FROM FLOOR TO CEILING....

Rugs and lights: two essentials.

This was a lo....ng wait. We ordered these two runners through Joss & Main, and then we waited, and waited, and waited. They were held up in customs we were told. But finally, they arrived and I love them!

They're made from recycled plastic and are totally washable. An added benefit is that they sort of stick to the floor: no slipping at all! And they're comfy on the feet: like nice, thick padding.

Here is the company website, although I couldn't find any retailers in the States (and no, the sale at Joss & Main is long over).

Looking up toward the ceiling:

The spots are ok...but I wanted the look of pendants over the center island.

You will recall Kelly's design board:

I really LOVED those Stacy Garcia lamp shades. I mean love, love, love.

Well, you just never know do you? They arrived and no, they just were not right.

Too large. Too bulky. Too in-your-face. So back they went.

The search was on, and this is what we ordered from Destination Lighting. They are oh so PERFECT, and you can't beat the price! Just wonderful. Subtle, soft, contemporary and go so well with the colors (that story is coming next week!).

Happiness is....making the right choice!

MARIE CLAIRE IDEES ARRIVED TODAY

 

 

It happens six times a year!

My favorite(well, one of them) magazine arrives: "Marie Claire Idees"; NOT to be confused with "Marie Claire". This is THE one to look at for colors, ideas, crafts, styling and yes, all things French.

 

 

 All these are made of paper:

 

 These chair covers for a special occasion: 

 Linen and cotton around the house:

My scans really do NOT do justice to the fabulous photography in the magazine!

Look at this story all about ribbons:

 
Or this one, about birds as a source of inspiration: 

 

Lots of fun ideas to make with wall paper:

You can order directly from Amazon here. It does take almost three months for the first issue to arrive....well worth the wait!

A note of "warning": it IS all in French:both the website and the magazine. But even if you don't understand the language "a picture is worth a thousand words". Trust me, as visual people,  you will understand what is going on....

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A NEW SHOP

 

Is there anyone out there from the Chicago area?

 

My friend and fellow blogger, Diana of FineDiving has opened a new resale shop in Lake Forest, Illinois. I'm not sure exactly how Diana and I met, but I have always loved the name of her blog! Yes, she "dives" for very fine things all around Chicago. And then she "repurposes" them. Check out her Etsy shop "Table for Eight". Well, actually, she doesn't have much in the shop at the moment....it's all in her new store front shop: Lake Forest Resale Shop.

 

From children's clothing and toys to Limoges china: they have it all!

Please...do go over and look around Diana's blog. She has such good taste, and everything she has redone is really lovely. I NEED to have her come to my house and rework a few pieces!

And........Diana has also written an e-book: "Secondhand Shabby". Now, here is a really GOOD guide book to updating vintage pieces yourself.  In Diana's words:

"So….I’m excited to introduce my downloadable Ebook, Secondhand Shabby: Ten projects for remaking thrift finds. Looking through the lens of the comfortable, perfectly imperfect style of shabby chic, I wrote this book to give you ideas and the know-how to show some repurposed love to thrift store finds.  Why shabby chic style?  It’s alive and well in design showrooms and in our homes, as the introductory tour of a great shop in Chicago well illustrates."

"The book takes our love of thrifitng and upcycling and puts them together with projects both beginner and experienced makeover artists will like to do. There are makeovers to do in a small apartment as well as a basement or yard, and projects for crafters and those who like to go big with a sander."

You can purchase the book directly from her site.

EARTH DAY 2011

 

 

April 22nd is Earth Day

To celebrate the color green, here are some recent images from my "neighborhood":

 

 

 

 

Have a joyous weekend everyone! 

UPS-A-DAISY: DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS GARDEN SUPPLY?

 

 

What to do with really large planters?

and other helpful hints

They are SO big. Do you fill them with dirt? Oh so heavy.. Do you use plastic peanuts in the bottom? They get very soggy... Do you put a plastic pot inside the terra cotta or ceramic planter? Not a great look...

It's been a "garden problem" for years!

Problem solved. Go on over to Ups-a-Daisy. Mine arrived today, Wednesday after placing my order on Sunday. No extra charge, just fast service! You might also find them at your local garden center; I wasn't able to so ordered on line.

 

 

It's an insert. It sits about half way down the pot (measure carefully)...meaning that you then only need to fill the top half (about) of your pot. 

Problem solved!

 

 

Next up: we have Corian counter tops with the one-piece, molded sinks. It's something I've wanted for years: no seams, no metal pieces, clean looking etc. Only problem is that, for some reason, glasses break very easily! We never had this issue with stainless steel. In addition, the sink slants, every so slightly, toward the center so any glass, especially a wine glass, falls right over on its side.

Enter this handy helper:

Problem solved! Again.

Do you have any handy helpers you can share with us?

TORNADOES IN NORTH CAROLINA: TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

 

 

To everyone.... we never knew we had so many friends, acquaintances, interested parties....who has asked how we are in the aftermath of the front page news of tornadoes in North Carolina:

WE ARE FINE!

thank you for your concern!

 

 But yes, here is a video of some of the damage:

 

This was just 30 miles south of us. We have a friend who lives down there who's house was damaged, but not badly...unlike his neighbor who's house was flattened. 

And, we happened to be up in Raleigh that afternoon; that was where one entire neighborhood was destroyed. We only saw a bit of rain and yes, some fairly severe wind (actually I wondered if my car was going to be blown off the highway...). But it never seemed THAT bad to us, and we didn't have the radio on. 

So anyway. Thank you for your concern.

This is the scene around our house today:

gorgeous, gorgeous: a rose from my neighbor's garden: 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE RED ENVELOPE PROJECT?

 

 

We received a package from RedEnvelope. Read all about it here. 

After planting most of the seeds in their individual pots, I covered them with plastic and waited...Well, I didn't have to wait very long! Amazingly, most of them sprouted with ten days; I took off the plastic and watched them grow. I could almost SEE them grow...

Then I repotted them in slightly larger plastic pots and put them outside on a ledge in the fence:

And then...into the ground they went:

Sweet Peas

Cosmos:

And here are some of the "second round": zinnias, dianthus and baby's breath, all waiting to be taken outside tomorrow:

I'll keep you posted on how they all do. Of course, I have HIGH hopes for each and every one!

SUMMERTIME: DO YOU HAVE YOUR MELAMINE?

Oh so many to choose from.

Following up on my story of last week about melamine at Target...I started looking around for other ideas. Yes, it's true: designers are never satisfied with just one great idea. We have to keep on looking...and looking...and looking! Well, I have had this company, LA Plates, in my files for ages and ages. Summery, preppy, eye- catching, full of great details.

Coasters galore:

Personalized lotion bottle: what a great gift idea!

A slightly different take, and a huge line divided by theme is from Preppy Plates.

They have lots of fun summer themes, such as these lobsters, nautical, fish, crabs etc.

My favorite item of theirs is the square tray; again, a great gift idea!

You can buy Preppy Plates either at their website or from many online retailers such as The Well Appointed House.

And finally, there is Dabney Lee At Home

Ice Buckets:

In many, many prints: These are just a few

This is actually a "rolodex" for your address cards: clever!

and more great trays:

with napkins to match:

Take your pick! Lots of cute things for summer entertaining.