Catching up and What I Love Wednesday

Hello readers!  Are there any of you still out there?  I have not abandoned the blog, life has just been busy these days.  


First, let me thank Leila at In The Tweeds for so kindly awarding me the Stylish Blogger Award!  What an honor!  I have been blogging for a few years and this is my first award.  Thank you thank you thank you! 


My google reader told me that I had 98 unread blog posts this evening.  I left for work this morning and I came home to 98 missed blogs.  My goodness!  You all sure are busy writing lots of good stuff while I'm at work!  Can I share a little secret, while on the subject of google reader?  I'm totally guilty of reading my design blogs on my laptop in the evening, then getting in my jammies and reading the remainder of the unread design blogs on google reader on my iphone.  Its perfect bedtime reading for sweet dreams of beautiful homes.


My mom called last night to talk, and before we finished our conversation she told me that I haven't been updating my blog enough.  She is right (mothers are always right).  Things have been a little craaaaaazy around here recently and the blog took the backseat.  I had a pretty bad ice dam (or should it be... damn) in the tv room.  The maintenance staff (we're renters), didn't come take care of it for 2 days after I contacted them... Thats a long time when 4 ft of snow and ice is melting into your home!  The carpet and walls in the room were damaged by the water leaking into my walls.  My slipcover and window treatments were also damaged, but hopefully the dry cleaners can get the stains out.  All the furniture had to be moved out into the living room/dining area and our apartment is torn up.  Lets just say that I'm a bit frazzled at the moment.  The silver lining... my walls have to be repainted in that room.   I chose a darker shade of blue/green/grey called Bayou from Martha Stewart's line for Home Depot.  The test sample looks great and I'm eager to see it go up on all 4 walls!  Oh, and the car is having some problems... and my laptop is running slow and making me a little (a lot) nervous.  But I'm not even going there tonight!

{Bayou is the bottom paint color}

Enough talk about the things that are a bummer - instead I'm trying something new... I'm joining in on What I Love Wednesday hosted by Jamie at This Kind of Love.  In an effort to remain positive, here's my addition to What I Love Wednesday.

Row 1: Lands End Canvas Horn Bracelet - a simple and unique addition to any springtime outfit, Russell & Hazel Quips+Queries Cards - perfect for taking notes while on the phone,  Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers - my favorite are the coasters, 6" rounds, and cheese papers

Row 2: The most fragrant hyacinths from my local florist, Ann Mashburn's wall to wall sisal - love the dressing room door handles too, Dash and Albert's Yacht Stripe rug in Ocean

Row 3: J.Crew Vintage Jammies - ordered a pair for my birthday, West Elm Metal Parsons Desk - love the edge details, House & Home magazine - just recently subscribed and loving it!

Pink and Orange Ikats

Its a snowy morning here in Boston.  Not too snowy, just enough snow to lightly cover the car tops and sidewalks.  Yesterday it was beyond cold here (and that's not just my southern opinion), it really was -5 degrees when I woke up.  That is far too cold!!!  Brrr!  


All this cold weather has me dreaming of warmer weather and warm cheerful shades of pink and orange ikat.  Below are a few of my new-found favorites.  

Caspari's Ikat Collection

Etsy seller Material Recovery's Silk Ikat Pillow

Boden Smart Shift in Hot Pink Ikat Spot

Etsy Seller ElementStyle's Pink and Orange Ikat Vintage Wallpaper

The perfect amount of pink and orange ikat to throw a successful soiree!

Shopping Guide for Imperial Trellis Inspired Room

shopping guide

1. Pillows

Wisteria Paisley Pillow - $59

JoEllen Designs Zebra Pillow - $195

Pottery Barn Textured Linen Pillow in Sprout - $37

Crate and Barrel Tempo Velvet Pillow in Thyme - $40

2.Seating and Side Table

Urban Home Library Chair - $269

(out of stock, I have been informed that more will be in stock soon!)

Wisteria Venetian Cigarette Table - $199

Wisteria Handsome Upholstered Settee - $1149

3. Urban Home Zoe Cabinet in Natural - $899

(no longer listed on their website in the natural color... bummer)

4. Ballard Designs Thelma Rug - $499

size 4'x6'

5. Table, Art, Plants

Wisteria Linen Table Skirt - $99 and Wisteria All Purpose Shelf Table - $149

Allposters.com "Baroque Lemon" framed prints by Giovanni Ferrari - $100 each

Boston Interiors Lemon Cypress Topiaries -$80 each

6. Farrow & Ball paint in James White

7. Martha Stewart Paint for Home Depot in Crevecoeur

8. Paint

(I must admit that I just used the eyedropper tool on inDesign to select a grey color from the sofa)

9. Schumacher Imperial Trellis in Citrine

Room Total (prices as of 1.14.11): approximately $4285*

*For the purpose of this project, I did not include shipping and handling, delivery fees and the cost of paint, fabric and labor.

