Feeling Blue.

Not much text.  Hopefully some inspiration.  Happy Tuesday!

I love the indigo and gray in this rural setting.... wouldn't it be great to live on a farm in Scandinavia!  

The above-three images are designs by Frank Roop.  I love the way he mixes colors and textures.

Blue and white in the bath.

Awesome ikat rug.  A giant natural tree stump would have been perfection as the coffee table in this room.

Robins egg and yellow.  I would never go for this paint color but after seeing this room I may just have to!

I suppose if you have a passion for Blue and white this would be just the book for you!

(I love this entire room! The exotic moorish details in the moldings are paired perfectly with the almost completely neutral color pattern of this space.  The cases add the perfect pop of color...

Awesome lamps...

Blue and white in fashion: 

Derek Lam

Rodate

A look back:

January 1969, Francisco Munoz Cabrero

Will someone please allow us to style their wedding using crisp blue and white vessels!  Just picture: white garden roses, lots of white candles and warm brown leather.  Yep.  Leather....

Let all that you do be done in love.  1 Corinthians 16:14

Social Responsibility

We should all have it.  On some days it seems easier than others.  Some days may pass without us thinking much about it.  

So, what is "it"? 

Well, "it" in this instance is being responsible for the effect our choices have on this world and the people in it.  I don't mean to lecture here but I've been made aware of an amazing organization and wanted to share.
Trade As One  
Their mission:  To use fair trade to promote sustainable business and break cycles of poverty and dependency in the developing world.  

(It helps to read it a few times through)

Trade as One looks beyond charity and service as forms of helping others.  Rather simply, it looks at the US as a major consumer society.  We love to shop!  So, when buying a gift for a friend, chocolates for your children's teachers or baskets with which to organize your bills, do it so that you are helping a man, woman, or child out of a dire situation.  Do it responsibly.  

Here are just a few of the great items found on their website.

Fantastic 100% woolen rugs produced by the women of Beacon of Hope in Kenya.  $88

Love this Bamboo bowl made by Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts $33

Adorable hand knit elephant from Casa de la Mujer Artesana.  I bought one for my daughter and two other baby girls in our family. $16

Really cool, handcrafted serving slab for cheese, antipasta or fruit.  Made by Green Sahara Gifts in Morocco.  $19.00

THE BEST CHOCOLATE.  Ever.  Seriously, ever!  Trust me on this one.  It's organic, fair trade chocolate.  Bolivian cacao and amazing.  They have several flavors but this one is insane. $4.49

Crazy cool Sari Scarf made by the women of the Mata Traders in Nepal.  I want one to drape over the back of a chair I have in my entryway!  $18.00

Holga Leaf Basket.  Perfect for going to your local farmers market or to visit us at the Rose Bowl! $15.50

We all have a conscience.  Trade as One wants to make sure you use it when you shop! 

Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, 

you did for me. Matthew 25:40

ZigZags and Chevron

Am I up, am I down?  Am I running around?

I know, I know, they are sooo last year!  Right?  Maybe?  Hmm, I'm going to go with, when used well, timeless.

And, i'm in a Zig Zag state of mind...

Happy Monday

Image from Cottage Living...

Inspire, inspire, inspire.  I just can't figure out who-dun-it!

The chevron floors are uh-mazing...

Image by Elle Decor

Oh my gosh, this is fantastic.  I want it.  But it's sold!!!!  Ugh, others on Etsy.

Shout-Out:

Thank you to the blog; Everything in 3's for the following chevron /zig-zag highlights...

1. Etsy, calling cards

2. Tile mosaic

3.  Top, DVF

4. Urban Outfitters

5. Room by Heather Nette King

6. Lamp by Jill Rosenwald

7. Cozy Blanket, Tory Burch

8. Glasses by Artel

9. Rug by Calypso




I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 
Philippians 4:13

Faux Bois

I've always been a big fan of faux bois (French for "false wood"). It's nature and (well generally) concrete mixed together to give us wonderful furniture, art, and accessories. 

Although I have yet to find my faux bois etegere, here are some cool, inspirational pieces!  Enjoy and happy Thursday!!

Wow, Currey & Company's Elwynn bench is spot-on!  This particular bench was crafted in the Philippines.  Although it looks like driftwood or even "twigs" you might find in the North Woods, it is made from concrete and steel! 

I love this Noblis wallpaper and the way this bathroom is styled! They went double foux bois with the wallpaper and the mirror.  

I'm very much digging this console table.  It has really made me think, and think, and think about how I would style a room with this in it.  That's super-intriguing!  The "This is Unique" console table from Dust Delux would be fantastic in a charcoal gray dining room with a giant chrome cattle skull with horns above it.  Are you feeling me? I would accent with fresh flowers and a variety of silver candlesticks.   Hmmm, I really like this. 

