At Last

My chair has some seat fabric...

I bought this lattice-back chair in July 2009, so I've had it well over one year. And we have it prominently displayed in our living room. And for well over one year, its seat has been covered in a very bland white muslin.

I've bought LOTS of fabric to recover its seat, but nothing really clicked once I tried it out. I found this awesome raspberry ikat stripe fabric from Shannon over at The Designer's Attic and it was perfect.

So I f-i-n-a-l-l-y recovered the seat this past weekend. And I'm happy.

Happy Chic

More designer loot today.

Have you checked out Jonathan Adler's line for HSN (Home Shopping Network)? I think the line is debuting, but I might be wrong. I'm usually pretty good about keeping up with TV shopping networks and I remember hearing about Adler's loot for HSN, but I had not seen it until now.

There are lots of bright, colorful, modish items to choose from in true Adler style. And there are a couple of items that I think are yet to come that they haven't posted yet. If you like JA, these pieces are easier on the wallet (though just as charming) than his usual happy fair.

Some of my favorites:

Click here to view the full collection...

UPDATE: So clearly I have been ignoring my Twitter feed since @jonathanadler is tweeting this morning about the line's launch on HSN...so it is indeed brand new and today is the first day it is being shown on air. Hop to it.

Michelle Nussbaumer Loot

Did you see the amazing loot from Michelle Nussbaumer on One Kings Lane this weekend? I think we are all enjoying OKL's Tastemaker Tag Sales series and this collection by Ms. Nussbaumer has been one of my favorites.

The sale ends Tuesday and I think some of these items below are already spoken for but they were way too attractive to not post on the blog today. Michelle is clearly a lover of Chinoiserie and so many of her pieces called to me...but here are some of my favorites, if only to serve as inspirational eye candy.

Yup, I'll take them all. I am SO in love with that pagoda headboard. Visit OKL before Tuesday to score one of the items left in her collection or in the collection by Michael S. Smith which is also wonderful.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a great start to your week!

Friday Crush

Extreme crush on this bedroom designed by Christina Murphy and brought into my life by the blog everything LEB. I'm mesmerized by all of its blues, the rug/carpet, the headboard and the peek of Leontine Linens on the bed. But, I'm actually Friday Crushing it because of the DIY potential of that nightstand. It has very simple lines that could be recreated. I'm sure you could find a similar piece at Ikea and then off you go with some white paint and flat wood trim painted a soft blue. Yes, it's not an easy task, but certainly doable if you are so inclined.

Fall has arrived and I can't wait to enjoy it this weekend. Have a wonderful weekend...see you Monday!

White Nutcrackers

The leaves are just starting to turn, but some holiday decorating ideas have already caught my eye. Have you seen these white nutcrackers, courtesy of West Elm?

I l-o-v-e the concept of an all-white nutcracker! So simple, and yet I don't think I've ever seen one before. These beauties at WE are a bit pricey, but part of the purchase price goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - a worthy way to spend some holiday decorating money.

But, you could also go the DIY route by getting some inexpensive nutcrackers at craft stores and spraypainting them white. If you opt for this project, look for the non-bearded variety with as little rhinestones/embellishment as possible to get the sleek look of the WE inspiration ones.

Could you imagine a row of white nutcrackers lined up on a mantle with fresh greenery interspersed? So simple and beautiful! Especially if you vary their heights. Putting this one in the idea folder for this Christmas.

Spotted

This Chinoiserie chair at HomeGoods last night.

Certainly caught my eye. Someone please name that fabric. I feel like I just saw it on a blog recently...anyone? It looks familiar and I definitely love it. Wouldn't this look fantastic in a lavender bedroom?

At first I thought $499 was a bit steep, but then I figured that if I found a cheap wingback on Craigslist, bought 7-8 yards of fabric and then paid for reupholstery...well, this chair is a good deal. Unless of course you can reupholster yourself and you find some great inexpensive fabric.

I need to learn the art of upholstery. The sky would be the limit with that skill.


p.s. For locals, the chair was at the Kingstowne location

Heather Safferstone

More beautiful autumnal inspiration.

