Weekend treats:

This picture of footwear designer Philippe Model’s bedroom from Paris Style is so sublime. I just found this book on sale. It instantly transports me back to the good ole days living sur l’Ille.

The subtle shades of each color like a value scale painted on the wall. Plus, look at the blanket! I love how French Interiors aren’t too perfect or over designed.

I have visions of doing a rendition of this to one of my living room walls. One day!

Now to really get in the mood francaise for the day, listen to Nouvelle Vague.

This past week, I missed them at the Oohlala festival. What was I thinking?

Have fun out there this weekend!

I’ll be sure to share a DIY and stories, when I am back.

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce to you and old acquaintance.

Once upon a time, there was a chair….

She’d seen alot in her time and her red velvet cushion was becoming shabby.

She desperately needed a little love!

After stripping the old veneer off her and sanding her down she looked a bit plain.

She glowed with hand mixed color, a combo of lavender, grey, white, and red; developing a brilliance that was all her own. Selective sanding lent an air of sophistication to her sheen.

Freshly reupholstered with a vibrant vintage inspired print from Martha Negley and comfy new cushion, she is ready to charm guests all over again.

Princess Chair, a sweet $125, ask about subscriber discount

Good things do come to those who wait. Contact me here, if you’d like to take her home with you.

Vintage frames are simple to find, elegant as décor, and cheap to boot!

The idea for this post came from the vintage bronze headboard that I completed last week.

On more than one occasion, old wooden frames seem to fall right into my lap. Once, while rummaging through the warehouse at Children’s Museum Los Angeles, I found a dolly full of them. This cache of frames has become my favorite DIY project like when I’m in between designs.

While surfing the net (I get a kick out of calling it that), I found some fabulous handmade artists who sell their own DIY frames on Etsy.

I like these plaster frames by Olivesomeday because the pastel paint gives them a modern update.

In my opinion, when scouting out vintage frames the more ornate the better.

Here’s how we dressed up Jon’s bedroom with a frame from Wertz Brothers Antiques, all it needed was coat of silver paint. You may remember her from the headboard redo.

This brass frame from Neawear is darling! What surprised and delighted me was the way she describes it as wall jewelry. These come with a chain attached and can be hung around your neck or on the wall. Soo Remarkable!

Additionally, I was stunned by Nea’s Verdi green patina necklace that reminded me of all the patinas I’d love to apply to frames. I haven’t tried the blue one by Modern Masters yet…

Finally~I wasn’t sure what to make of this, but check out these frames stitched into a textile design.

Do you love-love it..or not-so-much it? Let me know your thoughts on this one!

As promised, here are a few tips showing how to incorporate applique into your living space.

• Tablecloths, curtains, and pillowcases serve as inspired and detailed works of art.
• Use appliqué or embroidery to introduce texture.
• Tiny mirrors reflect lots of light.
• On a budget appliqué work could provide a cost effective wall decor.
• Historically significant pieces could add luxury to a room.
• Take a hint from Jaipur and embrace color!

I’ve recently been inspired to take a closer look at Indian patchwork rugs. The art of Indian embroidery is some of the best worldwide. India offers a variety of styles, each with a unique history and linked to a specific region and culture. Some types of embroideries are associated with customs such as weddings or festivals. Some are known for the special thread employed or method of stitching involved. Appliqué work is a popular style of embroidery that is recognized worldwide and within the design industry for it’s nuances including Karchobi and mirror work.

In appliqué work different pieces of cloth are patched together to make a multi-colored mosaic. The vivid colors, shapes, and patterns in combination stand out when stitched onto a contrasting background. Typically appliqué is attached to padded cotton backing, which itself can be purchased in large rolls. Patchwork of this kind is essential in many Indian tapestries and can be found all over towns in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat in northwestern India.

Patchwork of this kind is essential in many Indian tapestries and can be found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat in northwestern India. In Nathadwara, a Rajasthani city, the Pichwai style embroidery reveals colorful cloths and wall hangings throughout the village. One aspect of some appliqué artworks is that they can be monochromatic or employ analogous colors. For example, a customer may discover an appliqué cloth in all blues, turquoise, and greens. Others feature rosy pinks and shades of fuchsia. For an interior, they could be used to create a monochromatic color palette within a room.

Common motifs include trees, peacocks, houses stacked into the hillside or the tower pictured above. If you look a bit closer some appliqué work, shiny golden threads and mirrors gleaming within the embroidery can be seen.  More on mirror work and the pink city of Jaipur later this week!