Friday Crush

Design by Tineke Triggs, Photo by Matthew Millman via House of Fifty

The hood/stove combination of this kitchen that I spotted on The Pink Pagoda this week is BLOWING MY MIND. That hood is enough to make me want to rip out my entire kitchen and install a new hood. And that's likely all we could afford, so we might just live off microwave meals after that. Details. Honorable mention goes to the hardwood floor, the cabinetry, and cabinetry pulls...everything is so well done in this space!

We went to look at flooring last weekend for our basement renovation and it was pretty overwhelming...but I think we're narrowing in on some choices. I'm hoping we move into the painting phase of the room soon! We have a weekend at home with no social plans, so I'm hoping to get many things checked off of my to-do list. Either that or re-run Downtown Abbey on the couch in my pajamas. Have a great weekend...see you Monday!
 

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A Matching Fabric Set

Like most things design, I'm equal opportunity when it comes to the combination of fabrics. I love walking into a room whose fabrics don't match, but coordinate. I also love walking into a room whose fabrics are a perfect matching set.

If you are in the mood for a matching set for your next project, consider the combination of these three fabrics by Richloom:

Antique Satin Alfresco Floral Thistle

Antique Sating Armstrong Stripe Thistle

Antique Satin Trolley Stripe Leaf

I just received samples in the mail of the bottom two and they are very lovely. I actually used the multicolored stripe in a blue colorway for Mason's nursery and really liked it. I think the color story of these three fabrics is unique - peach, plum, ivory, olive - very nice.

In a bedroom, I'd use the floral on a headboard and bedskirt, the multistripe on curtains, and the geometric stripe on furniture (chair seat) or pillows.

One thing to note is that all three of these fabrics have a satiny texture to them - they have a bit of sheen which makes them feel fancy. But they are all less than $15/yd, so fancy they are not. But using them all to full effect in a room would create quite the space.

Do you like your fabrics to match - ie. have the same colors, texture, manufacturer? Or do you prefer to use different fabrics with different colors/textures/patterns in a room?

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Handsome Wooden Bar Cart

We LOVE our bar carts, don't we? And as much as I worship the candy-colored or metallic options available, sometimes you need something a little more elevated. Which is why I'm completely enamored with this little cart:

It still has the Chinoiserie and fretwork details, but the wood makes it very sophisticated. And it has a diminutive footprint, so you really could tuck it anywhere. I think this particular cart is perfect for a library or study...or perhaps a man's office. 

Buy it here for around $200 (& free shipping!)...

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Colorful Chinoiserie Pillows

I was recently flipping through the pictures on my phone and came across this awesome pillow collection I spotted in a shop during our Lowcountry Tour.

Unfortunately, I don't recall the shop or the city but I should have known that Furbish would carry these pillows (or some that are very similar to the ones I saw).

Dragon Pillow

Pagoda Pillow

I love the vibrancy of the colors! Just one of these bold pillows could really make a room...like the dragon pillow on a pink wingback chair. I'll leave you contemplating that situation...

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More Nye

I am on a Joe Nye kick. He is responsible for my most favorite bedroom. And I'm really enjoying doing another lap through his work recently.

Look at this pretty table vignette. Thoughts:

- I love the wall color in this room. It's like a soft mint. Perfect companion to gold.
- Fresh flowers in a blue and white porcelain vase is a fantastic look.
- Have you ever thought of getting a small piece of granite or marble cut to sit on top of your favorite table? Like a pink slab on a walnut table? Or a green slab like Joe did here? And Joe doubled his up. Granite/marble is pricey but a wee slab could really add a lot to a small piece and you can likely get one for a good price from a remnant slab at a granite yard. That's a good idea.
- I haven't seen a lot of skinny buffet lamps recently. Are people moving toward the big gourd lamps, even on tables/vignettes like this? I like that these lamps keep this look very tailored.

Hope your week is off to a fantastic start!

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Friday Crush

Photo by John Coolidge via House Beautiful

Everything designer Joe Nye touches turns to gold. The man is a genius. And this entry vignette is simply stunning. I love how the vase on the right echoes the shape and color of the lamp, creating an almost symmetrical pair...but not really. And the touch of pink and silver to contrast with gold and black is just gorgeous. Six items rendered beautifully.

