Digging: Bahamian Style

On Monday morning at 9:00 AM sharp, we will board a nonstop flight to Nassau, Bahamas.  It's a trip that has been planned for a while and I'm not gonna lie, I'm nervous.  Real nervous.  If you know me you can vouch that there isn't much that doesn't make me nervous: clowns, thunderstorms, cruise ships, Marc Anthony.  You name it.  There was a time when I was young, single, and childless when I would board a plan to Madrid with nothing but a backpack and a passport and just see where life took me, but times have changed.  Oh yes.  Times have changed.  For this adventure, we will be travelling with our 18-month-old daughter, oh, AND, I'm seven months pregnant.  Yeah, so that's happening.  At this point, the skin of my belly is working so hard that I fear the pressure of soaring 30,000 feet in the air may just make it explode once and for all.  My husband keeps reminding me "It's not like we're going to Mexico" because I am so worried about one of us getting food poisoning from the food or water that I have stocked up on snacks and powdered beverages which will be packed in our suitcase.  And what if our hotel room is above the 1st floor?  God forbid it be on the 21st because the combination of our active toddler and a 21st floor balcony just may put me over the edge.  No pun intended.  I had better stop there.  My family might get concerned if I go on any further.  So, in an attempt to stay positive and keep my focus on how wonderful and beautiful this trip will be, I have decided to show you pictures of inspiring Bahamian architecture and decor.  The first set of photos is from the home of two Quadrille fabric execs.  Located in Lyford Cay, Bahamas, it is decked out in several of my Quadrille faves.  

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The next set of photos are so inspiring and I can't wait to see this colorful architecture in person.  I only wish that we were this courageous with our exterior paint colors in my part of the world!

Godspeed, my friends.  Wish me luck.

Rediscovering Estee Stanley

I love when I am able to put a face, name and story to a room I've "known" for years.  This morning I rediscovered Estee Stanley, a Hollywood fashion stylist turned renowned interior designer.  Her work was featured in many a domino Magazine (most notably for me, she assisted in designing Amanda Peet's California home) and I love how genuine and ever changing her aesthetic is.  I try to be a chameleon for my clients because, after all, it's their house, not mine, but I often think about the difference between having a signature "look", for which client's seek you out specifically, versus taking on your client's preference and steering them in the direction of impeccable design choices within their own preferences.  I prefer the latter, but often question my decision, so it was inspiring to read Estee Stanley's bio in which her chameleon-like tendencies are described, 

"Estee's work is far from cookie cutter; in fact, she is proud that there is no signature style to her interiors.  She believes that as each client is different, their interiors should be different- each home as a reflection of its owner, not of Estee..."

Spoonflower Round Up

I have known about Spoonflower.com for months, but it wasn't until I saw some beautiful Spoonflower born fabric created by local interior designer, Gretchen Opgenorth, that I became a believer.  The Spoonflower concept is brilliant and I had perused the various fabrics on Spoonflower a few times before, but always worried about the quality of the fabric and printing.  Then I saw Gretchen's beautiful creations and I was sold!  The weight of the fabric was lovely and the printing quality was fantastic, making Spoonflower my new go to place for original textiles at affordable prices.  Here is a round up of some of my faves...



ABP Jazzy Lattice by The B-line

Fifties Rose by Laura Mysak

Freestyle in Blondie by Andrea Whalen

Square Moldings French Navy by Lisa Barrett

Kunda Kelly Linen by Holli Zollinger

Elephant March by Cody Scarborough

A Rose By Any Other Name Smells As Sweet by Susan Malcik

Tropicali Sunset by Andrea Whalen

Bouquet Botanical by Kelly Loughlin

Mosaic Pattern 1 by Yashira Acevedo

Obsessed: Judi Roaman

I hopped over to One King's Lane today to check things out and spotted this loveseat by the fabulous Judi Roaman... 

I .LOVE. it and had never heard of Miss Roaman, so, obviously, I Googled her. 

Obsessed. 

How am I just finding out about this gem? 

I'm working on finding out her "story" but clearly I was meant to find her.  Lately, the decorating quote at the front of my mind has been, "God is in the details." 

I could not agree more and I've been trying to focus my attention on those aspects of a room. 

I am a big picture person.  I THINK BIG.  So for me to zoom in is a struggle, but don't fret.  I'm a fast learner and once I set my mind on something, well, just consider it done. 

Anyway, here is a quote from her blog:

“It all comes down to the accessories...

It’s not the first thousand dollars that make the room,

it’s the last hundred!!”

- judi roaman

It's so true.  Now for the picture proof of just how fab one Miss Judi Roaman is...

All photos via jroaman.com

My Second Wedding

No! I did not get remarried!  Don't be silly.  However, I did have the fabulous opportunity of being part of another couple's special day and I am hooked- I hope I have a third, fourth and fifth wedding because it was so fun and inspiring!!  I know I mentioned this last month, but it has taken me WEEKS to get my shenanigans together to blog this beautiful day. 

