Deborah Needleman in Martha Stewart Living

In honor of the impending release of her new book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well, former Domino editor-in-chief and current editor of the WSJ Magazine Deborah Needleman appears in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living. If you haven't yet grabbed a copy, be sure to pick one up and check out the lovely spread. Needleman provides a tour of her upstate New York country home as well as 11 tips for creating a chic-but-lived-in space.
Some of my favorite bits of advice from the article:

"Make places for drinks, books, and feet"
Home is about comfort and good design, and Needleman suggests decorating with those two objectives in mind.
The ottoman, below, is a prominent feature in the living room of her country home.

"Open storage can be liberating"

Chic baskets and hooks can elevate the look of your scarves, towels, and hats and need not be hidden, Needleman states. 

This photo reminds me I need baskets around here...

"Give some love to the guest room"

Though "no one expects Four Seasons service from you" says Needleman, it is important to consider the small details in the guest room, such as scented candles, a notepad, and a carafe of water.

"Furnish the bathroom"

In the article, Needleman urges us to warm up the bathroom with "a patinated piece or two" to "imbue it with the feeling of a well-lived life". Note to self: apply these tips to our bathroom STAT!

"Indulge in the bedroom"
Needleman is a big proponent of purchasing the best linens you can afford. While I can't splurge on Frette or D. Porthault linens (pictured), it's easy to add a touch of luxury with crisp and smooth sheets. After washing my sheets, I take about 10 minutes to iron my pillowcases and sheets before remaking the bed. It makes all the difference, I swear.

(all via Martha Stewart)

And on Monday, Kevin Sharkey (Martha's main decorating guy) featured a Q&A session with Deborah Needleman that touches on more of these tips, as well as the items on Deborah's decor wish-list. Be sure to check it out here.

(via Martha Stewart)

I don't know about you, but I cannot wait until Deborah Needleman's book is released on November 1st to get more tips from this stylish decorating expert.

Through the Looking Glass

Having finished my goldleafed barcart (thank you for all of your uber-kind comments, btw!), I see that there is a gaping hole in my living room. The wall space directly above the cart is between two windows and also is the location of a poorly-placed dimmer switch. I'd like to find a mirror to a) open up the space (currently I have 0 mirrors in the space) and b) cover up said switch.

But...I'm at a loss about what type of mirror to choose, so naturally I turn to you geniuses for guidance. I've begun gathering some inspiring mirror-related images that make my heart go pitter-patter. Clearly, I can go in a number of different directions with this, so please chime in with your suggestions and favorites!

Option 1: White with a hint of detail
Ballard Design's Atoll mirror has been popular for awhile, and I like the contrast it would offer to the gold tones of the barcart.

(via Lonny)
Wisteria recently started offering a similar looking mirror that I also really like. Check it out here.

Option 2: Sleek and brass
I'm really drawn to the soft curves and warm brass finish of this mirror, from designer Philip Gorrivan's own home:

(via NY Social Diary)
Anyone know what type of mirror this is?
I don't think my generalist "curvy, brassy mirror" search is going to turn up much on Ebay or elsewhere.

Option 3: Oversized and convex
Convex mirrors: suddenly all the rage but not very practical unless you want to look like you came out of a Busta Rhymes video (fish-eye lens, anyone)? Nonetheless, the impracticality can be overlooked. Also, I like the rounded shape of the convex mirror to balance out the square lines of the barcart.

(via Pinterest)

Option 4: Some bamboo action
Tobi Fairley used a mirror with a bamboo accent in this year's Traditional Home showhouse in the Hamptons, and I'm digging it. This option has a subtle Asian influence without screaming it.

If I could swing it, I'd love to find an antique that fits the dimension of the space, the look of my living room, and my budget (can't forget that! So, no 1stDibs for me).

So there you have it, 4 options for my over-the-barcart mirror.
What option would you recommend?
Any great sources for mirrors you can share?

Care For a Drink? (Barcart Reveal)

Nearly two months in the making, may I present to you all my newest project: my goldleafed barcart.

My inspiration:

The "Roland" bar cart from Worlds Away, which is understated in its elegance and out of my price range at $825.
Surely you'll agree that this piece has style in spades.

(via Material Girls)

(via House and Home)

 What I started with:
A free (!) bar cart from Craiglist that was structurally similar, but a little clunky.
Just remember the operative word here: free.

The rounded trim on each end were quickly removed:

Instead of their rounded edges, I added a streamlined squared dowel to the two short sides and the back of the barcart.
I bought 2 dowels (cut in store) from Home Depot for about $2 each.

The rounded handles weren't the only thing to go.
The original casters were pretty heinous and fell off more than once, so I replaced them with 4 ball casters in brass.

Here is where the real work begins and where I keep it really, really, ridiculously real. 

Goldleafing is torture. 

 There, I said it. 

If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying to you.
As a result, I didn't bother to take process pictures of the goldleafing (I was trying to power through, forgive me).

All that matters is this, the final results.

 To recap:
--free barcart + $825 inspiration
--roughly $35 spent on gold leaf, adhesive and sealer
--two months of on-and-off process to complete this work

Hope you agree that all the time and energy spent was well worth it!
Now, who wants a drink?

