Unique Unique Design

Getting my house ready for showing and shoppers, we did one room we call the “glam” room. It’s all white, mirror, acrylic, and some silver. It was a fun room to do. This is the best I can do with pics, but thought I’d post what I have. Someone has been over shopping and so the massage table is “sold”. Now, I’ve got to come up with something to replace that and hopefully not redo the whole room for a while at least. Soon as I take the measurements, I’ll see if my idea works. It has to do  with seating and acrylic and linen, so will let you know the end result. As far as this room goes, Mayron and I decided it would be a fun room to sit around with the “girls” and look through decorating books and chat about whatever needs to be discussed that day. What would you do in there?

The massage table is covered in white linen with 3 linen covered buttons. The 2 bolster pillows are, also, done in linen. Those are 3 old wooden shutters behind massage table.The acrylic stand between the channel back chairs is holding white wine and goblets. Flokati rug under foot. That’s a vinyl covered chaise in the corner (right side) with an etched glass tray and twisted acrylic handles.

White buffet with square glass knobs and chrome mosaic pulls (hard to see detail in this picture, but they have a good look). An old iron downspout with birch branches, acrylic shells filled with orbs, silver leafed mirror and cool lamp with glass twisted around the base.

Another view thru a large mirror. White cast iron urns (old pieces, new paint), art with touch of purple (our accent color), wrought iron garden table, and wonderful chandelier from late 60′ s – 70’s with glass pendants.

The white settee in the post done on 11-07-09 is, also, sold. Have a smaller one that we need to slipcover to replace it.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our “glam” room. We’d love to hear your comments. Have a great weekend!

Enjoy…til next time!

We haven’t forgotten, we care, we pray for your safety, we appreciate your service, we are honored by your sacrifice, we are proud of your bravery, we know the freedoms we enjoy in this great country lie at the feet of the men and women who have been willing to give all to keep us free. We thank God for each of these men and women present and past.

This photo was taken in late August, 1969. My husband had just completed AMOC (officer maintenance training) and was on orders to leave for Vietnam September 30,1969. That is Pete, our son Ian (16 mo. old) and me on the left side of the pic. That other couple were friends, and he was leaving for Vietnam, also. I know the fear and heartache of watching your loved one board a plane to fight in a distant land. I don’t know the heartache of seeing him return in a flag draped coffin. For some reason, the Lord spared us from that.

We are humbled by your service. Thank you!

Have been so busy working in the house lately that I’ve hardly been on the computer. Certainly haven’t gotten any new posts up in several days or more!   We’ve been trying to get ready for some groups and individuals coming to the house to shop. If they have never been here before, it’s not much different than getting ready for a show as far as the prep work. And, of course, there is the never ending dust, etc. Don’t know if it’s so so bad because we live out in the country or what, but I’m here to tell you the dirt and dust are winning!! I’ve taken a few pics in the house…most are close ups as I can’t seem to get a good pic of the whole room. So, here is what I have, and if you see any dust bunnies LURKING in the corners, PLEASE stomp on them quickly!

unique unique design

Johnny Jump Ups in an urn in kitchen.

unique unique design

Glass and mirrors and burlap.

unique unique design

Silverware.

unique unique design

Tall glass lamp.

unique unique design

Not the best angle and kind of jumbled on the right, but a cute settee done in washed white denim.

unique unique design

3 sink stainless piece…kinda funky.

unique unique design

Beautiful amaryllis in a large acrylic shell surrounded by old white lego molds. (at least that’s what we were told they were).

It’s a beautiful weekend here in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Hope it is where ever this finds you.

Smiles.

In the last House Beautiful issue, I saw an advertisement for the coolest chairs. So, I thought I’d do this blog on some other great chairs out there. I’d have a hard time picking favorites, but I usually am drawn to really comfy…the kind you want to settle down in and read a book with hot cup of tea…or french chairs with worn off paint covered in linen or maybe burlap, or a more contemporary chair that just has a wonderful style or shape. Of course, all of the above have different functions, so I am not trying to compare apples to oranges. This is mainly about picking chairs that I find appealing and, of course, this is a minute sampling. So, sit a spell and tell me which ones you find appealing.

ruby beets as in house beautiful

I just love the look of these acrylic ballroom chairs. Not sure how comfortable they are to sit in very long, but they would look fabulous around so many different types and styles of tables.

unique unique design

These are probably from the 30’s or 40’s. They’ve been recovered in a linen/cotton fabric. Note how the arms are on opposite sides. Love the channel backs.

unique unique design

A pair of vinyl and chrome chairs would work well in a mid-century setting. (or not!)

windsor smith home website

This chair has great lines and the black leather is very classy.

