Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa

For those of you that think I get a lot done in our house, I'd like to let you know that the two frames in our living room are still hanging with nothing in them, and I'm still struggling with art for above the console. I'm one of those people that likes to wait for the right thing, instead of buying things to just fill a space. The end result is, that our house is taking time to come together. It also is partially due to budget. We don't have tons of cash to throw at a room, so every so often we invest in something. The result is, that we have rooms that are decorated with pieces we love. 

One thing I would like is pillows for our couch. Truthfull they aren't necessary, but something I would enjoy and I think add some nice layering to the room . I've struggled to find ones that would work with these lovelies on my chairs. And I think the ones that would work are the ones in the background here...

Yes. I took a picture of the TV Show Million Dollar Decorators. Aubrey thought I was taking a picture of Ross and laughed at me. And I informed him I was actually more smitten with the pillows. fast forward to last week and I was sorting through old Magazines and came across Michael Penney's Living Room and BAM! He had pillows. So I hopped over to his blog and found these photos...

Turns out it is Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa. Which means, um. Pricey. But I'm kind of obsessed. So if you know how I can buy the fabric, or see pre made pillows of it out there, let me know. Because I think they need to be in my house. Well. Maybe. I'm not sure how much it would cost. But aren't they divine?! So obsessed.

Love The One You're With- Inside Out Design

Today I have the most wonderful Sherri guest blogging for me. I know I have said

this before, but Sherri is one of those people who you

really feel like you know after reading her blog Inside Out Design.

The other day I read this recent post and was brought to tears. Maybe it is still the hormones, or maybe it is having a baby in our "very tiny but special to us first home" but it really spoke to me. Anyhoo, I am honored to have Sherri here today so without further adieu...

When Marianne asked me to contribute to her 'Love The One You're With' series, I had a hard time deciding which room to choose. Do I choose the one I enjoy looking at the most or the one that holds the most memories? I decided to show you the one I love looking at the most. It is the one room in my house that is always peaceful, has no television, is used mostly for family gatherings and always looks clean (even if it isn't).

I love to sit in here and read a book, visit with friends and open gifts on Christmas morning. This room is also the first thing you see when you walk through our front door and it feels the most like 'me'. When we first bought our house 24 years ago, the "living room" was a narrow space that was basically a pass-through from the bedroom wing hallway to the kitchen. Because of that, it was a hard room to space plan.

Over the years we made some changes. We relocated the front entrance, moved the hallway opening so it was not in the middle of the room and created an 'entrance' by adding a courtyard in the front. It is not a big house by today's standards and I never thought it would be our stay-in-forever-house. There are many things I would love to change (a larger dining room for one!) but it is our home and it holds so many memories I do not know if I could ever give it up. We have watched our two beautiful daughters grow up in this house and are blessed to be enjoying our new granddaughter here as well.

I have always liked white and except for a short phase where I tried to 'conform' I have had a white sofa. I found that it was the easiest to care for with small children (and even more so when they became teenagers) because I could clean it and it would never fade. I have had my current sofa for 12 years now. It has had red wine spilled on it, chocolate and who knows what else but all I have to do is throw the slipcover in the wash or spot clean it and it is as good as new.

For me, white just feels fresh and gives me a feeling of calm. It is also easy to throw in pops of color when I am in the mood and gives me the ability to change things around; which I do a lot.

I originally bought the corner armoire to place a TV in but changed my mind. It holds my revolving accessories and overflow of platters and serving pieces and balances out the fireplace in in the opposite corner.

The decor has evolved over the years. It was never decorated like I would do for a client - all at once and put together; instead pieces were added here and there, little by little - mostly discounted furniture I found while shopping for clients or perusing through HomeGoods. I tend to buy pieces that I love and don't put too much thought into where it will end up. It all gets moved around anyway!

Last summer I brought in the white cabinet that used to be in my daughter's room to give the room and lighter look. It was an inexpensive Ikea piece that was intended to hold my daughter's school books but I have to say, I am really enjoying it in the living room.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the room I love ... in the house that I love. Thanks Marianne for including me in your series!

Thank you again Sherri, what a wonderful post about a wonderful room. I can definitely see chatting with friends in there and I loved hearing your take on the white sofa! Everything looks perfect but comfortable and inviting.

some hopes and dreams - Marsha's party

Marsha at Splenderosa is running the third edition of her blogging party By Invitation Only.  This month she asked us to describe something we have always longed for, imagining that -  with no financial barriers to hinder us - we could obtain it.

Not being a girl to hanker after that much, I found the exercise quite a test!   Then I though that  what I'd REALLY  LOVE is a pair of legs like this.

That way : ...

 I could wear swimsuits like this

and work at my computer looking like this;

to go shopping I could wear sweet little ankle boots; 

and to my next party I think that a simple Versace such as this would do nicely

 However .... if Marsha is a spoil sport and says that her magic wand won't run to body reconstruction, then I guess I'll have to keep it simple and make do with a Klimt

... and maybe a Morisot.

