Currently Obsessed With: Cafe Chairs

Happy Friday! Happy 11.11.11! Happy Veteran's Day! So much going on, sheesh!

I've been stalking craigslist extra hard lately trying to source things for my new office space and breakfast nook. I've found cabinets to act as the base for my built in banquet. Hooray! I had previously planned to use these chairs from Ikea for the other side of the table but my brain has decided to go another, harder direction of course.

 I just feel I'd rather have something with personality, possibly something vintage. Enter: cafe chairs!

As you can tell, I think the blue ones are especially gorgeous! This ice blue is the bee knees!

Paired with this marble topped Iron table, perfection.

I found a bunch from this website but I think they are for the trade only, boo. Anyone have a good resource for these for the public?

PS Don't forget to sign up for my gift swap! Only a few days left! Email me at myflightsofwhimsy(at)gmail(dot)com 

It's Time! Third Annual Handmade Holiday Gift Swap!

Can you believe how fast the holidays are approaching? I also can't believe this is the third year I'll be hosting my super fun handmade holiday gift swap!

Here are the details!

1. Your gift must be handmade. Meaning, it must be an item your two hands have touched, manipulated or altered in some way. Vintage items are ok but you must have done something to it. Crafts and items made from scratch are also good.

2. The item plus any materials needed must not total more than $20 USD.

3.You must ship your item to its recipient by December 15th.

4. And lastly previous years have necessitated some etiquette in the rules. If you know you're going to be busy and  might not be able to send out a gift please don't sign up. Nothing is more disappointing than spending time on your own gift and then waiting for one that never comes. Also, please send a thank you email, mention in a post or find a way to say a simple thanks to the person who sent you a gift!

You have until November 15th to sign up by sending an email to myflightsofwhimsy(at)gmail(dot)com.

Please include:

your full name

your address

your website or blog

your email

On November 16th I will send you an email about who you will be sending your gift to. But they won't necessarily be the person sending a gift to you! Tricky tricky, it's a surprise!

Now the 2nd gift swap was twice as big as the first so lets get the word out and see if we can double the size again! I want everyone to join the fun! Please let friends and readers of your own blogs know so they can sign up.

Let's make this the best year yet! Send me an email and sign up forthwith!

Backyard Tour! Get ready to Drool!

I recently came across this amazing home and couldn't wait to share it with you. Lynne's dream is to have her home published and I think the world needs to see the amazing job she's done. I want to see more!

I could sit here all day. The trees are so big and beautiful!

Are you kidding me? Lynne, pool party at your place? I'll bring the cupcakes and adult beverages.

From Lynne's blog about the outdoor shower:

"This mosaic has a bit of a story.  I didn’t know how to draw a mermaid.  I stood in the shower stall and had my Mom trace me.  I did advice her to draw me skinnier with bigger breasts.  It is a mermaid with a sense of humour.  I also DEFACED Canadian pennies.  Confession time again.  It is ‘kinda’ against the law to glue pennies to a wall, isn’t it ? Ooops.  I did it in the name of design."

We feel ya Lynne, we feel ya.

This is my favorite thing!

All images courtesy of Lynne's blog, Design the Life you Want. Go here to see more pics of her home and read all about it!

Have Friday lovers!

Art Wall is Up!

I actually did a project this weekend people! Motivation is back!

I got all of my art hung. It was sitting on the floor gathering dog hair for so long. But now it's up! I also completed my paint chip art. That's two projects, look at me go!

I still have plenty of room to hang more pieces once I have them. I didn't really plan out the arrangement because I have a secret weapon.

My mother in law got this for me. It's the best tool that I never knew existed that I now can't live without. You hang the art on this little hook. It even has levelers on it.

Once you have it in place you press this little piece and a pokey thing (technical term there) marks the spot on the wall for your nail. It's awesome!

This is my new piece of art made from paint chips.

                                                                           Source: mintlovesocialclub.com via Brandi on Pinterest

This was the inspiration for it.

I made this little arrangement as well. (does that count as a third project? woah...)

I had my dining room photographed by a pro. More on why later.

I finally have a complete set of wine glasses. I've had my eye on these forever. Aren't they gorgeous?

