what good is a blog
unless it actually keeps a web log of your life?
good morning friends and happy friday. the photo above was so fascinating i had to post it. it’s the return of the mona lisa to the louvre after the nazi invasion of paris. once they were conquered she was free be the paris we take so for granted. our muse!
i hope you don’t mind a second day posting about my trip to paris with okl. they posted a lot of information on their blog about the trip yesterday after susan’s container sale went up. since they took the time to interview me about my favorite markets, i turned into a jpeg that can be read below. for me it’s a virtual scrapbook and this is the best place to keep it cause, hey, a blog is forever. (sort of)! hope you enjoy it!
i
onekingslane.com/live-love-home/insiders-guide-to-paris
day trips to paris markets
thanks for coming by and hope you got some info and maybe a bee in your bonnet to go to paris or anywhere soon, there’s nothing like traveling. i’ll be putting my trip together for late summer and fall soon and will keep you posted on the progress. maybe i’ll close up the apartment here since i have to move and just hit the road for a couple months. after all, times they are always a changin’ and you never know what’s next. till then, have a bon weekend!
a dream came true
good morning mes chere amis! it’s been a long winter and hard to believe that i was able to keep a secret for 6 months, but today can finally reveal a career highlight i’ve been sitting on! i didn’t want to spoil the fun of having takin one king’s lane founder, Susan Feldman on a wild shopping spree in paris in january for her container sale that’s happening right now! it was brutal weather and we trudged through slush with wet uggs and red noses but we beat down doors and got beautiful treasures for a sale i hope you’re going to really enjoy! take a look: Susan’s Container Sale
well, i better get back to reality. it was fun reliving our trip and i hope we can do it again soon, as it was a dream come true to be there together. as you know, i love to share my sources and passion for the markets and Susan really absorbed it. she had a vision. i hope you and i can shop together sometime too! i’ll be there in september, maybe we can plan a blogger’s meet up if you’re there? something to think about. for now it’s back to work to make it happen, more soon!
our aquatic earth
good morning and happy tuesday everyone.
it’s a crazy day from what’s on the news. i hope you’re safe and sound and for those who are facing difficult times due to mother nature, please know we are all praying for you.
it’s earth that inspired my color choice to explore today. she’s so full of shades and tones it’s hard to pinpoint something specific but i’m finally honing in on one in particular: aqua.
(38702878020678901) it is somewhere between turquoise and celadon and i had to try not to cross the lines. not sure how i did, you can be the judge!
(bohemianwornest) even though it’s a color found so much in nature, it can sometimes be a little extreme and almost gaudy
(38702878020676243) but then again, one shade down it’s neutral, like so many we’ve explored over the past few days.
(38702878020680243) i love to see it in subtle tones on furniture like the little sofa.
(38702878020678983) and it’s got a dreamy quality in glass
(38702878020678973) adds a pick me up to any vignette (here almost crossing the turquoise line, maybe it’s both)?
(38702878020678783) it’s great in a bath
(38702878020687776) or in a dose of glass tiles
(38702878020679943 i keep coming back to nature to see where the color wheel blends
(38702878020679979) i find it soothing and love to see it on walls
(dianeburn.com) again, a color that’s timeless whether it’s used in a cottage or a baroque chateau
(38702878020680065) aqua velvet
(38702878020678907) it’s a bold color but kind of fun to use in unusual ways. here someone got creative with an ombre
and a gorgeous concrete floor
(madebygirl) once you choose your palette
the sky’s the limit! hope you have a fabulous day and if you’re using aqua let us know where!
all i thought i knew
(97108935687193225) happy saturday everyone! it’s the start of a brand new weekend and i hope what will be a memorable one, whatever you’re up to. this morning i was about to post on yet another color, this time orange. instead i thought i’d hone in a little further with a hue thought i knew pretty well but didn’t use much: saffron. turns out that everything i thought i knew about it was totally wrong, starting with the shade itself.