1st option

This cane chair is pretty OK, too!!

unique unique design

A different look for this french style cane back chair.

photo: carlos domenech  veranda

You want color? How about this lovely rococo revival chair covered in a beautiful linen fabric.

unique unique design

Here’s another acrylic chair. This one folds…quite handy.

photo: tim street-porter  house beautiful

How wonderful is this Louis XIV fauteuil sitting in front of the fabulous charcoal taffeta curtains!! A pretty picture to be sure.

dienst and dotter website

Very modern, but I think this is so different. The shape is just amazing. And a set of these shiny metal chairs would look soo good around an old wooden table.

The ballroom chairs are the reason I got going on chairs. I didn’t even get to any wonderfully comfy slipcovered chairs. Mainly, because my scanner started acting up! Modern technology usually wins out when I disagree with what it is doing!   Oh, well!

Glad you could join the “sit in” for a bit. Have a good one!

Mayron and my children have been out of the house for many years. We aren’t so much into decorating for halloween now. Fall is a wonderful time of year as there is a nip in the air, colors change, plants prepare for winter months. We prefer to acknowledge these changes with a more subtle approach. Nuts, fruits, vegetables, branches, flowers in fall colors, pumpkins in whites or grays, deep purples and pear greens, and even white flowers or berries can give the feeling of fall without as much of the commercial aspect thrown in. Now don’t get me wrong…if you are one that likes to go all out with jack ‘o lanterns, spiders, turkeys, etc. because you have young children at home or grandchildren close by or maybe you are just a big kid yourself, Yeah! for you. If we all did the same thing, life would be boring. But, for us where we are right now  “a little dab will do ya”. I’ve picked some pics with simple items that celebrate the season in a more quiet or contained way. Note, though, that not all of these are muted colors or necessarily what you would think of as traditional Fall flowers. We always like “unique”.

unique unique design

We actually used these yellow flowers at a huge family birthday party (3 birthdays) this past weekend with lots of bright colors…orange, yellow, red, hot pink, lime green.

unique unique design

Same with these sunflowers.

floral design: todd fiscus, raegan mckinney    photo: brian mcweeney   veranda

Not your common Fall flower are these beautiful red/orange fringed tulips.

photo: francesco lagnese   house beautiful

Simple arrangement of greenery and yellow sunflowers. They go wonderfully with all the tans, whites, caramels, and browns.

unique unique design

A mound of gala apples stacked on hotel silver warming plates.

photo: simon upton  elle decor

The color palate here with the great looking orange light fixture makes it easy to add a vase of Fall foliage and “wa lah” you are ready to go.

photo: evan sklar  country home

Love the rustic iron vase filled with berries, white flowers, a little green, sitting on this fabulous old chopping block. Not traditional Fall colors, but I think the creamy whites will work wonderfully for Fall.

photo: thomas loof   house beautiful

Here again is a very neutral background that works so well with the pop of yellow on the chairs. Add the vases of choral, pomegranate, red/orange, with a touch of fuchsia mums and it all spells a Fall table setting. Look at the plates and fuchsia and orange napkins. And the mums are a very traditional flower for this time of year.

home depot ad for ralph lauren paint

I picked this photo because I love the idea of using the pear greens and dark purples (eggplant) as a Fall accent color. I don’t think it necessarily has to even be used with the yellows, reds, and rusts. (sorry it’s hard to see the purples)

same credits as photo 3

I absolutely love these orange tulips in the marble container!! I think they work so well as a non traditional flower for the Fall. How beautiful on a buffet, or a long harvest table, or a mantel, or just about anywhere you come up with. Yummy!!

Here’s just a small, small sampling of the possibilities for simple Fall decorating. Are you more a traditionalist or not so much?

Enjoy and a happy day!

