Vintage Rocking Chair Makeover

Remember this vintage rocking chair Julianne and I picked up for $70 for Mason's nursery?

We just picked up the chair from the upholsterer this weekend, and look at it now!!

Eeep! It's so awesome!

I really love how the silver nailhead trim turned out - definitely makes the chair feel fresh. And our fabric choice looks incredible. This was definitely a big piece for the room, so Julianne and I are so happy to have it back so we can finish pulling the room together. Looks like little Mason will have a finished nursery in a couple of weeks.

If you are local to the DC area I have to highly recommend our upholsterer - Hakan Saka of Simply Reupholstery. When we dropped off the chair, Hakan had several beautiful pieces under construction in his workshop that were gorgeous. He did a fabulous job on our own piece, was so great and responsive to work with - and he did it all quickly and for a fair price. You can contact him via email at simplyreupholstery@hotmail.com. I sent him pictures of the chair and some questions and he got right back to me with an estimate and to arrange the work. I will definitely be going back to him with future projects!

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

Friday Crush

Image via Pinterest via Flickr via this means I don't know the source

Can anyone name the designer of this fantastic dining space that I believe was featured in domino back in the day? The color scheme of red + black + cobalt is quite fetching. And the chairs are fantastic (leather seats?) and I love a modern lacquered dining table - reminds me of this one. Yet another image that I find making the case for white walls (and high ceilings, though I already worship that tenet).

Have a wonderful Halloween weekend! Carter is running the Marine Corps Marathon this Sunday so let's all pull together and send him lovely thoughts to keep him motivated circa mile 22. See you Monday!

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Steven Shell's Painted Pieces

I've spoken of Steven Shell's line of painted furniture before - I've never quite seen anything like it. Did any of you High Pointers come across their booth while visiting Market?

Since I didn't attend HPM, I asked the company to send me some images of their display pieces to share with you guys...

I loved this pink dining room that was part of their marketing emails. ADORE the silver lion head on the back of the pink upholstered armchair and that chandelier is a showstopper.

Another, more colorful, arrangement from their marketing campaign:

A paisley-painted shelf and a variety of painted chests:

Traditional lines juxtaposed with bright paint and pattern makes these pieces so unique. And I have to say that I've never seen a traditional wingback chair with a tie-dye appearance:

Two of these chairs placed opposite a traditional, solid-colored sofa would really make a room.

Check out all of Steven Shell's wares at www.stevenshell.com

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Luli Sanchez

I first discovered the work of Lourdes (Luli) Sanchez via Pinterest and I can't get enough of her art and textile designs. She spent time in the fashion industry designing prints and now paints and designs patterns that are applied to all manner of items, including home decor.

All images via lulisanchez.com

Her use of color is stunning and her loose patterns are absolutely gorgeous. How one can imagine them and then execute it by hand is awe-inspiring.

Ms. Sanchez has a current collaboration with West Elm, of which these pillows are my favorite:

I believe her collection likely had more items - I'm not sure how long it's been around.

Lourdes Sanchez - photo by Ramon Estevanell

What a delightful talent.  Have you seen Luli Sanchez's work before?

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Adorable Menagerie Table Set for Kids

One thing I've learned designing Mason's nursery is that there is a lot of ugly kid stuff out there...all designed with good intentions to stimulate little senses with bright colors and contrasting patterns.

Then, occasionally, I come across something so divine that I think "Why can't all kids stuff look like this?" Like this beautiful, beautiful whimsical menagerie table set from Paloma's Nest:

I want this table for myself. Isn't it so gorgeous for a little one? And I love that it can be a blank canvas for your own paint and imagination if you want it to be. I mean, that elephant chair is just too much. If I was snapping this up for a nursery, I would paint it in various pastel shades to keep the set looking sweet, but you could also punch it up with bright paint for a playroom.

It's not inexpensive at around $600 for the table and two chairs, but good design is worth the price. It would be a splurge-worthy focal point, though I know rugrats will eventually draw all over it and spill juice and gogurt on it and whatnot.

You can also buy just the chairs or just the table individually. And you can choose from a giraffe, rhino, gorilla or elephant for the chairs. Any of them would be such a sweet addition to a little person's room.

»Click Here to Leave a Comment«

 

Scenes from My Birthday

I turned 30 on Saturday and Carter, my family and friends spoiled me with a *spectacular* birthday party. Please note my birthday cake - the product of my sister Adriana's thoughtfulness.  It was an AO birthday!! Awesome and delicious.

The man who made it all happen. Let the record show that Carter flew in my favorite 8-layer caramel cake from South Carolina for my birthday breakfast! Well played, Big C. He then treated me to a gorgeous day and did all the planning and organizing for my fete. I'm a lucky lady.

My lady friends. Note preggo Julianne on the end - she's Mason's mom and my current favorite interior design client.  Carter had all my bffs, my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, his dad and my brother-in-law and his boyfriend over for dinner before the Throwdown Party. He pulled off a dinner party for 16 with help from my sister. It was amazing.

This is me at my Throwdown Party marveling at a slideshow Carter had created of pictures of me through the years. From newborn to wedding pictures and everything in between. I was stunned and thrilled to see my awkward braces and frizzy hair projected on a big wall for all to see. But truly, it was so touching and sweet of him. Note my bananas awesome cocktail ring.

And this picture pretty much sums up the rest of evening. That's me cutting a rug with my sister....and it all goes downhill from here. There was A LOT of dancing, revelry and overall good times.

THANK YOU to all those who celebrated with me and made this happen. It was definitely the best birthday I've ever had and one that I will always remember.

Now on to the fourth decade of my life...

»Click Here to Leave a Comment«

p.s. Huge shout-out to my brother-in-law Chuck, the evening's photographer.