(34545107587176802) it’s a color that straddles between orange and yellow and is as varied in it’s shades as in its uses, origins, history and properties. for being a mere color it sure has a lot going on!
(nationalgeographic.com-saffron-field) first of all, it starts out as a purple flower
(251005379202475341) millions of pounds of it come in to the us from afganistan, pakistan, iran and greece and ingested, it’s useful for everything from depression to weight loss.
(16747829834188199) funny how purple leads into the red then the orange then yellow
(curiousinkitchen) this is an image of early greek harvests
(122512052335782321) the technical color range is from orange to marigold
(248401735669024491) it’s apparently loved and used the world over
(275704808408777919) painting by Mark Rothko, Saffron, 1957, Oil on canvas
(248401735669024511) untitled, Rothko, 1968 and is an endless inspiration of study whether in art
(251005379202489575) on silk
(1.bp.blogspot.com) or in a powder form
(amazing-benefits-of-saffron) sprinkled on top of almost anything it adds color and spirit. it’s almost revered or sacred when used by chefs
(charmingspaces) it’s sort of magical
(kaufmann-mercantile.com) it’s used as a dye
above dyeing wool for carpets below
(97108935687122447) i think this is the color i originally associated with it. kind of what monks wear in tibet
it’s peaceful in the boudoir (although it could be the view)
(59320920061988641) and bold in a single shot
(97108935687122449) calming on a focal wall
it has that neutral property
(248401735669024483) and is as modern as ever
saffronandsilk and works in any decor
(97108935687122450) or room
(38702878020666930) a great accent for doors
(161285230376634138) or fabric
(495184921498566786) i couldn’t resist posting some of the delicious recipes that are made with it! here are roasted pears with saffron spice
veggie-paella-w-saffron-orange
(232357661996354326) saffron risotto & oven roasted vegetables
(100908847872073720) Rustic Pear Tart with Saffron pastry
ok well i officially have both a problem with ocd and a brand new obsession to go with it! hope you get a chance to check it out. if you use it let me know! have a beautiful day!
what’s so hot about pink
good morning! it was fun putting a blue story together yesterday and i wanted to challenge myself with a color today that i’d normally never use in decorating: hot pink.
(outdoor-spaces) but as they say, never say never! i’m falling in love with the creative ways people have been using now, in the past and in nature.
i guess it always seemed a little brash but once mother nature puts her stamp on it, it suddenly makes sense.
(249809110552789071) what really amazed me is the bold choices that were used on doors all over the world. paris here
(242068548693299806) greece
california maybe?but then, if you have a front door, why not play with it every year…or even season? it’s about the quickest way to change the look and feel of a house.
as for the color itself, it fits in just about anywhere and can set a different tone in each room.
it’s daring
cozy
(161637074097203863) vivid
228205906087872749 inviting
le-bath sophisticated
unexpected
(southshoredecoratingblog) strong
timeless
surprisingly neutral
cheerful
bold
and just plain fun to play with
(68721859813) a fun DIY
(95983035779005199) on a pillow
or artwork
pinterest.com/parisapartment/art
i think you have to really love it to go this crazy but hey, it’s only paint!
at the minimum, just get that flash of freshness, nothing beats a beautiful bougainvillea! well i better get going, the crew is here, have a a perfectly pink day!
all photos can be found on pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/parisapartment/boards
a little bit blue
good morning! it’s still pretty early but time is just flying by. maybe i should block pinterest till after work cause even a cursory glance turns into a photo fest!
so much comes in at hyperspeed and before you know it, you’re half an hour deep in the vortex.
with that i’m sharing some of my favorite shots and in an effort to hone it down and create a theme. today’s inspiration is simply: deep blue.
(fleurs) it’s a color i don’t use much and am starting to wonder why.
(le-bath) a little tile goes a long way in a bath
(kitchens) or a kitchen
(le-chateau) on a silk satin sofa or small leather chair or on a velvet daybed
(bars) on an accent wall behind a bar
somewhere between indoors and and out
(doors-and-windows) and a touch or outdoors is always cheery!
