Here’s a screenshot of my featured project.  The theme on Ava this week is “rustic comfort.”  The living area I designed isn’t super rustic, but has enough texture to qualify.  The fireplace adds to the rustic look with it’s beam mantle and stacked stone facade.  The room was really inspired by Axel Vervoordt’s Belgian style.  We used a lot of linen and natural woods.  The woods can be seen in the rough coffee table (a definite rustic touch) and also the overhead beams.  The sleek dark floors help keep the rustic in check.  Overall, definitely cozy and rustic without being at all country.

Happy New Year to you!  Hopefully I won’t leave you hanging with so few blog posts.  That’s as close as I’m going to get to making any resolutions.  :)  How about you?

Preen at net-a-porter.

pretty sure this is original to Lonny

I LOVE Pinterest because, though I am aware I love a good black and white stripe, and appreciate it equally on a wall or a piece of stationary, it was pretty cool to see these two images pop up near each other.

Pinterest is a virtual pin board where you can post inspirational images organized by category.  You can follow other users, and search images by tags.  I would recommend it to clients to gather images of spaces they love.  It’s such a great way to see trends forming in what you like.

For example, I am noticing that I’m drawn to lots of white and pale colors.  I’m liking cushions without welting, and sofas with long, lean lines–a cush modern kind of a look.

For interior design, it’s  a great way to find the common denominator in what might seems like disparate looks. It’s also just fun to catalog the things I’m loving.  If you have the “collector” gene in you, you’ll love Pinterest.

Well this, my friends, is cool.  I LOVE Halloween.  In fact, I love it so much that I’m a little bit cranky that I haven’t heard of any fun parties this year.  Step up friends! I need an excuse to dress up.  This year seems to be double lacking in Halloween spirit, no party and we’ve moved to a trick-or-treater light neighborhood.

Any neighborhood is light after where we’ve been living.  Hundreds and hundreds of trick or treaters from six to eight or nine (can’t remember) .  The police have to turn on  their lights and cruise the streets to tell people it’s time to go home.  Children were literally bussed in to the neighborhood.  Adults would trick or treat, or hold bags for the “sick child in the car.”  It was insanity, but it was a piece of insanity that my husband and I will no doubt miss.  The biggest problem with a light flow of trick or treaters?  I have absolutely no concept of how much candy to buy.  I always bought several bags of good stuff, and then several more of filler.  We ALWAYS ran out of candy.  I actually hoarded a few pieces of my favorites so that I would have some leftovers.  The night would always start with us giving away several pieces of candy to each kid.  Quickly we’d realize that wouldn’t work and we were down to one a piece.  Insanity I tell you!

Anyway, on to the inspiration.  Even if I don’t have a party to go to, I’d love to rock one of these glamorous leather (!) masks.  They’re beautiful, but just enough creepy, which is really crucial to a good Halloween.  These seem spectacular for a fancy masquerade ball.  Created by Tom Banwell, for sale on Etsy.

A few of my faves.

This raven is just spectacular.  It is my absolute favorite.

A not at all too sweet rabbit.

A simple, kind of old fashioned, take.

The muse mask.  Such beautiful cut outs!

Flame mask. Another fave. It could be really fun to put together a fire costume.

Love the Queen of Hearts mask too. And those roses in her hair! Perfect!

Okay, there’s a bit of Halloween inspiration to get you through this last bit of September.  Back to our regularly scheduled programing now!

Anyway, the fruits of my labor:

Before, yucky unfortunate cover on the diamond chairs and a lot of scuffing and forty to fifty years of grime.  Bleh.

They’re the real deal!

Upholstery massacre:

I actually couldn’t properly attack the upholstery.  My wonderful husband got all manly on the chairs and got the covers off.

Here, I’m hoping you can see a before and an after chair.  I’m telling you, that Magic Eraser was AWESOME.  I’m kind of sad I didn’t get more stuff to redo.  Like the tulip cocktail table.  It was pretty rough looking.  But I turned it down before I knew the power of the magic eraser!  (though be aware that Magic Erasers will take the shine off of finishes)

Triumph!

Very cool, right?  Unfortunately, they haven’t quite found the right home in our house.  I’d like to hang on to them, but for the right price I’d consider selling.

I also got some cool chrome chairs that I plan on using as dining chairs once I get them recovered.  More to come on that!