Pretty bedroom

This bedroom is just my style... (*swoon*).  Pretty, girlie, calming colors and just the right touch of new and old .

 

Reminds me of the color scheme from this Angie Hranowsky living room.

XOXO: Nate Berkus

Anyone who loves home decor has to love Nate Berkus.  I'm crazy about some of Nate's pieces that he's created for HSN.  Check out my favs...

Porcelain ikat bowl

Navy herringbone throw

Orbit table lamp

Studio sofa

Glass-top bamboo table

Dhurrie rug

XOXO: Craigslist Leather Barrel Back Chair

Scouring through Craigslist this morning, this is what caught my attention.  A leather barrel back chair that the owners paid $700 for, but hardly used.  If you live in the Nashville area it could be yours for $300.  This would look great in a study room or home office.  Wish I had a place for it!

via Craigslist

What I want in a dining room

The moment I saw these dining chairs and table from Suzanne and Lauren's recent trip to the ever-popular Brimfield show, I've been wishing this is what my dining room chairs and table looked like.  I even think this antique white would look great with the fabric from my newly upholstered seat bottoms.  If only I had the patience and know-how to actually make my cherry finish dining set look this good.

Vintage dining set via Good Bones Great Pieces

I love the look of demure white furniture with other bold accents in a room.  If I had to envision the dining room I would want it would be a mix of formal and playful.  I would first take this antique white dining table set and place it in a room with medium gray walls.

Benjamin Moore paint samples.  I'd go for the Coventry gray

Next I'd add a splash of color with this beautiful rug.

Argonne rug via Home Decorators

Don't forget the chandelier!  Every dining needs one of these - formal or simple in style.

1920s Baroque chandelier

On one side of the room I would definitely have a beautiful buffet table with a gorgeous mirror over top and various accent pieces adorning the top of the console.  Especially two large alabaster lamps to anchor each side.

Buffet console via Nicole Madison Antiques

Gold leaf mirror

Alabaster lamps with linen shades via decorpad.com

What statement pieces would you want to having in your dining room?

I'm an Idiot

So thanks to my roommate when I lived in Memphis (love you Rebecca!) who taught me everything I know about estate sales - I have turned into one of those people who checks out the local estate sale web site each week to see if anything looks good. And if so, you better believe I will wake up early the day of and head on over to see if my online find looks just as desirable in person - because if it does, I totally need it more than the next person right?! ha  Many times an item looks even better in person or the price tag is higher than I expected.  This time was no exception.  I arrived early one Saturday to a sale in Franklin.  My eyes scoured each room until I saw what I was looking for.  And it was this gold, mirror top coffee table.  Ahhh it was love...

My obsession at a local estate sale

But then I noticed the price tag - $1,100.  Really?  Really?  This is an estate sale people.  Aren't you just trying to get rid of things?  So another option was that I make a bid on the piece and stick it in the bid box.  If the item is still there at the end of the day then the seller goes through the box to see if they wish to take any of the offers.  Well guess what?  I got a call.  And you would expect me to be excited right?  Well I was a little nervous.  I made an offer less than half the asking amount but it was still pretty high.  And the piece weighed like 100 pounds and was way bigger than I thought so that's when my pragmatic side came out - I don't have a place to put this.  My storage unit is full.  Will I like it in two years?  Do I really need this? - so I never called the seller back.  I walked away empty handed.  Well let me tell you something folks.  When you see something you love for a hell of a deal - it's probably for a reason.  Because as I'm browsing Horchow's web site the other day look what I stumbled upon...

Mirror coffee table via Horchow

And we know, Horchow isn't cheap, nor is it poor quality.  Wow this homeowner had pretty good taste!  And I just lost out.  Oh well... I just need to remind myself of my own pragmatic advice!!  Or next time I'm just gonna go for it!

One chair, some spray paint and a touch of velvet

Okay so I'm hoping this post puts a little pep in my step.  You see I purchased this chair off Craigslist.  I got it for only $20 with the intention of giving it a little TLC and turning it into a beautiful masterpiece! This is my first DIY project when it comes to furniture makeovers - and I still have high hopes, I just need a much higher level of motivation.  You see, when I bought the chair it had a dark stain finish.  I stripped the wood (it took FOREVER) down to the bare essentials and sanded and sanded and sanded.  Then I moved on to spray painting, which is what you see today.  Actually, I have done a little detail work since and hand painted some of the pretty little edges and flowers in a light gray.  It looks pretty good I think!  So back to where I originally started... I needed to post this picture so I could get excited about the soon-to-be (crossing my fingers!) outcome.  Next steps: take the chair to The Cane'ery to get the bottom re-caned.  And then the cushion (not pictured) that came with, is getting a makeover all its own - a luxe charcoal velvet fabric will replace the old and gross calico print.

Before

See the pretty details!

 I'm really excited about using velvet for the cushions.  I'm in awe of what this fabric can do to such traditional chairs! Ooooo la la!

Pink velvet Louis chairs

And I'll take both of these too please!

Blue velvet arm chairs

Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler

I'm leaving for The Big Easy tomorrow - one of at least ten trips I've made there within the past two years.  Mainly trips for work, but also to visit close friends.  I've got to say, there truly is no other city like New Orleans.  I love everything from the street cars, seersucker suits (they originated here you know), historic homes on St. Charles, to the shops on Magazine St. and the taste of crawfish etoufee and bread pudding.

In recent months I've been itching to have some original New Orleans artwork.  Artists sell their handmade work all over Jackson Square - beautiful watercolors, charcoal drawings and oil paintings galore.  I'd love to own one of these in my home.

Artwork by Debra Hurd

Artwork by Angel Turner Dyke

Another thing I love about New Orleans style is the French character that's embedded into all aspects of the city.  I adore antiques - especially those of the French variety.  I'm not talking gaudy, over-the-top formal pieces (with the exception of gold guilded mirrors), but classic Louis IX chairs and settees.  Huge living rooms with wide baseboards and tiled marble floors.  Chandelier medallions and ornate crown moldings.  I love taking traditional classic pieces and mixing them in with newer styles.  These pretty pieces have found their way into my heart.

via Trouvais

via Horchow

French Bank Table c. 1930

via House Beautiful

You can be sure there will be more posts on beautiful French pieces to come!  'Au revoir!