Oh, a girl can dream.

And dream in sparkles I will! I would not be in the least bit mad if someone got me this bit of beautiful for Christmas! Nope. Not mad at all 🙂


The shamelessly feminine Chanel Camilla Ring. Oh my.


*sigh*

Etsy Find: The cheerful paintings of Leelu and Piggy

I have another talented Etsy artist to share with everyone. These paintings invoke a sunny weekend morning where one has hours to linger over breakfast at the kitchen table.
Go to the Leelu and Piggy shop to see more!


mmm… my favorite. Cuppa Joe





yum!

Battle of the Paints! – and help my mom choose a color for the dining room!

I had a fun little project this weekend which was to compare Glidden’s new paint formula with a higher end paint. In this case they sent me Benjamin Moore to compare with their paint and both were a white eggshell base. I applied the paint directly on a wall in the dining room which is currently undergoing a little renovation, so it’s going to be painted over soon anyway.


The package and it’s contents that Glidden sent me. The papers with the black stripe though the middle were special testing sheets, which I didn’t end up using since I had a wall available.

Each can upon opening. This was the only place I saw a difference, was that with Glidden there was a layer of medium (a translucent layer) of liquid at the top, which I stirred in.

This is the Benjamin Moore swatch. It went on really well and with good coverage. It was a little thicker than Glidden and didn’t splatter.

I used a fresh brush and applied the Glidden swatch. It had a slightly thinner consistency and didn’t splatter either.

Glidden on the left, Benjamin Moore on the right.

All in all, and days after, I really cannot detect any difference between the swatches. I was really impressed with the one coat coverage that both paints provided. As far as wear over time I won’t beable to comment, but as of right now I can honestly say that I think performance is equal.

Now, for the really fun part! Like I mentioned the dining room is going through a little renovation, and will need to be painted. Below you will find the fabric my mom wants to use to make valances and curtains for the room.

There’s been some questions about the house so here’s some clarification: This is my parent’s house. It is a 65 acre farm in MD. The house is very country. The ceilings have salvaged beams, some of the walls have dark wood paneling, and there are wood burning fireplaces throughout. The fabric wouldn’t be appropriate in modern houses I agree, but it fits my mother (this is a lady who spends weekends baking bread!), as well as the country feel of her rancher.

I’ve tried to get the true color as close as possible. She wants to use the fabric as a jumping off point, and mom is leaning toward painting the room a warm, brickish red without too much pink in it, as seen on some of the flowers in the print. However, she is very open to some other suggestions too!

Here are the glidden swatches:
I’ve randomly assigned each one a letter and I also randomly rolled over one of the colors on the Glidden site to get the color name. Here is the link if you’d like to give me a color’s name. Or, you could just say something like, Palette C., 3rd row, second column – the pale tanish color. (just fyi, rows are horizontal, or across, and columns are vertical)

I really look forward to hearing your suggestions and I hope you’ll respond!

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

Glamorous greys and other gorgeous decorating ideas…

…all from Atelier Abigail Ahern. I am very, very excited about her new book, “A Girl’s Guide to Decorating.” You can read more about it on her site.
I would definitely like to incorporate more of the confidence and daring she illustrates in my own digs. I’ve only received a peek of the book but I will definitely be trying to check it out more thoroughly. What do you think of her style?





Love the hot pink accents!

This is a sketch of the living room above from the book which is accompanied with tips for furniture, texture, etc.

I just got a suede handbag very close to the color of those cabinets – so pretty!

I adore this home office! So bright, and alive but still serene.


A winter wonderland at my parent’s farm

I wanted to share with you some beautiful photos my dad took of their farm, Chestnut Creek Farm, in Maryland this weekend. We got several inches of snow on Saturday – and the result was quite pretty!

In the woods beside the back fields.

This is to the side/front of the house

A tree my dad keeps asking me to do a drawing of for him – a shag bark hickory

Remember when Remi was just a little puppy? – now he’s a big puppy!

Another view out the front

some little deer, wondering why my parents are up so early

Another view out the back

Pretty no?
If you want to see larger versions just click on the photo

The coziest, prettiest sweaters

How is it I’ve never heard of Spool No.72 until today?! Their clothing and accessories are righth up my alley! I definitely will be adding some of these feminine beauties to my Christmas list – how will I ever choose though. What would you put on your Christmas list?
See everything at Spool No. 72

I think I’d have to add this sweater..
…but I also need this gorgeous blouse…



oohhh..




I need this one too I think


So – what would you put on your Christmas list?

!!! Amazing modern kitchen appliance sale at Ideeli!

I’m really excited about this one – the deals are awesome. Kalorik’s stuff is super well designed and functional. These would be great in a kitchen where you’re trying to cut down on clutter, or are going for the modern, clean look. If you aren’t already an ideeli member (ideeli is an invite-only designer dicount site), click on this link for a free membership!

Here are just a few of the awesome things for sale:

Love the look of this tea maker – they also have espresso and coffee makers at the sale.

this steamer’s $33!

Oh so clever, modern, and elegant

I was really impressed when I discovered this furniture from Vincent Reardon. I was just filled with so many “why didn’t I think of that?!” moments.

This teapot is chic and adorable. The ability to keep warm with a tea light is great too!

Here’s another one – this sofa seems so intuitive, yet I’ve yet to see this before. My only qualm is it’s a little too modern for my tastes. Or I’d atleast like the option for the couch to be the same dark color as the table/ottoman slideout so it blends in when the whole thing is compacted.


It’s hard to know how sturdy this is – but it’s a great idea!

Modern elegance mixed with 1940s glamour

Not too many of us are blessed with the means and circumstances to live among such decadent furnishings, but we can dream! And besides, that’s what the glossies are for. So when I was flipping through some of last year’s magazines I rediscovered Ralph Lauren Home’s 2008 “Mayfair” collection. In fact, I’d posted some other shots from the Mayfair ad campaign in the August 2008 post here. I think it doesn’t hurt, especially in this season of giving to others, to give to yourself a little – even if it’s just for a moment, in one’s imagination, drooling over the keyboard.


oh that bed…that vanity…

I really like the clear to black candlesticks





I wear this same outfit when I have to go to the post office

via Ralph Lauren Home



via Color Me Happy

Another great artist on Etsy – and 20% off for you!

I was lucky enough to be offered a 20% off discount for you guys from the shop Depuis on Etsy. I think her photography is really lovely and the best part is it would match with almost any decor style! Here are some of my favs:






If you see something you like, mention “Decorology” in your order for 20% off. Go to Depuis’s Etsy shop to see all her work.

If you live in the NYC area, check out her work at the Park Slope craft fair this Sunday.