I cannot even begin to tell you how glorious the weather in Austin has been… high 70s, crisp breezes, the scent of roses and freshly mowed lawns wafting about. The weather here is usually so HELLFIRE HOT by now that this spring seems extra special and it’s really hard to do anything other than lie on the ground and stare up at this:

I love it so much that I just want everything to be green right now…

Green kitchens.

Green paint.

Green wallpaper.

The perfect green accent.

In fact I’m considering a little living room switcharoo to bring in more green, inspired by this:

Hot. Sex.

Should I maybe put my new blue/navy rug:

In the front of the living room:

And put the red rug in the back of the living room?

Please pardon the bad styling and photography. I did move about 500 toys out of the picture, so I kind of rule.

I’m not convinced red rug will be ok next to those green chairs (it’s definitely not as vibrant as my picture shows, but it’s still dark raspberry red), however blue rug could be looking mighty fab with my giant fancy new Jenny painting:

And some new pillows made from this Robert Allen fabric:

I don’t know… it’s tough to say how this will look in real life. Could be good crazy. Could be bad crazy. That’s a lot of squiggly lines and a lot of black and blue together.

When I can pull myself away from tree gazing I hope to move some things around. This is just the first configuration I’ll try… I have a lot of big rugs now.

Of course, I also want more big rugs.

Of course, I also also want to stay married.

What do you think the chances of success for this new look are?

More than 50/50 = furniture moving time.

[images via pinterest and my house]

Ebay. It is the mother. The life giver. The font of greatness.

At least I think so.

Today I straddle the line between insanity and genius. You may decide I have jumped the shark, what with my bad iphone picture posts and now this. I say you may be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for. Turn out the light…

Don’t try to save me.

So the other day I was cruising one of my favorite antique/thrift shops Uncommon Objects and this peeped out from behind the rabble, and by rabble I mean piles of lampshade forms, taxidermied hooves and dusty crocheted blankets. Who buys that crap? Anyway, obviously it caught my eye because it’s NEON and AWESOME. And it was only $49.

For some reason (poverty) I didn’t buy it and I’ve been sad ever since. Enter ebay. Same poster, $19.

They had this one, too.

Now I am kind of a snob about art. I try to only buy original stuff, but I’ve been known to buy vintage posters now and then. I really like how heavy and good these looked in person. Nice paper stock, tight line quality, super saturated colors.

These are so crazy… I imagine them in an all white room with fantastic molding. Here and here.

I am obsessed with this, but it’s $120. Still cheap, but not dirt cheap. It would look fabulous in my entry way, though.

I don’t know. I just couldn’t help myself. I love cats.

This is would shine like a star (duh) in a light cool colored room.

Hand screened. Big. Well under $100. Amazing colors.

There are a lot of ridiculous tweety bird penis booby posters out there, I can’t lie. But there are some real gems, too.

If you buy one, please skip the blacklight unless you are 19 and need some ambiance to go with your acid and Meat Beat Manifesto.

Not that I would know anything about all that.

In other news, sorry I haven’t posted any big awesome house tours or rug buying guides yet. The babes have been so sick it’s dumb and I have to type most of my posts one handed.

Hopefully on to bigger and better things next week.

Until then,

Peace. Love. Other trippy stuff.

One of my favorite craigslist search terms is “Italy” or “Italian,” because I know a sleek sculptural piece that wields an uber designy flavor will sharpen up any room. The right Stilnovo fixture will take any 18th century palazzo straight into the 21st century, just as the perfect pair of Gio Ponti chairs will offset the stuffiness of a roll arm sofa or super traditional fabrics.

And in the interest of international relations, let me add that I’m not anti France, Germany, Denmark, Eastern Europe, or any of those other furniture making countries. It’s just that craigslisters can’t seem to find many labels except those that broadcast the pedigree of anything 90s Scandinavian orange teak veneer, but somehow the Made in Italy label has the aura of cash flow about it, so that usually merits a mention in ads.

Beware of Copenhagen Imports unless you know who Ettore Sottsass is and enjoy an ironic nod to his sensational but perhaps not so versatile aesthetic… I’m pretty much talking about cheap 80s black lacquer and red leather mushroom sofas. Can these things be awesome? Yes, but you better have a plan for all that swag or things will get ugly fast.

You know what’s not ugly? These rooms. You’re welcome.

