I cannot tell you how many times I get readers emailing me photos or links to blogs/magazines trying to find out the source of a particular item.  Although there is a “research” component of my business I haven’t really ever asked for anything in return for finding items for people….but as the requests seem to be picking up I thought I would aggregate them and do a periodic “Reader Request” post.

So, here we’ll kick it off with an email looking for help in identifying a particular wallpaper that a reader had seen on another blog.

image via Young House Love

image via Young House Love

So, just a little bit of research brought me to Sanderson.  The “Squirrel and Dove” pattern is part of a recently released Vintage collection which is pulling from Sanderson’s vast archives.  This particular print was first introduced as a wallpaper around 1890!  It is now available in both wallpaper and fabric, in three colorways….

Teal/Red

Linen/Ivory

Sage/Natural

It is a lovely pattern, don’t you think?  And how cute is that nursery?  What a lucky little girl.  So, if you are looking for a little free research, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll try to help you out and post on a future “Reader Research” post.

Ok, this is probably a little extreme but the bids for our remodel are coming in WAY above where we thought we would end up. So, I know this fact is going to affect my decorating budget. Seriously, I want my husband to retire relatively early and I want my kids to graduate from college debt free….so honestly, I am going to do my best to see that we keep things under control around here. A home is a sanctuary….not a place to stress about.

I am a firm believer in a mix of high and low in decorating.  I am willing to spend more in public areas than I am upstairs in our more private areas.  This is why I am not putting this paper in Maddie’s room….despite a strong urge.  (I need 10 rolls and the paper retails at over $200 a roll….so even with my trade discount it is a bit extravagant.)

So, this brings me to the guest room. You may recall that I fell in love with a fabric a long time ago.

I love the texture of the fabric (100% linen) and I love the touch of lavender….a color that I have really come around to and am dying to incorporate judiciously in my home.  But, I had my workroom out a few weeks ago and I need 25 yards for the windows in the guest room.  Let’s just say that $2,500+ in drapery fabric alone is not where I am going to get the most bang for my buck.  I also want to cover walls and ceilings in grasscloth and want a new headboard (current guest room has an old pine headboard that may have been the envy of my friends in college….but I think I can do a little better now) and nice linens on the bed.

Enter this guy, priced in the mid $20s per yard.  Much easier on the wallet.  I saw it recently and loved it.  Funny enough, about 6 months ago I was in a fabric store here in Dallas and took a photo of the same fabric….just because I liked it.  I had forgotten all about it until I saw it again.

I’ll be honest that I am not a huge lover of suzani prints…but this one speaks to me.  I am tossing up this colorway and the one below. Maddie is sitting here looking over my shoulder and is voting for the second one.

I think I agree, but I have samples of both coming to me to decide.  In the meantime, last night while doing a little blog hopping I ran into this image from Elizabeth Sullivan Design.  Looks like the same fabric to me.  Love it on a pillow.

Sortof reminds me of this one from Donghia. So, we’ll see…..I’ve got some time since we haven’t even started the remodel…..but this is where I am at so far. Thoughts?

We would like to thank Country Living Magazine for including Maddie G Designs as a source for access to trade only products in their July / August 2011 issue.  As a small business that prides itself on personal service and great prices, typically relying on word of mouth for new customers,  it is always fun to be recognized.

So thanks, Country Living!  We appreciate it!

I’ve shown you a little of my impromptu trip to NYC with my husband over the last couple of days. Today I am sharing two highlights. First, M&J Trimmings has been blogged about by many so I had to check it out. A short walk from our hotel, this place did not disappoint. If you are looking for any sort of trim or embellishment, this is the place! The staff were friendly and the prices were not bad.  Have you ever seen so much ribbon? And this was a small snapshot of the store!

Greek Key trim anyone? Not expensive and in any color imaginable! Heaven, if you ask me!

More trim…..Really, what can I say?

If you live in or near NYC, I am envious of all of the resources you have at your fingertips. If you don’t and are planning a visit, I highly recommend a stop in at M&J Trimmings. The photos cannot do this store justice!

And last, but certainly not least, was the highlight of my trip. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Lisa (from Hamptontoes) for a long lunch at Landmarc in the AOL / Time Warner building.

