Midcentury Barstool

We are loving this new barstool from Nuevo Living.  It would be a perfect for a mid-century home, don't you think?  Simple, clean-lined.  Totally modern. 

The barstool comes in 26" height with a 12"5 footrest.  The leather shown here is black but it is also available in white and brown as well.  The price is $450/stool.

Really Cool Business Cards

We ran accross some really clever business cards today and we thought we share them with you.  They are just so original and so unique. Plus, they make a great marketing tool too-- don't you think?

 

Images from Inc. Magazine

 You can find more clever examples here.

Decorating with Pink

We're crazy about the color pink.  Not for clothes, because unless you are five, pink clothes just seem silly.  And don't even get us started on those pink Juicy Couture sweatsuits...

We love pink decor though.

Unfortunately, we are unable to indulge in our favorite color, mainly because there is a man in the house and he won't allow it.  But one can dream, right?

Here are some inspirations for you...

Image from Metropolitan Home

Image from House Beautiful

Image from Vogue Living

Images from House Beautiful

Have a great day, everyone!

Luxury Silk Flowers

It's raining dogs and cats here in Los Angeles today. We never had a storm like this before. You'd think we're in Seattle!

When it's rainy and gray we find ourselves just craving colors (or a hot pot of soup). Just something to cheer us up!

The best way to add colors is via accessories, as you know.  That or you have to change the paint, the uphosltery, the drapes blah blah blah.  Who has the time and the money?

We found this new line of silk flowers that we just love so much. They are made for very high-end, upscale hotels but it's available commercially too.   They look totally expensive (but they are really not).

Check them out:

We'll be loading these up in our silk flowers section this weekend so please check back then.  Thanks.

Modern Plants

There are certain things that just instantly make your home look dated, you know? For example, fake plants that look fake, like the god- awful ivy plants that you see at Michaels?

We saw some modern plants that we think you'll really like. They're totally chic, and the best part is, they look so incredibly real too.

Here are few:

These will be posted on our modern plants section by the weekend or so.

Turquoise Accessories

Did you hear?  Turquoise is officially the color for 2010 , according to the LA Times.  We always like turquoise.  It's a happy, happy color. 

In case you are into it as well, here are some great turquoise accessories from Global Views:

All of these items can be found on our home accessories section.

New Wallpapers from Lee Jofa-Thread Collection

Have you seen the latest wallcovering collection from Lee Jofa? It's so pretty, we can't stand it. It was actually introduced last year but we never got around to write about it. You should definitely check it out.

The Thread fabric and wallpaper collection is made of very suble, neutral colors with lots of textures. We love, love the wallpapers. They don't show up too well on pictures but in person they are simply marvelous.

Here are some of our favorites:

This pattern is called Bonatica Marble.  The pattern number is EW15001-106

This one is called Rain Drops.  The pattern number is EW15006-125.

This one is called Whistler-Marble.  The pattern number is EW15005-106.

There are a lot more on the Lee Jofa web site.  You can find the pricing and ordering information on our fabric store.  Just enter the pattern number in the search box surrounded by quotation marks and it should come right up.  

Lets 'really' talk about teenage boy's rooms!

Image from Tommaso Ziffer

As you all know, I have this fixation on how to decorate and the design that goes into teenage boys bedrooms. There is very little out there that really inspires me and makes me say wow!!!! gee that is a stunning room for a guy 15 years and above. I literally have hundreds of images of the most stunning bedrooms for babies, children and teenage girls but where are the rooms design specifically for teenage boys and older?

Its like when I go clothes shopping for my boys. The whole floor will have the most beautiful trendy clothing for girls and when I politely ask where is the boy clothing situated, its always in the corner, just a few selections of boring colours and designs, hidden out of sight because obviously boys don't where clothes hahahaha Anyway, a bit off track but the point being is I am determined to decorate my boys rooms that totally not only look fantastic but rooms that suit them and their life style....now this is going to be a challenge, believe me!

