Buckingham Garden

Hello Darlings.  I hope that y'all had a fantastic weekend.  Ours was spent lazing around the house.  It was fantastic. 

I recently was asked by an *awesome* blogger friend with some help pricing some wallpaper.  She had specifics in mind and said that if I knew of anything else she would love to see it.  I immediately looked at Scalamandre's outlet site The Third Floor.  New inventory is added all the time and you can find some major steals.  Don't believe me?  I found a paper that is remarkably similar to Meg Braff's Up A Tree for $20 per roll.  What?  Yep.  I shared my find and it was exactly what she had been looking for so she scooped it up right away.

 



Up A Tree by Meg Braff - photo via vividhuehome

Last night I was perusing the site (because this girl can never say no to a bargain) and came across an absolutely stunning floral fabric called Buckingham Garden.

Knowing that today is The Pink Pagoda's Blue and White Bash for February, I decided to create a room using this gorgeousness as inspiration. 

The best part?  The fabric is on uber clearance for around $45 a yard.  Still not what I would call *cheap*, but definitely a steal for this beautiful gem.

Oh, and did I mention that you don't have to have a trade account to purchase on The Third Floor. However, if you find anything that you love that is Trade Only, be sure to shoot me an email and I'd be happy to price it out for you.

Linking up at The Pink Pagoda.  Be sure to check out all of the blue and white deliciousness.

xoxoK

#ProjectLemonade Family Room

Hello darlings.  I'm stopping in quick-like today to show you my *final* fabric choices for the family room in #ProjectLemonade. 

Sofas, Wigs and Such...

Can we talk about sofas?  Please?  Do I need to twist your arm?  Oh, you're as design-obsessed as I am?  Good...let's chat.

Quite a few years, husband and step children ago, we decided to get a new sofa.  My at the time husband (ATTH & Co for short) thought we needed a sectional to fit all of our 75,296 kids.  ATTH and I tried out a gagillion sectionals.  He, naturally, opted for overstuffed reclining.  I...did not.  We ended up with a Pottery Barn Comfort Sectional with an off-white linen slipcover.  It is a great sofa and feels like sitting on a cloud.  And I was ALL FOR the white slipcover.  Bleach came to the rescue more times than I could count.  And every time I washed it, it was like getting a new sofa all over again. 

Pottery Barn L-Shaped Comfort Sectional

Fast forward a few years and I find that I've traded ATTH & Co for a few dogs.  What can I say?  I'm turning into the crazy dog lady.  While the slipcover is still great, I'm kind of tired of constantly having to wash it because of grubby fingers and dog hair.  Honestly though, there is a larger problem.  And that large problem is the dogs laying on the back cushions.  They are now all smooshed and saggy.  And that smooshedness and sagginess is making me wish I had a new sofa with an attached back.  (Read:  this may just be justification for feeding my endless hunger for re-doing my home, which has turned into a revolving door when it comes to furniture.  I guess I am kind of a furniture floosy).

So, I have had new sofas on the brain.  Choosing the style sofa I want is easy.  Picking the fabric is another story.  Velvet?  Linen?  Some blend?  Dark?  Light?  Ugh.  The choices are endless.  And you know what keeps sticking in my head?  Green.  Or even chartreuse.  Dare I be that bold?  I spent a bit of time today re-creating the room to see how I would feel with a green sofa.

 

 

I'm kind of digging it.  Can I get away with a green sofa, pink chairs and a blue cabinet?  You'll notice I have two different chairs shown.  One is safe.  One is sassy.  Can you guess which I am leaning toward? 

 

That isn't my chandelier, by the way.  Mine is actually a red twig chandelier, but I could not find any good pictures to include on the board.  Mine looks like this:

 

 

via 1stdibs

 

 

While searching for a twig chandelier I accidentally typed in "Wig Chandelier" and came across this.

 

 

 

 

You're welcome.  Seriously?  WTF?!? 

 

 

And yes, I realize that I don't have to get a new sofa...rather, I could just train my dogs to stay off the sofa.  But where's the fun in that?

 

xoxoK

 

Meanwhile, at #ProjectLemonade...

...Absolutely nothing has happened.  Seriously, no updates.  Except maybe that the dishes have been done.  Sometimes.  It's been a bit of a whirlwind since the start of the year and I'm hoping that things are finally settling down.  Fingers crossed. 

Let's talk about my goals for 2014. 

• Lose 5 pounds. 
• Get a rock hard body with minimal (read: zero) effort. 
• Meet Alexander Skarsgard, fall madly in love and become Mrs. Skarsgard. 
• Live happily ever after.

Seriously?!?  This man is PERFECTION
via

But let's get back to realistic house goals, shall we?  I would like to get started on my formal living room and office, which I have slotted for the Spring version of the One Room Challenge Linking Party (cannot wait!).  I have some b.a.d. before pictures that I will share with you soon.  Be prepared to cringe. 

In the meantime, I plan to finish my family room.  Well, not really finish as we all know that design never stops.  I guess I would just like to finally get some pillows on my sofa.  I had some.  Then changed my mind because I got a yard of this fabric.  Nicolette Day by Domesticate on Spoonflower.  It's my jam.

