Men and Their televisions, and Other Stories of Heartbreak from the 'Burbs

Does anyone understand why men feel that for a room to be complete there must be a TV the size of an IMAX in it? I just saw this lady sell tons of her personal cherished items (heirloom jewelry box, Tiffany lamp, etc) so essentially her husband could get a big TV. Would he have sold any of his stuff for that awesome antique Gustavian daybed she wanted? (Hypothetical). Men...
In other news, we went to see the house on Saturday. It is amazing how deceptive pictures can be, and we'll leave it at that. So apartment life continues, as does the search for a not apartment (anyone know how to make a million dollars quickie quick?).
Onto the new project I am going to start on. Since I live dans une apartment wallpaper is strictly verboten. But I am super in love with Cole & Sons Pompeian wallpaper (through Lee Jofa). Taking a page out of the Nick Olsen handbook, I am going to paint the shower curtain in the pattern. Now I just have to decide which colourway I like best. What do ya'll think?

Zut alors...

Things that can just make the day pass by in an excessively sluggish manner:
1. Lack of reading material. I think the postman has some sort of aversion to my post box or me because things just take forever to find their way to me. Case in point, how bummed was I to see the April issue of Domino a whole two days ago in the grocery and it still hasn't made it into my hot little hands. Same thing with all other publications I subscribe to, so I am always tempted to buy them on newsstand because I just cannot wait the extra week or whatever to see the contents.
2. While completely creative bent running out of the key paint you need to complete your painting, and being stranded at your apartment. (I am totally afraid of driving and get all manic in cars, which somewhat limits my outings until the Husband makes it home in the afternoon to be my driver).
3. Running out of Tab Energy, which may be one of the more genius products ever. While I don't generally advocate energy drinks or any overly processed food/bev product this stuff is, as I previously stated, genius. Guess I have a date with my French press and will be resorting to coffee.

On a bright note it is Friday. Where did that come from? Seriously when I woke up today I thought it was Wednesday, then again I apparently thought there were spiders on the ceiling. My Husband related to me on the phone how while half awake I started shrieking about spiders. That is what he gets for trying to converse with me at 4:30 in the AM. I can't be held accountable for what I say while not completely conscious, after all.
Tomorrow will be exciting because we are going to look at a house. The place needs a lot of work but I think it could be fun and has a lot of potential if one is willing to put in the work to make the needed updates. It was built in 1975 and if I had to guess has only seen a couple of owners. The lawn is impeccable, which really makes me happy because it seems like people with well-maintained gardens generally have well-maintained homes. We shall see...

The Age of Innocence

Let me begin by saying, I love Kelly Wearstler. Last night she got all Victorian on us with her puffed sleeves. In this photo from Bravo's website she looks like she could be a sassy turn of the century governess. This ensemble more than any of the other's she has debuted on the show really made me giggle when I saw it. Sometimes I think she is trying to make the contestants laugh so that she can get cross with them. OK, but seriously, even though it made me giggle I kind of loved it all at the same time. I really appreciate that she applies the same sense of the unexpected to the way she looks, that she applies to her interiors. I also love that she has the verve to wear some of that stuff, totally defiant, and challenging. I don't know if I could wear some of that stuff out of the house, but hey I don't look like Kelly either. Anywho, it totally amuses me and to be honest I more look forward to seeing what Kelly will wear (and how Margaret Russell will react, if at all) then to the rooms the contestants turn out.
In addition to Kelly's take on the Gibson girl, yesterday one of my fave movies was on telly, Oscar Wilde's, The Importance of Being Earnest. If Top Design were filmed live I might be tempted to say Kelly had watched it also and had been inspired. OK now this is so silly but wouldn't Oscar Wilde and Kelly Wearstler be really fun dinner party guests together? I imagine lots of Lillet, lots of high fashion, lots of wit, and roaring with laughter all evening in the garden.

Close but no cigar...

When Style Court posted about a Holly Golightly inspired room, I was so inspired I popped Breakfast at Tiffany's right into my DVD player. She was right why hadn't Domino done a Holly room. Holly Golightly seemed to be the perfect essence of a Domino reading girl. Well today upon further inspection and research (read: lazy magazine re-reading) it appears Domino did give us a brief taste of updated Golightly style in their October 2006 Editor's Craving section. So if any of you have that issue and are so inclined, dig it up, and give your place a Hepburn vibe.

Adventures in DIY

When my Husband and I first moved into our apartment my dog, now our dog, decided that he would sleep on the bed in our room. Initially I didn't really have a problem with this. However, after destroying two duvets (comparatively not so bad, he devoured my Mother's sofa the first month I had him) I had a change of heart. The little pooch needed a bed of his own. So I set out to find one to my liking. Alas, there were none to be found. Then while I was thumbing through the March Elle Decor I noticed in Michael S. Smith's bedroom, his labradoodle had a bed made of fabric that coordinated to Michael's own bed. It occurred to me, "why don't I make the dog bed?" Never mind that I had only sewn once in my life (it was a pot holder, and not a single seam was straight). What I did have was a lot of time on my hands and a ridiculously patient Mother-in-law with a sewing machine. So I set out on the search for fabric. While Michael opted to use his own Indian Flower hemp, his dogs look like they are well behaved and mannerly, I chose a stain-resistant, heavy, durable outdoor material to stand up to my mischievous pup. I liked this fabric because it reminded me of a cabana. So here is my first foray into sewing ever, and I think it turned out pretty well. I'm really glad I used the black piping. I think it really pops next to the turquoise stripes. Hopefully it last longer than the duvets.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

