happy weekend...

 

Thank goodness we are onto the weekend again.  Although there does not seem to be an end in site for our busy fall season I do have hope that our home will soon be back to normal.  Things are moving along well in the kitchen and the flooring is completely in.  We just have painting to go and  a few little things here and there.  

How are things shaping up for you this fall?  Does it seem that there is not a dull moment in any season as of late?  I feel like we are all go go go around here.

image via

 

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The china cabinet

 

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to empty out my china cabinet and get ready for our new wood flooring to be installed and I started thinking about how lucky I am.  I have waited 4 years for the flooring I wanted, after pulling up some damaged wood when we first moved in, I am excited.  But I was really thinking more about all of the wonderful pieces I have accumulated over the years.  I LOVE dishes and when I was on a trip to Paris about four or five years ago, I found out how very much fun it could be to buy beautiful pieces while I was there and bring them home with me.  I fell hard for Astier de Villatte and my life has never been the same.  Each trip I have taken I have bought pieces and brought them home with me, very carefully.  I have a large collection now and although I don't use it as I should, each piece seems to hold a wonderful memory for me.  There are many other beautiful pieces in there too but each of these is like a little treasure to me.  

As I have been going through emptying out our kitchen and now the china cabinet I have realized something else too, I need to buy only what I love, not what is a good deal or something I may never use.  I have donated boxes and boxes of pieces over the last few weeks that have never been used or were still in the original packaging.  So this project or combination of projects has given me the jump start I need to spend more wisely and maybe just maybe start using those beautiful pieces I have been sheltering from my loved ones for fear of breakage.

Do you use what you have?  Do you save the best dishes and glassware for only special occasions or do you use them everyday? 

 

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sneak peek

Between packing for my move (The truck arrives bright and early next Thursday -eek) my little ones and my business I'm running like crazy right now. In fact I'm heading out the door for a meeting right now but before I left I wanted to share a little peek at a wonderful project I just finished up. The clients were an absolute pleasure! Sorry I can't show more of this job, I had it photographed on Monday! You'll see the entire room soon enough! Have a great day, rain and all!

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sneak peek - kitchen

I have three great jobs I need to have photographed right now! This being one of them. It's a kitchen design...more to come when the job's been shot! (I'm thinking of investing in a nice camera - do you have a favorite digital, my 35mm was the canon eos rebel)

Cheers!

ps. thanks to my client for sending this photo along.

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checking in...

I've been running around all day. I had two client meetings and a few other work related stops I needed to make today. Here's a sneak peek of two different (unrelated to today's stops) jobs I have going on. 

These are just a few of the fabulous fabrics I'm using for a great project. The clients have wonderful taste! I just love it when that happens. And below is a painting I just proposed to a client. It's by my amazing sponsor, artist,  Yangyang Pan. I love the energy of her work! I actually may end up having her commission a job for my client. 

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Sneak Peek - Shelter Project

Hello, hello. It's been a busy week. Sorry for the late posts..I had an install this morning! Installs are always a bit nerve wracking of course because I want everything to turn out perfectly. Here's a peek (I quickly snapped these with my i-phone) at an amazing job I've been working on! These clients are a pleasure. I need to finish the project up with accessories and artwork but we're almost there. A number of the items were custom designed by SHELTER. The rug was a custom size (it's a Kelly Wearstler pattern) as was a number of the furniture pieces (ex: the family room ottoman), the window treatments and of course the pillows! I'm going to have it professionally shot soon and will surely share those photos. (but only after they've been submitted to a publication first!). Happy (almost) Friday! xx.

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Joss and Main - Shelter's Curated Collection

I was both flattered and excited when Joss and Main approached me to curate a collection of items for your home from their vast and wonderful collection of housewares, furniture, lighting and accessories!! So be sure to head over to the Joss and Main site tomorrow am, 2.28, to view and shop my CASUAL LUXURY collection. I'd place each and every item in my home! Happy Shopping!!

