Settee

When it's French it's a settee. When its English it's a love seat formally the courting chair. Whichever term you use a settee is always lovely and can be used as a filler piece in a foyer, under a stairwell, also outside on a patio or manicured lawn. In a small townhouse or condo use it in the living room with a contrasting upholstered chair...no need to stress about lack of space, it does the job well.

Alluring in the boudior

Tuscan style in rich hardwood

Mi casa es su casa...la patio... Casa Midy

Is it time for tea?

Classic English chintz... pretty

image: Thibaut

Kitchens

Keeping a kitchen practical during a rehab isn't always easy. With high end stainless appliances and granite counter tops being all the rage budgets can quickly go out the window. There are ways to bring the cost under control and end up with a design that is beautiful, highly functional and doesn't break the bank. My dear friend Suzette lives in Atlanta and is redoing her country kitchen. We used to be roommates in San Jose and had great experiences in our kitchen. Now she wants to bring her country kitchen a bit forward and I thought I'd post these shots to give her a few ideas since I can't be there. I'm doing as much as I can over the phone to walk her through it. Often small touches of detail add so much to a space with little cost...the right cabinet knobs, a few glass doors, under mount lighting, and a 4x4 tile backsplash!!....Enjoy Susie!!

image: Red River Interiors

image: Red River Interiors

Miss Pettigrew Style

If I'm going to spend 90 minutes of my precious time to go out and watch a movie... then the set design better be pretty awesome. I don't think the set of the movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" will disappoint. The movie takes place during Pre World War II London...and the decor wraps you around English art deco with a Hollywood glamor sensibility. Sounds "tres chic" to me! Expect lush fabrics of silk, satin and velvet....muted tones and lots of detail. I may not be able to follow the story line fully if the set is as awe inspiring as I'm expecting....movie opens next week.

images: LA Times

Do It Again

Remember in January when I said one of my New Year goals is to recycle, and reuse?... Well, I bet you never had office furniture that looked like this.... me either. Here's a great way to give a second life to sturdy durable steel office furniture. Rescued from government office buildings, repaired and refurbished, these pieces by Twenty Gauge bring a vintage feel to any space. The color and fabric combinations are endless. Once rehabed, why limit these pieces just to an office? They've been liberated and now take on a fashionable and personal quality....to be used in any room anywhere.

Soft taupe suede redone on this chair adds the sophistication of style... a dining room that's timeless.

I can imagine myself playfully rolling across hardwood floors on this graphic print chair.
Spice it up with an aqua desk partnered with a black leather roller chair.

images: Twenty Gauge

Tagged

image: Red River Interiors

I have been tagged by Arch at Rang....love her site... Well, the rules are I have to write 7 random things about myself and then tag 7 other fellow bloggers to do the same. Here goes:

1. Red is my favorite color... it energizes me
2. I drove cross country from Calif to Virginia...loved it
3. Would love to decorate for Dr. Robin Smith
4. Traveled to five countries in Africa when I was single
5. I can always find the silver lining in any situation
6. Taught my son that"Mommy is so very smart", when he was 2
7. He still believes it...he's 13!

Shag It !!

From my design files: I don't remember where I collected these photos but they've been tucked away on my hard drive for the right time to reveal themselves....now' s that time. Carpet has been the work horse of traditionally designed spaces but these designers decided to take it off the floor. A few years ago shag carpet made a comeback...nobody wanted to be reminded of shag from the 70's so they called it frieze.... sounds tre elegant....frieze, frieze. When used on a chair or bed in eye popping colors it adds a touch of whimsy!

Impact with Lighting

Never underestimate the impact light has on a room or its ability to set the atmosphere. The pendent fixture (above) is a show stopper. One might say this glass and chrome fixture is a throw back, retro, classic or even old school. When grouped three in a row in a classic black and white kitchen...the kind of kitchen you see in old movies with the checked floors...I just say cool!!

image: Red River Interiors

So you're looking for a fixture to...set it off. Well, this is it!! It's Euro, jeweled, and girlie... It can dress up the most subdued decor and it's 40wat bulbs create just enough light for a relaxing night at home with a glass of chardonnay.

image: Anna Spiro, Absolutely Beautiful Things

When you want task lighting why not add this floral patterned shade lamp? Use it on your desk for journal writing and enjoy its feminine fuschia base which looks great with coordinating accessories.
With a fixture as beautiful and exotic as this why not bring it indoors.... though it's iron and rustic it would function well as ambient lighting....I'd use a scented candle...ahh

image: The Drawing Room

"Let there be light"! What better lighting can you have than natural glowing light from mother nature...it's the best...let it in!