Well, friends, the best laid plans go awry.  I intended to show you our newly finished man-cave in this post, but my son absconded with my memory card for my camera and so I wasn’t able to photograph it.  But, I am going to make it up to you, I hope, by showing you a completed project that I did for my fabulous client in Switzerland.  So, here’s my promise.  I am not going to tease you with showing the project a bit at a time over several posts.  Instead, I will show you the befores and afters, with some commentary thrown in and in a later post or posts I will take you behind the scenes.

First, I must introduce my lovely client.  She has traveled and lived all over the world.  She was born and raised in St. Petersburg, attended college here in the U.S., moved to various locales in China, lived for a bit in London, and found herself in Zurich with her fiancee.  She found me through the blog, and although we initially did all of our work via Skype, in the end we met over a pair of Hickory Chairs in Chicago and spent a frenetic but fruitful few days in Zurich for the installation of the project.  This lady is seriously chic, absolutely gorgeous, and possessed of very distinctive style.  Coco Chanel would be envious so for this story I am going to call her Coco.

Here is the way that the apartment looked when Coco first contacted me. 

This was the living room.  Coco loved the wall color, her sofa, her armchairs, her Ming cabinets and her rug.  She had just purchased some of her furniture and the Ming cabinets are antiques. We had some great things to work with already.

The wall color is consistent throughout the apartment, as you can see.  Coco wanted to keep her window treatments as they are brand new, and the antique Chinese chairs and table were also must keeps on both of our lists.  Loved those gorgeous vintage parquet floors.

Here is Coco’s bedroom.  She wanted to add some color and interest to get away from the “hotel” look of the room.

My original design brief was to create a glamorous yet inviting living room for Coco and her fiancee.  Once that was accomplished, we were going to move into the study.  But as these things tend to go, the project began to creep into Coco’s bedroom and even small parts of her hallway, kitchen and dining room.  This is always great fun for me, as it means that my client and I are finding ourselves much on the same page and that they value me enough to ask for my input in other ways. But then…

I had finished my moodboards and floorplans, submitted my purchase orders and was ready to move full speed ahead on the living room when I got an e-mail which said, basically, that Coco and co. had spent their Christmas swapping the living room and study!!!  My response was “okayyyy….but we sort of have to start over!”  We didn’t really have to scrap everything – the Hickory Chairs remained- but pretty much everything else changed.  So, here is the new living room/former study….

I love the way that the light fills this room, and Coco’s instincts in swapping the darker, cozier room to the study were spot on.  The sofa, bookcase, rug and window treatments and art all were existing furnishings.  We added the armchairs, upholstered in a truly wonderful Clarence House fabric, the twig table from Arteriors, the Jonathon Adler tables that we completely transformed, custom made throw pillows and the white cowhide thrown atop the rug.  We also added lots of color and pop with various accessories.

This antique apothecary chest was already a charming component of the room.  We added the vintage mirror, the Circa lamp and the fun moss balls for color and shape.

This is a closeup of the lovely vignette we created with one of a pair of antique Chinese chairs.  The fretwork fabric echoed the Clarence House fabric, but in richer and deeper tones.  A vintage Tibetan drum is perched under the chair.

Here are some of the accessories that we used to style the bookcase.  Coco loves orange in every shade and so we worked hard to incorporate it where we could, while also adding some touches of green.  We were really thrilled with the way the room turned out.

Remember Coco’s old living room?  It became her study and this is the same view as the one in befores.  You can see that we paired the antique Ming cabinets on the wall with a pair of Ralph Lauren sconces by Circa, some luminous white ginger jars, and her existing Chinese scholar’s chairs.  Her English armchairs and sisal round out the mix.  We added pop and pizzazz with the fretwork fabric on the ottoman, heated up with a bright persimmon trim.  We also added a bright coral throw, and detailed the fretwork on the chair cushions in bright orange piping.  A vintage map of Paris hangs on the left wall and to the right you can see the Chinese wine table.  Out of view is the desk and the two chairs that allow Coco and co. to work side by side.

This is the salon style art wall that we created to hang above the wine table.  The creation of that wall is worthy of its own post!  We found all of the art through Lost Arts Salon and had it framed here at the Frame House.  We were thrilled with the results.

This is a closer view of the art wall, with the chairs cleared out of the way.  It is so sad that there is so much reflection on the art in the photo, but I have shots of individual pieces to share with you later.

This is a closeup of the vignette that we did.  Coco and I thought it a bit cheeky and fun to have a container full of calligraphy brushes below the art wall.  We planned the placement of the artwork around the height of this vignette.

Many apologies for the bright lighting in this, but that was the only way to get the photo.  We added some beautiful chartreuse and chocolate fabric pillows from Quadrille to the bed, hung existing pressed botanicals over the headboard and paired them with Circa sconces.  We styled the bedside tables with some lovely accessories which really added interest and character to the room.

I have more photos of this project to share with you – both the finished product, as well as the in progress shots- but we will get to those in another behind-the-scenes post.

I am so proud of this project.  Can you imagine that we did this via Skype, e-mail, spreadsheets and five million photos sent back and forth?  Every single new purchase was packed and shipped from here to Zurich.  Most importantly, Coco and co. are happy with all of the changes and are planning new projects down the road!!  More on Coco and her stylish salon later….

Kristin

Hi,

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit an open showhouse presented by Bella Vita Custom Homes.  They were serving mimosas in the morning and wine in the evening, and that was all the inducement I needed!  Seriously, I am always anxious to see new homes and to see what impact the kinds of design trends that are written about in the blogosphere are making on actual design.  Bella Vita means beautiful life, and I know that the builders, architect, and designer of this home envisioned the family living here to be living the beautiful life.  So, let’s take a look, shall we?

The entry sets the tone right away.  This is going to be a classic “Old World” style home, Texas style.  Special finishes, rustic elements, and earth tones will predominate.  While this is not my personal style, it is very popular here.

Just to the left of the entry is this great double height study.  It occupies a turret on the front of the house.  Hand scraped floors, toasty walls, tapestry and animal prints are all part of the Old World look.  I really like the idea of the hand tied half slipcover and will store that one away for future reference.

Here is a look at the spiral staircase that leads to a gallery above, lined with bookshelves.  There is a surprise at the top of the stairs, and a really fun one at that!

Back through the entry and behind it opens this fantastic space.   I LOVE this idea.  The arches are charming and separate the family room, dining room and kitchen in a stunning way.  I also think that the flow of this is wonderful for daily living as well as entertaining.  The family room is casual enough for daily use but formal enough for entertaining and the same goes for the dining room.  Again you see the stone, brick, and hand-scraped floors so prevalent here in Dallas.  The slipcovered dining room chairs tell me that the designer is working to include some of the new trends in her design.  The kitchen is a great entertaining venue and I am so bummed that my photos of it didn’t turn out.  I really like the selection of two different chandeliers in this space.  Many designers would have selected the same fixture for both, but this allows each space to have its own feel.  The detail on the arches is very well done, don’t you think? I also like the blue accents in the family room, which is unexpected and very welcome.  ( Usually this style of decor incorporates red or terracotta rather than blue )

Notice the open door on the side?  It leads to this:

A detail of a powder bath tucked underneath the stairs.  Stenciling in soft gold against toasty walls is another Old World touch popular here.

Back to the family room, dining room, kitchen.  I won’t call it a great room, as I think it’s such a cliche term and this is so clever.  Wouldn’t you love to entertain here?  Let’s go to the courtyard which leads off of the space from the dining area and kitchen.

This is from the kitchen doors.  There are two charming fountains flanking the outdoor fireplace.  This space is huge and it runs the entire length of the house.  It’s embraced by the master suite to the left and a guest casita/mother in law suite on the right. Fantastic for entertaining!

The courtyard can also be reached at the entrance of the house.  How smart is that?  So often if one entertains outside, our guest have to wander through the house to get to the back and the party.  With the courtyard to the side, you can make your way immediately to the outdoors and the party.

