In Pursuit of Glamour

February Inspirations

2012-02-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

Mmm...isn't February a lovely month? It's my Birthday month, Valentine's day, and a month full of beautiful winter wonderland weather. Here are a few images that are inspiring me this month.

Vintage Gold & Crystal Candleholders

2012-02-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

These are one of the latest additions to my decorating accessories - vintage gold and crystal candleholders. These are brass and are quite heavy with hanging crystal prisms. There are so many variations on this type of candleholder. Some have marble bases, others come with matching bowl centerpiece. They are common at antique stores and also easily found on Etsy, where I purchased this pair.

I have a pair of similar candleholders in my living room, but was inspired to use them as a dining room table centerpiece after seeing a pair on a television show 'The City'. I thought they looked cute, especially amongst the otherwise modern decor.

Screenshot from 'The City'

Chandelier: Adding a little Glitz

2011-08-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Chandelier has been decked out with lots of crystals to make it a little more glamorous. We rent, so painting or changing the light fixture is (sadly) out of the question. It was easy to string the beads onto beading wire and attach the strands to the chandelier with earring french wires looped through the holes in the chandelier.

Now to take care of the light bulb covers. I'm thinking of making covers out of glass beads to bring a vintage and more sophisticated flair to the chandelier. I'm thinking something like this:

These fabulous beaded glass chandelier covers are made by a AtelierDeLumiere on Etsy. They're stunning! Probably worth the $40 price tag, too.

I love this antique light cover available on Etsy. Look at how it opens - isn't that cool?

Here is yet another antique beaded light cover available on Etsy.

Smocked Pillows On Etsy...a few more!

2011-08-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

I adore these gingham plaid smocked pillows! They're so fabulous!

Red Gingham Pillow ($14).

Black Gingham Pillow ($12).

And if you're willing to pay a little more to have brand new pillows in your choice of color...this seller makes lovely vintage inspired smocked pillows.

Yellow Smocked Pillows ($84).

Orange Long Pillows ($84).

And, don't forget, there are plenty of vintage patterns and kits for smocked pillows available on Etsy and Ebay if you want to make your own in the color of your choice. They're not difficult to make, just a tad time consuming, but definitely worth it! They make a statement on any piece of furniture!

Smocked Pillows On Etsy...

2011-08-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

Playful Blue ($25) and Yellow ($20) Pillows.

Set of Four Pillows - Great Deal at $40!

Blue Velvet Pillows ($50) - my favorite!

Dark Red Velvet ($32).

Dining Room Chandelier Project

2011-08-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

I purchased these large plastic crystal beads from Target (sold as Vase Filler) to trick out my dining room chandelier. I've been holding off on the project for awhile trying to think of the perfect design ideas for the chandelier. But tonight, I decided to get started on it. First step - stringing the crystals together. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Smocked Pillows!

2011-08-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

I HAVE to share my excitement about these pillows, because, believe me, I am SUPER excited! I have long had a special place in my heart for smocked pillows. Ever since I found my first smocked pillow - a red velvet pillow - shortly after marriage at a local antique store. It was perfect, it was stunning, it was oh so soft...it was overpriced and impractical...but I purchased it anyway and adored it. However, three years later and at our second apartment, it no longer matches the decor and is boxed up in storage.

But...many etsy searches later I have found the PERFECT replacement. And there are four fabulous pillows this time! Squee!

They're satiny, luscious and so beautiful. Not to mention, in MINT condition. (Ha...that was sort of a joke.)

They were way more than I wanted to pay (again) but I think that they'll add just the right touch of color to our living room. I'll be posting some more links to other stunning smocked pillows on etsy tomorrow!

And, if you aren't as fortunate to find the perfect color for your abode, I've heard that smocking pillows is actually not that difficult. Just a wee bit time consuming. There are quite a few patterns available - mainly vintage patterns on etsy or ebay, and even a few vintage pillow smocking kits to help kick start your project.

They are perfect, aren't they?

Zebra Print Ottoman

2011-08-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

Sharon Mimran's Living Room

Speaking of Zebra stripes...what about this fabulous ottoman? It's definitely the eye catching element of this beautiful room. As I continue to edit and redesign our living room space, I'll have to keep this beauty in mind. I'd love to get my hands on an ottoman for the space in front of our fireplace. Although, if I did, I'm not sure that I could resist covering it velvet and tufting it! I adore tufted velvet ottomans. I had planned to turn a marble coffee table into an ottoman when I brought it home a year ago...only to find that I loved the practicality of a black marble coffee table. It's a great surface for entertaining and relaxing alike - perfect for sitting things on without worrying about leaving a mark or scratch. So, for now, the search for an ottoman or coffee table to convert continues.

And the Zebra stripe fetish continues as well!

Z is for Zebra

2011-07-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Isn't that tufted bench so lovely? I have one bench but would definitely purchase another in a heartbeat if the right one came along.

The colors! That red is stunning!

This dining room is so airy and classical. I would love to have a dining are like this. So open and glamorous.

Z is for Zebra

2011-07-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

It all started with the purchase of this book ... I Married Adventure ... that I was originally attracted to for its lovely cover art (Zebra!). I loved it, but I wondered - would it fit in my house? I've been trying to be more adventurous in my fashion and decorating choices this summer, so I took this as a challenge.

I really want to brighten up the living room so that our wonderful antique and vintage furniture pieces don't make it look like a grandma lives here! What to do, what to do? Then I got to thinking - why not zebra stripes? A zebra fur rug would be perfect. So I've just begun researching for inspiration images. I'm considering painting my own since purchasing a zebra striped cowhide is around $200 or more. A little pricey for our young married apartment. Here are a few of my favorite images ...

This one has been sitting on our coffee table for a year! I adore that blue silk chair...actually all of the chairs are pretty fabulous! And the zebra rug, of course.

I love this settee, too! So beautiful!

Rolled Jean Shorts

2011-07-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Rolled Jean Shorts

Everyone has them this summer...except me! But, having plenty of extra unused jeans to choose from (you know, bell bottoms, capris, etc. that are now out of fashion) I made myself a pair this morning. It's super easy to crop a pair of your jeans and roll the hems to create these beauties.

Planning a Party

2011-07-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

...Planning a Party...

yes, that's all that I can reveal.

Megan Fox Turquoise Necklace

2011-07-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

This summer I've fallen in love with this eye-catching Turquoise necklace worn by Megan Fox. What a perfect necklace to brighten up a simple top or dress. Definitely a statement piece.

Fortunately, reproductions of the fabulous necklace are available affordably on Etsy!

Summer Fashion Favorites

2011-07-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

Ann Taylor Loft

Just a few images of fashions that I'm sporting (and loving) this summer!

Ann Taylor Loft

BLACK and WHITE

J.Crew

Loving WHITE PANTS and ESPADRILLES

Banana Republic

COLORFUL tops and FLOPPY hats.

Pocket Watch Necklace

2011-07-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just had to show you the antique pocket watch that I recently purchased on Etsy! I'm so tickled by this find! I was inspired to find the perfect antique pocket watch after seeing one of my fashionable friends turn an antique pocket watch into a fabulous necklace that was a great statement piece.

