picture perfect life
bon soir tous! i hope you’re enjoying a peaceful night.
i’d like to introduce you to one of my beloved muses, haleigh of making magique. we are kind of like kindred spirits. ok exactly like kindred spirits. we met briefly in paris and didn’t get a chance to chat but knew each other in a flash. tonight i went to visit chez elle en paris to get a french fix and some fresh air.
haleigh is so much fun to hang out with even if just on her blog. she’s got sensational photo skills and her apartment is a glorious work in progress. she just moved paris apartments and is taking us along.
when she visits museums she gets the shot i always tried capture.
she’s uber girly
and appreciates vintage powder puffs!
she takes the time to document her beautiful reality with still life shots and self portraits.
oh and she twirls in gardens
and makes a great exit
haleigh sees beauty everywhere and she’s capturing and sharing it. it would be nice to do a little more capturing the beauty of daily life.
i could go on with more photos but am officially calling it a night. sweet dreams!
the stuff of dreams
bonjour guys. i have about 30 seconds left in me. i’m about to shut down and shuffle off to the other side. i’ve been having internet drama all night and it wore me out. heading to another galaxy to recharge. hope to see you there!
i never would have done it
bonjour mes amis, ça va c’est soir?
i hope you’re safe and sound in your own world, enjoying some time to yourself as you read this. i’m thinking about everyone who’s been displaced in japan and so grateful for the status quo and life as we know it.
i’ve mentioned before that i don’t think about posting till it’s time to write but today someone asked me to write about (of all things)! kitchens.
wherethesidewalkbegins.blogspot.com
now, we all have a kitchen but over the years my focus has been pretty much everywhere but. the salon, the boudoir, salle de bain, dressing room, suites, guest rooms, even offices…anything but the boring kitchen. but as i was going through pics i’ve been saving, i realized that the kitchen is a place i’ve been secretly loving for years and forgot all about in decorating.
my parents put an island and giant hotel pot rack in their kitchen in the 70s and it still looks fresh. today islands are de rigeur and i love this one in reclaimed wood. my grandmother’s kitchen table was the place to be for good tea and talk growing up. i remember she had plaques on her wall with great sayings like ‘explain not, friends don’t expect it and enemies won’t believe it’ and ‘god couldn’t be everywhere so he created mothers’. it had red counter tops and always something brewing. and i loved to hang out and listen to everyone’s dramatic stories.
if i could have a dream kitchen, i guess it would have a lot of rustic touches like farm cabinets and a harvest table.
and i’d bust out the good hand towels
and start collecting white jars
it doesn’t take much to change a small counter top. i always wonder why they always rip out full kitchens on the home deco shows when it’s the one room that’s easy to tweak with paint and butcher block.
oh and great appliances probably do help. guess like any other room it’s all in the details.
but this didn’t take much
of course there’s a part of me that loves clean, fresh and modern so i’m totally torn
country mouse or city mouse
a little bit of marble
and sunshine. the great thing about a kitchen is that it doesn’t have to be big to be fabulous
as long as there’s a table for two and a friend to share it with. maybe i’ll cook tomorrow.
well, i’m off. have a great night, this kitchen is closed!
i go to all the best places
hey guys, happy sunday. i spent some time this afternoon hanging out with my lovely laptop. it took me to faraway lands where i could visit old and new friends. today’s post was created when i tried to visit everyone who left their beautiful notes and comments over the past few days. i’m going from the most recent back and enjoying the sunday stroll. if i haven’t been by yet, i’m coming over to play!
theprincessandthepea.blogspot.com
fabulousfindsstudio.blogspot.com
carriesdesignmusings.blogspot.com
shellygregoryslushlife.blogspot.com
ok now i’m going to link all these guys to my blogroll. anybody else, if we’re not linked, send it to me and let’s tangle this web! i forget where this last pic came from but like her style. ok well have a great, sweet nuit! 
it doesn’t have to be a gilded cage
pinterest.com/parisapartment/moodboard
god i love this picture. it has nothing to do with anything but just started me off on a turquoise tangent.
