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.

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

Stacked Wood

On my search for mantel inspiration shots, I couldn't help but notice that I was particularly drawn to fireplaces with stacked wood either by the side of them, in them or even on top of them.  I especially love the contrast of rough wood against crisp white wood and/or marble mantels.

You can see all of the images and sources on my Pinterest board here.

Library/Music Room Progress

The Christmas decorations have been put away for another year, so now it's time to make some progress on the library/music room.  I decided that I wanted to glam up the plain ikea billy bookcases by adding some sconces either side.  I had quite a few to choose from but it really came down to budget in the end.  I knew I wanted something in brass to go with the fireplace and mirror, and I wanted the plate to be round and not square to offset the blockiness of the mantel & shelves.  Here's how they look.

 

Below is an inspiration picture that I pinned onto Pinterest.
 

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My shelves are looking far from styled.  I think I need to buy a hundred more books!  I did buy quite a few more from the thrift store today, but even at their reduced prices it adds up.

You may also notice that there's a large stack of wood next to the fireplace.  Purely decorative of course.  Tomorrow I'll post some pictures that inspired that design decision.

New West Elm Grey Zigzag Rug

Do you think the people at West Elm saw my home office on Pinterest and decided to copy it?

Only kidding.  But I do like the new grey zig zag rug from here.

Changes at The Cottage

We spent a lovely few quiet days over New Years up in Park City at our little condo/cottage/cabin/condage/cobin. The weather was lovely, but it really needs some snow up there!  We've had to make a few changes at the cottage in preparation for renting it out this year. The main thing we had to do was change out most of the furniture in the boys' bedroom. That was a super sad day for me because we had to get rid of a lot of the kid stuff, including the two beds and their table and chairs. Sniff, sniff.

Here's how the room looks now.  

I reused my old bed from my house.  The white dresser and red dresser were already in the room.  The mirror, lights and rug I bought from Sundance and were no longer being used in my house.  The only things I had to buy were the mattress and bedding.

Here's how the room looked before when it was the boys' bedroom.

And this was our walk the day after New Years Day.

I told you we desperately need snow.