I adore this pocket watch for the intricate detailing on both the cover and the face. The face is ceramic and is delicately painted. I found a narrow red satin ribbon to tie it round my neck.

Rhode Island

2011-07-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

In June I spent a wonderful week in Rhode Island with my husband (Vince) and his family on vacation. We were fortunate to stay at a beach house overlooking the ocean and had many days of sunny weather and fun trips. Vince's grandmother, Ethel, who is 90 years old, joined us on the vacation. It was such a joy to be able to spend time with her. She never tired and was always ready to join Vince and I for another museum tour. She even went along with us to see a late night viewing of the movie, 'Mr. Popper's Penguins.' Such wonderful memories! Vince's brother, Steven, will be going to flight school after recently graduating from the Naval Academy, and Eric, Vince's youngest brother has already left for college, so this vacation was the last hurrah.

Grandma 'B', Vince and Lindsey

Lindsey & Vince

Sallie and Lindsey

One of my big purchases for the summer was this fabulous swimsuit from Anthropologie. It's the most expensive swimsuit that I've ever purchased, but it sure was worth it! I was delighted with the quality and beauty of it. I couldn't go retro without going all out with a great sunhat.

Favorite Summer Styles

2011-07-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

...Loving...Long unkempt hair with BRAIDS...

...Beautiful TURQUOISE necklaces...

...Fabulous BLUE satin shoes...

...Long necklaces and COLORFUL fabric flowers...

Fairytale Bedrooms

2011-03-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

These are all bedrooms I would LOVE to spend a night in!

A roaring fire, candelabras, and lush purple quilts - so lovely.

Beautiful warm colors of fall! Wouldn't it be fun to close the curtains as night? So cozy.

And then, Cinderella's bed. I love the perriwinkle blue silk lining of the bedcurtains!

Spring Inspirations

2011-03-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this table! Wish I could find one similar to this someday.

I want WANT one of these for my bedroom! I guess I'm going to have to start saving up my money. Every time I see a bust that is big enough it just isn't quite as stunning as this one. Someday I'm sure I'll find the perfect one.

I adore this closet! I don't think my closet would ever look this organized, even if it did have all of this fabulous storage space.

Spring Dinner Party

2011-03-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

We volunteered to serve as hosts as part of our church's 'Mystery Dinner' in a few weeks! I'm busy busy busy with school, but I can't stop day dreaming about how I'm going to decorate! I LOVE hosting dinner parties!

My thoughts immediately went to the beautiful flowers that are created by Emersonmade. I'd love to make some starched cotton flowers for the center of our table. Just like this lovely table centerpiece...

Emersonmade

I love the colors, too! I'll also have votive candles in all of our five windowsills and pillar candles on our mercury glass candleholders.

This will mean tidying up the house again!

Glamorous in Pink and Grey

2010-12-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

Did you see the fabulous feature on Euro Trash designer Lizzie Carney's amazing home in the October 2010 Country Living? I adore her decorating style! A small home can still be glamorous and sophisticated. You'll notice that all of the walls are painted the same charcoal grey color and the floors are a lighter grey. By using large furniture and accessories, Lizzie created a grand statement. The coffee table above is made from reclaimed lumber. I like the picture wall with the gold frames, and the bust.

I adore the kitchen island made from an antique piece of furniture! And the chandelier - I want a kitchen like this!

But this is my favorite nook. A wine cellar doubles as a dining room in the basement. Isn't this grand?

And the bedroom is lush and lovely in shades of grey and pink.

Winter Wonderland Dinner Party

2010-12-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

While searching online for Winter Wonderland Dinner Party ideas I came across these lovely ideas as well as my own blog posts from last winter. Wow, how our apartment has changed in just one year! For one thing, we have way more furniture now...not that we didn't have enough then. And the Christmas decorations that I've put up are different so far, even though I was sure that I was doing it just about the same way. Change is so good. I'm so excited for a winter dinner party! I just wish that I had some extra chandeliers to hang like the last picture in this post!

Isn't this AMAZING! I would love to have my dining room look like this for a winter party! I LOVE all of these STUNNING chandeliers!

Fall Fashion Favorites

2010-10-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season, and this fall is no different. I'm adoring all of the fabulous fall colors and textures. Here are just a few of my favorite fashions for fall...

This pleated bag from Etsy is AMAZING! I finally broke down and ordered it. I had been putting it off for awhile figuring that I could easily make one like it, but with little time to spare in my busy school schedule, I knew that I had to get this one before fall was over!

Braided hairstyles are perfect for fall.

More ANN TAYLOR must haves from both Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. Oh, how I adore those stores. I love the layered look of silky top under fitted blazer. These silky tops are so easy to pick up at thrift stores, too.

BOOTS! My very favorite fall fashion accessory. Tall boots are so chic this fall. I have a dozen and just picked up another pair the other day - I can't stop buying them! They come in so many colors and styles. These boots look great with grey jeans and a long gold necklace. Very classy and sexy.

Fall Fashion: Ann Taylor

2010-08-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

A few more fall fashion must haves from one of my favorite stores - Ann Taylor.

Skinny jeans or straight leg jeans appear to be very fashionable especially in dark washes. Skinny belts are also very much in style - around your pants, dress, skirt or sweater. Micro-striped shirts also appear to be in style, in moderation. And of course, feminine jewelry.

Leopard prints! They are soooo in! And here we see some lovely fitted black leggings. For an inexpensive early fall pair, check out Target ($6). Leggings are great paired with long sweaters or cowl neckline tops.

Peach cowl neckline top - ultra feminine. Lucky for me, I have loads of draped neckline tops in my wardrobe. They haven't been worn in quite awhile, but a little steaming and they were good as new - and looked just like many of those in the stores! Keep your eye out at thrift stores for these shirts, they're easy to find and you can pick them up for a few dollars.

Another lovely draped neckline. Remember when these were so vogue just a few years ago? Okay, so maybe it was about 4 years ago, but I still have them in my wardrobe just waiting to be worn again! Notice that this top is paired with a lovely feminine bracelet.

Fall Fashion: Ann Taylor Loft

2010-08-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

After seeing some of the fall fashion trends in InStyle magazine - and hating them - I was eager to look up the offerings at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. Ann Taylor stores are full of sophistication and charm and I was confident that they would take this season's rather icky fashion trends and turn them into something classy and beautiful. They didn't disappoint. Here are just a few of my favorites from the Ann Taylor Loft.

Military inspired jackets and brightly colored scarves are very 'in'.

Skinny Jeans! Paired with the above, and a feminine top.

I love this feminine silk cami with ribbon trim paired with torn jeans. Very glamorous.

Skinny Jeans paired with a belted blazer and feminine silk top = ultra chic. Since I already had so many of these elements in my wardrobe, I decided to spend my fall fashion money on what I didn't have - skinny jeans.

Fall Fashion: Anthropologie

2010-08-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite fall fashion trends from Anthropologie.

