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Lockdown Diaries Day 1: Art sets & series

With the extended shelter in place deadline, and some uncertainty still ahead, I’m starting a lockdown series and will share 30 posts over the next 30 days. Design, art and beauty can definitely lift the spirits, so here goes!

Today’s theme - Art Sets & Series. A series of prints, paintings, photographs or objects can be a great visual element in a room, and tell a great story. It can also unify and create connections between spaces. Here’s a few ideas and examples.

A set of (what appears to be) oriental battleship paintings spotted at SF Decorator’s Showcase last year. You’d have to see them up close to really appreciate the detailing. I tried to capture it in the closeup below!

design by Alexis Humiston, photography (above) by Christopher Stark

design by Alexis Humiston, photography (above) by Christopher Stark

 
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A set of vintage car prints by Leslee Mitchell, in a room designed by Erin Gates. This is her son’s big boy room and the little fella loves cars and trucks. This was a cool way to capture that in the room.

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Minimalist botanicals in antique brass frames

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Lee Radziwill’s 5th Ave apartment (maximalism done right!)

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A still life series by artist Susan Hable.

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An abstract art series by the same artist. Love the archival paper & gray matting.

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A set of gentleman prints unifies the space

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An entry that would make you take a pause. Love the ribboned hats!

Beautiful gold medallions in this bedroom designed by Anna Burke Interiors.

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Framed vintage Vogue covers

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Dana Gibson’s iconic leopard motif

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Giclee watercolor portraits by Mary H Case. Love the depth of the faces!

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Cubist faces by Hayley Mitchell. So chic.

 
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A cheerful color block series by Pen & Paper Co.

Marvellous in every way

I recently watched the Emmy-award-winning TV show Marvellous Mrs. Maisel and man, what a great show! Crackling dialogue and a wonderful set of actors. The chemistry between the characters of Susie and Midge is pure comedy gold. The show is a joy ride. As is the set decor. As characters enter and exit, and float and flourish through the rooms, your senses are on high alert. What caught my eye from the get go was Mrs. Maisel’s equally marvellous New York apartment. Plush, optimistic, vibrant! An embodiment of it’s time (the 50s).

I thought it’d be fun to pull together a scheme inspired by her apartment, but updating for today’s times. Here goes!

 
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Comfy mid-century modern furnishings - like this tufted Crate & Barrel sectional & Joybird club chairs.
Chintz (Brunschwig & Fils) & velvet throw pillows for a bit of grandma chic
Porcelain blue duponi silk drapes.
Add on some antique-style accents - a Baroque mirror & these regal candle holders.
Abstract art (love the work of Alexis Walter), paired with a Hollywood regency chest & gold lamp.
Glass top brass cocktail table
A plush velvet ottoman.
A hand-painted screen like this chinoiserie landscape on grasscloth (adds life to the room!)
A couple of sensuous vases? Eva Zeisel shows us how.

Inspired by Mindy Kaling's LA Home

Who else is excited about Ocean's Eight?!

I saw the trailer last week and flipped out.  It's got 2 of my favorite people - Mindy Kaling & Helena Bonham Carter. And it features that annual event that launched a thousand best-and-worst dressed lists - the MET Gala.  I can't wait to see this 8-women action / adventure / comedy play out. Also, Mindy Kaling who's a thorough entertainer on every level and whose book  "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" I read in a single sitting on a plane ride, always, always makes me laugh. 

Architectural Digest featured Mindy's bright and cheerful LA home earlier in the year. Like Mindy, it's vibrant and full of personality. What caught my eye though, was this fun tropical wallpaper in one of the powder rooms.  

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How fun & funky is that! 

For some reason it made me think of all the fabulous tropical islands I need to go to, like Turks & Caicos and the Maldives. Aaaaah, I'm dreaming of sea breeze and ocean spray.

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Well, if you can't go to the tropics, you can always bring the tropics home!  

So here's what I came up with.  A tropical, paradise bedroom. Gorgeous Seychelles wallpaper complemented with soft, serene greens. Clean lines, gold accents & a hint of leopard keep it modern. Natural fiber and seagrass bring in texture and a relaxed feel.

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Seychelles wallpaper / headboard / bordered duvet set / accent pillowcurtain rod / curtains / nightstand / natural fiber rug / mirror / dresser / leopard trayhydrangeas & roses / art / seagrass tray

 

Alright folks, and on that note, we're going to close out 2017 and welcome 2018!

If you're looking to refresh & rejuvenate your living space in the new year,  I'd love to help you do that. A few days ago, I told you about  "Step into Style",  a decorating & styling package I'm offering.  Be it your home, a condo, a rental apartment or a room,  we will get creative and crafty and imbue it with personality.

I don't believe decorating should mean getting rid of everything you already own and buying a whole bunch of new stuff!!   Nor should it mean buying every single piece from a catalog. Na-hah.  Instead, I believe it's about mixing,  newer purchases with treasured antiques, enhancing what you already own, and doing it in a way that makes sense for your life and family.  There's nothing more appealing than a home with a distinct personality.

