These are a few of my favorite things

As I run out of projects in the Melrose house I am starting to feel the withdrawals of decorating.  Although I'm not a creative person I am loving the process of re-doing the spaces in my house.  Though the thousands of hours watching HGTV and listening to how colors can "pop" and how important "texture" is, it's becoming ever more difficult to rein in the tweaking.  For those of you that don't care about this stuff, go ahead and hit your "back" button, but for the rest of you (anyone?) who dream of auditioning for Design Star, I'll share are a few things that I'm loving right now. What's on your list?

Purple/Plum
I'm starting to see this color pop up in magazines and for the heck of it threw it into my dining room and I love it:

Can't really see it from here but there are coordinating pillows on the chairs along the back wall and I found great paper with which I lined the shelves of my hutch.  David Bromstad says you have to repeat a color at least 3 times in a room and I'm a good pupil.















I am also loving retro fabrics:

Such fun fabrics!!  I want to make some pillow covers to add to the dining room for a little punch since there is no other pattern there.  In general I like simple fabrics but a little punch of color here and there is really fun.  

I think the Hollywood Regency style of decor is so beautiful - especially in a bedroom

 

It's characterized by lush fabrics, lots of shine like mirror or glass, and nail heads on upholstered pieces but it's also very clean looking at the same time.  Perhaps now my new bed purchase makes sense: 

Some of the upholstered beds are too feminine but this was perfect for me and I LOVE nail head detail.  I also didn't want something I'd be sick of in 5 years so this seemed a good compromise.

Going a bit to another extreme, I've been eyeing a new dining room table for almost a year now since my current one is really too small for the space.  Some day I'll plunk down the cash for this one or similar:

It's a chunky industrial, rustic table.  One of my design shows they described one person's style as "rustic contemporary" or rustic revival and I guess that's as close to what I like as they come.  I like pieces with character, I tend to like more masculine pieces (other than when "shiny" and "rusched" are involved) and I definitely like clean lines and simplicity.  I've been going back to this table every few months to see if it's on sale at Pottery Barn but no luck yet.

On an earlier post I had this mirror on my wish list and now it's mine!  I love Zgallerie where I got this fabulous sparkly dining room mirror.  Zgallerie is one of my favorite sites for a lot for ideas on cool and unusual pieces.

Well, that's a few fun things for right now.  I have major shopping itch now.  I guess it's obvious that one of my favorite things is online treasure hunting.  I wonder if there are any sales running....

Backsplash project

Although when I had my granite done I had a 4" backsplash added, I still felt that the space between the countertops and the cabinets needed a bit of something.  So, as we speak, my uncle is tiling the backsplash around the kitchen in white subway tile.  I'm using a mid-tone gray grout.  Can't wait to see the finished product!  Once it's done I'll post the finished photos of the whole kitchen to get the effect of the new backsplash and the new paint color.

Bathroom - check!

Aaaaaannnnd DONE! Looks amazing - love my contractor. Photos are missing the glass shower wall but you get the picture. Carrera marble subway tile on shower walls, Carrera marble basketweave tile on the floor, strip of gray glass 1x2 tiles as accent on shower wall. It looks and feels amazing. LOVE it!

Wish list for the Melrose house

Since I was in Boston last, chair rail has been added to the dining room, and the DR is re-painted including the new crown molding and chair rail. I chose a dark color for the top (called Texas Leather - kind of a gray-ish brown) and chair rail and down is white. Pictures will come when I get there to see it in person. With all the white molding I think it's going to look really striking with the dark color. Sooooo of course I need a few new goodies.




I'm coveting this mirror and starting to like the idea of a little sparkle in the room to go with the chandelier. I think I'm going to order this guy - love it!







I also ordered two little tables from Target and am not sure if I will use them in the dining room or living room.




The living room also got beautiful crown molding in crisp white. I don't know where I'm getting this new need for sparkly stuff in my house. But I think it gives a needed kick to my very tailored style. I'll post photos when everything gets in place and show all the new colors and molding.



The only lighting in the dining room so far has been from the chandelier which needs to change. I ordered two of these lamps from ebay:



When I bought the house I bought an old bureau from the former owner and with the mirror removed it is functioning as a buffet. I am thinking of painting it white or a robin's egg blue (!) but I need to check out the room with the new color first. Can't wait! Anyway, these lamps will go on the buffet to give some extra lighting.




I am also dying for this little table but I think I need to save my pennies - and it's way out of my normal safe style:


I can hear my sister Alanna now "Are you kidding me?!?" No, not kidding. I love it. There's even a little shine on the edge which is going with my new "hints of glitter" plan.





Can't wait to see if it will all come together. Off to order my new mirror!