The Birds. (Part 1 of 2)

With little new at 323 (outside of the old radiators in the front yard,)  I take a temporary departure...


Today is "part one" of my tribute to two of my favorite things with wings:  birds and bees.  No need to remove small children from the room; I assure you this post is rated "G" for general audiences.  The birds and bees I am focusing (or rather fixating) on, are the ones being featured on everything from whimsical wall coverings to fanciful fixtures.  And, while neither are newcomers to the world of interior design (the bee, after all, has been hanging around since Napoleon,)  their incorporation into today's decor seems to be a trend that has really taken flight.

A graphic bird fabric by Thomas Paul covers these fabulously fun slipper chairs:

 (and, it's ok to fall in love...they can be found at Target(!)

Home of Julia from Pawleys Island Posh
Photo Courtesy of House of Turquoise

A peek-worthy storage bench, in a pattern called "Songbird," 

is available in four colors and would make any room sing a happy tune:

Photo Courtesy of Target

Strutting peacocks on a colorful shade would surely brighten any corner:

Plumage Shade by Anthropologie

Dwell Studio's Chinoiserie duvet set brings birds to the boudoir:

Photo Courtesy of Bloom & Bee Swanky

And, a virtual flock of handmade bird items can be found
 on  Etsy, including this 1950s mod pillow...

Birdcage Pillow by Olive

and these charming wall decals by Smiley Walls...

Birds and Birdcages by Smiley Walls

and this "I don't know what it's for, I just like it" bird.

Apple Green Bird by AmyGeerDesign

Today is for the birds.

Penny Wise.

Ann Sacks 

Prior to 323,  I was a non-waffling, decision making machine (at least as it related to design.)  I could select a paint color, have it mixed and on the wall in less than 12 hours.  Never did I feel obligated to sleep on it, obtain a second opinion, or evaluate the impact of natural vs. artificial light.  I would just pull the trigger (or the roller in this case) and move on.  And yet, four weeks after being asked to select tile, all I have to show for it is a bag full of mismatched samples and a new found sense of indecisiveness.

So, with my gut-driven instincts on hiatus, I  am forced to be pragmatic.  I assess each room's needs and establish objectives.  First-up, is my sons bathroom.  The needs of this room are simple:   it needs a floor and a shower.  My objective:  to find a tile that is reasonable, attractive and durable enough for the loading dock at a Wal-Mart Super Center.  I decide to seek professional help.   


An hour later, armed with my newly organized game plan, I find myself sitting in front of  my "tile counselor," Barbara.  Desperately, I try to bring her up to speed on my progress, or lack thereof. She listens intently, and then presents me with a sheet of porcelain penny round mosaic tiles. "Cute," I say.  But how do they wear? "You could drive a truck over them."  Perfect.


As soon as I arrive home, I begin searching for images of these little circular tiles and am [pleasantly] surprised by their versatility.  A bit of a tile chameleon, penny rounds can be found effortlessly blending into pretty much any setting from traditional to contemporary.  All I know, is I am flipping for these coin-shaped tiles.

A cool, blue floor made up of a sea of circles:

Kitchen of Sharon Simonaire; Domino Magazine, April 2008

A vintage bathroom wall:

Tile by Ann Sacks

A classic bathroom floor:

Photo Courtesy of Coastal Living

An eclectic kitchen:

Photo Courtesy of Mod Walls

P.S.  Did you catch the chandelier?

A modern mural:

Photo Courtesy of The Tileist

And, a contemporary bathroom backsplash:

Selldorf Architects

Who knew a penny had so many sides?

So, with the month quickly coming to an end, I begin to make "cents" (sorry, couldn't resist) of it all.  I have narrowed in on what I want to accomplish:  simple finish choices that give tradition a nod, and then a wink...things that pay homage to the age and history of 323, but are still a bit unexpected. 

The Gentleman Plumber.

A welcome distraction from the portable loo sitting in my front yard, I would like

to give a quick shout-out to my contractor for his cute work truck:

Winter White.

A week ago, I was swooning over spring flowers.  Today, I am watching the snow accumulate on the window panes.  You would think my midwestern roots would leave me less than impressed with a Spring flurry, but I will always love how those little white flakes make even a construction site look fresh.  I pause to dream of a white...kitchen.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Kitchen design by Frank Babb Randolph

Photo Courtesy of Southern Living

Photo Courtesy of House Beautiful

Designed by Jonathan Adler, Photo Courtesy of Simplified Bee

Photo Courtesy of Coastal Staging

And wouldn't this be a lovely place to watch it fall?

