Most of my weekends are spent thinking about my projects, snuggling with my pup and watching HGTV marathons. They are also quite crowded with trying to do work on my own home. Let me tell you this, as a decorator, I find it by far the hardest to work on my own space. Being that I see so many wonderful design options every day, it's hard for me to pick just ONE rug, or only TWO throw pillows. I change my mind constantly after seeing the latest and greatest- in fact after finally finishing painting all our rooms, I went back into the first room we painted and said "We have to do this over. I hate it". I love so many different styles of furniture and decor but want a home that doesn't look like a big mess of conflicting ideas. I think perhaps my vision gets clouded when I'm too close to something, but I also love the process of creating and so I always want to begin again (much to my husband's and my wallet's dismay!) But I'm starting to feel good about what we've been doing. Case in point, this last weekend we had some great successes!

I replaced my dark curtains with white grommet topped IKEA panels. It instantly brightened the room. We bought this ivory and tan woven jute rug at West Elm after pondering many more expensive options. It also helps to brighten everything and creates a more defined sense of calm and order.
Oh, and did I forget we got new furniture? Yes, our sad couches that we bought for $900 (for both!) have now been retired and in with some newer pieces- a velvety tight back couch and pair of swoop arm club chairs in a nubby linen. We also got a candelabra for the fireplace for summer- it seems to have opened the room up quite a bit.

I about died when I saw these pillows at Pier 1- they look like much more expensive felt wool pillows I've seen for $300 each. These babies were $30 each!

In the kitchen I hung some varied black and white print plates by the chalkboard- I think they look darling!

Another Pier 1 score- these coral beaded napkin rings for $1.50 each!

And we finally hung this fabulous print my husband got from his parents for his graduation from his Master's program. It's a limited signed copy of an original print that hangs in his parent's home. Isn't it great?

Phew. I'm tired. :) Onto the next project!

I have a total design crush on Ryan Brown from Flipping Out- I kinda wish he was the Will to my Grace. Or maybe I would be the Karen to his Grace. I digress. But at least I can salivate over the work he does with his brother, a partner in Brown Design. They started a blog and have a wonderful portfolio on their company website. Check out some of their past projects:

This room is my fantasy girly room- not TOO frou frou, but chic, sleek, but PINK!

Do I even need to say it? A patio with an outdoor living room? *Sigh*

Who wouldn't want a bathtub like this and a powder room with such bold, beautiful paper?

Simply luxurious.

I recognize this fireplace from the show! There is something in me that would love a truly contemporary home- it looks so relaxing and clean!

Fantastic pairing of Tulip Table with more traditional chairs in Imperial Trellis!

I love the use of the multiple pagoda lamps in a row over the long dining table!

Great contrast in pattern and color.


A fabulous entry and simply perfect kitchen (look at that cabinet detail!!)

Echoing the Chinese Chippendale style detail from the cabinets, this was made for the family room. Absolute perfection!

Such a talent!

I received an e-mail from reader Marilyn in Michigan after posting pictures of "my" bamboo chair set I saw at Mecox Gardens for $3,800. Marilyn also has the same set- she found them at a flea market for $100 and refinished them in glossy black and some modern fabric- how great do they look? She too had a bit of jaw-dropping going on after seeing how much they would retail for- but they look so fantastic I'm sure she'll never part with them! Thanks Marilyn!

jacket:Nanette Lepore, jeans: any white jeans will do, tank: JCrew, amulet pendant necklace: Temple St. Clair, bracelet: Cartier, bag: JCrew, sandals: JCrew

Club Monaco has always been known for it's clean cut, basic silhouettes. Lately I have found them to be quite boring though, with nothing in the window of the Boston store to pull me in. I am all about basics, but not BORING. The new collection, shown on their website, is pure genius! They've created a crisp, slightly edgy take on very classic, simple garments and I just ADORE them all! Who knew red, white and black could be this diverse?

My mom was a huge help in organizing our collection of vintage papers and found a couple prints I had missed somehow. The first one is fabulous- a chartreuse background with handwriting and labels--it's hard for me to imagine this being a print that was in high demand in the 50's and 60's, but I think today it would be amazing framed or in a bar area. I'll be adding it to my Etsy shop, and putting all the papers on eBay in the next week or two.

The other two are two first run color ways from 1958 of a print called "Gardner's Chronicle". These are clearly trials and I only have one partial roll of each. I won't be selling these right now because I fear they are too valuable (and my mom wants to frame some cuts!)

If I won the lottery and could decorate my house with anything I wanted, Mecox Gardens would be one of my first stops. The virtual palace for antique goods always provides me with tons of inspiration, and can cause spontaneous drooling.
I was on their site the other day when I cam across this. I almost fainted. Those are my chairs I am in the process of redoing- and I think I'm sold on the brown seats now. Just look at the price! Granted they can ask much more than I can because they have the reputation of being a reputable antique dealer, but STILL. I am giddy with excitement to finish mine and get them sold! If only I had some time...
Here are some more gorgeous wares from the site (spend some time looking through it today if you have time to slack off!)

Some elegant antique mirrors, I particularly love the woven ceramic one!

I HUGE horse triptych- what a showstopper on a large wall.

Antique prints. I just love the bug, not sure why seeing as I hate bugs.

A collections of simply adorable chairs- the first one reminds me of the Alhambra collection by Van Cleef and Arpels- and would make an amazingly gorgeous desk chair paired with a lacquer Parson's desk!