Hello Twin!

If you're like many women I know, you may have been lusting over the Colette Bed at Crate and Barrel.  The soft sultry curves, lightly textured fabric, upholstered frame and perfectly placed nailhead details are seductive... however the price is not sooo seductive.  Queen = $1699 + SH

Enter Urban Home's Lauren Bed... 

Gorgeous lines, upholstery and nailhead details - all very similar to the Colette.  While the name is not as memorable as the Colette Bed, the price tag also won't be as memorable on your credit card statement (phew!).  Queen = $599 + SH.

So save a bundle by shopping at Urban Home... and save Colette for the name of your firstborn!


Note: This is just my budget friendly opinion. I was not paid to blog about either company. 

Imperial Trellis Follow Up

After writing my morning post about Erika's use of imperial trellis, I decided to give myself a snow-day design challenge.  My requirements: use Imperial Trellis fabric in citrine and similar fruit prints to create a sitting room in an imaginary Georgian style city home.  I envision this sitting room to be off the kitchen, but in a separate room with access to a gorgeous french doors extending out to a patio with slate tiles in a herringbone pattern, a small formal water feature and a beautifully sculpted boxwood garden.  Would you believe it if I told you it was impossible to find a photo that described exactly what I wanted to convey?  Anyways, here is my inspiration board.  I'll list all the resources later tonight or tomorrow am, as well as a total price for the products. 

Imperial Trellis Breakfast Room

Late last night I was re-reading some of my favorite blogs (Urban Grace Interiors), and I stumbled upon this dining room that she posted last year. (UPDATE) The photograph was taken by the homeowner, Amy R. of Plain and Fancy Living.  More photos of the room here and here.  I love the citrus inspired prints and have seen them floating through the design world recently.  I think the prints are by Giovanni Ferrari and are titled "Baroque Lemons."  Williams Sonoma Home and Wisteria had some similar prints recently, but have since sold out - allposters.com and art.com both carry similar styles now.    I also loved her use of Schumacher's Imperial Trellis (citrine colorway),  for the window treatments.  Naturally, I saved it in my "design ideas" file, and thought I'd refer to it in the future.  

Prints: Giovanni Ferrari "Baroque Lemons"
 from allposters.com

Well, what to my wondering eyes should appear... I woke up early this morning to snow, so I kept warm in bed and read some of my favorite blogs via iPhone.  Right before my eyes Jenny had just posted a fabric sale of Imperial Trellis fabric!  She has both the parchment and citrine colorways at $65/yard.  If I had a space for either of these fabrics I would hop on that sale, but alas, I do not have another window to cover or room to fill with pillows.  I'm sure the fabric will be snatched up quickly, so if you are a fan of the fabric, be sure to purchase now!  


UPDATE: I love finding out more about rooms that I've seen photographed in other blogs.  Amy R. of Plain and Fancy Living so kindly contacted me to notify me that this is her breakfast room! Oh la la, a lucky lady she is!  She ordered the fabric through Erika and had the window treatments made by a seamstress.  The art was ordered through Wisteria.  Now I'm really kickin' myself for not ordering the art when it was on sale!  It would have looked fabulous in our living room.  Amy, if you ever get tired of them, let me know!  


Be sure to read more of Amy's blog, Plain and Fancy Living to see additional photos of the room and to keep up with her newest home projects!

Living Room Updates

I wanted to share with you an inspiration board that I created for my living room.  Photos of the completed room are coming soon.  A sources list is included for your shopping pleasure.  Enjoy!

shopping guide: 

1. Crate and Barrel Petrie Sofa & Crate and Barrel Tempo Velvet Pillows

2. Williams Sonoma Home Mirror (disco'd)

3. Crate and Barrel Hutton Table Lamp

4. Ikea Hemnes Glass Door Cabinet

5. Crate and Barrel Calypso Chair (disco'd)

6. Target Mirrored Tables (qty 2)

7. Williams Sonoma Home Crewel Rug (disco'd)

8. Jo Ellen Designs Bird Pillows

9. Boston Interiors Lemon Cypress Topiaries

Please contact me for additional information on my design and decorating services.