Miles Redd in Veranda

Why hello there......

I managed to make it out of New Orleans in one piece (somewhat surprisingly, with all of the people that were down there, and the seeming rise in crime), and there have been so many things and ideas I've wanted to post about!

1) They should make computers able to take dictation so you can blog while running (mostly walking) on the treadmill. And they should make them affordable.

2) Canadian House and Home is awesome. Have you seen this month's issue? Chris now has a really good idea of something to get me for Christmas - a subscription (although, if he really wants to, I'd take Sarah Richardson's farmhouse too).

3) I'm getting ready to re-paint our kitchen cabinets and swap out the old rusty, loose, and crooked hardware! What I'm sure will be an interesting time starts tomorrow, so look for "before" pics.

But back to my topic for today:
Has anyone else seen the new Veranda (November/December) issue??

It arrived last week, and so far, is the most "Domino-like" to date. I'm not sure that is the best description for it (because it's definitely higher-end compared to Domino), but it definitely feels more like Dara's at the helm now than before.

Case in point - the cover story, designed by Miles Redd:

I love that green with the blue.

And I love this wallpaper.


But this bedroom had me feeling a little sense of deja vu, even though it's lovely....

See???




I guess Miles is just a big lover of scenic hand-painted mural wallpapers with 4-poster beds.


The whole issue of the new Veranda is good, though, and I'm excited to see them continue on the path they're on.


Tune in tomorrow for the start of "Project: Paint Kitchen Cabinets (so they don't suck as much)". Me, my Dad, and I'm sure a few dogs all mixed up with some white paint and satin nickel hardware!

2010 Historic Fort Worth Designer Showhouse

I came across this slideshow and article by Rob Brinkley on our local PaperCity website. It covers the 2010 Historic Fort Worth Designer Showhouse, which is the old 1966 home of Eddie and Fran Chiles.

Designed by architect A. Quincy Jones, the house is gorgeous and modern. It's original interior decorator was Billy Haines, and the home still retains lots of original hardware and finishes.

Even more impressive than the Imperial Dishmaster above is the handpainted wallpaper below, which is in the entry and part of the living room. Original?? It was here when Fran Chiles moved out...

So pretty. I love hand painted mural wallpapers. Sersiously, I think you could stick anything in front of them and still end up with a gorgeous room.

Below is another view of the living room, including its Fortuny pendant light and strange and somewhat morbid poster art.

Dining room. Loving the wall-treatment here too, although it's not original. You can see a picture of the original here.

The view from the upstairs dressing room is beautiful. Not a huge fan of the blue chairs or lamp, but again - that backdrop makes almost anything look good.

Fran Chiles was a memeber of the Republican National Committee, and the Chiles' close friends included Ronald and Nancy Reagan who stayed in this room when they came to visit.

That is a Billy Haines' designed elbow chair there by the bed

The study area in Eddie Chiles bedroom. I like the rug and the artwork. The built-in shelves are nice.

The back of the house, showing the pool.

Look good to you? The house is up for sale for only $7 million through Kay Day Real Estate.

The home tour is on through the 24th, and you can learn more about it and the designers who participated here.

AND DON'T FORGET!! My giveaway for a Dash & Albert throw ends tonight, and the winner will be announced tomorrow!

*all above pictures by Rob Brinkley, here

My Case for a Second Home

Sometimes, I really think I need two homes...

In the spring and summer, I love bright, light and airy:

But with the cooler months of autumn and winter coming, I lean a little more dark and introspective:

Cool, neutral and serene:

Warm and interesting:

Outdoor entertaining:

Welcome indoors:

All white:

Dark:

Unfortunately, you can't get all this depth and texture by just using a winter throw on your sofa. Psychologically speaking, it may be that because I live in such a warm (hot) weather climate, Texas, with it's long sunny summers, that I want for cool and simple interiors when it's warm outside. Hmmm...

Well, at any rate, I guess this is one more reason to lean towards a dark green, or some other dark color, for our office. Dark and moody... a great place to curl up and read. Or to surf through blogs. With a hot cup of tea, of course!


Tonight, I'm so excited to be going to the TCU/SMU game! TCU is going to steamroll over the Mustangs, and I can't wait.

Hope you have a great weekend! Any fun planned?

I really like this room

It's warm gray walls, those dark linen chairs, that dresser, the unusual wooden table.... It's beautiful and masculine without being *grunt* MASCULINE.

I wonder if I could convince Chris that he really likes this look? ;-)

Have a great weekend!

*photo from Reclaimed Studios (it's her living room!)

Skirted Console Tables

I love skirted console tables. They look so tailored, and they can hide a world of sins.

I finally decided to attempt my own skirt for the eye-sore in our bedroom... our TV console.


The console itself is a good size for our room, and because we don't really have the money to go out and buy a new piece of furniture to take its place, I thought a slipcover would be the easiest and best option.



Our console before:




And after:

Sooooooo much better. Soooooo much better.

I used 2 old white Ikea drapes that I had (which had shrunk too much to use as curtains anymore), utilizing the top of the drapes as my hems. It really wasn't too hard to put together, although if I were doing it over, I would underlap the side panels more than I did to eliminate that gap on the corners. And I still think I will trim it out with some ribbon. But all in all, I'm pretty pleased with it! Especially being my first time at making one of these.

If you're interested in the step-by-step instructions I came up with, they'll be coming on a post over on EAD next week.

Black, White and ...

every color under the rainbow...

(Just not all at once, please.)

Happy Tuesday!

Summer Camp

We went to see "Grown Ups" this weekend (and it was hilarious!) - but it got me thinking of a summer lake house, and how I would decorate it...

Some nice throws available for those cool nights...

A touch of plaid or some stripes on the floor...

And a deep comfy leather sofa to curl up on...

Some modern with the rustic - a cowhide under the Bertoia stools in the eating area...

Classic and simple in the bedrooms...

And after a long day, a nice view of the lake from the bathtub...

How would you decorate your summer house?