Ugh - Simply Put

Progress delayed, CDLV post coming soon. Have a Happy Fourth of July!  

To Skirt, or Not To Skirt ... That's the Question

This dining room by the iconic John Saladino, has been on the top of my inspiration pile since I started my mini-renovations here at CDLV. The oval table, skirted so beautifully in three different colors of neutral Belgian linen is the real showpiece of the room, highlighted and complemented by the stunning mural on the back wall. A color story of greys and taupes, it's soft, serene, elegant, and sophisticated - all of the things that a formal dining room should be.

Another triple skirted table, and another stunning dining room. As you can tell, I'm quite fond of the layers. This time in varied shades of solids and stripes, the table is still neutral, timeless. It's not the fabric that stands out, it's the drape ... the silhouette.

Here the full cloth is solid white, and only the cover, which doesn't completely touch the floor is patterned. Now, although I'd ultimately love to have a story of solids like the Saladino table, I happen to have two PERFECT fabrics, one (a heavy linen) the new color of the walls, and another in a mysterious sort of blue gray and olive (a sumptuous pale silk) that I could possibly make work. Neither have enough yardage to do an entire cloth alone, so I suppose it's best they be married like above.

Yet, I love this bold statement, too. A strong color, pulled pulled from the rug and scattered about in accent fabrics around the room, you can't help but notice the table and its draped form. I can't decide whether I need my dining room to have a statement like this, or simply adorn the dining room like the pictures before it.

Here, the pattern is on the bottom and the solid is on top. It's less bold than the other table with the reverse composition, but it's still lovely. I'm starting to be fond of patterns, even as I write this post. Perhaps a pattern, maybe a complementary fabric to the drapes would be the best fit for the small space.

Yes, just like this. Divine inspiration from the "old" Cote de Texas dining room. When Joni decided she didn't want the yellow anymore, she opted for no pattern, but I still find this dining room to be one of the most beautiful in blog-land, and say a little RIP to it now. My drapes are the most beautiful shade of gray blue silk, and I bet I could find a plaid to coordinate, possibly even a stripe.

So the question: to skirt or not to skirt? 

Million Dollar Decorators: My Take Episode 5

I can't believe that we're more than 1/2 way through the 8 slated episodes of our collective guilty pleasure, Million Dollar Decorators. Unfortunately, I forgot to set the DVR to record the show last night, and had to wait until Bravo replayed it at 2:00am this morning. Yes, that's how dedicated I am to bringing you my two cents! So, my question before I get started: Do you think it's getting better as the show goes along!? I sure do!

This time Kathryn. sweet Kathryn who has more patience than I, and obviously more experience dealing with crazy (yes, I just used crazy as a noun); gets her ear fill from Shannon Factor when, after Shannon decides that she's a decorator, turns the project over to her brother-in-law ... who, won't communicate with Kathryn!

Now, I know this is real and not made up! As astonishing as it is to watch, it's nice to see that this happens to world renowned decorators with million dollar budgets, and not just poor little ole' me who gets the crazy calls wanting a whole house redo for a budget of $500. (I'm not kidding!) ... but I digress ... I was happy to see Kathryn tell Shannon that she could essentially go jump off a cliff, that she was in charge, and taking BACK control where it rightfully should have been along!

Shannon, who I think would rather choke herself than give up control, concedes (for this episode anyway) and we move on to watch JAM and Ross have a lovers quarrel over lighting.

... happens to me and Scott ALL the time!

Martyn (MAH-TIN) attempts to pick up yet another CELEBRITEEE client, Daisy Fuentes, (who has her name on a whole line of polyester bedding). She finally gives him the living room before agreeing to the rest of the house, which seems a little odd to me for two reasons:

1. When you have the sort of money that it takes to hire a decorator like Bullard, oh, I'm sorry ... Lawrence-Bullard, you know what they're capable of.
2. THEY ARE FRIENDS!!! Yes peeps, they know each other, and posed all lovey dovey when she was photographed in 2008 at the Greystone Mansion showhouse.

Anyway, my point, (and I do have a point) is that it seems a little sketched for television, don't you think? He finally delivers a product that is essentially off the shelf, and she says, ok - I love it, you can do the rest of the house now?
Cute Nathan Turner hosts a party planned by Susan Feldman, co-founder of One Kings Lane, after they both traveled to India to buy a boat full of interior must haves.  Everyone is mingling, while JAM decides that the fight over lamps is worth finding a new man, and begins to "pick up on cute boys.” I'm really starting to not like JAM ... he reminds me of a person from my past who still makes me grit my teeth!
Overall, great episode. I really got a ton of ideas from the party Nathan and Susan threw, and I kinda liked the room that Martyn did for Daisy, sans the mirror sculpture that cost more than my living room furniture to date. See you Saturday with a little taste of the interior changes around CDLV! I can barely wait!

Million Dollar Decorators: Episode 5 POSTPONED

Unfortunately, I wasn't home to make sure that the DVR was set to record this episode and there are no scheduled recaps until tomorrow night - so we're pushing back the review to late tomorrow night after I get a chance to watch the show!

Check back with me!

