Archive for March, 2014
Lovely Vintage Wallpapers
I got this in my head that I could save a boat load by getting vintage wallpaper. Well, that doesn’t seem to be the case but look at the goodies that I uncovered on ETSY.
Sea Sea is number one on my obsession list at the moment. I’d love it for our kid’s bath. I’m also very slowly redoing my mom’s poolhouse. Talk about perfect for a poolhouse bathroom?!
I dont have the guts to pull this off but someone awesome out there does.
Wouldn’t this be adorable on the ceiling of a nursery with a navy and white motif?
We have this bathroom with original 1930’s yellow tile. I actually find it very charming. I think this wallpaper would add to the charm.
Love the colors and the large florals on this pattern. It would be so cute in a sunroom.
This Damask grasscloth reminds me of the printed grasscloth of Phillip Jefferies’ current line and it’s vinyl – put that in with the kids.
This one is so sweet. I’d love it in a master bedroom.
I have to warn you that the wallpaper is limited so if you fall in love with one there may not be enough for an entire room. But, there’s probably plenty for the back of the bookcase or perhaps an accent wall. Would you do any of these vintage options?
Jute in the Bedroom
Oh hey, Jute, wanna come lay in my bedroom?
Last weekend, we went out to visit friends who have recently moved to the burbs (it’s a trend). They have a beautiful new home and I immediately asked for a tour. They switched the bedroom carpets out when they bought the place to nice nubby wall to wall jute carpet. It was such a fabulous, natural, textural look and it really brightened the room and it was very soft on the feet. I fell head over heels in love. I’m thinking about asking Jute to come join me in my bedroom.
Bed In Front of Window
How is that for a fancy blog post title? “Bed in Front of Window” Really went all out with that one.
We don’t move into our new home until June as the seller is renting it back from us while she gets her new place in order. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t think about decorating.
I always neglect the master bedroom and work on it last so I figure why not switch things around and start with that.
I absolutely love all of the natural light that our new master bedroom gets. It has three great windows and two of which look out onto our garden. BTW, I can’t believe I get to type words like “master bedroom” and “garden” and biggest of all – “ours”!
Here is the real estate photo of the bedroom as we purchased it –
One of the tricky things with the bedroom is that the bed sits right underneath the window. Since I am a decorator, I don’t believe a bed is truly finished until it has some sort of headboard. But, our current headboard situation is very high and would really cut into the window. As a reminder, here is our current bedroom and headboard (we have ten foot ceilings currently)…
When I look at the two bedroom images back to back, all I can really see is the difference of square footage. We get a bedroom that fit actual bedside tables, not garden stools!! Anyway, moving past my excitement. Here are some solutions for when working with a window directly behind your bed…
Really feature out the window with drapes and a valance; this can also make the window appear larger. In this case, we would do a headboard that goes slightly above the start of the window.
This example by Katie Ridder would be a slightly more elaborate version than a traditional cornice box (as the prior image was). The window becomes a lovely feature in a sort of mini jewel box. Imagine this version in manly colors – we’ll spare the pink for Graham’s sake. That headboard reminds me of the one we currently have – wouldn’t it be fab recovered in a print?
While I’m not a fan of accent walls, this could work out in our bedroom. We could forgo a headboard and paint out or wallpaper the one wall where the bed is, thereby giving the illusion that the entire wall acts as a headboard of sorts.
A more paired down approach would be to go with a bamboo shade, as seen by the bedroom by Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects. I like the simplicity of it and this would also allow for a headboard that comes about halfway up the window.
Similar to the bamboo shades would be to do roman shades and again you can bring that headboard up onto the window.
The final option would be to cover up the window with a screen as Jenny Komenda did in the above example. This is my least favorite option though as I like all the natural light pouring in. Plus, lets face it, we have many, many moons before we will ever sleep in again.
Way back in 2011, when I used to do staging for Ken Fulk, I faced this dilemma of a bed that needed to go in front of a window. Because it was for staging, we left the windows bare and then I chose the lowest headboard possible to bring the light in…
I’m sure we won’t be making any major changes for a while. And if we are to make a change sooner rather than later, it will be the faux bamboo blinds as they are by far the most economical choice and I think they are beautiful in a bedroom. What option would you pick?
