GLASSES

I recently saw this darling video at a new blog I was visiting, Varnishid.blogspot.com. As I viewed it, it conjured up my recent experience of picking out new glasses.

  I wear glasses, however, it is not an age thing since I have worn glasses since I was four years old. My face does not look like my face without glasses. With that being said because glasses are such a part of my face I hate to make changes in their appearance. Since I like to stay fashion-forward, every two years or so I do the dreaded task of picking out new frames.
I think it is like asking someone to pick out a new nose or a new mouth. Now how many of us could do that in an hour appointment.

No this is not ME!

 Well, I have a very dear friend, a soul-sister. This friend always tells me the truth about how I look or even if my feelings are a wee bit off. She is my true mirror.  She recently had to choose new frames also and we commiserated how hard it was to pick out new frames. We want to be current and not look like a Nana. You know, in style, but not too trendy. Luckily I could take the sample frames to her and get her honest opinion.  She agreed with my choice and the glass frames have been ordered. I got a really classic pair of Versace glasses, they seem to fit my face and coloring.

If you are wondering this is NOT Me either, only in my dreams!

 I did find a web-site that has a virtual try-on center where you can upload your picture and try on different styles for any of you that might need new glasses in the future it is a good way to get at least an idea of shape and color.

You can see that when I saw this cute video I thought of my soul-sister and all of us women that have to wear glasses. This is dedicated to all of you that have the same hard time that I do in this selection and to all of you soul-sisters that are our true mirrors. Next time I will see a little more humor in the situation thinking of this video.

“Enjoy the Process “ Of: Seeing the fun and humor in any situation.

Kathysue

A Fresh, Young and Colorful Project!!

Since I have retired from doing design consults in my clients homes it has afforded me more time to help family and friends.   I have a close family friend that is moving to her and her hubbies first house. This darling  young girl is, talented, very stylish and absolutely gorgeous. I asked her permission to do a blog post on the process we are going through in selecting a look she loves that is budget friendly. She sent me this photo image and said she loves everything about this room done by Judith  Balis of Nest Interiors. Judith also has a blog Nest Instinct here.

You can tell from this room that my Little Sweetie loves turquoise. She told me that is the one thing she is married too, besides her adorable hubby, who by the way, I also adore!!

We spent lots of time emailing back and forth. She sent me pictures that inspired her and items that she loved. I sent her pictures of items that I thought she would love and some guidelines. I take great pride in talking to whomever I am working with to find out what they really love. I then figure out how we can incorporate what they love into their home. After talking at length with her, I discovered that she needs a fun, cheerful, colorful, but also a look that is feminine and sensual. She loves soft curved lines on some furniture, but also wants a pop of the unusual in the room. She told me the colors that she loves and where she thought she wanted to use them. I then worked with her to place those colors in the right rooms and on the right pieces. We started with their living room since that is the very first room you see. All other rooms will work off that.  I sent her pictures to show her different ways of incorporating the black and white and bright pink she wanted with her beloved turquoise for their living room.

This picture shows a good use of how the bright pink is combined around the room. I call this cross pollinating. You know like a little pink bee went around the room dropping pink pollen !

I thought this picture was a good study on using turquoise as your main color with fabrications. I also liked the use of the chevron rug to give the effect of stripes in maybe a less expensive way than trying to re-upholster a sofa. This also shows the introduction of some bright yellow which is another accent color that would look great with her base colors of turquoise and black and white. Notice how the artwork also brings in the color combination.

Here we have a room that is done with chocolate and a soft mocha or gray. I love the way the gray looks with the turquoise. The large scaled wallpaper on one wall is also a fun look. I thought this picture showed how mixing some large scaled patterns can make a room look very interesting

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I love all the art glass in this image. I also think it is a good study on using different textures, the shine of the glass and the rough texture of the balls on the bottom shelf.  I think the chairs could make a wonderful and fun makeover for a thrift store find. You could paint a wooden seat the bright turquoise and just put a store bought cushion in a fun print on top of the wooden seat for comfort.

Simple but so dramatic. Buying a few yards of wonderful fabric and covering a board of Homasote from Home Depot and you have instant art for you dining room wall.( Homasote is a light weight fiber board used to insulate floors and walls for sound. It is used a lot to make the fabric covered bulletin boards. I like that it is somewhat flexible also)

I thought this picture could show Sweetie Pie how a mirror painted turquoise could also be used with the black and white.