[Pinterest]

I’m about to bombard you with a series of roundups, because that’s all I have time for. Hopefully they’re good roundups, rather than roundups of pinecone arrangements and shapeless taupe sweaters. These are special obsessions that I have been carefully manicuring for years. It’s taken me quite a while to cull the what-I-really-love wheat from the what-fashion-dictates-I-should-love chaff, but in my golden years I have finally found what truths I hold to be self evident. And if you can follow all that punctuation/aphorism drama, you get a gold star.

So hot on the heels of my quilt love comes another textile that I want to wrap my naked body in and snuggle up with all night long. Even more. I be talking about antique tapestries, y’all. I’m smitten by the muted tones, intricate details, and sense of gravitas they bring to a room.

That just happened. If you aren’t as excited as I am about this, GET EXCITED.

Robert Couturier is and will always be my decorator boyfriend.

See what I mean about spending the night with some tapestries? They’re giving me the bedroom eyes.

Tiny picture, amazing idea. I would definitely rub my nether regions all over a tapestry upholstered settee.

Zoffany’s new tapestry print Arden sports unicorns, by golly! Pure as Lancelot and Guinevere, wink wink, nudge nudge.

Zoffany even makes a tapestry inspired wallpaper. You know you want it in your life. Hot sex.

Sure, I may be a smidgen sleep deprived. But I am right about this — tapestries are awesome.

The end.

[pinterest]

Ben is pretty tolerant of my decorating whimsies. He let me choose the wood flooring in our house. He let me paint the dinette peachy pink. He begrudgingly allowed me to paint his office… twice. Basically I get to control all aesthetic decisions in our house.

Except for the pink curtains.

If you will recall, I planned to do double height curtains in our great room. Well I’m too tired to tackle that expensive problem right now, so I decided to just throw a pair of cheap (but good) Ikea linen curtains on the lower windows to allay my neurotic empty window fixations. I chose some pretty basic flax linen curtains and figured everything would look kinda like this:

Ok, and I may have taken the liberty of switching out the navy chesterfield for a pair of those Ikea Mellby chairs, because in my heart of hearts I know a pair of chairs (or maybe a chaise) would be best for my house… also, for anyone doubting the quality of Ikea’s new leather wares: go sit on them. They’re really nice soft pebbled leather. Totally worth the price.

Anyway, the mockup isn’t perfect but I think it proves a priori that the flax curtains would be just fine and we should hang them and move on.

But…

And:

Plus:

Maybe a little too girly, but still:

Finally:

Yeah. Pink curtains keep whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

And of course Ikea sells pink linen curtains, so I mocked that beeswax up.

I switched the art because I think pink works best when mixed with dirty colors… otherwise it comes off as juvenile and/or cloying.

So now it is super girlytown up in there. Ben also hates the lady painting, but that is just wrong.

What do you think? I would say the board does not accurately reflect colors, that the curtains are warmer and and that there is definitely baby pink in the rug even though you can’t see it in the board. Overall the rug is more raspberry than red.

Or perhaps I should just go halfway to girlytown with the lady painting and flax curtains? I could probably ask my sweet MIL to sew coral pink velvet piping on the curtains to up the oooo ahhhh factor.

So, for $100 which curtains should I choose? Flax? Or risk the wrath of my normally mild mannered husband and demand pink? I am, after all, about to be vastly outnumbered by penises and I don’t really think he has a leg to stand on.

Ahem. Insert joke here.

And another joke.

Ignore my morning prurience. Instead tell me which art and curtain combo you like.

Thanks.

[Head Over Heels, Ruthie Sommers, Pinterest]

After today’s post you may doubt yesterday’s words and fear that I am headed squarely into geriatric territory… hopefully not, but this morning I couldn’t remember where the coffee cups were, so you never know. Anyhow, let’s talk fringe — you know, those strings that hang off stuff. We could also call it bullion if you want to get fancy. Whatever it is, I like it (as evidenced by a previous post I penned on the topic). Is fringe antithetical to all things clean and minimal? Uh, maybe. Will it confuse my Roomba as it attempts to vacuum under the couch? Probably. Let’s see if obscuring form and laughing in the face of function is worth it, shall we?

Jeffrey Bilhuber pairs jewel tones with a fringed, skirted foyer table. I’m starting you fringe neophytes off easy.

ps: curtains!

Celerie Kemble loves hairy fringe, but you must check out the whole picture:

That amazing chandellier by Guglielmo Ulrich blows me away, but I like the fringe, too. The pink Dr. Doolittle settee scares me a little.

Richard Shapiro does (back to back) brown linen sofas with matching bullion for House of Veranda — crisp and tailored. Again love the jewel tones. Someday when I buy a big girl couch I’m considering this color. It’s warm but plays well with brights and neutrals.