So, my question is, what is the most important design element that should be in a male teenagers room. I would love to hear from everybody your thoughts on this to help me kick start this project or quest I should call it LOL

Is it the paint colour, window furnishings, computer (this is one thing my boys will never be allowed to have in their rooms, for a good reason) tv's, desk or just a place to lounge with friends. From your experience, as a parent or interior decorator, what is the most important thing a young man would want in their room. I will be very interested to hear from you all.

Image from Rees Roberts via Desire to inspire

Now this bedroom is stunning! Its the blinds that makes the room....but once again, its for a girl but could easily be a boys room. But, would a boy actually like this room? (take away the girly stuff) to tell you the truth I don't know...that's why I need help to understand what they really need and want.

Picture from It's the little things that makes a house a home

On another note...You may remember that my lovely husband built some shelving so that all my son's toys could have a 'home' downstairs. The inspiration came from It's the little things that make a house a home karla has done a wonderful job in making her son's room more usable and child friendly. She has adapted her son's room to suit his life style...why have a big robe if he doesn't have the clothing to use all that space. So this is what got me thinking....

Mrs B

Sunday Post

I have decided to start a Sunday Post for my blog. It will be about little things from around the house that I think would be great to share.

So first up is my little set of Babushka Dolls you can see sitting on my kitchen bench. As a matter of fact, they were featured in the last edition of a decorating magazine I had been reading. What is special about these dolls is that they have a another purpose....

My babushka Doll that sits proudly on my kitchen bench top...

Opened up, a set of 3....


Each cup has a purpose....



You guessed it, they are measuring cups for the kitchen...starting at '1 cup' right down to a 1/4 cup.

Such a lovely and funky kitchen gadget and great to get friends to guess what they are...most have no idea LOL They probably have been around for a while and nothing new to most readers but I thought they were so useful and cute...just had to share.

Mrs B

New Decorative Pillows from Ryan Studio

We just finished uploading the new pillows from Ryan Studio and we just love them.  This is our favorite line of pillow to sell.   It has such an elegance about it-- simple, clean-lined and well-designed.

Here are some of our favorites:

These pillows range between $125-200 per pillow. They are filled with down. You can find them in our decorative pillows section.

The study...before and after

There is something about buying shelving and storage units that doesn't really add up. Most of it is flimsy and only made from chipboard. Yesterday, Mr B got out his handy saw and went to Bunnings to get all the materials to make the storage shelving that was so badly needed for the study robes. What a difference it makes to the rest of the house downstairs. The house was designed with heaps of storage but we struggled to work out where my DS3 would put all his 'daily' toys and how we could keep the house clutter free of all his stuff.

Normally, a family would have a designated kids room for this with everything on display, but I didn't want this type of set up for this new home. I cant tolerate clutter in any form (I grew up in a house of total chaos!) so everything has its place and behind close doors. That is not to say I don't LOVE knick knacks and beautiful table arrangements...I long for it so much but not just yet. So...getting back to the study, this is what Mr B made for me after a few hours...everything has its place for my little boy and all the toys are sorted out into piles of Toy Story, Mens and Cars! he loves it and I feel some order come back to my lounge room.

The Study

This is our study/desk at the moment but the back wall is getting wallpaper in the next few weeks. I had always imagined a silvery blue colour but I will wait for all my samples to arrive. So really this is a before shot as it is not completed to the way I want it to be.

Before shot!

A very uninspiring before shot demonstrating no storage at all...a place where my kids keep their school bags and that is about it.

After Shot

The storage that Mr B built for about $50 in materials. The unit is free standing as the hydronic water pipes are behind the wall so no drilling holes in this wall! It fits all my sons toys that he has for downstairs...so neat, looks great when the door is open but when I pack up the house for the night, just close the doors...........like this (picture below)

Mess out of sight....well at least for a few minutes haha

Mrs B