Saturday, January 21, 2012

Update and its official....I HATE moving!

I start off with this picture that totally calms me. If I could be anywhere this is where I would want to be, with the distant sun setting, a perfect cool summer evening, a slight breeze in the air, the fragrant smell of ripening grapes permeating the air...and all you hear is the sound of laughter and lively chatter coming from me, my friends and family all seated in a vineyard in Napa!
Picture Haus Design

Back to reality......... (written on Wed night)



Hi everyone, admittedly I am writing this while I am surrounded, make that engulfed and practically being swallowed up whole by "stuff". You see I have officially "expired"for today, hence why I am on my computer writing this.  I have been working since early this morning and its now 5pm and I am on my coffee break and I am totally spent. Decided to take a break for today until I can muster another round of energy. And for many of you who have asked, lest you pity me for having to pack up all this "stuff"...we do have packers, (thank goodness) but they are not packing up my closet or personal items, as only I can decide what stays and what goes, and I really didn't want anyone else handling my personal things. 

Just how does one accumulate so much? Never mind don't answer that. Have you ever moved or just gotten on a cleaning/organizing binge and wanted, were tempted to just throw it all out? Start fresh, new and with a minimalistic approach? Well yours truly is feeling a bit of that as we speak. But the problem is I get attached to things and have a very hard time getting rid of them. If I spent a lot of money on something, if its a designer whom I love I feel like I am being disloyal by discarding it, if I wore it to a special something then how could I throw away the only tangible memory from that special night, etc.....you get the picture. Then, I have that pile reserved for "if I lose 20 pounds" I can fit back into those great tiny linen tops i bought at Calypso, or those super skinny white jeans (did I really fit into those) or that beautiful little fitted black dress...yes you know that kind of pile.(and I am willing to bet I am not the only one with that pile)  Somehow I think subconsciously by hanging onto it, I am hanging onto the chance, as remote as it might be, as remote as Kim Kardashian staying married more than 6 months, that I just might fit into them again. Oh well, one can hope. And dream. And hallucinate. 


So here are a few pictures of things in progress........in the meantime I will continue to serenade you with a few more wonderful guests posts and some of the posts i had worked on ahead of time. This week ahead is going to be a busy busy week completing the move from one house to to the next, but I will update you when I am able!  Hope alls well on your end!


Finally the glass for our front door came in (don't mind the paper on top still not yet removed)! So nice to see the light, literally and figuratively!





I was thrilled to see my "pug chairs" for breakfast room look amazing in the new space, had plans on reupholstering these chairs but no more, I  love the way they look, the fabric is older so its taken on a slight "antiqued feel' which is perfect for this room

Living room floors done


Dining room completed!


***************************UPDATE AS OF THIS MORNING...*************************
Spent first night in house it was AWESOME! Unfortunately the only bottle I popped the top on was my antibiotic, yes thankfully caught my strep throat at its beginning, so the champagne toast will have to wait but nothing was going to stop the move. The best part of all....I got my wish, and woke up to nearly 6 inches of beautiful perfect, crisp pristine snow!!!! Had my hubby take a few pics from outside, had to share............its nice to be home at last.













Poor Teddy is confused, being between both places.....poor guy!


Your eyes do not deceive you..that IS something cooking on the stove...my very first meal, homemade soup:)

Back to work.....be in touch soon!

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Friday, January 20, 2012

Enchanted guest #12...say hi to Sherry of No Minimalist Here!

Good morning, the great guests post just keep on coming! Today I have Sherry from No Minimalist Here  and I so enjoyed the post she put together on incorporating some of her favorite decorating elements into ones home, many of which are my favorites too! Thanks to Sherry's discerning eye, I bet you too might get some fabulous ideas, Sherry is an antiques dealer and let me tell you she knows her stuff.

Sherry often shares her wonderful projects on her blog and is really generous about sharing her sources, many I have taken note of. In addition, her "open house" parties are a huge hit in blogland and its a lot of bang for your buck because you get to see many different things all on one page. Do visit No Minimalist Here if you are not already familiar, its a wonderful blog always full of something beautiful and inspirational. Thanks Sherry, for filling in while I am knee deep in the laborious act of moving!

Before I let Sherry take the floor...I just had to share a few "credentials" with you on Sherry's talent, think the pictures speak for themselves!! (these are all from Sherry's beautiful and charming home)
















Hi everyone.
My name is Sherry and I write the blog No Minimalist Here. I am honored that Tina invited me to guest post here today as she gets ready to move into her amazing new home.

Our home has been on the market for a lot longer than we ever anticipated. This hasn't kept me from dreaming, and planning our future Florida home. Pinterest has been a great resource for me and I thought I woudl show you some of the decorating ideas I like and have saved.

It's no secret that I love transferware,and anything blue and white, so of course I am considering this color scheme for the new house.



via Traditional Home Magazine

I also want to add the Intaglios I make for sale on Etsy


These are some examples I like.


