The Cool Room

I'm feeling inspired by an Australian furniture store called "The Cool Room".
This is a guy after my own heart. He started collecting quirky and unique
objects since childhood and now shares them with the world.

This reminds me of being a kid and begging my mom to buy vintage jewelry and 1950's dinette sets.
Not that she usually listened to me, except for the jewelry. I collected vintage earrings, rings, and
necklaces that I would wear while still in elementary school. The funny thing is, to this day;
my jewelry is collected in the exact same manner!

Inside Grey Gardens

I know Grey Gardens is all over blog land,
but I had to join in.

The dilapidated mansion was sold in 1979 after the death of Big Edie Beale.
Before setting out to renovate the house, the new owner took the time to document what was
left behind. The New York Times is showing this collection of photos to the public for the first time.
They are not just a look into a homes interior but into the minds of its former owners.

Many Thanks!

Over the last couple of weeks the photos of my most recent house stalking excursion,
have traveled around the web. I wanted to say a quick thanks to those of you who
posted my photos and a quick hello to all the new bloggers I've met.

1. Desire to Inspire
2. Swamplot
3. Better Living Through Design
4. The Brick House
5. Vintage and Chic Homes

I love finding so many new blogs, including several of which are from Houston!
P.S. I thought I would share one more little treat from this amazing house!

What I Saw Today: Consignment Store Shopping.

I actually saw this yesterday, but didn't get it posted on time.
Anyway, I was making my regular trip to the Guild Shop and saw a lot of great pieces.
First, I found a couple pairs of shoes that I fell in love with! Unfortunately, no matter
how much I tried, they were both the wrong size:(

These were calling me from across the room! I know what some of you are thinking,
but I did NOT buy more chairs. Honest! Anyway, Mark would kill me if I brought
more chairs home.

These may be the coolest find of all! Vintage dental cabinets. Dental or Dentists'? Not sure.
Aren't they are amazing?! I have to say, I have rarely seen pieces like these.
Except they ranged from $700.00 to $900.00. That was a little rich for me.
So, I didn't buy anything but I did enjoy seeing all these little treasures.

Wonderful Interior Designs - Spring Greens!

Spring greens and we are not talking vegetables! The colour of nature’s green hues are brilliant invigorators in any home! With the vast palette of different shades and hues green is the ideal colour to inspire and inject new life into a room.

Take this charming interior design by Palmer Weiss who has crated a wonderful living space which would suit a traditional or modern home style brilliantly.

Coordinating a variety of shades of green with cream and white provides a stunning combination. The thing I like about this design is that it look like a real home not some jumped up Hollywood mansion!

Plain and straightforward, the design is a balance between chic elegance and practical living and while it may not be avant-garde or flamboyant it has a unique charm. The only aspect which spoils it is the animal print cushion, which for me is an odd choice in such a beautiful room! It would look much chicer with a floral print or an alternative plain cushion. Okay, so the colours do compliment the wooden table effectively, but that’s about all!

I do love modern table lamps which look great in white, while the size is perfect to add a little height to this room design without being too overpowering.

Quintessential English style home springs to mind with this design, maybe not intentional by the designer but it does have that country Cotswold sense of charm! Which I hasten to add is no bad thing.

Sedate for me, yes perhaps or maybe it’s just that sometimes mellow elegance is all you need to create a beautiful, liveable room.

Image: Architect Design

April Showers Bring May Flowers.

It seems like we haven't had much of a Spring time around here.

In this part of the world we're used to feeling Spring by late February:)
Oh well, I'll take it whenever I can get it. These pretty photos put me
in the mood even more!

Boutique Style

Having never been to Paris, I imagine it has more amazing boutiques than any other place in the world.
For now, I can virtually enjoy the simple and dramatic showroom of Damir Doma.
I'm particularly infatuated with the beautiful marigold color draperies and chair!
P.S. I found these images via a "new to me" blog called Childhood Flames. The writer has a great style!

Music For Your Sunday Afternoon.

We had several days of pouring rain in Houston, but today is sunny and clear.
Just right for kicking back w/ some ice tea and listening to good music.
I think this song fits the bill:)

The Solution I Needed!

Chairs hanging from the walls! Of course!!
I have often mentioned my addiction to buying chairs (and photographing them).
What I don't talk about much, is just how many chairs I have w/ nowhere to put them.
I LOVE this idea found on Apartment Therapy! Check out the photos. There are some more
examples of unique storage ideas for chairs. What I really love it that the chairs become
a work of art. Honestly, that is what attracts me to chairs; their beautiful lines or texture.
Now, if only I can get Mark to go along w/ this idea...even more challenging.

Happy Friday!

