Eye Candy: A Simple Stunning Entry

One bold statement makes this entry (and, I think, the repetition of the boxwood in both the urn and the landscaping)  The designer is Deborah Silver of Detroit, a landscape designer who also owns the fabulous Detroit Garden Works and writes the blog Dirt Simple.   I originally thought this was a front entry but it turns out it is a side entry. Wow!
 Hope you have a Happy Monday!

A Gorgeous Bathroom via Nova Scotia

After reading House & Home Editor Margot Austin's recent blog post on antiquing in Nova Scotia, I headed over to check out a blog she mentioned -  The Ottoman Empire and found their stunning bathroom makeover.

The inspiration began with a $40 light fixture found at an antique shop.  For more, head here.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Shopping

While my kids were in an art camp this morning, I had a little time to hit an estate sale. Well, it was actually a moving sale. A local interior designer is moving from a building with a fair amount of storage space to one that is more of a showroom, so he's paring down.

So, I grabbed a roll of Osborne & Little wallpaper, a faux tortoise frame and some fabric remnants - a couple Pierre Frey and Scalamandre's Leopardo. 

I almost cried when another lady found a small bolt of the Leopardo. I'm thinking I can get a long lumbar pillow out of my remnant, but it's better than nothing. 

They only had one roll of this fabulous wallpaper. Boo. Of course, I can always order more. I'm thinking powder room or office? Hmm. Decisions are hard. 

Here's a little preview of my office. I like the wallpaper in here but I've already got a lot going on. Is it too much? A couple more snippets . . . 

If you're interested in doing some vintage shopping of your own and are in the Nashville area, my friends Brandy and Melissa are hosting a Pop Up Shop on Friday. Check it out . . . 

Eye Candy: Jeffrey Allan Marks

After posting about Jeffrey Allan Marks upcoming book, I checked out his site. There's a number of new images - here's just one of the fabulous interiors.  Isn't the bench at the foot of the bed amazing?

New Design Books & A Giveaway Thank You

Scheduled to be released Oct 22nd - this cover is fabulous! Stephen Sills: Decoration

Jeffrey Alan Marks much awaited and long overdue book is available Sep 10th!  Should help me get over my post-summer blues. Jeffrey Alan Marks: The Meaning of Home

One of Jeffrey Alan Mark's favorite designers - the uber talented Suzanne Tucker.  This cover shows a more relaxed, informal interior than her previous book.  Definitely on my list - to be released Oct 8th. Suzanne Tucker Interiors

Based here in Washington, DC, Thomas Pheasant is one of our nation's best.  Out on Oct 1st, this should be a treasure. Thomas Pheasant: Simply Serene

If I spend as many hours looking at Suzanne's newest book as I did her first, I'm going to need to set aside lot of free time.  To be released October 8th. Suzanne Kasler: Timeless Style  

Don't have to wait long for Tom Sheerer's first book due out on Sep 10th.  Another fab cover.

        Tom Scheerer Decorates

  

Now a huge thank you to Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home for her giveaway of Mary Kay Andrew's Ladies Night. A fun read listen as I hand painted all the paneling in the basement reno tv area. The first 24 chapters got me through priming and the first coat of Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue - thank you Mary Ann!!  (made up in Benjamin Moore's semi-gloss.  It will never be exactly like the Farrow & Ball color but I was ok with that for this situation.)

Now to end with something pretty, check out Mary Ann's gorgeous home (if you haven't already seen it). Great news - she offers design services too!

My Sofa 4 Ways & Greek Key Trim

While I hate the current trend to find a way to fit the word actually into every sentence, I actually did finish sewing the Greek Key trim on yesterday (if you saw Wednesday's post) but more about that later...  Remember the blue sofa from my basement that I "shopped"for my living room?  Well, here it is back from my all time favorite and best upholsterer, Style-Rite Upholstery.  The dilemma was I didn't have enough of the original fabric purchased years ago, now discontinued, so I found a gorgeous Baker Furniture cut velvet at Haute Fabrics.  I also had Mel change the skirt to drop directly from the bench and to create new box back cushions that were a lower profile than the originals. So here's Version #1: all sides showing w/the nubby gold linen type fabric.

Version #2:  The cut velvet showing on the pillows

Version #3:  The cut velvet showing on the back and seat cushions  (my "winter" version)

And Version #4, my personal favorite, with just the cut velvet showing on the seat cushions.  I can not tell you how soft this fabric is!

So, back to sewing on the Greek Key trim.  It took 1.5 hours - with a good chunk of that trying to thread the needle and re-thread as needed.

I used a dove gray thread and did a blind-type stitch so you can't even tell it's there.

Compare that to the trim on the curtains that I used both iron-on tape and fabric glue.  I know there are people out there that are very good at using those products but I don't happen to be one of them.  So, some rainy day in the fall I"m going to take these curtains down and hand sew the trim on.  I figure I can get them done in two re-runs of Downton Abbey :)

And, if you're in the DC area and want the best upholsterer around, give Mel at Style-Rite a call.  Here's one of the other sofas he did for me.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Happenings

First of all, yesterday was my husband's 41st birthday, so Happy Birthday to my beloved Matt.

He got a key lime pie instead of cake as that's his preference.

Here he is doing one of his favorite things, snuggling one of our golden retrievers (this was when Zoe was a puppy and could still fit on his lap).  

And earlier this month, we celebrated 16 years of marriage. For our anniversary, I got him this little watercolor number from Etsy (which I spied first on Pinterest thanks to Elizabeth) . . . 

It's Bill Murray's head on a jaguar shark from Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, one of his favorite movies. My favorite WA movie is probably Rushmore, while I know a lot of people are Royal Tenenbaum diehards. You can't really go wrong with any Wes Anderson films, in my opinion.

Last week, I enjoyed a little beach trip with my kids. Lots of sun and fun!

By the way, this is in the ocean not a pool . . . that's how clear and calm it was our last few days. 

While on my vacation, I enjoyed a couple of great books I thought I would share . . . 

This book actually reminded me of a Wes Anderson film with its quirky characters. It's about a husband and wife performance artist team who involve their children in their art (without their consent). Nicole Kidman has bought the film rights.

And thanks to Sissy for her recommendation on this one . . . 

So smart and hysterical, you won't want to put it down. 

Between trips and shuttling kids to day camp, I have managed to do some vintage shopping here and there. Some of my more recent finds . . . 

A faux bamboo tole chandelier. Probably going to sell this one. Email me if you're interested.

A tiny Syroco federal style mirror. So cute. Once again, will probably sell this one.  Please excuse the lovely view of my garage ceiling. 

Another item up for sale, this lucite table base (has no top) for a small round table. Or I guess it could be a square table. So cool.

And lastly, this Chinese Art Deco rug . . . a little worn but have always wanted one of these. It's an unusual color combo of olive green and gray with blue, yellow and cherry details (you see the pagoda, right?). Love it. This one's a keeper. 

Hope everyone is surviving the summer heat wave!