Slap some paint on it!

One of my blogging besties Erika asked for a close-up of my bedside tables so here they are. I have purchased about half my stuff through my own design showroom and the other half is stuff I find on Ebay or Craigslist and change up. I got these bedside tables on Ebay and they were yellow and covered in tons of varnish. I loved the size of them and the brass handles and base. It definitely needed loads of elbow grease, so I had some local guys clean up the brass, strip the old varnish, and re-lacquer in white. I love them!

Then I have a client who desperately needs this bamboo cabinet. I would have the same guys who did my lacquer job paint it out white for her dining room...

Basically, my motto in life is "slap some paint on it". As long as it has great lines anything looks gorgeous painted white.
Till tomorrow, dumplings!
E

What a difference a weekend makes!

Those of you who know me know that I often toss everything I own and start fresh when I move. Well, I have decided to do that but NOT move. So we will get to experience the "tiny apartment" two different ways. This weekend I painted the bedroom and hung curtains. My painter ditched me so I did it all by myself! Argh... Here is the before:

 And here is the between - sold shelving, faux moroccan rug, art and pouf. Added lacquered bedside tables, lamps, and rumpled new bedding (sorry for not cleaning for pics!)....

And here is the after - painted walls a soft cream, hung cream linen drapes, added Beni Ourain Moroccan rug and Christian Chaize beach photo over bed.

Once again, sorry for not cleaning up or making bed for pics, but I just wanted to give you a taste of what is happening. I think the beach photo, cream plaster lamps and purple John Robshaw throw are making this room a little too beachy for me, but I will live with it for a while. I have another idea for more sophisticated art, more glam lamps, and a hanging pendant or chandelier. I will also order a stingray covered chest from R & Y Augousti, but that takes six months to come in.
Stay tuned for changes to the living room - and let me know what you think so far!
E

Butterflies are free

Did you ever see that movie with Goldie Hawn? So cute. Anyhoo, I was in Jon Vaccari this morning and saw this antique glass dome with a butterfly collection inside and have been researching it online for the last three hours. My extremely expensive taste dictates that I only like these antique French versions, which range in price from $2400-$4600. Figures.
But I think this would be a great project for a crafty person. You could collect all the separate vintage elements and put it together. The operative word there is "you". I am too lazy and thus will be saving my pennies to get the real thing one day. *sigh*
E

I mint to do that...

There are only a few things I know for sure: that I will always live beyond my means to have beautiful things, that I look much better as a blond, that I don't get along well with people who say things like "lighting is jewelry for the home", and that I hate the color MINT.
And then I saw these rooms and my thought processes changed. I realized that the background I chose for my website and blog is basically mint (although I prefer to call it celadon). So what am I supposed to do with this new knowledge? It's a whole new world of possibilities, people.
E

Where should I go?

So running a small business alone has a lot of downfalls, including the fact that I never get to travel because I am the only one here and I have to be open! I only close once a year, during Mardi Gras, because the streets are impassable and the city is basically one big party. So I have a six day window in February to travel and I am already planning my next escape. Where should I go?

Australia

I have many blogging pals to drop in on in Australia, it will be summer in February, I have never been there and I love the design going on in Australia right now. However, the flight alone will eat up two days of travel time and I don't have a close friend in the area to go and do things with.

Buenos Aires

I have always wanted to visit Buenos Aires, I love the architecture and interior design aesthetic, I think the shopping will be well priced, I speak the language, and the nightlife will be spectacular. However, it could be slightly dangerous for a girl alone and I don't know anyone locally.

Florence, Italy

I have already been to Florence and it is one of my fave cities in the world (along with Bangkok). I am loving the modern design mixed with old world architecture, and could happily spend four days just sitting in a cafe and walking the streets. I would love to shop and visit museums and could probably have a hot romance if I wanted, since I love Italian men and Italian men love me. hahaha Only downside is the travel time and once again, I don't know anyone locally and have already been there.

Istanbul

I have longed to visit Istanbul for a very long time. One of my all time fave design firms (Autoban) is located there, and Antony Todd opened a store there last year. It has amazing sights (like the Hagia Sofia) and shopping. I also have a friend who is a local and could show me around and possibly I could stay for free. Only downside here is the travel time and cost of flight is pretty expensive...

Paris

I just saw Midnight in Paris (great movie!) and it reminded me of how much I love this city. I have already been there, and don't really want to revisit places I have already been until I go to the others, but I am greatly influenced by Parisian designers and there are many I would love to visit in person. Also, Paris is a great city to see alone (or with a lover) so I could wander the flea markets for hours. However, I don't have a local friend and I have already been.

Mexico City

Mexico City is probably my vote. It is the closest, so the flying won't eat into my travel time too much. I lived in Mexico for years so I am very comfortable there, and am fluent in Spanish. I love the big city and all the museums and shops and restaurants. There are some really awesome modern hotels that are very inexpensive, and I have a friend locally who could travel with me! Can't really think of a downside to this one, except it is not as exotic or exciting as the others.

So what do you think? Where should my next trip be? Since I didn't get my condo I have some money to burn and I love to travel by myself and be adventurous. Help me decide!
E

Celebrity Home: Courtney Cox

Of course the new Elle Decor is all about Courtney Cox' house. Her designer was Trip Haenisch, but of course she is another one of these actors who says they are basically a decorator and want to do it themselves with just a "sounding board" to bounce ideas off of. I love Courtney (an Alabama girl) and I love her show. And make no mistake, I love, love, love the house - it is exactly my style. But I am so tired of looking at homes that are gorgeous architecturally, with just three or four modern upholstered chairs tossed in the room and a simple gray and white scheme. I am doing that already in my tiny, cheap-ass apartment. I only want to look at a celebrity home because it is aspirational, unattainable, and super duper creative. Am I being bitchy?
Oh, well. It's that time of the friggin' month.
E

Did you know?

Did you know these beds are covered in Olatz linens (the line by Julian Schnabel's ex wife, Olatz Schnabel)?

But the same look can be done much cheaper with these Lands End pieces...

Word.
E