Going Local- the shop

I have decided to open a space in Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills! I am looking forward to filling the space with great handmade home accessories and one of a kind items. I am working hard to get everything ready for a weekend move in date. Here are some of the things you will find! I will be building the collection over the next few days. So, come see me in area 6 for the soft opening... Grand opening to come!

Downton Abbey influences in home design

I love predicting trends. I always have, it's a hobby of my sister and I... that and speaking French to each other. We are not very good at French, so it is best that we only speak French to each other. But design trends, we are excellent at predicting.

If you are missing Downton as I am, here's your fix. My top 3 design trends from Downton that I have watched emerge and are still coming into mainstream design. The wallpaper trend is in high design world and is trickling down into mainstream home designs. The rich colors from Sherwin-Williams are chosen from as palette I recently saw presented at a seminar for interior designers. Lastly, the rugs, which are always in still , offer a fresh look when viewed through the lens of Downton!

Graham and Brown Damask wallpapers found HERE.

New colors from Sherman-Williams.

3. Traditional rugs.

Image source- Nazmiyal

   
                                                                        Ralph Lauren Vintage inspired area rug




Pretty and light rug from David E Adler


What design trends are you seeing from Downton Abbey?

The Fringe Market- American made trims

I was excited to find a manufacturer of trim in the United States. With so few textile mills left in the US, finding one in Georgia is not only a relief, but a cause for celebration. The Fringe Market has been in business for 23 years making decorative trims and fringes. The quality is impressive as is the range of offerings.
The staff is quite responsive and my order came quickly and with sample cards! I love the array of tapes they offer and best of all, they can make custom orders- that is the beauty of a small manufacturer.
I cannot wait to come up with many projects to use the trims! Wanna see some of the great trims? Check them out and click HERE to see the full line!

Sapien bookcase- the quickest installation ever

DIY installation of the Sapien bookcase

I have put together many of the Sapien bookcases by Bruno Rainaldi- both the Design Within Reach and the CB2 versions. (Both version are designer by Rainaldi and both made in Italy) And having done so, I have a few tips on putting them together that I thought I would share... especially if you are doing it yourself!

By yourself seems like the biggest challenge with the weight of the shelving. The tips below should  make your this DIY much easier. Then, all you are left to do is stack it full of books.

The problem is that the bottom plate has to screwed in about 2 inches from the edge. The big tip is to raise the spline up enough to be able to flushly install the screws. Make sure to raise both ends the same so that the screws go in straight.

For the large bookcase from Design Within Reach you need 4 DVD cases, a blue-ray case and two of the shelves stacked. (Yes, that is that is "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" on the bottom. It's a guilty pleasure of a movie! )

For the small bookcase (CB2) you will need the 4 DVD cases and the blue-ray case.

Remember lefty loosy, rightsy tightsy to quickly install the screws. I like to tighten them, then place the shelving upright and checking for stability. Them lay back down and re-tighten.

delivery day! Ottomans, pillows and bookcases, oh my...

I love delivery day! The day you bring lots of pretties to a fabulous person's home to create a room that exceeds expectations. Tomorrow is delivery day. I've packed the car early in expectation of an early delivery.  Not only will I be delivering ottomans, pillows and a spline bookcase, but I will also be receiving an enormous piece of art. I cannot wait to show everyone!

Blogging on my phone

I just realize that I could blog via  my phone! It's a new world for blogging and I'm all in. Look forward to more photos from my new world.

Etsy team: sunshine sisters

One of the great things about etsy, beside the ability to run your own online and international business, and all that entails, is things like "teams". I am on a few teams, one of the most active is the Alabama Accents. We are currently promoting each other businesses each day in March.

Today, we are celebrating Sunshine Sisters!She creates fantastic personal accessories from fabric. You can click HERE to find his shop.

Here is a collection things I love from Sunshine Sisters- great cotton prints!

Vintage White porcelain is perfect for your white room

I love a good collection... one that is personal and timeless in design... one that can move around in your space, be separated and then placed together. Contemporary style, or lines, to a piece can meet those criteria and heighten an otherwise dowdy piece of Grannie's pottery to collection worthy and can earn a spot as the dining room table centerpiece.

The collection of vintage German white porcelains are all that and more. They are clean and patterned, stylistic and accessible. Please click on the link below to find the pieces online.


Vintage Nanny Still Mid Century Matte White Porcelain Vase Heinrich Germany


Vintage Op White Matte Vases / 1970s Royal KPM / Porcelain German Op Art Vase Set of 2 Vases


Vintage White and Glossy Matte Porcelain Vase German Vase by Mitterteich


Large Mid Century Tirschenreuth - Hutschenreuther bisque / bisquit porcelain vase west germany 1960s


Vintage Bisque Vase- Heinrich


Mod Bavarian porcelain vase by Scherzer of Germany


Mid Century German great Op Art Vase


Op Art Vase Shells Fossil Square Alka Kaiser Frey


White bisque porcelain vase by Royal Porzellan KPM Bavaria

Etsy team: Cat Pope Fine Art

One of the great things about etsy, beside the ability to run your own online and international business, and all that entails, is things like "teams". I am on a few teams, one of the most active is the Alabama Accents. We are currently promoting each other businesses each day in March.

Today, we are celebrating Cat Pope Fine Art! He creates fantastic paintings that can be found in private collections. You can click HERE to find his shop.

Here is a collection things I love from Cat Pope Fine Art- it's all about the lush colors in oil!

Great Green Design- St. Patrick's day edition

In honor of St. Patrick's Day... which seems to me growing in popularity... I am curating a collection of great interior designs in a green color scheme. From high style modern to French inspired to living walls here is the best of the best I have found.

You can click HERE to find all the link backs and repins from Pinterest, as well as more green interior design images. Feel free to repin yourself or follow this, or any of my boards for daily design update and repins!