Wordless Friday

Technically, there are words in this post. But sometimes I just want to post a picture without the pressure of entertaining. That is all. Happy 6 more hours till happy hour!

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Hotel Living

Like Chuck Bass and Serena van der Woodsen, former Ralph Lauren designer, Nicole Hanley Mellon, and her husband live in a hotel in New York. Specifically The Pierre. Aren’t rich people so fascinating?

They threw some paint over the wallpaper, replaced the carpet and combined their art collection to make the space homey and eclectic. I need to start collecting art instead of dogs.

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Master Mood

I was drunk Pinning one night and resolved I would finally get around to updating our master bedroom. These spaces turned me on.

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And this is how I’m making my vision come to life:

crystal wall sconce; swan watercolor; mirror; vases; lamp; tray; salmon throw; leather ottoman; pillows; gallery wall.

New lighting, art, and accessories are freshening up the cave.

I’ll have you know that I’m a bargain hunter and I scored that ridiculously expensive mirror for $20 at TJMaxx. It’s the exact same thing on a smaller scale and I love waking up to it every morning. Also, I don’t plan on spending an arm and a leg on an ottoman or trays or accessories, so I’ll continue scouring until I find affordable versions.

I’ll share photos of the end result when it’s closer to complete.

Exotic Taste

This was the year that I started to appreciate more ornate interiors. Remember, when I punched myself for not accepting the numerous kilim rugs my mom gifted me. That was BB (before blogging). These days, I like to stare at design books to draw inspiration. Like this gorgeously photographed beauty that makes me want to stock up on colorful goods and textiles.

Exotic Taste, Oriental Interiors by Emmanuelle Gaillard and Marc Walter features a whopping 236 pages of rich, luscious interiors, textiles and furniture from Japan, China, India and the Middle East. Seriously, I can’t even get over the details and colors  in these spaces.

These floors are killing me softly.

Pink and gold walls. Hell to the yeah!

Pattern overload in the best possible way. The stripes remind me of my favorite duomo in Sienna.

Florals done right!

Fanciful arches – check. Glorious floors – check. Tufted seating – check.

I spy Greek keys!

The good thing about this book is that it also comes with a history lesson. So it’s like education with a side of pretty. Buy your copy here.

Book c/o Vendome Press.

Should I?

I did nothing noteworthy this weekend unless you count eating, sleeping and drinking as noteworthy, in which case I ate summer salads (recipes later this week), slept a minimum of 8 hours a night plus afternoon naps, and drank a lot of champagne because it’s my new Sunday tradition.

I also vacuumed frequently because I can’t seem to get away from dog hair. The Monster is shedding and it’s making me crazy. So crazy, in fact, that I can’t stop thinking about leather couches. It’s so much easier to wipe away dog hair and dog drool on a leather couch right? Anyways, I haven’t come across many leather couch-adorned spaces that I love, but here are a few that I like for inspiration. What do you think? Are leather couches cool in the design world or do they scream 1990. Also, tufted or non-tufted? Black or brown or neither? Tell me my design savvy friends. I need professional input.

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Casa Cox

I love me some Courtney, but I’m finding her Malibu home featured in this month’s Elle Decor to be a tad too sterile and catalog-y. I do adore the art, the master bath and the outdoor space though and I wouldn’t mind one or five of those modern chairs. What do you think?

Tour the rest of the house here.

DIY Bubble Chandy: Results

I have a tendency to be a little melodramatic so my memory of the DIY bubble chandelier saga is probably a tad exaggerated. On Memorial Day, instead of barbequing like normal Americans, we tied dozens of small knots around glass globes, braided rope, clustered shit and even shocked ourselves while working on the electrical wiring.

It took a total of several hours, one mini fight, one major fight, and then a lot of love and support as the Husband attempted to hang the damn thing at 9:00 at night. I teetered on an unstable ghost chair and aimed a flashlight whilst cooing words of encouragement. End result: the chandy is done and looks alright. BUT THE MOTHER EFFER DOESN’T LIGHT. There’s a problem with the wiring and we know how to fix it.  But now I’m not even sure if I really like it.

The Husband stated it perfectly when he said “it doesn’t add enough drama to the room.” The clear bubble chandy is too understated and smaller than I anticipated. So either I keep something I’m not crazy about just because I nearly lost a finger making it or I buy something I like and kiss $50 and an entire afternoon goodbye.

What do you think?

Feeling Purple

Tacky purple

Muted purple

“How I plan to bring purple into my home” purple

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Just Another Lonny Post

I know the new issue of Lonny is old news now and your eyes bleed at the thought of another Lonny-inspired blog post, but I’m a person and my feelings count. Please indulge me while I tell you how I feel about these interiors:

This is what I’d want my psychologist’s office to look like. 

The table, stools, chandelier and one of those pillows would look better in my living room.

This makes me like striped walls again.

This completes me.

Everyone is buzzing about this room, but I find it kind of depressing. Maybe it’s the ping pong table and green floors.

Also, I haven’t yet addressed the tragedy in Japan (I aim to keep it lighthearted here on LWP), but I’m overwhelemed with sadness and will participate in a bloggers day of silence on Friday to express my sympathy.

I’m in a Giving Mood

I promised you a giveaway this week and I’m here to deliver. Los Angeles-based Lizzie Lander is the talented designer behind Homegrown Interiors, DIY-er and blogger. Her new etsy shop (with friend and partner Liz Wiltgen) features fabulous refurbished vintage dining chairs and custom paper pendant lights.

Lizzie’s latest project is a “speed decorating” service for those of us who want to live in pretty spaces without spending a pretty penny. One of my lucky readers will win a speed decorating package –valued at $100 – which includes an in-depth design consultation, inspiration photos, mood board with paint and fabric swatches and a product source list and purchase information.

 

To enter the giveaway, drop me a comment telling me what space in your house is in need of a speed decorating overhaul. For additional entries, follow me on Twitter and Bloglovin and subscribe to the Lonely Wife Project.

Entries will be accepted until 12pm pacific time Monday March 21. The winner will be announced here and via email Tuesday March 22. Good luck lovebugs!