Winter Green

My Paperwhites are in bloom - so pretty! They bloom just when I begin to ache for something live and green in the depths of a northeastern winter.
Here is some Winter Green eye candy.

photo by me!

If you are blessed with a room full of windows......
image via Lonny Mag

A cloche to keep them warm and moist
image via pinterest

Sunny Windowsills 
images via pinterest

OK Fine. A Giveaway.

Nest is offering as a Fresh Start / New YEar giveaway this fantastic burlap bag. Made by hand and one of a kind, it would make a terrific Farmers Market ( or regular market) bag, Beach Bag, Book Bag, Gym Bag, "Hey! Where did you get that bag?" Bag. It measures 20" long x 14" wide, has a soft linen lining and a wide comfy shoulder strap. I really don't know how you've lived without it all this time.

Ok people. I COULD say that I am offering a giveaway in the spirit of the season. Happy New Year, Peace on earth, etc etc.
What it really is: a bribe. Now, I know that more than 12 of you are reading my blog. Some of you I could name here - and I will, if you don't cooperate. You know who you are.
I have been stuck at 12 Followers since time began, and comments? Well, lets just say, you are a strangely quiet group. "Have you ever felt like you were standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming at the top of your lungs and no one even looks up?"
I love my original 12, I really do, you are the foundation on top of which my legions will stand. Brace yourselves!
To win the bag, please join White Dove as a follower, and please leave a comment on whatever subject you please; why you love the bag, why you love my blog, why you haven't joined before, why drivers refuse to use their turn signals. You too, original 12!! You've joined, now comment!
AND, if you can name the movie character I quoted with the "crowded room" line above, you can get an extra little surprise in your bag if you win. C'mon! Fun, right?
Thanks everyone!

Belly Up

A client and I are contemplation this Bar Cart for her Dining Room:

The Bar Cart is back in a big way. I see them everywhere in the design world, from every vendor.
But your bar doesn't have to live on a specifically designed cart! Here are some fab alternatives.

 

A Parsons Table
image via Pinterest



Use an old Industrial table as Thom Filicia did here.

A FAB metal work cart
image via Pinterest

A chest of drawers
image via Pinterest

Or maybe just a tray
image via Pinterest

 Cheers!

Shopping Season

If you live in the Norwood, MA area, be sure to check out all of the new vintage and antique shops which have taken over the old warehouses on Endicott St.
Some of them have great stuff for great prices, and it is marvelous to see these big beautiful lofty warehouse spaces being used again! A great place to pick up a unique gift or two!

Nest will have a booth at Vintage Thymes, which is open once a month for 3 days.
The next market weekend is Friday Dec 7th thru Sunday December 9th. Shop vintage! Save the World.

And if you cannot make it to the market and have interest in any of the items you see pictured - like my FAB burlap Farmers Market Bags!!! - please let me know! Call, email, or leave a comment.
Boy, would a bag like that make a GREAT gift, or what?!

Dining Room Re-Do

More before and afters. This time a recently completed Dining Room. 

                                                      Quite a transformation!

Before 

After: same angle. Wallpapered ceiling!
Love it, Live it! I told you I'm a fan.

Before

After: Metallic paint, custom stain on floor.
And what's a room without zebra fabric, I ask you.

Before 

oops there goes another fiddle fig, oops there goes another fiddle fig.......
(Hello? Does anyone know that song? Is this thing on?)

I am told I don't blog enough (completely true) and I don't publish my work enough (also true). Perhaps if I show more of these it will go some way in explaining why I don't blog enough ~ I am working on these client spaces! I tend to be a perfectionist where my Interior Design work is concerned, and hesitate to publish photos that are not yet perfectly styled. I am trying to get over myself. Here is another before and after.

BEFORE: A powder room in need of a face lift.

AFTER: Better, yes?

Reality Check: Part 2

Back in March I had posted a few before photos of a residential project that has since been completed. I thought I would share a couple of my before and after shots.

I will be having this professionally shot soon, and will share the styled, pro shots then. In the mean time, enjoy!

Before: a bit dark, a bit dated, not reflective of the energetic young
family who live here

The Living Room in primarily used for entertaining, quiet reading, cocktails.
TV viewing is elsewhere.

After: Brightened up, modernized, de-cluttered.

Four chairs instead of the expected sofa combo

We also re-did the Dining Room. Stay tuned for those before and afters as well!