What did you do this weekend?

Home Office Inspiration

Dear readers, a momentus occasion is upon us, the decorista's holy grail, if you will. The home office.

I've got big plans for the space already. You know how it is. You make plans and they always change, I'm ready for that. I'm excited to see where this goes!

The best thing is that the room is basically a blank slate. I'm also craigslisting all of my current office furniture.

I'm starting from scratch! Sooooo many possibilities...

So here are my current plans.

                                                                              Source: thedecorista.com via Brandi on Pinterest

I'm feeling something very dark gray. Maybe not quite this dark.

I'm very inspired by this Lonny office. I want to do a black and white office with a single pop of pink, perhaps a sofa or chair.

                                                                           Source: designsponge.com via Brandi on Pinterest

I want it to be a similar vibe to this office.

I found some floral fabric similar to this but on a gray background at Ikea. I can't find an image of it for the life of me. WTF internet? You're supposed to be my bro!

For storage, a fabulous mid-century credenza. This may take the longest to find in my price range, wish me luck!

The rest of my things will be organized in the closet. I'm going all martha on that closet. It's going to be sick.

A large table is a must for me. I like to spread out when working on a project. Plus I need room for my laptop and sewing machine as well. This is going to be a challenge since the room is not that big.

Wisteria has a good size lucite desk that I'm considering placing in front of the leaded glass windows.

This has been one of my favorite workspaces for a long time now. The desk isn't too heavy, the buffet behind is perfect with two lamps, I also have small smaller but similar gold leaves to adorn the wall!

I plan on having my office chair reupholstered as well.

I guess that's really the only piece of furniture I'm keeping!

And for the ceiling...

This chandelier that I have been coveting for a while.

What kind of home office do you have? Any tips or words of wisdom for me?

Have a great weekend!

Perks of Being a Stylist

You can take your work "home with you"!

Gorgeous Kale and Eucalyptus we used in a photo shoot cheering up my home. They looked beautiful in our photos and instead of just throwing them out we get to take them home!

Look what happened...

The top shelf of my china hutch broke in the middle of the night. On that precarious glass shelf was a collection of heirloom depression glass, champagne flutes from my parents wedding, a sugar dish from a great grandmother and wedding gifts from Anthropologie. And nothing broke! I think I may replace it with something stronger, perhaps Lucite. I'm so relieved to see my precious collection all in one piece! 

Have a lovely weekend!

A New Favorite Gray

Long time no see friends!

I suck at blogging lately...sorry about that...

The good news is cooler weather had come to Big D and has reinvigorated my project motivation!

I finally chose a paint color for our master bedroom. I painted a total of nine colors before deciding.

That's right...nine!

Here is the boring beige before pic. When we moved in the whole house needed to be repainted so I chose a neutral that I knew I could love with while I took my time deciding. Over two years later I am still figuring things out!

sorry for the shitty night picture guys (and the no styling) I'm working late shooting this week and I couldn't wait to post! Yeah and only half of my ceiling is primed to be painted. Have you guys ever painted a ceiling? That shit is rough. I'm going to hire someone to finish it...

I think it's such a great improvement! The color is Classic Silver by Behr. It's a nice slate gray that leans a bit darker. It's cool without being blue, just perfect!

I also got a new bench! Yay for progress! It's from Wisteria, I scored it for only $100 at our warehouse sale a few weeks ago.

My awesome husband wired up these nice cord covers for me. They will be painted as soon as my hand un-cramps from painting the wall.

And look what else he did...

Little switcheroos so I don't have to plug them in to turn them on, just flip the switch. 

So luxurious...

And I started on a new piece of art. Its made out of paint chips I stole acquired. I'm not sure the best way to glue them down though without the edges curling up. Ideas?

I totally scored this beautiful chandelier at Canton last weekend! It's going over my bathtub. I wanted to hang it right away but Scott said something about wiring and a junction box and crawling in the attic and some other electrical jibberish, so that will have to wait.

And I FINALLY made a decision and ordered this fabric for the wing chairs in my living room. I can't wait to have them done, it's going to be bitchin.

Yeah, I just said bitchin...

So, whats new with you?!