hey gang, how’s your weekend shaping up? personally i’m enjoying some alone time and putting all my ‘have to’s’ in the tomorrow category.
tonite’s about dreaming, relaxing and unwinding. the pics i came across told me my story c‘est soir.
i’ll be taking a ride to other galaxies hoping to find a new home.
kickcanandconkers.blogspot.com/2009/10/affordable-art-fair.html
my raison d’être for the future is finding a place on the ocean. i’ve been in miami for a few years and want to live with the sea, air, earth and sun, not just visit. do you live with nature? i’m craving it. outside my current window is a 2 year construction project (aka dirt mound) and not being able to open the windows is no way to live. there’s no peace.
i don’t need much, just a view and a balcony where i can work. and iron.
so, i’ll be meditating on that while drifting off, willing it…what do they call it? projection? conjuring? manifestation? intention? i’ll try it all and take the plunge for change.
and reap my peaceful nothingness
well enjoy your night, and whatever you’re dreaming up, hope to see you in the stars!
making a mark on a clean white page
happy friday!
i hope all is well in your world. if you have an internet connection then i daresay all is ok. with all that’s going on, it doesn’t take much to feel really lucky for what we have.
i’ve been reassessing the future and indulging in enjoying a new perspective of not taking it all so hard. i came across a sketchbook challenge tonight (don’t worry, I’m not attempting it)! and it got me thinking about organizing my millions of cards and what-nots into some kind of cohesive scrapbook.
flickr.com/photos/8814083@N06/5331225236/in/photostream
my parents still have my scrapbooks from childhood. it was an obsession at the time that i loved doing with my neighborhood friends.
these pages are so full of life and information. i want to be this creative, it’s fun!
do you have unused scrapbooks? i must have 20.
maybe carrying it at all times would be helpful so you can create at will
or is it better to have a desk where creating a page is special and precise
flickr.com/photos/cathybluteau/5528548729/sizes/l
looks like jolly good fun and lord knows i have stuff. i’m sure you do too. should we have our own little challenge? i bet your pages would be pretty!
i love the above
well all of them actually
pamgarrison.typepad.com/pamgarrison/2011/03/journal-pages.html
flickr.com/photos/goofbutton/3936806302
i guess i’m still a bit obsessed with scrapbooks and journals. there’s something so wonderfully intimate about reading and sharing it.
flickr.com/photos/wholewheattoast/3717577241
below is a genius little printer for the girl on the go!
ok well, it’s officially time for some downtime so good night and great dreams!
journey vs destination
“Finish each day and be done with it before you begin the next. Interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely…” Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882
hi mes amis, ça va?
i’m sorry to have dropped out so fast for so long but i was possessed by a force beyond my control. i went on auto pilot in order to conserve energy and finish the show on a high note. that meant no technology and i was happy to be incommunicado after pretty long days.
luckily i’m finally reinvigorated as of today. ny is a tough city and sapped everything i had and i wasn’t expecting that. i’m thrilled there’s nothing planned for the near future!
anyway i wanted to share some of the AD show (if you still care)! these shots are from the dining by design. it would be fun to do a vignette in this section next year.
sorry i don’t have the names of who’s who
my faux pas
this was donna karan, i remember that (above)
this was my fave
and ralph lauren (above)
the show was good, there was a lot going on
so many details!
i fell in love with some of the handmade furniture and wooden sculptures
oh and flipped for these geode tables! i’ll post the manufacturers when i go through everything. i’m doing one thing at a time these days. trying to focus and adjusting to a whole new perspective starting with working smarter not harder.
i love how you can put tiny objets on lucite cubes for instant fab collections
this macro art was gorgeous
i’m going thru my pics for the first time tonight so i’m just seeing all the shots too. it ain’t the maison objet but it’s ours!
actually it’s a great show to do cause it’s easy to navigate and set up. having the right team made exhibiting almost bearable. thankfully it’s over and i am going to enjoy staying put for a while and honing that mundane i always complain about :)
thanks again for all your support. i am going to come blog hopping and can’t wait to visit. for tonite i’m signing off. sweet dreams and tgif almost!
