MORE FRENCH THAN EVER!

STOPPING BY AT THE ARTISTS REQUEST TO SEE IF SHE WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK...................HERE IS WHAT I FOUND:

 My  request was to have three different shades of a warm gray used including the glaze,  then  use silver leaf,  followed  with a soft gold wash over  the carved flower and vine at the top of the chair. 

           



Here are some closeups of the carved details at the top

of the chair.  There will be a soft gold wash applied over
the silver leaf so both metals will be apparent, though
rubbed away to look aged.

                         IF YOU RECALL

      HERE IS WHERE WE STARTED..................

                 Two weeks from now the painted French chairs will be home...............the white linen
indoor/outdoor fabric has shipped and the upholsterer is ready as soon as Caryn has completed her final
touches..................can't wait to have them back.

BEACH FORMATIONS. . . . .

There is nothing more inviting to the senses than the gift of travel in midst of winter when you think you cannot bear to watch another flake hit the ground.    The  opportunity to revel in a moment of time, to observe, to take in and to enjoy a mid-winters escape to the warmth of a tropical place........and a mother/daughter get away to top it all off!

                                                                                   

This past weeks trip took us to another culture and a yearly awaited treat, as we traveled to our time share resort in the Mexican Caribbean.  It is like being home and the familiar staff, like family.

We had one stormy afternoon, but this picture shows the beauty of the aqua sea.  You can see the misty sky and the rain over the sea.

                                                    The sun setting over the Caribbean

                                                                          

Early morning walks, after sunrise.................absolutely nothing like it.  Since I have been
a blogger, I find myself observing and enjoying small discoveries that BB (before blogging) I might never really have appreciated.

                              The abundance of little gifts from the sea . . . . . .

Early morning walks with just the sea and me.   You have to perform for no one, there are

no demands, no phones ringing and the beauty of the sea a reminder that we all need moments of solitude and soul washing.

This year round beach home is immediately south of our resort.  It is typical with its colors

and tile rooftops.

This home was almost completed last year only in formation.......the all white exterior a surprise this year upon its completion.  So comtemporary, but so beautiful. . . .

                                         

The house next door. . .

                    This is the underside detail of a Palapa.  They come in all sizes and are hand
made by two to twenty men depending on the size.  These serve as shelters from the sun at beachside.  Some are much larger and can cover an entire outdoor eating area.

These are most desireable for the beach bather.  The sun gets so hot

and they serve to shelter you from the rays of the hot sun. . . . . "the early 

bird gets the worm" so to speak!

This palapa is a little fancier and covers a dining area that seats

about a hunred people.  It is a Thai restaurant that has become

quite popular.

It is no secret that the Mexican culture produces beautifully

colored ceramic tiles and the fountains and tropical plants only

add to the passion of this country.  There are beautiful fountains

everywhere.

A handpainted wall in a restaurant we frequent.

                         

                         This restaurant has been created around an old tequila distillery.
                             The vats still exist and serve as a backdrop throughout the interior.

 

No trip is complete without the Mariachi's and a song or two.

A Mexican chef at work

Even this restaurant has signage.

This ole guy looks as tho' he might have had

a little more fun than we did.

More plants and lush greenery.

Palm trees dominate our property.

The beautiful reflecting pool in front

of our resort.

                                                     Resort landscape and architecture.

Through the Hibiscus

The storm coming in. . .

A Caribbean storm doesn't usually last very long........

Nor do their sunsets..........

This is the lagoon side (west) of the resort.

Being at one with nature,  the air, the sea, the formations of the beach

and all that surround the sea, allows the senses to be away from the hustle

and bustle of everyday life.  The mind is relaxed and we are once again renewed

to rediscover the unknown when we return home to life as we live it.

To my precious daughter, I thank you for sharing your week with me.

It was priceless!!

THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING.......

Well, it won't be long before the owner of this wonderful French farm home in the "South of France" will be back home to share the contents and the amazing collections of her trips to the country so many of us love................

I promised her I wouldn't bombard her with my camera and questions until she has a chance to unpack............................maybe the day after she gets home.  Only kidding.

I can't wait to show all of you this talented woman's home and what inspired her to treat her interiors the way she did.  In the meantime, I will be gone for about 10 days to the warmth of the Naples sun and the friendships that await us.

See you soon!   

CHANGE.........

Good Morning................well my chairs are gone and the changes are going to be made.  As  interior designers know, we all get involved with the changes our clients wish to make in their homes and on many occasion there is no time left for changes within our own homes.  Plus, isn't it hard to make changes with what is familiar and comfortable?  Well, I have been thinking of making this particular change in my dining room for quite sometime and finally did it!!  I thank many of you who inspired me (yes, I need inspiration to move forward too!) to take the step.  Here are the BEFORE chairs in my dining room.............they are going to be painted and reupholstered.    Our home has been selected to be on a house walk in the Spring and the pressure is on...........BUT, it isn't as though I made a quick decision to move forward!  I had these re-upholstered over 20 years ago!

                                                           

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Finally....................gone, out the door, decisions made.  This detail should prove to also have a very interesting finish.  Time will tell.



ANOTHER BEFORE AND AFTER...................

I have been working with a client in the next town for about a year.  This family has a daughter that is a music major in voice and more specifically JAZZ.  She has recently signed a contract with the son of Ramsey Louis at his studio in Chicago to create and record her first song.  This is the BEFORE of the music room she has practiced in within her home.  The drapes were a balloon drape and badly needed a new fabric resolve.....Her mom wanted her to pick the treatment with which she would be most comfortable.  After all, that was her music room.   I gave them some drawings and pictures to inspire and she chose the most theatrical!!  (I wasn't surprised!) 

                                                                            BEFORE

AFTER

Here is a closeup of the treatment which is called an Italian strung.  I selected a Rose Cummings silk taffeta stripe that complemented her beautifully fauxed walls.  This treatment is a little more than what I have been doing as of late............but, considering her sophisticated persona, it really worked.

                                                                         TOP DETAIL


                                                                                  
              I was most pleased with the end result and I hope our future STAR will love it too!



                                                                               AND


while we are on the subject of BEFORE and AFTERS....................one of these is at birth (5 months ago) and one of these was two weeks ago.................our precious new grand baby.  If this doesn't remind us all
how time flies.  He is my husbands and sons namesake............that would be  " THE THIRD."

                           TWO DAYS OLD                                                        5 MONTHS OLD

                                                    HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY EVERYONE!