TGIF, 4/29/11 Edition

Hallelujah, it's Friday! 

This has been a long, long week and I'm looking forward to this weekend because we're heading to Connecticut to spend time with my parents.

Thank you for sticking with me this week--it's been really tough. I'll be back on Monday revived and refreshed.

Signing off until Monday, friends!

Can I Hide Out in Bed?

(via House Beautiful)

Readers, this week at work has been crazy and I've only come up for air long enough to dream about staying in a bed like this all day and forgetting all of my professional obligations.

de Gournay wallpaper and D. Porthault linens? 

Much better than Microsoft Outlook and expense memos, if you ask me.

Attention DSLR Camera Experts!

Hear ye, hear ye! 

Adam and I are toying with the idea of stepping up our camera "game" and are contemplating a few DSLR models. 

Right now the front runner is this popular Canon Rebel XS model.

(via Amazon)

The trouble is, we aren't camera experts and could really use a few honest opinions. We've been consulting sites like CNET, but I'd love to hear your advice and recommendations.

Do you have a DSLR camera that you love?

If so, do tell!

It Pays To Do Your Homework, or How I Almost Lost Big Time

This one goes out to all the kids out there who don't see the point in being patient or fully researching the unique, odd-ball finds we often come across at thrift stores, antique malls, and flea markets.

Up until last night, that was me. What changed you ask?

The discovery that this $5 flea market cast-off

may actually be worth something.

According to Wikipedia, the "Googie" ashtray was designed in the 1950's by Maurice Ascalon, the "father of the modern Israeli decorative arts movement" and produced by the Pal-Bell company.

Sure, the cool little figurine caught my eye in a lonely corner of the Elephant Trunk Flea Market late last fall; but not being a smoker myself, I thought it weird to have smoking-related paraphernalia around the apartment. So, off to Ebay it went.

That was until last night, when I wanted to determine if my $25 opening bid was warranted or not.

This is when I pause for you to check out this, this, or this link. 

Clearly, winning this for $25 would have been a joke. 

A total cosmic joke on me, that is. 

I've always wanted to have my own little "Antiques Roadshow" discovery, and I did. 

See, kids, it pays to do your homework.

What cool worth-way-more-than-you-thought treasures have you found?

*Update*
Many of you asked what I plan on doing with my snail ashtray--the answer: nothing, nothing at all, at least for the time being. I'll take Bri's advice and hold on to it, hoping it's eventual sale will supplement my retirement.

Spray Painted Pagoda Table

Last week I shared my auction winnings (my decrepit pagoda-style wicker side table) and mentioned that I was planning on reviving it with a healthy coating of Montana Gold spray paint. I chose the color "Petrol" and loved the silky blue-green color (it's showing a bit more blue in the pictures than in person).

I spent my late afternoon on Friday spraying the heck out of this table, and I thought I'd share some process shots:

Hopefully our landlord doesn't check my blog. I'm not sure he'd be okay with us using his property as my own personal little art project.

My "den" is really coming together now, and I'm enjoying furnishing this space slowly and deliberately.

Happy Monday, everyone!

TGIF, 4/22/11 Edition

(via Real Simple)

Happy Easter weekend, everyone!

I wanted to welcome all the new readers this week.
I've enjoyed your comments and am happy that I have lots and lots of your new blogs to check out!

Wishing you all lovely spring sunshine, too many chocolate bunnies, and meaningful time with family.

Book Report: Sister Parish Design: On Decorating

Today, I'm continuing my monthly "Book Report" feature, where I focus on a book I've recently purchased and offer you some details and opinions on it. Up this month is Sister Parish Design: On Decorating, by Susan Bartlett Crater and Libby Cameron.

You may be familiar with the gorgeous illustrations (courtesy of the immensely talented Mita Corsini Bland), but what struck me the most was the format of this book. 

Sister Parish Design: On Decorating reads like a transcript of some great lunch where nearly all the interior design greats (i.e., Miles Redd, Bunny Williams, Peter Dunham) have gotten together to discuss the influence of Mrs. Parish on their personal and professional lives. 

As such, the book operates like an extended conversation. These giants of the design industry offer their sage advice, all through the lens of Sister Parish's influence. 

The book is broken down into sections, such as "Mastering the Mix," "Dressing the Window," "The Power of Color," and "Decorating on a Shoestring," which is particularly useful for the budget-conscious among us.

Sister Parish Design: On Decorating also serves as a good primer on the Parish aesthetic and includes some anecdotes on a few of noteable Parish-Hadley clients.

But really, I couldn't offer a quality report of this book without highlighting the spectacular illustrations. Without further ado...

(all illustrations by Mita Corsini Bland photographed by me)

I delayed buying this book for months until I found an inexpensive copy. My only regret is not having bought this book sooner.

My favorite quote from the book:

"[Sister Parish] used to say, 'We are not decorating--we are making places to live.'"--William Hodges

Amen, Sister, amen.