Feminine floral dresses, belted, with draped scarves.

Dark slim fitted pants with boots and a femenine top. Boots are a big fashion accessory for this fall - lucky for me, I've thrifted several new pairs this summer to add to my already large collection.

Tailored dresses with draped scarf in dark colors.

Feminine tops, chunky yet feminine jewelry, and fitted skirts.

Skinny Jeans

2010-08-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hollywood has been ____ing this tred for a long time, but I'm finally making the dive into Skinny Jeans. Yesterday, after much research into this season's fashion trends, I found myself at my favorite store - Ann Taylor Loft - trying on piles of pairs of skinny jeans. After much deliberation - and a lot of help from the fitting room assistant who kindly found all the perfect sizes for me - I emerged with several new pairs of skinny jeans and a lovely new pair of black riding pants. I'm so excited to delve into this new world of skinny jean fashion!

I love these black jeans with the bright scarf - very chic.

Blissful Beauty

2010-07-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

A lovely black iron bed - very whimsical.

An old claw foot tub, sheer curtain, and candles...how romantic.

Victorian Cottage Retreat

2010-06-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

This wee Victorian Cottage looks like the perfect Retreat! I would love to have one of these in my backyard someday! A little larger version would be the perfect guest cottage and romantic retreat - something with a bathroom and small kitchenette would be ideal.

You must check out this amazing story for more pictures. I think it's so fabulous that this lady lives in a humble home, but she has this stylishly decorated retreat to soothe her soul.

How Lovely!

This loft bed looks sooo inviting!

Bliss.

Spring Dinner Party

2010-05-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

This week we hosted my husband's grandmother while she visited Pittsburgh for the very first time. Since she was here, we thought it would be the perfect time to throw a 'Lancaster County' themed dinner party. My husband, Vince, and I are both from Lancaster County, and it's a big part of who we are. We'd love to migrate back to the area some day. So, we asked Grandma to show us how to make Chicken & Dumplings from the 'Mennonite Community Cookbook'. Grandma has used that cookbook since it first came out, back in the 50s. Our meal consisted of Chicken & Dumplings, home made Cabbage Slaw, Peas, Iced Tea and Apple Crisp for dessert. We invited over some close friends and neighbors for a 'simple' country dinner party and game night. What a delightful time we had!

Spring Dinner Party

2010-05-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

The checked cotton tablecloth was layered over a white tablecloth for a 'country' look. Grandma informed me that it was a little too elegant for a Pennsylvania Dutch look. Hey, what can I say, I tried to scale it back!

I love these lotus bowls that I've picked up on thrifting adventures. Grandma B has her own set that she uses when she entertains, so I thought this would be the perfect time to pull them out. I scattered some larger and smaller lotus bowls at the center of the table with tealight candles in them for a simply elegant look.

Spring decorating with Egg Prints. Notice that the blue silk ottoman bench has found its new home in our dining room. It fits perfectly - the color looks great with the red curtains, and it's super comfy for dining.

Spring Dinner Party

2010-05-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Grandma and I making Cabbage Slaw.

Grandma adding the dumplings to our Chicken and Dumplings.

Vince & Lindsey

Enjoying a game of 'Ticket to Ride' with our neighbors and dinner guests. We've had so much fun with these friends!

Ludwig Design Room

2010-05-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

For awhile now, this room by Ludwig Design has been one of my very favorites. The style is glamorous and serene, and the colors are just stunning together. I'd love for our living room to have a similar feel to this design.

Aren't those two giant black silhouettes great? Maybe I should consider adding some silhouettes to our living room.

The black urn on the mantel really pops.

The Minty Green Curtains are my favorite feature. I love the combination of Mint Green and Light Blue. And I adore the black lamp shades. I wanted black shades in our apartment, but we needed the light that white shades provide.

Isn't that Blue Silk Chair Beautiful?

Another shot of the Green Silk Curtains.

Our Jewelbox Office

2010-04-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first views of Vince's Office!

Since moving in last August this room has been through many decorating ups and downs. It stored boxes, it once had a carpeted floor, it stored my Etsy sale items. But now, finally, it is completely decorated!

To me it seems like a little 'Jewelbox' in our apartment because when you walk into this rather small room, it sparkles, it's filled with colorful treasures. It makes you feel happy inside.

Much of the 'Jewelbox' feel can be attributed to this giant picture wall. Since the room is teeny tiny, I chose to hang large mirrors, paintings, decorative motifs, and pictures on the walls to highlight the very high ceilings. The mirrors help the room to appear larger and bounce the light around nicely, and the whole arrangement draws the eye upwards, also helping the room to appear larger.

I just realized that I forgot to photograph the chandelier, which fits perfectly with this room. But you can see it a little in the mirrors. It is a dark brassy color, flat, and has brass tassels hanging from the arms and center.

Our Jewelbox Office

2010-04-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

This chair was exactly what I was looking for - dainty, curvy, gold. I was looking for something that wouldn't add 'bulk' to an already cozy room. The last stop on my chair treasure hunt was at a local Vintage store. After a quick run though, I spotted this beauty in the basement for $20. I thought that was a steal for this pretty. That night I recovered the seat in ribbed Blue Silk that I had on hand.

Marble Lamp and a Vintage Penguin Bank

This hamper serves as the perfect place for this giant trophy that I won. Heh. Just kidding. I don't think I've ever won a trophy in my life. This beauty was another thrifty find.

Aren't these Vintage metal bows and framed keys so cute? I adore the bow tiebacks - they're so 1930s glamorous!

Our Jewelbox Office

2010-04-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Black Urn was purchased from JoAnn Fabrics with a 50% off coupon. Originally greenish it was painted black. Another Black Urn sits by the desk and serves as a classy trash can.

The etched glamorous mirror tiebacks were found at Goodwill (have you guessed by now that it's my very favorite store?). The pillows I made from a thrifted valance.

Our latest Thrifted Marble Lamp - a great Goodwill find for $20.

This is the wall above Vince's desk. I have plans to add the Gold 'S' to the wall along with 3 larger Gold frames to expand the picture cluster.

Our Jewelbox Office

2010-04-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Matching Mustard Yellow Velvet Chairs. These lovelies were purchased for us by my Mother-In-Law at an auction. They're perfect in the office where I can sit and chat with Vince while he works. It's a great little retreat. The perfect place to cozy up with a cup of tea.

The Marble Lamp was another thrift find that just needed rewiring and a new lampshade.

The black velvet curtains hide two french doors that connect the Office and Sewing room. This is the view from the mustard yellow velvet chairs.

Lots of storage. I found that I LOVE Vintage trunks. I just can't get enough of them! We currenly own 5 vintage trunks. The Minty Green Trunk was our first, and the Wicker Trunk out latest ($7).

I LOVE this working Vintage 1930-40 Alarm Clock that I thrifted for $1. We recently saw the exact same clock at an antique store for $40!

Today I'm Loving...