Photo Courtesy of Country Living

A Floor to Adore.

I think I suffer from IDD...Internet Deficit Disorder.   Most of the searches I initiate end up way off course. Five clicks into a search for appliances,  I find myself admiring a hand-hooked bird pillow. The good news is, despite not being the most efficient route, I sometimes find these detours take me down a path I didn't know existed.

The image above is the product of one such episode, and it stopped me dead in my tracks. Surprisingly, it wasn't the dreamy white daybed, the chic chandelier, or even the onlooking bust that captured my undivided attention.  It was the floor.  Graphic, yet graceful, it was fresh, yet timeless.  But, what was it??

Go, go Gadget Google.  I search flooring, black and white, sunrooms...even throw in a  "tromp l'oeil."  And finally, I discover this sophisticated floor's humble roots:  it is made of cement.  Both beautiful and utilitarian, the tiles have lined public buildings in China, Russia, Europe, Mexico and even the Southern US for generations.  The icing on the cake?  Very little energy goes into the manufacturing of these tiles as they are air dried, and created using basic earth components and natural pigments.

Up, up and away my virtual journey goes.  First stop is Popham Design.  I am won over by their contemporary spin on this old world tile.  Founded by a former filmmaker and public relations exec from New York and Los Angeles, their colorful collection of cement tiles are manufactured in Morocco and organized in delightful patterns of "scribbles and loops" and "sixes and sevens."  

ZigZag  

Wink

Rings

Determined to stay on task,  I discover Villa Lagoon Tile.  With an impressive inventory  of  both custom and stock cement tiles, there is something for everyone.  I pause for the ocean-hued, interlocking tiles of their Marrakech Collection...

Marrakech Collection

but, am decidedly crushing on the muted tones of their Nuevo Castillo:

Nuevo Castillo

My last stop is at Granada Tile who describes these tiles as "having the strength of concrete and the feel of silk."  Their Design Gallery is a must-see, featuring their tiles installed in some Hollywood hot spots:

Bouchon Bistro, Beverly Hills

Delphine Restaurant, W Hotel Hollywood

Biscuit Filmworks Headquarters

The last one to catch my eye takes me full circle.  The coloration is a bit more bold, but their "Cluny" tile looks remarkably similar to the one that started it all:

Photo Courtesy of Orange Beautiful and Colleen Locke

A sample is on the way so I can get an up-close look at the tile that became an instant object of my affection.  For which room will they adorn?  That remains a bit up in the air as its use in the sunroom (which will have a near-term designation as a playroom) was unanimously voted down on the basis of "being too bumpy to race cars and things."  So, with my own wheels still turning, I set out to find another room at 323 to call "home" for these glorious tiles.

Pretty Papers, Part Deux.

A day late and a blogger short, but I couldn't resist passing along this enchanting cabinet makeover.   Perfect for those who feel even the temporary wallpapers are still a bit too permanent,  this use of wallpaper makes a maximum impact with a minimal commitment. 


Amy, of Maison Decor, transformed this old (ahem, recycled) hutch into a showpiece simply by applying the gorgeous French-inspired wallpaper to its interior.  Peeking out from behind the stacks of antique dishware, the wallpaper creates a gaze-grabbing backdrop while adding dimension and order to the display.  A great example of how the world of wallpaper can extend well beyond one's walls.

Photo Courtesy of Maison Decor

Photo Courtesy of Maison Decor 

Photo Courtesy of Maison Decor

Photo Courtesy of Maison Decor

Photo Courtesy of Maison Decor

For loads more inspiration on creating beautiful design from found and re-used pieces, take a tour of Amy's home.  C'est Magnifique!

The house of Maison Decor

Pretty Papers.

With the walls of 323 becoming conspicuously more absent, I begin to reflect on the walls of my past.


I don't think I have ever encountered a real estate listing that boasted a property's "floor-to-ceiling wallpaper" but my last home certainly could have.  When we moved into the "split level full of my elbow grease," every room represented a different page from a 1980s wallpaper sample book.  It was covered in fruit, ducks, chintz, stripes, florals and, more florals.  Weekend after weekend, I pulled, peeled, tugged and steamed until I had removed every last inch.  And then, I swore it off forever.


