Decor 101

back on track

2011-03-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

it has been a busy time taking care of my little one but it has been wonderful. i have finally gotten my little sunshine on a schedule and finally sleeping in her crib... therefore i have a little me time to update you on what's new... well besides our sunshine, i am back to making our house a home... i finally did a little wish list of how i would like our living room to look and now working to get each item... i already have the sectional and curtains, so now i need to work on everything else.... i hope to be finish with everything by the end of the year, so keep checking back for the finished product.....

break time

2010-12-22T01:32:00.000-08:00

taking a little break to tend to my little one

it's bath time...

2010-10-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

not only am i working on our mystery room but i am also working on the bathroom for the mystery room and my good friend B emailed me this picture for a little inspiration... and it's quite an inspiration... it's exactly the feel i want, airy and fresh... pics to come soon...

the gallery is open

2010-10-15T02:50:00.000-07:00

as you can see i have been working very hard in crossing of a few items on my husband's to do list (back in 08), we (he) finally got the gallery wall completed and i must say i am very impressed with his work.... you say what?

this was my inspiration... and though i didn't use as many frames or the same ones, the key was making one big square shape and keeping the frames within the square so everything has a uniformed look... the mystery room is coming along wonderfully, stay toned for pics...

one night stand

2010-09-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

1.
2.

not only am i working on the mystery room but i am also working on our master bedroom as well. it's been so hard trying to decide on a night stand but i think i have narrowed it down. picture number two was my first choice, i love the elegance and simplicity of this night stand but i really wanted it to have a draw (to put my chap stick and nightly reading materials in). but once i saw night stand number one, i immediately knew it was a match, for both of us. it's more versatile. since my husband and i share an office and i was yearning for my own office, i thought the setup above would be perfect with the bench underneath. so i am heading out to the furniture store today in search of the perfect one night stand...

everyone is doing it and so am i

2010-09-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

hello, as you can see i have been busy working on the mystery room.... and the trend these days are stripes.... so i have decided to jump on the band wagon.... i just ordered two pillowcases (pictured above) from pottery barn (they were on sale $22.99....score)! the plan for one set is to cover with a bench for the mystery room and the other set will be on the bed.... i choose stripes (not just because my good friend Brenda told me to) because i like the added pattern it brings to the room and the airy feel it gives.... plans are finally coming together and i can't wait until you see it....

keeping the beauty

2010-08-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

is it possible to have a headboard this beautiful and continue to keep it this beautiful?

boomya...

2010-07-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

pure genius... thinking about throwing out those old chairs that's been stuck in your garage for decades? now you have a solution to bringing them together as one cohesive group and all it cost was a can of spray paint, some incredible gorgeous fabric and a little manpower... genius, just genius

in the gray

2010-07-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

lately i have been loving cool/cold tones but i am a warm person, promise... but there is something that just draws me to gray, i think it's the new black.... however from the pics above you can see how they have mixed gray with beige... the best of both worlds. i want a beige bedroom but now i may have to introduce some grays.... caller you say what?????

ingenious

2010-07-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

i've been busy being creative and creating.... it's been a busy summer so far and we are pining away on our mystery room. I know that you are dying to see the results (patience my friend, it will all be over soon enough)... focus for a minute on the above picture... does this headboard look familiar? maybe search back about 20 years into your memory. still no clue? well this is actually a mirror from a dresser. how do i know you ask? because my mother and grandmother had that very same mirror attached to a dresser and dared to hand it down to me... i have since sanded and stained the dresser and left the mirror part in my mother's garage... but i thought it was a fabulous idea to turn it into a headboard... it really opens up the room and even thought the wood around the mirror is painted a dark color it really makes the room feel fresh. don't you think? i want that, let's pray my mother didn't have a garage sale...

don't knock it...

2010-05-17T20:57:00.001-07:00

i have come to realize that there is more to worry about in life than deciding on what headboard to go with when redecorating my guest room... i have moved on to night stands, which by the way i found an awesome deal.... let's just say i went on a particular website and found the night stand to die for (click the word particular website to check out the site), anyhow, i had to have this night stand if it was the last thing i did... all of a sudden on a lazy sunday afternoon, i just happen to be web surfing and stumbled upon this website, yes kmart... okay don't knock it till you tried it... can you believe the similarity of the two? however, i quickly came to my senses when i realized the $215.01 difference... and guest what, i love the kmart night stand, i especially love the cane shelf below... so this weekend i am heading to anthropologie to pick out a nice vintage crystal draw knob for this beauty... and by the way, i went with the iron headboard!