2010-04-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

These darling Vintage Jewelry Boquets by Fantasy Floral Designs. Aren't they fabulous? This past Christmas my Mother-In-Law made me a beautiful Vintage Jewelry Framed Christmas Tree. It will be perfect to display this coming Christmas. Since receiving that gift, I've been coming up with lots of fun ways to repurpose vintage jewelry. A 3-D Topiary would be neat - maybe with large pearl beads mixed in, a 3-D Wreath for the front door - complete with a string of lights, and a jewelry floral arrangement for displaying in the house. Brooches would also be great as napkin rings, wouldn't they? Either pinned to the napkins or wired to a ring.

Wish I had known about these when I got married!

Isn't this so classy?

I'm also LOVING the catchy three part harmonies of "The Living Sisters" in their new album 'Love to Live'.

Celebrating Spring

2010-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

This Spring has been Delightful thus far. I spent a wonderful week at home with my family. A week surrounded by those I love most. Strolls through the woods. Hours of basking in the sunshine outdoors. Even planting flowers. All of it was so good.

I love the colors of Spring, and being surrounded by Beauty.

And the smells of Spring - fresh flowers, grass, and campfires.

And most of all, I love spending Spring with the man I love. There's something magical about strolls in the park, picnics by the stream, and the smell of fresh air blowing through the window at night. I love Spring!

Swap Meet Treasures

2010-04-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

Set of Lead Crystal Candlesticks

After reading about several Home Decor Swap Meets on other blogs I decided to throw my own Swap Meet. On Sunday evening a bunch of friends gathered in my apartment for our first Swap. Everyone brought a delicious food item to share and 3-6 home decorating items that they could not longer find a use for. We gathered all of the items together on my dining room table. Each person was given one number for each item that they brought and a matching number was placed in a bowl. Numbers were drawn one at a time and the holder of the selected number could choose an item from the table. I think everyone got some items that they really liked. The best part, for me, was getting rid of lots of items that I was storing in my husband's office. They were cute items but didn't fit in with my decorating. I can't wait to have another swap meet! I've been informed that I have to give everyone time to find more items to swap. Me? I already have my items picked out. :)

Pictured are some of the items that I got at the Swap Meet.

Red Glass Vase

Silver colored Tray

Decorating Thoughts

2010-04-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sitting and sipping my favorite Minty tea with a yummy brownie in one hand, just enjoying this evening at my computer. It's been a delightful day. Working in the Morning, Bible Study with two good friends at a Cafe in the Park in the afternoon, and then dinner at the park with my husband. What a fun day! After cleaning up hubby's office, I thought that I'd take a moment to relax once more. ;)

The office is almost finished. Yeah, it's taken me since we moved in to get it to a nearly finished point. Granted, we did have some setbacks - like having the carpets removed after we were all moved in. Usually the office and my sewing room are the rooms that any extra junk gets shoved in minutes before company arrives, so there were quite a few random items to find homes for. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of the finished office soon!

Here are a few shots of some of my favorite Spring decorations from last Spring in our old apartment in State College, Pennsylvania. That apartment was more 'Country' than this more glamorous version. I'm still choosing between these two lovely decorating styles. 'Country' seems so comfy to me. I've always loved 'French Country' and 'Shabby Chic' styles...since I first started loving decorating. Growing up, some of my fondest memories were spent antique hunting with my parents, whose home is decorated in a lovely and unique early american style. So, it's no surprise that whatever my style it will include many old treasures. My version of glamorous is unique, too, I think. Less streamlined than many other versions, it includes lots of original pieces from various eras.

One of my dear friends lives in an 1880s home that is ecclectically decorated with tons of her thrift store finds from years and years of treasure hunting. This is one of my favorite homes to visit - everywhere you look there is an inspiring antique, a conversation piece, or a treasure just waiting to find the perfect use. I love it. She has two rooms that I adore most. One is a sun room office with stunning green leaf wallpaper from the 1940s. It is fabulous, stunning, and makes me feel so happy inside. The other room is her kitchen. It's a large old kitchen with a very old antique stove that still works. It's one of those giant black stoves from the 1800s. I also love the large farmhouse sink and the cookbooks that she has piled near the window. Everything this woman touches is made beautiful in her own unique way. I've long wanted my home to have some of that unique beauty.

Dessert Party

2010-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our most recent hosting event was a Dessert Party held at our apartment on Tuesday evening for Young Married Couples in our Church. I decided on a large cake spread since I had these delightful silver cake stands from Target that I wanted to get some use out of. The Table is covered in crinkle fabric from JoAnns (they have it in the home decor section) that I sewed together down the middle. The nice part about this crinkle fabric - other than the great texture - is that you can't see the seam down the middle that pieces it together. The Cake Stands and Votive Candleholders are from Target. The three little gold frames are from Michael's - $1 each. Vince kindly typed and printed the kind of cakes we were serving and pasted the labels into the gold frames.

Here's my favorite Chocolate Cake Recipe:

2 Cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Cocoa
1 Cup Boiling Coffee
2 Cups Sugar
2 tsps. Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Salad Oil
1 Cup Milk

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Grease and flour 2 cake pans. Pour batter into pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until cake tester comes out clean.

Tripod Tray Tables

2010-03-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

Today I had a little thrifting adventure for myself and arrived home with a Vintage Tripod Tray Table.

In my last post I mentioned the two Craigslist chairs that I recently scored. After finding the perfect spot for them in our apartment, my mind set to work devising the perfect occasional table for between them. There was the option of using one of a pair of marble tri-leg tables that I already owned... but they looked so perfect where they were in front of the fireplace. What's a girl to do?

Several weeks ago I visited a local Vintage store - Le Mix in Pittsburgh, PA, and remembered seeing this great marble side table. Thinking that someone else would have already snagged this beauty, I headed out with little hope that it would still be there. But, it was! The owner was even kind enough to come down quite a bit on the price.

I was dying to know more about this style of table, so I did a little research.

This style of table is called a Tripod Table or Tray Table. They were popular in the 1920s & 30s - the period that this table is likely from, and continued to be stylish in the 50s & 60s and are still fashionable today. Similar tables were recently produced by Restoration Hardware, Wisteria, and Ballard Designs, and other furniture designers.

Tripod Tray Tables

2010-03-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Target Tray Table $39.99

Vintage 1930s Tripod Table

www.artdecocollection.com

1930s Iron and Marble Tripod Table

Ballard Designs Lily Tray Table $159

Wisteria Campaign Style Folding Tripod Table $159

Vintage Tripod Table

1950s Piero Fornasetti occasional tables Italy

www.treadwaygallery.com

Aren't these fabulous? The concept of this style of table seems really simple. I'm almost positive that this could be quite easily replicated.

To Craigslist or Not to Craigslist

2010-03-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

I can't seem to decide the answer to this question! On one hand, I get terribly disappointed when I spot that perfect vintage item only to discover that it is already sold. On the other hand...I got these great chairs off of Craigslist recently. But not without a little temporary heartbreak. You see, I discovered them on Craigslist weeks ago. They were a little expensive. Then they were relisted with a lower price, and I thought that they would be perfect for in Vince's office. But, I couldn't get ahold of the seller! After calling way more times than I would want to admit to, I finally gave up. Heartbreak ensued.

