ET VOILA!

A PERFECTLY SIMPLE SUMMER WARDROBE

2012-05-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

(This post is a bit off subject for me, but with the warm weather coming, I just felt like blogging about summer clothes!)

It began with this dress...

DKNY bubble hem tank dress

and this knit top.

ASTARS Topanga Canyon knit top from Anthropologie

and this jeans jacket.

American Eagle jeans jacket, so cute on Emma Watson!

Each of these pieces was a slight splurge for me, but ever since I bought them in January (actually, the top was a birthday gift from my husband although I picked it out...) I have worn them constantly. On chilly days I layer the dress with stretchy long sleeve tees or top it with the jacket. Each piece is super comfortable and (I think!) look great.

These simple, comfortable pieces inspired me to weed out my wardrobe and restrict it to simple pieces in neutral colors. The foundations for this wardrobe -- stretch tees and yoga pants, knit tops and dresses, a few basic pairs of shoes -- don't have to cost a lot.

So, along with the pieces shown above, here is my idea of a perfect basic wardrobe for spring and summer:

STRETCH TEES

NEUTRAL HAND KNIT SWEATER

YOGA PANTS in black, navy, gray and dark brown

BOOT LEG STRETCH JEANS

CROPPED WHITE JEANS

SOFT WHITE COTTON SKIRT

STRETCH TANK DRESS

SEXY SUMMER MAXI DRESS

LITTLE BLACK DRESS (always!)

CROC SANDALS

NEUTRAL WEDGE SANDALS

DRESSY BLACK HEELS

SPARKLY DRESS SANDALS

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING THIS SUMMER?

PORTLAND

2012-05-23T07:42:00.001-07:00

Just returned from a weekend in Portland. Green. Misty. Relaxed. Funky. Oh, and the gardens!

Had a great time hanging out with my fellow horticultural buddy, Mike. We went on a garden tour and visited a few of Portland's unique old turn of the century estates opened to the public. Don't think I could handle the overwhelming overcast, but it sure soothed my soul to be around all that mellow green vibe.

Here's some of the highlights:

The entrance to a neighborhood filled with lush gardens.

One of the private gardens we viewed on a garden tour.

The view of the river from a private estate.

A typical wisteria vine.

I'm spoiled forever for Japanese maples.

The famous Portland rose garden, not yet in bloom but you can imagine how glorious
it will be when everything is flowering!

The view from my friends' porch... every neighborhood
is this lush.

Another garden on the tour located next to a quiet canal.

My favorite house on the tour.

Pittick Mansion. Another gorgeous old estate with public gardens.

This bakery, just around the corner from my friend's house, had amazing breakfasts and baked goods.
Warm and cozy no matter how hard its raining outside.

PLEASURE OF THE HUNT

2012-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

I was looking around my house the other day and realized how many items I've found at local thrift shops. Thought I'd put a gallery together to share with my fellow hunters and transformers.

LIBRARY CATALOGUE CABINET $15 Painted the drawers and added replica label pulls.

CANE CHAIRS $50 for the two. Cleaned and painted

ADIRONDACK CHAIR $20 Nothing done.

SOLID WOOD BOOKCASE $5 This was an old cedar wall cabinet. I removed the doors, cleaned and stained it, and added trim.

FABRIC: For a short time, a local antique store had tons of beautiful linen fabric for $2.00 a piece, each piece usually around three yards.

DAMASK NAPKINS (NEW CONDITION) $1.50 for six,.

IRON CHANDELIER. $28. Nothing done.

TERRA COTTA LAMP. $10

VINTAGE CHICKEN FEEDER $3 Cleaned.

WOODEN TOOL BOX. $1 Painted, stained, trim added.

VINTAGE BREAD BOX. FOUND IN ATTIC. Dings banged out and painted.

BASKETS. $1 to 2 each (my favorite is the bee skep.)

CANISTERS $2 for three. The ribbing matches my other ones from Home Goods.

BRASS LIGHTING SCONCE $2 Wiring removed and painted with cream chalk paint.

CHICKEN EGG BASKET 25 CENTS!!

SILVER PLATED CANDELABRA. $10

WINTER OIL PAINTING. $5

METAL BIRD ART $3

FRENCH WINDOW FRAME WITH GLASS $5 Scraped and painted, prints added.

REWARD OFFERED FOR LAMPSHADE INSPIRATION

2012-05-02T08:23:00.002-07:00

Hi everyone, its time for a giveaway! Well, not a give-away, really. First, you must give me ... hehehe.... ideas.

Its the new lamp, you see. Love it, don't love the shade. You can't really tell but its kind of blue and red speckled paper and the shape is just a bit too contemporary.

I want it to have a more rustic European look. But not frilly, since the rest of the room is fairly minimal and a little bit masculine.