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A Peek

Hello, hello. Here's a little peek at a project I'm wrapping up. I love this client, I've been working on their house now for a couple of years. We choose one room to work on at a time and run with it!! Hope you're having a great week. It's been a busy one for me!

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Wing chair before and after..

It has been a while since I have had these back and I have been so bad about taking pictures of them.  I am so happy with the way they turned out and I think that they will just get better and better as I wash them and have them tighten up a bit.

Another busy week this week and I am looking forward to completing a few things around here and moving along with the bathroom.  I have been reading and trying to rest up enough so that I can get some things taken care of.



Another project that I have been working on for a little while installed a few weeks back.. I love love the way the banquettes turned out with the metal tables...  It was a very fun space, I cannot wait for the TV's to get in to see it in full effect!

 

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Before

In a perfect world I would have waited to find the perfect faux bamboo cabinet to repaint, but I really wanted to find and finish a piece asap. Here's my Craig's list find, it needs a lot of love, but that's the fun part!! I love the fret work detail over the glass windows. I will share the after shots. I do know this, I'm definitely painting it a high gloss white and I'm either going to wall paper or paint the interior {possibly a coral pink color}! I'll be sure the share the after shots with all of you. In the meantime here's a bit of interior inspiration.

I adore this one!
images: pinterest, lonny mag. elle decor, coastal living

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searching for...

My 15 month old daughter is a climber. Currently she's taken to climbing the open shelves in my kitchen, so I need to make a change quickly. It's not safe for her or my dishes. I'm on the hunt for a "find". The perfect piece would have a {Chippendale - esque} feel and with glass front cabinets. I would love to line them in something similar to the Griffin and Wong paper pictured below!! {as you've most likely noticed I love green and this paper is gorgeous!} I actually found a piece on Craig's list last week. I even traveled to see it but it needed quite a bit of work. I'm not sure I have the time to cut new veneer pieces. I'm most likely going to paint it, so If I'm thinking about that particular piece in a week, I'll call them back. It looked very similar to the second image but it was a cabinet not a secretary. I'll be sure to share my final find and the before and after photos.

 Images: Windsor Smith, Ruthie Sommers, C. Bell, Circa Who, Griffin and Wong

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Inexpensively done!

I adore one of a kind pieces of art, the only issue for me is the budget. Would I love to scoop up every piece of art at my favorite gallery? You bet, but that's not an option right now. {I'm saving for my bungalow by the sea, remember?}. It will be an amazing feeling when I can buy an original but for now I get creative.

Here are some of my favorite ways to inexpensively incorporate art into your home.

1. Image one: Purchase from a budding artist

The adorable dog photo is my newest piece. The students at Endicott College recently had an art show. I fell in love with that dog and I knew my son would too.  I bought this photo from an art student, students are always up for selling their pieces.

The top image was purchased from a street artist in Saint Tropez. I always try to purchase at least one original piece when I travel. Besides taking photos it's the perfect way to preserve the memory of your trip.

2. Image two: #3 - Paint your own work of art.

This was originally a four that I had painted back in September. One of the first things I did after my break-up in October was to change it to a three! I actually like the three better. I will keep this forever as reminder of my crazy and unexpected journey in 2010. Seven months is a relatively short period of time, but I'm a different person today then I was last Fall!

3. Image three: Frame children's artwork - It's loose and free, I love it.

 A snap shot of my art wall. This wall is a mix of pieces, it includes two paintings by my three year old son!

4. Image four: Frame a piece of block printed wrapping paper or any other found graphic you love.

I've always loved the organic quality of Faux Bois. I purchased this paper with the intention of wrapping a gift, but I decided to frame it instead. p.s. Ikea sells a number of inexpensive frames, that

is what I've used in this photo.

5.  Image five: Shop on Etsy for art. It is an amazing online resource.

I blogged about this print a couple of months ago. It's from Siiso via Etsy. She will also make custom prints on canvas. 

Images: 2,3,4 -by Bellini Photography

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