Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Time Out...


Taking a wee time out...

Going out of town for work and to get some girlfriend time.

If you are still looking for a place to send your support for Haiti,
please go here. I have a special friend who has done work here and
I have sent support as well.
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Monday, January 18, 2010

Art Project



My son who is in college said he wanted some art for his room in his apartment. He is quite an artist himself but with studying and other activities, time is an issue. I saw these canvas' in Wisteria but for over $300 for the set of four, I thought, how hard could it be?



Off to the craft store I went and purchased four canvas stretched over wood and found all the supplies needed.

The fabric is what I had blackout curtains made for him and used the colors in the dots for inspiration.




The canvas' in the catalog looked 'dimensional' so I mixed in some white with the paint and sponged it on.


Not too bad, eh?


My son decided on the hanging arrangement, I may have lined them up as shown in the catalog, but he takes after Mom with liking things a bit different than the norm. They would look better on a differently painted wall, but it is an apartment!

I would have take a picture of how they looked in the room but you know college kids' rooms...oy.

Although this is not truly a metamorphosis, go by and see Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and see what projects other bloggers are doing !

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Transparency and Perfection, Home Tour



I have been asked for a tour of my home...yikes....I am designer, everything should be PERFECT shouldn't it? I don't mind being transparent but my perfectionism makes that transparency more difficult. It's not 'done', it is a work in progress. It takes years (we have lived here 1 1/2 years) to make a house a home. 30 years of military life later and a zillion moves, living in places that were not my own, yada, yada, yada, we are in a place we will be more than 2 or 3 years (but not forever!)


COME ON IN!

Family room where we spend most of our time.


When we first moved here I had the sofa and 2 wings upholstered and from the day the plaid chairs came back....I hated them. DH was not thrilled with my admission and asked if I could live with them for a year, which I did. The fabric to me looked better on the bolt.


I put the two plantation chairs, see post here on the far side of the room, but don't like them in this room...too small, and style wrong for room, plus they were waiting new fabric.
Note room is angled here.



I went with a neutral knowing that I would have to live with them for a number of years.



This is what it looks like today...since it's so expensive to upholster sofa's I will live with this gold and black (which really is a nice fabric and holds up to the DH 'reclining'!) and replace with something creamier next year. I am drawn to warm mediterranean colors, I think this comes from my years growing up in Southern California where that style of architecture along with Spanish is so prevalent.

I went back to the sofa squared off in front of the fireplace. I like the angled arrangement, but really need 2 more chairs for the balance of the room to be right.


mantel disaster


I have tried so many things on this mantel. I don't like symmetrical things too much and I'm not big on fake stuff on top of the book shelves and truthfully I could do without the book shelves on either side. But as the saying goes, 'it is what it is'. Really do not like exposed televisions either.


Like I said, I prefer the arrangement on the angle but will need a couple of great chairs on each side of this table.

Room needs an area rug and lumbars with a fun coordinating fabric to the Ikat pillows for the wings.


Living room...so much to do.


I did paint it in SW Ramie, dark furniture looks much better with the lighter wall. Bit by bit I am repainting the entire home which didn't have 'bad' colors (just weren't me) and I could live with them for a while.

Sofa on loan to me from my Mom. She grew up with it and said my grandparents ordered it from Argentina when Mom was eight years old. The carving detail is amazing, I have many thoughts of upholstery for it and the two bergere's, it will be a while.

Room needs: upholstery, art, area rug, big girl drapes and 'stuff'.

I am definitely a MINIMALIST when it comes to decor, but after all those years of moving around and putting resources into private school for the boys, I really didn't buy too much for the home. I need 'stuff' but I won't buy just to buy, it's got to hit me and be quality.



Plantation chair in the fabric my grandmother had put on it probably at least 60 years ago!
Look here for more about the chairs.



I had them done in this Ikat and they now have a place in the dining room.



Dont' look too closely at the unpolished silver atop the breakfront, I was too lazy to polish it before taking the pix. This furniture - an heirloom from my grandmother.

Room needs: rug - I bought a cow hide a year ago and it seemed too big, I didn't want the chairs going back and forth over it, but since the room is used infrequently it may be ok - reupholster chairs (which I do myself, just need to get off my tooshie) and a different chandy. I also want intaglios (go here to see) for this room either side of the breakfront.



Guest room #1

I am not usually a 'blue' person, but I do like these pillows because they have my favorite color of green in them.
I had this room and my office which is joined by a jack and jill bathroom painted right away as 2 little girls lived there and the rooms were pale pink and pale green with a lavender bath. NOT me!

Room needs: art and area rug


This 1860 armoire is the first antique I purchased and was so excited, my boys were little at the time and it was quite an extravagance.