the beginning of the end
happy sunday everyone. i had big plans to blog about the AD show and took a ton of pics but reality has set in. i’m officially beyond able to do anything but show up for the show and finish up. it’s been 9pm bedtime calls and 7am morning calls but still utter exhaustion.
these flowers were from the wholesale district the other day and are the only pics on my phone that seem remotely interesting. as for the show, there was plenty of hardware and ovens and a contest and lectures, and it was a great experience but i couldn’t be happier it’s over today.
thanks to all of you who came by either in person or the blog, you make everything more fun! we start to break down tonight and into tomorrow thank god cause it was either the booth or me! i’m a bit of a brat who hates having a set schedule and actually better boogie to get there now, it’s almost time to open. have a fantastic weekend enjoying your freedom to do whatever you want and if you’re here please stop by #241 for some champagne!
it’s showtime in the city
hi dear friends! i’m just getting home and see your wonderful well wishes and thank you so much for them! you saw me through a time of doubt and i’m forever gratefuful
we are finally able to enjoy the fruits of our labor and lounge around the booth carefree!
truth is, being in the booth is much harder than setting up
but only cause we are wearing heels. we still haven’t found time for manicures. we have to do that tomorrow! geez!
but we’re having a ball even if a bit exhausted and we had a party all day. tomorrow we break out the chocolate and champagne :)
if you’re in town, please come by!
goofy good fun! oh it’s midnight and i’m officially going pumpkin. i don’t know if i’ll be back tomorrow cause i heard it’s a silent blogging day in a moment of silence for japan.
ok darlings, thank you again for my boost, i needed that! tomorrow i’ll get out of the booth and cover some of the show to share with you. tonight, bonne nuit!
under the underwire
hey guys! it’s just about midnight and i’m going down. it’s been a full day and we’ve done what we can do and letting go of what we didn’t do. tomorrow will be about plants and flowers which means a trip to 27th street in the am where they have the most incredible wholesale foliage. it’s probably the best part of the show.
sorry for the crummy pics, i took them with my camera, and will shoot better tomorrow.
but tonight is tonight. see you in the stars!
i’d rather be dreaming
pinterest.com/lgoldfingerabram/turquoise
i bid you good night to this long day.
the wallpaper guys were in the booth all day so we couldn’t set up, just unload, and this is the tip of the iceberg so we have our work cut out for tomorrow. thank god i have my friends working with me to run around the city, in and out of our favorite places. and when they get along it’s stupid fun. anyway they were the highlight of an otherwise brutal day and talked me off the ledge a couple times when i was dying to freak out so thanks.
but enough of that show for today! i’m off to la la land, hope you are too!, sleep tight!
in between moments
images via verdidecorati.blogspot.com
hi all, how was your monday monday? i just want to thank you for your sweet support. having you is a gift i cherish!
well i ran around all day and am finally able to get an internet connection and am uber tired. with technology you’re in one minute and out the next so i best get to stepping between fritzing out!
so much happened today, just going through all the pics is ridiculous. i’m making an executive decision to only talk about one thing tonite and never would have guessed it, but the topic is, of all things…hardware! i went to ‘old good things’ to get something for the doors in the booth and just fell in love! i could really get into the hinges and locks, push plates and keyholes. not to mention they salvaged a ton from the plaza hotel, like these doorknobs.
and tassles
french moderne, so chic! so of course i invited them to come to the show and put some pieces in the booth!
tomorrow i’ll go pick out some stuff and lorraine is letting me pillage her gorgeous treasure chest too. it’s getting to the wire and i’m totally winging it. on one hand i’m worried and on the other want to believe it will be ok. and i thought it was gonna be easy.
setup starts tomorrow. sleeps starts now. bonne nuit!
sunday in the city
happy sunday to you! it’s a beautiful day in nyc and i’m in and out between the the local diner and strolls through the park. we’re pretty chill cause starting tomorrow it’s full steam ahead. more than anything i want to have fun and enjoy it and not stress out over anything. i’m running around with claudia deux tomorrow and liz comes tuesday. in the meantime i’m finding accessories around the loft to bring to the show and came across this lucite laptop rest which was stashed away for years. guess timing is everything, it suddenly seems relevant. i’m using it now and my legs are nice and cool for once!
