Saturday, January 30, 2010

Black Chandelier Project


from plush palate

Elle decor Italia via Desire to Inspire

Horchow
I received an unexpected gift from a neighbor the other day.  She mentioned she had an old chandelier languishing in her basement that she always meant to do something with.  She never got around to it, and so gifted it to me.  I am hoping to turn it into something similar to the ones above.  I like the top one best.  I will probably have to get fake crystals unless one of you has a great source for me online.  I want black ones.  And I hope to paint the body of the piece in a matte black.  I love the round bulbs.  The first step will be to have it rewired.  Right now it looks like this:










Thursday, January 28, 2010

Say Wah?






I am a sucker for clever ads and when I saw this sign today, I had to pull over.
The store is called The Mix.  Inside the offerings were definitely a mix.


Mostly gaudy accessories from model homes,  you know the look, a few sofa sets, and awful painted metal sculptures.  There was a room of asian antiques.  I am no connoisseur of asian antiques but I could see how they would be a good option for your flat screen.  Here are a few of the ones I liked

















the tag read: Origin:  Gansu  circa: 1900  price: $920

















They seem kinda pricey to me, but what do I know? As I said, I am sucker for good advertising and had to check it out.  I was drawn to the most rustic pieces, but perhaps you would like the more ornate? What are your feelings on asian antiques?  Explore them and get back to me.  I did find this water color that I liked very much, but since I am idiot, and don't know how to turn the flash off on my camera you will have a hard time seeing it.


















It would look good in my bedroom.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I Hate You Jillian Michaels































And I hate January.  And I especially hate January at the gym which is why I bought the Jillian Michaels DVD in the first place.  To get me through till all the pretenders quit in March.  Turns out I might be one of those pretenders.  90 minute spin class?  Sure no problem.  30 minutes of that bitch yelling at me in my bedroom? Problem.  I can hardly walk today.  I would have quit after 20 minutes but I had a 5 year-old cheerleader.  Great job mom!  Wait mom, they are still going!  Mom those girls are using weights! Mom is that fat on your belly or muscle?

I have the winter blues.  I am bored and uninspired by interiors lately.  I just want to be outside!! But I don't want to go looking for gorgeous photos of gardens and beaches.  It will only depress me more.  This is the only photo I found inspiring today.

Monday, January 25, 2010

The Symmetry of Mary McDonald








My favorite of all her rooms was on CoCo and Kelly this morning.  I love the glamour and the symmetry.  See her entire portfolio here. 


Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Best Porches

This is my favorite one from Eddie Ross in Lonny . I am thinking of painting my porch floor glossy white, and the beams too.  But then I would need new furniture.  Then I would  want new windows to protect the new furniture, oh never mind.











































































house beautiful




































































Friday, January 22, 2010

Meet Lily



This is Lily.  She is approximately 10.  That is to say she wandered into my house 10 years ago and has lived with me ever since.  Cat people tell me she is remarkable because she is orange with orange eyes, and that is rare for a female.

She has been a loyal, if indifferent, companion to me.  To my kids...ummm welll, not so much.  She tolerates them.  She does not like to play, and only wants to be petted on her terms.  When her terms are over, she bites to let you know she is done with you.  She sleeps on the foot of my bed and keeps my feet warm just as a cat should.  She lays on my stomach  when I am laying down and we bond.  Otherwise she kind of keeps to herself.  I am allergic to her, but it doesn't bother me too much.  She is worth the trouble.   I have always been an animal lover.


Here in lies the problem.  I have wanted a dog my whole life.  My mom would never let me get one.  I am now 38.  I would have gotten one long ago, but I had Lily and so, did not.  But now.....my kids want one too.  I am thinking let's make it work. I mean that is the American dream right?  A girl, a boy, a cat, and a dog all living together in harmony.

But can they live in harmony?  Can a ten-year-old cat get along with a new puppy?  A teeny tiny Papillon puppy that is so cute you want to keep it in your pocket forever.  The picture of which is on my cell phone (which won't send to an email address because it is ancient).  But trust me, if you saw the puppy, you could not walk away.  The woman at the shelter has me talked into getting two of them.  The mister has put his foot down at one, if that.  (honey, I promise to make it worth your while...)

So Nicholas BB, Paw Paw, J-Kun, Cookie, and all you other cats out there, tell me, can we live happily ever after?  Or am I courting with disaster?

Update!  Found a picture of him online.  I won't say where because he is mine and I don't want you adopting him before I do.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Even if I say I don't...I do




want chocolate for Valentine's Day.


I think I will have my 5 year old son make these for his class








They look pretty easy and sort of cute, but not too cute, he IS 5 after all.  But I hate those Valentines from Target that have the tatoo or whatever in them.  They take as much time to fold and stuff as homemade cards and they are so flimsy and crappy and small that he can't fit his own name and the name of his classmate on it, in his 5 year old handwriting. 


Update: If your child were to give my child one of the aforementioned Valentines would I think poorly of you?  O contrare mon frare: I would admire the patience (yours or your child's) it takes to put those tiny tattoos in those tiny slots and make those tiny folds and affix with those tiny stickers.  My kid has Mickey Mouse hands, not so dexterous.  Additional kudos for not letting your personal design asthestic get in the way of your  five-year-old's need for Transformers Valentines.

My almost 4 year old daughter will make these:
Red Hearts with Pool Envelopes - Set of 10


From RedStamp.com.  I have blogged about them before, they are a fave.


What do you want for Valentines Day my Lovelies?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Nacho Polo on Desire to Inspire




I just returned from Florida where our rental was beach house gone wrong, all pastel and fake memorabilia and signs that read "you never know how many friends you have..."  I was about to do a post on bad Florida decor when I saw this on DesireToInspire today.   A Florida designer who did a home in Madrid with amazing results.  Just go over there and look, their blog is all professional with nice big pictures .  Nacho, you saved Florida.  This is my favorite house of the year so far.

