The early week's scores- shopping for tables

As you know from my previous shopping post, I scored on some lighting from a local company that is moving to a new site.

Well... I kept thinking about the tables that I saw at the sale...

and how pretty they were...

 and how there might be still some left at the end of the sale.


So, I went back yesterday and grabbed this handsome table at the left.


Then there were these pretty gold tables with antique mirror tops. Grabbed a pair!



And, I thought, "while I am here..." my famous last words as they always cost me money! I picked up a lamp and a sisal rug.



All I need now is the perfect space, or spaces, for all this great shopping! If you need a space redesigned, or one of these pieces, contact me!

Color Inspiration- Light Grey and Pale Gold from Michelle Dockery at the Oscars

Inspired by the dresses from the Oscar's this weekend, I loved the subtle palette of Michelle Dockery's dress by Oscar de la Renta in pale warm grey and light gold.  Really pretty! It would be really pretty in a home, as well. The strength of this dress is in the patterning of the fabric. The embroidery creates a tonal pattern of shades of grey from the shadow lines.

All shades of grey are popular in home right now, from the darkest grey browns to the palest cool grey white. Any of these can make a space seem cold without adding warmer colors like gold- as this dress did with gold sequins and the stylist with the pale gold accents. Taking this color cue, I have found some great inspirational examples for the home!

Note the light gold fingernail polish and the pale gold shoes in an almost matte silk satin.

Here from Chyanne @ The Yuppie Closet

Here from Ben Conservato on Etsy... love his work!

Here  from Decor Pad

Here from Studio Ilse

Here from Paris decorator Jean-Louis Deniot's own home via afflante.com

Here for a "cheap and cheerful" from Sav-on crafts

Tag, I'm it! The best of the tag sales this weekend.

Tag sale, estate sales, etc. They are the best for shopping for special pieces. This weekend's sales netted a great find. And though I will be bringing it to Hanna Antiques this week, a part of me want to re-upholster it into something fun and keep it for myself!
So, I am super excited about this vintage to antique settee below. I would love to see it at the end of a bed for putting on shoes, in a wide hallway for a great reading area, or in a limited space home. The exposed wood provides a smaller profile to fit into smaller spaces. And, it is comfortable. Oh, if only I have a client right now that needed this item!

Note how much space is left in the Prius!

Love to think that I can easily fit a settee into the car. Prius' are the best!

Pretty carved leg, that is lightly bunged- easy fix.

Check out the pretty and simple upholstery! I think it is the second upholstery job on the piece.

Original tied springs and burlap webbing underneath the dust cloth on the bottom.

Trend spotting- color in 2014

I have always loved trend spotting- be it for color, style, or trinket! In going though the trade magazines, I started to notice the many shades of yellow and it is a natural progression from the oranges in the past few years... though I still get compliments of my orange hand bag at least once a week since I purchased it about five years ago. (Perhaps it is time for a new handbag after five years of hard labor!)

Back to yellow. Sure there are signal yellow home accessories out there (see below), but they are sometimes hard to bring into an already designed space. They tend to look very graphic. So if you space if stark black and white, contemporary, or low on "knick- knackery", they might be just for you.

Karen Robertson yellow sea fan

Yellow on yellow houndstooth pouf from Surya

Glossy yellow bust of David

However, if you have a "traditional" space, stark yellow can be a bit harsh. There is still a yellow for you Trad' folks as well!

Circa table fiesta lamp

sunny yellow tray from Etsy

Yellow mini trunk from Hunter's Alley.... and a perfect remote box if ever there was!

 

Then, for those who would like a little yellow, but just cannot do YELLOW, there is yellow metals a.k.a. brass and gold. Always a great way to add warmth to a space. Especially great for the contemporary spaces that can look cold!

Frank Flush Mount lighting fixture from Circa lighting

Gold and white Florentine tray from my collection on Hunter's Alley

Hawes Sconce from vanCollier

Chilewich placemat is the perfect gold contemporary! It's how to do glitzy austere... in a good way.

What trends are you spotting? Do tell!!!

My super fave shopping purchase

Sometimes you find a real treat when shopping... something you need to hold on to for a while... you don't know why, it just speaks to some part of you. My current talker is a pair of altar candlesticks. Brass and bronze with gold gilt. Elegant, historic looking... awesome.

Great crafting- gold doily pillow box

My weekly great crafting adventure features gift wrapping with some of my Etsy store items.

This great little pillow box is simply decorated with a gold doily. You could easily substitute a silver, white or black doily!

The best part of this design is that it is clean without a bow so it is easy to pack and carry.



Here's what you need:

pillow box
gold doily
glue
scissors

Start with peeling apart the doilies- they always come in sets of 3,4, or 5 sheets per group.

Cut the doily in half. The doily is symmetrical  so you can find the design on the opposite side and aim for it with your scissors.

Fit the doily over the end of the closed box.

Trim around the design to produce smooth edges that look intentional.

Fold the trimmed ends around the box and glue the trimmed ends to the box. Also, glue the edge of the doily to the edge to the box flap.

Finally the finished box, ready to be filled with your pretties!

Ready to pin the instruction? I've made it easy, you the image below to pin for quick reference!

popular on Pinterest this week

I never know what I am going to pin on Pinterest that will be a repin blow-up. This week it is an image of a group of Moroccan tea glasses on a mirrored tray. They are pretty colors with light gold filigree detailing on the glasses. Moroccan tea is served hot and is either green tea or a mint and is served all day. These pretty glasses would be great showing off the desired foam that forms on the top of the tea from the distinct pouring method, as well as a sweet boutique or a single stem of hydrangea.


I love using my Moroccan tea glasses for flowers! But they are not just for tea and flowers, these are great with tea lights in them! They would be a great addition to wedding decor for the bridal couple that wants to add some ethnic patterns and colors to the reception.

Back to School: The Dorm - Senioritus and the bridge to adult digs

I always love the back to school issue of Seventeen magazine... long after I was 17! It was the issue that instructed how to take your high school look and elevate it to a college look. Taking that inspiration, I would like to share ideas from Senior year dorm life that transitions nicely to the first apartment and the real life.
Like learning how to wear your fave jeans to the office by adding the jacket from your interview suit, dorm decor can transition to the apartment with the addition of a "grown up" items. Hot pink, neon's and bold florals can be tempered with neutrals. Maybe neutrals seem boring, but everyone cannot be the star of the show. Make your favorite items from college be the leading lady and build a supporting cast of neutrals with fabulous textures.

Here's some mood boards to help create the blend!

A collection of decor from the Senior year dorm

Taking the parts of the hot pink college dorm room and creating a first gathering space!