(pin/192740059025047144) even as solar roof tiles!
and a little goes such a long way.
well now i’m officially late but it was fun to slack off and surf this morning! hope you enjoyed it. have a beautiful blue day!
the kiss principle
pinterest.com/pin/127437864426270019
good morning and happy saturday! it’s still before 9am and nice and quiet out the window. waiting for my slumber party guests to dress i decided to surf a little for inspiration and came across a ton of pretty things as usual.
pinterest.com/pin/127437864426270019
what stood out today was the sheer magnitude of simplicity.
noperfectdayforbananafish.tumblr.com/post/33760849625
we’re shooting vignettes, rooms and corners. Mostly realizing that it doesn’t take much to say a heck of a lot.
pinterest.com/pin/279504720595645913
not withstanding great bones
pinterest.com/pin/127437864426562682
a lone mirror sets a tone of casual but regal elegance
pinterest.com/pin/127437864427758457
i love the complete opposites together from the mirror and the nightstand
pinterest.com/pin/127437864425984035
to the luxe bed and the little bench at the foot.
pinterest.com/pin/127437864426394283
pinterest.com/pin/127437864425839485
sacramentostreet.com/2011/06/stunning-abode.html
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well you get the picture. let’s hope we do. for now we’re off to set up our shots chanting our mantra for the day: KISS (keep it simple, sugar)! have a great weekend!
at home for the holidays
pinterest.com/pin/211317407487329649
hi guys! what’s happening? it’s been a busy week so i apologize for always being behind schedule here. i was supposed to announce the giveaway winners days ago so first things first!…they’re elissa from the traveling pear and jasmine from jasmine kyle sings.. hope you enjoy the books, girls!
it’s been a long hard day and what better way to wind down then to look thru pinterest? i guess it’s a little obsession (am i the only one)? if there’s a minute to spare you know it will stir up something fun. today it got me thinking about decorating and the holidays. so many of us need just a quick fix to wake up a room and it doesn’t have to take much. so from a (shhh) lazy decorator, here are some of simple diy’s to freshen things up in an afternoon.
it’s easy to get trim and put it along the edge of a curtain. if you have 9 ft windows you’ll need about 7 yards. you can even use iron on tape to hold it.
color coding books and straightening out shelves is about as basic as it gets. and gratifying too!
pinterest.com/pin/81838918200458719
pinterest.com/pin/77476056061437864
there are old tiles at markets and salvage places. or just tape and paint the diagonal stripes.
pinterest.com/pin/218143175672521819
clear clutter
pinterest.com/pin/38702878017199301
go a little monochromatic
paint a wall
pinterest.com/pin/209276713904747387
pinterest.com/pin/38702878017276780
pinterest.com/pin/38702878017204367
skirt a sink with double stick velcro and pins if you can’t sew
pinterest.com/pin/26458654682965663
define spaces
pinterest.com/pin/7459155603045171
paint a frame around the shower or lines along the base of the room. all you need is tape and black paint.
pinterest.com/pin/258253359852413423
minimize and use your best
pinterest.com/pin/257549672411958384
put your stamp on it
pinterest.com/pin/82683343128280106
tiered serving dishes are in every thrift store. so are the cups and saucers.
pinterest.com/pin/8233211790663510
upcycle baby bottles
pinterest.com/pin/150729918750393919
glue and sprinkle sequins to your shower curtain!
and outside…solar lights
pinterest.com/pin/73042825177874634
or votives from the dollar store
pinterest.com/pin/28640147600060043
try symmetry
pinterest.com/pin/215328425904008312
set a pretty table
pinterest.com/pin/195414071303155045
or add glitter to the shoes your were so over!
pinterest.com/pin/193795590184945482
most of all keep it simple. this is supposed to be a time of joy so enjoy and spread it! i’ll try too! bonne nuit mes cheres amis!