I WILL organize my office this month

I think these will help...


Wrap Office Chair
west elm


Anything from Russel and Hazel
Utility Task Clips

Some of these from RedStamp.com 
Daily Dot Calendar, Blue, Set of 6

I kinda want these too.  From PBteen.com Maybe I will leave off Monday and Tuesday, wouldn't that be funny.  Think about it for a minute...


Mostly my office would be infinitely better if I vacuumed up the dead box elder bugs.  It has a leaky window you see, and those damn things freak me out, so I do most of my officing from the couch.  Thank God for wifi.





Sunday, January 17, 2010

Get Slim in 2010

galley house exterior front
galley house interior living room table

galley house interior portrait hanging from stairs

galley house interior portrait playing with toys from above

galley house exterior ivy garage with boys on fence

galley house interior kitchen portrait mother

galley house interior kitchen from second floor

galley house interior master bedroom

galley house exterior backyard from above

I

I found this nifty little number on dwell.com today.  I love how they squeezed it in this tiny lot.  The owners loved the neighborhood and made it work.  The lot is only 16ft wide, yet the house feels roomy and light even though they could not put windows on the sides.  The decor is kind of spare for me (rugs, art anyone?) But the backyard makes me woozy, and I am currently obsessed with warm wood tones with cool paint colors like the chair in the bedroom.  Mostly I admire the ingenuity.  What do you think?

2 Glorious Days in the Sun...



And 5 more relaxing in the chilly Florida weather.  Our first ever family vacation was a success.  New posts this week I promise.    photo credit: me!!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Baby Overdue?

pregnant-belly.jpg pregnant belly image by BlueRamulah
Get thee to thy chiropractor pronto.  My BFF is one and she recently had a patient who was 40 + weeks and miserable.  No labor in sight, no dilation, nothing.  Dr. BFF moved her pelvis and some ligament or something.  Mom-to-be left her office, went straight to the hospital, and delivered 45 minutes later.  So cool.  Just sayin.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Are you tired of Chevron? Not me.

Undrest. By The Sea bikini
undrest.com



House Beautiful

Delight by Design
Zigzag Rug

West elm
Chevron Pillow

Etsy via Remodelista







Tuesday, January 12, 2010

This is me


This is me.  As I schedule this post it is -9 degrees.  I hope when you read it, I am here.  I hope you are somewhere warm too.
Image via House Beautiful

Monday, January 11, 2010

I didn't know, but you can...




Did you know you can decorate a motorcycle?  Did you know that people who ride motorcycles have their own blogs about how to decorate them?  It is called customizing.  I think this one is particularly nice.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Good Head






















Made you look. I know I already posted about these cool heads from Anthropologie, but I really like them and I am on vacation, so deal with it.  But seriously can you see it in a kid's room?  Maybe a whole herd of them?

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Dear NBC:


I don't care what you do with Jay Leno.  But listen up here:  Don't you dare get rid of Jimmy Fallon.  Do you hear me?  DO NOT TOUCH HIM.  He is hilarious and gorgeous and if you take him off the air, I will never ever watch tv again I promise.  And I will convince all 14 followers of my blog to boycott you as well, so watch yourselves.


Friday, January 8, 2010

I am outta here!

Picture 101 
I am off to sunny Florida for a week.  The predicted temp tomorrow is 49 degrees.  Not exactly beach weather, but it is 50 degrees warmer than here.  I love these trunks by SteamLine Luggage .  I would never trust them to the baggage claim though, they are too pretty.  I will save them for when I fly on the private jet, maybe next year.  Check them out, they are on sale.  I love the Ambassador series too.


I have scheduled some eye candy for you while I am gone. Nothing much, so check out my blog list, and let me know who you like there.

Chutzpah

I found this image on a site from Israel , that was recommended by DesiretoInspire today.  I love the shiny with the rough and the warm with the cool.ספת

Thursday, January 7, 2010

More Cruelty Free Decor

I like him so much better than taxidermy.  Anthropologie $68
















Wednesday, January 6, 2010

It's not sexy, but I love this look.



annie hall




Annie Hall 1977


sweaters



J.Crew 2010

Shiny pretty fun

 online




pulley pendant lamp


$199.00

smooth operator. Slick silver pewtered steel shade operates illumination up/down via steel counterweight cylinder and pulley system on exposed black cloth cord (adjustable 15"–89" cord height).

Steel shade with silver-pewter finish
Adjustable pulley with steel counterweight; black cloth cord
100W max.
Accommodates compact fluorescent lightbulb (not included)
Professional hardwire installation recommended (hardware included)
UL listed

 CB2 exclusive
I love the pulley function and the shiny metal drum shade.  They have a floor lamp with the same shade.  

And check out the price.  CB2.com a favorite source when you can't afford designer.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Good Idea: Cruelty Free Rugs

I occasionally eat meat.  But I don't like to know it is meat.  I like a good McNugget or a Chicago Dog now and then.  But I won't eat meat with bones or skin.  Ever.  I know it is weird.  I also occasionally wear leather.  But not fur.  Call me a hypocrite.  I like fish and eggs.  But I support PETA, sometimes.

When a fellow blogger recently asked what trends we would like to see disappear in 2010 , my immediate response was ANTLERS and taxidermy.  But I forgot to add Zebra rugs.  Again, just too obviously a previous animal for me.  I know, I know, leather couches were animals, but they don't scream POACHER when you walk in a room.  (FYI my couch is cotton.)

So when I saw these rugs at Atelier Abigail Ahern today, I was smitten.  It's the Chik Nugget of rugs.

Rugs