My house. What I did today.

Since I started blogging heavily ( that sounds like a medical condition!), my house has been a major disaster. Could be a coincidence, but more likely....it's that we are trying to get this house ready to sell. In my former life, my former life partner was somewhat of a hoarder, an organized one, but still...the amount of 'stuff' he left behind is insane. Today, for some reason, the bookcase was driving me batty. I decided it was time to thin down the collection, organize it and put a new spin on the whole display.
I had already painted the bookcase Sherwin Williams Grand Canal, which is about as straight up Turquoise as you can get. The inside of the bookcase was painted Sherwin Williams Camelback (aka' the boring beige').

The first thing I did was take every book off the shelf and remove all the dust covers. Then I could see the real color of the book. I organized them into piles by colors, and put the 'colored' ones in ROY G BIV order, starting with blue.

On the next shelf, I placed my daughter's collection of National Geographic magazines, and all the black books, as well as a funky ginger jar I bought about 10 years ago.
The uppermost shelf has all the white and off white books and a collection of glass paper weights.

I covered my gardening books in black and white wrapping paper, because their spines were all beat up. I got that huge Avocado green vase at I O Metro on clearance for 20.00. The urn is from Hobby Lobby, as are the grassy balls (again, a possible medical condition!) I tinkered around with this display for hours until I got it right. The addition of a chuncky, black number 4 finished it off. Sometimes it's best to just move the things around in your house, try them out in places you wouldn't have considered.

I liked the rainbow ordered books so much I did it to the DVDs too, although I have friends telling me that is NOT how your organize movies, and that it is sacrilege to have The Godfather sandwiched in between Pirates of the Caribbean and Independence Day.

Feb. 25....woke up to this blog posting at I O Metro's site.
check it out, all about arranging books.
http://iometro.blogspot.com/2011/02/take-it-off.html

You might notice on my rainbow shelf, a blue book with chairs on the spine. It's a re-issue of Jane Austen's Emma.
I have just started collecting these classics with awesome covers. I got mine at Niche in St. Louis, but they are available at Barnes and Noble as well.

Books are a great way to add a shot of color and culture. Have fun with it!
Via The cultivated home

Chinoiserie ( one image, NSFW)

Insipred by this photo, which is just BEYOND BEYOND!!!! and the fact that it's Wednesday night and therefore my 14 year old daughter has posted ANOTHER photo of herself and her best 3 year old buddy, whom she babysits on Wednesday evenings, who happens to be from China....I am dedicating today in honor of Chinoiserie.

I have had several Asian phases in my life, the first being when I myself was 14 and I vowed that 'when I grow up...' everything in my house was going to be Asian inspired. I think you can trace that 'mini-obsession' back to my parents' Lakehouse that is shaped like a glass lined octagon and at one point was designed in this style. MY bedroom had not only a mirror on the ceiling, but paper lanters, a koi fish shaped bedside table and dresser drawer pulls that were tiny little locks that you better not lose the key to, if you ever wanted to see Strawberry Shortcake again.

Typing 'chinoiserie' into google image search, I stumbled upon the following photo. Which kind of has me scratching my head. For two reasons...1...did I misspell it? and 2. why is she not morbidly ashamed of her boobies? I mean they are shaped pretty much like my boobies, only bigger and less saggy but SHE sure doesn't seem morbidly ashamed. To her I say, "One or two more babies and you'll be tied for first place!" but I digress. (and hilariously, it is via curvyshopper.com)

Google images, you are the mother of all things surprising. I did find this delightful business card via zazzle.com which I am just going to have to order for my new business. I only wish that were my actual address...although that IS my area code,so hmmmm......But how adorable and in my favorite favorite favorite color combination of aqua and red! (plus, I have a bird thing going). I'm sure unless you've been under a rock somewhere for your entire life, that you know that red is the favorite color of China. It equals....all good things. Paint your front door red and you'll get rich. Wear red and you'll get attention. Put it on your flag and you'll dominate the world.