This “casita” has it’s own entrance from the courtyard.  It is perfect for guests or for an in-law suite.  I really like the walls – they are gray-washed tongue and groove, and finished with a creamy topcoat.  Very trendy grainsack pillows make an appearance here and the color scheme is more Belgian in feeling, although the designer wisely incorporated more of the warm taupe seen elsewhere in the house. People here really, really like this color, or at least I should say that many of the homes that I see here in Dallas incorporate this color, and I can’t imagine that it would be so prevalent if people didn’t like it so much.

We are back in the main house now, and into a charming hallway leading off of the kitchen.  The door out of the master leads to that great courtyard – so many possibilities, no? The double groin vaulted ceiling is a great touch and it echoes the groin vault in the ceiling above the dining area.  The stenciling really draws the eye to this detail, doesn’t it?

Whoops!  I almost forgot to show you another genius feature of this floorplan, which I am just loving.  The laundry room is directly behind the kitchen and backs onto the master closet.  That open door is a passthrough from the laundry room to closet for laundry, dry cleaning, shopping, etc.  I just think this is so clever.  The cabinet doors below open on both sides, too, with a laundry basket nestled there.

Back on track and into the master bedroom.  The rough-hewn beams here add a great architectural touch.  The designer added some nice blues and reds here, which is unusual in the typical color palette that we see here.  Yes, that is a ceiling fan.  Remember folks, this is Texas and we need those darn things!

This is the seating area in the bedroom.  I really like how it is set off to the side of the room with an alcove.  It’s a nice detail and one I would love in my master when I want to read and John wants to watch TV.  The print on the curtains is very pretty and again, unusual in the colors.  You can’t see it here, but there is a small room to the left of the sitting area that’s just big enough for a treadmill and looks into the backyard.  What a great idea.

The bed faces a gas fireplace and TV.  The raised hearth means that you can see the fire from the bed.  The ubiquitous flat screen is above it.  I make no judgment here, just an observation.  My John can’t go to sleep without a cable news lullaby.  I am just glad ours is hidden in a blanket chest most of the time.  But I am in the tiny minority on this issue.  And what they did with the fireplace is neat…

because it’s double-sided.  Very romantic.  The double archway into the bath is also very graceful and sociable.  You can easily talk to each other while you are brushing your teeth or getting ready to go out.  There are his and hers vanities in the master bath, too.  Let’s go upstairs for a quick roundup of the other bedrooms.

All are great fun for kids and each has their own bath.  These are all on the second floor of the house and there is still room in this floorplan for a media room and a game area…

This is at the top of the landing on the second floor and it makes great use of what could have been an awkward space.  The media room is through the doorway to the left, next to the bookshelves and the…

secret room!  The bookshelves are a false door that leads to the secret cigar room.  So fun.

This small room has a pair of chairs, and a TV on the opposite wall.  Not pictured is the door to the pool table area.  The second false door leads to the gallery overlooking the study.  I guess the idea is that you can head straight up here for a cigar or to catch a game from the study.  Really neat touch, and one my men would love.  Ladies, what can I say? The manfluence is strong here.  But we do get a double-sided fireplace and a jacuzzi, plus a great laundry room, so what are we complaining about, right?  I know all of us live to take bubble baths and do laundry (!!) ….Seriously, though, this is a great, great idea and layout. It is very well thought out, and no detail has been overlooked.  The quality of the crafstmanship is really top-notch.  My hat is off to Bella Vita, the builder, and also Andy Clem, the chief principal at Bella Vita, who came up with the architectural concept plan.  I think he did an amazing job, don’t you?   Interior designer Cindy King did a nice job interpreting the very popular “Old World” look. And for those of you, like me, who adore the floorplan, I have it for you here:

To find out more about the house, go to www.livingbellavita.com.  These are just the nicest folks you can imagine.  The open house was a family affair for the firm, with their children playing, wives helping wash dishes in the kitchen and all of the principals making sure that every question got answered.  True Texas hospitality and warmth at its finest.

Have a great week and stay tuned.  I have my first post with your design questions answered coming up this week!  Yeah – I asked and you answered.  Should be fun!

Kristin

Hello!

Thank you to my readers that e-mailed me about design advice.  I have a great post planned about color for this week, so be sure to check back.  But, let’s get back to showing you the sources for my high/low furnishings for the porch.  Here is what I put together when money was no object.

Sources, starting in the first row, upper left hand corner are: Authentic Provence, Mecox, Mecox, Restoration Hardware.  The second row is Mecox, Restoration Hardware, and South of Market.  The third row is Authentic Provence, Authentic Provence, Restoration Hardware and Authentic Provence.

Sources, starting  upper left hand corner, going clockwise:  Authentic Provence, Mecox, Mecox, Mecox, Authentic Provence, Tara Shaw Maison, Tara Shaw Maison.

Mind you, this is simply a collection of images I could find online.  I am SURE I could have spent more if I prowled my local antique stores and boutiques!!  But let’s chat about my finds.

This is a limestone table from Authentic Provence.  I sourced a number of wonderful things from them.  I love the aesthetic.  And it truly is authentic.  My time in Provence was about more muted colors, graveled courtyards, and fields of lavender.  Not a Pierre Deux fabric in sight!  Also, remember that Provence sits along the French Riviera – the two blend together, really.  So the more sophisticated tastes of the Cote D’Azure bleed readily into the hills and fields of Provence.  At the end of this post, I will show you a montage of photos from Provence, and I think you will see what I mean.  But for now, let’s look at design!

I love the finish on this table, also from Authentic Provence.  The lemon trees on it are so charming!  The shelf is a great feature and would look marvelous styled with stacks crusty old pots and romantic dripping pillar candles. The little side table also comes from Authentic Provence, as do the wonderful firewood baskets.

This antique sconce is one of a pair from Authentic Provence.  Imagine how fabulous it will look with candles….

More Authentic Provence.  This planter is ubiquitous in Provence, but what I truly admire is the gorgeous blue, as it reminds me of the color of the Mediterranean as it appears close to shore.  Dreamy.  The website doesn’t give pricing for any of these items, but I am sure that if you e-mail them, they will happily respond!

Apologies for the size of the image from Restoration Hardware.  I love this sofa so much.  I like the long bench cushion, which feels more sleek and streamlined.  The shape of the arms is traditional but not overly bodacious.  Just really a wonderful piece from the Corsica Collection.  It is priced at $1930.

I mentioned that I was obsessed with this chair from Restoration Hardware, priced at $1125.  It is so charming, such a statement maker, and so unexpected for an outdoor piece.  I would love to have a pair on my own loggia.  It reminds me of a chair that I saw at Lucca on La Cienega Boulevard last summer.  I wish I could show it to you, but Lucca’s image it too blurry for me to show you.  Here is the link so you can see it in all it’s fabulosity: http://www.luccaantiques.com/item/details/1446/

Here is the Restoration Hardware Provence wicker chair, priced at $510. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I use Mecox for sourcing a lot of unique and wonderful things.  So I went to the well again and found these great pieces.

This wonderful verdigris obelisk from Mecox makes a wonderful statement, and the hue of the aging blends beautifully with the Authentic Provence planter.  It is extravagently beautiful, and that’s reflected in its price tag of over $4,000.  But what a punch it packs!

I love, love, love this piece.  And for an antique in such great condition, I believe that the pricing is not bad – $800. If you found this in a store anywhere else in the Hamptons, it could easily go for double or triple the price.

I love the modern meets traditional feel of these lanterns.  The zinc tops are great, and the horizontal lines keep them from looking too retro.  $195 each.

This is a pillow made from linen and wide grosgrain ribbon, rather than striped fabric.  That detail really makes it special in my eyes.  $325.

These lovelies also came from Mecox, as did the fun oyster shell ball. Tara Shaw Maison was the source for the fabulous mirror and wooden finial.  I can’t show images for them because they are too blurry.  Now, let’s look at my budget options, shall we?