Sometimes our need is just for comfy and cozy. This time a year when we feel the first chill in the air. (Yeh, even in Texas we have felt the first cool days recently!) I love the change in the air when a front comes in from the north and the air dries out and for a brief time anyway we are relieved from the stifling humidity and heat. Once again, though, those of us in Texas can be pretty sure that cool has not set in for good. Still it’s always so pleasant to enjoy it even for a few days. Along with the chill comes the desire to curl up on the porch with a cup of tea or coffee and flip through the latest design magazine or catch up on that book you’ve been putting off reading. (So busy, you know, with our trips to Warrenton/Round Top) Sometimes, though, we just need to stop and enjoy what’s around us. I could sit on anyone of these porches with my reading material or loved ones or a friend. Most these porches have a roof overhead, so watching the rain fall works, too. We have had ALOT of rain here lately. Rain, shine, crisp or cool, don’t you think a porch is a good thing?!

photo: lucas allen  country home

Comfy furniture to enjoy a little afternoon snooze

photo: davies and lawery  home companion

You can almost see the billowing sheer curtains blowing in a autumn breeze.

photo: pieter estersohn  southern accents

If you are fortunate enough to have a mountain retreat, this looks like the place to enjoy it.

photo: rob brinson   home companion

How about sharing a nice breakfast with you’re family?

photo: lucas allen   country home

And for lunch with your friend, this lovely open air dining under a wisteria covered pergola in a beautiful setting is perfect.

photo: maura mckevoy   country home

This screened in porch is ready for that afternoon break with a great wicker sofa, nice old wood table for your cup and book, and some pretty flowers to enjoy. There is even a stack of firewood if it gets too chilly and you have to retreat to the inside to warm up.

I think it’s time to put the water on to boil and pull the banana nut bread out of the oven. Will you join us?

BTW, we sure enjoyed seeing everyone in Warrenton, etc. The weather went from horrible hot and muggy to actually cool for the early opening at Marburger. We saw some gorgeous merchandise down there. Unfortunately, not always affordable for resale in our part of the world, but it sure is fun to see and get inspired.

If you have never been to Warrenton/Round Top on the first full weekend in April and October of every year, then you need to figure out a way to drive, walk, fly, swim, or saddle your horse and get there. The myriad of shows in the area have some of the most fabulous, funkiest, crustiest, most unusual, trendiest, etc., etc., etc., merchandise you can image. You can shop the fields, the tents, the one air-conditioned building including Zapp, Xcess, Texas Rose, Blue Bonnet, Clutter, Marburger, Cole’s building and field, the original Round Top, and I’m not even beginning to name them all. Thousands and thousands of folks show up for this event. You never know about the crazy Texas weather, but that doesn’t seem to stop anyone from coming or setting up to sell their wares. Just come prepared.

We have loads of friends who set up down there…to numerous to name them all. Hopefully, we’ll get some decent photos and will post them when we return. If you can’t get there this time, start planning for the spring. You will love it!!

I’m including a couple photos that were posted on tripadvisor.com. They are taken in Round Top, which is a charming small town settled in the early to mid 1800’s. The area around Round Top and Warrenton (about 8 miles away) is gentle rolling hills and bucolic pastures. When all the people take their treasures and pack their leftovers and go home, it’s just the cows and horses and lucky folks who call that area home.

green field

porch view

Top photo: txtraveler99

Bottom photo: wendy/tex

Maybe we’ll see you down there!

The old man might be snoring, but if you have been caught outside lately, I hope you had an umbrella. Living in the Dallas area it’s not very often it rains and rains and rains for days on end. We usually get our rain with a little more violent weather…huge thunderheads rolling in, lightning that defies most firework displays, large hail (you know, the size of small Chihuahuas), and the kind of “swirling” wind that brings Dorothy and Toto in for a visit!! Now, I’m not complaining. We needed the rain badly and it’s dropped the temperatures enough to make it quite pleasant. We spent one whole day playing in huge rain puddles (more like small ponds) with our grandkids. Catching crawdads, running through the water, laughing, and I guess our moms were right…..not enough sense to come in out of the rain.

I was looking at Material Girls blog and saw this cute boot umbrella stand and decided I’d look for a few more I liked, since they would come in very handy in this weather to place all those soggy umbrellas.