I loved Donna of Conghaile Cottage's idea of adding some French script! Or something along those lines.

So please give me ideas and links to pictures if you've got 'em!

Here's the lamp...

Here's its setting (marble top chest)...

TRUE TREASURE LAMP!

2012-04-23T14:03:00.001-07:00

I was looking at the living room a few days ago and didn't like the lamp combination.

Too many styles and colors. I'm not 'matchy matchy' but i don't want a Pollack smatter to be my design statement. Gotta pick a theme and stick with it. I think the house is leaning toward French country so I decided we needed a large, rustic lamp with terra cotta tones.

Since you never know, I headed over to the Drop Shop and the second I walked in, I spotted it. Perfection! Ten dollars!

Brought it home and I love it. Husband thinks its ugly but not enough to exercise his veto power.

All it needs is a new shade and Yay!

Linking up with

TV NICHE DEBACLE

2012-04-20T08:57:00.006-07:00

To continue from my last post... I assembled the bookshelves and then my husband and I commenced transfering the 5,999 pieces of equipment with their 5,999,999 wires and connections from the old tv stand to the bookshelves.

This took half the afternoon.

And then, when things were almost in place, husband decided he didn't want the tv up that high. He refused to budge on this.

So, we dis-assembled the 5,999 pieces of equipment with their 5,999,999 wires and connections from the bookshelves. This took the other half of the afternoon.

I cast around frantically for something else to replace the hideous shiny black tv stand, and decided on this marble top vanity that had been on the wall next to the couch. Amazingly, its niches were a perfect size for the equipment! and although husband still thinks the tv is too high, its a compromise.

Here's how it turned out: Its ok, but not the built-in look that I was going for.

and here are the bookshelves in place of the vanity. This I like.

TIP: If you want your dream house, it may be better to stay single...

PHOTO PLAY

2012-04-18T13:32:00.008-07:00

I love using photo programs to do 'virtual decoration' for my house. Its a great way to try different looks before committing to the change.

For example, I have a tv niche that needs a facelift. (I hadn't heard about the infamous 'mountain dust' up here until after I bought a shiny black tv table.)

So here's how it works: Take a photo of the space:

(omg I didn't realize how awful it looks until I uploaded this photo!)

The next step is to create a 'blank' to play around with:

then, have fun trying out different ideas (you can get all the pictures you need from an image search on the Web)

White bookshelves?

or aqua? High shelves or low?

This is the look I decided on, and have ordered the bookshelves.

I'm also thinking of changing my 'craft room' to make it more like a library.

Here's the photo process for that:

ORIGINAL

How it could look by adding books, a library table, and checked drapes.

Fun, huh!

CREATING A BUTLER'S PANTRY

2012-04-15T13:43:00.008-07:00

BEFORE: A space squeezed between the garage and kitchen where the prior owners had the washer and dryer. Rapidly becoming an eyesore catchall and insult on injury, the adjacent wood floors were wrecked when the washer overflowed!

At least there was a nice sink in place.

SOLUTION: Move the darn washer/dryer downstairs to the furnace room where they won't cause more trouble...

RESOLUTION: Appliances moved. How to use the new space? A butler's pantry!

HERE'S HOW:

Installed two Home Depot already-assembled cabinets. Easy! Inexpensive!

Painted the existing cabinets and doors to match the kitchen. Painted the walls a nice honey color. Hung a toile cafe curtain.

Made a counter top from leftover plywood and tile.

Its not fancy, but its so much more useful, and a great spot for all the appliances that would otherwise take up space in the kitchen.

TOTAL COST: Cabinets: $240

Paint: $25

Counter: $10

Linking to:

SCORE! LIBRARY CATALOGUE

2012-04-15T07:59:00.001-07:00

Freezing day. No warm mall to crawl, so off I go to my favorite big item thrift shop, the Drop Shop at the dump.

Among the usual suspects of particleboard bookcases and faux oak side tables... an honest-to-god real wood library catalogue cabinet!

For 15 dollars. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Of course I only had ten dollars on me. This is why God invented debit cards. However, Drop Shop lady only takes cash.

Raced to the bank (racing probably unnecessary since I was the only one shopping in the 20 degree weather)

Spent half a freezing hour taking it apart and stuffing it in my car. TIP: IF YOU ARE GOING TO TREASURE HUNT, DO NOT DRIVE A SEDAN WITH NICE UPHOLSTERY.

Found some great label pulls on line, painted the drawer fronts, et voila!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR...

2012-02-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

Birds do it, bees do it... you know that old song? Its true!

It doesn't matter if you're gorgeous...

or not...

whether you live in a fancy house...

or not...

whether you're a picture perfect couple like Tom and Giselle...

or a couple of mutts...

and it really doesn't matter if your loved one is a show off...

or kind of goofy...

or if he's a little inconsiderate now and then...