Flash forward to the present.  A new wave of wallpaper has emerged, and it is once again covering everything from the pages of top design mags to the lobbies of posh hotels.  Suddenly, the strange scratching sound created by the "scoring" tool, and the smell of DIF begins to fade away.  Between its versatility and endless options, ranging from swank to sweet, wallpaper begins to win me over.  My threats of the past, now idol, quickly replaced by a full-on crush.  I've never really been one to hold a grudge anyway.


For those who are still commitment-adverse, Sherwin Williams has introduced EasyChange, a line of non-woven wallpapers designed to "go up and down effortlessly."  An added bonus...they are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional vinyl.  Did I mention they are gorgeous?

Book Name: BEACON HOUSE DAMASK EASYCHANGE
Pattern Number: SW657-2938
Color: PERIWINKLE/LT. BLUE

Another wonderful line of wallpaper offering maximum design flexibility is TEMPAPER.  Their tag line, "Self Adhesive, Repositionable, Temporary, Wallpaper" says it all and their pictures speak for themselves.

Of course, pastable papers still make up the majority of  wallcovering options, but I think I could live with this Villa Nova Kamini paper by UK based wallpaper designer, TIKU for quite sometime. Doesn't that qualify it as sustainable?

Photo courtesy of Ideal Home via DecorPad

Still can't find the right one?  A nearly bottomless resource for incredible wallcoverings (among other things) is with the textile and design powerhouse, Schumacher.  Their Eco Chic collection features several grasscloths, sisals and paper weaves that would add dimension to any room and are manufactured with all-natural materials, natural wheat-based glue and environmentally safe dyeing processes.

Nishiki Diamond Weave
5003090  Straw

Kozu Woven Squares
5003160  Wheat

Hygge&West features a small, but delightful line of papers produced here in the USA.  Check out their recently launched line of textural papers designed by beloved blogger, Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy!.

Photo Courtesy of Oh Joy! 

Last, but certainly not least, is a couple of my favorites for the little people in our lives.  First stop is Dwell Studio.  With an absolutely awesome web tool that allows you to customize their [removable] papers, you can feel like a designer for a day. One click changes the little buses and cars from orange to grey.  Another click makes them go from little, to well, big and bigger.

Photo Courtesy of Dwell Studio

A strong contender for my son's bath is this whimsical whale print by Geoff McFetridge.  Silk-screened in Los Angeles by Pottok Prints, it is printed on recyclable paper using water-based inks.  It is also void of traditional chemical waterproofing.  

Photo Courtesy of House Beautiful via The Decorologist

So, once again, I discover "Green" comes in every color.

Romancing the Home.

In case my love letter to 323 didn't tip you off,  I am a real sap when it comes to houses.  I  roar through Kleenex during episodes of  Extreme Makeover Home Edition  and lose track of movie plots because of my preoccupation with their hosting homes.  So, when my real estate agent gal pals, Monica and Aisha, inquired about my home "wish list," I drafted a full-page response.  Reserving a measly two lines for such trivialities as room size, number of bedrooms and full vs. partial baths, I spent the rest of the page blathering about games of kick-the-can, soccer and yes, even a backyard wedding.  Oh, and there was the bit about it being in move-in condition.  But, what fun would that have been?  


My reflection on the activities over the past several months made me feel nostalgic and inspired to look up a few of my favorite Hollywood digs.  First stop...the Banks Residence.  Not surprisingly,  I am not the only one to admire this idyllic family home from afar.  It has a legitimate following.   A big thanks to Hooked on Houses for the re-introduction: 
     

The facade of the Pasadena, CA home featured in Father of the Bride

A sweeping staircase in the entry

Kitchen with French doors leading into the dining room

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Back Porch

The Living Room transformed

And, of course, a backyard wedding

A ton more celebrity houses are featured by this site, so whether you want to peruse the rooms of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (the infamous launching pad for Branjelina,)  or get a bird's eye view into the home of Reese Witherspoon, Hooked on Houses is your stop.  A couple more of my favorites:

Meg Ryan's house in The Women 

The beach house from Something's Gotta Give

I'll never fully understand why a house can make me weak in the knees, but I know it is about much more than its outward appearance, or even the finishes within.  I love what  they represent...a place to truly be yourself, a place of security, and a place where memories are created.  I plan to have lots of memories at 323...even if my son decides to get married barefoot on the beach.

Photo Courtesy of Daddy