Miguel Flores-Vianna, Veranda

Victoria Pearson, House Beautiful

Photographer Unknown

I love Kathryn’s work and have loved the glimpse into her life and professional process on Million Dollar Decorators.  She already has her own fabric line.  However, she has recently teamed up with Scalamandre with a licensed collection.  Take a look……

Geoffrey Sokol, Architectural Digest

Geoffrey Sokol, Architectural Digest

Scalamandre

It is a great collection with a little something for everyone.  To see the full line, go to Scalamandre and scroll through the Spring 2013 collections.

I am one meeting away from being off for the long weekend.

Anyone else ready to welcome summer?

This is a quick view of our playroom as it looks daily.  Unstyled and keeping it real here, people.  Plus, photographs when there is no natural light to speak of is not good.  The walls are a pale grey….you’d never know it from the photos…..they look beige, oh well.  The artist who did my living room paintings said he’d teach me some elementary photography skills (probably so he can get some decent shots of his art vs. my pitiful skills).  Must take him up on it.  Anyways, I digress….

Kids Art Explosion

Book Wall

The third empty wall in the room is the stark reminder of a Pinterest project gone so wrong (I am just not a DIY-er)!  The only reminder of this bust are the two lone picture hangers left in the wall.  See them?

But, last week I  went to plan B in the room and had the two images blown-up (round two since I destroyed them the first time around).  I received the images today and all looks good except they added white borders to the photos once printed–so frustrating.   So, now I’ve got to go find someone to cut that off (I am not messing this project up myself again!)

I am planning to hang one on top of the other, framed in acrylic.  They will both be the same height when framed, but the lower image will be wider and they will take up much of that blank wall.  Acrylic framing is expensive so I am making this a semi-DIY in that I’ve bought the standoffs online (amazing customer service!) for framing / mounting and have found a local (Dallas) plastics company to cut my acrylic to size…..using a low-glare product for the front.  Edges will be polished for a finished look.  It still isn’t cheap…..but at least with this solution I’ll be able to change out the art periodically.  So when the kids are older we can do posters or more updated photos.

Slowly but surely, progress is being made.

I am working on art for our guestroom and am loving the vintage vibe of using Audubon prints.  Here is some inspiration for the vibe I am going for.  Hoping for a natural, collected, vintage sortof vibe.

Interior Design by Katie Ridder, Photo by Eric Piasecki

Tom Sheerer, Photo by William Waldron

Sarah Richardson

Tom Sheerer, Photo by Francesco Lagnese

See anything that inspires?

via (original source unknown)

Chrstien Starkenburg via Interieur+ website

Design Manifest

House to Home, Photography by Emma Lee

Jonathan Adler

One of my favorite things in my business is to source new and exciting products. One of my Dallas showroom reps. had introduced me to a great new (to me)  line a while back. I’ve recently learned I’ll be able to carry a curated selection of their products in my new shop. I am really excited about this line because not only are their products great, but for a modest up-charge, they will finish any product in a Benjamin Moore color. Or, if you don’t know the color….but have something you are trying to match, you can send a swatch and they’ll color match. Love it!  In the age of mass produced stuff….I love the ability to be able to customize at a relatively affordable price point.  Want to see some of the stuff I’ll be carrying in the shop?

I love the daybed above.  Can you imagine it in a fun color for a little girls’ room.  But even more fun, they offer it in a hanging version…..  (I kindof wish I was on said daybed with a glass of wine and a stack of design mags instead of sitting in my office working!)

I love the lines and the shiny finish on this little side table.  Thinking I might need to be the guinea pig and try one out in our guest room.  I also love the wicker chairs below…..and they will also custom color the wicker as well.  Fun, right?

And while they have a large product catalog, I am choosing an edited version of my personal favorites at launch.  For some reason, I am finding myself drawn to their beds.

Imagine a pair of the Nevis beds, above, in the twin version and a fun color for a child’s room.  So many possibilities.  And finally, I love the lines on the below dresser, which also comes in a smaller side table.  I have been contemplating a pair for our master bedroom.

Do you see anything you like?  Want to check out the full line?  Head over to the vendor, Palu Ltd, and take a look.  While a curated selection of their products will be in my shop when I launch, I can help with anything in their catalog through my buying service at the moment.

And with that, I am off for the day.  We have a quiet weekend planned which is a welcome change.  My husband has been traveling all week, Harry finished school, my attempt at a mid-week girls night out ended in rushing home to my sitter as terrible weather took us all by surprise (leading to a 9 PM clean out of the closet under our stairs!)  and Maddie’s activities seemed to have accelerated as the end of school approaches.  Hoping to push a few home products forward, post some more fabric remnants and get a little yard work done.  What is on tap in your world?

Almost a year ago, I signed on with a web designer to launch my new shop.  At the time, we thought we would launch in September 2012 at the latest.  Almost immediately after this decision was made, I found out that my mother had very limited time left with us.  If you have followed my blog for a while, you know the kids and I packed up and headed to Virginia to be with her for the better part of last summer.  It was a gift for Maddie, Harry and me to be able to spend so much time with her and my family.  She passed in September and while I still miss her every day, I have no regrets or worries that there were words left to be said before she went.  She was an incredible mother and she and my Dad blessed us with their love and support.

Easter 2012

In the Fall, after mom’s service and with the kids back into their routine I got back to work on the website.  It was clear at the time that I did not have the right team in place to execute my vision for the site.  When I do something, half way isn’t an option.   And when I have something in my mind, I cannot settle.  I’d rather wait and get it right.  So, this led to finding web designers who could take my vision and find a solution to make it happen.  This meant changing platforms and back-end functionality.  All of this has taken hard work and time.  And, we are nearly there and had agreed to launch later this week.

But I’ll admit, a few weeks ago when we were in a forced holding pattern due to a server upgrade….I enjoyed the time away from the technology.  I played with my kids more….I was nicer, less stressed.  More home cooked meals made it on the table….and playdates happened, walks to the park happened, decorating around my own house pushed forward, etc.  These two precious little ones got a lot more of my attention.

Summer is knocking at the door and I’ve been worried about launching the new store while we have lots of family plans.  While I have no doubt it all could get done……I’ve been questioning whether it needs to.  Waiting to launch the shop by a couple of months isn’t going to bring the end of the world (hardly!).  Coming to that decision has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.  I can add a few new vendors I was going to do after launch and get things tweeked and ready to go…..but wait to launch until I am ready.  When I am not feeling like I am taking away from my family…..the two priorities competing within me.

With the overwhelming support of my husband and the agreement of my web guys I am guessing we will launch in late July or August.  I feel great about this decision….and know that I’ll start this new venture feeling rejuvenated and excited to expand a business that has been my little baby for the past 4+ years!

In the meantime, I am going to create a new board on Pinterest to sell some of my fabric stash.  The fabric will go up as I have time to photograph it—so check back often if you are looking for something.  It will be for sale for a limited time (I’ll take it down mid June at the latest) and will be one time deals.  The fabrics are primarily Quadrille and Shumacher, with some Raoul and a few other things thrown in.  If you see something you like, you just email me and I’ll send you a paypal invoice.  Easy.

Finally, my trade only buying service will remain active and up and running throughout the summer.  So, if you need a quote or help with home decor related purchases, contact me as usual and I am happy to help!