And there's ways to achieve that without breaking the bank.  

For instance, giving store-bought curtains a lift with a custom trim, like this...

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JCPenney silk curtains ,  Samuel & Sons coral interlock trim

 

or reupholstering an antique chair you own, and modernizing it with a pretty fabric, like this...

 
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Premier Prints zebra pink, P Kauffman buffalo check

 

...or renewing your bookcase with a splash of paint! Like this deep Hermes orange or geometric paper,  a lively backdrop for all your favorite reads.

 
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Everyone deserves to feel in harmony with & proud of their living space! Give me a call if you think I can steer you in the right direction & freshen things up for you as we step into 2018.

I am very grateful for every one of you who reads, comments, shares, talks back, and is part of my life through this blog.  I appreciate you so much, and I value your interest in what I do. 

Sending a lot of good juju & positivity your way!  May you have a healthy, happy New Year & I'm thinking of you today. I hope you're up to something fun tonight. As for us, we're still "making plans"!  Welcome 2018.

 

Image Credits: Architectural DigestReal Simple, Pinterest

The World Is Your Oyster

I always find myself spending waaaaaay more time than I need to at the World Market that's close to where we live (dangerously close, let's just say! :)). It's one of those places that has the cutest things at super affordable prices.  Off late, I've been there a lot while sourcing for events, and inevitably I find myself in a section of the store I have no business being in!!  Like I'm testing out the comfort quotient of the butterfly chair, when actually I've come in for napkin rings, or I'm perusing through the curtain aisle admiring a pretty damask pattern, when I should be picking up those taper candles and getting out! The sheer variety of beautiful things in this shop, gets me every time.

I thought why not do a World Market cover on the blog?  Especially with the holiday sales they have going on right now.  Lots of GREAT finds in their home decor category. And some super stylish gifts for under $25 too! Think hostess gifts, co-worker gifts & stocking stuffers.

Fair warning - you just might go down the WM rabbit hole yourself after reading this! ;-)

 

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1. lavender love seat / 2. faux fur throw pillow /  3.  A toss pillow in this Quadrille Potalla Black on Tint fabric would go oh-so-perfectly with the lavender and faux fur!   4. chunky woven throw / 5.  plaid vanilla-scented candle (extremely stylish & would make for a great co-worker gift!) / 6.  acrylic side tables  / 7.  zebra rug / 8.  velvet counter stools  

 

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9. bindi block print headboard  / 10 wood cabinet with gold detailing (these would make for cute bedside tables too) / 11 beaded chandelier / 12.  woven rug / 13. slick gold candle holders / 14.  blue & white vases

 

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15. white textured bowl / 16. vintage truck soap bar -  super cute, great stocking stuffer!  / 17. mercury glass LED decor / 18.  taupe marbled jar candle (these look amazing in person & smell delicious)  / 19 dinner napkin - chintz / 20  olive wood cheese board / 21 dinner napkin - oasis green / 22  hammered gold salt & pepper shakers / 23 chopsticks / 24 Meyer's lavendar soap (smells heavenly!) / 25 mirrored pouch  / 26 cake server / 27 acrylic mosaic tray / 28.  buddha candle holder / 29 party tumblers / 30  olive wood cheese knife set

 

Some fun picks from their bed & bath category!

Bright & beautiful bedding  - medallion quilt set

 

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Sprightly towels to liven up the guest bathroom

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Medallion orange & pink  /  Chateruse green

 

Love these textured toss pillows!  These would be perfect in an indoor / outdoor setting, paired with wicker furniture in beige or taupe upholstery.

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floral embroidered  /  ivory lattice

 

I'm loving the copper kettles & might finally pull the trigger on getting one. And the tea tins are perfect gifts for tea lovers! World Market comes out with fresh designs every year. I bought a pair a few years ago ( mine were a pastel green floral print) and even gifted them out.  People loved them & I was glad to see them put to use! :)

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copper kettles / tea tins 

 

My pastel green ones from a couple years ago, whaddya know they're still carrying them online!

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Let There Be Light

I wanted to sink my teeth into a good, juicy design post today! (pun intended ... I'm still recovering from turkey day).  I thought I'd share some GREAT lighting sources with you in today's post.

Lighting, as I've learned, can make or break a room. Whether you're trying to illuminate a space functionally or make a statement with standout fixtures - the way you light a room can really impact the mood and feel of  it. A lot of us, myself included, have made the mistake of under lighting a room!

There's so many great-looking and well-priced options on the market today. Here's a  round up of a few of my favorites! From  Shades of Light,  Pottery BarnWest ElmSchoolhouse Electric1800LightingLampsPlus & a couple more.  While I love ALL of them, I'm definitely crushing on the pendants from Schoolhouse Electric (7,  11),  and the very fetching ribbed & gourd-shaped table lamps (3, 10) right now  - they're effortlessly stylish, available in a variety of colors, and they never go out of style!

Enjoy!

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1 / 2 / 3 ( gourd lamps are an absolute favorite of mine right now - they are effortlessly stylish, available in a ton of colors & never go out of style!) /  4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18