Saturday, December 24, 2011

May Your Days Be . . .

Best wishes to you and yours for a very, Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or just a joyous holiday season! 

Thank you all for coming to my blog and showing the love - you're all like little Christmas presents to me. I've had a great year and can't wait to see what the new year brings. Until then, take care, be safe, be well and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

New and Improved

Meet my new and improved benches . . .
Don't they look great? I just love this fabric. Couldn't be happier with them.
Here's a reminder of what they looked like before . . .
Now that I've got the new benches at the end of the bed (I didn't take an overall photo with the new ones in place because honestly I had wrapping paper and crap all over my room), I'm looking for some new bedding possibly with some black in it. I'm usually a white bedding kind of girl, and while I still am, I thought I would investigate some other possibilities. So, below are are some inspirations for my room and possible bedding options.

First up, Mary McDonald. Now, I know this is not a bedroom nor does it bear much resemblance to my room at the moment but bear with me . . . 

These are the colors I either have in my room or want in my room. I just love her use of contrasts. So dramatic. Tone it down several notches, and that's what I'm going for. Mary has a dark taupey-gray on the walls as do I (although mine is lighter) with accents of white, black and yellow - also what I'm going for. I would love a bigger version of the small yellow bolsters she has on the black leather chairs across my bed. Add some Greek Key tape and voila.

Some other ideas . . .

I love this dark screen and the coziness of the rug and fur throw combo. I already have a small rug by my bed. And while I already have a headboard and thus don't need a screen, I ran across these Asian panels in my friend Jennifer's shop "tag."
There are four of them, so I could put two on either side of my bed behind my bedside tables/lamps. And look at the colors - black and gold with hints of yellow. Is it meant to be?

Or I could just put this wallpaper on the wall behind my bed. What a statement that would make.

Not sure my husband would be on board for that, but a girl can dream. Speaking of dreaming here are some more dreamy bedrooms . . .

More fur and black with orange instead of yellow, but you get the idea.


Obviously, totally different than my room but I was mainly interested in the bedding on this one. Although, you know I'd kill for floors like that. But I need to focus on what I've got.


Like the graphic black and white bedding.

And now some bedding options. While, of course, I would love to go the Leontine Linens/D. Porthault route with my bedding, I unfortunately don't have that kind of budget. So I perused some more pocketbook-friendly sites like West Elm and PB Teen (yes, I know I'm not a teen). Here's what I found . . .
Source: pbteen.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Try to imagine this without big floral sheets. I think it would be nice folded at the end of the bed with a white coverlet/blanket on the bed and crisp white sheets. Maybe white Euro or king pillows with a black monogram and that yellow bolster pillow in front. Are you feeling me?

Source: westelm.com via Kathy on Pinterest

I really like this subtle striped edge duvet from West Elm (sans the big letter in the middle). This might look nice with one of the fur throws across the bottom. Some other options from West Elm . . .
Source: westelm.com via Kathy on Pinterest

This paisley bedding, although it might be a little too bohemian? Or the basic white pintuck duvet, also from West Elm.
Source: westelm.com via Kathy on Pinterest

This might be, dare I say, too romantic?

And just to leave you with another fabric to confuse you, I found this GP & J Baker velvet fretwork fabric on eBay and just loved it . . .
Isn't it pretty for a pillow or something?? Oh, and I need curtains, but I thought I would tackle the bedding first.
Whew, that was a long post. Sorry to be so long-winded. Any favorites in the bunch?

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

In the Spirit

I'm barely treading water over here. The holidays can be brutal but I'm trying to get it all done. My Christmas cards are just going out today, I've still got a couple of gifts to get and a few more to wrap, and my kids are out of school at noon today for the Winter Break. Yikes. As I mentioned, we hosted our supper club on Friday night so I did some speed decorating around here. I snapped a few photos this morning of our holiday decor . . .
These are my favorite new little decorations. I got this pack of three ornaments at TJ Maxx for $5. I just snipped the ornament string off and am using them as table decor.

They're sort of across between a star and sea urchin. Very Kelly Wearstler, I think.

Just threw a garland and some greenery and poinsettias up there with some candles and owls. Those are $1 stockings with glitter names for our pets that my children made. They're so proud.