Simply Beautiful Bay Window Curtains

Chic white which oozes pure simplicity is my ideal of a perfect bedroom! However in reality wear would you store your clothes! There’s not a drawer unit or wardrobe in sight!.... Obviously you would have a separate dressing room!

Sliver grey and white make a stunning combination which has been used on the wallpaper, which I have to admit is another ‘new’ for me because I’m not a great wall paper lover!

My favourite aspect has to be the beautiful bay window with the sunlight flooding in! One of my favourite forms of window dressing - full length white voile curtains, which I adore for their pure simplicity and fresh appearance, look striking hung from the contrasting dark bay window curtain poles. The poles are light fitting are the only dark aspects in this room’s design, how refreshing!

Bay windows are notoriously hard to dress and usually have heavy fabrics on more traditional style curtain tracks. This makes a really refreshing change and a great way to create a light and airy feel to the room.

The more I look at this room design from Fresh Locations, the more I feel the urge to add something to it to give a focal point.

Maybe it needs a French style white vanity style dressing table with an ornate mirror hung above it? Or just a simple cerise pink orchid plant in a plain white ceramic pot?

White and silver greys offer a wide choice of accent colour without going over the top and spoiling the simplistic and stunning overall interior design style.

Visit Laissezfaire for image source and other great design styles.

New Uses For Aviator Sunglasses - Celebrity Lamp

Anyone have a few pairs of Aviators lying around they don’t want?!

You could take inspiration from Celebrity Lamps and turn them into a stylish shade for your table lamp! This is a great way to recycle the old lenses of your old sunglasses to give you a really hip lamp!

The lamp is made by incorporating forty pairs of Aviator sunglass which have been customised to fit around the circular shade frame. Supported by a slender chrome coloured stand and including a quirky switch made from one arm of the sunglasses, this table lamp makes me smile!- maybe because it reminds me of summer and warmth!

When not illuminated the lenses reflect their surroundings in a similar way to a fly’s eye, in a strange sort of way and when light up casts some wonderful shadows into the room.

I’m a firm believer in having various diffused lighting effects in a room rather than a bright overhead light. The inclusion of stylish table lamps is an essential requirement in all homes irrespective of their interior design style.

How cool would this Celebrity Lamp look in a bachelor’s bedroom, providing really chic style. Like all celebrities who wear Aviators, anyone who has one of these funky lights will not need many excuses to invite people to see and marvel over it!

Imagine the great colours combinations and lighting effects you could create to make a lamp such as these from different styles of sunglasses if you can’t lay your hands on any unwanted Aviators!

For further information on Celebrity Lamp and image source visit Surroundings

Bold and Glam

To truly be glamorous one must be bold, but the home of designer James McInroe takes it to the next level!
I can't get over every amazing detail.

Orange! My favorite color as of late. This bedroom doesn't look very large,
but the floor to ceiling draperies make it look very grand. Love it:)

Les Ronds' Chapo

Although a tad late for Easter, these modern day bonnets are inspiring me today.
Wouldn't you be intrigued by any woman sporting one of these?

Blue and Green Should Never Be Seen- Nonsense!

Use spring colours to fire your imagination and achieve a crisp and clean home which is a haven of all things ‘you’, modern and bright!

Those who haven’t got round to freshening up your home can get some great ideas from interior design journal or online blogs about smart ideas, tip and tricks such as Tip Junkie.

This home style may not be to everyone’s liking but you have to admit the colours work well together and it does look crisp and bright!

I love the colour combinations and simply adore the large floor lamp, although it virtually touches the ceiling which means most of the light will be reflected back down rather than illuminate the surrounding over area!

There’s an old saying ‘blue and green should never be seen unless there’s something in between!’ which basically stems for past ideas about using two colours which sit next to each other on the colour wheel and all that bygone nonsense!

Well, the inclusion of brilliant white has complied with the blue and green ‘rules’ and as long as you choose colours in the same vibrant hues you are onto a winner in my opinion!

Having said that blue can be a very cold colour and is not always a good option, unless like this room it has an abundance of natural sunlight streaming through the windows.

I also like the geometric design on what looks to be ready made curtains, which adds a cheerful and trendy touch to the large expanse of glass; the mix of furniture styles also works well and is a great way to add interest and cohesion to the room.

Beautiful Bedside Table Lamps

Having ambient lighting is essential in a bedroom to add a warmth cosiness and seductive atmosphere!

There are some great bedside table lamps available which will do the trick perfectly! I adore these wonderful these little Chinese style men used as the base! They offer a distinctive charm and a sense of both fun and serenity.

Having table lamps which suit the bedroom’s interior design style are a must. White and ivory are great colours which blend beautifully with most colour schemes, offering a crisp clean look which coordinate beautifully with most styles of bedding and bedroom furniture.