I have been under the weather this week and am really looking forward to finally shaking this cold. In other news, I think Carter and I are going to look at flooring for the new den this weekend! Hope you have a lovely weekend...see you Monday!

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Striped Canopy and Chinoiserie Bedroom

Let's continue our striped awning discussion from earlier this week...look at this striped canopy/awning-over-a-bed situation from Alessandra Branca:

Photo by Thibault Jeanson for Southern Accents; Design by Alessandra Branca

So gorgeous and dramatic and also relatively simple if you break down the elements. I think I could write a blog on just bedrooms with two twin beds because I love them that much - "House of Two Twin Beds Bedrooms." Tangent.

I think Ms. Branca's setup would be absolute perfection for a small room...one where the beds themselves really take up the floor space and once you pack in the fabric and a sliver of a wall treatment, you're done. Incredibly cozy and beautiful. 

This room is attainable with some elbow grease. There are so many amazing striped fabrics out there at equally amazing price points. And you could splurge on some yardage of a fabulous Chinoiserie fabric and wallpaper the wall with it like I did in my kitchen. For example:

I'm not 100% that these fabrics compliment each other in real life (samples!) but on my computer monitor, they make a great combination. The striped fabric is Waverly's Sally Embroidered Stripe in "Nest" . Per Ms. Branca's room, you just need a reaaaallly long piece to create the canopy and backdrop and a bit more for the bedskirts. And if you didn't want to make a fancy scallop edge on the canopy, I would just trim the straight edge with a bit of the Chinoiserie fabric or ribbon or Greek key trim.

Speaking of the Chinoiserie fabric, it's Schumacher's Shantung Silhouette in Mineral. Again, you would need one really long piece to upholster the wall. And if you had some extra money lying around, I would use this fabric to upholster the headboards of the beds which are very straight, so they would be relatively simple to make out of plywood. Maybe with some nickel-toned nailhead trim? Now we're thinking...

Top it all off white white bed linens, a jute rug, and a beautiful little nightstand (which I might do in a wood tone for contrast) and you've created quite a lovely space honoring Ms. Branca's talent and your good taste and DIY prowess.

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Warm Up a Child In Need

Thought I would take a moment today to tell you about a very worthy initiative underway by The Company Store. From now through the end of March, for every comforter purchased, The Company Store will donate a new comforter to a homeless child in need.

One of my favorite moments of the day is slipping into my bed at night and snuggling down under the warmth of my comforter. I am so grateful to be able to experience that sensation. I can only imagine what it would mean to have my very own, brand-new, soft comforter to keep and carry with me if I were homeless. I suspect it is an enormous comfort for a child and their parents.

I've always liked The Company Store for their vast array of options for bedding and bath basics. They carry so many colors that you are likely to find just the shade you need for your room. Some of my favorites:

 La Crosse Down Comforter

Love that lavender shade folded at the end of a bed!

 Supersize TCS Goose Down Blanket

A huge blanket in beautiful soft tones that are hard to find.

 Legends Royal Down Comforter

Total and complete luxury for your bed...and it comes in several different weights depending on the warmth level you're looking for.

So if you are in the market for a new comforter for your own home, check out The Company Store and know that your purchase will double in value.

Click here to read about the initiative and start shopping...

Striped Awnings

When Jamie posted a picture of this awning, it reminded me of two things.

#1 - I saw a fantastic indoor awning DIY on Pinterest a while back...it's completely adorable and very doable. Both of our upstairs bedrooms have alcoves that may need this decorative treatment ASAP.

#2 - Carter and I are about 90% sure we are going to opt for an awning on our front stoop when we tackle the house's exterior this spring. We both love the look of an old-school awning and our stoop is a bit exposed when it's raining and such. We think it will also give our plain little house a bit of character once we paint it and spruce up the front yard.

A quick Google search landed me on an awning manufacturer in our area (Thomas Shade Inc.) and look at the fun edge treatments we can pick from (all done with Sunbrella fabric):

I think I would opt for a classic stripe and any of these jazzy edges would look amazing! Will file this little nugget away for the spring...

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Vintage Lamps via Etsy

One of the things I obsessively search for on Etsy are vintage lamp pairs. Obsessively. I dream about all of the killer pairs that I find and I design entire rooms in my head around this old lighting. It's a lovely exercise in creativity.