Source, starting from the upper left hand corner, first row: World Market, Pottery Barn, Target; the second row: Pottery Barn, World Market, World Market, Pottery Barn,  the third row: World Market, World Market, Ballard Designs, World Market.

Sources from upper left hand corner and clockwise: Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs and Pottery Barn.

So, I first found out about World Market from one of Joni’s Cote de Texas posts about wicker chairs.  I remember thinking that the look of her new breakfast room chairs was fabulous for the price.  Little did I know what a treasure trove of style that World Market would be.

The Laguna table is $299!  I love the finish.

This is the Laguna all weather dining chair and it’s ON SALE for $116.  Oh my goodness, really?  Dinner can cost more than that!!

This is my budget stand-in for the fabulous Restoration Hardware chairs.  I know that it doesn’t possess anywhere close to the style of that chair, but this Maldives armchair is lovely in its own right and priced at a jaw-dropping $69, I am not sure how you can go wrong.  It is also eucalyptus, which is sustainably harvested.  So it’s green and cheap!!!

This farmhouse console table is intended to be in a covered area.  Again, I think the finish is great and it’s $249.  Unbelievable.

Again, this belongs in a covered area, but the Aiden table costs $169.  So fun.

I got an e-mail about this great stool.  I intended them to be grouped as a threesome instead of a coffee table, to punch up the style quotient.  And yes, you can afford three, as they are a paltry $39.

The Anduze pots from Ballard are now on sale, with the largest at $102.  It doesn’t have the same luminous glaze and great color that I adore, but I know it’s a fraction of the price.

This is now on sale for $99 from Pottery Barn.  Most of the rest of the accessories for my budget friendly design are from Pottery Barn.  You simply cannot beat the high design/moderate price of Pottery Barn.

$49

$79

$199

$54

$39-$143.

Now, I know that the eagle-eyed readers amongst you will come up with some details that are different between the Pottery Barn versions of the accessories and furnishings and the higher-end ones. And that’s exactly the point, really.  Charming details tend to require the human touch, which is always more expensive, sometimes incredibly so.  I am sure that the Mecox antique birdhouse sitting next to the Pottery Barn version would cast the PB version in the shade.  But if you are more of a big-picture person, or on a budget, or both, then it is hard to go wrong with these more moderately priced versions.  As for the furniture, I am sure that the more expensive options are going to have better proportions, better finishes, and most importantly, better longevity.  But if you are young and starting out, or need to get a porch or loggia done on a tight budget, these considerations may well go to the backseat.  What I do know is that you don’t have to sacrifice great style to get a great look.  Now, as promised, here are some photos that I took while we were in Provence.

You know you are loved when you can go out and about with your husband and no makeup and he will still take a photo of you.  Aren’t the hills beautiful, though?

Have a great week.  Happy shopping!!

Hi,

A happy confluence of missions for me resulted in the inspiration for this post.  I mentioned that I am going to be passing the Stylish Blogger award onto other blogs, and that I would be featuring some in the coming days.  And the recent ice storms here in Dallas resulted in one of my clients needing to repaint her entry.  We are taking it as a great opportunity to turn a neutral and unassuming space into something more personal and definitely more dramatic.  In my search for something wonderful, I came across an idea originated by the 18th century British.  While it pre-dates the Victorian era by a few decades, the look of it to my eye fits right into Victorian decorating .  And that brings me to The New Victorian Rurulist blog.

The New Victorian Rurualist blog was featured on Cote de Texas, at one point, I think.  I added it to my blogroll after scrolling through James Snowden’s wonderful writing and images.  The aesthetic is a sort of edited Victorianism and I really relate to it.  James owns the Finderskeepers Market in Lexington, Kentucky and while you might occasionally find images of his items for sale – always a treat- you are more likely to find photos and vignettes that inspire him in some way.  He is a generous soul and posts images from other blogs that he finds and shares with his readers, which I love.  But mostly, I truly enjoy his thoughts and insights and drop dead photos.  In this photo, I love the row of riding boots and cleverly arranged hats.  Paired with the hunting trophies and walking sticks, it should read very traditional and stuffy, and yet it doesn’t, due to the more edited feeling to the whole vignette. While there is a lot going on, there is also a lot of empty wall space, which one often doesn’t see with true Victorian style.

Here are a couple more photos that I liked….

What an unexpected combination this is!  But it works for me.  I especially love the billowing soft white linen curtains juxtaposed against the rough hew stacked stone walls, although I am thinking this is perhaps a set as opposed to a home?  I wonder.  Perhaps James will know.

This wonderfully aged equestrian photo is the epitome of the New Victorian style.  This is definitely a subject that Victorians loved, but the patina and imperfection of it seems to resonate with all of us right now. I do believe that this is one of James’s pieces at Finderskeepers, but I could be wrong.

This piece definitely has Victorian styling, but the colors make it fresh and appealing to us.  This was one of James’s more recent finds, no pun intended.  I would love to visit his store, but unfortunately cannot conjure up any legitimate reason for me to visit Lexington!  He is relocating just now and will reopen next month.  Perhaps when he does, he will show us ever more of his merchandise.  Fingers crossed.

Back to my client now.  We briefly flirted with the idea of a Zuber or Gracie wallpaper, but truly the cost would have been great and my client is still not sure that this is her “forever” house.  I came upon the idea of doing a cleaner-lined version of an English print room.  And while it is not technically a Victorian idea, the look of it, cleaned up somewhat, makes me think of a new, fresher, Victorian style.  So what in the world is an English print room?  I am sure you have seen them, but you just didn’t know what they were.  Here are a few examples, all from a wonderful company called Printrooms.  Printrooms came into being after Cynthia Bogart, artist and regional editor for the Meredith Corporation, became acquainted with the technique as used by Nicola Wingate-Saul, from England.  Here are a few of the rooms that either Cynthia or Nicola have created over the years.

This is my favorite image and one that we are most likely to use as inspiration for my client’s entry and staircase.  The technique for creating a print room is to apply prints directly to the wall with a special adhesive.  “Frames” are high quality paper borders that are cut out and mitered at each corner.  The space can be further enhanced by decorative friezes, also printed on paper, or even paneling and wainscoting.

This is a stairwell decorated using this technique.  I love the subject matter of the prints and how well it all looks together.   I also adore the arrangement of the prints.  For me, the tassels, brackets and hangers are a bit too much, but I know that there are some who would feel that they are the most delightful component of the wall.  These additional decorative elements are also paper that is painstakingly cut out and applied to the wall.  What I think is so interesting about this idea is that each print room will reflect the personality and interests of its owners in the most charming way.  No two print rooms are ever the same.

This bathroom, sporting the very “it” color orange, is also charming.  You can see at the top of the tub some of the frieze detailing that the company also provides.  Are you noticing a trend yet?  One more and let’s see.

And another persimmon room!  I do like how the prints outline that arch – it is very charming.  Well, have you noticed a trend?  All of the prints are black and white.  They may be displayed against a very strong color for a backdrop, so it’s not as noticeable, but not a one of them is colored.  On her website, Cynthia Bogart explains why.  The paste that must be used to adhere the prints to the wall makes colors run.  Not pretty.  Due to its composition black ink does not run.

This technique can be used to great effect on screens, and even furniture, I am sure.  So, how does one create a print room?  There are two ways.  First, Cynthia can create one for you and even install it if you like.  You determine the theme of the prints, the overall look that you want, and she will set to work creating a wonderful space for you.  Second, you can find prints yourself.  Cynthia doesn’t recommend photocopying prints as no matter how high in quality the copy might be, it doesn’t look well once applied to the wall.  You can do reproduction prints, certainly, as well as antique ones.  She even has a technique for backing an antique print in such a way as to allow it to be easily removed from the wall.  Once you find and select your own prints, Cynthia can provide you with the borders and embellishments to create the look that you want.  And you can then install your printroom yourself, or have a recommended artisan follow the instructions that Cynthia sends for installation. One last recommendation from Cynthia is to paint your walls a stronger color for greater contrast with the prints.  Although I have to say I would love to see these prints against a more neutral backdrop, just to see what they would look like.  I bet that they would still be lovely…

Not sure that you want to go to the trouble of creating your own print room, but you love the look?  There have been several wallpapers over the years that have imitated the look of a print room.  One British company has done a wonderful job of creating wallpapers against some lovely colored backdrops.  They are the ARC collection and they have a collection of fabrics and wallpapers that emulate this look.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

This is tone on tone and I do like the softness of it.

