lavender walls and any single item below, and tell me if it's not the most amazing imaginary combination ever.

Orange. It's always amazing.

All of these goods are available for you via Jill Sorensen's "orange shop" at LiveLikeYou. Want to shop other colors? Click here.

 

Kristen Buckingham

If you were stunned into silence by the Chinoiserie etagere from yesterday, then you'll definitely want to check out Kristen Buckingham's portfolio (purveyor of aforementioned stunner).

Here is but a mere taste of what this Cali-based designer whips up:

All images via kristenbuckingham.com

Isn't her work amazing?! She spans the (what I like to call) "sensory overload" look all the way to clean and neutral, seamlessly. Love, love looking at her portfolio and discovering another fab designer. She is right up our alley. Enjoy.

 

Chinoiserie Etagere

Thought we should get this week started right. Have you ever seen a more perfect Chinoiserie specimen? The Laurent Etagere from Kristen Buckingham. This piece is available in custom finishes and you know a coat of high lacquer paint in say, cobalt blue, would elevate it to levels beyond human comprehension.

Hope your week is as beautiful as this piece.

 

Friday Crush

I was instantly attracted to these city guides currently featured on One Kings Lane. The modern cover design is so lovely and the array of colors would look splendid displayed on a coffee table or a bookcase. OKL has a good selection of destination/color combos...check them out here (you'll need an account to access). A great gift for your chic traveler.

Have a wonderful weekend...see you Monday!

 

Chinoiserie Matches

Even your matches can sport a Chinoiserie look with these incredibly adorable matchboxes from Annechovie:

Ginger Jar Matches

Worcester Jar Matches

Small packages. Good things.

 

Gold Stripe China Patterns

Y'all, I'm posting lots of china patterns these days. I love to look at it and find that this blog is the appropriate venue to show what I find. I can't get enough! I hope to one day amass a minimum of ten different patterns. One of my life goals.

So this time, I have found two wonderful gold STRIPE china patterns. I tend to lean toward gold versus silver when it comes to tableware and once you add a stripe, well, I'm all in.

First up is Serengeti by Haviland. Love the thicker stripe and the large gold border of the plates.

And second is Hemisphere Gold Stripe by Jean-Louis Coquet. It's a little Dr. Seuss, but juxtaposed with a gorgeous Chinoiserie dinner plate, this striped wonder would make the absolute most chic table I've ever seen.

I understand the allure of a simple gold-rimmed pattern but, personally, I need a little umph on my table and while I typically opt for colorful patterned place settings, these striped options bring home the glitz while sticking to a simple golden hue that can be mixed with my other (eventual) nine china patterns.