Some people have a manger, I have a big yellow lamp. Kind of like a star, right?

Added some glitter and white pine cones and some sparkly deer to my usual dining room decor.

More greenery and another boxwood wreath to hold our Christmas cards. I love getting cards.

Breakfast area. Light and airy.

A little holiday on my coffee table.

A golden berry wreath and some more sparkly deer. My dining room is all "Silver and Gold" as Burl Ives sang.
My kids and I also hit this holiday tradition on Sunday, and it really got me in the spirit . . . 
Whatever holiday you're celebrating, I hope it is filled with wonderful and happy memories!

Check back later in the week for the reveal of my newly upholstered pieces . . .

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Procrastination

While I should have been cleaning my house today, I decided to waste some time on Craigslist. I've actually sold some things on CL recently, but haven't looked at what's available to buy. You truly never know what you'll find. Like this . . .
A faux elephant tusk table with brass caps. I knew I had spotted something similar before, so, of course, I checked 1st Dibs. They have a similar console table available for a mere $7,500 . . .
And, here's one I found in the Atlantis Home blog lady's home . . . 

It is definitely a unique look. Can't decide if I like it or not. Hmm. The Craigslist table is actually offered as a set with the cool mirrored credenza, mirrored planter and six chairs for $2,000. A little pricey for Craigslist, but probably a decent deal if this is your particular style. I can never understand why people won't sell items separately. Someone might like the mirrored credenza even if the tusk table isn't their thing.
Pretty 
Some other Nashville CL finds . . . 
Love the shape of this console table. Would be great in an entry or behind a sofa. Paint it the color of your choice. 

This huge vintage Moroccan rug is a great deal ($200), especially considering it's 10'x20'.
There were also some nice side/occasional tables . . . 
We had these same faux bamboo and glass side tables growing up. They're still in my parents' house.
Have you procrastinated by trolling through Craiglist lately? Am I the only one who does this?

Monday, December 12, 2011

Some Boots, Booty and a Boot

My friends and I had so much fun in Atlanta! We laughed a LOT, talked non-stop and basically had a blast just driving around, shopping and eating. We each had a different goal for this trip (besides having fun). For Lauren, it was finding the perfect pair of black boots. For Jenny, it was having some drinks and fun on her wedding anniversary (which she spent with us - I know, romantic). For Arrione, it was knocking out her Christmas list for her family. And, for me, it was simply getting to peruse the coolness at Minty and the rest of the Antique Factory. We all were successful - quite a feat, I assure you.

We didn't make it to the Antique Factory until late in the day on Saturday (after a long stay at IKEA and some other stores), but I did snap some photos. First up, Minty! Yes, I was there. I saw it in person, and it is chocked full of goodness. I had a hard time getting photos in there though as the lighting was dodgy. Feast your eyes . . .
It's not this yellowy-green in person, I promise.  

All kinds of brass, glass and lucite beauties at Minty.
Some of Jenny's yummy abstract art.

And in some of the other booths . . . 
The burled wood on these tables was beautiful. $900 for the pair.
Faux bamboo chrome chairs (there were a pair). Very cool.
Lots of Chinoiserie goodness here.
A lucite bar/cart with a top that swiveled. Very cool.
More lucite. Yum.
Very Kelly Wearstler.
And outside . . .
Is this not the coolest mod faux bamboo iron bench you've ever seen? Love the shape!
I need this fun set on my patio. Too cute.

And of course, this is the front of the building which I snapped on the way out. I do everything backwards.
If you're in Atlanta, you should definitely hit the Antique Factory . . . it is so worth it!

Here we are at Jenny's anniversary dinner after our outing to the Antique Factory.
Jenny, me, Arrione and Lauren at the bar. Lauren said it looks like she's an outcast.
After a couple of martinis that night, we returned to the mall and Lauren finally found the elusive perfect pair of black boots . . . 
I took this photo in our packed car the next morning.
and poor Jenny broke her foot after falling in the parking lot of Lenox Mall. Can you believe that? What a crazy end to our trip. She just found out today that it is indeed broken, and she'll have to wear one of these lovely boots for six weeks . . .

Definitely a memorable trip! Hope everyone had a great weekend. I've got to decorate my house a little more for the holidays. We're hosting supper club on Friday. Oh, the pressure.