Check out this bedroom vignette designed by Heather Safferstone and currently in the window of the Timothy Paul Bedding + Home store on 14th St. (between P & Q) in DC. Safferstone is an associate designer for Sally Steponkus Interiors, which is how I met her, and I had the chance to see this chic "bedroom" in person last week. 

Don't you love that bed? The combo of the legs and headboard make it so unique, and the perfect touch of exotic if your room is more traditional. I also wanted to swipe that side table (my newest obsession is inlaid furniture) and the rug (the photo does not do it justice). And of course, the bedding was luxurious and that orange pillow was also a favorite. The whole installation is warm and glamorous.

If you like what you see, most of the items are for sale at the Timothy Paul store, which also has a ton of other amazing goodies. Beautiful bedding, pillows, home accessories - definitely worth a peek if you are shopping in DC. 

And here is smiling, gorgeous Heather...all legs and leopard print. Doesn't she match her vignette perfectly?

 

Heather is wonderful and I'm so happy I met her through the blog. Can't wait to see how her career grows here in DC!

Weekend Warrior

As the old TV antennae came tumbling toward Carter, only to halt unexpectedly...

Me: Are you okay?!?!

Carter: Yeah...yeah, I'm fine.

Me: Are you okay enough to hold that pose so I can go get the camera?

Carter: Sure.

My husband, the weekend warrior, tasked himself with removing the [insanely ugly] TV antennae protruding from our roof on Saturday. I'll have to hand it to him - it took guts. We rented a 32 foot ladder and Carter climbed up [even though he is not keen on heights] and handled it. 

We deliberated long and hard on how exactly to maneuver the removal with my suggestion being just to throw it and pray it causes minimal damage to the surrounding structures. We actually got lucky in that the antennae bent in that crazy position [it used to stick straight up, above the chimney] and halted, wedging Carter between its spikes and the ladder. But, this allowed it to fall halfway so by the time Carter fully loosened it, it didn't have quite as far to fall and we only sacrificed a small chunk of our fence [and not, say, our neighbor's house].

I promise that Carter was in no imminent danger - the spikes weren't as crazy dangerous as they look [at least from my vantage point; Carter might disagree]. But it did make for a good photo opp to document my husband's never-ending devotion to this house. 

Friday Crush

It's no surprise that I found my favorite image of the week on Chinoiserie Chic, one of my favorite daily reads. Beth at CC did a post on Mary McDonald's Chinoiserie interiors and I literally gasped when I saw this image. I want to blow it up poster size and hang it on my wall. Isn't it gorgeous? I love the colors in that vase.

We are expecting a beautiful weekend in our area so I'm excited to experience some fall weather and get some much-needed work done on the house. Hope your weekend is wonderful...see you Monday!

Colorful Office Supplies at Target

I was making some laps through Target last night looking for some office supplies (and other unnecessary loot) and found some darling file folders and notebooks.

Check 'em out:

Aren't they fun? Perfect for work. I tried to convince myself to pick up some additional items (including a hardcover notebook and a set of small pocket-sized notebooks), but I'm a web designer and the truth is that 90% of my work is electronic. The file folders were a bit of a stretch, but I'll figure out something to do with them!

Head to Target and check 'em out if you like them. The file folders were on a separate aisle from the notebooks so you may have to look around a bit to find the whole "collection".

OKL Space

I just caught the new landing page image One Kings Lane has up - I love how they change the image with that cute dog in a cool space for each season. And this room, well, I love it. So autumnal, rich and my eye was all over the place.

Reasons why I like this space:

1) The checkerboard floor in what I assume is the foyer. I don't think I will ever dislike this floor treatment - it's so classic and whimsical. I think in this case its marble, which is definitely my favorite material for the pattern.

2) The flower arrangement - I'm sure it's styled just so for the picture, but the colors in that arrangement excite me.

3) The fabric on the upholstered armchairs.

4) Hello orange geometric blanket. I need you in my house. Notice how the small touches of orange really set off the room.

5) The gold garden stool and the birdies on the entrance table.