Then, two days ago I heard from the seller. She still had the chairs, did I want them? Did I want them?!? By this time I had already found the perfect office chair at a Vintage store, but this would not deter me. So, for $70 I snagged these two fabulous Vintage chairs.

They're stunning. I'm in Love. I'm not sure what era they are...maybe 1940s? They're very well made and the detail on the legs is amazing, not to mention those adorable arms. They'll need recovered, but they're perfect for my Living Room.

So, does this change my view of Craigslist? I'm still uncertain. Avoidance of heartbreak seems like a good strategy at the moment. So for now I'll focus my efforts on thrift store shopping.

What is your view of Craigslist? What great things have you gotten off of Craigslist...and what great things have you missed out on?

Our Bedroom

2010-03-05T16:46:00.000-08:00

It's been ages since I posted pictures of our bedroom, so I thought I'd fill you in on all of the newest decorating details.

Vanity and Bench.

Our Bedroom

2010-03-05T16:44:00.000-08:00

The glamour is in the details. These are my favorite pair of shoes. I've never worn them yet. They're waiting for that perfect dress and occasion to be worn to, but in the meantime they add a little glamour to my bedroom.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Luggage. What can I say? I love trunks and suitcases. My favorite luggage item is that round black travelling case in the middle. I took it along on our honeymoon and felt so glamorous travelling with it.

Our Bedroom

2010-03-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

Admiring my newest mirror. This HUGE vintage mirror was recently thrifted for a mere $15. A real steal, I think.

Checko out the great designs along the edges of the mirror. Beautiful!

Our Bedroom

2010-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

Candlescape.

Mom very generously offered me this jewelry chest that she was no longer using. Up until this point I had been storing my jewelry in glass jars and plastic baggies. I still store some of it in glass jars, but this adds so much organization to my jewelry collection.

Our Bedroom

2010-03-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

I scored big at the thrift store the other Saturday, when I nabbed this fabulous crystal lamp (plastic...but you wouldn't know it!) for $10. I LOVE it, especially the way it casts light onto the wall.

My shoe trunk where I store all of my pretty shoes.

I recently recovered these pillows in this fabulous pale blue fabric. They were originally brown with stripes, but I thought that this fabric was so much more glamorous. The edges are even complete with piping.

Pillow Tutorials

2010-02-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

All Things Thrifty

You must head on over to All Things Thrifty to check out five fabulous & free pillow tutorials! I love this great pin-tuck pillow! You could even use this method for curtains or a bedspread.

Keys

2010-02-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share my most recent 'masterpiece'. I successfully painted and hung these three large Keyholder Keys inside our front door. I'm very proud of myself because I persevered through the trial of getting the drill bit stuck in the door. It was sticking through the outside of the door and I was hoping that none of my neighbors would see until I could get it taken care of! How embrarassing!

The keys were purchased at JoAnn Fabrics in their Spring Inspirations section. They were originally all dark brownish colors. I wanted them all to match and look a little more upscale so I painted them with PLAID Liquid Leaf 'Classic Gold'.

Now we can hang our keys in style!

Winter Dining Room

2010-02-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

A few recent pictures of our dining room. Here you can see my simple Valentine's Day decorations still up. They seem so cheery that I hate to take them down already.

I love the combination of Orange Roses with the color Red.

These are the Orange Roses - my favorite color of rose - that Vince got me before my MFA Costume Production interview on Saturday. Aren't they lovely in this white milk glass vase? I love the milk glass with rippled edges like this - so pretty.

Love is in the Air

2010-02-13T17:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Fabulous ColorSplash Dining Room

2010-02-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

I am LOVING this FABULOUS and GLAMOROUS dining room design from the TV show 'ColorSplash with David Bromstad'. This makes me want to redecorate my dining room!

Those chairs are AMAZING! They painted them with 'aluminum' colored paint to give a modern twist on the victorian style.

I adore the sheer white curtains, the fireplace candles, and the table settings! Not to mention that STUNNING chandelier! How I wish that I could replace our chandelier.

I saw these cute crystal lotus votive holders at Michael's but wasn't sure where to use them. This is the perfect way to bring SOPHISTICATED BEAUTY to a table setting.

This dining room is so 'me' it hurts! How I wish that we could paint the walls in our apartment and add a new chandelier. I guess I'll just have to brainstorm ways to get the look without changing the room itself.

Making Crinkle Fabric Tablecloths

2010-02-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

How To Make Crinkle Fabric Tablecloths

In preparing for house guests this past weekend I found myself in a bit of a bind. My red organza tablecloth fabric had become puckered in the dryer, leaving it looking permanently wrinkled. I knew there must be some sort of crafty solution. Then I remembered my love for Crinkle Fabric. Yes, you can actually buy fabric that looks crinkled for home decorating and even fashion purposes (ex. broomstick skirts). Above you can see the finished Crinkle fabric tablecloth. Here's how it was done.

First, with two people, twist the fabric into a tight rope of twisted fabric until it is tight enough to twist back on itself. Rubber band the ends together securely (or tie together with string). Boil the fabric on the stove for 10 minutes. Allow to cool until the fabric is safe to handle. I removed the fabric with tongs into my metal dish drying rack to cool while I boiled more fabric.

(Since the fabric becomes about 1/2 the width that it once was when crinkled, I used two widths of 56" wide fabric for the tablecloth by the length of my table. They could have been sewn together at the center before crinkling, but I just lay them next to eachother on the table.)

Once cool enough to handle, wring to remove excess water. If the fabric has come untwisted, retwist. Microwave on High for 1-2 minute increments until the fabric starts to dry. Be careful that the fabric doesn't become singed. Remove fabric with tongs - it will be hot.

Hang fabric to dry for 24 hours. Fabric can be placed in an old nylon stocking (knot the end) and put in the dryer to speed up the drying process (Wet fabric color may bleed, be careful not to put it in the dryer with items of a lighter color).

This process can be repeated if fabric becomes less wrinkly after use.

Winter Dinner Party

2010-02-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago we hosted a Winter Dinner Party for 12. It was such an enjoyable evening with dinner and games. Dinner was a potluck dinner. After dinner we played 'Settlers of Catan' and had a blast.

The cafe table served as extra seating.

I almost didn't have enough plates, but then I remembered that I had these china plates that worked nicely with the color scheme.

Winter Dinner Party

2010-02-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

Our dining room table can only fit about 8, so we set the cafe table for 4 more to squeeze in all 12 guests.

The table is all set, the candles are all lit. Now we wait for our guests to arrive.

Behind the scenes: putting the finishing touches on dinner.

Winter Dinner Party

2010-02-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

The table was set with my favorite Bubble Glass Goblets from Target. I'm sure you'll recognize the lovely marble cheese trays that can usually be thrifted at relatively low prices. They're so fun to use as cloches for decorating. Sugared berry sprays and snowy greenery were arranged together in mercury glass vases to create a colorful wintery centerpiece.