This is more typical of what I have seen in the past.  Obviously a true print room would not have prints in this color.  But it’s pretty!

I adore yellow and gray together, so of course I love this vignette.  The print room fabric and coordinating fabric are lovely, aren’t they?

This is so pretty and serene, isn’t it? The subject matter is near and dear to any decorator’s heart – furniture!  In a New Victorian scheme, I can see any of these papers or fabrics used, but perhaps on one wall or on one dramatic piece of furniture.  However, if one wants to be surrounded by this look, which is very charming, I could be on board for a total immersion.

For my client, we may take some artistic license with this look.  As I mentioned, I think we will dispense with tassels and such as they would feel too fussy for her home.  We may even do some borders with no prints within them, just to create more space and texture, while at the same time introducing a bit of whimsy and surprise.  Sshhhh, though.  Her husband has no idea about our mad scheme, so we will be breaking it to him gently.  I am so excited to begin this project.  We are already planning a trip to Roundtop to snag some wonderful prints.

This print, by Natural Curiousities, would be an unconventional choice.  While the subject matter is very appropos, the size of this piece would be very dramatic – it’s about 45 inches square.  Imagine it anchoring a print room – hmmm.  Like all bold ideas it could succeed brilliantly, or as they say, fail epically.

The Victorians were famously interested in nature.  Botany and anthropology were very popular subject matter for artists of the time.  Natural Curiousities has taken some of these motifs and enlarged them so that they become very important pieces in and of themselves.  It’s a fresh look and one I like very much.

What is it with me and yellow and gray?  I do like turtles, too, mind you.  But I think I am attracted to this piece because of the coloring.

Butterflies and moths are other favorite subject matters for me, and they were for the Victorians, too.  As you may know, display cases full of butterflies did not give Victorians the squeamishness that they might give us, so they were displayed in that way as well as in print.  I do like the print version ever so much more!

And of course, the Victorians famously loved birds.  Whether on display in elaborate cages and aviaries in parks and zoos or as subjects of art, birds are part of what I think of when I think of Victorian style. New Victorian style also seems to take its cues from nature, as did the Victorians, but uses artwork and accessories with a lighter hand.  Big, bold pieces are preferable over collections numbering in the double digits. Natural Curiousities sells to the trade, so if any of these big bold pieces or others that you might see when you visit their website here, you can as always, e-mail me and I will do my best to get them for you.

And new artists are adding their own personal imprint to this style.  Laura Zindel creates and produces the most whimsical and wonderful ceramics and dinnerware.  And her inspiration comes solely from nature.  Would you like to have an entire dinner service with dragonflies as the motif?  If so, Laura is your source.  One can mix and match different flora and fauna for a totally individual dinner service.  For myself, the hand-painted porcelain pieces are works of art in and of themselves.  This would look lovely perched on a shelf, or hanging on the wall.

With a deep chocolate border, these pieces are dramatic and charming. Imagine how wonderful they might look grouped and hanging on the wall….

This is another beauty.  I am wondering if hanging a well edited few of these plates might not look wonderful in a print room setting?  Hmm, it would definitely add some dimension.

Failing that, this lovely bottle would make a beautiful vase for a stem of a branch or elephant ear leaf, or even a sprig of maidenhair fern.  All of these handpainted pieces are available from Laura Zindel and priced between $50 to $475.  If you love these as much as I do, go here, and pick up a few.  If you do scoop some up, e-mail me and let me know.  We’d all like to see what you selected.

Last, the Victorians pretty much created the greeting card industry. And if you are to believe beleaguered men  everywhere, the greeting card industry popularized Valentines Day!  I wish you and yours a very Happy Valentines day.  Today is also my oldest son’s birthday and 22 years ago we started the grandest of adventures, that of parenting! Cameron,  have a very happy birthday and know that I am sending you many hugs and kisses.

Kristin

Hi,

One of my resolutions for this year is to show you more of my projects.  I am such a perfectionist that I don’t like to show you things before they are finished, styled and looking just so.  However, I am going to get past it and start showing projects in progress instead of just finished.  For one thing, I think it’s just being real.  No project is done instantly – not even on TV! And if you are in the middle of a decorating project in your home, it’s good to see photos from other projects in process because it will encourage and hearten you to see that others are in the same boat.

That being said, this project is actually finished.  This was a staging project that I did for a client here in Dallas.  The house was completely empty when I viewed it for the first time.  We rented furniture and I added a lot of accessories and voila, it was done, and in a matter of a few days!  But that’s the world of staging, not decorating, and there’s a big difference.  With staging your client needs you to be in and out and on your way as quickly as possible.

This is the entryway.  The living room is to the right, although you can’t see the opening in this picture, and the family room is through the opening also on the right.  This is a ranch house that the current owners renovated and decorated extensively.  A few years ago, this might have been what we call in Dallas a “scraper”, meaning that it would be demolished and the debris scraped off of the lot.  Which always seemed a shame to me – this is a great house in a wonderful neighborhood.  Anyway, now with the economy and the housing market in trouble, my guess is that the new owners of this house will want to live in it rather than tear it down.

This is the entry after staging.  A sisal rug would have been perfect here, but the owner used this oriental rug in this space when they were living here, so we re-used it.  I wanted to bring the black from the recessed dome into the room, and I found a trio of handpainted trays that fit the bill perfectly.  A pair of vintage rice measures filled with pebbles and a rustic basket holding a painted lantern and beautiful sea  sponges finish the tableau.

This is the living room looking into the red dining room beyond.  A great blank canvas – no?

This is the view toward the front yard.  I really felt that this house called for a more clean lined look in order to appeal to as many buyers as possible.  Not too contemporary, but not terribly traditional either.  So, here is what I came up with.

This is the same view as above, only furnished now.  The sofa is very clean in style and lines, as are the ottoman and armoire.  I softened up those lines with the scroll arm chairs and the accessories.  The dining room looked so much better once I hung an oil painting that I had on the wall.

Here is an element of softness that I added to the room.  We used a round table and covered it with a billowing burlap tablecloth and topped it with an ostrich leather lamp and a glass bowl full of shells.

I popped open a wonderful picture book on India that I found at half-price books.  I really like to leave coffee table type books open, as the pictures are usually so wonderful and it lends an air of informality to a room.  I also like to literally throw a throw over the corner of a sofa or chair.  It’s an ongoing tug of war with my cleaning lady – it offends her sense of order!

This dining room is not all that different or unique, but I did want to show you the branches.  These are a pair of hurricanes that belonged to the owner of the house – I think that they were fairly moderately priced- that I filled with tiny pebbles and plopped branches into them that I got from a Whole Foods.  This was super inexpensive, but very dramatic, and a great trick to add some drama to a console table or buffet.

The family room is situated open plan style next to the kitchen.  The doorway on the left leads to the entry hall and the opening and door on the right look into the wine room.  Cherry cabinetry flanks the fireplace and is installed in the kitchen.

This gives you a better sense of the layout of the area.  This is taken from the breakfast area.  The kitchen even looked bare!

One of the things I did to warm up the kitchen was to fill decorative clear glass bottles with olive oil and fresh herbs.  This is so easy and inexpensive to do – and the oil tastes wonderful, too!

This is the same view looking from the breakfast room after I finished with it.  I really, really love those dusty greige wing chairs.  I stole them from the owner’s new house.  The looked wonderful.