The cute ceramic boots are from Z Gallerie. The “Nexus” oval 24″T stoneware container is from 18 karat. One more whimsical, one dressier.

The gray and white oval stoneware containers called Aperto  and the Elato square container would be quite stylish in a foyer to stick your wet umbrella. These are both from 18 Karat.

The one on the top is from Mothology. It’s from recycled pine and brings that natural element to the space. The Alesa “blow-up” stand is by designers Fernando and Humberto Campana from the Unica Homes website. Wouldn’t that be great in a space with a touch of industrial or as just a bit of fun in almost any room.

This glass and stainless “Thor” stand by Markus Borgens from Treehook website would definitely fit into that mid-century space. On the right, the glass column by Leonardo found on the Made in design website is very chic.

So if I would of had any of these before the recent rains, I would have been prepared. But instead my umbrella is sitting in the breezeway outside by back door. Oh well, maybe next time I’ll be ready.

Not sure why my pics flipped around. They were side by side when I posted them. But, I’m not going to try to fix them. I’ll probably just mess them up more.

My grandkids are coming in this weekend. Yea!! Can’t wait to see them. This is only 3 of Casey’s 4. Mason wasn’t there for the picture taking. They were camping somewhere in New Mexico. My son’s girls will be over too, so lots of activity. And I have no doubt you all want to see their pictures!

Madison, Jack, and Ellee

Riley…although, between the hat, sunglasses, and binky you can’t see much of her. Her sister Sierra wasn’t here that day.

Won’t be blogging much this weekend, but hope you all have a good one.

And may we never forget what happened 8yrs ago today.

God bless America!

Do you know someone who is always dramatic? Maybe their hands fly around when they are telling a story. Maybe the story itself is filled with superlatives…the coldest most miserable weather ever, the loudest most ill advised person on earth, those are the most fabulous “gotta have ‘em” shoes this season, that is the most scrumptious “to die for” chocolate truffle (well, maybe this one isn’t an overstatement!). You’ve probably encountered someone who seems to go over the top on things most consider every day occurrences. A.K.A. the “drama queen”. Well, drama isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The person whose hands fly around might help you understand the sense of action in their story. The superlatives help paint a more vivid picture of the subject The “drama queen” might cause you to take notice of something you otherwise wouldn’t have or help you engage emotionally with her. One of the definitions of dramatic is: highly effective; striking; sensational. This is the perfect definition in the world of design, also.  These photos all contain some element of that…the WOW  factor; punching it up a notch or two; the unexpected; causing us to engage our senses. Some will be more dramatic than others, but it is there.  Now I’m not saying there aren’t wonderful rooms done with beautifully done focal points. This is probably where most of us live, but every now and then you see something that just goes beyond that. It can be done with color, art, lighting, plant life (dead or alive), found objects, architecture. Whether or not you would want to live with something this dramatic, it is fun to see and realize how creative are the minds behind it.

I am adding several photos now, but I think I will do this once a week. I know there are many very dramatic rooms out there, so as I find more examples I will post them. Hope you enjoy these as much as I have. If you have something that is a WOW in your home send a pic and I will post it

ashington house: 1st option

Pretty dramatic, huh? Wouldn’t it be fun to sit in this room to watch a movie with friends?

photographer: peter vitale   veranda

The scale alone of this painting is striking, but, also, the mix of contemporary and antiques brings another element into the room.

photographer: ngoc minh ngo  house beautiful

The graphic design mixed with the contrast of black, white, and turquoise is very uplifting. It makes you smile.

photographer:eric piasecki   house beautiful

Okay, I realize the designer isn’t responsible for this spectacular view from this apartment 74 floors up in the Time Warner Center in NYC. BUT, you can bet he took it into consideration when he designed the space. Drama like that can’t be ignored.

photographer: peter vitale   veranda

Now here is a neutral palette, but the wonderful contemporary art, also, in a neutral palette makes this sensational.

unique unique design

Not as dramatic as the others, but using the 10 5ft long old brushes creates a graphic element. Since these are “found” objects, it brings in the unexpected.

Again, if you have any “dramatic” decor send me a photo and I’ll post it. If you have a blog, post it and let me know and I’ll link to the post.

smiles