White shades offer a brighter light, for softer lighting tones you could use a diffused muted tone light bulb or of course go ‘green’ and save money by having long life economy bulbs!

A point to remember when choosing table lamps is to make sure you don’t use light bulbs which are above the recommended wattage as this can be a potential fire hazard. Check the manufacturer’s label before you make your selection, particularly if you are looking for a relatively bright light if you like to read while in bed!

Set the mood in the bedroom with lighting effects which calm the mind and yet provide sufficient light to see what you are doing such as reading or getting undressed.

Ideally you should have matching table lamps on each side of the bed. Not only will this add a sense of proportion and balance to the room it of course enables softer lighting when one is switched off!

Image source: Surroundings

A Modern Cottage.

As is often the case, I'm very late in writing this post. Remember the whole "no internet" thing? Last week I had the pleasure of photographing one of my favorite Houston homes. Located in the my usual stomping grounds, I have been admiring for a few years now. So a few weeks ago, I drove by and was surprised to see it for sale! Click here to see the listing. Being the house stalker that I am (Yeah, I admit it), I called to see if I could see the interior.
The house was shown in a local magazine a few years ago, but the owners graciously indulged my desire to take some pics myself:) What I always admired from afar was the beautiful color scheme of the exterior. Its very bold but has a Zen feel, especially with the bamboo.

This house is like a wonderful gift in a beautiful wrapper. You know sometimes, you wonder if what's inside is as great as the exterior? I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed when I walked in the door. The decor is restrained elegance with a modern twist. I can say that I haven't seen many homes with such a wonderful attention to detail. Something I really loved were the creative vignettes placed around the house.

Check out the ebony stained floors throughout the house! I know lots of you love them as much as I do.

The kitchen is simple and clean. I think this is one those rare kitchens that actually inspire me to cook. That is saying a lot, trust me!

The large open doorways are a remnant of when the house was a beauty salon. Instead of replacing the doors the owners either left them open or installed heavy draperies from tracks. The bedroom also has a fabulous dressing room that once was a porch.
P.S. The cool framed numbers are from Ebay!

So was I right? Beautiful, huh? One last amazing detail. The backyard is a small garden. Inorder to expand the space, a mirror was installed along the back fence. With the large plants in front, the yard seems to go on forever...without all the trimming that is;)

This Seasons Colour Trends For Budget Decorating Ideas

It is easy to brighten up your home on a budget as well as a great way to bring the latest colour trends into your home!

Classical white combined with one main accent colour is the key to achieving a modern look, Include one other colour which compliments the accent colour for a trendy non-fussy style and remember the ‘no clutter’ rule!

I have to admit that I have a thing about window treatments and use the premise that if the soft furnishing are plain them you should opt for patterned window dressings and visa-versa. A combination of a patterned roller blind teamed with plain curtains is nearly always a winning combination. A good example would be to use plain teal curtains with this beautiful floral scroll blind to make a real feature of the window, which would look particularly effective in older style homes.

Another point to remember is that if you are trying to recreate an authentic Victorian style home not to use brilliant white gloss paint for the simple reason it wasn’t invented until after the Victorian era! Nevertheless, older style homes can and do look very stylish with brilliant white paintwork, walls and ceilings.

Of course the versatility of a roller blind to allow the maximum amount of light into the room when it is pulled up and total privacy when closed is second to none! Fitting a blind inside the recess of a window also enables selected items of personal objects to be displayed without interfering with the blind’s functionality.

The great spring/summer colours of white and teal are ideal for freshening up a room. Looking smart and cool these colours are ideal for a bedroom and offer a crisp fresh look which is perfect for all interior design styles.

Image source: Freshome

Why DVR, Why?!

I couldn't believe my DVR shut off right before this performance! With some searching I
found the clip online. I have to say, I don't agree w/ every choice Adam makes, but this
performance was killer!! It could be that I feel that way, because of how much I have always
loved this song. Adam hasn't been my favoritecontestant, but I admit that he will be TOUGH to beat.
(For all you AI watchers, I love Allison, I feel she's like my alter ego. She always picks songs,
I would have picked...if I could sing like her;) Matt, I find him very exciting and cool,
and Danny, maybe one of the most wonderful voices I have ever heard!)

Guerrilla Preservation

(Look who's back! I apologize for my LONG absence. We went out of town and I assumed
that I could keep blogging, but as it turns out; I had virtually no internet access.
What a nightmare! Thankfully I'm home again).

One of the most fascinating blogs I have run across lately is called "The Kingston Lounge".
The writer's objective is to document amazing but forgotten buildings. The photography
featured on this blog is gorgeous and the interiors of the dilapidated buildings are surreal.
They feel like a view into another world. Just love it.

Several of the photos are now for sale in both limited and unlimited editions.
These would be a great addition to any collection.