This is another way to add black and white for less money by using an animal print foot stool. I also like the big punch of the artwork. Instead of a black and white striped rug this room shows the turquoise stripe which is just another option.

I wanted her to see this picture to show her how a fabric ties all the colors together. We are at the beginning of the project and still talking about ideas. However, you can see by the picture how fun this project is going to be.

I made a few suggestions. I thought the famous IKEA Ektorp slipcoverd sofa would be a great way to go. She had her heart set on using black and white stripes, so I found the best web-site that makes slipcovers out of Marimeko fabrics. Here is the Ektorp in the stripe. The slip cover is only $299 in a Marimeko fabric- amazing. They also have many other fabrics and furniture pieces that they make slipcovers for. You can find the website Bemz here.

We are in the process of choosing paint colors so I will do some more post on this fun project as we proceed. This sweet young couple lives a distant from me so we are doing it all via email and phone calls. I love to help and it is fun to do something fresh, fun and young. I will keep you posted with their permission of course.

“Enjoy the Process” Of: Mixing old with new and using bright, fresh colors.

Kathysue

BTW: If you would like a dose of more turquoise go to Erin's blog House of Turquoise it is full of wonderful eye candy!

Checkmate

I thought I would show something other than Yipes! Stripes!! Hopefully I have not burned you out on my obsession love of black and white stripes, however, if I have, you will be glad to know I am now going to talk about checks!!

I think some of the reasons I love checks are  that they feel fresh and crisp. I love their uniformity and the way they make a room feel as if it has order but are still fun. I have a collection of checked images that I would love to show you……..

I not only get some of my favorite pattern but it is also in one of my favorite combination of colors.  Beautiful blue and white, always a classic.

Southern Accent Magazine

Love the oversized scale of this check. It is often referred to as Buffalo check. What an amazing collection of brown transfer ware.

A smaller check is used on these chairs and a wonderful brass nail head trim is added. I really like the contrast of the gold and black.

More blue and white. This time in a buffalo check. Love the chandelier in this room. If this were my room I would paint the walls crisp white and the inside of the shelves in a crisp apple green. I love the fresh look of blue and green together.

Black and neutrals always make a good choice. Fun table for all of you bloggers that love the burlap, rope look. It looks like a giant spool of thread!! How fun is that?!

A simple , neutral check gives these wicker chairs a fresh and casual look. This looks as if it is a home by the ocean. Notice the hanging lantern and the reflection of the ships wheel in the mirror. Check out the chandelier. It has an anchor in the center which is very clever!!

Love this room with it’s mixture of stripe and checks. I also like the mix of formal and casual. Understated elegance, just my style preference.

Love these two checked settee's!! What is a rather formal lined piece has become more approachable with the informality of the black and white checks. The room becomes much less serious.

We not only have checks but checkerboard patterns in this room. This is obviously a very Country styled room, but very cute.

Checks and toile always make a nice combination.

As you can see, checks can be used in so many types of rooms. It can be used in a more formal setting . Checks can be placed on antique pieces to freshen their look and make them more approachable. So how do you feel about checks? Could you see yourself using them in a room? What size and color would your checks be?

I will leave you with a few pictures of the checks/checkerboard patterns I have used in my home.

My guest bath.

Here is the very tradtional linen fabric that is on my sofa. You know how I love a little whimsy so I added a cord welting in a watermelon/pink check.  Once I made that choice the rather traditional flavor of the fabric became more ME!

(The color in this pict. is a little off, it is actually a watermelon pink like you see in the picture of the sofa.)

This is the same fabric that is on the sofa cord welting . I used this on a reading chair in the corner of my family room. I love a contrasting welt so I chose a Springy green to go with the chair. My sofa is Hickory White and my chair is a Highland House with a Century cord welting. Since I did different fabrics from different manufacture's it was considered a COM( customers own material) . You can add different fabrics to your furniture pieces if they are a custom order. Just realize it does take longer to get the fabrics approved and shipped to the manufacture of the furniture piece. These pieces took 4months which is pretty normal for a nicely made custom piece. I hope you have enjoyed playing checkmate with me today!

“Enjoy the Process” Of: Adding checks to your room.

Kathysue