Walking On Sunshine

I have had the most wonderful weekend. Working, redecorating, relaxing.... all by myself. Right now the sun is shining, the pup is sleeping, the coffee is hot and I am blissfully happy in my new decor. Change is good. So is a little alone time.

(pictures of the house soon...)

Taking Work Home For The Weekend

This weekend I am finally tackling a huge home project and will have shots next week of the whole process, beginning to end. You may recall the plans I had for our home office from this guest post a few months back but when we decided to expand the showroom our house took a back seat. Until now! So, can you guess which room I am redoing??








Have a restful weekend!

photo credits: 1. thedailybed 2. mdesign 3. decorpad 4. elizabethdinkel 5. myhomeideas 6. elementsofstyle 7. yourhouseandlife

Featured Items of The Week

We got jiggy with these simple X back chairs and lacquered them in a custom finish, complete with socks. The before......



And the after. Cute no? I have seen others as well such as Anthropologie's Neptune Chair..


and The Conran Shop Czech Armchair.

(both via Designers Library).

This is an affordable project that can give some depth to even the most simple of silhouettes and I am sure it will pop up again in our work.

Massucco Warner Miller

Yesterday I was visited by Melissa Warner, one of the 3 ladies behind design firm Massucco Warner Miller. Armed with tear sheets and a good eye I could tell right away she was a true professional and later looked up her site. Wow! Not only is there real talent behind these three but they also understand the importance of photography. I always find it so unfortunate when stylists and designers take poor quality shots to use for advertisement.

The nook above is grounded by my current favorite color duo, turquoise and orange, which makes it hard for me not to love and below is a lamp that simply makes the room!


It is slightly reminiscent of an old chuck a luck cage and the scale is absolutely fantastic. I have to know. Is it vintage??? Update: The lamp is the Barbara Barry for Baker Dressmakers Lamp.
It is an arm and a leg but god I do love!!!

And while we are on the subject of lighting......

This is lovely.

Their generous use of texture, pattern, and color (which the above fixture has all) makes each room really stand out. I think you'll agree after viewing their site but here are some nice examples.

A teenagers dream suite! Grown up but fun, all of these pieces can make the transition from high school to college and far, far beyond.

A sophisticated, conversational living room minus the fuss.

The detail on the commode doors is beautiful and we all now know that small patterned wall paper in powder rooms of this size actually makes the room appear larger. Those tall ceilings dont hurt either! The unexpected wood floor, shield shaped mirror and dainty chandelier make this space feel so fresh.

I hope you enjoy their work as much as I do. I am excited to see more from this fabulous trifecta!

Cute Pillows

via Chocolate Creative

The Tides SB

My weekend wasn't exactly adventurous {although I did accidentally drive 45 minutes out of my way and veered from the norm by playing a silly game of tennis with a girlfriend} so today I am taking an online tour of The Tides Hotel in Miami. Care to join?

The moment I check in I will mentally check out.

I'll race to the room and drop my things....

And then head down to the bar to pick up a ginger lemon drop.

Or better yet lets rack up a tab in our pool side cabana....

And swim off our buzz body surfing the waves.

After a shower and a cat nap I'll eat a 4 course meal with friends and enjoy some red wine and the decor...

Until I can't keep my eyes open for another second and its fast to bed for sweet, sweet dreams.......

Adventurous Weekend Awaits

I think this weekend I need to do some exploring. Whether it be outside of the city, within my own zip code, or for that matter, my very own backyard. Joie de Vivre!

photo cred: clement jolin

Featured Items of the Week

New goodies just in!


And the pattern on that headboard, which I will now forever associate with my girl Cassie, seems to be popping up more and more recently!

Wing Man

Looks like it is going to be another one of those weeks. Things are coming at me from every angle imaginable! Might be time to think about hiring an assistant......


Interested Angelenos can send resumes to anniecrowninshield(at)yahoo(dot)com.

images via MCD

Relishing Some Small Pleasures

A Rare and Beautiful Dorothy Thorpe Tea Cup and Saucer

La Tourterelle Blonde a Collier (male) from Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique [Natural History of the Birds of Africa]. Printed c. 1800.


My Husbands New Glasses

A Morning Visit from My Mother In-law and Sister In-Law

A Collection of Painted Duck Decoys


The unexpected arrival of Late Wedding Gifts

And of course..... My Milo

A Dinner Party Weekend

Some of my friends, ahem HBT, get their food magazines, devour them, and then literally devour them. Making gorgeous meals based start to finish on the articles. But if you're anything like me you skim over the glossy pages, dog ear 1 or 2, tear an especially good one out and then file them away to never, ever make. long sigh.

This weekend if you are entertaining at home I urge you to break the cycle and whip up this culinary masterpiece. Taken from the pages of my Tyler Florence cookbook, Tyler's Ultimate Brilliant and Simple Food to Make Anytime. Some meals just say summer and this is one of them. We had it last night and I already want it again!


No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen at their own party which makes the salad, above, perfect as it can be done in advance. Paired with his Lemon Curry Chicken, below, it is beyond.



I'll set the table for as many as will come! You bring the wine.....
xox

Featured Items of The Week

Sometimes in this business you have to come to the realization that a design idea just isn't working. Usually in cases such as these you mark it down and move along. The riskier alternative (not recommended) is to pump more money into it which is exactly what I did with our white lacquered faux bamboo chairs. But I think you'll agree it was worth it!

BEFORE

in Robert Allen's Ladderback Lava (which I still love!)

AND AFTER

In my current favorite, Schumacher's Chenonceau Charcoal.

Viola!