I have had a tough time focusing this week and posting pretties to my blog didn’t seem appropriate given the circumstances……We came home from vacation to our beloved Beagle in the hospital in critical care. He lived 12 wonderful years and has grown up with me, as I got him not long after college. “General” was named after my college mascot and he was a character and a major personality in our home.
Rest in peace my sweet General. You will be missed!
I ran across this quote and it pretty much sums up how I am feeling these days.
I really miss regular blogging but lately I have had so many ideas running through my mind that corralling them into coherent posts and actions has been a challenge. I feel like all I am managing to do is keep up. I’ve also been doing a lot of soul searching about Maddie G, how I want to take it to the next level, if I want to take it to the next level, etc. I started Maddie G when I quit my job in private equity where I’d been for over ten years. Maddie G is a labor of love….something I do because I enjoy it…..not because it is bringing great financial riches to our family….that’s for sure. But, I am an overachiever….and I find it hard to do anything half way….and with this….takes a lot of time.
So, please forgive my intermittent blogging….I am hoping to figure out a way to make time for it all while remembering what is most important–my beautiful family. School starts Monday and all I want to do all weekend is hug Maddie tight! And I would, if she’d let me!
Have a great weekend!
Sorry I have been so absent of late. I have just been swamped with work and end of summer stuff. My mom was in town and we bought Maddie’s uniforms last week….I cannot believe my baby starts preschool on Monday…..booo hooo. We had a little play-date today with a friend who will be in the same class. It was too cute to “spy” on them as they played. Really, is there anything better than observing a three year old’s active imagination at play?
Anyways, sitting here waiting to hear back from the AC person as our upstairs unit has gone out. It is slightly laughable to even think we have a prayer of getting someone out today….given Dallas has had like over forty 100+ degree days this summer. It rained the other night and I got so excited I had to wake my husband up…..it was like how I used to act when I was a kid and it snowed. Wish us luck in the heat…thank goodness for the downstairs unit still humming along and the backhouse (my office) which is working just fine! Anyways, I digress.
I had my chairs all figured out for our new eat in kitchen. And then I saw these in Architectural Digest over the weekend……
Photo by Roger Davies
I think they would go great with my new kitchen. Below is the table I am getting close to buying. Took husband to take a look over the weekend and got his vote of approval. I love that it has 5 leaves—just so perfect for impromptu entertaining in the kitchen.
We are doing white cabinetry on the perimeter of the kitchen (with a possible VERY faint striae effect) and grey on the island. I was planning to do all of the counter tops in marble. Until I found the limestone seen below. I am thinking of using it along the perimeter to contrast with the white cabinetry. I just love it (and yes, I know all of the cautionary tales about limestone counter tops).
Don’t you love it when your vision starts to come together? Of course, I haven’t priced these guys out yet….I may be back to my bamboo chairs by tomorrow! Hope you are doing well and enjoying these last precious days of summer.
Despite the fact that these floors are now off the table for the remodel (both for budget and logistical reasons), these images remain the inspiration for my kitchen seating.
Windsor Smith
Windsor Smith
Many of the chairs like this that are available retail are offered in a limited selection of colors (black, white or cream). But, I may want to liven mine up so I have been searching for manufacturers who will do a custom finish vs. having to buy chairs and then have them sprayed after the fact. I’ve found a few at varying price-points.
First, these are sold in pairs and the price is fairly reasonable. This chair is actually a hand carved wood chair. The pair sells for less than $1,000 even with a custom finish. The cushions are down filled burlap.These may be the winners for me given the price. I need armless as well and like the lines.
This next version is quite a bit more. But, it is a beauty don’t you think? Again, they will do custom and pricing depends on if you want the frame only or want the cushions (and what type of fill).
This last chair can also come in a custom finish. It costs considerably more than the above two options and has more of a fretwork pattern. It is probably too much for us (especially since we don’t need arms….which would be custom) but I do love this manufacturer and this piece reminds me why.
I have also started my search for the right wing chairs for the table ends. Last night we entertained 7 adults and 6 kids for dinner. It always amazes me how everyone ends up in the kitchen standing up all night. It just reiterates to me how important kitchen seating really is! Are you the same, do you always end up in the kitchen while entertaining?
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.
Check out some of the fabrics in the latest collection from Manuel Canovas.
These fabrics really make me smile. Particularly the second to last…absolutely love it. Thinking Maddie needs it?!?