well i have to dash but wanted to wish you a long afternoon languishing. hope it’s sunny where you are even if you’re inside!
leaving on the jet plane
hi all, happy saturday! i’m on the plane about to take off and wanted to post early cause it wil be late when i land. hope you’re having a fantastic weekend. oops prepare for departure, gotta run! i chose this images of marilyn cause it’s one i’ve never seen and she looks so relaxed, happy and full of sunshine! using her as my role model. more soon!
magic in a convenient, reusable jar
allo all and tgif! i hope you left your week in the dust and are looking toward the weekend. i’m counting my blessings as it’s been a traumatic day for the world and my prayers go out to everyone in japan who’ve been affected by the earthquake.
i never know what i’m posting till i get here and just now came across these spellbinding images.
isn’t it amazing what you can do with a jar and a little ingenuity?
not to mention a good photographer?
the simple jar is such a marvel. what it can hold, possess, really, is infinite
from sand to glitter to the birth of a bud
‘
sometimes the best things in life are simple and uncomplicated
i’m sure you have a jar around and i do too. what wishes would you fill it with?
well i’m out, for the night, heading to nyc for the really big shoe this week and hoping it all comes together. maybe you can sprinkle some fairy dust in my corner? have a wonderful weekend my darling friends!
now i understand
whew, it’s over! today was one that tested and if i’m not mistaken, even tried to break me. funny how delicate everything is and like a puzzle, has to function perfectly. luckily the burdens soon passed but i’m definitely wiped out.
in fact my brain is such a blank slate that tonite’s post was simply inspired by the top search terms used to find my blog. for the past few years, since i got my dad one for father’s day, the top search term almost eVeRy SinGle DaY, is for ‘japanese maple tree’.
the tree i got was just ok so tonight i googled it to see what the fuss was all about.
now i get it. these beauties twist and curl and are works of art straight out of a van gogh painting. dad’s is not doing backflips so i’m not sure it’s even the real thing now. maybe its time for another. my parents have a gorgeous garden and deserve real deal!
well at least these pics helped to undo the day. i’m closing up before midnight, the ultimate luxury for a tired mind like mine. hope you’re winding down too, sweet dreams!
ladybugs and daisies
(image via weheartit)
you have to admire the precision the ladybug has for her target. i’m going to use her as a role model and try to tap into her focus.
allo all, how’s votre vie? it’s been a full couple of days and while i was supposed to be wrapping up loose ends for the show, have actually been taking more on at the last minute. since joseph is opening a store i couldn’t resist turning him on to some of my treasure troves down here. in turn he’s taking me to his woodworker, lacquerer, nickel plater, fabric stores and well, anything else we can fit into the day. i have to apologize for these horrible pics, my phone is fickle and didn’t want to play today. we hit a shop down south that i haven’t been to for at least 5 years called architectural antiques. i remembered vividly that they’d had an insane pair of french doors that for some reason stuck with me all these years. imagine my surprise when they were still there when we showed up today!
they have incredible but totally random stuff. note the dinosaur head on the upper left.
it’s filled with everything from ancient vellum books to enormous antique hotel chandeliers.
they took a while to find but were still as beautiful as i remembered. but they’ve started to show a lot of age and damage on the top and bottoms. i figured it was probably too much to fix them for the show, i’m leaving for new york on saturday and the trucker is picking everything up the day after tomorrow.
BUT joseph thought his guys could restore them so it so i threw caution to the wind and claimed them then and there. we stuffed the car with last minute pickups and headed to the woodworker who said guess what…no problem, he’s going to have them ready tomorrow afternoon!
who does that?
needless to say i’m thrilled and amazed. both by the local talent in miami and the willingness people have to help each other out when they know it’s crunch time.
well, it’s been an action packed day so i think tonight will be the ‘early to bed early to rise’ kind and i can’t wait to hit my favorite pillow. i’ll look for you in the stars!
bundles of bliss
bon soir! i hope all is well with you. i’ve been working to get ready for the show and can’t wait to start honing in on fun details like flowers. yesterday got me in the mood and now i want to think about the arrangements and vignettes since the walls, floors, furniture and lighting is basically ready.
actually anything looks great as long as flowers are involved. books too. but there is an art to it. flower arranging 101. i look at these shots and try to learn so much from these brilliant stylists and photographers, not to mention the artful arrangers.