I'm talking headboards

2010-05-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Pottery barn (no longer available, so let me know i you see one similar)

Ikea (i would spray paint this a creamy white)

West Elm (again i would order this in white)

Target

for the pass month, i have been very busy redoing our guest room.... so far so good (pics of the room in process soon to come)... one of the biggest dilemma's for the room is picking out the headboard... i want a vintage, elegant feel...

readers you say what?

retreating back

2010-04-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

this has been quite an exhausting week.... to find some sanity, i have been rearranging our life and home. i've been busy purchasing, returning and plotting... but i am so determined to make our master bedroom a relaxing retreat, just like the bedroom above. this is exactly the look and feel i am trying to accomplish... so as i continue to sweep the world of fantastic finds, i leave you with this image and i hope soon i will be able to show you the final retreat of our bedroom...

i love. i want. i have

2010-03-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

notice all the i's??? i love i want i have.... why does it always have to be that way... will we every be satisfied? i think not... i absolutely love the banquette above created by designer candice Olson (it makes me want to redo my banquette)...

for weeks i have been saying that i want to try to paint a funky wall in my house (preferably our downstairs coat closet, that way i can close the door if it doesn't turn out right). the home designer of the zebra print fire place has guts but it looks fabulous. though i may not duplicate the zebra print i am definitely going to try this painted wall paper look...

i have to have those wood floors in the bedroom... it's my exact look and feel i want (beige tone on tone)... what elegance... so much to love, so much we want, so many we have, yet we want more....

happy love day......

2010-02-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

we interrupt this blogcast to wish you all a very happy love day... may your day be filled with sparkling cider, sushi rolls, a good movie and more!

working it white...

2010-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

okay, i love a warm inviting decor but i just can't give up the clean look of all white...

i have a friend whose home decor is all white... all white kitchen, all white living room, even her kids rooms are all white... now she has guts... i have decided that i must have at least one room in my house in all white... i have yet to decide which room it will be but i am thinking the downstairs coat closet will be a safe route...

take turns

2010-01-06T09:27:00.001-08:00

remember 2010 is all about being organized (and staying organized) and de-cluttering... i find that when i am organized inside and out, my life runs so much smoother... i came across the image above and just loved the idea. because with everything going on in your life who but martha stewart can remember the last time they turned their mattress. love it! please feel free to share some of your organizing ideas here...

living in the moment of 2010

2010-01-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

wow, can you believe how 09 just slipped away? well, this year i want to just savory the moments. i feel that 2009 was a world wind but 2010 for me will be living in the moment...

do you ever have so much going on, you haven't a clue of where to start... that's where i have been but i am trying to get ahold of it all. a good friend advised me a few weeks ago to start making a weekly list of this i want to accomplish for that week. though i have been doing that all my life, i don't think i have been staying on task, obviously... so each week/month i have committed to crossing off at least one thing off my mega list of list, no matter how big or small...

first i will be working on my living room, trying to put some final touches here and there... my biggest need is artwork for my living room walls. i have opted to create my own artwork... so that is my chore for this week... wish me luck!!!!

happy holidays and have a prosperous 2010

2009-12-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

be back in 2-0-1-0

55 DEGREES!

2009-12-04T09:45:00.001-08:00

can you believe that today it's 55 degrees and raining, in FLORIDA? 45 minutes to the atlantic ocean! something just doesn't seem right. i guess it's time to coordinate the inside of my home with the outside. pulling out the blankets, galoshes, and put up the christmas tree.

winter decor to me is always warm, DARK, and inviting... as opposed to summer decor which should feel light, air yet still inviting. my go to guy for winter decor is always Ralph Lauren... he seems to alway capture that rich, luxurious feeling. Whether it's a feeling of lounging at a luxurious ski lodge, or a night cap at a five star hotel or restaurant. He captures this through is unique layering of rich colors and accessories.

i love switching out my home decor from winter to summer. i try to keep it simple (but Lord knows I can do things over the top sometimes), I basically switch out my window treatments, choosing a darker shade... with dark accessories.
secretly i wish my husband would paint the walls darker in winter and lighter in summer, but that would be too much, you think? :) i hope this inspires you to get the spirit of winter...

happy winter decorating...

Table Settings and thankful

2009-11-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

this year i am thankful for laughter... laughter when gathering with family... laughter among friends... thankful laughter to know the Lord has spared my life for another year... have a wonderful Thanksgiving day and may your holiday be filled with family, friends and many more to come!

color me purple...