With our basement renovation (which is really coming along thanks to Carter) I finally have the chance to bring one of these lamp pairs home...and there was a pair that I have been circling for a LONG time that I finally bought...

My new [old] lamps:

Aren't they SMASHING?! They are really tall and the most beautiful shade of salmon..and I absolutely adore their elongated ginger jar shape. I got them from a great Etsy shop - FauxBoo Finds - that specializes in vintage Hollywood Regency and Chinoiserie.

I'm thrilled to be using a vintage lamp set in our new den. Vintage lamps have a whole lot of character and can add such a delightful touch to a room. Using them in sets is my favorite way of incorporating them into a room. Not to mention that prices on a vintage set are usually much lower than what you would pay for one lamp new. Sometimes they need a little re-wiring, but that's a relatively simple task for you or a handyman (or Carter).

I devoted my January ideabook on Houzz to all of the vintage lamp pairs on Etsy that I've been drooling over recently.

Click here to see the full list...

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Friday Crush

Design by Todd Romano via isuwannee.com

It's been a while since I've featured a killer table vignette and this one by Todd Romano has to be one of my all-time favorites. I am completely obsessed with the color combination of lilac and tangerine and I love how those two hues pop amidst a sea of neutrals. And the console table is mighty rad as well - the loose Greek key and that scary-looking face are fantastic.

I am in desperate need of a recovery weekend...one of those weekends where you do absolutely nothing and allow life to slow down and get back to normal. Hope you have a relaxing weekend as well...see you Monday!

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Curling Iron Light Fixture

Oh, heeeey! I'm back. Sorry about that little blip in blogging.

Let's talk about Lindsey Coral Harper's spread in February's House Beautiful. It's nice and colorful and happy. I loved it and my favorite space was this bedroom:

Photo via housebeautiful.com (though I don't see the photographer's name)

That blue and green color palette that I've been digging so much is back in this space...I enjoy that the blue has a slight periwinkle touch to it. I love the wood tone of the trunk used as a mutual nightstand. And you know I LOVE guest rooms with two twin beds - and those upholstered headboards are killer.

But what caught my eye the most was the light fixture because it is one that I have had earmarked for quite a while. It was a contender for Mason's nursery and for our basement renovation. I've also used it in an e-design board. It's the Curling Iron Wreath Light from Shades of Light:

I think the fixture's curled ribbon-like edges are so unique and whimsical - they soften up the look of the metal. LCH made the right move by going with the darker iron tone - it's a nice contrast and helps to ground the room a bit. Made me happy to see it in use in such a gorgeous space!

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Vegas

Oops. I forgot to tell you guys that I'll be in Vegas for a couple of days and I unfortunately didn't get a chance to leave behind some juicy posts before I left...I'm pretty sad about it. But I'll be back Thursday morning with something new and fresh!

Till then, you'll find me at the nickel slots.

Friday Crush

Love, love, loving the blues and greens of this living room I saw on House of Turquoise from Gideon Mendelson. This blue + green combo is the base color scheme of our basement renovation...in fact, I'm planning light blue walls and a green couch so this living room is really exciting to look at. I think that lamp pair is just fetching - both in hue and shape. And the curtains blend beautifully with the walls.

Have a fabulous weekend! See you Monday!

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Madeline Dukes and Jennifer Black

I came away from my tour of the Lowcountry with two new artists whose work I can't stop thinking about - Madeline Dukes and Jennifer Black.

Painting by Madeline Dukes

The painting above, Kiawah Thunderhead, is by South Carolina native artist Madeline Dukes. I spotted it in the window of an art gallery in Beaufort and I literally can't stop thinking about it. This image does not do justice to the purples and periwinkles in this very large piece. It's simply breathtaking in person.

More of Madeline's equally beautiful work, though I did not get to see these in person:

Paintings by Madeline Dukes via madelinedukes.com

Such gorgeous representations of some of the marshy landscapes of South Carolina.

I also came across the work of Jennifer Black in Charleston. I love her perspective of these same landscapes and ADORE her paintings of one of Charleston's quintessential products - the sweetgrass basket.

Paintings by Jennifer Black via lowcountrystudio.com

Such fantastic work by these Southern artists...seeing these paintings was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!

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