Aqua + Linen + Rust

I'm always on the hunt for interesting color combinations, and lately I am taken with this one. It seems just right for late summer/early fall and even inspired me to pair an orange linen skirt with an aqua silk top for a wedding recently. Hopefully it was as cute in person as it was in my head. Anyway.

If I were turning it into a room, I would start with this smart sofa and add a nice, long lumbar pillow in Windsor Smith's Riad.


A pair of these cuties in Saffron Linen would sit opposite the sofa, with a sleek table in between.

* Top photo from the always-inspiring Purl Soho.

** Apologies for my recent prolonged absence(s). I have still been reading my favorite blogs, but the desire/inspiration to write my own has temporarily been lacking. I think I might be getting my groove back and look forward to reconnecting with you all.

For the Love of Lamps

I was catching up with my friend Kim yesterday and read her post about buying her first lamp. Yes, her first lamp. Kim is great at lots of things, like growing a fantastic garden and sewing cute bags and the progress she and her husband Ryan are making renovating their second house makes me look like a sloth. But she is mystifed by lamps, which is mystifying to me because I love them.

I had the one above, and its mate, for at least two years before we bought the sofa they now sit next to. They lived in my closet for a year after I bought them for $17 each on sale at KMart -- they are of the old Martha Stewart Everyday collection.


She asked her readers to leave a comment with how many lamps they owned. I counted ten in my house, and actually thought for a moment that that number sounded a little low. Until I read the rest of the comments. Many people were in the 3-5 range, and there was just one more double-digit lamp owner like me. So who exactly is in the minority here?

This pair of antique/vintage murano lamps were kind of a splurge for me ($120 for the pair, I think) but I fell in love with them and Wes gave them to me for my birthday. I have just recently found shades to fit, though I think I still need a smaller harp. I hope we will have these forever.



I've heard it said that lamps can be the jewelry of a room and that they can really update a room, and I think that both are true. I always notice a great lamp in a room or in a photo. I also love to use a pair of lamps (on either side of a sofa or bed, or just on a long piece of furniture like a dresser, console table, or buffet) because it's a simple way to introduce symmetry, which can give a room a more finished look. I'm also a big fan of NOT using overhead lights on full-blast (dimmers are your friend!), and just generally think that lamps offer more flattering light (both to you and the room). I could go on an on about lamps, but I'd rather hear from you -- how many lamps do you have?

This lamp is my most recent acquisition. Again, it was love at first sight when I saw it on a blogger's Craig's List round-up, and I immediately e-mailed the seller to see if he was interested in shipping it to me from Minneapolis. I think he thought I was crazy, but it was totally worth it!

Inspired by: Gingham

Gingham seems to be having a moment this year, though I'm not sure if I would ever call it "out" when done well. This shirt in orange would be perfect for fall football games, but since I am without a waistline these days I will have to pass. PS, J.Crew has lots more gingham goodies.


Perhaps instead I will scoop up some orange gingham cupcake liners to dress up my favorite Autumn Morning muffins (isn't that a delightful name for a muffin?). I'll be sure to share the recipe when I make them for the first time this year.

Lovely Letterpress

Loving these letterpress suites from Stripe & Field. Simple and beautiful, with colors perfect for this early fall morning.

Inspired by: Familiar Landscapes

I believe that art should be personal, and am always drawn to landscapes that resemble familiar views. Particuarly those that look like the gentle rolling hills of middle Tennessee (which I claim as my home state) or the meandering marshes of the low country of Georgia and South Carolina (we honeymooned in Charleston, but also because I really, really like it there). John Boatright's (a native of Columbia, Tennessee) work certainly fits the bill. Not to mention, the soft colors would look great in my house!

The only thing I really know about art is that I know what I like when I see it, so excuse my lack of anything of substance to say.





Victoria Adams (immediately above and below) lives on an island on Puget Sound near Seattle and so is obviously no stranger to dramatic and sweeping vistas. I am, again, particularly drawn to the images that resemble the low country. See more of her lovely work (which is oil and wax on linen, by the way) here.

Look for Less: Lotus Flower Chandelier

I've been mulling over light fixtures for our bedroom. I'd love something vintage, but my usual local haunts haven't been coming up with much! Today I landed on Viva Terra's Lotus Flower chandelier, which has long been a favorite of mine, but it's a little spendy (even the small size) for this project. Thankfully, a quick internet search found this version at half the price!

Inspired by: Black Botanical Posters

Jenny posted about black botanical posters a few weeks ago, and I've been meaning to share I great source I found through Nicole. The Evolution Store's scientific German educational charts were illustrated during the 1950's and 60's and are available in two sizes. I especially like Dog Rose and Apple Blossom (below).


Top photo: Melissa Ervin Interior Design.

