THOUGHT PATTERNS

Dreams are just getting better and better...

"If you love chandeliers, flowing draperies, and bric-a-brac--if you believe you were a Roman senator, a Gothic queen, or Madame de Pompadour in an earlier life or have fantasies of La Belle Époque or the Golden Age of Hollywood--The Paris Apartment is the decorating book for you."

 

And do I find myself in this description? I absolutely do! I came upon Claudia's wonderful book, blogand boutique, The Paris Apartment, recently and have been spending hours daydreaming in the good company of chairs, vanity desks and canopy beds.

 

A little about Claudia: "Claudia began her career in 1993 when she opened a boutique in New York City's East Village. In  contrast to the dark neighborhood, it was filled with French boudoir furniture and accessories. She painted and repaired flea market finds, reincarnating them into the sparkling treasures. She was approached by Judith Regan to write a decorating book showcasing her style in 1995, and together they  published, ''The Paris Apartment, Romantic Decor on a Flea Market Budget'. Claudia continues to grow the company  by combining a fresh and eclectic mix of vintage, French and Art Deco styles. The Paris Apartment was summed up when called "playful, romantic and luxurious interiors.(NY Times)" {more info here}

 

When my eyes fell on this chest of drawers...

 

 

 

I literally started gasping for air. Was it the name (Marie Antoinette Chest of Drawers), the color (between tea rose pink and salmon pink), the curves (well, the curves!)... I simply don't know. It was the love at first sight. Claudia offers the chest in a variety of colors, but I firmly believe (no matter how much my husband would protest) that I would stick with the pink.

 

And how about this Helena Rubenstein Lucite chair...

 

 

inspired by the ones HR had in her Paris apartment. I am charmed and reminded to start wearing bright red lipstick again.

 

I think I always wanted a Canopy Bed...

 

 

and this one comes in 48 colors, with a choice of your own fabric canopy. Available in twin, queen & king, handmade in France. What do you think, darling?

 

I will not leave without showing you this Art Deco inspired Vanity(a mirrored vanity!).

 

 

I simply don't think I can take any more:)!

 

xoxoxo

 

P.S. Since I'm alreday making a shopping list, I'm going to go all the way and trow in an Austin Healey 3000 mk2 from 1963... british racing green... (I'm sure there will be no color complaints from my husband here!)

 

 

 

{book quote from Amazon, photos credits Paris Apartment, Austen Healey via 2Blowhards}

So charming, so eclectic, so glamorous...

I love the home of the fashion designer Nanette Lepore. Old Hollywood glamour, vibrant colors, daring pieces, gypsy spirit and a lot of unexpected.

 

 

Living room - portrait of Eva Peron and the chandelier are my absolute favorites

 

 

Dining room - love the colorful portrait paintings above the table

 

 

Her dressing room is so spectacular: cozy, feminine and glamorous. And the poodle, the poodle just breaks my heart:).

 

(photos via Elle Decor)

 

xoxoxo

Flower Pot sneaked onto Sneak Peek

The home of lovely Barb Blair of Knack Studios was in Sneak Peek on Design Sponge several days ago. Barb rescues and restores vintage and found furniture and she does it magnificently. If I wasn't papercuting and painting I think I would want to be a furniture hunter, rescuer and restorer. I love what she does so much. Barb sells her pieces in her design studio, and she blogs too.

 

Barb owns one of my papercut pieces, Flower Pot, and she was very sweet to share the photos of the piece displayed in her den. I love how colorful, vibrant and warm this room is. I especially like the carpet and the sofa. You can see the Flower pot in the back, in a white frame.

 

So, here are several more photos of Barb's apartment (more can be seen on Design*Sponge):

 

I adore the big "b" over the bed - a found piece taken off a subway shop.

 

Hallway wallpapered in wonderful Waverly print.

 

Simply love this chair. And take a look, in the back, there's the Flower Pot again!

(photos via Design*Sponge)

 

And here are some of the furniture pieces Barb wonderfully restored:

 

   

 

         

(photos Knack Studios)

 

xoxoxo