Miles Redd goes grandma chic, but I would snatch that sofa out of this room and dress it down in a heartbeat.

And still my favorite, so I’m shamelessly reposting it: Pamplemousse does arty fringe. I want to have sex with that sofa. Or on it. Who cares? Sex… sofa.

Now I know my pal Christian is probably about to ban me from his contacts, because he hates the fringe so much. But I want to know what you think… are you crossing me off the awesome list, too?

I was already on it, right?

Just remember the immortal words of the great poet and sage Kenny Loggins (or whoever actually wrote the song):

Out along the edges
Always where I burn to be
The further on the edge
The hotter the intensity

Highway to the danger zone
Gonna take you
Right into the danger zone

Go there.

After Friday’s post it has become clear that curtains are a controversial topic. Some love the sweeping luxury of cash, and some prefer the crisp modern asceticism of roman shades. I myself used to be firmly anti curtain — that is until I bought my first pair of white linen curtains from Ikea (Aina) and saw what they could do for me. They gave soft edges to my skimpy windows and no frills architecture, and somehow the texture just made everything look more expensive — mostly because it was. Curtains are pricey, and it’s going to take a while to sort out exactly what I want to happen in our great room. I can’t afford to make mistakes and do things twice over. So while I’m busy mulling the finer points of pinch pleats, and agonizing over white vs taupey natural vs soft indigo, have a look at these pictures and let’s talk Delft.

I know some of you think that blue and white porcelain is headed down the primrose path of grandma regency, but I give you Exhibit A in its defense. Everything about that picture is genius. Except for the sad clam. Sad clam wants to go home.

And just look at that kitchen — it’s ridonkadonk. Am I planning to go out and swath our kitchen in billions of expensive blue tiles? No. But the world is a better place now that someone else did.

I don’t really need to defend this, do I? Except that I would use those roses for kindling.

Apparently this is tiny picture day. Sorry about that. Although I do not care for Tory Burch’s clothing or shoes, I find her living room to be utterly charming. Mossy green + delft + tigre = yes.

Here is Mary McDonald on better behavior. I want a pair of giant Chinese porcelain planters with lemon trees in the worst way. And just in case you were wondering — I do know that China and Delft are different places. I am just not particularly picky today.

ps: did you notice the curtains? I like them.

Now this shit be kinda crazy. I do not like matchy matchy — pretty much ever — but there are some nice elements here. I’ll leave it for you to decide what they are. Just choose wisely else the swift hammer of my judgement and condescension shall fall upon ye like the mighty thunderbolt of death.

Perhaps I got a bit carried away there. Many Rush Limbaugh jokes were discarded in the making of that sentence… I decided that death seemed a little safer.

And anyway, I’m just kidding. I love reading all your comments — whether you agree with me or not.

You guys make bedrest tolerable, and I thank you for that.

[House Beautiful, Yoko Only's pinterest, Grant K Gibson, Tory Burch, Mary Macdonald, Jorge Elias via AD]

Because that’s what I’ve been doing — sitting on the couch and staring at the fireplace. A lot. You may recall that when we moved in the fireplace was a disgusting orangey brick atrocity, a horror of mid 70s suburban design. Well, it’s still brick and it’s still overwhelming, but at least it’s not orange anymore.

Does this fireplace make me look fat? Thanks a lot, wide angle lens. But I digress. Look! It’s white now. Simply White, to be exact. And the wallcolor is Cappucino Froth at 50% formula (thanks, Sanders!). I don’t exactly hate all the whiteness, but what I really want to do is rip out the entire fireplace and have a smooth wall with a regular old mantel. Sadly that’s not going to happen, what with me on bedrest and Ike throwing cookies all over the floor in a mad rush to beat me to the tv (my parenting skills are without parallel).

So let’s discuss what I could do with this white wall of shame. Here’s another view:

Let us not discuss the peskily persistent speakers, the hideous magazine rack, or the fact that my house looks like a dorm room because I can’t have anything on the coffee table but toys. You are allowed to notice our West Elm Niche tv credenza. I think it looks ok, but that wall definitely needs some spicing up. Oh, and we have a new coffee table.

Ok, back to the fireplace. We can’t rip it out, so I’m thinking we need layers. Lots and lots of layers. Perhaps something like this hung just below the top of the fireplace from a quilt rack thingie:

And then maybe a mantel on which picture(s) and small lamps might rest in front of the tapestry:

I would prefer something a little less chunky, but I think a reclaimed beam could add some warmth… not sure how difficult it will be to mount onto brick without cornices, though. Moving on:

A pair of Delft planters (with neato plants in them) flanking the firebox, to cover up the hideous vents that I want to rip out and destroy with the hot heat of my hatred.