Does anyone remember that horrid show on HGTV called "Room by Room" which basically subjected us to a new 'theme room' every morning at 9:00. I hate theme rooms. More than 3 of something in a room and you've pushed it too far. As with all things, I think Chinoiserie goes over best when there's just a hint of it in a room.

via Country Living

How sweeet is this little handpainted detail? It turns a necessity into something really fun! Photo by Antony Crolla of artist Irene Feesy's home. (say her last name veeeery carefullllly)

Okay. When I die? Just stick my urn on a shelf in here. This is the best laundry room ever. Maybe the best ROOM ever! I love the cartoon like quality of the wallpaper. It's chinoiserie with a wink and a sense of humor. (via designsponge) And if you can't tell, that's a Chanel poster which makes the laundry room even that much more stylish. The reason why I would like to spend eternity in a laundry room like this is because as the mother of 4...daughters....my laundry room has NEVER EVER EVER been this organized, clean, or void of laundry...EVER!!!

This is the kind of chinoiserie that makes me go......zzzzzzz....very predictable but I do kind of dig the blue panels behind the plates,which could be painted on, for the budget saavy.

Thanks Charlotte Moss, you trailblazer , you. (via housebeautiful)

Another designsponge find....(where do they find all this goodness?????). I'm really into symmetry right now (another thing I swore I would never like!), loving those silver and bamboo-ey lamps. I also like how the funky plant in the corner kind of mimics the funky leaves in the wall panels. I'm also bird obsessed, and there are cranes hiding there. I think this is actually a booth from a homeshow but there is a lot to glean from this photo.

I have to tell you about a blog that I absolutely love and it's www.iometro.blogspot.com

It's put out by a furniture store called I.O. Metro and they have Vern Yip on the payroll. It's very hip and fun and Chinoise-ey...check it out!

For more Chinois yummy goodness click here.

Minding my beeswax

Pantone cookies! How clever. Almost too cute to eat. Pantone is THE authority on color, and while I'm not willing to spring the 495.00 for the 2011 color trend kit, I will keep my eyes open for trends on the horizon. I am starting to notice a lovely shade of yellow, clearer than mustard, that Pantone calls "Beeswax". Yum! (via designsponge.com) I like it so much, I put it in my new "I paint everything" logo.
I like this yellow paired with the ever present turquoise. Okay I have to admit that the fact that turquoise is 'ever present' makes me kind of mad. I like to think I was turquoise, when turquoise wasn't cool. And now it's EVERYWHERE....sigh. Oh well, I remain turquoise's ever loyal life partner, even if I have to share with every retailer in America.
I love these honeycomb vessels, from West Elm.



Here's a fun little project for that old brass chandalier. Do you recognize the shape of the yellow one? I saw a jillion of these chandaliers in the early 90s, typically in a 'hunt club' themed dining room. Spray paint it a fun yellow and festoon with some glass baubles. Voila! (photo source unknown)



Another idea for a fresh take on an old stand by....how about painting each dining chair a different color? Who doesn't have a bunch of Windsor chairs laying around? ( ha ha, that question kind of cracked me up!) I'm not sure that's the particular color combination I'd go with...I would choose 'beeswax', turquoise, orange and black. In fact, I just might. (photo via remodelista.com)
Trend alert!!!! See that funny pink chair? That's painted in 2011's official color of the year..."Honeysuckle" . I don't usually think 'pink' when I hear the word 'honeysuckle' but get ready to make that association...it's going to be everywhere.




This room setting is just perfection to me. I love the hint of turquoise on the bright yellow wall, love the silhouette, love the studded chairs, love the funky all white accessories ( another spray paint project...glossy white spray paint turns ugly tchotchkes into chicness! I can spot no less than 3 formerly UUUUGLEH accessories in this photo) (via monolohome.com)
Have fun mindin' your beeswax!!!!