 

And I'd like to finally finish the vintage Weiman pagoda cabinets I am using as an entertainment center.  Why haven't you done so, you ask?  Well, because when I am not 100% sure of a choice, I stop.  All forward movement ceases.  I clam up and do nothing to finish the project and, normally, move on to something else.  Call it decorating ADD if you'd like.  I prefer to think of it as being choosey.  Ooh, or even patient as I wait for inspiration to strike. 

Can you believe I am showing you this picture?  Me either.

As it has been months and I have had zero epiphanies, I recently took to Instagram to ask my fantastic followers what they thought I should do the back of the pagodas.  I was given tons of options and have done a mock-up of some of my favorites.  I'd love to know what you'd choose.

Grasscloth:

 

 

Paint:

 

 

 

 

Faux Tortoise:

 

 

 

 

Well, what say you? 

 

  xoxoK

Getting out of my comfort zone

Good Morning Loves!  Did you have a wonderful weekend?  We were busy around here preparing to depart for Colorado for Christmas vacation.  I cannot wait to see my sister and my nieces and nephews.  Oh and my brother-in-law too, of course, but he is chopped liver compared to my sissy.  :)

I've been busy trying to tie up some loose ends before we leave and one thing included was an e-design for a client I want to share with you.  My client, JG, has an amazingly gorgeous home with huge windows that showcase a stunning view.  Her living room was previously done in deep red, camel, brown & gold and she was ready for a change.  Her home has an open floor plan, and it is painted Sherwin Williams Safari, which we were not able to change.  Depending on the light, Safari can go from gold to green to khaki. 

Sherwin Williams Safari

 

Also on the keep list was her living room furniture and red oriental rug.  She has small children and hopes to get a few more years out of the current sofa and tables while accidents are still common occurrences. 

Do you notice a trend so far?  Yep, brown.  Brown walls, brown floors and brown furniture.  Brown is so NOT my signature color. 

I wanted to bring in some cool elements to contrast with the warm tones.  What better way to do that than with the ever-gorgeous Nympheus from GP & J Baker for Lee Jofa? 

Since her windows are so tall (175"!), we chose to add a blue banding to the bottom of the panels, adding another cool element to the space. I partnered the Nympheus with another favorite Les Touches.

Want to see how it all came together? 




#ProjectG

This was definitely a job that pushed me to extend my comfort zone a bit since I am not a huge fan of the brown family.  But the end result is excellent!  I hope to share after pictures with you soon.

 

Have a great day.

 

xoxoK

Tipsy eBaying

I am a tipsy eBay shopper.  Yes, you read that correctly.  When I’m tipsy (we will say "tipsy" and not "drunk" because I am a Southern lady and Southern ladies don't get "drunk"), all my sense goes straight out the window and I shop like I’m a big dog.  Reality departs, along with my budget.  One of my most recent acquisitions is 16 rolls of Nina Campbell Paradiso wallpaper. 

 

Nina Campbell Paradiso

While I absolutely adore this wallpaper (it is UNBELIEVABLE IN PERSON!), I have nowhere to put it.  Except maybe my closet.  Which I’ve honestly considered.  Hoarder much?

When I showed the wallpaper to a client I am designing a bedroom for, she too fell in love with it.  Selling her husband on wallpapering is difficult enough.  But wallpapering the room in bold peacocks with colorful plumes?  Tough job, I must say.  But I have faith that my client is up to the task.
 
To give her extra ammunition, and possibly help him “visualize” it in the space, I’ve created design boards to share with him. 

 

Their bedroom is large and features a gorgeous bed by Drexel Heritage called the Bed of Ribbons.  It is seriously gorgeous.

 

Drexel Heritage Bed of Ribbons

 

We are removing the carpet from the bedroom and are considering white oak in a herringbone pattern.
 

 

Traditional Wood Flooring

 

There is also a sitting area in the room, which I’ve also added to the design. 
 

 

I’ve shared these boards with her and she immediately fell in love.  I will be sure to keep you posted on progress with the room…and the convincing of the husband.

Do you tipsy eBay shop too?  pleasesayyespleasesayyes

 

#GameChanger

Brunschwig & Fils Les Touches...Is available in wallpaper form.  Did you know?  I stumbled upon it while ordering fabric for a client.  And boy, oh boy, is it good!  I immediately ordered a sample in each color and it does not disappoint.

Want to take a look?  Of course you do, silly me.

Les Touches Black

Les Touches Blue

Les Touches Bordeaux

Les Touches Brown

Les Touches Green

Les Touches Pink

Les Touches Red

Les Touches Tan

Les Touches Aqua

Imagine the possibilities with this.  #gamechanger

It is priced by the single 6-yard roll but sold by the double 12-yard roll.  Each roll covers 36 square feet or 3.34 square meters.  Each roll is 24" wide.  Vertical repeat is 27" and the horizontal repeat is 24".

And, of course, it is available to you from House of Pemberley.  Speaking of, the site will be getting a re-design soon so please be patient.

If you are interested in purchasing, please visit the website or contact me via email kimber@houseofpemberley.com.

Have a great day!

xoxoK