Letter Purse

2010-01-31T19:47:00.000-08:00

Isn't this Letter Purse adorable? It would be super easy to make a plain black clutch look this cute, too. Maybe the name could be a fictitious name you adore? Like Violet Harrington. Love it!

Etsy Tea & Candy Tins

2010-01-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

I have long loved Vintage Tea & Candy tins. Since Middle School (yeah, total nerd) this yellow oriental tea tin has been one of my favorite decorations. For a long time it held some of my antique treasures. Mainly my small period image collection from the 1860s. Today it houses some of our tea collection and serves guests at dinner parties and movie nights. The turquoise blue tea tin is also one of my favorites since it matches our turquoise fiestaware.

Aside from their cute and perfect role as tea and hot chocolate storage boxes, vintage tea and candy tins are perfect for craft and sewing storage. Clients always comment on my cute safety pin storage tin during fittings.

Below are just a few Vintage Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate tins from Etsy!

(a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.)

Valentine's Day Dessert

2010-01-25T09:14:00.000-08:00

This weekend I hosted a Couples dinner party at which one of the ladies served up a delicious dessert that would be perfect for Valentine's Day. She simply purchased a pre-made Raspberry Tart at Trader Joe's (Love that Store!) and placed it on a stunning White Cake Stand with Red Ribbon Trim (Adorable!). It was too cute for words.

A Red Dessert with this Red and White Cake Stand is the Key to Valentine's Day Dessert Bliss. I couldn't rest until I knew where she found that lovely cake stand. After a little online searching I found them in several sizes, and also a black ribbon option at www.ClassicHostess.com.

Placing a Milk Glass Plate or Paper Doily with red ribbon lacing on a Clear Glass pedestal would get you a similar look.

Amazing Liquid Gold Leaf!

2010-01-20T20:45:00.001-08:00

Tonight I needed a quick and simple project to relax. So, I picked up a disposable brush and a bottle of PLAID Liquid Classic Gold Leaf...it was AMAZING! With a few simple stokes of pure liquid genious I transformed this drab grey-green metal globe into a Stunning Gold Beauty!

I was a little nervous about the Gold Leaf Paint at first - the package was very misleading, with a picture of stacked gold leafed baskets on the front (ick!). But as soon as I brushed it on I was in LOVE! I've now got loads of other possible projects that I'd like to paint with this same brilliant product. It also comes in a Antique Gold and a Silver.

Day Spring Signs!

2010-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Check out this lovely sign I'm sampling from Day Spring! Wow! I think I need one of these for my business. It would make me feel so much more professional to have this on my sewing studio door.

Check out Nesting Place to enter the giveaway to win a customized sign from Day Spring!

Candlelit Winter Dinner Party

2010-01-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

A few shots of this weekend's Candlelit Winter Dinner Party.

Candlelit Winter Dinner Party

2010-01-12T07:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend we held a Candlelit Dinner Party for four at our apartment. We invited a lovely couple that we've become friends with through church. I made Cod Fillets, Carrots, and Rice with Sesame Bread. And we had my favorite white wine...yum!

Vince captured a few memories with his camera while I finished preparing dinner.

Winter Dinner Party

2010-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

It seems like only yesterday Vince and I were throwing our first dinner party as newlyweds. Last winter we were holding one of our first dinner parties. Although we've held many dinner parties since then, this is still one of my favorites. It was a snowy winter evening and we had invited three other couples over for dinner. That was about as many people as our dining room table could fit! I happily pulled out my winter decorations and set to work gussying up the table. With all of the candles lit, the table setting was magical. Friends brought hors'devours and we prepared the meal. Back then we just chose our favorites - chicken casserole, creamy green beans, applesauce, and Bisquick biscuits (I love them covered in King Syrup!). I can't recall what we had for dessert, but I know we had one. I remember feeling so stuffed with yummy foods afterwards!

Here's the table all set for dinner.

This is one furniture piece that I loved! It was part of the apartment. Rather than fill it with books and trinkets I stored my extra Fiestaware on it to add a little color to the room. Votive candles left over from our wedding were lit on festive occasions. They created such warmth in our somewhat chilly apartment. (Our apartment was on the top floor of a Victorian Carriage House on the Boal Estate in Boalsburg, PA. I don't think there was much insulation, and what there was the squirrels had chewed to pieces!)

A little table from the kitchen was set up for company to hold drinks and food items. A satin lining fabric was used as a tablecloth. No doubt borrowed from my giant fabric stash.

After dinner we played group games. I remember lots of laughter filling our little apartment that evening. What a delightful time!

I was reminded of this while preparing for this evening's dinner party. I forgot how much I love having friends over for dinner!

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

A few last shots of our Living Room Holiday Decor for Christmas 2009.

I love my Glittering Reindeer! These two were purchased last year from Target. The giant glass vases are filled with glittering pinecones. Red berries add a hint of color to the display.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

Our thrifted $10 Christmas tree - I love it!

'Peace on Earth' sign. A last minute mantle addition.

Christmas trees in the fireplace.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

Front Door Welcome Wreath. Made last winter from a simple green wreath which I applied more authentic looking greens on top of to make it much fuller. I then wired the glittery gold balls and Welcome lettering on. Simple!

Key Holders in our entranceway. From JoAnn Fabrics. I think they put them out each Spring.

And now, introducing my FIRST real Reupholstering project! I recovered this Ottoman Bench, purchased last year at BigLots (because I wasn't lucky enough to score one at a thrift or antique store and couldn't wait any longer!). The Blue Silk I already had in my stash. It's a heavy silk that I scored while thrifting for a few dollars. I recovered a few more pillows to adorn it.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

This was the Christmas Gift that my Mother-In-Law made for me. It's a Jewelry Tree. She made it from Vintage Jewelry that she had from an older relative who died. The backing is made of a beautiful Black Velvet. It has colored Christmas lights strung into it that light up when plugged in.

Next year I'll find a better place to display it. This year it sat on a metal stand on the floor since it was a late arrival to my Christmas decorations.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

My newest thrifted chair - I could leave Goodwill without it! It was already recovered with black fabric that fit perfectly in this space.

Another Mucha Print. This was our new art addition for this apartment to bring more Blue into the Living Room to match the Blue Tiles around the Fireplace.

Some more of those lovely glass balls - they add a tint of color without overpowering the colors of the room.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Late 19th Century JOB advertisement by Mucha.

I recently painted and hung these two black shelves. Mercury Glass votive candle holders are currently displayed there until I thrift some fun items for them to hold.

This is my favorite Vintage Crystal lamp, and probably my very favorite thrift store find!

I love these little colorful glass balls that I found at Goodwill. They remind me of miniature hand blown glass fishing floats (seen here on Etsy). Has anyone seen these little glass balls for sale anywhere? I love the look of them and think it would be fun to get more sometime.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

A few shots of our 'Glamorous' Holiday decorations before the Holidays are over!

Happy New Year!

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

A Vintage Crystal 'Hollywood Regency' style Lamp sets the stage for a glamorous Gold and White display.

