Finally

Storm clouds rolling in and some much needed rain (view from our office window). Of course, not so great timing for the gutter cleanout planned for this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Bessie Shen.

Friday Filaments: Barn Light Electric Giveaway!

Bloggers take note!  Barn Light Electric is doing a great giveaway and you too can have a chance to win. They have some great stuff with a very current / industrial and well, farm / barn aesthetic.

A series of these barn sconces would look pretty fab over bookshelves.

And I think this would be a nice addition to my laundry room

And there is something so classic about one of these in a kitchen

Here is how the contest works:

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article so others can enter
4. Once your personal article is up, you must email your blog link to: contest@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends Wednesday, October 12, 2011
5. Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by reading the Official Rules

10 Crosby

The new line 10 Crosby by Derek Lam is pretty fab - flowy, comfy, but more fashion forward than a Snuggie.

Craigslist Parsons Find

I've been searching for a Parson's console for a while to put behind our sofa on the big feature wall in the living room. All of the ones online and that I've found at retailers are either too small or WAY too expensive.  So the other day I was scouring craigslist and came across this baby for just $90!  It needs some refinishing - it has a lacquered paper finish which I plan to replace with a different lacquered paper finish once I find the appropriate print.  I love the bronze foot detail. And it really opens up the room compared to the black swath of fabric that I had there before.

Have you guys seen?

Kelly Wearstler's new line of fashion and home accessories at Bergdorf and her new revamped website.  Definitely some unique stuff - but a bit pricey.

1 Double Chain Link
2 Pyrite Frame Necklace
3 Degrade Squares Cadmium Tank
4 Pleated Clutch
5 Marble Tray
6 Tanzanite Blazer

Baby Shower!

I'm so excited to share the photos of my baby shower with you.  Cori, Jess, and Katy really went above and beyond in the planning, decor, and nibbles for the party (do I see an event planning company in someone's future?).  The food from Love Bites was delicious as were the desserts that everyone pitched in to bring.  Robert Vega did a wonderful job on the photography as well. Thanks to everyone who came and for all the wonderful gifts for TBD!

Ironic?

According to the most recent issue of Elle "heritage knits" are in this fall/winter.  Now, I love a good fair isle or cable knit.  And I can see how something like that might even work paired with a sequin skirt in a fun sort of ironic / preppy way.  I lived in Brooklyn for long enough to appreciate the irony behind a hipster 70's pornstache.  But this sweater from Givenchy?  At $1,575 wouldn't you say that's taking the irony a little too far?

Friday Filaments

A much more sophisticated version of the balloon, glue and string craft project.

Upcycled doily lamp by Shannon South

And

Here is the powder room - with some more baby shower floral spoils. I got that Venice canal print in 1996 when I went interrailing with my friend Clare after high school graduation.  Fond memories of gelato and water buses.  I just got it reframed (after having it in a crappy IKEA frame since my freshman year of college) and love the way it is looking in the space.

Moroccan Tile Motifs

Seem to abound....

1 Moroccan Palace via Pinterest
2 Moroccan Plates from Jayson Home
3 Moroccan Fountain via Pinterest
4 Roxey Dress by Ilana Kohn
5 Notecards from Jali Designs
6 Cementitious Tile from Badia Designs
7 Moroccan Tile Bath via Pink Friday
8 Morocco Headboard from West Elm

Sneak Peek

A little breakfast table vignette done with some leftover florals from my baby shower this weekend.  The girls did such an amazing job throwing the shower. I can't wait to get the photos back and share them with you all.

Mirrored details

I love this mirrored wall idea. Casey did a similar version in the new Design on a Dime.

DIY courtesy of Lonny Blog

Trying to figure out where I could do this. Any suggestions? I suppose putting it onto a big piece of plywood wouldn't be a bad idea. Liquid nails on a wall seems like a big commitment.

Friday Filaments

Indeed I am digging this pendant from Zia Priven

Agate

is everywhere these days....

1- Table by Matthew Studios 
2 - Agate Slice Necklace by Urban Outfitters 
3 - Carlos Miele Resort Collection 2012 
4 - Agate bookends from Etsy 
5 - Agate Cheese Plates by Jayson Home and Garden
6 - stacking boxes by Lille 
7- Agate Fabric by Spoonflower

Hans Wegner

Someday a couple of these iconic Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs would look pretty fab across from our breakfast room table and future built-in window seat....

From overstock.com.

Yes, I have the same addiction problem with chairs as I do with lamps. If it were up to me, our house would probably just be a collection of chairs, lamps and throw pillows.

Silver is the new black

Z Gallerie has some pretty sweet stuff right now. Perhaps it's because they don't send out catalogs (unless I'm missing out on something) but I always forget about Z Gallerie as an option.  Sometimes they can be a little heavy on the bling, but I'm liking some of these silvered pieces in their current collection.
Pascual Coffee table

Sequoia Console Table

Francesca Headboard

Dylan Table Lamp

The Shelves...

Are finally complete and more or less populated with books and accessories.  Last weekend was prep and assembly and this weekend was putting everything on the shelves (hence the delay).  Morgan's original instructions were more or less correct. However, I did find a few things to be different in our shelving scenario.  Here are a few things I learned:

- The pipe fittings are 1/2" but that is the interior diameter. On the outside they are 3/4", so drilling the shelf holes at 1" (instead of 3/4") allowed for a bit of wiggle room.

- The original list of materials included stain, which is something we did. However, I would add polyurethane to the list. The wood appeared dry and dull after the stain had dried.  We did a spray poly so that we could get the shelves up the same day, but a brushed on polyurethane would probably have given more sheen and protection (not that you can tell once there are books and such on the shelves).

- There is more math involved than you think. You will want to put the T joints and L joints and mounting flanges on the horizontal pipes in order to figure out the best place to drill your holes.  Also, the unit is taller than just the heights of the vertical pipe pieces combined, because of the addition of the various joints.  Finally, in order to accurately calculate the length of the longer pieces (where we omitted a shelf) we screwed the shorter pieces to their joint pieces for the total length.  A 12" high shelf plus an 18" high shelf does not a 30" high shelf make (it was somewhere closer to 31.5" inches). 

- Start assembling from the bottom.  You may want to use towels or something on the shelves to protect your walls initially. Don't be worried that it's incredibly unstable. it will become more sturdy as you add more shelves.  Oh, and we used an extra pipe as a tool to get the various joints screwed in tightly.

Here are some progress shots (notice Scott's amazing protective eyewear). And yes, I did help, but mostly I tried to stay away from the noxious fumes and hard labor.

 The final product ready for action....

 Staged! (well, we need some branches or something in that vase to add height)