Mixed Metals- Shop Ten25

Lately I've been obsessed with mixing metals and all the warmth it brings to a space.  While browsing my friend Abbe Fenimore's amazing Shop Ten25 the other day, I was inspired by the vast collection of beautiful pieces she has available in her store.  I created this chic metro living space using pieces that can be found at her shop.  I have to say my favorite pieces are the greyhound wall art, the whippet dog statue and those black & white sequin chevron pillows- chevron-sequin, hello glamor!

 Sources all available at Shop Ten25
Sofa
Pillows-Sequin Chevron, grey diamond
Rug
Cowhide Rug
Coffee Table
Candle Holders
Marble Tray
Silver Antler Side table
Table Lamp
Artwork
Grey Chair
Side Table (next to chair)
Floor Lamp
Whippet Dog Statue

Fall 2012 Tablescape

Since there has been a few changes in the dining room- I decided to dress my table for Fall in lots of gold, greenery and a splash of leopard.

I made two table runners out of this Leopard linen print fabric from Schumacher. 

The antlers are from my mom- she picked them up for me when she went to the Longest Garage Sale in Alabama this past summer.  I really wanted just the antlers but these unfortunately came with part of the scalp attached.

I found the gold acorns from Hobby Lobby.  The green & gold highball glasses are a vintage find from Ebay.

The gold flatware is from Joss & Main. The linen napkins are from Williams Sonoma.  

I love these faux boxwoods and I use them everywhere.  I bought them two years ago from Hobby Lobby and now wish I would have bought more because I have not been able to find anymore. I placed these in some vintage brass pots I found at a local thrift store.

The gold pheasant is also from Hobby Lobby.

This huge seashell is from Z Gallerie

I filled it with large acorns and for Christmas I will probably fill it will glass ornaments. 

I fell in love with this cream & green pumpkin from the grocery store and it became my inspiration for the rest of the table.

LINKING TO:

Ten June Fall Decor Party

DIY-Subway Art Dresser

I recently shared how I made my Subway Art Dresser for the boys room on our local Fox news station.  It aired this past weekend- you can go here to see the video.  

Roco Magazine

I am so thrilled and honored to have my office featured in this month's Issue of Roco Magazine.  Head on over to read it the Autumn Issue here.  

A touch of Fall Decor

Well after reading all your amazing blogs out there with your beautifully decorated mantles, front doors, and tablescapes- you have inspired me to get my decor out.  I am usually on-the-ball when it comes to decorating for the season-but this year I've fallen behind (no-pun intended).  So here's what I have so far its not much, but its a start:

Im keeping it simple- grocery store pumpkins and greenery from the yard.

Now none of you better start pulling out your Christmas decor!!  Hopefully by the time Thanksgiving is here I will have the front porch and the dining table done!

Happy Fall!!

LINKING TO:  

Dream Nursery-Guest Post

Hello friends!  Today Im over at 6th Street Design School participating in Kirsten's Dream Nurseries Series.

Head on over to see my dream glam nursery.  

Coffee With......Kishani Perera

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting up with Interior Designer Kishani Perera at her LA shop Rummage.

Im sure you have seen Kishani's work all over Blogland, Pinterest and in many shelter magazines from Better Homes & Gardens to House Beautiful.  Her work is well known and is simply breathtaking.  I love that each of her interiors reflect a well collected, warm and inviting space, yet still hold true to the homeowners desires and lifestyle.  

Here is what Kishani had to say:

When did you know that Interior Design was your passion?

My friends and I were very much into retro fashion in high school, so thrift shops and vintage boutiques were some of my favorite haunts.  One day I saw this beautiful vintage steamer truck, I handed over my entire allowance so I could take it home.  

Where do you find your inspiration?

I love art, fashion, movies…  I find inspiration from old photos and the elegance of days gone by.  I love the bright colors and sounds of outdoor markets, and I adore Europe and the historical elegance of so many places there.  I also find inspiration in beautiful ornate architecture and patterns. 

What is your favorite book/magazine on design? How about your favorite site?

 I am obsessed with Tony Duquette.  The majesty of his work, the sheer opulence and beauty of the pieces he’s created and incorporated into design inspire and excite me.  Magazine-wise, I love World of Interiors, Elle Decor and House Beautiful. 1^st Dibs, ebay, etsy, and Pinterest are some of the most creative, fascinating sites.  Seeing what interests people and having a virtual pin-board to highlight curiosities I find on the web is ingenious.

What is the most frustrating aspect of your job as a designer? And the most rewarding one?

The most frustrating thing right now is that with my work load I’m not able to travel as much as I would love to shop for clients abroad.  I find so much inspiration being immersed in other cultures, I wish I could take a trip somewhere new every year! 

As for rewarding, it’s a thrill every time someone I work with says, “Wow this is exactly what I was hoping for” when they see the vision I had for their room become a reality.  It’s wonderful to know that your instincts about a person and their tastes are on the mark and have been executed far beyond their expectations!