Its not important whether or not he's a good dancer...

or not...

Its still his sleeping face on the pillow next to you...

sharing your dreams...

he's the one who helps you raise your family...

who defends you...

who's fun to talk with...

and who keeps you from feeling sad on a gray day.

So on this Valentine's Day, I wish all of you a sweet day with your loved one!

THE BIRDING LIFE: Beautiful Book

2012-02-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

I read recently about a new book, The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield published by Clarkson Potter. Traditional Home magazine describes it thus:

"Meet bird enthusiasts -- from illustrators to falconers -- in this

gorgeous tabletop book, which also shares charming ideas

for feathering your nest with bird inspired art and decor."

Well! Of course I had to tell you about it!

Part I tell stories of famous birders, from Audubon to Roger Tory Peterson. Part II, "Birdhouses," welcomes you into the homes and studios of bird enthusiasts, artists, and collectors, including Texas artists Lisa Ludwig and Joseph Havel, whose home includes an aviary for injured birds. And in Part III, "At Home With Birds," the authors visit homes whose decor reflects the owners love of birds.

Here are some of the delicious images to be found within:

Wallpapers and textiles by Thomas Paul

I'm off to the bookstore to check it out!

Mid Winter Sea Decor

2012-01-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

Right about now, the commercials for Caribbean beach holidays are lookin' good! So, I thought I'd do my part to lighten up the dark winter months with a touch of seashore decor... let's daydream!

Photo credit No Minimalist Here

Photo credit 0u8nartist2

Photo credit Free Range Designs

Photo credit Driftwood Decor

Coral is gorgeous in decor, but for larger projects, faux is the way to go... all of the following items are artificial coral but look just like the real (endangered) thing.

Such as these lovely vintage table bases...

Photo credit Red Moden Furniture

GARDEN ROOMS

2012-01-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the pictures. Be inspired. Bring nature closer.

REMODEL REVEAL: The Tubes

2011-12-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

I love my house, but it has one major design flaw. A bathroom opening right into the kitchen/dining area. Oh, please! What were they thinking?

There's simply no way to move it,so I've been trying to figure out a good way to separate it visually. (Fortunately, its at least soundproof.)

Recently I saw a picture of a nice kitchen entryway with bookshelves, and came up with an idea.. create privacy behind a bookshelf and pillar.

Remember those cardboard carpet tubes?

They make great faux pillars. I got them for free from a carpet store, painted and stenciled one of them, and made fake tops and bottoms with scrap wood, The idea was to see how I liked the look. I do like it, so the next step will be to install a real interior pillar.

and voila! Now you cannot see the powder room from the dining area, and it really gives more of a private feeling.

RESOLUTION: Useful and Beautiful

2011-12-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.' William Morris

This is my resolution for 2012 (and beyond, hopefully...)

Its just too easy to accumulate. I regularly cart boxes of stuff to the local thrift shop, yet I always have more than I need. Trouble is, I love variety and change. I can't imagine having my house look the same for years on end!

But.... when is enough, enough? I sometimes make a list of the perfect minimalist furnishings. One large stock pot, three perfect cooking knives, etc... I yearn to live as lightly as possible.

I am going to use Morris's thought as my guidepost to how I keep my home. And hopefully, most of the useful things will also be beautiful. (At least as much as possible, since I don't live alone, and husbands have their stuff too..)

Here are a few of the essentials I will keep...

dried lavender to scent rooms and laundry

vintage wood and silver to hold other necessary/beautiful things

white dishes for everyday

a soft bed in a quiet room

simple linen and cotton to dress tables

and wipe dishes and hands

sparkling crystal to reflect and bring light into the rooms

bookshelves for idling time and making it feel like home

...to name just a few. What about you? What would be on your 'beautiful and useful' list?

PANTRY UPDATE, NEW SIGN, and an UPCOMING REVEAL...

2011-12-19T10:40:00.000-08:00

First, wanted to show you this little sign that I made from wood scraps a while back. I decided to keep it for myself... its French for "enjoy!"

and, I've finally completed the pantry makeover... I think? Since I posted about turning the laundry area into a butler's pantry here, I've made a few more changes. I replaced the shelf and curtain with a Home Depot sink cabinet, tiled the top, painted the walls a warm khaki, and painted all the woodwork tea-stained cream to match the kitchen. So much brighter! btw, I primed everything with Annie Sloan chalk paint so that I wouldn't have to sand (I'm nothing if not lazy...) and it turned out great!

Next... what are these cardboard tubes doing here...?

Stay tuned, a remodel reveal is upcoming! (as soon as I shake this cold and get back to work on it....)

Partying with...