This view is taken toward the breakfast room.  The rest of the furniture in the room was rented, but I had the accessories.  The wire footlocker basket nestles more of those lovely sea sponges, there is a stack of vintage Southern Accents down below, and a tea caddy that I found at World Market holds potpourri to give the room a fresh scent.

Looking toward the fireplace, you can see that I styled the bookcase in all whites and creams to pull in the creamy color of the painted brick.  I turned paperback books pages side out and added some great vintage pieces and shells and finger sponges ( in the hurricane ) to give it some depth, texture and interest.  On the mantel is a pair of old metal candlesticks in the form of delphiniums.  So charming were they that I left the candles out.  And while a larger mirror would have been better, this is the one that I owned, so in it went!

I have to say that this is really not my favorite wall color for a master bedroom.  Or pretty much any room, if I am being honest.  I know that there are those who love a toasty brown wall color like this,  but I am not one of them.

This is the view into the really lovely bathroom and the hallway leading to the master bedroom.  I tried to lighten up the room as much as possible and tie it into the bathroom beyond.

I angled the bed into the wall and used one of the homeowner’s benches.  I would have much preferred a great big basket at the foot of the bed, but we didn’t have one, so we went with what we had.

Again, trying to work with what was on hand or could be rented – and isn’t that the case for most of us? I had this fun lamp from my previous living room and it found a perch on the dresser.  I leaned the mirror against the wall for two reasons.  One, I didn’t want to put a new hole in the wall and two, because I think it’s unexpected and adds some interest.  Imagine how much prettier this room would be painted a creamy ivory…

I didn’t take before pictures of this room as I didn’t think I was going to furnish it until the last minute.  Here is a charming little bedroom….

This is furnished entirely from my former guest room in Short Hills.

It was fun to take some old friends out of their boxes.  Little bunnies and botanicals are nowhere to be found in my current home, which is sad.  But the boys CERTAINLY are not interested, and Darcy’s room is much more grown-up.  And Cameron’s room is my guest room now that he is in college.  So, while I adore a pretty, pretty bedroom I don’t have one just now.

So, that’s my project.  Finished and vanished.  Yep, vanished.  The homeowners were spending a decent sum every month to rent the furnishings and ultimately decided to stop staging the house.  So, how long to you think it took to take this all apart?  Two hours.  That’s it.  And that’s not including the rooms I didn’t show you!  I am not sure which room or picture caught your eye, but my favorite is this one.

or maybe this one.

I didn’t show you this before, but this is a closeup of the bookcase.  This is so easy to put together once you have the same color accessories, or similar shades.  You could do this, you know.  Really.

I hope that you got some good ideas from this post that are inexpensive, easy to do, and pack a great punch.  Let me know what your favorite room or idea was, won’t you?

Kristin

Hello!

Like many of you, I am busy decorating my house, shopping for presents, addressing Christmas cards and party invitations, and joyously participating in the mayhem that is the holidays.  Our Thanksgiving was spendiferous, with lots of laughter and good cheer.  We added to our already burgeoning stable of Thanksgiving anecdotes this year and I will take a moment to share it with you…

My daughter Darcy tends to like to stay in her room and away from all the fuss at Thanksgiving.  This year was different and she was so happy spending the entire day with us through the craziness of meal preparation and the excitement of the football games.  After I fed her her Thanksgiving dinner and was eating mine, she finally decided that enough was enough and that she was ready to take a break.  My son Connor obligingly took her to her room and came back down to join the table, but he forgot to lock her bathroom door….

( I don’t know if you know this about Darcy, but she thinks her bathroom is her own personal water park, so we always, always, always lock the door when she is unsupervised).  After dinner, I asked my son Cameron to check with Darcy to see if she would like to rejoin us.  A few short moments later, a panicked Cameron was calling us from upstairs.  It seemed that my darling diva had decided to give herself a bath!  Cameron found her fully clothed, shoes and all, blissfully swaying in the warm water of her tub as the jacuzzi merrily bubbled around her.  To make matters even more comical is that “the boys” – all the men in my family- were on duty for  child care and clean up after dinner.  To see them all racing around to get Darcy dry, the bathroom tidied, and throwing tons of towels in the dryer was hilarious. Good times….

Ok, if you haven’t already decorated your home for the holidays, I thought that I would re-run my Christmas post from last year.  It was posted too late to help inspire anyone, so this year I hope it will get your creative juices flowing.  I am doing the same decor this year as I am using all my creative energy just now for my clients!

Enjoy!

Kristin

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Hi,

This is going to be a long post, but I promise you won’t need to do too much reading!  I am just going to take you on a tour of the house decorated for Christmas ’10.  I had two great motivations for doing a bit extra this year.  First, I did very little decorating for Christmas last year as Darcy, our daughter, had been so sick.  So all that pent up decorating energy got a great release this year.  Second, Tartanscot hosted a fantastic decorating contest, and I decided it would be great fun to do some entries.  I have been quite a busy bee! And yes, I know I promised to announce the Design Online Giveaway winner – it’s at the end of the post where you can scroll through, if you must!

This Christmas the house looks extra festive and is a perfect haven for us as we celebrate Christmas early this year.  We just got news that after a year and three brain surgeries, Darcy is finally healed! We are profoundly thankful that our prayers have been answered.  So, welcome to our joyous and peaceful home….

This is really our only outdoor decoration this year.  I decided to start from scratch with our outdoor decor and I am going to add a bit at a time.

Rocket the Wonder Dog is waiting to show you around.

Our manger scene this year.

My antique French bookscase is bedecked for the holidays.  This year, I kept to a very neutral palette with lots of greens, ivories, chocolate browns, silver, and sea glass blue.  Again, I used my favorite natural elements, existing accessories, and one of my Russian Santas that I bought in St. Petersburg.

Here a feathery friend perches on a vintage wooden container and gray Spanish moss.  For some reason, the color of this moss felt fresh again after many years of me feeling that is was dated and old.  It is always interesting how textures and colors cycle through our decor.

My wonderful Russian Santa anchors an arrangement of greens, driftwood, finger sponges and mercury glass acorns.

I found this wonderful carved fragment at a vintage store and snapped it up.  He nestles among glittery branches, faux antlers and mercury glass pinecones.

Here is my Roundtop deer, sitting on my French ledger.  My Aidan Gray spire is decorated with mercury glass birds and more of that gray Spanish moss.  The pretty pale blue candlestick is a find from a trip to New Delhi several years ago.

This Chrismas, I continued the soft blues and greens from the hallway and entry out to the loggia.  I recycled the white pumpkins from Thanksgiving – and truthfully the big pumpkins on the hearth are from Halloween! – and used them with evergreen wreaths and bark chargers. I was hoping to do a fantastic tree out here this year, but the time just got away from me. This is our view from the family room, and this year I had great fun with the mantel for Tartanscot’s contest.

Here is Walker sporting a gag gift for his Dad – a leopard-print snuggie!  This is part of my collection of Santas.  You can see the loggia off to the right.

Here is one of my favorite Santas hitching a ride on my vintage suitcases.

Here are my bookcases decked out for Christmas.  I really like the plaid ribbon I found for the wreaths this year.

It’s hard for you to see, but there is a wonderful green wool bow attached to the trophy – it sort of looks like a Christmas-ey awaard ribbon.  I really just put touches here and there, as I couldn’t find my box of decor for the shelves from two years ago.  But I am happy with the way that they look, as the focal point is this:

This is the first year that Cedric the deer has worn a wreath and I am so happy with how he looks!  I made this wreath from two different garlands that I wired to an embroidery hoop that separates at the base, so I can easily slide it over Cedric’s neck rather than pulling it over his head.  Most of the objects on the mantel always live there, with the exception of the carved Bavarian liquer case.

I always add “skirts” of juniper greens to my sconces.

I used a garland, fresh greens, faux antlers, crimson glass ornaments, and jeweled berries for this mantel.

Here is the kitchen in the midst of cookie baking.  We have a North Pole village that Walker likes to put out and the zinc countertop is the perfect spot.  He uses a LOT of snow!