Source Unknown

I also want to add a few coastal touches...it is Florida after all!





This is the inspiration board I put together for the living room. We
already have the French armoire, mirror, clam shell and sea grass
rug.
Of course, I'll be adding some blue and white transferware
to this room .
Are you as addicted to Pinterest as I am?

xo,


Love it Sherry! What a beautiful collection of elegant goodies as inspiration for your living room. I recently started using Pinterest myself and can clearly see how it could easily become an addiction! Its a lot of fun and an amazing resource for well......just about anything! Be sure to stop by and visit Sherry over at No Minimalist here when you have a minute. Do any of these elements appeal to you or have you used them in your own home?

Thank you for stopping in...hope to be back within a few days with an update!
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lusting after lanterns......

Good morning friends! Here is a post I had fun putting together largely because I am in the market for a number of lanterns and I never tire of looking at them. It was fun to see so many different spaces of how and where they work, and I figured I would take you along for my "investigative research". So happy I did these posts in advance! Hope to do a moving update in a few days......will keep you posted!


Love lanterns. I think I could literally have them in every room and never get tired of looking at them. Big, small, iron, wood, black, rustic, formal.....love them all.   Of course it has to be the right lantern, but there are few spaces and few homes that a lantern doesn't just rock in. I love them as much in foyers, stair halls, bathrooms as I do outside porches, bedrooms and mudrooms. There are no rules for lanterns pure and simple. 
 For my own house, we are going to be using lots of them, in the kitchen, stair hall, outside, outside porch/loggia, a few of the bathrooms and in a few vestibules. So today is a bit of self indulgence in my lust for lanterns and knowing that many of you love them too, thought I would share.....what do you think? Do you have any lanterns? Would you? You know I love to hear!


Love lanterns in outside spaces like this beautiful loggia, William Waldon
Love these beautiful mercury glass lanterns over the antique butchers block, Shades of light
A pair of ornate lanterns adds so much to any space, Segreto
This fabulous hallway/gallery used a succession of gorgeous lanterns, Bonner
Love this gold lantern above this absolutely charming blue and white setting, Sara Gilbane
Alexa Hampton used a pair of over scaled lanterns in this fabulous kitchen in the Hamptons
Cindy Rinfret chose an over sized gorgeous lantern to place above this center hall table
Even a simple lantern in groups, is quite incredible looking..Segreto
Stunning pair of glass and nickel lanterns paired above a large island, Downsview
A lantern is a great choice for cozy nooks like this breakfast room hangout, Southern Living
To me, a lantern is the perfect choice for virtually any stair hall, Janet Simon
Always admired this beautiful dressing room with delicate glass lantern,Barry Dixon
This lovely lantern gives just the right amount of bling to this pretty and understated dining setting, Wisteria
Love seeing a lantern in an unexpected place like a library, Jan Showers
Pairs always work over an island, these are great looking. Taylor Hannah
Gorgeous foyer gets a beautiful iron lantern
Love this trio of lanterns in this beautiful indoor/outdoor room...
Love how this pair of iron lanterns warms up the cavernous space in this kitchen, Palm Designs
One of my favorite pictures of all time, this cozy and elegant seating area is beautifully enhanced by a rustic and oversized lantern, Traditional Home
A formal brass lantern graces this elegant foyer, Robert Stern 
Cindy Rinfret chose a single lantern in this gem of a bathroom
This elegant lantern is the perfect touch to this small and cozy dining room, Palmer Weiss
If using just one lantern, it should be a large scaled one over the island, Clive Christian
Love this setting and the lantern is just perfect here! Gordon Beall photography
Love a pair of lanterns over a kitchen island, which is what I plan on doing.....Segreto
Always loved this mudroom, warm, cozy and elegant enhanced with a beautiful lantern, Veranda
And of course we all know how stunning lanterns are outside! Andrew Skurman


So....if this hasn't convinced you about how gorgeous and versatile lanterns are, can't imagine what would! I personally love them. And if you have ever wondered how to figure out sizing and the right circumference for a lantern or chandelier in a particular room, here is what a few experts that we all know and love have to say.....so interesting! Thanks Bunny and Hinkley lighting and thank you all for stopping by!

When looking for the right sized light fixture, remember this...How big should an overhead light fixture be? Just add the length and width of the room in feet, and whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture's diameter. So a 15-by-20-foot room would need a 35-inch-wide chandelier.
—Bunny Williams


How to measure for outside lanterns?
In using one lantern, if you use it only on one side of the door, it should measure one third the length of the door. The center of the bulb should rest 66" above the thershold of the door.
If using two lanterns,they should each measure approx. one fourth of the length of the door. The center of the bulb should rest 66" above the threshold of the door. 
- Hinkley Lighting

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