Ha!  So, we go from edgy to cozy/preppy.  This takes me to a totally different place than the console table above.  I know I prefer the former but I do like the natural element added into this room.  Wouldn't you love to see some giant crazy crystal on the end table rather than the flower and jack? And a Chinese Key Hole chair in place of the upholstered one?  And some vintage pillows thrown on the couch? 

Oh boy, getting carried away and after all, this is an ad for Tom Felicia who designed this Faux Bois patterned fabric for Kravet...

This dining table is by Global Views....

I like this version by Cobble hill.  It's a bit more organic and less "fois" looking. It makes me think it is going to start walking and talking like a character in a Tim Burton movie! 

Branch side table by ABC Carpet Home.

This faux bois planter looks like it came out of a ruin in France!  I don't love the leaded glass behind it but the garden-type urn/finials inside of it are uh-mazing.

Silver Faux Bois ice buckets/vases from Branca.

You can find this Gus Modern table at Global Home.

Shout Out: The Blog Chiclectic shared the following medley of faux bois items from French fashion to place mats...

Clockwise from top left: Wood grain laptop decal bu Beepart.  Timber table by Gus Design, available at Unica Home.  Faux Bois coaster by Robot Candy. Chilewich faux bois place mats in driftwood.  Center: Runway look, Celine.

Finally, the bed I think I would have wanted as a little girl...

Imagine the dreams one would have in this 

Forest Canopy Bed from Anthro!

We'll keep you posted on whether or not we get into the Long Beach Flea Market for this Sunday!  Brooke found some crazy cool things yesterday in the Santa Barbara/Ventura area and I head to Palm Springs again today on a buying trip!

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.

Ecclesiastes 7:14

January Rose Bowl!!!

Thank you, thank you for another great month!  We had such a blast with all of you yesterday.  Thank you for your stories and thank you for your business!!!

We will have to go on a bell hunt!  All bells sold Sunday! 

Apparently everyone wants to ring-in the new year with style!!!

The black octagon table and cane backed chair sold as well.

We love these greek key book-ends.  They could also be used as anchors for a wall shelf... 

Available at our store!

Glasses no longer available.  Wonderful mid-century ice bowl 

with caddy available at our store.

Table and lamp no longer available.  Beautiful birds, decanter with glasses and compote available at our store.

Nothing in this photo is available!  

Often people purchase items from us and pick them up at the end of the day. We then have to tell people the items are already sold.  Sunday we had a woman say to us, "I am going to open a store and nothing is going to be for sale."  Ha, it was pretty funny.  Cheers to you beautiful decorator-Anne Hesch-look-a-like-lady!

(We love this little Shepard!  He and the black etched brass vases are available at our store.)

Filming Fun!!

Fun little perk; they filmed a pilot for a TV show at our booth early in the day.... One of the lines was: "You have a really big mole on your face. I mean that in a good way.  I like really big moles?"  Ha, we'll keep our eyes out for the show!

Great news, we are now going to be selling our finds at the Long Beach Flea Market! Please stay tuned for more information!!


Not so great news, the Rose Bowl is undergoing construction and there isn't as much room for vendors next month.  Because we are such newbies, we are wait-listed for next month.  *Sigh*  We will seriously miss all of you if we don't get in!! 

There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving. 

Acts 20:35 

Seeing Clearly in 2012

Lucite, acrylic, plexi-glass . . . a rose by any other name. But yes, these products are just as sweet!  We all may be familiar with the Kartell Ghost chairs (I'm guilty, I own both the adult and children's versions) but here are some lesser known products that are sure to add just as much style to your space!

Ugh, I love the lucite desk used with the warm brown leather chairs. This office is right up my color-way!  And can we talk about the urchin light fixture?! 

This scroll table by Plexi-craft is awesome!  I can see it used in so many places!  An entry way of a traditional home, waiting area in a salon, as a coffee table in any living room!

The softness of the sitting area in this 

Manhattan apartment is perfection. I want to cozy up in one of the chairs with a cashmere sweater and a good book! 

A plexi easel is a genius idea.  It wont compete with whatever it is you put on it and it will give whatever the art may be a great modern vibe.

What a genius juxtaposition! A familiar object; the steel I-beam, made out of a lightweight and clear material!  Gus Modern acrylic I-Beam table, $345 at Bobby Berk Home.

Gus Modern, acrylic "TImber-table"  Reasonable at $235 from 

Bobby Berk Home. 

Here is a little compilation of clearly amazing things....

Lucite trunk, Plexi-craft

Lucite antlers, Jayson Home

Fabulous lucite and case elepahnt tusk console table, 1st dibs

Pasha chair, Pedrali

Lucite letters, Wonderful Grafitti

Bookshelves, vintage finds! 

(Shout-Out) If I had more time I would love to follow this entertaining Blog, Design Crisis. The writing is great, easy to read and pretty much everything I would like to be!  The image here is from Designer Laura Day 

And, I feel you can't write about lucite without giving a nod to this iconic chair. . .(Kartell)

Happy 2012!!!!!

Weeping may remain for night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5