It all started when Summer Adams (the bride) contacted my friend and talented photographer Ashley Brokop.  Ashley promptly signed on to photograph Summer's special day and contacted me almost immediately to tell me about Summer and Joseph's unique plans.  Soon after, Summer and I started emailing back and forth and formulating decor for the March 2nd nuptials.  It was so much fun for me to wade in the wedding pool for those weeks, discovering all sorts of inspiring things and people.  Summer was kind enough to take a chance on a little known and up and coming (wink) wedding stylist (me!) and I am so grateful that she let me be a part of such a special day. 

So, on March 2nd, I packed my car full of beautiful props I had carefully chosen and created and headed to Dillon, SC.  Summer and Joseph eloped at Paiges Millpond on that beautiful March afternoon in such a picturesque setting. 

A special thanks to Summer and Joseph and, of course, Ashley Brokop.

All styling by yours truly with the stunning photographs by Ashley Brokop.

I created Summer's bouquet from dried cotton bulbs, dried lavender and dried yarrow.  She purchased her veil from Mignonne Handmade.   Joseph and Easton's boutonnieres are from The Sunflower Stand.  The chalkboard sign I created for Summer was made from a piece of wood purchased at Home Depot, painted with chalkboard paint.  I drew the font and accoutrements by hand with chalk.  Suitcase and lanterns are vintage and sheepskin from IKEA.  Bowl holding rings from Anthropologie.  (If I forgot to mention anything, please leave a comment and I will get back to you ASAP regarding resources) 

From the Desk of... EmmaKisstina

A few months ago, while flipping though one of my favorite online magazines, I stumbled upon a lovely illustration by Emma Kristina Hultkrantz (web alter ego: EmmaKisstina).  Her illustrations are so fun and glamorous, full of fabulously chic and girly stuff!  I immediately contacted her and asked if she might be interested in helping me design a new site home page/logo.  I thought her fun and funky style was a perfect fit for my business and she couldn't have been more of a dear.  I am loving the results and wanted to share them with you.  Check them out in action here.

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For more about EmmaKisstina, check out her blog OR to buy one (or a few!!) of her lovely illustrations, visit her Etsy shop.

How To: (Re)Cover A Lampshade

This How-To is so easy that I am embarrassed to even post it, but the results are fantastic and if you're looking for instant gratification, this is the project for you.  Start to finish it took me about 20 minutes and required less than a yard of fabric, scissors, spray adhesive and a hot glue gun. 

Please note that unless your lamp shade has absolutely no taper, the pattern will not show up perfectly straight and centered.  Because of this, I do not recommend using a stripe or any strongly repeated vertical pattern.  I chose a "no-no" fabric that I knew would not end up straight, but I liked it so much that I didn't care!  However, if my lampshade bothers you, I recommend using a very large scale print, most florals or, better yet, a solid for this project.

Before:

Step 1:  Lay the fabric out and iron it flat.

Step 2:  Lay the lampshade on it's side on top of the fabric, lining the original seam up with the edge of the new fabric.  On the fabric, mark about an inch from each end of the lampshade.



Step 3:  Roll the lamp shade across the fabric, continuing to mark on each side as you go. 

Step 4:  Cut along the lines you have marked.

Step 5:  Spray the fabric with spray adhesive a portion at a time.  Line the lamp up and lay it down on top of the fabric and begin to roll.  Spray more.  Roll more.  The spray adhesive is very forgiving so you can go back and adjust and work out kinks if there are any.  (It's best to put an old sheet down for this step to avoid getting spray adhesive everywhere) 

Step 6:  Flatten out all lumps and cut off any excess at the end, leaving enough to fold over for a clean edge.  Fold end over and glue down with a hot glue gun.  I like to carefully iron this edge before using the hot glue gun for a clean crisp edge.  If your shade is tapered, chances are, the pattern won't match up.  This part will go at the back of the lamp OR you can cover the seam with decorative ribbon or the like to lessen the unmatching pattern.

Voila!

One Room, Three Ways

The Home Beautification Act is in full swing. (I feel like I say that all the time?) But, really, I think we are in a constant state of home beautification. I wish I could live inside someone else's mind for the day because all I see is rooms and furniture, fabrics, and lamps like a slide show. Is this crazy talk? It's late. Pfff. My poor hubs. Anyway. We spend ALL of our time in this room we call the den. It is right next to the kitchen and it has really good light and two ceiling fans (ugly but crucial) and we just gravitate to this area. Here is how it has to work for us: breakfast table/casual dining space, living room, office. We have tried to think of ways to give this room a break and make it work less hard, but we just like being in here, so deal with it. The only permanents are the wall color (Benjamin Moore's Spring Mint) and our Saarinen knockoff table from IKEA. Other than that, everything will be garage saled or trashed. This should make things simple, but, it's me, so... clearly, it's very complicated. Here is what we require: a desk with seating, dining table seating, an armchair, a rug, a side table or two, pillows and accessories.
And without anymore talky, here are my three possible schemes. Please leave a comment if I forget to source something.

