New Year's Eve prep

Wouldn't this be an enchanting bedroom to return to?

Sand walls, pretty chandelier, great plum bed...

[via]

Saying good-bye to 2010 
with my favorite photo (from here) of the year:

How are you celebrating tonight?

Roman rust

How are these for doors with rust? 

To a church in Rome, no less!

Their rust patina and texture are fabulous!  

What goes with chartreuse (or is it citron)?

Chartreuse: a color halfway between yellow and green

Citron: a greenish yellow color

I find them pretty close and rather unusual to use in decor. What would you pair them with?

I like these solutions.

With gray and color pops of deep red and pink:

Homes and Antiques

A tone-on-tone with gray and white:

Interiors

 And with aqua: 

Decor magazine

Do you have any chartreuse in your home?

Why not?

I like the spunk shown here! 

Why not swirl gold paint on your mural / wallpapered walls?

credit

credit

Would you?

              

Elegance with patina

The first thing I noticed in this loft living room of Ochre owners, Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Andrew Corrie, was the patinated mirror. Patina and silver leaf- immediate draws for me. 

The living space exemplifies my favorite design principles: the mix of old and new, classic and quirky. If possible, I prefer to feature the best of the space, like the tin ceiling and old wood floors, even if it means integrating the old floor boards with new and uniting them with a wash of paint. Then again, that wonderfully tufted, Chesterfield sofa is to die for. Great pop of color, wouldn't you say?  

Elle Decor

Elle Decor

On our last visit to New York City, we were headed to MarieBelle's Cacao Salon for our hot chocolate fix when we strolled by their lovely store. The store, a popular destination with designers and stylists, is filled with Ochre's signature lighting fixtures, furniture and accessories.

credit

Even their doors have a wonderful patina.

 credit

Some of my favorite items include, of course, this Gesso and Verre Eglomise Mirror, created with traditional gesso and gilding with silver leaf,

credit

their chandeliers,

 

credit

table lamps, 

 credit

and sconces.

credit

Ochre's Soho location is 462 Broome St., between Mercer and Greene. 

Care to share any other must-not-miss-on-your-next-visit-to-NYC stores? The NY International Gift Fair is in a month and I am open for suggestions!

Second Christmas Day

is how it is known in the Netherlands, the home of my in-laws. 

I hope the weather has calmed down enough for folks to arrive home and enjoy being with families and friends.

Maisons de Campagne

Cheers!

Thank you, Cindy at My Romantic Home!

Merry Christmas to all!

From our home to yours,
may your holiday be peaceful and merry!

 

Axel Vervoordt

Christmas Eve dinner

is ready to go! Awaiting Santa's arrival...

House and Garden

Maisons de Campagne

Ho Ho Ho!

'Twas the night before Christmas

 and all through the house...

were twinkling lights and mini reindeer. The stockings were all hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Ever since I received The Illustrated Book of Poetry book when I was 7 (my only one still to this day), this was one of my favorite poems to read. I treasured the book and have it on my bookshelf now for safe keeping. It's a bit tattered and torn, but that's ok. 

I'm saving it for my grandchildren down the road!

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Thank you Cindy at My Romantic Home!

Holiday cheer at home

My treasured, carved wood girl carrying her basket of apples...

a gilded glass vase of amaryllis blooms...

and my fragrant Noble fir tree that smells so delicious each time I walk into the room!

Now to just make it through the holidays without a major snowfall!

Parisian gilt

Aren't these a festive way to display gilt measuring bowls? 

Please- place them on my sideboard!

 Paris Objet Trouve

 P.S. Cool wall. Love the patina on the bowls and wall.

Limewash + Trouvais = Walls of Beauty

I am sporting my new look! The beaucoup talented and very generous Shari (at Little Blue Deer) shared her magic with me and I'm on my way! If you'd like to share in Shari's custom blog designs, be sure to visit here. You will be so excited that you did... I am.

When I saw this photo yesterday over at Trish's sublime blog, Trouvais, I had to share. Between the perfectly imperfect limewash wall and her stunning holiday subtlety, it captivated me.

Trouvais

I have been delaying painting my kitchen because I haven't been able to figure out which way to go... too many choices. But, now I know! Limewash it is. Below are several examples from Trish's home and from Jermaine at the French-Kissed blog (hers is the upper left fireplace).

Trish used limewash paint from Sydney Harbour Paints.

However, as you can tell, I like color. Look for a good dose in a month or two. I'll share my progress with you.

Getting in the mood...

for a happy holiday! How are these for a lovely plum start?

Homes and Antiques

Homes and Antiques

Pompei fragments

Pompei has always held a fascination for me. Its beauty, both now and in years past, are a constant source of inspiration.

The wonderful artists of the time were influenced by the same things that interest us now. Nature itself holds endless possibilities.

Look how current the colors are today, two thousand years later!

Please join me today over at Rose et Lis, where I am paying tribute to one of my most favorite artists ever, Marcia Myers. Her love of Pompeii was reflected in every gorgeous painting that she did.

Stepping Out...

Holiday parties beckon...

Homes and Antiques

I am getting excited! 

How about you?

Sunset in Winter

That is, sunset on Lake Erie in seventeen degrees with a snowstorm about to hit us!

It was over in a flash.