Sid Dickens Memory Blocks

Sid Dickens, a brilliant artist, in front of a wall of memory blocks that he and his team of artists create from his studio in Vancouver, Canada. The memory blocks are hand-crafted in plaster and each have unique designs that are hand painted and stained as well as gold and silver leafed. As you can see there are images reflected from a deck of cards, letters, floral, spiritual and architectural motifs.

Each year he unveils new collections and retires some. The blocks are not inexpensive but after retirement, values have been known to increase quite handsomely.

 I admired them for many years before starting a collection of my own.

Each are given a name, this is Empress.

Harlequin - retired

 Mozart - retired

 French Crest

 Medieval Cross 

 Watermark - retired

 Under Stars - retired

 Screen Passage - retired

Naturlich

My preference are those that are black and white or more neutral in color rather than those painted in brighter colors and I like to find those that are or nearing retirement.

I have the Star of Zanzibar - retired on my bookshelf waiting to add to the wall collection.  Just need two more!

For an example of how a value can increase, Chess Pawn (not in my collection!)

is for sale on ebay.  She's a beauty for sure.

Do you have something special that you like to collect?

♥

Moore Designs is here to help you create the home of your dreams.

E-design available.

My Own One Room Challenge

'One room' that really was a finish up of one guest bedroom and bath and the absolute challenge off another guest room and bath. You know how I like to do my Project Mondays, well this week the project has been pulling the bath together of my bed/bath challenge. (Posting on my iPad, so the pictures will follow the text.)

I purchased some moulding with the intent of getting the MR (my handyman) cutting it to make a frame for the mirror. No project is complete without having to purchase a new tool. :) In this case a new mitre box! He cut and glued with wood glue and then after drying I had to see how it would look. In the meantime, I got started painting the vanity, straight over the melamine finish, 3 coats did a nice job, in the first image is what it looks like after one coat. I painted the frame while I was taking on the phone so I got no pix of the process. Primed with white chalk paint, 'rub "n buff' gold on the raised edges and then I diluted a a bit of the black paint with water making a wash and painted over. It really gave it a nice patina, looks old and 'grainy'. So it"s been busy around 'Casa de Moore'. More to come!

My Own One-Room Challenge(s)

A couple of my design bloggy friends 

Sherry Hart of Design Indulgence

and Mary Ann Pickett of classic•casual•home 

are part of a group of 20 other bloggy designers 

across the US by the invitation of 

Linda of My Crafty Homelife 

to do a One-Room-Challenge.  Be sure and pop over and see what these talented girls are up to.

I decided I would do my own along side them.

You know how we have rooms that are 'out of sight, out of mind'?  Well that's the way it has been for me with two of my guest rooms.

For some crazy reason when we moved in I decided I wanted some sort of Bohemian look.  Really?  I HAVE NO CLUE where that came from because I am NOT Boho!  

I inherited the 'brown bag' color on the wall.  This room is in the basement of our home and these two lovely 'things' are the cover-ups of the main water line faucets to the house.  I am not sure who finished the basement but this was definitely an after-thought.

In the opposite corner is a cable and plug for a television to be mounted on the wall.  The former owners had a thing for this as there is another around the corner in the game room.  Appropriate for a room with a pool table.

The stone wall is the side of the shower which is actually pretty nice. 

 Wall color now is creamy white. 

I have already gotten a start in here. 

First thing to go was the color on the walls. 

Brown Bag to SW Crushed Ice, my new fave neutral of which I have painted almost my whole house.  I painted over the plates as I have not had the electrician in yet to lower these to floor level.

Here's a sneak peak of what I have done already.

I tried various sizes of art to cover the plugs over the faucets but balance was never right, so I made a frame out of 1"x2"'s and then covered with fabric.  The headboard, linen window panels and duvet are from West Elm, one of my favorite places to shop, the euros are custom.  

Still thinking about another pillow or two or three. :)

Of course, they usually end up on the floor.

There are a few finishing touches to the styling and it will be ready for guests, although my son considers this his room.  I wonder how he likes the pink?

This is where my One-Room Challenge begins.

I have my grandmother's bed and 2 dressers and the brown bag wall color, which has now been painted Crushed Ice. 

Nothing was ever really done in here. 