6) Wood paneling. Done right, I looooove wood paneling. It's so warm and makes a room feel casual and elegant at the same time.

I also love basically everything else in this room. I'll be further examining this picture as I gear up for autumn chez AO.

p.s. Thank you all SOOOO much for the kind words and emails yesterday on the blog anniversary - they meant a lot and I was so happy to hear from everyone :)

Year One

Today marks one year for Aesthetic Oiseau. One year of posting my thoughts on design [almost] daily. I wasn't sure if I would stick to it, but I have and it's been a joy. And the experience has been just as wonderful as I hoped it would be. I've learned new things, met new people and devoted myself to something I'm passionate about.

I've heard from so many of you - family, friends and strangers that are now friends. Thank you for the feedback, comments and emails - it's a thrill to hear from you.

And on that note, I'd love to hear from more of you on AO's bday. Let's connect! Consider following the blog if you don't already by clicking the "Follow" button in the right-hand column. Or, follow me on Twitter @aestheticoiseau (http://www.twitter.com/aestheticoiseau).

I say it over and over again to Carter, my family and my friends, but I love this blog. My life has changed a good bit since this time last year - I think for the better - and I know the blog has a lot to do with that. It kept me sane during some rough patches and always provides me with a creative outlet.

It's my happy place.

Now on to year two...

Cottage Living

I'm kicking off the week with some gorgeous pictures from my weekend. I was once again in Charlottesville, Va. and had the pleasure of staying with friends at this charming cottage that they are currently renting just outside of Charlottesville.

The cottage is just as charming on the inside and the surrounding land and views are incredibly breathtaking. Carter and I seriously considered a move to the area...and we're still thinking about it! We fell in love all over again with the Blue Ride Mountains of Virginia.

Have a great start to your week!

The cottage, surrounded by rolling hills and incredible views of the Blue Ridge

The "main" house on the property

Just one of the many, many gorgeous views. Once the leaves start turning, this view will be awash with gorgeous fall color. 

Sigh...

Friday Crush

Crushing on Friday courtesy of Megan Young Designs. I must say that I have grown to love the color blue. It has never been my favorite, but I've started to use it as an accent color and like the results. This room has the perfect shade of blue in the roman shade, rug and patterned chairs. Not a primary blue, not a baby blue...almost has a touch of periwinkle. And Megan is a master at mixing so many elements to create a layered look that is still pulled together. I love this space - this would be my ideal family room.

Can't believe it's Friday - this week just flew by. Have a fabulous weekend...see you Monday!

Caspari: Chinoiserie Heaven

I had the pleasure of being in Charlottesville, Va. on Monday and Tuesday...the town that is home to my alma mater, the University of Virginia, and home to Chinoiserie heaven, a.k.a. the Caspari store.

Caspari has a deliriously beautiful storefront on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. The store moved in after college, which is a good thing because had I been in close proximity to it during my college years I would have neglected my studies and bought stationary and home accessories instead of food.

If you've been, you know its glory. And if you haven't, and you love Chinoiserie (and/or colorful decor in general), you NEED to go. Trust me.

Walking through the Caspari store was a religious experience - I was awed by every single detail. The styling is impeccable. No object is overlooked. And the store is huge! Furniture, stationary, fine china, napkins, paper party products, gift wrap, design books, casual tableware...the list goes on and on.

If you can't tell, I think the visit was the highlight of my year. I of course snapped some pics to share with you, though they are from my phone so not amazing. Rest assured that the store is incredibly beautiful and these pics are only a preview of what you would see in person.

I wasn't kidding. The Caspari store is amazing and a must-see for any Chinoiserie lover. I almost walked out because I was so overwhelmed by it all - my heart was racing. And then I realized that would be ridiculous. So I took a deep breath and continued to take it all in.

Charlottesville is an amazing place, so you should plan to visit anyway (fantastic restaurants, wineries, the University, Monticello, Blue Ridge Mountains, etc., etc.), and while you are there, make your own pilgrimage to the Caspari store. The only other retail shop Caspari has is in Paris!

p.s. Several rolls of gift wrap and dinner napkins came home with me.