One of the best parts of blogging for me is something I never anticipated when I started this blog. And that is the friendships I’d form with other like minded individuals. I think Lisa and I started our blogs around the same time and emailed each other back and forth. She invited me to join her at the NYIGF last August and with the pregnancy and impending move to Dallas (I was house-hunting as it was going on) the timing just didn’t work.

Lisa has a daughter and a son, each about a year older than mine.  She also changed from a corporate career to interior design (interning for none other than Bunny Williams before she successfully branched off on her own).  It was fun to talk to her about our kids, work, balancing family and work, chatting about blogging and lots of other stuff too. It was truly a great time and the highlight of my trip.  Thanks, Lisa, for a great lunch!  I hope you’ll venture down to Texas so I can repay your hospitality!

I mentioned yesterday that I was in NYC last week for a few days. While my husband was in meetings I had fun wandering around the city…without much of an agenda. In addition to some fabric shopping, I managed to visit a couple of other well known home decor related venues.

First, I was anxious to visit ABC Carpet and Home as I had never been. I was actually chided for taking photos by one salesperson but I was able to snap a couple before I was.  I was taken aback by how large this place was.  I think the main building was like 5 or 6 floors, and there was a separate multi-level carpet store (and clearance center) directly across the street.

The above photo was from the clearance center.  If you are a Madeline Weinrub fan this is worth a visit.  I cannot say the prices were bargain basement but they were better than full price.  They had a ton of her cotton flatweave rugs and lots of pillows too.  I had a Pretty Woman moment in the carpet center when I asked where the Madeline Weinrub wool carpets were and the sales person told me that they were across the street but that they were “very expensive.”  Geeze, I didn’t think I was dressed that poorly that day!

In any case, across the street was a visual feast for the eyes.  I was actually a bit overwhelmed and had my husband in tow at this point…and he was less than enthused to be along for the ride!

The above chandelier was HUGE.  I cannot even begin to imagine how large it really is….scale can be so deceiving in large showrooms like this!  I also loved this sweet birdcage….nursery anyone?

Here are a couple of other images.  The amount of inventory they had on display was really amazing.

And here is one last image. This is where I got into trouble for taking photos. I was actually really enjoying this space as my dining room chandelier is by this company. I told the sales person this (trying to make small talk) and her response was “Are you looking to buy another?”  We quickly vacated this section of the store!

We did not take any photos on the upper floors where the children’s section was but they had a lovely selection of items.  In fact, I was excited to see they carry a Canadian line of crib bedding that I have been considering for Harry’s nursery.  I have not been able to find a store with their products so I was happy to stumble upon this.  They didn’t have the grey color I was looking for but the friendly salesperson said they would be getting a new shipment in in a few weeks.  Yay!

If you haven’t been here, I’d definitely say it is worth a visit.  It can be a bit overwhelming at first….but just give yourself plenty of time to take it all in.

(PS–This Post ended up being longer than I’d expected. Tomorrow, I’ll share my last stop and the best part of my trip, meeting a fellow blogger whom I admire and have emailed with back and forth for over a year now.  Definitely the highlight of my trip).

Last week my husband had business in NYC.  So we headed to the DC area, dropped off the kids, and then took the train up to NY for a few days.  We then came back to DC in time for my husband and my Dad to attend the US open (their Father’s Day gift).  We didn’t do much except eat well and window shop.  But, while he was in meetings I kept myself busy.

I made it to a few places to look at fabrics and thought I would show you a few that caught my eye.

I thought the above Waverly fabric was cute.  I could see using the pink and green in a nursery or one of the other colorways in a playroom.  I loved the texture of this next one….it would be perfect on an oversized ottoman!

I am a huge sucker for houndstooth and was in heaven when I saw this selection.

And finally, at this particular shop, I really fell in love with this fabric and think it would look great in Maddie’s room.  Unfortunately, I need 25 yards for her drapery panels and the fabric was not a bargain (this shop claimed to be discount but I think they were still pricey).  Anyone recognize the manufacturer?  They wouldn’t share, of course.

I’ll share a few more fun finds later this week.   Although, the weather was so nice while we were up there that I really just took time to walk around, window shop and decompress!