TUESDAY: Inspiring Spaces by Delores Arabian

The blog world is sorta like a 5A high school. 1,000 kids in your class, and yet you seem to know something about all of them. I find constant inspiration in the pages of my fancy, expensive design books, but nothing beats a glass of diet coke (or wine) and an hour flipping through the pages of my favorite blogs! I first met Delores of the beautiful blog: Vignette Design when she posted her tablescape on Susan's Tablescape Thursdays. I immediately fell in love with her California home(s), and began secretly right clicking on photos to save them for my inspiration file, and I thought why not share them with all of you - today!

Her gardens are as magical as her interiors:

Ok, here, let me help you lift your jaw up off the floor! All of these pictures are of Delores's homes and they were all taken by her! Yes, decorator, landscaper, amazing cook, stylist, and photographer are all the hats that Delores not only wears, but expertly juggles on her beautiful blog! Stop by and say hello today, you'll be ever so glad you did!

Thank you Delores for being so inspiring!

Our Outdoor Room : CDLV Pergola

I know, you're all probably saying, FINALLY! I know I haven't been posting enough of my own work on the blog lately and I apologize, sincerely. I know it's trite, but I've been terribly busy with projects, volunteer committees, volunTOLD committees, and the house has unfortunately fallen to the bottom of the list. However, with our Garden Walk coming soon, I wanted to get out in the yard and do some necessary clean up. Of course, that's no fun! So what did I do? Well, style the pergola of course:

Would you believe that this table was only $14? Scott and I were out and about on Memorial Day, and heard that the local thrift store was having a 50% sale. We headed over, and there was this table - white with no top - half off from $9.99. I added this irregular piece of flagstone for $9.00 and voila.

Our backyard garden has a lot of yellow and white, and typically I go overboard with my annuals. This year, however, I decided to stay with the soft pinks and whites, so ferns mixed in with dragon wing begonias, white wax leaf begonia, and creeping jenny have taken over the pots in the yard and under the pergola. (More of the garden coming soon!)

Pretty nice, huh? I'm extremely happy with it considering it started out looking like this:

Yes, I'm serious! What do you think?

Million Dollar Decorators: My Take Episode 4

Has it really been 4 episodes? And is it just me, or are they getting better? I love it when we get to see the designers doing what they do best, and getting a peak at their inner workings and methods along the way. As you already know, Mary is hands down, my favorite designer on the series ... though Kathryn is quickly becoming a close second ... and we got to see Mary spend $50K on a home office for boutique clothing designer Jill Roberts.

Mary really does love herself a bold patterned floor. Take a look at these other painted and patterned floors from her portfolio:

But I mean, look at the before of the room above:

She had to do something! And after hearing that the floor in Jill's office cost $8,000(GASP!!) it's still cheaper than tile.

This magazine shot is actually from the house that we got to see in the first episode. You remember, the one that went up on the market after Mary did the guest house? Love this photo SO much more than the ones in the real estate photos I showed on my first post about the house.

Now, I hate to say this, but as sure as I do, someone will say I don't know what I'm talking about ... but I think that this whole room was fake, staged for the show. Hear me out ... I just find it interesting that the room isn't quite what you'd think of when you think of Mary ... and some of the furniture she used in the office looks exactly like furniture from her own rooms she designed years earlier in DIFFERENT homes ... take a look:

 Sure, she said she had an office chair just like that on the show ... but isn't that a little convenient?

Do those chairs look familiar to you? And for someone so well published to be completely without those pictures somewhere on the WWW, it's a little ... well, odd. For me, anyway. I'm going to give it some more thought, and if I find any truth to the story, I'll fork it over for sure!

Then Kathryn worked with her client, who quite honestly, is just a little too high maintenance for me. We don't really get the jist of the project from the tape, but 6 to 8 weeks, DOES seem unreasonable for the amount of work that they want to do for the space. It'll be interesting to see it come together - and to see if Kathryn doesn't reach across the table and pull Shannon's hair out!

JAM throws a party for Ross, and Kathryn says that her birthday present to Ross is in the driveway? What the hell!? I don't have anyone who leaves me birthday presents in the DRIVEWAY! Except for my dogs Abby and D ... but those aren't the kind of 'presents' I think she's talking about. All the lovey-dovey JAM/Ross interactions made me admire their relationship (UNTIL) they showed previews of next weeks episode and Ross feverishly throws his hair into a scrunchie after JAM essentially tells him he's more talented. Ah - a true gay relationship comes to the forefront! Ha-ha!

Oh, and how could I forget, Martyn. I'd die to work with the client list he has ... but I wonder if this is shameless promotion? It's becoming this " look at how many celebrities I know " thing, which if you watched and can remember 'Material World' he had the same sort of schtick. So, tonight we get to see him play with Jimmy Choo's (yes, we're all jealous) and next week, Daisy Fuentes? Ah, do you think the Obama's interviewed him before they chose Michael Smith?

If they did, I'm sure we'll hear about it at the reunion! See you FRIDAY with a few pics of the pergola. (It's finally finished!) Til' then - happy decorating. Oh, and a BIG BIG thank you to my friend, Joni of Cote de Texas who featured my trumeau project (tutorial coming soon) today on her blog. Run over and check it out: http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2011/06/addiction-to-mirrors-how-to-make.html