Help Me Find Mirror

I have decided that I "need" a small-ish round mirror over our four-poster bed. There are two egg prints there now, but it's a few too many right angles and I'm thinking of moving them. I don't think I want a sunburst (I think I'm at capacity with three in the house), but maybe a small convex? The one in my mind would have an iron frame, like the one in my dining room. So if this one were round and not oval, it would be perfect! Anyone seen this mirror?

Photo: Kelly Proxmire.

Inspired by: Small Metal Side Tables

I really don't have a place (or in some cases, the budget) for one, but I'm loving small brass (or otherwise gold-toned) side tables, like this Directoire-style beauty in Tia Zoldan's Hollywood cottage (you can see the rest of the house - one of my favorites! - here). A couple of other favorites:


Crate & Barrel's Jules table is one of a few things on my perma-list.


Round gilded iron Martini Table at Mecox Gardens. Presumably called so because a martini is about all it will hold. But isn't it cute?!


Jonathan Tall Round Table by Oly Studio


Round Swan's Neck Marble Table at Mecox Gardens

Inspired by: Bell Jar Lanterns

I spent most of Saturday hitting a few local antique malls with my Mom and sisters (AKA, my perfect Saturday!) on the hunt for a few upgrades for my Mom's builder basic house. We found an antique bell jar lantern that was just beautiful. It was more than we wanted to spend and needed some work by a professional, so we passed, but I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Bell jar lanterns or hall lanterns were made in the early 19th century for English and American homes. The glass was hand-blown and may have been etched or left clear. Older examples were lit with candles or oil, and the cap on the top was used to prevent scorching on the ceiling. Source.

Antiques range in price based on age and condition, but reproductions are widely available. Here are a few of my favorites.


Small Clear Hall Lantern from Circa Lighting


Bronze and Clear Glass Smokebell at Shades of Light


Hundi Lantern from Pottery Barn

Top image: Kristen Panitch in House Beautiful. Lantern images: courtesy their respective sources.

Ideas for the Breakfast Room

You have probably never seen our breakfast room (this is not it!). There's not much to see. It's cut off from our kitchen by an awkward set of hanging cabinets and isn't much more than a pass-through at the moment. But we're working on it (or at least, thinking about working on it).


I'd love to break up all of the hard angles in the room with a round or oval table and soften it with an upholstered bench or small sofa. Then add a couple of chairs to round out the seating. I think we will still eat most of our meals in the dining room, but it will be nice to have the option of more space.


A rug to cover the lovely linoleum (which is covering more linoleum, we already checked) will really help. And we'll definitely replace the rickety (and ahem, dusty) ceiling fan with an interesting light fixture.


If I can't come up with a bench/small sofa, I love the look of wicker chairs around a round table.


So, I've got my eyes peeled for deals on a table, chairs and/or bench, a light fixture, and a rug. Whew!

Photos: Grant Gibson, Tracery Interiors, Style at Home, Megan Thompson for Cottage Living, and Cote de Texas.

Day 955's fantasy shopping spree: Wisteria

I always look forward to the Wisteria catalog, but the most recent one is especially pretty. If I had an extra couple hundred dollars around, here's what I would consider bringing home.

The Spindle Leg Table: love this for a bedside table/writing desk. Seriously, so cute. Also love the Swedish Folk Art painting above it.


I have a thing for mirrors. And lamps. Well, and chairs. But back to the mirrors. Isn't the Scallop Edge Mirror pretty?


Even more so above the Green Four-Drawer Chest?


Love these Oak X-back Chairs.


I made a skirted table recently, but if you like the look and don't want to deal with hassle of DIY, Wisteria has some great options. There are table bases, skirts and glass tops to choose from. You could buy a base and make your own skirt, or make a base to these dimensions and buy a skirt. You get the idea. The rectangles will look especially pretty bed-side.


I know I've said I love everything, but I do love the Swedish Oak Stool.


And the Celadon Tea Jar Lamp. I have a couple of Celadon plates (found at a flea market) and they are the prettiest shade of green.


These draftsman stools are the perfect antidote to all the pretty.

Look for Less: Chandelier

I randomly stumbled across this 6-light chandelier on Bellacor last week, and loved it's sleek, but dainty, lines. It seemed slightly familiar but I couldn't quite place it.


This morning I randomly found this at Circa, for twice the price. I always love Circa, but in this case, I think I like the knock-off better!

Day 949: thinking of an upgrade

This blue chest is in our dining room. It was free and so was the blue paint on it (Benjamin Moore Stratton Blue). I spent a tiny bit of money on these white ceramic knobs the day before we had houseguests for the weekend. (Am I the only one who makes those kinds of purchases?) I didn't love them, but I didn't mind them either until ...


... My friend Zoe sent me this photo (from the Circa Interiors -- a great shop in Birmingham and Charlotte -- blog) saying "I know you'll love this!" And darn it she was right and now I want to put a glaze on my blue chest and upgrade the hardware. Don't you hate when that happens? Here are a few I'm thinking about ...


Here.


Here.


Here.


Here.


Here.