(all images from pinterest)
a
we’ll go to the wholesale flower district in the city on west 28th street between 6th and 7th avenues and load up. if you’re in the city it’s definitely a great place to check out.
i guess i went a little overboard gathering inspiration pics but it’s good to have a lot to mull over. don’t you love having un fleur by the bed even if it’s something tiny?
well i hope you have a night of sweet scented dreams and may flower petals paint your cheeks as you drift off…night!
i can promise you a rose garden
..or any other kind of flower garden! they’re all here for the magnificent picking, even if only in 2d on a laptop. but sometimes the image is as strong as the real thing, especially with all the incredible photographers out there capturing their beauty.
(all images via pinterest)
i put this group of flowers together after my yoga teacher had us imagine putting our faces into our favorite flower or bouquet while breathing deep.
my faves are peonies but i’m a sucker for ranunculus too. in class i could feel their cool petals and smell the freshness only flowers deliver. he said it was a good way to stop and calm down too, using the imagery and memory of our favorite flowers smooshed in our face. (maybe i added the smooshed part but i’m passionate :)
i’ve been playing with it all day and should make sure to get something for the house tomorrow. nothing beats the real thing and it only takes one flower to make major magic.
bonne nuit!
would you like to swing on a star?
photo unknown source
is there anything better than sunday? i’m gonna enjoy the last hour of it techno free so am sending a good night kiss and wishing you sweet, deep dreams. see you in the stars!
the sounds of silence
sometimes you need to recharge and this is my weekend to do just that. we shot at joseph’s all day and although i ‘should’ edit the pics, it’s time to unwind. plus i have the place to myself, loving the many sounds in the silence and knowing there’s nothing i have to do!
i hope you’re getting some downtime in between ruling and running your world. so i’m out for tonight, happy saturday to you!
i want what he’s having
(image via thatkindofwoman.tumblr.com)
deep, impenetrable, rejuvenating sleep. before midnight!
happy friday, everyone. i’m thrilled to say nothing at all but sweet dreams and i hope your friday is fab. have a great weekend and see you in the stars!
no end to the trend
allo darling friends, ça va? i hope your week is winding down and you’re gearing up for a great weekend doing wHaTeVeR it is you want to do!
i’m tying up loose ends before the architectural digest show which is in less than two weeks. i’m mainly showing our lucite collection and by day have been getting the grunt work done. at night i’ve been turning if off when i’m here just to shake my brain up a bit. but when the editor at large did an article on lucite’s 75th anniversary, i got reinvigorated and hit google.
of course in this day and age you can’t get too far without uncovering something beyond expectation. i found this photo of helena rubenstein in her lucite bed, holding court in the 30s as if she’ was madame de rambouillet. and all around her everyone is sitting on lucite chairs. mme helena was a trendsetter who loved the invisible and playful furniture that was being created with the new, modern, crystal clear and versatile acrylic. how is it that lucite still has a fresh new feel and even seems trendy at 75?
helena was such a diva. she had a set of these chairs scattered throughout her apartment. katie holmes used one in her glam shoot and it’s as fierce today as it ever was. i guess lucite has a futuristic quality makes it seem timeless.
today, we make them to order, without the etching. (below).
thepeakofchic.blogspot.com amy fine collins’ apartment
but helena’s bed, egads, that bed is bordering on obscene but has become a legend!
in fact it’s the centerpiece of 1st dibs’ brand new showroom new york city! (below)
the way they staged it is so depressing it looks like a funeral home. they did NOT do it justice in my opinion. ug. i can barely look at it.
anyway i came across all sorts of fun old ephemera which is like finding treasure maps.
twolia.com/blogs/heres-looking-like-you-kid/category/jayne-mansfield
i love the envelope, it’s a great way to store all those love letters and postcards from the paris flea markets.
flickr.com/photos/sugarcubevintage/5389687502/sizes/z/in/photostream
and it’s fun to wear
gonefunky.com/product/vintage-lucite-shoe-scarf-clip-gold-confetti-retro-button-lapel-dress
no one is immune from this invisible trend, even dogs have lucite beds
gucci-lined at that
and it makes a pretty good desk
thefrencheye.blogspot.com/2010/03/clear-lucite.html
madonna!
there is truly no end to this ingenious material.
