New Take On A Favorite

I've always been a fan of starburst mirrors, but I've been seeing these rectangular shaped versions lately.

 They seem so modern and fresh.

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I think the contrast of a rectangular mirror would look amazing hanging over a demilune table like this one in an entryway.

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Have you noticed this trend?! M.

Project in Progress Media Area - Before and Afters

Finally.  FINALLY.  We are finished with our media area (for more information, read my previous post).  We encountered quite a few snags along the way; but in the end, we are thrilled with the result. 

Before . . . 

 And After . . . 

Again, Before . . . 

After . . . 

I ended up going with the P&L Silver Mink on the backs and sides of the bookshelves and left the shelves the trim color. 

 It would have been too much to do the shelves in the Silver Mink given all the books and dark accessories.  The lighter shelves are a nice balance.

I went with the antique brass library lights, and I just love the feel it gave the entire wall.  Now, I feel like the arches serve a purpose.

Lastly, I can not tell you how thrilled I am to have an mantel.  Look out Christmas 2012, I get to hang our stockings from the real deal!

Even though I was not crazy about the idea of hanging this very large TV over our fireplace, I have to say we have been hanging out as a family in this room every single night.  For me, that makes it worth the compromise! M.

We actually did the refinishing work on the mantel ourselves; and I took pictures along the way.  I will be posting about that process in the next week or so, if you're curious.  Have a wonderful day! M.

Pairs are Good

In honor of Valentine's day, here are a few examples of couples of a different kind.

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Have an excellent weekend! M.  

Detail of the Moment - Upholstery Tacks

Furniture Tacks

I'm still in love with nailhead trim.  Honestly, I'm not sure I'll ever tire of it.  But lately, I've noticed furniture tacks on furnishings.  Some reupholsters differ on what these are actually called (some would argue they are all considered nail heads) but the tacks tend to be a bit smaller than a traditional nailhead; and they are spaced farther apart to give you a very French look.  

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Here is a great DIY from Sherry at Design Indulgence on making your own bench using tacks.  I think it's a fabulous look. 

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Not sure if it's the tack or the spacing that I love - maybe the combination.  

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Happy Thursday!!! M.

Website Highlight

If you love interiors, the real estate market, and celebrity gossip, then you MUST visit this trifecta of goodness. 

Here are a couple of my all time favorites:

Your Mama Keeps Hearing . . . 

It's about Jennifer Anniston and her $24,000,000.00 home(makes me laugh out loud).

Jenny Craig Trims Her Real Estate Fat

Honestly, I did not know that Jenny was even a real person! Who knew.

At any rate, if you have some time and need a pick me up laugh - check it out!  M.

Latest Obsession

Lately, I've been obsessed with Joseph Frank fabrics.  Joseph was an Austrian born architect, artist, and designer who adopted Swedish citizenship in the latter half of his life.  The man was revolutionary.  What I find so interesting is that his work is still shaping and affecting the trends we see today in design.  In addition to all his accomplishments, Joseph designed some of the most stunning fabrics. 

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Like Fortuny, there are so many knock offs of his beautiful fabrics that it's sometimes difficult to determine if you are looking at an original design or not.  This is an original.

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I love the use of this bold fabric in a very confined way.  I also love the idea of pairing it with some lush fabrics like the velvet in a rich color.  By keeping the rest of the fabrics in a similar color, the roman shades become a feature in the room.

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These pillows would look amazing in a totally neutral space, so they become the focal point.

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So cheery in a breakfast room.  It also feels very current when you pair it with the beaded chandy.  Love.

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Shower curtain in a child's bathroom.

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He also created an entire collection of wallpapers, but that's an entirely separate post!

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In this example, the idea is to layer tons of pattern.  This creates a very modern eclectic feel to the space.

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Hope your week is off to a wonderful start.  M.

Antique Lesson - Knife Box

Believe it or not, in the middle ages people usually brought their own cutlery with them when eating away from home.  Later, as cutlery became more readily available, decorative cases, especially for the knives, were often left on display in the dining room.  These beautiful works of art were the ingenuity of the english cabinet-makers during the last quarter of the 18th century.   

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Mahogany and satinwood were the woods most frequently used and many were inlaid with lighter toned woods.  Look at these beautiful examples. 

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I think a pair of these would be so stunning on a buffet. 

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Here's a close up of the inside of the boxes.

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And this one includes the original cutlery.

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  These graceful receptacles, often made in pairs, still exist in fairly large numbers and are often converted into stationary cabinets for a more practical use.  As in the example below.

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Prior to knife boxes, were these knife urns.  They were placed on pedestals flanking a sideboard.  An English innovation for high-style dining rooms in the late 1760's, they went out of fashion the following decade with the creation of knife boxes that were place on the sideboard.

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That's the history of the knife box!  For more information, click here.
  Have a great day. M.