So you're out of college and maybe your St. Patrick's Day plans no longer consist of binge drinking and either you or someone in your immediate vicinity passing out from imbibing just a touch to much Guinness. Just because you don't want to be a lush doesn't mean you can't celebrate with Guinness. This time however, pass on the drinks and pass out on some super cute fluffy bed linens offered up by Lulu Guinness. If you are a fan of Lulu's whimsical line of accessories you will love her home collection. All the fun of Guinness but no headaches or puffiness the next morning. Oh, and don't worry for those of you who still like to pass out on the floor, Lulu offers carpets in the line as well! Head on over to Lulu's web sit and check it out, and enjoy your St. Patrick's day safely and moderately :)

Coffee Talk

What girl doesn't love a good makeover? I think it is probably in our chemical composition to absolutely loooove makeovers. Make overs for people, pets, homes, whatever. If there are before and after pictures count me in! Since I spend a lot of time at home, correction: all my time at home, I get to watch a lot of television programming. Naturally I am drawn to ones that focus on interior design and you know, I'm feeling a little underwhelmed (this includes the much anticipated Top Design). Sometimes I see the "exciting" after and I actually say to the screen, "That's the after? Blah." But like any bad habit, I can't stop. These design shows have made me wonder two things and I would love to know your opinions on them;

1) Is it worse to have bad taste or no taste at all (for definition purposes we will say that people with bad taste seek out icky things while people with no taste don't really have a preference)?

2) If you did have only $1000 to spend on a room what would you spend the money on to make the most dramatic change?

In the words of Linda Richman, "Discuss."

My Latest Obsession (Vol. 1)

Lately I am just obsessed with pineapples! Maybe it is because I miss the Gulf Coast, who knows? Whatever the reason, I am obsessed with some obsession sauce on the side! So here are a couple of things that have struck my fancy. To the left are a pair of simply, and ridiculously gorgeous Maison Jansen table lamps, available at Thomas Brillet Inc. Added interest: Used by Miles Redd in Shyama Patel's Manhattan flat, featured in the November 2006 Elle Decor. Although, now that I've told you where to find this pair don't sneak off and steal them from underneath me because I am saving up for them, I swear!

Definitely on the more affordable side is this pineapple-mango candle housed in, what else, a white ceramic pineapple. Now I know on the first post I made that nasty comment on figurines, but I don't think that this is a figurine categorically. And it smells like a mango mojito. These are available in two sizes petite (around $16) et grande (around $50)at your local White Barn Candle Co. I think both sizes might have a new home on my bathroom vanity.(Seriously is it wrong to love these?)

And last but certainly not least a pineapple toile wallpaper from Timorous Beasties. You know a Southern girl can't resist toile! I think this would look absolutely fabulous on a ceiling. This wall covering does a great job of joining fun, fresh, colors with a traditional decorative element. (Don't worry they offer some not fun (?), traditional colorways too)
Anyway, if those aren't reason enough to incorporate some Pineapple into your interiors, keep in mind that Pineapples are symbolic of hospitality, another Southern girl staple.

Why didn't somone tell me about this sooner?

If you are like me and have an adorable husband with a penchant for tossing anything from financial statements to periodicals in the trash bin, just to have the desk cleared, you may want to acquaint yourself with Zinio. Zinio allows readers of fab publications like Elle Decor to order electronic back issues. This is genius because A) sometimes the print versions are scarce/non existent B) it has live web links C) it has a great zoom-y feature so you can check out that Brunschwig & Fils fabric really close D) you don't have to worry about your husband tossing it, unless he is fond of getting rid of electronics as well. However, we all know that a man would never get rid of anything electronic even if it actually needed to be thrown out.

Get thee to Zinio.com!

Maiden Voyage

This my first blog post, so it is kind of exciting in that new things type way. In this first post I'm going to cover some things that have really started to bother me, and maybe some of you out there can comiserate.

Things that are horrible/must be stopped:

1. Now that I am married and stay at home I am worried that my taste in things will begin to deteriorate and that if asked what my ideal "style" is I would say "French country," or even worse, "something from like...Tuscany?" If I see one more DIY show that chokes some housewife's living room with eighty shades of yellow and blue I'm going to wretch. Or better yet faux plaster/stucco etc. Can we see some real French country by way of aix en Provence? I want to see laid back, well-edited, elegant rooms not yellow damask ruffles.

2. Guests using books (expensive and otherwise) as beverage coasters. Who started this, and when did it become acceptable for you to put your soda on my 200$ book?

3. A certain bespectacled individual on Top Design. Unnecessarily rude to others, and nothing to back it up with.

4. Ridiculously sub-par housing options on the west coast. Seriously I don't mind doing some work and renovating, in fact I welcome the challenge. However in my search for a home/condo (who can afford an actual house out here?) I have seen more than a dozen houses with mint green carpet. What is that about? You know, it isn't just in a single room either; it is in every room of the house. Is this a California thing I didn't get the memo on?

5. Figurines. (E.g.; Sad clowns, precious moments, etc.)

6. Roommates who use your flat whisk to mash potatoes