Happy Halloween Everyone!

Here is a beautiful dark setting styled by Douglas Little, modern alchemist at large, from House and Garden. I love this image because as the caption states it doesn't matter if things are in or out, use them with wit and it will look good. I love the idea of a Victorian Miss Havisham type subtely dark Halloween rather than the cutesy stuff. Carolyne Roehm mentions in her book "Passion for Parties" that she went for a Miss Havisham look also.
So hope ya'll had a Happy Halloween and it was spooky enough nad sweet enough too!

What I L-O-V-E right now.

Without keeping you in suspense: Nail-head trim on upholstered anything! Maybe it has something to do with Fall. Fall makes me think of deep upholstered furniture and masculine studies. I love to see it used unexecpetedly, like M. Redd's zebra upholstered doors (I keep trying to find an area of my own home to do this in but I don't think I'm as terribly glamorous as Mr. Redd), and this home in the current issue of Cottage Living.
Interior designer Fran Keenan used upholstery with nailhead trim on her entrance to great effect. But then again if you are like me and don't know if you could pull off anything so chic without professional assistance you could always opt for these ridiculously neat croc-embossed nailhead stacking cubes from Dransfield and Ross. I think I may get them for my bathroom instead of an etagere.

Evacuation Destination

UPDATE: we are safe and sound, and were allowed back into our neighborhood. Luckily nothing to worry about although some of our friends didn't have quite the same luck. So please continue to keep Southern California in your thoughts and send positive thoughts this way.

So me and my new chair along with various sundry valuables that we could pack in the cars(wedding photos and dress, out of print books, paintings, dog and last but not least my Husband) followed a mandatory evacuation from our neighborhood to avoid the fires. Hopefully this will get cleared up as soon as possible, they say at most three days (damned Santa Ana's). But I guess the good news is I guess I won't be taking that History of Interiors exam tomorrow.
Anyways just wanted to say that I hope all of you in Southern California are staying safe and remember that things can be replaced but you and your loved ones cannot.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-1224-bn22fire4.html

Domino's Design Contest

I really love checking out the places featured in Domino's little contest. They get increasingly better everytime the gallery is updated. I am interested to see who will win, and also would love to know how many of the people who entered are actually in the design field themselves. Likewise it would be interesting to know which ones had used a designer in the process. I would be really impressed and excited to know if none of them were designers/had help and that there was just a bunch of people out there with great taste. That being said there are a couple on there that, there are some that are ummm not my favorites. For some of them I find it hard to believe they read Domino at all. Anyways hope everyone is having a great beginning to Fall.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Or at least let's hope so, even though I'm not having "fun." Today I signed the contract for my first house. Totally nerve-wracking. Mainly because I was at work and I had to have the contract faxed to me, at a Kinko's, because we do not have a fax where I work. So 80$ and a lunch hour melt-down later, the contract was signed and faxed back from whence it came. Inspection is on Friday so now it is just waiting till close I hope ( hopefully no issues at the inspection). Thankfully my Mother makes it on Thursday and will be able to go with me. Hopefully this will go by very quickly and I can begin to make my living place an actual home, and not have to worry about roommates. I cannot wait. I am very excited and can't wait to share pictures with ya'll once I get started.
As an informal Q&A drop me a line about your favorite washer and dryer and why they make your life amazing as I am in the market for a set.
OK and originally I was going to write about how I am seeing hourglasses all over and how they are the new Foo Dog/mounted Horn for this year, but I got sidetracked. So anyway, pictures of the new house forth-coming, I hope ya'll will like it.

Look What I Got...

In my first entry back, I thought I would share my new purchase. Try to disregard the apartment carpet and blinds. This early 19th century teak Dutch colonial chair is not only beautiful but useful as well. As you can see it unhinges and becomes a four foot high ladder. Ingenious no? It was a little expensive (or at least my husband will think it was) but totally worth it. I found it while on a "self-guided field trip" to Solana Beach for my intro to interiors class. Even though the program is pretty intense you gotta love any school that requires you to spend a saturday shopping.

In other news, glad to finally be back! I missed you guys.