Color Story: Pink and Gold

If you're like me, I start noticing patterns in things. It starts out in subtle ways. At first, it's just a spread in a magazine that I think is pretty, then next thing I know, every photo I'm pinning on Pinterest has similar details. The brain works in mysterious ways. The most recent incarnation of this phenomenon is my seeming obsession with the color combination of pink (or blush or some variation) and gold. Why? I have no idea. I think it started with this photo in the new issue of House Beautiful:

Sorry, I snapped this photo with my phone as it's not online yet. The pink and gold chair and the chandelier piqued my interest for some reason - I don't know why. This is not even particularly my style - it's a little formal, and dare I say, frou-frou for me. But I do love a little unexpected aged, gilded piece of French furniture here and there. I think the soft, subtle color combo is so nice. And to really drive the point home, here are some of my latest pins:

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Then, of course, I was out yesterday and spied my own little piece of pink and gold loveliness . . .

Isn't it pretty? Love the faded time-worn needlepoint. And, of course, it is pink and gold. How about you? Are you drawn to a certain color scheme lately?

Absence

Hello, blog readers. Please excuse my absence over the past week. The truth is we experienced a major loss in our family last week. My beloved father-in-law passed away last Tuesday after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Curtis/Papa was a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, uncle and friend, and we will forever miss him. We love you, Papa.

I will be back to regular design-related blogging soon. Thanks.

Seven

Today my baby boy turned seven. I know I sound like a broken record when discussing my children's birthdays, but this makes me feel so many emotions -  most of all something akin to disbelief. And I think this is why the word bittersweet was created.

He had a great day of presents, friends, family and parties. He also told me earlier that he loved me more than jellybeans or his XBox 360 . . . so I've got that going for me. Oh, I love him so. I so wish I could freeze time. Happy Birthday, my sweet Pierce . . . here's hoping you always love me more than jellybeans.

Pug's Comes Through Again

So, what is Pug's might you ask? Well, I've talked about it before but I just referred to it as the generic "junk shop" where I found my Mastercraft credenza. I also mentioned it in a guest post I did about where/how to find deals in Nashville for Style Blueprint. Technically, it's called Pug's Corner, and it sits at the corner of two busy streets (Old Hickory and Charlotte) on the west side of Nashville.

Sorry, this is an old photo I grabbed off the Internet.

Part motorcycle shop, part junk shop, Pug's starts setting its wares out on the sidewalk as the weather turns warmer (they buy out estate sales). This is where my eagle eye comes in as I have to pass the shop on my way to Target. Last Friday as I was stopping at the light, I spied a table that looked vaguely Moroccan in shape. I knew I had to go by after my Target run. Here's what I got . . .

I've been wanting a little Moroccan-inspired side table for a while, but have never run across one at a good price. This one was $10 - sold! 

Now, of course, it wasn't in great shape and had lots of scrapes/dings and a few missing pieces of veneer, but I figured some paint could disguise its flaws. The top was pretty interesting too . . . an etched tile. This was after I cleaned it. I decided I could paint it too. The bottom of the table is stamped "Drexel" so I thought that was a good sign!

I had some leftover Rustoleum "Night Tide" and thought that might add a nice bit of color to our living room . . . 

It needs a couple of more coats, but I'm really liking the color. 

My other Pug's find was an upholstered bench . . . 

I just couldn't resist as it was just $10 too! I'm planning on putting this at the end of my bed (reupholstered, of course). Now, I just have to find the perfect fabric (the fun part)!

Yes, I did have two benches at the end of my bed, but I've moved them into my living room under my Parson's sofa table where I think they look quite nice. 

Spring is often a great time to find some gems as people are "spring cleaning" . . . one man's trash. Have you found any treasures lately?

Around Here

As I may have mentioned, my children are on Spring Break this week so I've been on full-time mommy duty, but I just wanted to pop in to share some random things. Last week before we left for Memphis, I moved some things around and put my framed marbled paper where my lady portrait used to be.

Excuse the glare on the glass.

I'm really liking how the greens and pinks in the paper work with my grandmother's pottery lamp and my estate sale brass wire tree . . .

Just a reminder, this is what the bamboo cabinet looked like before with my Peyton Place portrait (doesn't she resemble one of its characters?) above it . . .

 

My husband had tired of the portrait so she's waiting in the wings for her next location in the house. For now, she's hanging out in the tornado room where she might stay (she seems to like things that are dark and mysterious). 

Sometimes it's nice to mix things up a bit just for a change. Have you made any changes around your house?

Menagerie

I must admit, I love animals. The living ones and the statuary versions. I'm not really talking taxidermy here as I don't love the formerly living stuffed versions of animals. I've been thinking about animal statues a lot lately especially the larger versions (not really the smaller ones like Foo dogs, Staffordshire dogs or the ubiquitous elephant garden seat), ever since I saw a pair of stone greyhounds in my local garden shop recently that resembled this one:

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Then, I immediately thought of all the dog statues I had seen scattered throughout my Pinterest boards. Not sure I love this stark white one, he may be too mod for me.

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I kind of like this guy hanging out in the stairwell rather unexpectedly on his leopard carpet next to his Louis Phillipe mirror - how dignified!

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Barrie Benson injects some playfulness into this modern decor with a pair of cuties flanking the fireplace.

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I love the whimsical nature of these hand-painted porcelain pooches, not to mention the amazing orange lacquered walls, decorative molding and ceiling! My friend Nelya noticed a theme in my latest pins and actually suggested this photo to me. Aren't blog friends the best?

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Next up, there are elephant garden seats in this room designed by Ruthie Sommers but also a dog statue that is rather unobtrusive.

Do you see it? It's like a design game of Where's Waldo. I'll show a different angle so it's easier to find.

He's just hanging out on the hearth, cozying up to the fire.

And in another one of Ruthie's rooms . . . a poodle stands sentinel. Isn't this the sofa she used in Drew Barrymore's office that was featured in Domino? I'm thinking it is, or one very similar. Maybe this was from her showroom. Anyway, moving on . . .

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Of course, if dogs aren't your thing, there are always other large animal statues with which you can decorate your domicile. Here are some large brass deer that would make quite a statement. 

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Or how about a monkey?

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So, where am I going with this? I really have no idea. I just wanted to show you what's going through my brain and that I might break down and get a big dog statue at some point. Or I may not. What are your thoughts on my animalia obsession (as Nelya diagnosed it)? Do you think they're cute or should I stick with my living, breathing animals (of which I have three)?