You do know that delft is the new black, right?

Whoa there, Mary McDonald. You a little crazy.

And I don’t know. That’s all I’ve got so far. Maybe a sheepskin on the ledge between the potted plants to add some warmth? Maybe the Moroccan tray from our old kitchen, this time perched above the very tip top of the fireplace?

Sigh. I miss our old fireplace.

It might draw your eye up in a weird way, but the space above the new fireplace between the windows just feels blank.

Ok, what do you guys think? Any interim solutions to turn this sow’s ear into a silk purse? Please let it be relatively inexpensive…

Thank you, Rebecca, for making my day with that comment. I started to google TMO just to see what popped up, but decided I’d like for my eyes to live to fight another day. Anyway I am moving forward with TMO, mostly because I can’t think of what other type of rug might come in such an odd size as 5×11 or so — except for a custom job, of course. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. In the meantime, I’m wide open to alternate suggestions if you happen across anything amazing! and spectacular! that simply must be shared.

Let’s all take a moment to assess the potential for TMO success.

Some of these images came from The World of Interiors, and some came from this silly post I wrote a while back. Read it. I used to have a sense of humor.

And now friends, I have to scoot. Must see doctor about increasingly scary pregnant stuff. Please cross your fingers and toes and eyes and boobies and man parts for me.

Thanks.

Remember when zebra rugs made everyone go all swoon! and lurve! and heart it so much! Ah, the 80s. Kidding — that was just a few days ago. The internet in all its infernal efficiency has shortened the trend cycle almost to death, as in it’s busted before it even begins. Case in point: I find myself yearning to jump on the leopard band wagon because it’s trendy and I have been inundated with eight trillion hot ass pictures of fancy leopard sundries that make me want to run out and tattoo leopard spots all over my face. But if I invest in reupholstering a pair of wingback chairs in leopard velvet (something scalamandreish that magically costs about $40/yd hahaha), or — even more attainable – a leopard rug, will I regret hitting a wave that’s already crested?

But I’m also lusting for leopard because it’s dirt colored. Thank you, evolution, for considering the unavailability of showers in the wild for our feline friends. I, for one, support all things invented by necessity. And if you have a toddler you know patterns and dark colored fabrics are a necessity. Toddlers are a lot like wild animals.

Also leopard is just really pretty.

So what do you think? Is leopard a classic — worthy of an investment piece? Or is it better used in small, easy to swap doses — like pillows and throws?

Due to a major case of analysis paralysis (and a very tight budget), the fate of my living room decor depends on your opinion.

[via This is Glamorous, Barclay Fryery, via My Interior Life, Aerin Lauder's couch two ways, Miles Redd]

Yeah, I still want a blue velvet sofa. But when Jenny from MFAMB started saying things like “folex” and “lint roller” I got a little skeered. Maybe some people are better at keeping their hot stuff tidy, but I am in kid vomit and sticky jello red alert phase. Not that it’s stopping the sexy feeling I get from gazing upon such beauties as these:

Purdy.

As I type this, I remember that I may have a slice of cobalt velveteen goodness of my very own:

Oh yeah. That guy. Somehow he has escaped Ike’s jelly period unscathed, mostly due to the magic of a sheepskin cover and general neglect.

Which is why I think I’m going to sell him. Her. It. It brings tears of sadness to my eyeballs, but our bedrooms in New House are just so much smaller than they were in Old House. Blue velvet rocker must go.

Let me know if you’re interested.

In the meantime, don’t think about this:

Scary Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet… don’t think about it!

Later, taters. Sleep with the lights on tonight.

All these peachy pink walls are giving me the blues, but not in a weepy wimpy way. More in a, I must have cobalt blue velvet stat, kind of way.

Case in point:

This fabulous vintage tufted sofa with brand new blue velvet upholstery just popped up at a local dealer’s shop. Sadly, I know this particular dealer will be charging 1st Dibs prices. Double sadly, that upholstery in my house would go from pristine to a jelly smeared nightmare in 3.2 seconds.

But look how good FloLo makes peacocky blue look with a juicy pink palette. Delish.

Almost as good as my girl Naomi Stein’s fabulous Klein blue and pantone pink office nook. Genius, no?

Go check out the rest of her amazing apartment reveal over at Design Sponge.

And then please report back to let me know where I can get an amazing kid friendly blue sofa.