Tying a silk sash around the pillow creates an elegant and festive look.

Living Room Holiday Decorations

2010-01-01T04:54:00.000-08:00

Living Room Holiday Decorations

Alabaster 'Hollywood Regency' style Lamps.

We had loads of extra Christmas balls, so I made up several bowls full of Gold, Silver, and White Christmas balls with large pearl beads and large clear beads as filler.

Still awaiting the perfect camera that can better capture my creations...

Celebrate the Holidays with Color

2009-12-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love the rich, vibrant colors of the holidays? Metallic Gold and Silver mixed with deep shades of purple, red, green, and blue. How lovely!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tour of Homes

Dining Room Decorations ::: Christmas 2009

Welcome to our Dining Room!

This is our sideboard which serves as storage and an excellent surface to decorate.

I love this vintage ivory frame that has been made into a chalkboard! I found it at an antique store last year and just had to have it!

I just LOVE these silver cake stands that I blogged about purchasing at Target.

This year's decorating budget was $25 and went towards these white roses, red berries, and greens with faux snow. I loved these beautiful vintage green vases that I've thrifted over the past year. Since we don't have green in our apartment I wasn't quite sure what to do with them until I saw Christmas flower arrangements made in them on Etsy in floresdelsol's shop.

Our Cafe table.

This is our favorite place to eat meals. It's intimate and romantic. Our 1890s apartment building has a mosaic floor in the entranceway that reminds me of our cafe table. I like having our apartment reflect the era of the building.

Like this tablecloth? It's sheer burgandy fabric (purchased at JoAnns) over a red tablecloth (purchased at Target). The tablecloth wasn't fancy enough for the occasion (a dinner party!) so the fabric was the perfect solution!

Ribbon and Berry Tiebacks.

The framed chalkboards working their magic. I wanted to keep the dining room neutral, so I chose to make these magnetic chalkboards to decorate seasonally.

Mercury Glass LOVE.

Antique Podium decorated for Christmas with Mercury Glass Candleholders.

(Also on the Hooked on Holiday House Tour 2009)

Office Finishing Touches

2009-12-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

This week has been a busy one for the apartment. The Christmas decorations went up and many thing got a facelift. Vince's office has made a lot of progress. The mustard yellow velvet chairs got matching round brown taffeta pillows with mustard yellow velvet flowers. Made from a curtain thrifted at Goodwill. The Marble lamp was installed and got a new shade. And the books were conveniently hidden in two large wicker children's trunks purchased at JoAnns. I thought it would be impossible to find something affordable, but my 50% off coupon helped me out there. To top it off, tonight I made black velvet curtains to cover the glass doors that seperate our work spaces. These will be perfect for photographing my costume creations in front of, and they also add a little glamour to that side of the room.

Above are a few ideas that I'd like to incorporate into the room...

* Classical Bust - oh how I'd love to find one of these! The ultimate in glamour. *

* Antique books stacked. We have lots of these since we're both history geeks! *

* Bows tied around antique books to add a little feminine charm. *

* Curtains, check! I have the black velvet curtains and black and ivory damask curtains! *

* LOVE. A large Gold S for our last name or LOVE on the wall between wedding pictures. *

* That Pink and Yellow office is my favorite! The lamp looks like our mint green vintage lamp. *

* Clear glass door knob curtain tiebacks. These would be lovely with the black velvet curtains! *

And here are a few pictures of the progress...

(Above) The wicker trunk from JoAnns before the transformation...

The wicker trunk after I stapled brown taffeta and velvet fabric to the lid. So much better! Two of these trunks are stacked to form a 'table' where I can place a few decorations. These are perfect for storing books out of sight.

I'm super excited to share pictures of the Office and the Apartment decorated for Christmas!!! I've been busy planning our apartment's Progressive Dinner for this Friday, so you can expect to see lots of apartment pictures soon!

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

2009-12-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of the Living Room Christmas Decorations!

The Coffee Table in the foreground is decorated with a glass bowl full of pearl and crystal beads and gold and white glass ornaments. As soon as I saw it I knew that this would be the perfect task for this glass bowl.

Votive Candles and two crystal star dishes make the table festive. Imagine the candles lit at night!

And this is our $10 Christmas tree. Isn't it beautiful? The tree is 'flocked' to look like it has snow on the tips. It has a little sparkle to the flocking. I used wide burgandy satin ribbon and draped it about the tree. Small Vintage style balls and icicle ornaments adorn the branches. A large Vintage style tree topper perches on the highest branch.

The tree skirt is burgandy silk with intricate beadwork along the edges. Another Goodwill find. I scattered pearl and crystal beads around it and placed several ornaments, 2 glittering reindeer, and 3 glittering star boxes beneath the tree. (Hey, I just now realized that the stars are a theme in the living room Christmas decorations!)

Mantel Decorations

These Mercury Glass votive candle holders can be found at Target for $.99 each. I scattered pale champaigne, gold, and red berry picks amongst the votive holders. Two reindeer are reflected in the mirror.

Another shot of the Christmas tree!

It's so fun having a different Christmas tree than last year! I wouldn't want to decorate the same way twice!

2009-12-03T21:16:00.000-08:00

Another Lovely Dining Room

Christmas Preparations

2009-12-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've been busily decorating for Christmas and cleaning our apartment. We're planning a Holiday Progressive Dinner for our apartment building that will take place next weekend. I'm really excited to get to know others who live in the building - we rarely see anyone. Since we live in a historical building it will also be fun to see other apartments. There are three floors and each one has its own character. The 3rd floor has lots of brickwork - even brick arches in the one apartment (so cool!), while the 1st floor is very traditional to the 1890s when the building was built.

Today I scored an amazing faux Christmas tree at Goodwill. It was in the window and I had seen it yesterday and asked if it was for sale and they said they didn't think so...but I loved it, so I stopped in again today and asked a different person and she said she'd sell it to me for $10!!! It even came with a strand of lights. I wasn't going to turn that down! I got it all decorated today to surprise Vince when he came home from school. It's the perfect little tree! I'll have lots of photos of our Christmas decorations to show soon!

Tonight was a fun "night on the town" with some of Vince's fellow PhD students. We went to a German 'Haufbrauhaus' together. I enjoyed talking to Vince's friends who are from other countries. Vince is one of the only American students in the program. On the drive home we saw a beautiful buck as we were driving through the park. It had such large antlers that it looked more like a reindeer than a deer. Perfect to get us in the Christmas spirit!

I love the colors of the table decorations! And the linen curtains with the wreaths in the windows look so beautiful!

A Glamorous Christmas

2009-11-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

I'm dreaming of a Glamorous Christmas...

Thrifty Decor Chick's Holiday Tablescape

2009-11-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

You simply must pop on over to Thrifty Decor Chick's Blog to check out her stunning Holiday Tablescape!

She created that fabulous centerpiece and wrote a Centerpiece Tutorial! I think I may even try to make one of these for myself. Thanks to my love of thrifted treasures I think I may have nearly all of the supplies for it!

