My Orange Chairs

I have inherited some fabulous chairs from my grandmother. As the years go on I love them more and more.

They are a pair of petite channel back chairs upholstered in a pale orange damask. The slender french legs and scroll arm are finished in a warm tobacco stain. They are finished off with piping at the edges and brass nailheads at the arms and the bottom front of the chairs. The backs are very round and deep so I put some rectangular throw pillows on them, which added a lot of comfort for those hours I spend reading in them or browsing the internet on my laptop.


I was a little iffy about the color a few years ago but now I love them and they look quite perfect next to the bookshelves against the khaki colored walls.

I will need to get them reupholstered someday since our beloved kitty has mistaken these fine chairs for her scratching post a few too many times. Also, since they are many years old, they have started to show general wear and tear around the piping at the edges.


I have no idea how old they are or who made them but I'm determined to do a little research to see what I can find out!

Farewell Domino

The design community online is all buzzing about Domino Magazine deciding to close its doors. They will be publishing their last issue in March. If you have not checked Domino out before, take a look!

Claim Some Reclaimed Wood

I came across this company, Live Edge Design, Inc. who feature furniture made from reclaimed wood from trees felled by storms or left behind by forest companies.

I think some of these pieces would be great as one of kind, organic(and not to mention green!) additions to a home. The natural woods can fit easily in most design styles.

I love this dining table. The grain of the wood is so naturally beautiful and a piece of art.

These tree stumps look great in this lounge setting and are ever so popular right now. (see West Elm)

This side table is fun!

A Penny Round For Your Thoughts

Since I love working with tile so much, I love it when new product and trends emerge. I get tired of seeing the same old thing. Tile is actually a great way to bring pattern and color into your bathrooms, kitchens and floors. Tile can also help reinforce the style you are wanting to convey in your home be it modern or traditional. It's a worthy investment.

My new favorite tile that I'm excited to specify are the Penny Rounds. It's a refreshing look to the mosaic tile options and are starting to show up everywhere. Daltile has a like called Perth Penny rounds which are metallic, with stainless or copper. The copper tiles will actually patina over time which is a fun aspect. They come in every type of tile you can imagine so you can fit it into your design.

On the Subject of Color

To continue with the discussion of color. Interior Design Magazine published and article stating that Pantone has declared "Mimosa" to be color of the year. They state that, "Pantone chose the warm yellow shade to represent optimism and positivity in an uncertain economy." It is a little bright for my taste but apparently Pantone and Gap have teamed together and you may see it in some of your clothing this year.

Hurray for Gray!

I was emailed an article today from Sherwin Williams about my favorite color, Gray. I would like gray regardless of any current trends, however they claim that Gray is still going strong in current trends in interior design today. Many retailers are offering furniture washed in gray and gray fabrics as the base neutral color. To put it plainly, "Gray is the new Beige." It's articles like this that make me rejoice since it means it is that much easier to access my favorite color in all media and venues. Go Gray!

Organic Bedding

I have been admiring this organic bedding from West Elm for a few months now. If I was going to redo my bedroom set right now, I would definitely pick this. The pin-tuck look makes the duvet look so inviting!

It's made from 100% organic cotton, meaning no pesticides or herbicides were used on the cotton while it was growing. West Elm calls the bedding to be "spa quality" which basically translates to you will never want to get out of your luxurious bed!

Letters and Monograms Galore

One of the best places to purchase unique letters or monograms is at one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie. Their website has numerous styles of letters in various formats to meet your letter needs. My favorite letters they carry are their Zinc letters that can be hung on the wall. I used them in a previous project and find they are a perfect size, shape and font. These ones are about 8" tall by 5" wide. Anthro also carries oversized zinc letters that are about 25" tall.

Another new favorite store is called Urban Metals and Accessories. As I browsed their website I came across these letters which I would love to have someday for home or business!

Beyond window shades - it's art!

I have been in love with this product from Delia Shades ever since I clapped eyes on it in a magazine a while back. I think the shades speak for themselves as pieces of art, perfectly shielding light and in turn being illuminated in a pleasing manner.


This is my favorite design, as I have always been partial to white against dark gray, however they are all great designs and range from traditional to contemporary.






They will even put their prints on directors chairs!

Welcome 2009!

Best Wishes for the upcoming year!

I brought in the New Year with my husband and friends at a fabulous restaurant in Roseville, CA called Crush 29. It's a Napa style restaurant with natural stone and wood complimenting its fresh and delicious Californian menu. For New Years Eve, they had a fixed menu with wine pairings for each course that really brought out the delicacies of each flavor.


It was a great place to relax and enjoy the sophisticated atmosphere for a few hours to bring in the new year.



May 2009 be prosperous for you!