Guest bedroom #2

As a little girl going to my grandma's I used to sleep with her in this bed. Solid mahogany with highboy (shown) and lowboy opposite the foot of the bed. The carving detail on this furniture is amazing.

Room needs: new paint, pillows with bright fabric, new drapes hung at ceiling, art and an area rug.



Guest bedroom #3

This room is in the basement - in Georgia newer homes are built with 2 levels and a basement and then finished by the home owner. Ours is a daylight basement with a door to the outside and was finished prior to us purchasing the home. It's so nice when company comes because they have a whole floor to themselves.

Room needs: art and area rug, shams, paint

I like white duvet's in guest rooms, it makes cleaning easier.

I'm a bit neurotic about that.


Erma (rescued from a shelter)- my lttle grand-dog - comes for a sleepover once a week or so, her Dad is going to move away soon and I will surely miss her.

Thanks for coming by, as things progress I'll keep you posted.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Meet Renee Finberg!



She (here she is with designer Miles Redd) is one of my very first bloggy friends and a very talented designer that grew up around the design industry. She walks her talk.
We have much in common, shared many a telephone conversation and I can truly call her "friend." I am amazed at all we have in common and know if we lived closer (she's in Boca Raton, FL and I'm in Atlanta, GA) we would sure get into some trouble. If you have not 'met' her you must stop by here and get to know this woman who is full of wit and wisdom. Be sure and stop here to see her 20 Secrets to Happiness, words we can all live by!

Renee passed on this Kreativ Blogger Award to me to share 7 things about myself.




I posted a few things once before here so I had to reach deep to find a few more tidbits, so here goes...


1. The first thing I do when I get up is head straight for the coffee pot and sit with a hot cup and read from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and the Bible.



2. I workout every day except weekends.



3. Punctuality is the utmost of importance....I am always early.



4. Good manners are a must.



5. A treat for myself is a '1-pump mocha with skim milk and whip cream!' :>)




6. I am fiercely loyal. Friends are so very important to me and I will travel far and wide to spend time with them!



7. I spend quite a bit of time alone due to DH travels and being new in a community. It usually takes 2+ years for me to find my niche in a new place, mid-year this year will be 2 years.
Think about how long you have lived in your community, when was the last time you reached out to someone new?


So now I pass this on to 7 other creative bloggers:








Now it's your turn to do as i have done - pass along!

XO Renae


Monday, January 11, 2010

Tea Time!

With record setting low temperatures in Atlanta and icy roads that created havoc, nothing was going to stop me from getting to the tea on time! A great afternoon was spent enjoying the talents of Eddie Ross and friend Steve McKenzie of Larson-Juhl, who hosted this fabulous event at their beautiful showroom.


Upon entering this beautiful showroom we were greeted by the most gorgeous table with a stunning arrangement done by Eddie (of course!) and the most mouth watering tea sandwiches and petit fours that could grace any High Tea at the Ritz! The caterers obviously did their homework noting how Eddie loves silver and used many interesting pieces to serve all of these yummies!

(don't ask my why blogger insisted on underlining the text above...I couldn't fix it and didn't want to start over - I know you feel my pain!)


The tea table, as well as the others were all topped with burlap which adds elegance! Who would have thunk that burlap would DO that? We had our choice of white wine, lemonade, various hot teas or sparkling water. Everything was perfect. We had a great time milling around and getting to know each other.


I met Rhoda from Southern Hospitality and her sister Renee in a spot in Atlanta and we got to chat on the way over...such fun!


Eddie has a way of making you feel like you've been buds forever!



Larson-Juhl framed images of Eddie's vintage serving pieces. They make a wonderful grouping don't you agree? Be sure and visit Eddie's Etsy store to find these and other vintage treasures.



This is me with the most adorable and uber talented Layla Palmer of The Lettered Cottage.
Oh to be young and cute again!

Eddie did an informative presentation on thinking outside of the box when it comes to framing.


Here Eddie is with Steve at an earlier time in the workroom choosing just the right frames for a christening gown and baby shoes. Did you know that you can layer frames with more frames? There is so much you can do to make your projects pop with interest!



Oh and party favors too! A replica of art that is displayed at the Biltmore Estate printed on canvas and a botanical page that was torn out of a book printed in the 1800's. I cannot wait to have them framed and displayed to remind me of a great afternoon!


Here I am with Eddie and Jaithan, they are two fine fellers!
Do you think maybe I got some of their talent by osmosis?

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Friday, January 8, 2010

Linen Spray

Everyone's gone...sigh

icey/snowy outside

do chores...

do you IRON your linens?

I DO

This linen spray is great

smells good

helps take out wrinkles

Makes your guests/family feel special.

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