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Heart and Home
I have wanted a nice full old fashioned tulle heart for a few years and never found anything that came close what I had envisioned so I have been formulating in my head for months how to achieve the look I wanted. I tried a few techniques with wire forms and tied on pieces and it was definitely not what I wanted. Last week in the midst of the absurdity I decided to get my mind on something else and this is what I came up with...
I had picked up the perfect color pink vintage tulle netting at an estate sale last summer and it turned out just the way I wanted. I didn't keep track of the amount of netting needed but I ruffled up 3" strips of netting by folding them in half and basting close to the fold, then I hot glued them to a styrofoam heart form. You could probably add whatever you like to decorate it with but for me that would take away from the simple beauty of the vintage tulle.
Enjoy your moments,
~ S ~
2010 Color of the Year
Pantone's prediction for this years hot color is.....
Turquoise.
I am not one to decorate based on this year's hot colors, never have been. I design with what I love, in or out. But if you love turquoise this will be the year for you to pick up some great pieces. Here are a few of my favorites so far...
Pottery Barn
Doxa Home
It is a soothing color and definitely looks stunning with white!
My version of this years hot color.
It is important to remember that when you decorate your home, never be guided by the years hot pick, only with what you love and the colors that make you feel good when you walk in a room.
On a lighter note, I think a hot pick in anything is someone throwing something out there and waiting to see how gullible we are and how many people they can get to buy it! ( yes, I was born a rebel )
Stay warm and enjoy your moments,
~ S ~
photo credits: shabbyrosechic.com, housebeautiful.com, countryliving.com, Pottery Barn, Doxa and technophobe
Sometimes....
When life makes you cry....
God can make you smile ....
credit : Shabbyrosechic.com
Shabby or Chic Fireplace Redo
Shabby Cheap to Much Better
So I hopped off my soap box and hopped on the painting wagon and look what I accomplished yesterday...
Yes I decided to paint the tacky fireplace in a warmer, creamy colored white
with the warmer white it doesn't blend into the wall, remains a focal point with interest without being in your face...look at me..look at me! Doesn't it look soooo much better? It was definitely worth it.
I also managed to paint two frames so hubby can put mirror in them. All of that in 6 and a half hours.( I really couldn't face my computer one more day, i needed a break and I am almost done with new website.) Note to anyone who paints this kind of brick, it took a half a gallon, use a cheap brush you don't mind ruining because I found that pouncing the paint on was a much more efficient way and only took one coat to cover. If I had brushed it I would still be painting and roller would have been far to messy. This kind of brick has lots of nooks and crannies and the grout was really rough. Be sure to use a stiff brush and brush down brick first to get off loose bits, vacuum then wash off, I used an old wet towel. I don't tape or use drop cloths if I don't have to. I am really all about instant gratification in my own home.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your moments,
~ S ~
Foreign Products, Simple, Shabby and Not Chic
I shop Target occasionally and last year I found 6 Name Brand, off white velvet slipcovers for dining room chairs that I had planned to use when I got the perfect chairs, well holidays are coming and although I don't have the perfect chairs, I have chairs that will do. So I whipped out my wonderful slipcovers to get my holiday decorating started only to be totally disappointed. When I took them out of the package I found that they weren't even all the same color, two had a yellow tint to them which I didn't notice until they were together, the sewing was puckered and uneven and two were actually shorter at the bottom hem than the rest. I tried steaming them and ironing them which did not help. This is not the first time I have been disappointed, I purchased a pair of curtains (same brand) with a rose print that were mismatched in length had a noticeable mistake in the print, I returned them 3 times only to find that was how they were made.
P.S. I have now been using them for 1 1/2 months and the seams are pulling apart and unraveling after being washed one time. Needless to say I will not be shopping the brand ever again.
It seems to me that along with jobs for American workers we have also shipped over our okay to make things of lesser quality, to take advantage of and poorly pay workers in other countries. As a business owner it is discouraging to see my choices for offering made in the U.S.A. products becoming harder and harder to find. As a consumer it upsets me that I am not allowed to make the choice between a cheap product made in another country and the exact same product made in the U.S.A. with a higher price tag. I think they would find that there are a lot of consumers like me willing to pay more to keep the jobs here even if I have to save longer to get it made in the U.S.A. Pretty soon there won't be any jobs left here except the minimum wage jobs left at places like Walmart, which by the way I personally have picketed by not buying there for over 8 years now, I am now adding Target to my cause. I am trying to replace items the shop has purchased that have been made in other countries with products that I know have been made with better quality and fairly treat their workers. I am committed to bringing in more items that have been made in the USA.