stepping into the light
hi guys! it’s been way too long, i missed you! but i had to disconnect from the hyper-overdrive my bod and psyche were on. it’s been a crazy busy couple months. once again BiG things are in the works (more about that soon), but for the first time in a long while i feel at ease today. so what did i do? headed straight to pinterest of course!
pinterest.com/pin/460915343083347735
it’s funny the path you end up following when you go there. at first i was looking for holiday pics, pretty and inspirational. mom and dad are back home making strudel and decorating so i know there will be plenty of holiday cheer when i head back up north. still i’d like to do a little something in my place. i’ve become way too lazy to do much so when i started coming across string lights, got to thinking about what a big statement just a little sparkle can deliver.
pinterest.com/pin/65583738294975277
when i was younger i had them up year round. there was nothing like coming home and seeing them shine. it was sort of comforting.
pinterest.com/pin/45528646203071614
and you have to love that the messier they are the better they look
pinterest.com/pin/18366310951978297
and you look great posing with them in a twinkling mirror!
pinterest.com/pin/99994054198196198
there’s an instant transformation that happens to a room when that little plug goes in the socket
pinterest.com/pin/8233211790632166
it seems around this time every year lately there’s always talk about the war on the holidays. this one doesn’t want a tree in the town square, that one doesn’t want to know from kwanzaa or chanukah in public spaces…
pinterest.com/pin/99994054198196198
string lights just remind us that there is a holiday season however we want to celebrate
pinterest.com/pin/34269647135357450
that there’s magic in the air
pinterest.com/pin/30891947415396871
and chances for a new beginning
pinterest.com/pin/148478118935560483
best of all it doesn’t take much
pinterest.com/pin/248049891947688595
even nature creates her own version!
pinterest.com/pin/247205467017497701
so i think i’ll invest in a set or two today. will let you know where they end up!
oh, ps: we have another giveaway, and to those who won a couple weeks ago, i’ll be sending out your books and portraits this week, thank you for your patience!
we have two sets of a wonderful collection of walking tours called ‘Paris from the Heart’ by Jan Dolphin .
they’re paperback books with detailed explorations of paris. if you’d like to win one of the collections, just leave a comment and say so! we’ll draw the winners on sunday night. ok, well that’s about enough playtime, but boy did i need it! a tout a l’heure for now, have a great weekend!
no place like home
hi guys, happy sunday! we’re bracing for a storm and i’m hoping the east coast will be spared without too much damage. there’s a definite calm which may be cliché but truly is the case. i’ve sequestered myself in this weekend to write and it seems like i’m doing everything but! i’ve been playing around at home with my camera and now that i have my place back and it’s no longer a warehouse.
before i left i’d been working on shooting the stuff for the okl sale. i hung it haphazardly just to get it on the wall and protected. what i didn’t realize is how much i’d love being around it all.
so many of the images speak to me and i wonder who they were
and imagine the way someone spent their day creating a little masterpiece
above is a watercolor of a leisurely afternoon in a chateau garden
these engravings made me think a little more about what probably caused the revolution
and the one below just calms me down
i guess there really is no rhyme or reason with art and what we gravitate toward. the only problem i have is the attachments i’m making to it all. some pieces you can look at forever cause you’re always finding something new. i didn’t know i’d fall so hard for these little chef d’oeuvres that so quickly have become part of my daily inspiration.
in any event, i’ll be a big girl and give them up when the time comes but for now i’ll enjoy my moment with them. in the meantime i actually can part with something! i came home to an adorable book that was sent for review and a giveaway.
it’s a charming look at an american girl’s stay with a french family and all the things she learned about their perspective on life.
it’s a great gift so if you’d like to win a copy, just leave a comment and we’ll do the drawing this week.
and now, the sun has set. that means my deadline is that much closer and procrastination is no longer an option. (especially if i’m going to catch my housewives :)
so bon nuit, i’m sending prayers to everyone with hope of a mild hurricane!