Thank you Marsha,

I've made a space on my wall to hang the pictures, ready when you are!!

Pop over to Marsha's and check out what other bloggers are hoping and dreaming for.

Tish  -  Yvonne  -- Vicki  -  Charlotta  -  Greet  -  Catherine  -  Ann  -  Deborah  -  Debra  -  Shari  -  Tina  -  Mona  -  Fifi  - Jackqueline  -  Karin  -  Cecilia  -  Renee and Angela  -  Lisa  -  Francine  -  Chistina  -  Stacey  -  Leann  -  Lene    -  Coty  -  Karen  -  Lisa  -  Deja Pseu



thanks to the sartorialist for the first photo, and to google for the others

Dish Towel Cake ~ A Bridal Shower Gift

A couple weekends ago was my sister-in-law's bridal shower that was given by my mother-in-law.  The shower was french themed since the couple will be honeymooning in France.  I took lots of pictures of all the amazing details from the bridal shower, but I'll share those with you in another post.

For now I wanted to share a fun little gift idea that I came up with.  I really wanted to make something for my sister-in-law, but with the craziness that comes with life with a newborn and two toddlers, I just decided that this was not the right time.  However, I still wanted to do something kind of crafty.  Have you seen those diaper cakes that some people make for baby showers?  Well, I thought I would try to make something similar, but use dish towels instead of diapers.

I purchased three packs of solid color dish towels as well as one with a print.  I rolled up each dish towel and put a elastic hair-tie to hold it in place.  I got a pie dish that I decide was going to be the base for my cake.  I put a small, round craft box (the cardboard kind) in the middle and put the dish towels on their sides surrounding the box.  Once I had put the dish towels all the way around, I took a grosgrain ribbon and tied it around all the towels.

For the second tier, I laid a dish towel that was folded on the top of the craft box lid to give me a little more height.  Then I placed more rolled up dish towels all together.  This time there was nothing in the middle.  Once I had them all on top, I tied the grosgrain ribbon around them to hold in place.  I used straight pins to secure the top tier to the bottom tier.

For added decoration, I folded a printed dish towel and wrapped in around the top tier and made a bow.

Once the cake was complete, I needed to add something to the top.  I had purchased a french rolling pin and I stuck that into the middle of the top tier.  Then I placed bamboo cooking utensils into the middle of the rolled up towels on the top.  I put an oven mitt over the top of the rolling pin and put the other oven mitt in front.  I had one extra dish towel, so I folded that and place it behind the rolling pin which actually added a little more support.  I tried to pick a print on the dish towel that looked sort of french country.

Since the shower was french themed, I thought I would try to make the gift entirely themed.  I bought four Le Creuset french ramekins and a baking dish as well as on of my favorite cookbooks, Barefoot Contessa Paris by Ina Garten.

I think my sister-in-law really liked the towel cake and now she and her hubby-to-be will never have to buy another dish towel again!

Linking Here.

They Call Him The Fireman

My favorite men on Halloween. Henry was a fireman and Harry (who won't look at cameras) was his trusty Dalmatian.

Oscar went as a spider last night, a costume borrowed from a friend of mine. I was strugling at whether I should dress him up at this age but I'm so glad I did because he had a great time running around at night trick-or-treating.  Oscar came home with great treats, like a hardcover Halloween Book, a special "baby" treat bag from a friend with the yummy goldfish snacks and baby friendly snacks. (That Aubrey tried to steal last night) Was your neighbourhood busy? I felt as though our street was. Happy Tuesday. xo Linds

Graffiti AND aNTIQUES

The day is finally here for our Windows on Design 2011 window display to be revealed.  The theme for the Design Collective ATL event this year is “Celebrating Atlanta”.  Each designer had to come up with their own design based around our lovely city.  Taylor and I had a brainstorming session to come up with our design a few months ago.  We were so excited when we came up with a graffiti theme.  We felt like it totally embodied Atlanta’s urban market.  We were even more excited when we were paired with Regalo Antiques and they were totally on board with a it.  We had such a fun time coming up with the design and marrying the beautiful antiques from Regalo with very urban graffiti art.

The only thing we needed once we were finished with our plans was a great graffiti artist.  Man, did we ever find one!  Greg Moncrief and his wife April from John G Moncrief & Associates created the most amazing graffiti artwork as the backdrop for our two window scenes. 

[Greg in front of his art.  These pieces are being sold for $2100/pc]

Taylor and I, along with Regalo, will be hosting a reception this Saturday so that our readers can view Regalo’s lovely showroom and our window displays.  Please see the invitation below.  I hope to see you there!

And don’t forget about the pillow giveaway.

LiveJournal Tags: giveaway,windows on design,design collective atlanta