This is how I decorated the breakfast room for Tartanscot’s contest.  The canvas dropcloth from Tablescapes came in handy again as a tablecloth.  The floor cloth is a primed, but not yet painted project-in-waiting.  I really, really love how the bookcase looks with the garland and oversized mercury glass ornaments.  That great satin ribbon was a find at the new Wisteria Outlet.  I hung icicles and glitter snowflakes from the light fixture with vintage gray binding tape that I found at Roundtop.  I love the wintery whiteness of the room like this – it feels Swedish, yet also a bit French.

Here is the bookcase in a closeup.  I re-used the glass cloches from Tablescapes to highlight a great big weathered jingle bell and a forest Santa.  I have every single antique red book that I own on display.  I do so love them.

Recognize these?  They are from the post I did on Wisteria a while ago.  I said that I really wanted to buy some, and so I did at their wonderful new outlet store.   Don’t they look lovely lit from within?

This is a close shot of the wreath, bark charger – another vestige of  a previous Tablescapes table – my oatmeal linen napkins, Christmas china and more patinated jingle bells.

This is how our table will be set for Boxing Day dinner – the day after Christmas when my sister and her family join us.  For Christmas dinner, we will be in the dining room proper, which looks the same this year as in years past.  ( I confess I have wonderful plans for it for next year – a Chinoiserie Christmas fantasy….)

This mantel is all chocolates, silvers, and chartreuse greens.  It’s a completely new design that I conjured up with things I gathered from the house and combined with previous mantel decorations.  I almost never get an unsolicited comment from my husband about my decorating – he and the boys just accept the ever changing vignettes and arrangements in the house – but this really drew a great response from him.

I use on of my Pier One trees in the living room year round, and I put it in the antiqued mirrored container which is now filled with pine cones.  The other tree was tucked away in storage.  I don’t like their bases at all, so I glued some glittery snowflake ornaments that I had to them and voila!

More antique books made their way into the Christmas decorations this year – a trend, I know.

One of my favorite Santas anchors this side of the mantel with frosted grapes and chocolate glittered sprigs and sprays.  And speaking of Santa, it is now time for me to get out and take care of my Mrs. Claus duties.  Northpark Mall, here I come.

But not before I announce my Giveaway winner – Garrett!  I am so excited to begin working with him on his project, whatever it may be.  I hope to be able to share progress updates with you.  Thank you so much to all of you who entered the contest.  I hope that you will contact me if I can help you with your home.  Let’s have fun together!

I will probably only post one more time before Christmas.  In the meantime, have a blessed holiday week, full of joy and grace.  I know that we will.

Kristin

Hi,

I am heading out to a holiday party but before I do, I wanted to give you a quick update on some giveaways on some of my favorite blogs.  Willow Decor and Three Fine Grains are hosting a wonderful giveaway.  It’s a charming Christmas tree made from vintage grain sacks.  Isn’t it fantastic?

So go right over to Willow’s blog by clicking on this link.  Go on ahead, I’ll wait…Back now?  Then you will want to know about Katiedid’s wonderful giveaway.  It’s a cozy and lovely Bodmer throw.  It looks perfect to wrap up in on a winter’s night.

Hop on over to Katiedid right now.  Back yet?  Then you should really know about the Tartanscot Christmas decorating contest.  He has prizes in categories of best mantel, tree and dining room.  There are some great prizes….

And this is just one of them.  Quick and snap some photos to e-mail to him.  His deadline is midnight, Eastern time.  And if you just want to enjoy some wonderful Christmas decor, you can visit his site to feast your eyes.  If you do, you might catch a glimpse of my living room mantel.  But in case you don’t, here is a detail shot, with all kinds of pictures to follow tomorrow.

Now, just think, you could enter all three giveaways, win them all and spend some time snuggled in your throw, gazing at your grain sack tree, while nibbling a bite from your beautiful pewter and ceramic tray.  And if you are REALLY lucky, you will have entered my giveaway and won that, too!  This is your last chance to enter the giveaway for a free room design with my Design Online service.  And remember, this would be a great gift for someone in need of a design facelift!  All you have to do is leave a comment on the blog about your favorite post.  That’s it!  I am closing the giveaway at midnight Central time and doing the drawing tomorrow with an announcement to follow.  LAST CHANCE!!

Kristin

I promised that I had big news to announce and so I do.  The Covetable website finally had the finishing touches put on it in the last several days and it is now ready for its unveiling.  If you have not yet been, please do go.  (Just click on the description of Covetable in the chocolate brown box to your right.)  My graphic designer, Paula Rusk, has been the soul of patience and a well-spring of inspiration.  She and her husband Brent did all the graphic design for the website and blog.  If you set your browser to full screen, you can see my project images as big as life.  But that’s not my big announcement, it’s just a way for you to read a bit about it.  If you go to the Services section of my website you will see that I am now offering a service I call Design Online.

What is Design Online?  It’s my way of serving clients who live outside of Dallas.  We begin with your selection of a room or rooms that you wish me for me to design.  I’ll ask you to answer some questions about your design style, how you envision living in the room, what your likes and dislikes are, and what might be a comfortable budget.  I’ll also ask you to take some photos of the room and any pieces of furniture, art, accessories, etc. that you would like to re-use.  I’ll get some measurements from you, too.  Next, I will make selections and acquire samples of fabrics, paint, wallcoverings and trims as well as photographs of recommendations for furniture, light fixtures, art or accessories.  These are all the things that you would see on a typical design presentation board, except that with Design Online, I will package all of these things together in a container that is unique to your project and that can be used as an accessory in the finished room. Here is an example:

This is a vintage cheese box, filled with fabrics, trim, paint samples, wallpaper, tile samples and photographs. Something unique to you and your project will be sent to you.  I will also e-mail you a detailed floorplan of your space with hyper-links to any online selections.  Then, the fun really begins as we will do our design consultation face to face, via Skype!  In case you aren’t familiar with Skype, it’s a free service that allows computer users to video chat with one another, provided each of them has a web camera.  And in case you don’t have one, no worries.  One will be tucked into your container for you, with installation directions.  I have used Skype to have online design meetings with others, and it is fantastic.  (See the chatty Kristin in the first photo!) You get to have a much more personal experience with me as we go through the design process together, and I get to see your home through your computer screen.  If you have a laptop, you can even “walk” me through your house, as though I were there.  Last, we will complete the selection and ordering process and your project will be on its way to completion. Once all the items are delivered, we can Skype one last time to consult on proper placement of everything.

My fee structure is based upon the type of room or rooms that comprise the project.  The fees include detailed floorplans with hyperlinks for online selections, samples or photographs of all selections with at least 3 and up to 8 options, and design consultation via Skype.  Here they are:

Living Rooms, Family Rooms, Master Bedrooms                                    $1300

Entryways, Hallways, Powder Bath, Mudrooms                                      $800

Dining Rooms, Studies, Breakfast Rooms                                                 $1000

While other designers are offering distance design services, I am getting the impression that I may be on the leading edge of doing so via Skype.  Every time that I mention this, people become very interested and excited by the idea.  The Dallas Design Guide was so intrigued by the idea that they did their own blog post on it.  You can find it here.

And now let’s talk giveaway. I am giving away one Design Online room design to a lucky reader just in time for Christmas! All you need to do is leave a comment on the blog with the name or subject of your favorite Covetable post.  You may use Design Online for yourself or give it to a friend.  And speaking of friends, there is a way for you to improve your chances of winning.  For every friend that you send to the blog, I will add your name again to the draw.  Send 10 friends, you get to enter 11 times, assuming that you enter for yourself, of course.  All your friends need to do is include your name in their comment.  And if they send 10 friends, your name will be entered as many times as I see it on comments, although you may only enter yourself once.  So be sure to forward this post to as many people as you can – it will increase your chances of winning and hopefully introduce the blog to some new readers.  I will end the giveaway at midnight Central time on Thursday, Dec. 17th.  I will announce the winner on Dec. 18th and I’ll be drawing the name from a hat.  Remember, the more folks that put your name in their comment on their favorite post, the more times your name will be in that hat!

