Sabores (Tango) Sara Baras

Sara Baras en Sabores-Zambra

Sara Baras is one of my favorite flamenco dancers...enjoy!

Magnolia Pearl

Many of you gypsy girls, I'm sure, have heard of the uber-talented Magnolia Pearl (aka Robin Pearl Brown).  She is the founder and creative spirit behind a business that focuses on bohemian-inspired fashion and home decor.  If I got to choose a "designer" to work some decorative magic on my cottage, it would be this talented lady!  Check her out:  Magnolia Pearl

   

Bedroom Designs That Overcome A Challenge

Some rooms present challenges by their very nature. This attic room had a few things going against it,such as the huge protruding column dividing a wall. Adding a wallcovering with a print to the wall helps to camouflage the dividing wall support. Instead of the room becoming a quiet, little space it has been designed to be a chic, sophisticated room. The chandelier makes a quite a statement in what started as an attic space.

A bedroom with few interesting details is given a vintage deco design and is transformed into a beautiful, stylish room.  Elements added to create this vintage look include sophisticated white bedding. wallcovering with a glamorous sheen, a crystal laden chandelier and dark wood furniture against white walls and light carpet. This  beautiful room can be in the simplest of settings.

This bedroom shows that a country setting doesn't mean you have to have a country design. The sleek, modern design is perfectly at home in the country. The low profile of the furniture and the dotted fabric of the window treatment help to create this modern style.

All photos from House To Home

Purses/Totes /Briefcases/ Or Whatever You Want To Call Them

Because of my love for beautiful fabrics and sometimes I just can't be stopped,  I have started designing totes ( purses, briefcases, whatever). I use upholstery weight fabrics and each one is embellished with an chandelier crystal. They are a great size and shape. The dimensions are 15" wide, 13" high, 4"deep and the shoulder strap is 12" high. It works for me. I use one everyday as a purse/briefcase.

 This one is a combination of blue cut velvet with a red silk floral lining. There are three pockets and a snap inside each tote.

 I just sold this silvery blue tote.

 They're practical as well as beautiful. The fabrics are upholstery weight and they have a solid bottom to give them a structure.

 If you would like additional information or would like to purchase a tote send me a email.

Walls that Speak

Displaying art is an art unto itself.  I adore my little gypsy cottage, but with all its funky angles and corners, hanging art can be a challenge, so I've sort of avoided it - but, my art needs to come out of the closet!  It takes a good eye and finesse to pull off looks like the ones below.  I'm inspired to get out the hammer this weekend...

   

What Room Will You Update Next?

Change is good. Right? I think so. Updating your home's interior is a positive change.

 Updating your kitchen or bath is great for you and is a good investment in your home.
Cabinets,counters, appliances, plumbing fixtures, wall tile, flooring,lighting... It can be a bit daunting but with careful planning and selections you can have a wonderful outcome.

 Updating a dining area doesn't necessarily mean new furniture. Changing window treatments, art, chair fabrics and wall color can give you the look and style you are after.

 New furniture, area rug and window treatments will transform a room. Another way to update your living room is to rearrange the furniture,change the wall color and add color with pillows and accessories.

 Whether you are wanting strong color or a room that is soft and quiet updating your bedroom isn't all that complicated.  Add color with art and lighting. To add soft color and pattern wallcovering will do the job. You can use wallcovering around the room or on a focal wall, usually the wall the bed is on.

 Maybe your updates are about getting organized. The first step to organizing is editing. If you don't need it get rid of it. Then its about everything needs a place. If you have a place for it, you will put it away.

Again,change is good. Making changes, updating keeps us motivated. What room will you update next?

photos from Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart

Upcycled Furniture

I hear the term upcycled furniture used a lot these days. To clarify its meaning I went to an expert resource. Chris Plaisted of Hammer and Hand has been designing and importing upcycled furniture for years. According to Chris the term upcycled means to take an item such as a vintage door and use it to construct a new piece such as a cabinet. So at Hammer and Hand you will see upcycled furniture.

 The majority of the pieces come from the area near Jodhpur, India, which is referred to as The Blue City. Many of the buildings in Jodhpur are painted in shades of blue. In turn much of the furniture from the area has remnants of the blue paint of the city.  As old buildings are being demolished to make way for the new elements of the old are salvaged to create new pieces from the vintage.

The large nail heads on the cabinet hold the layers of the doors together. Originally they extended out farther to keep the elephants from leaning in to and wrecking the pieces.

Larger trunks are cut down to a more usable size.

The interiors of trunks are also constructed of vintage woods.

These vintage doors conceal the new mirror behind them.

I like the idea of taking a large trunk and cutting it down to make coffee tables.

Even the smaller items have been upcycled and given new life.

Upcycling creates beautiful new furniture from discarded pieces. To upcylce is to recylce. It is sustainable and green.

Update Your Home With Texture

 Adding texture is a great way to update your interiors. Fabrics with texture can be used as pillows or wall hangings to bring dimension, warmth and interest to your home. Texture is created on fabrics by varying weaves or fibers and by using embroidery or embellishments.

These beautiful pillows are from Tessera and are great examples of how to add texture.

The multiple levels of texture adds interest to this pillow.

Anthropologie always has a selection of pillows with wonderful textures.

I love this stack of embroidered silk pillows from Hammer & Hand .

Hammer & Hand also has finished fabrics that have been constructed from antique saris. The individual pieces are sewn together and include fragments that have been embroidered and embellished. These are gorgeous.

Using an embellished fabric as a wall hanging is a wonderful alternative to using only hard surfaces to decorate your walls.

These details show how the upcycled embellished sari fragments have been sewn together to create a beautiful wall hanging.If you have questions about adding texture to your home leave a comment and I will get back to you.