TGIF, 10/14/11 Edition

Welcome to another fall Friday, friends.

Firstly, thank you all so much for your sweet words on my newly-upholstered living room chair and ottoman earlier this week. I'd like to think Sister Parish would be proud of my choice. I've got a few more projects up my sleeve and a few ready to be revealed very, very soon. On tap for next week:

A lot of this

and a couple of these

Not to reveal too much, but these two clues are not part of the same project.

I hope you all have a relaxing, but fun-filled, weekend.

Tah-tah 'til Monday.

New-to-Me Artist: Alanna Cavanagh

Just this week, I discovered a new-to-me artist from Canada, Alanna Cavanagh, who produces very whimsical illustrations and large-scale screenprints that elevate mundane items into works of art. Perhaps you'll agree.  

Cavanagh is an illustrator, screen printer, and typographer, with her work being featured in Canadian House & Home, The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, and Real Simple, among others. I was instantly drawn to her casual pen-and-ink-type scissor illustration, which feels like a doodle from your middle school notebook; but when I saw her aged-looking Penguin Book cover screenprints, I knew I had to see more of this talented lady's work. 

("Brooks Brothers Suit, 2011")

("Big Orange Scissors, 2011")

("An Empty Belly, 2011")

("A Room of One's Own")

Be sure to check out Cavanagh's portfolio here for more not-so-serious prints that would add a welcomed touch whimsy to any home.

Fabrics For the Rest of Us

Do you ever feel like the fabrics options that we "ooh" and "ahh" over are just too expensive? 

 Maybe I'm alone here, but I love beautiful fabrics and hate their often too-high price tags. Sure, options from Kelly Wearstler, Kathryn Ireland, Lee Jofa, Trina Turk and the rest of the lot make us giddy with their designs; but I'll be the first to admit that I just can't afford the $80+/yard prices, especially if I'm looking to spruce up a pillow, sew some napkins, or refashion a roman shade.

There's no shame in being on a budget, am I right?

I've written about my love for vibrant printed patterns many times here on this blog, but until recently I was at a loss for a new, untapped source for great fabrics.

Well, tah-dah, I found one: Alexander Henry, a company that produces bold, modern prints in cotton. Alexander Henry largely produces fabrics for quilters, and I could see these prints used beyond the blanket at the foot of your bed.
Here are just a few of my favorites I've rounded up for your enjoyment:

"Joy of Life" in red abstract, $2.99 per half yard / "Anja Floral Paisley" in dove, $4.49 per half yard

"Taupe Stripes on Cream" in cream, $9.99 per yard / "Zanzabelle Safari Zikat" in green, $2.49 per half yard

"Vie en Rose Floral" in dove, $2.99 per half yard /"Sage Flowers on Cream" in cream, $9.99 per yard

"Anja Floral Paisley" in black, $2.13 per quarter yard / "Africa Spinning Stick" in red pink, $2.99 per half yard

"Amelie" in rose, $2.99 per half yard / "Still Life" in multi, $4.49 per yard

Okay, so no, these aren't upholstery-weight fabrics, but why not use these lightweight cotton options (with lining, of course) for a fabulous pair of drapes? Or a shower curtain? Or a table runner? Or a bolster pillow?

And...no need to go through a decorator for "to the trade only" fabrics. Be sure to try Etsy and Ebay, as well as online fabric stores, for the very best price.

Fabrics for the rest of us, and we didn't even have to sacrifice style.

Weekend Excursion to Impact Thrift Store

It was a sad weekend 'round Philadelphia, friends, on account of a majorly depressing loss by the Phillies late Friday evening. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that a somber sort of mood hung over the city the next morning, and certainly we all needed some kind of pick-me-up.

What's a better cure-all than a trip to a great thrift store?

I was overdue for a trip to the local Norristown branch of the Impact Thrift Store chain. I've written about this particular store before and usually find many, many secondhand finds that I have to share with blog friends far and wide. So, without further ado...

These chairs would look as cool on your lanai as in your living room. 

Reminiscent of Anthropologie's "Banda" armchair (at a much more spendy price), no?

Sturdy and in excellent shape. $50/each.

 This large dining room table, $35, was unfortunately covered in a pea green finish. 

Wouldn't it look great refinished and paired with Ghost chairs? 

Yeah, I thought so, too.

 This brass etagere was only $50 and in great condition. 

Apply a little Brasso and it would be a perfect foundation for your collection of books and vignettes.

 This small chest, only about 3 feet tall, caught my eye. 

At $35, it would have come home with me, too, had I the space for it. 

 This mid-century armoire was around $65 and it was fantastic looking. 

Shiny and pristine. 

Flamestitch sofa, anyone?

I'd tear off the skirt and never look back.

 Okay, go with me on this one. 

Get rid of the millions of separate cushions, and replace them with a single one and a bolster on each arm.

What you really need to notice is the shapely detail at the legs. 

I recall this might have been ~$100.

All in all, lots of good finds. No, none of these items came home with me, but I did walk away with a $4 lamp shade for my demijohn lamp (still to come). 

Can't beat a weekend afternoon visiting a great thrift store.