Vintage Glam and Crappy News

I'm taking a 'me' break this a.m. Lounging about on the sofa in my recently purchased vintage fur coat made in Geneva. I'm cold and it's warm. It's got a golden sheen to it...but I've no idea what the little critters were that make up the coat. 

I've been under the weather since mid-December. I thought I'd gotten a virus which had decided to settle in to my joints. Since it's February and it has been getting worse I was thinking I should see the Doctor but I'll be honest. I still procrastinated...as per usual. 

I was more than a little surprised to find myself, this past Monday, under an x-ray machine. Turns out Rheumatoid Arthritis is the culprit not a virus. 

I'll be altering my business model till I can get back on my feet. I still have to work out the details but figure I'll focus on eBoards and consulting/designing for client's online. Lot's of one on one phone time with clients to ensure total happiness! Win win situation: clients save cash on design and I can continue working at a more joint friendly pace...in a fur...on the couch. 

Speaking of couches...LOVE Kelly Wearstler's updated blue leather de Sede sofa:

Friday Flight of Fancy

We are just about to put hardwood in to our dining room. Unfortunate...the ceiling has  the popcorn ceiling finish. I don't have the time to strip it and refinish it so I have primed it and painted it. 


I still want the ceiling to be fabulous so I'm racking my brain for what I can do to take it to the next level. I do love a challenge!


Am I fooling myself or is this simply a flight of fancy? 
Do you think there can be anything redeeming about a popcorn ceiling? 


Until I figure it out...and I only have a day or two *gasp* here's a snippet of the room prior to ripping up the old parquet...iPhone photo :/

Dreaming in Monochrome

Monochromatic palettes upon first blush seem simple, using only varying shades of a single colour. To avoid the pitfall of the single colour room your guests jokingly refer to by the colour ie. "Sarah and Jake's gray room" you want to be sure to inject life...since you are not injecting much colour. 


Life, in a monochromatic scheme, is introduced through:

• varying values (lightness/darkness and tone) of the chosen colour or edging to the right or left on the colour wheel of your chosen hue 

• textures are key. Think felt, boucle, velvet, linen, silk, leather, fur, concrete, lacquer, etc. I'll share a secret: you want to include textures which will both absorb and reflect light...because:

• a great lighting plan is essential but in a monochromatic design it can make or break all your great work.  

Monochromatic rooms to dream about and be inspired by:

Source: bijouandboheme.blogspot.com via Dane on Pinterest

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Leslie Fine's sensational work:

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Kitchen's look great in a monochrome.

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Bobby McAlpine's work makes my knees weak. Use you're wildest imagination...that's what I'd do to live in a home designed by Bobby. Just look at the legs on those islands! 

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Queen of monochromatic design, Barbara Barry:

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A New Front Entrance to Brighten the Day

Fieldstone Windows and Doors was at my place today to swap out the 25 year old builder door and side lights. The entrance was dark 24/7 and drafty as hell.


Our old door:

Dingy eh? That was this morning. The door fronts on the East so the sun would flood the foyer with a new door.


Take a look at the difference now that the new door is in:

That's what I'm talkin' about! The amount of light coming in is so bright you can't even see the details of the door. 


The old door had only 2 hinges and was light as a feather...sound familiar? That's what you get when you buy a door from those 'big box' stores for a few hundred bones. 


My new door is frickin' solid! When it engages it is air-tight. And best of all it's got style. 


Here's what it looks like today from outside:

Sexy brushed nickle lock set and, what's this...they even put in a new door bell! Awesome. The fit and finish of the door is great and the trim work inside by the guys from Fieldstone...is perfect! 
  
Can't wait to paint out the trim (in sable to match the new windows Fieldstone installed in November) and I'm thinking I'm going to do the door and sidelight...in a bright coral colour. Cause I've really wanted to use coral for a while now and wholly impact that would be on the door! 


Here's a shot with the brick to give you a feel. So far the two colour options are C2's Fantasia on the right and Flamingo on the left (colours do look better IRL):

And another shot with the trim colour (sable) and some inspiration with the same colours:

Thank you Ken, Scott, Steve, Rose, Tansy and everyone at Fieldstone for everything!


BTW, they've just started blogging so watch for some good info and maybe, the nosey parker in me hopes, some sneaky peaks in people's houses...ah, I mean of their new doors/windows. I do love me some good before and afters!

Monday's Inspiration

Christine over at Bijou and Boheme blogged about the Design firm Commune today. It is well worth popping over to take a look.


I was impressed with the runner created with what looks like multiple antique rugs. How clever! I'd definitely consider doing this in an old brownstone, a farm house or even a hard loft.

Source: google.com via Cat on Pinterest

What do you think? Love it or leave it? 

Does it inspire you?

The stairs being painted (risers as well as treads) really highlights the carpets.

Winter blahs breeds desire...

for luminousness! It's a word. In the Blogosphere....

Who wouldn't want luminous skin? Winter dries out our skin and if you are like me, the sun of summer sun sins...has a layer of ick as well. 

In honour of Valentine's Day, which is fast approaching here's a simple way to restore moisture, divest yourself of chapping and pump up your pucker:

Luminous Bootylicious Lips Exfoliant:

• 1 tsp - sugar
• drizzle - olive oil
• 1 to 2 drops - essential cinnamon oil (puts the booty in bootylicious)

Apply to lips in a circular motion with a soft toothbrush to exfoliate. Rinse.

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P.S. I'm restoring some youth to my haggard visage. Here's a little B & A ;)


Before:

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After:

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It's January. The weather sucks and days are short. The least you can do is treat yourself; you deserve it.

Friday Flight of Fancy

The phrase, 'flight of fancy' can be defined as an unrealistic or fantastic notion, a pipe dream.

Beauties, you and i will never accept the notion of our dreams and desires to be unrealistic. 

What we crave in our homes and our lives may take time to be realized, but we know, implicitly:  a flight of fancy is the unleashing of the imagination...to soaring heights.

With this philosophy in hand designer's make client's dreams come true and inspire us to expand our dreams!

Friday flight of fancy...

Don't let anyone tell you:
- A stuffed deer head can not possibly look stylish in a bedroom.

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- Drama belongs on the stage.

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- Patterned wallpaper can't be a neutral background.

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