I have taken the mirror off the dresser with the thought of hanging the mirror on the wall BUT it may pose a problem.  There is really no place on the backside to attach anything so it can be hung.  I have a bit of investigating to do.

I have gone round and round with myself about painting this furniture and if not the dresser,  (moved the tall one out) the bed.  Thoughts?

Green in here has already been painted out in a creamy white.

I put these hotel type rods in this bath and another. While they are great for keeping the shower curtain from 'grabbing' whoever is in there, it keeps me from hanging the decorative curtain high as it would be too close to the toilet. I'm not changing it now.

Don't ya just love this fixture?  Not. Already gone.

I thought I might like the bed in front of the windows but have decided that a better use of space is to keep the bed opposite the dresser.

I was in World Market and saw this pillow and knew this would be the inspiration for the room.  I LOVE neutrals but I like color too.  With the old furniture I decided I wanted the room to be happy.  I also realized I am liking pink, orange and gray. Themes of the room downstairs.  They will have a different vibe though!

I was at Pottery Barn the other day looking at their frames with large mats and smaller opening for the picture.  I just didn't want to spend that many $$$ for a few frames.  Here in Canton there is a store called "Canton Closeouts" that is the craziest place I've seen.  It has a variety of merchandise from candy to lighting, mattresses to laundry soap. If you DIG you can find some interesting things.  The MR loves to go on Saturday mornings and has found some great tools.  Anyway...they are going out of business and we went last night.  I found these Burnes frames and bought all they had.  At 50% off $15, I stole them.

I went to Michael's Craft store in search of interesting scrap book paper. I think it will be nice art at a good price for a room I rarely go in.

It is crazy to be able to make decisions easily for clients I work with but for myself it is extremely difficult, I like too many different styles and colors. 

Not everything has to be custom, mix some in with ready made and it makes it more affordable.  

♥

Please allow Moore Designs to help you create the home of your dreams. No project is too small whether you live locally or virtually! Contact by email; moore.designs1@gmail.com

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Showhouse Tease

I was delighted to be invited to an evening preview of the Atlanta 2013 Inspiration House located on the grounds of the Cathedral St. Philip. This show house features designs by Rick Bonner, Karen Ferguson, Bill Ingram, Bryan Kirkland and many more local talents including my friends Sherry Hart (www.sherryhartdesigns.com) and Lori May (www.lorimayinteriors.com). For the schedule of events at the house, go to: cathedralantiques.org

We were encouraged to take pictures and blog about it but no full room views as it will be featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine. The rooms were transformed beautifully. I had been invited to submit a design plan to design a room, but with the pending birth of our grandchild and other design commitments, this year was not in the cards, perhaps next year? The home was painted all white with absolutely nothing of interest, the designers really showed their talent as the home truly is lovely.

(I'm blogging from my iPad, as my laptop is at the doctor's and it's inadequate at best, I cannot place the pictures and give a description).

I'll give you some notes ahead of the pictures! The first picture is of a drop dead gorgeous leather antique settee, oh my goodness, I would love to have strapped it to the roof of my car! :). In another room with pretty pink decor, I loved the contemporary art piece the designer said he had commissioned for the room. The kitchen is a very small L-shaped room and the designer had beautiful rustic cabinetry installed as well as in-laid stone concrete floors, and neutral walls. Turquoise and black caught my eye in the next room with a beautiful iron table and glass top. That could surly come home with me too! I loved the contemporary design, my mind doesn't think that way, but I really liked it. I was happy to meet architect Bill Ingram whose work I have followed for quite some time. He and and his design partner had a beautiful warm space. Those of you that know me know there is no such thing as too many mirrors, and his was spectacular! Sherry and Lori had a warm space as well. The ceiling (which I didn't get a picture of) was covered in a beautifully stained wood that blended with the natural hues of the stone walls on one side and dark painted walls on the other. The small gallery of pictures contrasts nicely with the painted walls. Their creativity shone through with the vignettes they created. The dining room had a skirted table with the most gorgeous fabric against one wall, and lovely china and monogrammed napkins set a beautiful table.

I ran into several designers I know and got busy talking and failed to go upstairs. I definitely will go back to take it all in again. I want to encourage you to make plans to go see this lovely home, you will take away a little something from each room.

Please allow Moore Designs to help you create the home of your dreams. No project is too small whether you live locally or virtually! Contact by email; moore.designs1@gmail.com