Another Shade of Grey

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

You can almost hear the ocean...

Large vintage shell planter, almost 12" in length, in a creamy white finish with gold highlights. Could be right off the pages of Beach Dwelling. Enjoy!

It's fun to be a girl...

Our accessories are so much better than boys'. Love this vintage bracelet from ebay seller sm85. The epitome of femininity. Enjoy!

When I heard brass was making a come back I was sorely disappointed and depressed. Growing up through the 70's and 80's I had seen my share of brass and it wasn't pretty...at all. But Jonathan Adler's Meurice chandelier has made me a convert. A real thing of beauty. Bravo Mr. Adler. :)

Fabulous Vintage Fashion Drawing

From ebay seller aneye4treasures. It's an original. Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Color Me Crazy

Because that's what I am about these Sid Garrison colored pencil drawings. So inspiring for me in so many different ways. Enjoy!

Paper Scrap Necklace

Simple and cool. $5.00 from etsy seller Scrapopolis. Affordable and chic enough for everyone. Enjoy!

Nautilus Shell

print from Tricia McKellar. Enjoy!

Fine Cell Work

Herringbone Design in very "happy chic" colors. Enjoy!

My latest obsession...

In case you hadn't noticed, I've been a bit obsessed with bulls and matadors lately, which is why I'm so taken with this contemporary photograph from Carlos Pérez-Siquier. It's so vague and abstract, yet completely discernible. Love it. Enjoy!

Monday, September 10, 2007

DIY Chic

When I came across The Company Store's new Casablanca Collection with metal riveted trim it reminded me of a DIY idea from Better Homes & Gardens 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100.00. It included using nailhead trim to embellish a dresser. But after seeing this new collection I think it would be awesome to take a dresser, paint it brown or black, buy some decorative individual furniture upholstery tacks and spray paint them white. Then take some flat cardboard and cut it to shape of the drawers. Using this piece of cardboard as your form, draw out a cool pattern, then place the tacks in the cardboard with even spacing, thereby tracing over the drawn pattern. Now place and tape the cardboard template over the drawers and lightly tap each tack with enough force to leave a mark. When you have removed the template your design will now be "carboned" onto the drawer and you can permanently nail the tacks into place. Think of all the awesome patterns you could make and what a dramatic piece of furniture it would be. I can think of a million and one great color combos from black furniture with turquoise nails to white with pink to green with black...the possibilities are endless. I am so going to try this out. Enjoy!

But does it smell as good as it looks?

As seen in Lucky, the Emilio Pucci Vivara perfume bottle would make a gorgeous desk accessory in the form of a paperweight. I'm dying to know what the fragrance is like. Enjoy!

Save me from myself...

Somebone needs to buy these cool Nasco Coffee Cups from Ebay seller gzbean69. Those handles are to die for, not to mention the pedestals and the stripes. Perfect!

An American Living in Germany...

Stephanie Levy has some amazing collages and paintings of fictional interiors. For me, they're great inspiration for an "alternative" mood board. They have pattern and color and structure. Very unique and interesting pieces. During the month of September she will be showing some of her collages at SQFT Gallery in Nashville, TN. These works are now available via their online shop through Sept. 28th, 2007. Check them out here. Her other works can be ordered directly from her site. Enjoy!

Friday, September 07, 2007

Definitely a piece worth shelling out for...

This vintage shell bag from ebay seller vintagehandbagsandmore is cleverly sophisticated. A unique item and fabulous fall accessory. Enjoy!

Dancing Peacock

Dancing Peacock, 12" x 10", an original acrylic painting on paper by etsy seller lavanyarl and it's just $7.00.

Vintage Ceramic Ram

Similar in style to the Jonathan Adler Menagerie Line, this vintage ceramic ram is happy chic in all of its retro green glory. Enjoy!

For Jules...

Finally, for Jules, I have come up with a suggestion for how to add that "wow" factor to what already is a fabulous space. As you can see Julian has impeccable taste, from his art to his table and chairs to his newly remodeled kitchen. It's a great space as is, which made it difficult for me to improve upon. And, with Julian being a male, well, the pressure was on. I decided to keep it simple. Just adding a few touches of wow that were simple, but bold and hopefully masculine.

My suggestions for Jules are quite simple. Pick up this "wowing" Vintage Red Wing Smart Set Large Salad Bowl. The colors are perfect and the graphics, well, they wow. It can be used multipurposely - 1st as an accessory by displaying it on the counter (I would purchase a stand/easel to sit it on) and for serving those delicious salads he's known to whip up. Jules, you can purchase this bowl with the buy it now option on Ebay for just $32.99. That's a deal. If you like it, since it's vintage, I'd purchase it ASAP because it will be gone and there aren't alot lying around. :)

Second, I would remove the art to the right of the sink and replace it with three of these 5 1/4" black square plates at just $4.69 each. Or, I'd remove the art to the right of the sink, leaving that wall bare and hang the plates over the sink. I've tried to think of something clever and wowing to glue in the center of them but nothing has stood out for me yet. If anyone else has an idea for this, please share. But even without the extra, the black square plates alone will make a cool pop against your wall, plus add a touch of masculinity. :)

And that's it. Plain and simple and wow. But as always, these are merely my suggestions. I'm sure others will have clever ideas and wowing options to share in the comments below. :)

There's no place like home...

Although I am not a fan of type on decorative objects (I know, I know) etsy seller pillowhead's "Home" pillow speaks to me. It just says something...like..."home". :) Enjoy! (She also makes the floral printed pillow as well.)

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Spoon Feed Me...

So, lately I've got spoons on the mind, from Heather's new tea towels, to Lady Di's great find, to my husband cooking me dinner and asking "Where's the wooden spoons?" and my sheepish reply of "We don't have any." I feel as though my life is is not quite full without these wooden spoons, being that everyone else seems to have a fabulous collection and I have not one.

Ebay, as always, has the cure to what ails me. A spectacular array of spoons for sale from ebay seller winningtreasures. I'm pondering whether I should actually buy them, or simply frame the picture. ;) Enjoy!

Definitely not marginal...

Cute prints from etsy seller margin. Love these flamingos. $20.00 right here. Enjoy!

I absolutely love

these pendant lights from Tom Dixon. They're hand-beaten brass with a black patinated exterior. Ahh. I want them. Available in October of 2007. Enjoy!

Say it in French...

If only I could. This vintage notebook from blacksheepyarns is only $9.75. Billed for collage scraps sure, but can you imagine matting and framing this cover? So doable and so affordable and so unique. Enjoy!