Lovely Vignettes

A great vignette can inspire me to redo a whole room.  This Pinterest page is chock full of vignettes.  Here are some of my faves:

 

I think this mirror is available at Home Depot.

Via

 

A black lampshade is so chic.

Via

 

Ikat stools underneath the console table provide extra seating in a pinch.

Via

 

Love the unexpected pop of color the yellow lamp introduces.

Via

 

Leopard print, brass, and fuchsia - what a glamorous combo!

Via

 

Love the juxtaposition of natural wood against the lucite and brass table.  Totally unexpected.

Via

 

Happy colors!

Via

 

Fabric remnants are framed and grouped as art - easy, cheap and genius.

Via

 

Super girly and cozy all at the same time.

Via

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set Your DVRs...

...'cuz our favorite divas on Million Dollar Decorators are back!  The season premiere is on Bravo today, November 13 at 9pm Central!!

 

I'm gonna grab a tub of chocolate ice cream and some fudge stripe cookies, curl up on the sofa, gain 20 more pounds, and indulge in the decorating diva drama!



Why I Love Mondays

I love Mondays because when Savannah settles down for her afternoon nap, I turn on the TV and watch the latest DVR'd episode of Upstairs Downstairs. Suddenly I am whisked away from my sweatpants and sofa and into a world of British accents, glamorous costumes, and lush interiors, not to mention scandalous affairs and political intrigues. Somehow the BBC always manages to make melodrama feel so sophisticated. Let's take a looksie:

 

The Cast

English aristocrats with time on their hands indulging in affairs and intrigue at the beginning of WWII.

 

The Costumes

Coats, hats, gloves, scarves, furs, jewels, evening gowns, tuxedos.  I die.

 

The Interiors

 

Production designer Eve Stewart, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her design work on The King's Speech, directed the interiors for 165 Eaton Place.

 

The Entry Hall

That floor, those stairs, that chandelier, the turquoise color on the walls all equal a swoon worthy entrance.

 

 

The Drawing Room

The intricate pattern of the molding on the wall and how it frames the artwork is pure genius. 

 

Maud's Study

Dark, intricately carved paneling paired with luxe floral wallpaper and an exotic tusk evokes a worldly sophistication.

 

Lady Agnes' Bedroom

Satin, silk, florals, ribbons fit for a Material Girl.

 

The Downstairs

A rustic English kitchen with classic white subway tiles, hanging copper pots, and lots of wood tables and chairs with patina.  My idea of comfy and cozy.



 

 

Now back to reality.

The One That (Almost) Got Away

I decided that I needed a brass table lamp for this chest in Madeline's nursery.

 

 

 

These images convinced me of the need for the lamp:

 

 

 

So I set out to find a lamp (via the internet 'cause I am too preggers to go random lamp shopping right now).  Not many retailers were offering brass lamps in my price range (trust me, in a few years brass will be everywhere when the retailers catch up with the designers).  Here's some of the unaffordable goodness that I found:

 

Arteriors Ryder Lamp $516

 

Arteriors Vintage Brass Hammered Lamp $648

 

Ateriors Carter Lamp $696

 

Arteriors Saffron Lamp $648

Mary McDonald Pythagoras Lamp $693

 

Next stop, Etsy and Ebay.  I thought there would be tons of brass lamps left over from the 80's, but the pickin's were slim and kinda pricey.  I fell in love with this little gem on Ebay:

 

(Imagine it without the hideous lamp shade)

 

It was more than I wanted to pay, but with a mere 30 minutes left I sensed that my presence on Ebay at this particular time must be some sort of divine intervention, so I placed a bid with 10 seconds left in the auction.  Unfortunately I was outbid.  I was saved from the wrath of the Hubs if he found out what I was willing to pay for this lamp but I was really mad that someone else got this lamp.

 

The next day I regrouped and did another search for a modern brass lamp and what to my wandering eyes should appear but this:

 

 

Another lamp just like the first one but much cheaper and with no other bidders!  I stalked this guy for a couple of days and put in a bid at the last minute.  I am the champion and this beauty is en route to me at this very minute!  It's the little victories in life that excite me!

 

 

 



Stop What You Are Doing...

And go to the store and get the November-December issue of Veranda magazine.

Why, you ask? 

Because they are featuring THE MOST FABULOUS RUTHIE SOMMERS' DESIGNED HOUSE I HAVE EVER LAID EYES ON!

I swooned, I died, I packed my bags and am ready to move in!

I am sharing photos here (although it is already all over Pinterest and you will probably see these images a gazillion times on the Internet) but I do urge you to get the mag and see this magnificence in all its full page spread glossy glory.  Here it goes:

To get a glimpse into Ruthie's genius, you can check out her advice on decorating at Veranda online.



What Goes Around Comes Back Around

When I spotted the green velvet curtains for Madeline's nursery at WorldMarket, I had no idea that green was making a comeback.

 

 

But after checking out some of my fave blogger ladies, it seems that hunter green is the new thing. 

 

On Monday, Elements of Style alerted me that hunter green is a trend with these inspiration images:

 

 

 

On Tuesday, The Mustard Ceiling asked if hunter green is a BAM or SLAM and posted these images:

 

 

I had no idea I was participating in a trend.  I feel very cutting edge right now.