What decorating techniques/ideas/projects would you recommend to a homeowner who wants a quick fix to their room?

New toss cushions for a sofa or chair are immediate “pick-me-ups”.  I also think painting the room or one wall of a room can instantly breathe new life into a space. 

What’s something you should never skimp on when decorating your home?

Never skimp on your mattress and bedding.  And invest in good basics for your home that you know you’ll have forever.




What’s your favorite color combination lately?

A mix of pastels with earthtones

Your Most cherished possession?

My most treasured possession is my boy, Bob.  He’s my 17 yr-old pug and he is the best!                                           

What would your dream project be?

An amazing 18^th century home in the south of France or maybe a beautiful old barn house in Europe that we could convert into a gorgeous family home

If you would like to see more of Kishani's work I highly recommend getting her book Vintage Remix.  She's offering a signed copy on her website. 

Dining Room & Living Room Updates

This past weekend the painters came and painted the dining room to match the living room.  I was sad to see the blue go, but am much more pleased with how well the two rooms now flow together.  I now have a nice neutral back drop to begin brining in layers of texture and pops of color.

Warning:  the photos you are about to see are not styled but are snippets of how we actually live. So these are not pin worthy- I repeat- not pin worthy.

Dining room painted out in Restoration Hardware's Stone:

You may notice a new addition to the dining room- These french round back chairs upholstered in black.  I have loved this style of side chair but did not like all the neutral linen ones out there- because lets face it-my kids are messy, heck, Im messy and that linen would only last for so long.  I found these at World Market and have to say they are quite comfy and nice in size.  You can't beat the price either.  They are sold in sets of two online, but you can purchase individually in the store.  

You will also notice a new rug.  Once again Rug USA has impressed me.  I know some of you who have had some not so pleasant experiences with them, but so far the three times I've personally ordered from them I have been pleased.  I also recommend them for my e-design clients and many of them have reported all good things.  Note:  keep an eye on their rugs-every 3-4 weeks they go on mongo sale.  I got this one for 75% off- it was less than $250 and free shipping!  and its an 8 X 11.

This rug is very similar to the Oriental Style I had in there previously, but with a more neutral palette and a touch of black.  It has this nice faded patina to it that I just love.  You can find it here.

It ties in beautifully with my West Elm and cowhide rug in the living room:

Next up for this room is drapery (which are currently at my workroom being made now), new chandelier, new lamps for the buffet- this is a hard one!  We installed new mirrors above my buffet and they literally reach the ceiling-so my current lamps are dwarfed by these mirrors.  I need a lamp that is at least 40" in height.  I have searched high and low and have only found a handful- most of them over $400 a lamp.  I'm now hunting on ebay & etsy for something vintage.  Lamps made back in the 40's and 50's were much larger so Im hoping to score something fun.  If I truly had my way and had an unlimited budget I would buy a pair of these Murano lamps from Swank Lighting:

But at $4,500 a pair- that is not going to happen anytime soon.

OK- now onto the Living Room- Saturday I ran into HomeGoods and spotted a pair of x-benchs for under $70 a bench- I grabbed them both ( when you find a pair of anything at HomeGoods-buy it- you can always return it later). even though they were covered in two different fabrics --I tossed a sample of Schumachers Zimba on one to see how I liked it.

I have been wanting/needing something to go under my Restoration Hardware Paris map- it always feels like this map is floating on this wall and I thought maybe adding some x-benchs would help anchor it.  But after placing them in the space they seem too big- you can actually walk between them and the coffee table, but visually it feels awkward. 

So back to the drawing board on this one.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.  It has to be something that has a depth of 19" or less.  I had thought about buying a second map and placing them on top of one another to fill out that wall space more.  But thats another $1,200.

Slowly but surely these two rooms are coming together.

Cobalt Blue Sofa

I had shared with you a few weeks ago that I was going to take off my slipcover and let my blue sofa free, and I have finally gotten around to snapping a few quick photos.

I added some pillows in Schumacher's Chenonceau and David Hicks La Fiorentina.  Im loving the magenta against the cobalt.

The jute rug from West Elm came in and it looks perfect with the cowhide:

I also picked up my end chairs for the dining room last week from the upholsterer.  I had them recovered in this Kelly Green fabric.  Im still deciding on what to do about the side chairs -definitely going to keep them neutral and let this green be the only pop of color in the room.

This green is perfect with the KW Imperial Trellis fabric, but I don't think I'll be pulling this fabric into the room, at least not for now.

The living room is pretty much finished- except Im on the hunt for a pair of x-benches to add some extra seating.  For the dining room I still need to get it painted, decide what to do about side chairs, get the drapery made, hang the new mirrors and find a chandelier. *sigh* on top of decorating for Fall and deciding what I want to do in that space for Christmas....the list never ends.....