Color Story

For some time now, I've had this rug in my living/family room. I believe it's been both a blessing and a curse.

Don't get me wrong. I love the colors in it, but they change from one end to the other, as all Persians do. It can be a bit tricky. 

Plus, the colors look different in different light. So, I've basically come to peace with the fact that it's got a lot of pink and green it it. Sometimes the pink looks coral, sometimes it looks rosy. Sometimes the green looks emerald, sometimes it looks teal.

So, where am I going with this? Well, I've been looking for fabrics for my Milo Baughman-esque Craigslist chair for some time now, and when dear Emily from Recently suggested pink - a lightbulb went off. Yes, pink. Well, coral or raspberry or azalea or punch, if you're my husband. We can't actually call it pink. So the search was on. Here are some of the fabrics I found . . . 

And then these . . .

Did you get a good look at that last Duralee fabric? Oh, yeah, one of my dogs nibbled on it last night while I wasn't looking. 

Nice. Guess I'll be paying for that sample. 

I actually liked this fabric the best, but it's on backorder for 6 weeks. Uggh. I hate waiting. So, I'm still looking. Or maybe I should just order it and wait patiently. Decisions.

In the meantime, I found a pretty mallard green velvet lumbar pillow at World Market that might look nice either in the chair (once it's recovered) or on my slipper chairs or sofa. Just thought the color was pretty good.

I also recently ordered one of those marbled handmade papers from Paper Mojo. It has a lot of the same pretty pinks and greens running through it. Thinking of either framing it or using it behind the shelves in my grandmother's china cabinet.

Here it is tacked on top of my emperor just to see what it might look like on the wall . . .

Call it pink and green or punch and mallard, I don't care. I'm just loving this updated take on the classic, often characterized as preppy color combo.

Here are some sophisticated pink and green or simply pink inspirations that are on my Pinterest page . . .

Source: flickr.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: fromtherightbank.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: design-crisis.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: interior-s.tumblr.com via Kathy on Pinterest

The lines of these pink chairs are not unlike my chair, and I have that same brass garden seat.

Source: kellywearstler.com via Kathy on Pinterest

So, what do you think? Does pink have to prissy and delicate or can it be sophisticated and rich? I'm leaning toward the latter.

Mid-Century Modern Fantasy

If you've read this blog more than once, you know of my love for all things Chinoiserie. But what you may not know is that I harbor other obsessions as well. These seething feelings bubble to the surface from time to time. One such love is for Mid-Century Modern pieces. Lately, I keep stumbling across them. (Stumbling? Does that make me sound like a drunk?)

 

First off, there's this black lacquer and brass credenza . . . 

Excuse my iPhone photo. There was absolutely no light in this shop. I truly stumbled upon it.

I found it in a junk shop. Its brass details, especially the pulls, had me all excited. Here's a close-up:

Yum.

As always, I went home excited about my find and promptly searched for a similar piece on 1st Dibs. What did I find?

Its twin - Mastercraft circa the 1970's. The listing advised "contact dealer" for pricing information, so, out of curiosity, I did. They emailed me back . . . $16,000. What??? Um, must run back and get this immediately. Just need a truck.

Some other mid-century pieces I've found on Craiglist include this table and chairs.

I really just want the chairs . . .

Very Milo Baughman. I know the upholstery is hideous, but I think they'd be stunning with some new fabric. Don't they look just like the ones Sherry from Design Indulgence just traded her friend Ally for and put in her entry?

So, what would I do with these pieces, you ask? Well, we have a basement room that is currently a glorified closet. It's long and narrow with no windows - it resembles a bowling alley. The people who lived here before us used it as a very small media room. I'm starting to see that might be a good way to go. However, there's a lot of work to do down there (specifically, it needs new carpet), so right now I can only dream of a new space. Since my husband has started his "Fantasy Football" league, I figured I could come up with my "Fantasy Basement Room Re-Do" moodboard.

My design direction? Emerald green or malachite. The room is already dark, why not embrace that and make it a jewel box of sorts? Here are some inspiration photos . . .

Source: lonnymag.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: housebeautiful.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: mattersofstyleblog.com via Kathy on Pinterest

And here's my mood board for my "Mid-Century Modern Jewel Box" . . .

You can click on the photo to magnify. I couldn't get this to fit any other way.

Since this is a fantasy, some of the pieces are a little or totally out of my price range (like the Stark Antelope carpet - a girl can dream). Others are the aforementioned pieces or ones I've seen around town (the Chinoiserie daybed). I would recover the brass chairs in a lively colorful print, like the Quadrille/Alan Campbell Meloire Reverse fabric (another imaginary splurge). I've also included some art pieces I already have and some I don't (like the Franz Kline over the daybed). Since storage is always needed, some colorful shelves on either side of the daybed with brass library lamps round out the space. 

This really was such fun to think about. What can I say? I have a rich fantasy life.

Sources: 1st Dibs, Design Indulgence, Elle Decor, Quadrille, Stark, HSN, Pinterest

Going Green

I could have titled this post "Green with Envy," but I decided not to drag one of the Seven Deadly Sins into this. Let's just say, I've been noticing a lot of green velvet upholstery lately that is very lust-worthy. Oops, there I go again. Okay, onto the pretty pictures.

There is Pure Style Home's Lauren Liess' yummy apple green velvet rolled arm sofa.

This delicious green sofa in a library designed by Markham Roberts featured in Town & Country. By the way, most of these examples have rolled arms. Coincidence? I think not. If and when I ever get a new sofa, this style is on the top of my list. And I'm obviously loving green sofas, I just can't decide if green is neutral enough for me. Hmm. Now, more food for thought . . .

Ruthie Sommers' sumptuous sofa from a Chicago home also featured in Town & Country. I could do without the bullion fringe however.

The mossy green loveliness from who else but Miles Redd. I'm in love with his color combinations.

More traditional prettiness from Markham Roberts.

And check out this beauty that Ashley from Meet Me in Philadelphia found at a local thrift store. $800 - quite a bargain for what is undoubtedly a very pricey sofa. I might be in trouble if I lived in her neck of the woods. 

I love the combination of green with peacock blue. Very rich.

A clean-lined sofa in Domino. The classic pairing of blue and green looks fresh and modern here.

And if a whole green sofa is too much for you, these green chairs from Celerie Kemble's apartment featured in Lonny add just the right amount of velvety luxury.

In hindsight, I should have saved this post for St. Patrick's Day but I might be sick of looking at green that day. Right now, I need a little green to lift me out of the winter doldrums. How about you? Would you go green?

Also, don't forget, you can enter the CSN giveaway until midnight (CST) tonight. I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow!

Sources: Pure Style Home, Town & Country via Blue Hydrangea, Town & Country via Laura Casey Interiors, Elle Decor, Markham Roberts, Meet Me in Philadelphia, House & Home, Domino via Pure Style Home, Lonny