Now every once in a while I feel it is necessary to get on my soap box, I am stunned at the direction we are headed as a country. I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings in the process.
~ S ~
Upstyled Chic, Chic Bedrooms and Gift Ideas
I am loving my new upstyled chic and things are progressing slowly but progressing none the less with my home's redesign. I am taking pictures but we are jumping around on projects as money allows so when all the pieces are together I will post the pics and share all of my before and afters.
Chic Bedrooms
cottage chic ...
This room is a cross over, it has the cottage feel but if you got rid of the paneling on the wall and painted the walls white and kept everything else the same the room would become a more modern version of the other chic style. I know from your emails that some of you are not the chippy paint, knick knack type and you can still have the look without all the clutter and mess.
TIP... if you aren't happy with your headboards and footboards, slipcover them. You can have them custom made for you, sew them yourself or get a friend or relative that loves to sew do it for you.
Our Gift Ideas for the Bedroom
When you need a lot of style in a small space this Rococo accent table is a perfect choice. In the bedroom it can be used in a seating area or as bedside tables. Find it here...
Our chic carved wood tray table is a great accent next to your bed or in the guest bedroom. Perfect for evening tea or morning coffee.Find it here...
For a touch of romance these are beautiful placed on either side of mirror or used as sconces by the bed. Find it here...
This is one of my favorites and a romantic bedroom isn't complete without a big, white, soft, cozy, faux fur blanket. Perfect for snuggling up with your honey or your kiddies in the cold winter months. Find it here...
photo credits: House Beautiful, Country Living
Chic Designer Lamps
I absolutely love these lamps, I love them so much that I own a pair and have used them in a few of my clients homes recently, after seeing mine they couldn't resist!
I will be using them in my new living room. I am not crazy about vintage lighting unless it has been totally rewired which can be costly and because I have so many vintage pieces I really want to have some modern accents to freshen up the look.The pictures really don't do them justice and they are the perfect modern accent for a shabby, cottage chic living room, bedroom or office. The base is gorgeous , leaded crystal and they are stunning. I can now offer them to you through Shabby Rose.
Shop here
If your not into the roses they are equally as fabulous with a white silk drum
or ivory linen drum shade
My makeover is progressing rather slowly, maybe now that it is cooler I will start moving a little faster. I have been getting busier with my design business and of course my makeover is last on the list. But I did make a paint choice .... after careful consideration I have decided to go with "Ultra Hide White". I am tiring of the many faces of white, they seem to be too dull, too dirty, too non committal and have decided it is time to go for the pure, clean, white, white. This helped my decision...
Our home does not have a lot of natural light and the beige white from the previous owners has got me down so I am going for bright white, I am softening the look by using an eggshell finish and the contrast should make my vintage pieces look much better, so we will see....
Have a wonderful day, enjoy your moments and smile...
~ S ~
Photo: Lighting Shabbyrosechic.com Living room?
P.S. 10/6/09 last night 2 of the new shows sets included one of the same lamp bases and one had the floor lamp base and linen shade. Yes I know what you must be thinking....
and yes that is what I look at when I am watching the tube...
I will be using them in my new living room. I am not crazy about vintage lighting unless it has been totally rewired which can be costly and because I have so many vintage pieces I really want to have some modern accents to freshen up the look.The pictures really don't do them justice and they are the perfect modern accent for a shabby, cottage chic living room, bedroom or office. The base is gorgeous , leaded crystal and they are stunning. I can now offer them to you through Shabby Rose.
Shop here
If your not into the roses they are equally as fabulous with a white silk drum
or ivory linen drum shade
My makeover is progressing rather slowly, maybe now that it is cooler I will start moving a little faster. I have been getting busier with my design business and of course my makeover is last on the list. But I did make a paint choice .... after careful consideration I have decided to go with "Ultra Hide White". I am tiring of the many faces of white, they seem to be too dull, too dirty, too non committal and have decided it is time to go for the pure, clean, white, white. This helped my decision...
Our home does not have a lot of natural light and the beige white from the previous owners has got me down so I am going for bright white, I am softening the look by using an eggshell finish and the contrast should make my vintage pieces look much better, so we will see....
Have a wonderful day, enjoy your moments and smile...
~ S ~
Photo: Lighting Shabbyrosechic.com Living room?