This was my initial scheme and I think it shows a certain amount of restraint and consideration for the male inhabitant(s) of the household.  The floral fabric is for the sofa, which is from Layla Grayce.  The garden stools are from Wisteria, table from IKEA, Chiviari chairs from eBay, rug is DwellStudio, acrylic desk is from cb2.com, pouf can be found at various locations, chair is also from Layla Grayce and the pillows are from Horchow, Wisteria and Oomph Online.  This room is certainly lovely and I really liked it at the beginning... then.  I started thinking.  I could live in this room everyday and be happy, but it wouldn't excite and exhilarate me.  I'm tired of restrained decorating!!  So I returned to the drawing board...

For this scheme, I studied one of my all time favorite designers: Anna Spiro.  I love how she combines preppy prints and forms with glam antiques and beachy accents to create a look that is just so happy!  Her work never fails to inspire me and I let it inspire this room.  I am very pleased with the results, unfortuntely, the budget went a little wild for this one.  The painting shown above the sofa is by yours truly, the sofa is the same as above from LaylaGrayce, and the pillows are from Oomph Online of Quadrille fabric.  The gingham swatch is for the sofa and came from WarehouseFabricsInc.com, but it's not upholstery weight so unlikely the fabric I would actually use.  The rattan side table is from CottageandBungalow.com, along with the green dining chairs.  The Otomi swatch is from the Mexican Textiles store on eBay.  The pink striped rug is Dash & Albert and is from LaylaGrayce along with the armchair.  The console table is from Oomph Online.  The pink lamp is by Robert Abbey and can be found at several sources by googling it.  (I just ordered two of them for the bedroom and I'm SO excited to receive them!!!)  I love this room and it would make me happy to look at, but, of course, my musings didn't/couldn't stop there.  I craved more expression and decorating freedom.  I wanted loud and proud with an edge...

The third and final option involves using an antique sofa that I recently purchased and had recovered in Brentwood Nepal fabric.  I am nuts about this sofa and it is currently sitting in our entry.  I would love to use it more, but don't want it to take a beating.  She's old and just too beautiful to be sat on everyday all the time.  I don't generally believe in buying furniture you can't use, so I reluctantly decided to work this piece into a scheme.  And I have to be honest.  It might be my favorite of all.  eek.  The yellow side table is from CottageandBungalow.com, isn't it precious?  The pillows, urn, lamps, rug and armchair are all from Furbish (ShopFurbish.com) whose owner Jamie Meares is a huge inspiration for me.  The Parsons desk is from westelm, the acrylic chair is by Kartell and the floor lamp is IKEA.

And now the decision making process... Which one do you like??

Birthday Bouquet

It's not my birthday today, but soon, and in honor of this special day, nearly 26 years ago, I arranged myself a birthday bouquet with clippings from around my yard.  It's a bit all over the place, but let's face it, so am I.  It's kind of over the top, but that's who I am.  I probably could've taken a more Coco Chanel approach and removed one or two blossoms before calling it done, but to be honest, that's just not how I roll.  So in the spirit of embracing all that I am (and am not), here is my birthday bouquet...

instagramtastic, lately

My life of late as described by my instagram photos...

Spring Blooms

It seems that spring might finally be here to stay.  At least for some of us.  In South Carolina, the camellia, forsythia, and Japanese magnolia are in full bloom and I'm so enjoying this colorful signal of Spring.  In celebration of the changing seasons, here is a roundup of my favorite items that make me think of spring blooms.

iomoi Cocktail Napkins

Madame Butterfly Wallpaper

gus*modern Pawn End Table

Provence Block Printed Pillowcases

Michelle Armas Tonks Painting

Voluspa Gardenia Colonia Candle

Balenciaga Papier Leather Tote

Trina Turk Coachella Rug

A Finished Project?

No, you say, a finished space?  From The Avarice?  Not a chance!  Her borderline Attention Deficit and meandering ways would prevent it from ever being so.  Well pooh!pooh!  I say to you.  I have a finished project to present today.  But, in your defense, the curtains aren't hemmed so, we'll call this one a tie.
This project comes from one of my most favorite clients and by far my most favorite mother. (You're welcome.)  Before I reveal, let's look at the before...

As you can see, this particular client had beautiful furniture to begin with and really fabulous taste, she just needed some help pulling it all together and adding details to get the finished look she desired.  I have no doubt in my mind, that my client could have pulled her room together on her own, with different, but still beautiful results.  Fortunately for me, she allowed me to take the wheel and steer her in the direction of my vision for her space.  As with most successful projects, it was a beautiful collaboration with lovely results...

All photos courtesy of Ashley Brokop Photography.  Thanks Ashley!

 

New Traditional

I am always seeking out new and different designers and aesthetics.  My mind is like a repository of rooms, constantly collecting and filing favorite spaces and the faces that go with them.  I treat interior design like I treat fine art: I want to see as much as possible and remember everything I can. 
A style I call New Traditional is of particular interest lately and right now there are few designers who do it better than Tobi Fairley.

All photos via Toby Fairley Interior Design