 

Friday Crush

Design by Suzanne Kassler via Traditional Home via Velvet & Linen

Loop love. Fascinated by how the loops of the Elkins chairs are picked up in that insane mirror. Also love the mix of dining chairs, sconces, celadon grasscloth and golden ceiling! What a fetching space to dine in.

I'm off to turn 30 this weekend...looking forward to spending my birthday weekend celebrating having fun and spending time with great friends and family. Hope your weekend is fantastic - see you Monday!

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

Dreamy Lilac Bedroom

Lest I allow a full week to go by without mentioning the current it color lilac/violet/purple/plum/lavender, I give you this completely dreamy bedroom from Phoebe Howard:

Image via phoebehoward.net

This gorgeous bedroom is actually one of the jaw-dropping vignettes at Phoebe's store, Mrs. Howard, in Atlanta. Not sure if they still have it set up, but I saw it in person when I visited two years ago and the space does not disappoint.

Some points:

1) Although the right shade of lavender can be hard to find in coordinating tones for bedding or accessories, you can always paint your walls your favorite shade and then keep the rest of the room white and neutral. 

2) My favorite piece is the wood chest. It creates a beautiful contrast against the pastel lilac and whites of the room.

3) As a piggy-back to yesterday's topic, Phoebe has the bed in the center of the bedroom here. I remember thinking that is was quite a striking arrangement and really liked it in person. What do you think?

Can you tell I really like Phoebe Howard? And lilac/lavender/plum/violet? Recurring themes on this blog...

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Back-to-Back

Via Phoebe Howard

Via La Dolce Vita

Oh, to have a space large enough to create two seating areas back-to-back! And it doesn't hurt that both examples are waterside.

I l-o-v-e Phoebe's take at the top with a palette of greens and whites mixed in with wood tones and natural elements. The little sofa side tables are awesome. Worth noting is how she put a console table between the two sofas - adds some interest and height to the center of the room with the lamp.

The bottom example (sorry, don't know designer/source) is decidedly more modern approach to a watery view. That sofa is likely custom seeing as how it's two-sided and I don't see those very often. The furniture here is not quite my style by I really, really enjoy the crystal chandeliers.

In a large space, do you think splitting it down the middle with a back-to-back arrangement works? Or do you prefer to set up seating in smaller vignettes that leave the center of the room open? You know, if we're talking in hypotheticals?

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

GP&J Baker Nympheus

For several months, I have been obsessing over a fabric pattern called Nympheus by GP&J Baker (a line now under Lee Jofa). I saw a listing for a yard of the blue/green colorway on eBay.

eBay listing

I didn't get it but this fabric has so many amazing colors to work with! Blues, green, violets and pinks all used together to create a gorgeous scene. And I truly love anything that combines water fowl and water lilies, like my beloved Lotus Garden.

I would use this fabric for curtain panels and pair it with light-orchid-painted walls, a green loveseat and some blue chairs, like these:

Loveseat

Chair

And maybe a crazy brass coffee table. How would you use it?

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Katie Rosenfeld

Photo by Michael Lee via katierosenfelddesign.com

I have been walking around with the above image as the background wallpaper of my phone since I saw it on Chinoiserie Chic. I am so enthralled with it that I need to look at it every two point five seconds (the obsessive frequency with which I check my phone).

New England-based Katie Rosenfeld is the mastermind behind this space and I am so thankful to Beth for introducing me to her STUNNING Chinoserie-influenced interiors. Katie Rosenfeld knows what she is doing.

Katie Rosenfeld

If you would like to start your week completely motivated, inspired, and excited about life, then you need to take a moment and peruse Katie's portfolio.  Some of my favorites:

Photos by Michael Lee

Happy Monday!

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

Friday Crush

Design by Kelly Wearstler via materialgirlsblog.com

A crushtastic little girl's bedroom from Kelly Wearstler in dreamy tones of violet and tangerine. Wow! I know orange goes with everything, but I had not considered it with a light lavender tone and seeing as how lavender, plums and orchids are all the rage, I thought this bedroom was spot-on with current decor yet totally timeless and classic in its appeal and lines. And that, my friends, is a run-on sentence.

Have a fantastic weekend...see you Monday!

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

Quadrille-Look Wall Stencil

I so wish I had the patience to stencil. I'm too messy and impatient, but using a stencil is a relatively easy (though slow and detailed) way to achieve a smashing look on your wall.

I found this awesome stencil below via Etsy - it's based on Fez embroidery and it definitely has a Quadrille look about it.

Link to Etsy Listing

If you are meticulous, you can achieve a result similar to Danika's hand-painted mudroom which was based on Quadrille's Trellis Background.

You HAVE to read her post about how she hand-painted this wall. It will leave you feeling inspired and woefully inadequate. I am always STUNNED at what this woman can do with paint and creativity.

Have you tried a stencil in your house?

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «

 

Green Leopard Loot

Scoooooore! (a la Univision soccer commentator)

I nabbed a pair of these leopard print pillows from Dana Gibson that were on One Kings Lane yesterday. Did you happen to get the LivingSocial deal for OKL that ran a couple of weeks ago? (I tweeted the link to it...) Well, I did. And the deal was $35 for $70 worth of merch.

I told myself I would hold on to the certificate to buy something lovely, but practical, from OKL as I run across things I really like on that site ALL THE TIME. Well, the practical bit went out the window when I saw this circular, green, modified leopard print situation yesterday.

I'm thinking the pillow pair will be a great addition to the bed in my guest bedroom/office. The room is currently woefully neglected but I've been constructing my plan slowzky and I think it will turn out great.

Here's what I'm thinking for a color scheme:

The leopard pillows will fit right in!

p.s. There are still some items left in the sale...click here

» Click Here to Leave a Comment «