P.S. 10/6/09 last night 2 of the new shows sets included one of the same lamp bases and one had the floor lamp base and linen shade. Yes I know what you must be thinking....
and yes that is what I look at when I am watching the tube...
Chic Style - Fall Colors
We are just shy of being three months away from Christmas and I can hardly contain myself. Although I am happy we are now into fall ( in the desert country it doesn't make much difference in temperature) it is hard to concentrate. I don't do much for Halloween, just enough to keep the kiddies happy. Thanksgiving is really all about my table because the day after is the beginning of my Christmas and I don't want to be bothered with cleaning up a lot of fall or Thanksgiving decorations because that would cut into my Christmas decorating time.
My fall color picks for this year are:
white, bronze (metallic brown) and pale pink.
I have spray painted many faux pumpkins white, cream and just a couple in pale pink. This year I am adding some decorations that I have painted in a gorgeous metallic bronze. Thank goodness the newest fad in pumpkins over the last few years has been white but they definitely cost more.
The hubby and kiddies can decorate outside however they want as long as they clean it up.
Love that you can buy white pumpkins...
Every year I go out in search of fall decorations to add to my holiday repertoire. Just remember anything can be painted.
Here are a few fall decorating ideas:
Photos above: Romantic Homes
Photo: marthastewart.com
Shoppng is half the fun, so get going and enjoy your moments!
~ S ~
My fall color picks for this year are:
white, bronze (metallic brown) and pale pink.
I have spray painted many faux pumpkins white, cream and just a couple in pale pink. This year I am adding some decorations that I have painted in a gorgeous metallic bronze. Thank goodness the newest fad in pumpkins over the last few years has been white but they definitely cost more.
The hubby and kiddies can decorate outside however they want as long as they clean it up.
Love that you can buy white pumpkins...
Every year I go out in search of fall decorations to add to my holiday repertoire. Just remember anything can be painted.
Here are a few fall decorating ideas:
Photos above: Romantic Homes
Photo: marthastewart.com
Shoppng is half the fun, so get going and enjoy your moments!
~ S ~
Eliminate the Shabby for Chic Room in 5 Easy Steps
Fall has almost arrived and that means the kids are back in school and the holidays are coming. Time to feather the nest, get ready for company and the winter months ahead. Here are 5 easy steps to a Chic Home room:
1. Simplify - Keep only what you use and love. If you have lots of things rotate them out throughout the year. Less is more.
2. Paint - pick out your favorite white and get started on your walls and any furniture you don't like the way it is
3. Rugs - Area rugs help anchor your room. Vintage or new. They area great way to help camouflage carpet or flooring that you don't care for.
4. Furniture - Bring in your furniture, be sure to leave some open space, light and airy is part of the shabby chic look. Use slipcovers, white of course and in washable fabrics if you want to change the look of what you have. If your room has too much furniture, the feeling will be heavy and cramped.
5. Accessories - This is when you can bring in some color. Edit, edit, edit what you have and keep it simple. Soft, squishy pillows, art and candles are all must haves.
Let your personality show! Have fun with it!
~ S ~
photo credits: House Beautiful
My Chic New Color Palette
I thought I would share with you my new color palette I am putting together for my living room /dining room/kitchen's makeover. I think It will probably take me right up to Thanksgiving to get it all done. My home is always at the bottom of my list of things to do.
The main color will be white but I found a vintage piece of silk brocade in a champagne color (perfect on a pillow), I have some vintage linen pleated curtains that I am reworking for my windows in the dining room and then some new fabrics.The rooms are all connected and visible so they will have to blend. I will be incorporating some dark wood for contrast, shiny silver and/or dark bronze for my metal accents and my color will be little touches of pink. I am going to Los Angeles next week to finish up a bathroom my hubby and I did for a client in Bel Air and will be stopping by a few fabric warehouses looking for a few more accent fabrics, some white denim ( would love to find some brushed white denim) and something in a dark chocolate maybe. The problem I have with fabric is that I can picture what I want in my mind, the hard part is finding it. I want my last few choices to bring in a modern, slightly contemporary feel for a little pop.
I have a pine armoire hiding my T.V. and I have already talked hubby into helping me make it over. He is going to mirror it for me after I paint it and I want to replace some of the molding. And we have to repaint the entire inside of our home. I will be purchasing some new and vintage pieces and reupholstering some of what I have. So next week I hope to find the fabrics I need and pick out the paint, hmmm I am thinking white or possibly white. (giggles)
Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Labor Day weekend!
~S~
