A recap of the last 48 hours

• In an effort to introduce some contrasting color to the living room, I've been auditioning a new pillow and have determined that it pleases me.
  
  

• After careful contemplation I determined, "What use don't I have for a 28" x 32" wooden wall plaque shaped like an urn?"

note new bamboo floor

• Upon returning home from procuring the aforementioned urn-shaped wooden wall plaque at Tuesday Morning, I discovered that one of the dogs had managed to score a fleur de sel caramel (maybe more than one) from the dish on the console table and enjoyed it on the sofa. Since I did not witness the incident first-hand, I was forced to discipline both dogs then set about the task of picking shredded wrapper pieces from between the cushions and scrubbing at the sticky caramel remains. Grr.
  
  
• The dogs like their new bed — also from Tuesday Morning. So much so that apparently they didn't want to mess it up by eating caramels on it. Killing stuffed squirrels is another matter entirely.

1. Ants! Last night we washed out the hummingbird feeders (We have had hummingbirds again this year!) and put them in the dish drainer to dry. This morning? Ant infestation. I am by no means a hater of insects, but I don't want the little buggers in my kitchen. I read recently that cinnamon is a natural ant deterrent. For the sake of the environment (local and global) I'm generally in favor of trying natural, or at least not-too-chemically solutions first for household issues such as this. I began sprinkling, then realized there was probably no way to sprinkle cinnamon up the wall. That's when I broke out the ant traps. I still feel like they're crawling on me...
   

This one goes out to Amy

Saw this pic on Desire to Inspire this morning and couldn't help but think of you!


Great room!

Toys for tots, or not?

I don't know about you, but there are some toys I'd rather keep for myself than give to children ages three and up. Case in point, these cute little wooden City in a Bag sets from MUJI, a Japanese brand that describes itself as "rational, and free of agenda, doctrine, and 'isms.'"

Your choice of:

New York

London

Paris

or Tokyo

A whole iconic wooden cityscape for just $14! I'd put these on a mantel, or maybe arrange them on the console table where I drop my keys, etc.

Also on a rational note: These sets may present a choking hazard so don't put them in your mouth. I probably didn't have to tell you that.

New Perspective

Happy Friday all!

I've been contemplating the disheveled sensation in my inner and outer environment lately — I'm pretty sure they're at least somewhat related — since we're still trying to put the house together from the floor install. I keep coming back to the subject of perspective.

Perspective can be a wonderful thing. It can also be rather off-putting occasionally. All depends on how you see it. And that's just it. When we become able to see something differently a whole new set of possibilities can open up to us. Sometimes that's stressful at first, particularly if you're prone to wondering who "moved your cheese" or in this case your nesting tables. But I submit to you that it's important to just go with it. Really.

The stress of moving every item out of our living/dining room and hallway has turned into an opportunity to see these spaces in an entirely new light. Suddenly we're shifting furniture around and I'm thinking of introducing a new contrasting color into my current blue/green/tan color scheme. Suddenly the palette seems less restrictive. That led me to rescue a painting, done by yours truly incidentally, that had been languishing in an unremarkable location and give it a new place of honor in the main living area — something I never would've contemplated before!


Sorry for the ramble. I'm not trying to get all philosophical on you or anything, so here's a practical tidbit: There was a piece of decorator advice I read recently in one of my shelter mags that struck me as clever. She suggested rounding up all your accessories from various rooms in one place, like the dining room table. Take a look at them and try to imagine them in a new location in your home. Then give it a shot. The upside is it's free and it makes you feel like you've got new stuff in almost every room.

Hey, why not? You can always change it back.

Neighborly decor

Since I seem to be in a bit of a slump for blog-worthy material lately (meh), I thought I'd share a little side project I took on. My neighbor is doing a whole lotta renovations to her house and one day we started talking about art and decor and things to do with her living/dining room. Just for fun, I came up with a sort of fantasy collection of items for her amusement, taking into account some of the furniture she already has. Here it is:


Lighting:
ALÄNG Floor lamp - IKEA, $39.99
Capiz Hanging Pendant - World Market, $69.99

Furniture:
Ikat Slipper Chair in Natural - Urban Outfitters, $325
Chrome Chinese Porcelain Stool - Overstock.com, $89.99
Smooth Suede Shorty Dining Chair Covers - Overstock.com, $19.99/2
Asian Black Wine Cabinet - Pier One, $299.98 on sale

Pillows (left to right):
'Sparks of Light' Pair of Cotton Cushion Covers - Novica.com, $20.66
Ikat Pillow in Green - Pier One, $17.21 on sale
Estrella Embroidered Pillow - Pier On, $34.95
Embroidered Paisley Pillow in Rust - Pier On, $34.95
Patchwork Cotton Ikat Pillow Cover - Fabricadabra.com, $35

Rug:
Hand-woven Dhurry Arrah (5'6 x 8') - Overstock.com, $139.99

Window Coverings:
Suzani Print Panel - World Market, $26.99 ea.
1/2 in. Slate Tortoise Bamboo Blind (72" long) - Pearl River Mart, $52.50

Accessories:
Novica.com - 'Windblown Leaf' Wood Statuette, $42.95
Decorative Glass Vase - Pier One, $35
Pair of Nickel Glass Wall Sconce Candleholders - Overstock.com, $69.99
Set of three Wrapped Mirrors - Overstock.com, $50.99
Decorative Glass Vase (left) - Pier One, $35

Paint:
Living and Dining Room main wall color - Shoji Screen, Sherwin-Williams
Fireplace color - Fenland, Sherwin-Williams
Living Room focal wall color - Lemongrass, Sherwin-Williams
Dining Room focal wall color - Sierra Redwood, Sherwin-Williams

Incidentally my own spectacular living/dining room transformations lag behind. FYI, I know I haven't posted proper floor photos yet (or even house paint photos) but I will. Really.

Yet another creative use for wallpaper

I'm gonna go ahead and start beating my drum again for the Wallpaper is Great Marching Band. Check out this inspiring idea from Canadian House and Home:

image via Canadian House & Home

Frame it out for a fantastic faux headboard! Of course it doesn't hurt that the rest of the details in this room are pretty spot-on too.

And now I must return to an old favorite of mine, wallpaper on the backs of shelves. Take a look-see:

image via Canadian House & Home

Love it, love it, love it! That turquoise cabinet really pushes all the right buttons for me.

I probably spent a couple hours today mesmerized by the website of this inspiring publication. Get on over there and check it out! And stay tuned, as you'll likely see a lot more photos in my posts.

C'mon get happy

Here's a little dose of "happy chic" designer Jonathan Adler for the long Labor Day weekend.


Is this a dining room? A library? Both? It's the stuff of dreams, that's what it is. Whatever, I heart pretty much everything about this space, from the rich dark shelving to the citron chippendale chairs (swoon) to the fantabulous chandelier. Incidentally, my mom has a pair of those chairs (not in citron, mind) that I admire — and covet a little — every time I visit.


Hey, who wouldn't feel a twinge of manic joy or at least childlike wonder in a room containing a lifesize statue of a dog on a white grand piano, a metal ship and a bronze palm tree? :)

Thanks Jonathan, for doin' what you do.