Sally Jean - This mornings inspiration

wow... This morning I was searching google pics for some glittery chandelier inspiration and I found better!  Sally Jean's blog is full of photos with heart and just look at her chandelier creations! She does workshops for these, how lucky can we be?   This mosaic she posted shown below from flickr is so thoughtful and beautiful I can't help but just stare at it.  Sally states that the Oregon skies going from grey to dusty blue was her inspiration.  Love that.



http://sallyjean.typepad.com/

Oil & Vinegar Love

Goodmorning readers...  I thought I'd drop a note on one of my favorite snacks (and sometimes meals as in my breakfast this morning).  It's simple olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar and cheese.  I use whatever bread and cheese is available in my kitchen.  My favorite being goat.  The older the balsamic the better and prices can go over $200 a bottle, it's sooo worth it, but.. not necessary.  I suggest buying at a specialty store like Dean & Deluca for the good stuff.

Did a little whiplash window treatment yesterday. I needed to cover the lower half of my bathrooms windows from the view of my neighbors so I ran over to walmart and got mini sash rods for make shift cafe rods, cause I need them to be super close to the glass. Also grabed white kitchen cafe tiers while there. Came home put up only the top sashes and cut off the bottom of the tiers to fit. Here's one of them.

Ok, gotta get back to work now...

Clorox - Storage - Hydrangeas and a little French Country

This will be a quick post, or maybe not. Just some things I'd like to say. First off, I have been using alot of Clorox in my new old home because it just makes me feel better knowing that it just about will kill anything on surfaces. sooo these built-ins got a dose today. I know its not green and I usually use green products thats lavender scented but this house was not professionally cleaned when I moved in and im not taking any chances. Just look at the old paper lining :( work-work-work....

Next,  my kitchen is so small that the thought came through my head that I'm just gonna not cook cause there is no pantry and no space for the food!  goodness that was a good one :)  well, I decided to take one of my industrial looking shelving thingys from the garage and try it with country storage bins in the kitchen....  who knows it might work????  I put it on the only wall available and added some dry goods and utility dishes for the mix.  I knew those vintage looking wood carryalls would come in handy, they are perfect for my glasses, and look how cute the potatoes, onions and apples look all ready to grab.  Cereal boxes and everything ugly are now hidden in cupboards.  Party anyone?  now I gotta self serve kitchen, and its growing on me.

The last thing I wanna say is get your hydrangeas cut and dried before it's too late. (incase your wondering why mine is hanging upside down from the ceiling???) I had my sis cut me some of hers and just threw em on the nearest nail I could find. No time for a pretty twine wrap at the moment, just call it flower abuse.  I know... (strange place for a nail) the previous renters did it!  Happy summer!

My New Storybook Tudor Cottage

Well this is it... finally found one and have been planting and cleaning up the yard, painting inside and scrubbing everywhere till my hands hurt for the past week!   I'm renting this home on the cheap and got it in not the best of conditions. I asked my landlord to remove the carpet and thank goodness he was nice enough to do that for me! I hate carpets, and the previous renters had cats or something if you know what I mean.  My landlord didn't like the white paint I used on the walls, he likes dark rooms but at least it's new paint and from my pockets. :( Well the wood underneath had some pretty bad spots but still its better than old carpet. I even had to remove rice paper in the living room! gotta get the rest off so I can finish painting, but maybe next week. I'm gonna be working for a while on this and will try to post photos when possible. The below photo was taken on the fly and is from my old N97 cell but it worked pretty good. I or should I say my sister (thanks sis for all your help! couldn't have done this without you!) had just finished planting all the boxwoods etc. The lawn is still dead but thats gonna have to wait. Gotta tackle the sidewalk moss!

I am beginning to love the home and hope I will be able to buy in the future if the owner offers. I love vintage storybook homes so much and feel the only thing mine is missing now is the seven dwarfs! :)

If everything pans out I will get started on writing a book about the northwest storybook homes. I think it would be a blast touring and shooting them all.

Belgian Pearls Blog and Lefevre Interiors

The belgian Pearls blog by the talented Interior Decorator Greet Lefevre is one of my favorite blogs, and her company Lefevre Interiors which specializes in custom cabinetry is a must see. Her interiors and most of the photos that appear on her blog are so perfect and classic that I get belly aches just looking at them... dreaming with sadness knowing that those homes will never be within my reach. I don't know about others but when I walk into a home or see interiors that I love so much but cannot get, it literally turns my stomach! Like a love that can never be....

Oh well... on to the photo that I love so much from her post on wood paneling, which her company specializes in. It's an inspiration photo but if you go to the post you will find many shots of her company work. For some reason I just love this photo. Maybe it's the rustic natural paneling and floor that looks much like it would belong in an old farmhouse. (I'm so into the farmhouse design right now.) Add on the simple greenery, the muted tones of the table, pillows and rug then to top it off with the chandelier is perfection. I can almost smell Christmas coming. I can't wait. God please let me find a home soon. Ok sorry for talking to myself, here it is:

Belgian Pearls

Karla Katz Antiques in New Orleans

I just found this picture of Karla Katz Antiques from Town & Country August 2010 issue in Zinio and it makes me want to get all my toile out of my storage bins.  I have not been to the store but from the photo I can say I want to and will when I get the chance to visit Lousiana.  The name French Quarter is enough to get me interested...

I have had a couple of requests about when I'm gonna get back to my blog and let me say that your interest is such a sweet surprise.  I have to remind myself that there are others that are reading my blog besides me.  To tell you the truth my blog is more of a reference and backup of all my favorite links and photos to me more than anything.  I hope my readers also find it useful even when the posts are old.

Please don't get me wrong cause I love to sit and visit my favorite blogs for hours at a time and I enjoy sharing my favorite pictures and design inspirations on my posts when I can sit down and put all my attention into it.  But... In one year I have gone through cancer, had major surgery, lost my home in Tennessee, moved to Oregon, got put back in the hospital for a Pulmonary Embolism, moved to Qatar, and now am back in Oregon at my sisters home looking for another home to settle in but this time to rent, ohhh and the big one is my Vaio offically died and I went Mac!  All this with my two younger daughters -  poor girls.  My husband works in Architecture and he's got to follow where they are building.  I was even only in Tennessee for two years after moving from San Diego because the housing market died there.  Tennessee made a huge impression on me and I will forever miss Collierville and Germantown!  French Country style rules in Memphis, seriously.....

Anyways here's a quick photo so I can get back to home searching.  xoxo times infinity!

Karla Katz at 1stdibs

Kate Flanagan's Farmhouse

Set in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, Interior Designer Kate Flanagan's 1908 farmhouse is adorable.  Over thirty years ago Kate, orginally from Scottland,  planned on visiting California for a short while and ended up staying.  She now calls California home.  Again..... here we go with iron beds, all piled high with linens.  I simply cannot get enough, infact I better make a label for them.  A shabby shower curtain sets the mood in the bathroom, they are a must have.  The beds, linens and baskets all make this farmhouse super cozy.

via:  Budget Decorating Magazine

http://www.kateflanaganhome.com/

Photographer Monica Rich Kosann

From her book Living with What You Love, Monica shows how she displays tons of images.  I love all things vintage and this vanity tops the cake!  I have been tucking small photos in mirros for a long time but this shows it's really the more the merrier.... All the inspiration I need to get started on a new project!

via:  Country Living magazine May 2010

http://www.fineartoffamily.com/

http://www.mrkphoto.com/