This Turkish embroidered silk tapestry has been around for ahwhile, since the 1920’s.  Doesn’t it look so much like the Chelsea Editions fabric (see the pillow shown below)?  Especially their latest line of fabric, which is selling for $500 or more per yard.  But the price is fitting as these are fabrics meant to age and be appreciated over many generations. 

There is such a place in my heart for beautiful textiles.

I tend not to like some of these 70’s wall sculptures, but this one I do like.  Wouldn’t it be beautiful above a fireplace in a house by the sea.  Or above a console table with lots of shells, coral and other treasures displayed.  It looks like they are about to fly right over you.  Surfing this weekend, anyone?

Wouldn’t this pin be a wonderful inspiration for a young girl’s room?  The walls could be  a soft, soft pink color with random small red circles painted here and there.  The draperies could be that kelly green color and have small circular bits of reflecting mirror applied to them to make the room sparkle.  The bedding would be crisp white, like the diamonds and embellished with red or kelly green embroidery.  And then maybe above the little girl’s bed, you could hang some fluttering butterflies.

Then again, you could just wear this pin on your shirt collar or cuff.  It is so delicate, yet graphic and intriguing.

My favorite rooms to decorate are by far baby nurseries.  The design process seems to be even more enjoyable when the parents are nesting.  People are more open to decorative approaches like painted murals, decorative wallpapers and the use of bold patterns.

I stumbled across this Victorian style caned hanging bassinet from the 1880’s and would love! love! to use present this for my next nursery.  I can see this bassinet made up with crisp, white sheets with a dark blue embroidery.  Or else, it would be wonderful paired with John Robshaw’s bedding, such as the Mandu linen print:

Finish the room off with an antique commode, soft or midnight blue walls and luxurious carpeting and you have created a wonderful little world to welcome the newest addition to your family.

Drink anyone?  These hand-beaten antique silver wine goblets and accompanying serving tray will add grace and style to any home.  These happen to have a monogrammed D at the base of each glass and the tray has the monograms CLD, which happen to be my sisters initials – hmmm, Christmas gift in sight!  (I hope she doesn’t read my blog!)

Gorgeous old silver can be found at many estate sales and flea markets.  It is really like looking for treasure and from time to time you can find some really beautiful things out there.  Sometimes I just look for a silver spoon with a friends initial on it to tie onto their birthday gift.  Or else, I love to find the old silver Bourbon and Whisky labels to hang over the neck of a crystal decanter.  Enjoy the hunt!

I am sorry, but would these not make the most incredible lamps?!  You know, you can turn just about anything into a lamp.  Once you know that, you start looking at objects in completely different ways.  Sculpture, driftwood, old trophies – all of these things can be made into a lamp.  Take a look at some of the things around your house but look at them in this new way, asking, could you be a lamp? See what you come up with.

The style pillow you choose to throw on that arm chair or right in the center of your bed can really change the feeling of the room.  They can add needed texture and color.  They can make a room feel well-traveled and eclectic, preppy or edgey.  Pillows range in a big way. So be mindful of the look you are trying to portray through the selection of your pillows.

Pillows are also a wonderful way to allow people to encounter something unexpected in a room. Try to think outside the box.  Considering these little details will take the look of your room to another level, where you and your guests are intrigued by the space.

This has been an interesting week for me.  I normally find myself working with fabrics, color, furniture  and art.  Now a new project has me focused on roof design, gutter design, gate design, exterior trim and all things Architecture.  I was getting very comfortable working with interior decoration, but the challenge of focusing on a new area of design has been very interesting.  I spent part of this week driving around, looking at beautiful San Francisco homes looking for inspriation.  Take a look at what I saw.

This is absolutely one of my favorite houses in the San Francisco.  It is perfect blend of modern and traditional.  The smooth stucco looks like it has almost a suede finish and the mouldings above the windows give the house such a classic look.  They used copper gutters that have darkened and now have a beautiful patina. The color combination of this house is very subdued and sophisticated.

This house is just up the road from the house above.  Again, they used the smooth stucco, but they have paired it with a very, sleek high-gloss black trim.  Above that, they have installed copper gutters, which have yet to patina into a darker brown color.  The combination of the stucco and the black trim makes for a very contemporary, bold home with a graphic, striped effect.  However, the carvings in the mouldings lend it a classic feel and remind you that this is an old home – revitalized.

Oh, the classic beauty.  How I love brown shingled homes with shiney black trim and brick stairways with meticulous boxwood landscaping.  Again, it is a contemporary classic.

Can’t seem to grow indoor plants?  The Sherwood Table available at Jayson Home and Garden is a great way to bring a feeling of nature into your home.  This piece also feels very sculptural, which will add an artistic feel to the room.

Including a metallic piece in a room can be a nice contrast to wood and fabrics and it can help tie in other metals used (for example, drapery hardware, floor lamps or a guilded mirror).   This piece contributes in a variety of ways and is definitely one of my favorite occasional tables.

This chair seems to perfectly balance both masculine and feminine characteristics.  It is delicate but sturdy.  The back profile is like a pair of lips, but that femininity is balanced by a thick base.  Then finally, they dress it up with a nailhead design, adding even more interest to the piece.

The Hollywood Chair from Hickory Chair is also a great option if you are trying to add a little wood into the room if there seems to be too much fabric – another element of balance you should think of when designing a room.