2009-11-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

TGIF.... amen! this has been a truly hectic week... and the NaBloPo didn't help, but i am getting through it.... this is going to be a great weekend... i can just feel it... we have a few family members coming over for a well needed gathering... as i type i am putting the finishing touches to the table setting... i just took a quick snapshot with my camera phone (since my camera is off for it's regular check up)... we will also be venturing out to see the Color Purple....yes the play and i can't wait... our entire household is excited (household= the hubby and i)... i hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with family gathers, broadway plays and lots of love....

project dress up (NaBloPo 4)

2009-11-04T19:03:00.001-08:00

after much time of procrastinating i have decided to get my butt in gear on dressing up our bland walls... though they have a hint of color, something still feels missing... so this weekend i am going to get the old paint brush and canvas out... i am a huge fan of gilt champagne frames, escpecially the ones from pottery barn... gilt champagne frames with a human form sketch on a tea dyed paper... i am in heaven... if all goes well this weekend, expect a post on my masterpiece...

lost for words (NaPoBlo 3)

2009-11-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

today has been an extremely long day (longer than a day should be)... so i wanted to share with you a few of the places i would rather be than where i am right now...

man this NaPoBlo thing is getting hard!

paper or paint? (NaBloPoMo 2)

2009-11-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

wallpaper has made a comeback... and it's not your grandma's kind of wallpaper! many companies have created clean fresh designs to appease any style or taste... i have been considering applying wallpaper in our downstairs coat closet... but with so many projects on the burner, this will have to wait.... but i will get to it eventually.... (notice the bird cages ?)

NaBloPoMo...... (always up for a challenge)

2009-11-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

yes, monday starts of the month for National Blog Posting Month. which means, if i accept the challenge, i will have to post something every day for the month of November (even on weekends and holidays)! well, i guess i have to do what i have to do...

lately i have been in love with everything zebra (just accents, i think animal print can look very tacky if used too much and you have to get a really classy print as well). i purchased these zebra print hand towels from pottery barn (which i use as my hand towel in the kitchen) and i love them... I am now looking for a custom made cushion for my banquette and you guessed it, i am thinking of getting a zebra fabric for this project... not sure yet, but i will keep you up dated.

I love the decor above, this would be perfect in your beach or vacation home. and i love the birds... i actually have a huge bird cage on the landing of my stairs and every time my nephew comes over he always ask his mom.... "mom where are the birds? she replies "there are no birds, buddy." "then why does auntie Tamsin have a bird cage in her house?"

I wish i had a good answer for you buddy... i just like them and i think they look very classy and vintage....

one post down, twenty eight more to go....

a busy ride...

2009-10-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

i have been very busy these days, so i apologize for the lack of post. from visiting my new niece to creating my business website and still trying to maintain our happy home... i haven't really done much to our home lately but i have a few projects stirring and waiting to be completed. the finish products of our home will be posted one of these days... but til then, i share with you little gifts of life to wet the palate... see you soon...

we pardon this blog-cast to introduce Jazmine Mya....

2009-09-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

i call her "Patchouli." my beautiful neice

she was born one day before my birthday.

a toast to a happy ending...

2009-09-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

madison ave gifts -zrike pavillion clear glassware

pottery barn - classic goblet

villeroy and boch - boston

target - gibraltar ice tea glasses

pottery barn - montana goblet

yesterday was not a good day for me... i encountered rude, disrespectful people throughout the day. thank the Lord i know the Lord, because if i didn't, they would have met my alter ego, TUNISA... even though it was a rough day i quickly cheered myself up with my favorite past-time, shopping. it seems as if i am in need of everything these days. i have been looking for unique, classy goblets and have found a few that i must have. i contemplated over them for weeks. i love them all! the zrike pavillion adds fun, i probably will use this for my girls night in. the classic pottery barn goblet says it all, it's classic and i will use it for my dinner parties or my luncheons. the boston goblet is for guest that are staying awhile. the gibraltar is for everyday use and the montana goblet is for my famous dessert parties. so as you may figure i got them all. boy did i feel good after my horrible day... now let's only hope tomorrow is a better day, if not, i've been eyeing a really nice pair of shoes that will quickly cheer me up!

Storage + OCD = trouble (the organized home)

2009-09-22T16:54:00.001-07:00

as you know from my last post i have been on a mission to get things in order. i have ordered storage boxes galore, i just started getting rid of things i have not used in years or what i call "some other man's treasure." things are looking up and finally i begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

photographs from http://www.taylorhannaharchitect.com/

I have been casing the internet for ideas on our kitchen. I am not a big fan on having a cluttered counter, so i have displayed only the finest items that i want everyone to enjoy. thank goodness we have 42" cabinets which means lots of storage. i have become a big fan of storage, in anything and any way i can find it and i have began to utilize it more. Even though i am not a fan of white kitchens, i love the the storage this long alley kitchen displayed above has. do you know how many place card holders i could store in this kitchen?

photographs from http://www.taylorhannaharchitect.com/

this is a woman's dreams! a place for all our shoes, purses and accessories, this is truly a dream. and look there's room for his clothes as well... not only do i like the the shoe shelves but it also gives me great ideas for my husbands closet and adding extra storage for him. (i love the shoe draws below and the shelf ideas for sweaters).

photographs from http://www.taylorhannaharchitect.com/

more storage idea... i love built-ins in the closet, bedroom, basically anywhere as long as they are architecturally pleasing...