Good luck and do visit the website!!  I’d love to know what you think….

Kristin

Hi,

First, I am announcing the winner for the giveaway – Amanda, from Dallas.  Congratulations! This is the second time that I have done a giveaway and the second time it’s gone to a reader from Dallas!   The winning table was #8, above.  And there it is for you to see one more time.  Thank you so much for hopping over to my Facebook page.  It’s going to be the place to go to for single pictures and quick and pithy thoughts.  ( I know, you can’t imagine that I could do quick and pithy, but I can, I can!!)

I am winding down some rooms and projects for some clients and looking toward new projects with new clients.  I am going to be showing some photos soon of some projects that have been in the works for a while, some will be completely finished and others nearly so.  But I think it’s fun to see progress pictures too.  So much of the time we only show before and afters and that’s not reality.  And frankly, it makes my job more difficult.  All of us can have a hard time transitioning from one way of looking at a space to another, and when it doesn’t happen overnight, we can begin to second-guess ourselves.  The more images that we see of things partially finished, the more our eye will become accustomed to imagining the finished product.  Look for some photos soon on these various projects.

Right now, though I want to show you some inspiration images that I showed to a new client.  This house has been designed by the great Phoebe Howard, and the images all come from House Beautiful.  I am suggesting that my client consider using “shiplap” or “lapboard” on the walls and ceiling in her family room.  She wasn’t familiar with the term, so I found these images to share with her and now I am sharing them with you as well.  I first saw shiplap used in an interior (that was not a ship or mountain home) when I was visiting Belgium.  I stayed in a wonderful little town there, called Knokke.  It’s pronounced knock.  This little trendy town was a huge design inspiration for me in so many ways, more of which later.  But I really loved the look of the shiplap and thought about using it in the boys’ bedrooms, but ultimately decided against it.

This room is so lovely, warm and tranquil, isn’t it?  Look at how well balanced it is.  The shiplap lends a great texture to the walls, but is painted a refined off-white.  It contrasts beautifully with the distressed wood of the fireplace mantel and beams.  Both have very elegant forms rendered in a rustic manner.  The same carries through with the finish of the coffee table.  I really like the fabric on the chairs – it’s so fresh and warm at the same time.

Here is another room in the same house.  The envelope of the shiplap is more prominent here, perhaps because the fabrics are more subdued.  The prints over the bed are very lovely.  I particularly like the subject matter – it looks like prints of eggs- for this grouping.  Six prints together can be such a striking statement, but it can also be too busy if the subject matter is very complex.  I also like the fact that three of the prints have a grayish background and those were balanced with two on top and one below rather than arranged all in one row.

Yes, it seems that the prints are definitely eggs!  .  In this room, as in the family room above, Phoebe Howard  uses dark stained wood to great effect against a pale backdrop.  We can appreciate the shapes that much more.  I really like the curtains in this room as they are full and dreamy without being fussy and over elaborate.

I could have used this image for my Claw and Antler post!  This hallway vignette is so charming.  The varied brown and white transferware plates hung with the mounts seems both fresh and comfortable at the same time.  And the view into the lovely bedroom is so pretty.

I do love greens in a bedroom.  I find them so soothing.  This room eschews the lapboard on the walls for plain plaster, or more likely, sheetrock.  The shiplap still makes an appearance on the ceiling, though.  This room is just downright pretty.  Who wouldn’t want to spend time here?  The colors are beautiful, the fabrics and patterns are welcoming and refined, and there isn’t a hint of fussiness or extravagance.

I really, really wish I had taken pictures of that wonderful house in Knokke.  I have asked my sweet friend who hosted me that weekend to look for any pictures she might have.  So far, both of us are coming up empty handed.  It looked nothing like this beautiful project by Phoebe Howard but it was my introduction to Belgian style.  And lucky me, I got to live it for a few days.  And that was back in 2002!  I am sure that if I were to go back it would still feel as fresh and comfortable as it did 8 years ago.

My client is still deciding whether she wants to use shiplap on her walls, but I thought it would be fun for you all to see some of the images.  This back and forth between me and my clients is so much fun.  My job is to give my clients the corner or the room or the home that tells the story of their lives, their taste, their heirlooms and their travels.  Finding the way to tell that story is the best part of my job and the one I love the most.

I promise to show you some pictures of this project as it gets completed.  It should be a quick, easy, inexpensive and fairly dramatic transformation.  Aren’t those the best kind?

Kristin

I must make a confession.  I have been putting off this post, which has meant that I haven’t posted at all, which is really very bad of me.  Why have I put off this post?  It’s because it is going to be long, so long in fact that you might grab a glass of wine or coffee or whatever is appropriate to the time of day you are reading this.  I make no judgment.  Why will this be long, you ask?  Because the amount of talent, creativity, and just plain show-stoppingness of Kappa Tablescapes this year is not easy to condense.   First, the theme was Tony Duquette’s more is never enough.  Dallas designers, shop owners and florists took this credo to heart.   There were lots of tables with an Asian theme this year, which was fun.  There was one table that was supposed to be an homage to Duquette, which included a stuffed ( yes, real )  fox wearing a rhinestone tiara.  I did not take the picture – I just couldn’t bring myself to snap the shutter.  And no, the fox is not the giveaway.  You will have to get to the bottom before you see what it is…

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They were going a little wild with the lighting when I was taking some of these.  This table by Charlotte Comer was just gorgeous.  I loved the leather chairs and the stone fish.  You can hardly see them, but she used mason jars for her glasses, with beer bottles at each place setting.  The burlap table closth was fun, and the Ralph Lauren grainsack inspired fabric was used as runners.

Here it is during set up.  You can see the pops of color with the Gerbera daisies.  The paper bags are favors that many of the designers leave for luncheon guests that come the next day.

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This centerpiece was so lovely.  Very autumnal, obviously, but I really thought that the inclusion of the pumpkins with the flowers was incredibly well done.  While this is probably not ideal as a centerpiece, as one could not see across the table, it would be lovely as an anchor to a buffet.

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Here is another table where the centerpiece steals the show.  I saw lots of different napkin placements at Tablescapes this year.  I do think some of it stemmed from there not being enough ROOM to put them anywhere else.  In any case, it’s fun to see and to file away for future reference.

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This was out and out spectacular.  Yves Delorme did this table.  I loved the white peacock and the ostrich eggs mixed with the shells and coral.  The apothecary jars were pretty nifty too. I didn’t love the samovar with it, but that’s just me.  And yes, I noticed that they didn’t bother with plates, napkins and silverware, etc. but isn’t it dramatic? ( And this is really odd, since Yves Delorme has the most wonderful linens. )

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Making lemonade out of lemons.  An ostrich egg or two obviously broke and I love how they used the shards in the display.  Also, did you notice how lovely the etched crystal glasses look with tealights in them?  So very, very pretty.

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The photo does not do this table by Donald Moore justice.  It was truly gorgeous.  I really like how he placed the napkins, don’t you?  They are resting on little boxes or books, with the monogram facing the diner.  Also you can barely make out the porcupine quills in the stirrup cup and the wonderful antler centerpiece.  Another autumnal feeling table and very nicely executed, in my opinion.

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This was an extravaganza of blue and white, with pops of color from persimmons thrown into the mix.  They definitely took the more is better approach for this table.  My sister was puzzled by the inclusion of the persimmons, but I thought that it added a bit of zest to the ensemble.  Also, I am not sure if I like the candle emerging above the hurricane or not.  It’s out of the box, for sure, but maybe some boxes are meant to stay closed.   What do you think?

The blue glasses are really divine.  And the artichoke as placecard holder is always a great idea.  And I have a soft spot for bamboo flatware…

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This was so lovely in person.  I do like the mismatched chairs at a table – I have done that every year for Tablescapes, as much because it’s what I had as anything else – but I think it adds a nice touch of informality, don’t you?  The concrete urn with the flowers was absolutely stunning.  Again, the lighting makes things look a bit odd in the photos.