Dream a Little Dream
I had this dream in which Graham said to me, “Do whatever you would like with our new living room. By all means, I hope and pray that includes a pink sofa. Also, need I remind you that our children are perfect and will never ever spill? And you, my darling, well I’ve never seen you make a mess in my entire life.”
Welcome to our new dream living room, thanks to Polyvore. I hope you love it as much as Graham does.
arteriorshome.com
kathykuohome.com
purehome.com
bloomingdales.com
furbishstudio.com
horchow.com
cb2.com
ballarddesigns.com
grandinroad.com
burkedecor.com
$64 – overstock.com
Loved but Left Behind
We all have our loves in life. And we’ve all experienced those moments when you just have to walk away. Well, my friends, this happened to me in Charleston many times over with about 1 million different decor pieces. Why must I live on the other side of the country? Why must furniture be way too bulky for a carry on?
Here is a sampling of what I loved but left behind…
I should have removed all the glasses to really get a good shot of the tray; but, we all know that I would’ve broken the glasses on accident. I absolutely loved the colors and old world charm of the tray.
This piece would fit just about anywhere – living room side table, small entryway, bedside table. It was a gorgeous, classic staple.
I think half the reason why I fell in love with this lamp is because it was so tiny in person and really isn’t anything cuter when it’s smaller?
Great antique lantern. I imagine this in a dressed up little boy’s room.
Now moving on from true antiques to fun vintage pieces…
I passed one of these chinoiserie palm chandelier up in a vintage shop in San Francisco three years ago and I still regret it. I’m considering getting this bad boy shipped over for our new breakfast nook. I do have a birthday in July….hmmm.
Fabulously fun vintage child’s chair. I love it for little Josie and this sunroom in our new home that will be the play room. Doesn’t it scream sunroom/playroom/Josie?!
In my dream scenario, I would have a soft lavender linen sofa in our new home’s living room. In such dream, this lamp would also be in the room. It was hard to get a true shot of it but it was a great vintage gourd lavender lamp with a chocolate brown shade. Yummers!
This was one of those – shoulda just grabbed it – pieces. It was a cute dog print that I envision in a boy’s nursery. But, we don’t know what we’ll be having for another ten days and I really felt like I’ve gone a crazy in my dog decor. Well, let’s just call it a “collection” instead of “crazy,” shall we?
That folks, is what I loved, lusted after and hopped on the plane to leave behind. What would you have fought tooth and nail to bring home?
Charleston Recap
I’m back from Charleston and feeling recharged. I didn’t realize how much I needed that vacation. You see, I am still dealing with morning sickness and I’ve been stuck in a rut. I was nervous about the cross country flight with morning sickness but all turned out much better than expected.
My mom and I had an absolute blast catching up with family. And I am very much smitten with the South.
Friday night was a fun dinner out. Saturday morning we started out with breakfast at our hotel’s restaurant, Peninsula Grill. Their walls were covered in velour with handsome old portraits; it all felt very cozy and gentlemanly.
We finished off breakfast with the wold famous coconut cake. Let me tell you, it should be devoured any hour of the day – truly decadent.
We then took off and explored the market place, which is a series of many different vendors. I wanted every piece of children’s clothing that I could get my hands on. I was going to come back for this little dress but when I did the stall had already packed up – bummer…
We walked around Church street, which is probably one of the most charming streets in all of America. Take a load of these homes…
We then went and met Angie Hranowsky at her home. She is the nicest and she gave me great advice for my business. Her home is a stunner in person; it is filled to the brim with personality and the coolest vintage pieces.
That evening we were hosted for dinner by my cousin’s wife’s parents. It was an absolutely beautiful home that dates back to the 1700’s. Those kind of dates blow this Californian’s mind.
The next morning was time for some shopping on King street. Lucky for us, it was a perfect sunny day to stroll around and shop. In tomorrow’s post, I’ll show the antiques and vintage pieces that I reluctantly left behind.
That evening, we headed to my cousin’s beautiful home for baked oysters and traditional southern food. My cousin lives on a gorgeous tree lined street. Again we took a stroll and fell head over heels for the homes.
The next day, we flew back home and I got to reunite with my love bug; I immediately dressed her in the Southern dress that her grandma got for her. Thanks mom!
All in all, the trip was everything that I wanted it to be. I have the best family and Charleston is the cutest city!! Y’all got to get down there, ya hear?
