P.S. All those dealing with Sandy, I sincerely hope you are well.
happy halloween
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
This Halloween we've been watching black and white horror movies. I'm just in love with the sets from the 1930's. One of the iconic classics, Dracula from 1931 has some great Hollywood sets. Happy Halloween!
bachelor pad
Monday, October 29, 2012
An old friend asked me to help pick a rug and somehow now he's letting me redecorate his Manhattan bachelor's apartment from abroad. Another friend let me do this a couple years ago with his Boston place and it is always kind of fun doing a bachelor pad. I'm very excited to help since he's so busy and well, it is a good use of that nesting energy right now. I know his tastes tend towards mid-century pieces already but I'm thinking of incorporating some warmer fabrics, greys and tans. His only real objection? Hides and no repainting. So we're saying no to hide rugs, working with the white walls and otherwise adding some utility and some hidden storage. Currently he has with a lot of browns and leather so I think to lighten them and add depth, some greys and tans would be nice. Here's a little inspiration for the feel:
meandering mirror
Monday, October 22, 2012
On the topic of mirrors, a recent post on Chinese Meander on Road to Parnassus has me seeing it everywhere. And not Greek key per se, we are in the Orient after all. It doesn't help that every time I'm at a furniture shop locally I see tables patterned with it. Recently I pinned this from Traditional Home. I think someone really crafty could DIY an antiqued mirror like this. Not me, I'm not so handy, but I do love it.
mirror mirror
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Even though I can't hop over to my local Target anymore, I'm still addicted to their inexpensive goods. I admit, I have things shipped here because I am a crazy American. I've been admiring their Threshold line lately, especially the lamps and then of course there are these mirrors.
Arched Windowpane Mirror, $59
Starburst Mirror, $39
Round Captains Mirror, $29
Still awaiting a Target Threshold lamp, four weeks and counting...
Arched Windowpane Mirror, $59
Starburst Mirror, $39
Round Captains Mirror, $29
Still awaiting a Target Threshold lamp, four weeks and counting...
bazaar goodies
Thursday, October 18, 2012
I just wanted to share some of the neat things I saw this past weekend at that bazaar. There nothing that I felt I "had to have" but I did see a couple odds and ends that were interesting. I wish there was better lighting for photos, but look at these chairs. They were new but really lovely.
A vendor from Indonesia brought quite a bit of teak furniture. These benches caught my eye for their shape.
Lots of daruma dolls like this one
And my favorite, washi eggs in lots of colors
Many kokeshi dolls
Hatano pottery, which truthfully I don't know much about yet but it was fun to examine and had such lovely glazes. Most of the signs were in Japanese except for one says, "Hatano" so if you know anything about it, please share!
One of the antiques dealers had a lot of goodies. Nothing I brought home but I did admire these porcelain pillows.
The tag on this simply said, "Imperial Doll House" and was quite a nice set. It included the porcelain faced dolls.
He didn't speak any English and my Japanese is not good so I couldn't ask what the porcelain things were with the teapots. Any suggestions? I did admire the many kashigata wood molds for making sweets.
I really liked this Shisa/Shishi dog but I had nowhere to put him. I think of everything he was one of my favorites of the day.
A vendor from Indonesia brought quite a bit of teak furniture. These benches caught my eye for their shape.
Lots of daruma dolls like this one
And my favorite, washi eggs in lots of colors
Many kokeshi dolls
Hatano pottery, which truthfully I don't know much about yet but it was fun to examine and had such lovely glazes. Most of the signs were in Japanese except for one says, "Hatano" so if you know anything about it, please share!
One of the antiques dealers had a lot of goodies. Nothing I brought home but I did admire these porcelain pillows.
The tag on this simply said, "Imperial Doll House" and was quite a nice set. It included the porcelain faced dolls.
He didn't speak any English and my Japanese is not good so I couldn't ask what the porcelain things were with the teapots. Any suggestions? I did admire the many kashigata wood molds for making sweets.
I really liked this Shisa/Shishi dog but I had nowhere to put him. I think of everything he was one of my favorites of the day.
nursery mobiles
Thursday, October 11, 2012
I've been hard at work on the nursery. Or rather I've had a lot of help! I'm still waiting on the linens to be finished but all the big pieces are in place. It is a tiny little room (it is Japan) so it feels cozy. I'm trying to keep the feeling light and open with warm white walls and linens with pale blues. So my latest question about a child's room is this - do I really need a mobile? I've tried this and it just didn't look right:
Next, I thought this was going to be perfect but instead the lighter parts turned out to be a dark tea stained brown, not a soft white or cream. And the blue too bold of a royal blue, not at all soft. It felt too dark for the room, but of course I've second guessed that decision a million times. (I've lost it, surely.)
Another option I'm thinking of trying.
Or perhaps craft something of sola wood flowers?
Maybe this airplane mobile is just too masculine? I am having a little girl (did I mention that?) and her room is already blue.
Or what about this like over at Jones Design Co?
But at the end of the day, I am starting to feel like these might be clutter in an already small room. Ceiling clutter. Or maybe that's me throwing in the towel. What do you think?
And for the non-baby set I'm attending a bazaar of antiques and furnishings this weekend. I'll post pics of the good stuff! I'm on the look out for some nice Imari pieces!
Next, I thought this was going to be perfect but instead the lighter parts turned out to be a dark tea stained brown, not a soft white or cream. And the blue too bold of a royal blue, not at all soft. It felt too dark for the room, but of course I've second guessed that decision a million times. (I've lost it, surely.)
Another option I'm thinking of trying.
Or perhaps craft something of sola wood flowers?
Maybe this airplane mobile is just too masculine? I am having a little girl (did I mention that?) and her room is already blue.
Or what about this like over at Jones Design Co?
But at the end of the day, I am starting to feel like these might be clutter in an already small room. Ceiling clutter. Or maybe that's me throwing in the towel. What do you think?
And for the non-baby set I'm attending a bazaar of antiques and furnishings this weekend. I'll post pics of the good stuff! I'm on the look out for some nice Imari pieces!
unpainted inspiration
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Today I'm loving the layered whites of this room by Whitney Fairchild. The warm wood tones and gilt juxtaposed against those gorgeous silver lamps - it brings it all together.
martha visits the elms
Sunday, October 7, 2012
I know I've talked about how much I enjoy Newport; happy memories there. At any rate, did you see that Martha did a great photo tour of the Elms recently? Do you read Martha's blog?
unpainted inspiration
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
With the move I haven't looked at white rooms in a long time, other than the ones we've begun to occupy. I love this hall by Allison Hennessy from Traditional Home. While the interior architecture is lovely, what makes it for me are the furnishings and accessories.