NATURAL WALL ART

2011-12-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Wall and ceiling (and sometimes floor) decor has an extraordinary ability to completely change your interior world. It can enchant, stimulate, cheer, soothe, and transport. Here are some delightful examples of nature taking shape inside the house, via artful painting and print.

See the bunny?

HOLIDAY BEDROOM MANTLE

2011-12-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

Stuck indoors by a snowstorm, I've been spending a lot of time browsing design sites, and thinking about what to tweak here at home. My bedroom mantle crossed my sights, and I decided its much too plain and needed some

... so away went the beach painting, and out came silver bowls, white candles, lighted garland, and an antiqued mirror. I even found a place for my vintage chicken feeder, which fits on the mantle now that its splayed legs are removed. (This is actually very exciting to me, I'd been having a devil of a time finding a good place for the silly treasure.)

I'm still tinkering with it (thinking, rosemary topiaries and silver candlesticks) but here's today's version...

Linking to

MOUNTAIN ROOMS

2011-12-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

I live in a lakeside mountain village at 5600 feet, surrounded by old oak and conifer forest. Compared to the typical Irvine Co. style imposed on most homes in Orange County, its been fun to see homes that aren't cookie cutter. Houses up here range from small rustic cabins to vast lakeside estates, but they all borrow certain elements from our beautiful surroundings; wood, stone, and big windows to take in the views.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at mountain style, ranging from rustic to minimalist.

I love the open simplicity of this small cabin by a stream.

and how about this amazing enclosed pool!

Just because you're in the mountains, doesn't mean everything has to be woody and rustic. This is a wonderful way to acommodate a bunch of grandkids.

Another example of light, airy style under a typical mountain peaked wood ceiling.

A couple of more traditional mountain bedrooms, with stone fireplaces

and natural wood color.

There's just something about bookshelves that make a large room

cozy, especially when its freezing outside.

One of the best things about mountain homes is the use of wood and stone

for interior walls. I hate drywall!

On the other hand, contemporary style also works in a rustic setting.

Its all about windows, isn't it!

ANOTHER GLORIOUS HOLIDAY SONG

2011-12-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

I am addicted to this version of Handel's Messiah conducted by Andre Rieu, and play it at an insanely high volume in my car during the holidays...singing at the top of my lungs!

Ok, now that you know about a bit of my madness, take a few minutes and watch this and see if it doesn't have you sitting up straight and singing, Hallelujah!!

Radio City Music Hall Hallelujah Chorus Video

not a BLUE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Once again, I bring you my annual holiday gift... an all time sexy video of Jon Bon Jovi singing Blue Christmas... complete with tux and a sly Elvis channeling... enjoy!

BLUE CHRISTMAS VIDEO

RECLAIMED WOOD IN THE KITCHEN

2011-11-29T09:35:00.001-08:00

We don't need to cut any new trees to furnish our kitchens... seriously! There's a lot of 'reclaimed' wood out there...and its not just an environmentally good alternative, its also gorgeous!

Just look at these kitchens using reclaimed wood for cabinets, tables, floors, shelves, and ceilings...

Photo courtesy of La Brocanteuse

Here's are some great resources for using recycled wood in your home...

13 DIY Pallet Projects

DIY Recycled Wood Floors

Recycled Wooden Kitchen Table

Recyled Wood Flooring

Green Your Kitchen with Recycled Wood

Country Road Reclaimed Wood Projects

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

2011-11-25T10:46:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is an important shopping day... nope, not "Black Friday' giveaways from the big chain stores... tomorrow, we turn our attention (and buying power) to the small local business owned by our friends and neighbors.

Its SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! Everyone is encouraged to shop at a locally owned small business. To boost the event, American Express is giving a $25 credit to all of its cardholders who spend $25 or more at a registered small business. Nice, Amex! Who doesn't like free stuff!

You can find the shops in your community that are participating HERE.

But even if you don't have an Amex card, its a great idea!

2011-11-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

We ought to make the moments notes

Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;

The hours and days a silent phrase

Of music we are living.

And so the theme should swell and grow

As weeks and months pass o’er us,

And rise sublime at this good time,

A grand Thanksgiving chorus.... Ella Wheeler Wilcox

HAPPY THANKSGIVING MY FRIENDS!

CHRISTMAS BIRDS AND BUGS

2011-11-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

Too early to put up the tree? Mine's up, I love the sparkle and glow. My tree is crystal, gold, silver and white, and populated by many enchanted little creatures and their accessories...

The tree is next to my computer desk and my little macaw, Olive, begs to come sit with me, I think she's as mesmerized by the glitter as I am...!

This is my newest ornament. I buy one every year from Rogers Gardens. I fell for its pink feet.

Here are some other sweet creatures that I found in webland...

Old World Bird Ornaments

Visiting with