Day 823: bedroom updated for fall

I just love fall (have you noticed?). Remember last year when I scored some yardage of a great Ralph Lauren plaid fabric? I wanted to make stockings out of it but never did. Then it occurred to me that it would make a beautiful blanket, but -- surprise! -- nothing became of that either. So I finally just took it off the bolt, cut it in half, and put each piece on one of the two beds in our house.

It really cozied-up the guest bedroom (see it before here) and inspired a few little fall-ish updates.


A stack of old books, a few bits of early-fall foliage, and a deer antler (Wes thought I was crazy for bringing it home from an antique store -- but I love it!) on a copper platter warmed things up a bit. And after I gave the green ceramic yard-sale lamp to my cousin, I brought this turned-wood lamp home from Target. The black shade came out of a closet, which explains it disheveled shape.


I even swapped the blue and white plates for some brown transferware plates I wasn't using.

Day 822's inspiring showhouse

If you enjoy spare, Belgian- and French-inspired design, check out Canadian House & Home's Showhouse. H&H designer Lynda Reeves' guided video tours of the home are much better than my sad screen grabs!

Day 821's great debate

I finally got my architecture prints in some frames over the weekend. It took trips to three different Targets, but it's finished. Now if we can only decide how to hang them. Wes and I have differing opinions about how they should look, so we've decided to let you, dear readers, help us decide.

I taped the liner from the frames on the walls, so let us know what you think. Keep in mind, the frames are slightly larger than what is hanging on the wall, and these are probably not quite as straight as they could be.


Choice A: Vertically I think they should be hung this way. I think we need the height to fill the wall, and to balance the tall windows on the wall opposite the sofa. My plan is to fill it out horizontally with plates on either side of the group of pictures.


Choice B: Horizontally Wes would like them to be hung horizontally, to follow the width of the sofa.

So, what do you think? A or B? Or something else entirely -- we're open to suggestion!

Day 818's pretty

Pewter and I are having a moment. I recently bought a little pewter pitcher* (it looks so cute with my basalt pitcher!) and I'm contemplating buying it a pair of candlesticks. You know, to keep it company.

Happy Weekend!

*I'd show you the pitcher, but all of memory cards have simultaneously plotted a rebellion and are refusing to give up their pictures. This ever happened to anyone? Is it my camera? My computer? My USB port?

Day 816: vintage lighting

Love all the vintage (and vintage-inspired) lighting in this Hudson Valley home, featured in Country Living.


These pendants remind me of the ones I spotted in a local shop last week (still love them!).


I just adore this one. It really makes the hallway special. Vintage industrial and commercial fixtures abound at architectural salvage shops, but you'll want to have them rewired before installation. If you're the industrious type, instructions aren't hard to come by.

If all of that sounds like a lot of trouble, there are plenty of reproductions available. Schoolhouse Electric makes some great ones.


I also love the idea of a wall-mounted swing-arm sconce in place of a lamp next to the bed. It's a great solution for small spaces that require small bedside tables, not to mention those who like to read in bed.

Day 815's day off

You may have seen that the Southeast has been getting a little more rain than usual. That's really an understatement, but we live on the crest of a hill so other than a super-saturated yard, we haven't been affected (thankfully). Until yesterday, when a tree fell near my office knocking the power out and closing shop for the day.


The surprise day off was so, so nice. I got caught up on housework and laundry. And even got to linger over my cup of coffee.


I (a tad prematurely) got the bedrooms looking a little more like fall, and a little less like a beach retreat. I'd show you pictures, but my memory card is apparently corrupted ...


And I worked on framing our architecture prints. I could get used to being a housewife!

Oh, and isn't today the first official day of fall? You know I'm excited!

Day 811's pretty

Photo by Luca Trovato for House Beautiful

Love the way this dark, cozy bedroom is such a contrast to the rest of the light, airy house. And the striped chair is pretty darn cute, too.

Happy Weekend!

Day 810's favorite country home

I l-o-v-e this little house. It's so simple: just white and the dark wood of the primitive antique furniture. The owner filled it to the brim with what she loves (ironstone, coin silver, baskets and more) and that's all there is to it. Perfect.





Here's what homeowner Sue Chandler says about collecting:
The Mix Dark antiques, white china. "It's bold and dramatic, and it just feels good to me."
The Art 19th Century oils, mainly portraits, from flea markets and antique shops -- always in gilt frames. "I like that touch of gold."
The Strategy "I buy what I like, not what's valuable. I'm always on the lookout for tureens without tops, which are really cheap and still look great."
The Philosophy "I trade up to improve and pare down my collection. For example, I sold six painted black chairs to get my four Windsor chairs, which are nicer and take up less space."



I'm sure not everyone will "get it" with this house, but I can't get enough! What about you? What would your house look like if it were simply filled with the things you loved?

Photos by Jack Thompson for Country Home (October 2006)

Day 809: fun finds

I popped into Hoover Antiques Gallery on my lunch break yesterday. There were several note-worthy items, but I was in a hurry, and only pulled out my camera in one booth. I thought these green pendants were super-cool. Not all that unremarkable, except for the rope detail. Wouldn't they look so delicious with a couple of bird prints? $500 for the pair.


Also loved this iron bench. I like benches, and I like to see garden accessories brought indoors. The pretty linen seat didn't hurt it much, but the $750 price tag -- ouch! -- sure did.


There were two of these chandeliers -- hung too high to get a great picture (unless I stood on the bench!). They reminded me of this one. While I had kitchen lighting on my mind (after seeing the green pendants) I thought they would look lovely over a big center island in a kitchen filled to the brim with white marble. So, in a kitchen I'll never own. Oh well, it's sure fun to dream!

Day 809's other favorite

You know about my love for architectural prints, but how about the birds?


Thanks to Jamie, I found a couple of great ones I can print myself here. Note that they are shown framed without a mat, which would make the process easier and less expensive.

Photos: Antoine Bootz for Southern Accents, Donna Griffith for Style At Home.

Day 808's lovely afternoon

It has been raining a lot. Like, every day. I'm not complaining though, because it has made for a mild summer, and should mean a spectacular showing of fall foliage in a couple of weeks. I got home from work on Friday to a perfect, still early fall afternoon. The rain had stopped (for the moment) so Maddie and I (and my camera) decided to hang out in the front yard. At first she was a little drowsy, as I came home in the middle of her afternoon nap (lucky dog).


But it wasn't long before silliness ensued.





Rolling around in the wet grass isn't my idea of a great time, so I headed over to check out the dogwood tree, which is showing signs of turning leaves.


The rain seemed to have saturated all of the colors. Aren't they lovely?

Day 807

Whew, Monday already?!

Day 804's pretty

I can barely stand it anymore, I'm ready for fall. I'll refrain from outfitting my front porch with mums (for now, at least), but I think I will bring in some bare branches from the yard. What are you doing to celebrate the changing season?

Happy Weekend!

Day 803: my dreamhouse

Mix all of this together, and you have my dreamhouse (for this week, at least).






Photos: Victoria Hagan, via Brilliant Asylum, Martha Stewart (and again), a friend, and unknown (oops!).

Day 802's inspiration

I think I'm ready to bite the bullet and get my architectural prints framed -- I've had them for 2+ years! I'm going to try my best to do it inexpensively, perhaps with a little DIY effort for good measure. Here is some of my inspiration.







Love, love this. I have four vertical prints, but could do something similar with two smaller prints ... hmm.

Photos: Sara Story, Jen West, Sara Gilbane, Elle Decor, Anne Coyle (bottom 2).