I Pledge My Allegiance……...

Yesterday was an important day for my husband and I.  After 17 years, 2 visas and a green card, we finally became American citizens!  To commemorate this occasion, I thought I'd post some American inspired interiors.

And what would a celebration be without a cake?

Pictures & sources here

Happy citizenship day!

And to clear up any confusion, we are still British citizens.

Mark, this image is for you.

My boys' bedroom

More Brass

Okay, so I may have overdone it this time.  I've been wanting to get a fancy/nice music stand for the music/library room for some time.  Fortunately I found one at a consignment store that was both in budget and in keeping with the other brass/gold objects in the room.

I picked up the candle sticks for 99c and the crab ashtray complete with antique ash for only $5.99.

But then I spotted this beauty; a folding peacock fireplace screen.  Trouble is, as nice as it is, I think it's just a little bit too Victorian for the room (funny, because it is a Victorian house, built in 1907).  But it's starting to look a bit grannified, if you know what I mean.  So the screen will probably stay folded and in a corner because you can't return consignment store goods.

And because the thermostat has broken for the furnace and it's only 55 degrees in here, we thought it best to light a fire.

Looks way better without the screen, oh well, anyone want to buy it?

This & That (a grasshopper, some books & a chair)

I just met Emily Henderson in a store in Salt Lake City.  If you're not familiar with her she's an HGTV Design Star winner and host of Secrets From a Stylist on HGTV.  Anyhoo, she's in town for the Alt Summit, a design blogger's conference.  I bumped into her in The Green Ant, an awesome, authentic mid century modern used furniture store.  She's very cute!  Anyway,  I didn't buy anything in that store because it's way beyond my budget, but I did purchase something usual from a store just down the block.

Isn't he cute?  And only $25.  

I also added some inexpensive frames which I need to fill.  And when I say inexpensive, I mean $1 each from the dollar store.  You can't beat that.

Look, he even does tricks!

He reminds me of the mercury grasshopper that I blogged about last year from West Elm.  I think I made fun of that one!

Mine is much more handsome and a little less creepy looking.

Talking of bargains, I also found these marvelous vintage children's books at a thrift store.  $1.49 each.

They're cloth bound from the early 1960's.  The illustrations are so classic.  Speaking of cloth bound, I've also ordered some Penguin cloth bound classics which are considerably more than $1.49!  But they're every so pretty and I may even read them one day.

Well, what else is new?  I had a burst of creative energy this week and finally decided to do something with the wing back chair that I bought from the DI for $10.

Umm, how about trimming it out with some Thomas Paul silhouette fabric in turquoise?

Nope, hubby said it looked unfinished, and I thought it would look too busy if I carried the pattern all over the chair.  Plus, I really want a pink chair!  And I will have one, so there.

Look chevrons, in an ombre fashion.  God I'm so trendy.

All the boys had a melt down over the design above.  Why, what's wrong with pink, ombre chevrons?  Damian said it looked like it belonged in a brothel!  Now, normally I do get my own way with decorating, but when people have such strong objections, then I have to listen, right?

So here was the compromise that I came up with.  I know the Union Jack has been done to death.  But I am British, and it's gonna be pink!  Funnily the boys all seemed to like this design, so a pink British flag chair it will be.  Or maybe not, I'm classic at changing my mind.  It may end up with a white linen slipcover with a skirt like this one from my favourite designer, Windsor Smith.

source

Wish me luck, and stay tuned for the big reveal.