Home Decor on Etsy

2009-11-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've recently posted quite a few curtains and two pillows on Etsy!

glamorousvintage.etsy.com

Target Holiday Table

2009-11-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

I think it's true to say that all ladies love Target. Even guys know this fact. I remember some college theatre guys saying that Target was the perfect place to take a girl on a date because she would love everything!

These Holiday Table serving stands from Target are perfect for Christmas, New Years, Birthdays - when aren't they perfect?

The 'serving stands' are aluminum (just search aluminum serving stand on Target.com). I like the above arrangement with two of the prestacked stands on each side and in the center on large aluminum cake stand with two smaller stands on top. It looks super dramatic! The two smaller stands on top are displayed elsewhere in the store...but I spotted them and put two and two together. The edge beading is slightly different and the base doesn't have the beading, but they look fantastic together.

They also sell several style of serving trays in this style. :)

Last year I purchased these and used them around the base of our Christmas tree with all of our extra Christmas tree balls piled high on each. They looked super cute there! I'll probably use them on the table this year to change things up.

(These are the item number to easily locate them on Target.com... Small Serving Stand 200021244, Medium Serving Stand 200021203, Cake Stand 200082423 - it says sold out online but it's available in stores)

KATE

2009-11-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's just my age group, afterall, we saw her first in Titanic alongside (then) hottie Leonardo DeCaprio, but Kate Winslet always seems flawless to me. She's the perfect beauty. Not too slender. Her hair is always stunning. She is glamour itself. A friend and I were chatting the other week and both agreed that Kate's such a great fashion hero. Just look at this adorable dress? Granted, I can image Barbie wearing something similar, but not in this classy silk fabric. ;)

Vintage Glamour

2009-11-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

I thought you would enjoy these great Black & White Glamorous Vintage pictures that I found online recently!

Check out my GlamorousVintage Etsy shop for lots of fabulous Vintage Glamour!

Glamorous Vintage House

2009-11-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

While searching online I found this delightful home in real estate listings decorated in a glamorous vintage style! I love the use of so many vintage and antique items and the fearless use of color! The gigantic mirrors do so much to create focal points in the rooms.

If you love chandeliers, why not use several in a room?

I love the colored furniture! So inspiring!

I would love to get at least one more colored chair to use in our living room. Our antique Purple Velvet Chair is one of my favorite pieces, it would be so fun to have another colored velvet chair. Raspberry or Blue?

This house was seen HERE.

Fall Fashion Favorites

2009-10-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

This Fall, the J.Crew jewelry and accessories are fabulously glamorous!

Isn't this Pearl Cuff Bracelet Stunning?

It would be pretty simple to make something similar by sewing pearls and gemstones to a piece of canvas fabric and adding a clasp. :)

I love these shoes!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite fall finds from Etsy (minus the top pic!).

October Dinner Party

2009-10-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

October Dinner Party

Earlier in October Vince and I hosted a dinner party for two couples that live upstairs and downstairs. I had such a fun time decorating the apartment and planning the table settings. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the colors and textures, smells, fall clothes and foods!

Here is a view of the table all set for the party.

I used our gold napkins and napkin rings from Target, one of my favorite stores. Ivory leaf shaped plates were placed on top of our Turquoise Fiestaware. The leaf plates were a Goodwill find last fall - another of my favorite stores.

Our little cafe table all decked out for the occasion.

October Dinner Party

2009-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

October Dinner Party

2009-10-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Gold Leaves were strung to Burgandy Ribbon Bows with wire and tied around the curtains with Sheer Black Ribbon.

The Tablescape.

Small Gold Berries were added to this Gold Sculptural Branch.

October Dinner Party

2009-10-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

This Doggie Bed was Transformed into an interesting architectural detail to the room. It draws the eye to the podium and the large white mirror and is illuminated with candles.

Gold Leaves, purchased at Christmas time when they were sold as Christmas tree decorations, were hung from magnets in the white magnetic chalkboard frames.

Hot Mulled Cider was served in a pumpkin container.

Hot Mulled Cider is always a favorite of our guests at evening parties in the fall. It makes the house lovely and inviting, keeps us warm and gives us that cozy feeling so welcome in fall. Here's the recipe I use:

Hot Mulled Apple Cider

4 Qt. (1 Gallon) Apple Cider
32 Whole Cloves
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Ginger
4 Sticks Cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in large pot. Cook until brown sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain. Serve hot. Garnish mugs with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks for stirring.

The Colors of Fall

2009-10-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Here are a few images that are inspiring me this fall!

Above: Autumn Boquet of Roses by April Hiler Designs on Etsy.

Sparkling Fall Wedding

All those Glasses and Candles make the evening so magical!

If I were a doggie, I would be wearing one of these chic dog coats from Acme Couture on Etsy...with a fur collar.

Someday, I want a front porch just like this beauty.

Welcome to Our Living Room!

2009-10-20T13:10:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Our Living Room!

We're unpacked, the hardwood floors are finished, and it's finally time for a tour of our new apartment living room!

The Living Room is one of my favorite rooms in the apartment. With lofty ceilings, gorgeous hardwood floors, and a stunning fireplace, I knew that this would easily be the most glamorous room in our apartment.

My inspirations came from art, decor, and textiles of the 1890s-1930s. I carefully hand selected vintage pieces that I felt would fit with this style.

Welcome to Our Living Room!

2009-10-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

The artwork of Czech Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha was particularly inspiring. Three of his prints hang in the living room.

This luggage stand was picked up at a sale for a dollar. Perhaps an ottoman will someday fill its place?

Another view of our couch - a vintage find. As soon as I saw it I had to flop down on it and couldn't leave the thrift store without purchasing it! It's super comfortable and I love the elegant lines of it.

One of my favorite living room vignettes.

These two matching alabaster lamps were found at Goodwill. The Ivory Syroco mirror was purchased for $6 and is easily worth $100+ dollars. The glamorous mirror in the back is modern, but I think it sets off the lamps and Syroco mirror famously.

Welcome to Our Living Room!

2009-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

This ottoman bench is still awaiting a needle and thread to cover it in this blue silk taffeta.

The mirror is antique and found at Goodwill. The gold design on the wall was found at Marshall's along with several others that are placed beneath the Mucha paintings which otherwise seemed to float on the walls.

See what's hiding behind that wooden screen? That's right, the TV! It's so nice to be able to hide that ugly appliance that didn't fit with my 'vintage' inspired living room.

Mmmm...my purple velvet chair. How I love it.

I included blue in the living room to bring in the blue tiles on the fireplace.

Welcome to Our Living Room!

2009-10-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Another Mucha Painting sets the mood.

This vintage crystal lamp is my favorite Goodwill find. Wish I could find lamps like that everyday!

Another Mucha Painting andVintage Crystal Goodwill Lamp.

The peachy fabric that was used for the pillow cases and this bench was chosen because it reminded me of decor fabrics from the 1930s. This color was popular for women's lingerie of that era. The flower design that is woven into the fabric is very geometric in style and placement and seems to mimic fabrics of the 1930s.