My tax refund fantasy

Just for fun, I put together a few things that I might spend a tax refund on if I had one and was totally impractical.

The first thing that came to mind was Brunshwig and Fils "Le Lac". I'd want enough for curtains in my formal living room or about 15 yards at approximately $6000.

I realize that there are finer chandeliers out there but I like this $1400 one from Ballard, darnnit.

These dining Chairs by Ralph Lauren, $1398 each from Horchow.

Phillip Jeffries silk wallcovering for my formal dining room. No price listed.

You know what that means.

I'd also love an aubusson rug that would cost more than anyone's tax refund.

Enough with fantasy-- I'm off to paint a room before the movers get here.

Seasonal decorating?



image via Country Living

Are you a seasonal decorator? Do you have a different wreath for each month?

image via Pottery Barn

What about Summer? The only thing I manage then, is filling the screened porch.

image via Country Living

In the Spring, I throw together a few tablescapes for entertaining.

 I have to say that, apart from Christmas and Halloween, I hardly ever decorate seasonally. No special candles, wreaths, or anything.

image via Country Living

I am not knocking it. I love autumnal vignettes and plenty of seasonal decor as long as it is not full of fake stuff and over done.

image via Country Living

I really adore Christmas decorations. I have however grown to dread the putting away of everything in the dreary winter days that follow the holiday.

 Christmas is so warm and lovely to me that I find the chore quite depressing.

My cure for that is to simplify my holiday decorating. I put out less and rotate my items on display from year to year.

 What about you? Do you have a plan for every season?

Beloved oddities

Do you have any slightly bizarre possessions that would pain you--

 greatly-- to part with?

I do.

Lots of them, like the antique coffee grinder lamp (above) that belonged to my grandparents.

Its totally weird and it works as a grinder and lamp.

This Tibetan prayer wheel

and

"Sam" the Chinese Foo dog (he is made of coal).

They are part of my living room decor.

This quirky clutter makes it my own.

I change things around once in awhile

and

desperately need to edit much of it. (Somebody slap me)

I still like the fact that my curious collection provides an identity to my home that can't be copied from a catalogue.

What peculiar things do you own or admire in other people's houses?

Grasscloth

I have taken down enogh ugly wallpaper in my life to think long and hard before putting any up.

This collection from Thibaut has me thinking.

I love the textural quality. When I was a child,  a close friend of my grandparents had grasscloth wallpaper in her whole house. On top of it she showcased her stunning and extensive Asian art collection all in a modest two bedroom house in the suburbs of D.C. I loved it then and I think I still do.

This recent incarnation is much more colorful.

If that weren't enough, Thibaut has done my number one favorite thing in decorating...

juxtaposing traditional and modern styles. They have done it with texture too. The damask pattern above seems so refined. It gets taken down a notch, relaxed a bit by showing up on grasscloth.

I would love to see this in a formal dining room. I think it would tone down the stuffiness and at the same time reflect a tradional sensibilty.

The papers come in different weaves...and colorways.

This metallic gold backed Tahitian weave is cool. I don't know where I might use that.

This one is so bright yet somehow unaffected and not at all obnoxious. You could not say that about paint in the same color. This is the extra fine sisal weave and it comes in a ton of colors.