Charleston Bound
Ooh la la, I tell you, I’m so giddy. Today, my mom and I are off to Charleston for a long weekend away visiting her sister, husband, my cousins along with my mom’s brother, wife and more cousins.
Charleston is hands down one of the most beautiful cities in the country. I absolutely love its southern charm.
I recently won a major bet with Graham; the winner of the bet got to pick our next destination for a vacation. I chose Charleston. Somehow, Graham got out of his bet but I still get to go to the beloved city, while he stays home with Josie.
I’m lucky enough that my fabulous cousins live there. So we get to go see te real hotspots with locals. And Saturday night, we’re having dinner at a home in the charming South Battery Park area. Lucky us!
My cousin, the talented Julia Lynn, is office mates and close friends with Angie Hranowsky. I know!! I’ve put in a special request that Angie put together her favorite decor spots and that we could possibly meet her.
Angie Hranowsky
I can’t wait to spend some time with my lovely mom, cousins, Aunts and Uncles!! Let the fun times begin!
The Big Splurge
In so many ways, I can’t believe the day has arrived when I can officially write this post. Graham and I have achieved a goal that we have worked at since the start of our marriage.
Before I get to the goal achieved, let me give you some back story. Pre-Graham I was a blissful spender. I wanted something, I bought it. I wanted to eat somewhere, I went. A last minute trip, I flew there. I never went into debt but I never ever saved a single penny. I thought saving was for the birds and that it would all work out. I was also in my young twenties living in New York, where they encourage rampant spending in the pursuit of fabulousness. And you know what? I’m perfectly fine that I got swept up in the tide because it was one hell of a ride.
When I met Graham at the ripe age of 23, he wasn’t exactly spending money on clothes. On our second date, he wore a skater sweatshirt that he boasted to me he had since high school. When Graham and I first went to meet my parents, we pulled up to the driveway in Graham’s 1982 Volvo station wagon, complete with comfy sheepskin seats. After the dinner, I asked my parents what they thought. My dad said, “I really like Graham. I love the questions he asks and the real interest he takes in people. And I really like that he drives an old car” My dad wasn’t one for flashy cars; hence, my parents still owning their 1982 suburban. Here was my new boyfriend, working at a nice hedgefund (at the time), surrounded by possessions dating back to his high school days. For the record, Graham did eventually upgrade his car, but he has forever regretted it. If there were someway I could get him back his old Volvo, I would.
If you’re a long time reader, you’ll quickly know whose spending habits won out. After some resistance and retail therapy rehab, I began to mend my ways. I actually came around to Graham’s way of thinking. This post way back in March of 2010 shows how I started thinking of purchases as the percentage of house that I was going to lose out on. So, paying $100 for a pair of shoes meant losing out on 1/10th of a square foot of a home (joy of expensive California real estate).
I’ll admit, there were many times when it was exhausting. I know what’s in style (and it aint my closet) and lord knows I’m tempted daily with decor pieces. I’d avoid looking into our actual savings account because that just felt so tempting to me to go spend the cash. It was better for me to “believe” we were living paycheck to paycheck, even though, every month, Graham was stashing away into our investment portfolio.
Well finally all those pretty shoes, dresses, chairs, sofas, wallpaper and spa days that I resisted have paid off. And more importantly, all of the hard work and countless hours Graham has put into his career has rewarded us. We splurged people.
We bought a house!!!
I couldn’t be more proud of our gorgeous home that is all ours. It is a stunning home. One that our dreams were made of, in a beautiful community with the nicest people. We feel very lucky and blessed.
We’re back into savings mode while we pay the bank and do glorious things like bolt the foundation. But, hey I’ll take it any day of the week. Volvos and sweatshirts are good for the soul.
We took this photo on Monday morning after signing the deed. It was a momentous, glorious and slightly nail biting day. That is not our house in the background. Because I’m paranoid, I’m not going to share the exterior of our home on the internet. But, it’s a beautiful spanish style home in the Burlingame area, just outside of the city and much closer to our parents. It has a beautiful backyard that makes it so easy to envision our kids happily playing around in. We are so excited to make lasting memories of our home. And while, I wont be showing the exterior, you can come along with me as I decorate the interior, on a budget. 🙂
Kate Collins Interiors 