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This was one of my favorite tables.  It was so fresh and vibrant.  The use of the trays as placemats was inspired.  The hot pink ikat with the chartreuse green on the chairs, in the glassware, flowers and candles was just lovely.  The china was fantastic, too.  This felt casual and sophisticated all at the same time and made me feel like I was a dinner guest somewhere wonderful like a private island in the West Indies.

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This was show-stopping.  The centerpiece was unbelievable with the orchids, mini calla lillies and hydrangeas. The container was fantastic, too.  Clear glass with moss and a gardenia, I think, in the middle.  I am not sure how this was done technically, but it was beautiful.  The antiqued mirrored glass, the silvery succulents, the white roses and sterling were all heavenly.

The votive holders are so lovely, aren’t they?  And it’s interesting how every other place had a succulent placed on the plate.  Also, if you look closely, you can see that they used a trick to “blow” the roses so that they would open up more.  They simply pulled back the outer petals on the roses bit by bit.  Although there is another trick for that – you can place roses in warm water near a sunny window and put a plastic bag over their heads and tie it up loosely.  The moisture and heat will force them to open up.  The things you learn on the internet…

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I am heartbroken that the darn lights are so wacky for this shot.  This was another of my favorite tables.  The centerpiece is so amazing.  It is a gilded log with a profusion of orchids spilling from its center.  Here is a closer view.  Oh my goodness this was just mouthwatering.

The bright fuschia is so distracting, but this table was done in moss green, gold, and white.  Isn’t that wood amazing?  It makes me want to run to my alley, grab some wood scrap and go to work with a spray can, although I am not confident that I could get these results.  And the flower arrangement is certainly beyond my ability to imitate.  But, I really like the wired ribbon bows tying the napkins.  That is very easy to do and doesn’t it look fresh and fun?  Also, those wood trunk crosscuts underneath the napkin are a fantastic juxtaposition of the rustic and refined.

See what I mean?  Lovely, lovely.

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This table was really fun, really detailed, and really over the top in a good way.  Gigi Lancaster with Leontine Linens collaborated on this one.  The napkins and pillows are divine, naturally!  But there was so much to take in that I took lots of shots.  Here you go:

I really loved the napkin rings, but my sister, not so much.  And the napkins are fantastic with the turquoise stitching.  I actually have that applique monogram my Leontine napkins.  I do love it – although it’s done in a neutral palette.

I loved the touches of the mah-johng tiles in the bowl.  Persimmons make another appearance, this time cozied up to a garden stool.

This is unaccountably blurry, but i really loved the arrage of blue and white and wicker on the fireplace.  It is just wonderful and this is one of those times when I really think more is more and most effective.

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Here is another Asian inspired table.  The green glazed pottery made a beautiful centerpiece.  And of course, there is more ikat.  On a sidenote, I googled ikat for something last night and came up with blog posts from the last four years wondering when ikat was going to go out.  I am not sure whether it will or not.  It may become a new classic, something that we see more or less of but never goes away entirely.  But I digress.  There is another trend here – the wooden horse!  I started seeing them when Ralph Lauren featured a life-sized wooden horse in an ad, and then we started seeing the Swedish ones,  Willow features one on her blog,  and here is one more.  Although I am not sure about the mix of horse and pottery for this table, I will let you be the judge.

I really liked the Chinese calligraphy brushes.  I have one myself and got it before it became sort of trendy.

This table wasn’t quite finished yet.  But the table runner is wallpaper!  I have a post coming up about the designer, but I really wish that it had been used on a rectangular table for a start.  More on this later, though.

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This table, by Patina Green Home in McKinney was a huge crowd pleaser.  The light fixtures hanging from the arbor were really magical when lit.  This was my sister’s favorite table, I think.  After mine, of course, she loyally hastened to add!!

This was so well done.  The old tray as plate, with the pressed glass compotes holding napkins and favors was really inspired.  Another fun placement for napkins! I also really like the centerpiece of white pumpkins, dried grasses and oats.  The burlap is a great touch, even if it’s one we have seen a lot of, it still shows no signs of abating in popularity.  The economy perhaps?

Another view.  Very, very pretty.

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This is a very classic combination.  Blue and white with bright orange accents.  Nevertheless, it is elegant and approachable.  And notice the napkin under the plate, on top of the charger and draping down.  Another good idea.  As is the profusion of vases with poppies and berries.  This is so easy to do and inexpensive to boot.

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This was another almost all white table.  Again you can see the silver succulents.  Those are sweet little white birds perched atop the dishes.  But what I really thought was fantastic was this:

The centerpiece is sitting on what looks like salt crystals!  These are just beautiful, aren’t they?  I also love the cotton bolls that have been included in the arrangement and would be fascinate to know how they made it look as though it was supported by those wonderful antlers.

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This looks like a Quadrille ikat on the table.  These fresh colors really popped at Tablescapes where many of the table designers used neutrals or deep colors.

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Here is another permutation of the classic blue and terra cotta combination.  Those tall candles are wild, aren’t they?

Here is a closeup.  Now, many people feel a let down when they see a table like this, exclaiming, ” Well, I could do this myself!”.  Precisely the point, I am sure.  This should give you some ideas of how beautiful and elegant your table can look without all of the drama that the other tables present.  I mean, without clearing away a thing, you could sit down and eat here in fantastic style.

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This was SO fun.  This is a plexiglass table with a moss garden installed underneath it.  It was sublime.  The branch that extends over the table emerged through a hole in the plexiglass.  I also really liked the grass wrapped chopsticks and napkins.

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Here was another Asian fantasy by Glen Boudreaux.  This was a very elaborate table, so I took a few close-ups for you.

More succulents – they are so easy to use at a table because they don’t need water – and every manner of wonderful Asian accent.  I also like how the mouths of the green terra cotta square jars are topped with moss balls.

Orchids and proteas fill the lanterns that hang from the bamboo.  Even the lashing of the lantern to the bamboo is pretty.  You cannot see it in this photo, but the glass container which held the bamboo had a goldfish swimming in it.

The beautiful round plate snuggled into the square charger looks wonderful, as does the napkin tucked in between them.  More orchids and proteas.  The glass tea light holders are also very lovely.

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This was Michelle Nussbaum’s table, of Ceylon et Cie.  This was the first thing that guests saw when they entered Tablescapes and the last thing they saw before they left.  And it was just wow!! (Apparently the Tony Duquette inspired “Malachite” fabric only covered the chairs as of about 24 hours before this table was put together.  She sounds like me!! I will be honest.  This fabric photographs beautifully, but it does not look so wonderful in person.  But I digress. )  This table took no prisoners, either you loved it or you really, really didn’t.  I thought it was incredibly dramatic, especially with the console tables styled so beautifully on either side of it.  Here are some more shots.

Of course, it also helped that the mural wallpaper’s color scheme accented the teals and emeralds of this table.  But the flower arrangements were a tour de force of drama.

And the lovely lad in the center of the shot is Michelle herself, chatting with that handsome gentleman.

I hope that you are still with me! I know I have gone on for a long time, but I did warn you.  Now, what is the giveaway and what do you have to do to win it?  Here it is:

This little cloche, glass stand and pot are yours for the winning.  All you need to do is this.  Please vote on which table was your favorite by going to my Facebook page ( the link is on the sidebar to your right) and leaving a comment and adding Covetable designs as a”like”.  You can start a conversation over there if you like, and I will definitely chime in.  I will draw a number from a hat, and that corresponding comment number on my Facebook page will win the giveaway, and I will e-mail/Facebook the winner.  One last thing – none of these tables were mine, so vote away with no fear or prejudice!  I’ll show shots of my table in the next post, along with some new friends.

Whew!! That was a long one. But so worth it – these tables were so very, very pretty.  It’s up to you.  There are 19 tables for you to choose from.  I can’t wait to see which one you like the best.

All my best,

Kristin