(lamp base)
porterandplunk.bondandbowery.com
and by the by, it holds its value. if you see one of these ice buckets while you’re out thrifting, nab it. check out the ransom they can fetch at the link above. i found two in palm beach just last week and should have grabbed em!
i’m a sucker for these tacky little makeup caddies from the 40s. when i found the magazine that showed the crafty guy how to make them i just about melted.
morninggloryantiques.com/JewelChatCarving.html
anyway all this makes what i’ve been doing the past couple days a little more fun cause i have some new layers to think about. i’ve been working on making sure the website is tight, adding new products, creating sample boards and having all the pieces upholstered.
here’s a sneak peek at the new bath line. below is our faceted towel bar. it’s chunky with sparkly edges and is like a big jewel.
well, i could ponder the lucite phenomenon all night but whatever the reason, clearly, it’s here to stay.
i think it’s time to decompress for the day so i’m tuning out and turning in. have a great night!
you can do anything, but not everything
(photo via sid_black)
i had such a good time with last night’s post that of course i wanted to do it again but alas, my connection is like an escargot traveling backwards tonight. anyway it’s taking the joy out of it so suffice it to say it’s quitting time. i can take a hint and am beyond sleepy. i think i’ll cut out early and curl up with a good book.
i hope you’re having a great night technologically and/or with the ones you love. more tomorrow, it’s lights out pour moi c’est soir!
ps i found the title quote on pinterest, not sure where it originated from but it sure resonated with me tonight.bonne nuit~
i could do this all night
allo all! it’s dusk and the rain is starting to drop heavy on the leaves outside. it’s nice to be home alone and take some time to sit with my laptop and blog blissfully. for the past few weeks you’ve been super supportive and i’ve been meaning to stop by your blogs, add you to my blogroll, follow and just generally tell you how much i love you! as bloggers you know it’s tricky to comment on comments and get around to visiting so tonight i am going through each comment and featuring the blogs of my dear sweet friends who came by. i hope you all connect, this world wide web would be nothing without you. so would i!
parishotelboutique.blogspot.com
fabulousfindsstudio.blogspot.com
vintagehavenstudio.blogspot.com
fivemonthsuntilparis.blogspot.com
shellygregoryslushlife.blogspot.com
ok well i could do this forever but this girl’s gotta eat! have a fabulous night cheres amis!
the ultimate altar
hey guys, happy monday. i’ve been goofing around tonight collecting pics, you know how we do! i love pinning cause it gets me out of my head and into a fantasy frame of mind. tonight i honed in the vanity.
the variety of vanities is as varied as anything else, but somehow it’s a little more personal. where else can you claim complete domain over your territory and have a place where everything you use each day is where you left it? (don’t forget this is a fantasy)!
some are extravagant, but they can be as bohemian as they are luxe
it’s a place to call your very own. a world unto itself, completely self sufficient requiring only a chair, table and mirror.
each is as individual as the woman who runs it
yes it’s a luxury but an easy one to fit into any boudoir.
in fact, let’s face it, what’s a boudoir without one?
it’s a tranquil place to start each day.
i hope to get a flat surface myself one day soon
this one was made from an old frame below:
oooh these photogs, i could eat them up!
choosing the right style is the trickiest part. till then, a mirror and table will do, it doesn’t take much to get the ball rolling and every little addition is like a little piece of artwork being added to a beautiful living sculpture!
what starts out the same becomes completely different depending on the gal. but one thing’s for sure, it’s your very own universe and something you really don’t share, unlike anyplace else in the house and that’s kind of sacred.
well the clock is striking midnight so that’s my cue. more tomorrow, bonne nuit!