OCDing...

2009-09-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

it has been a very crazy few weeks... i feel like i am constantly cleaning and organizing my home... i think i suffer from some serious OCD behavior... this will be the 730th time that i have cleaned and organized my home since we built it two years ago... it's the craziest thing, i just never feel like our home is clean enough or organized enough... everyday i say to myself this will be the last time this week that i clean and organize the house... someone save me from myself... it's getting out of hand...

but all in all i must say that my OCD does pay off at some point, like

the storage box above comes in so handy for organizing everything... they are typically used as CD boxes but i have used them for photos, cards, check books, and receipts...etc... and i also got a label maker so i can easily know what's in each box (crazy, right?)... yes, i know, i am the OCD-ier of all OCDs... but whatever makes me happy, right?

so for those of you that have been wondering where have i been? you can find me at home cleaning and organizing....

is this the point where i say, hi my name is Tamsin and i am an OCD-ier? hey, at least you can eat off of my floors...

(if interested in the storage boxes and label maker, click one the orange words)

Fabric Frenzy

2009-08-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

this weekend my good friend brenda and i went to calico corners to check out some material to recover a couple of my living room chairs (pictures to come soon). as soon as i walked in i felt overwhelmed. there were so many styles, colors, patterns and types of fabric to choose from. i almost cried trying to figure out what fabric i wanted (seriously). i wish i could have walked in the store having the sales lady tell me i only have one option, so take it or leave it... the bad thing is, i had a look in mind and once i got in the store i threw that look out the window... in my panic i whipped out my iphone and took pictures to email my husband to see which one he liked, but i decided i wanted it to be a surprise and that it was!
as you can see there are lots of beautiful fabric to choose from, so you can understand my frustration and my crying break down! 10 hours later the winning fabric was cut and sent off to it's happy new home.

when i first bought the chairs that i am recovering, my husband had to express how much he hated those chairs, well to my surprise, once the fabric was on the chairs my husband found it absolutely necessary to text me while i was grocery shopping that evening. his text was as follows, "forgive me, i will never question your styling and designing again. the fabric is great!!!" -------------true story!

wood U?

2009-07-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

my #1 choice
the very dark, is my husband's choice

it's been a while since my last post and there is no excuse for that. i have been a busy woman. i didn't realize how little time there is in the day to accomplish things. we have been so busy re-landscaping our front garden, getting our summer travels out the way, and most importantly catching our breath along the way. enough about me... our wood samples have finally arrived and i am super excited (i am over our carpeted living-room). the very top picture is my number one choice because it's warm and i love the natural looking knots. my husband likes the darker of them all and there's a story behind that. when we first started talking about wood flooring i told him i want it to be blacker than black because it was very regal and chic.... i sold him on the idea (as i always do) and he's set that he only wants the darkest... so now i have to sell him on the warm idea... good luck to me

it's electric!

2009-06-11T19:40:00.001-07:00

taken with my iphone

for some reason, lately i have been into lamps... setting the right mood with lighting for the right occasion... For instance, when i cook, i like to dim the lights, light a candle and listen to some good old soca or Calypso! it puts me in a calm mood and i enjoy cooking more... or if we have friends over for a dinner party, i love having only candle lights with the corners of the house glowing or dark, but if i am cozying up to a good book, i need the brightest light they make... whatever the reason, i have been seeking out lamps for every corner of my house and low and behold, i came across this little retro beauty at home goods (it wouldn't go with my house, but perhaps you have been dying for this beauty all your life)... first off, i love the color of the shades and did you know yellow is the new it color? and i extremely love the details on the base of the lamp... for twenty nine ninety nine and being that fabulous, i say you need to run to home goods now!

nothing desperate about kim zolciak

2009-06-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

desperate housewives may be on a summer break but the real housewives of orange/atlanta/new york and new jersey are hot and kicking. i am not a big fan of reality shows but i can't help checking out the cat fights but most importantly i always check out the decor. during the season of the real housewives of atlanta i fell in love with Kim Zolciak's atlanta townhome... check out the spread

rain, rain, go away, come again another day

2009-05-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

i know, it's been a while, but life has been busy at designer head quarters.. it has been raining all week and is predicted to rain for five more days (i can't take it anymore, my house is going to float away)... i have been a prisoner in my own home. the entire house is organized and the garage is finally in order.... our house is so organized ghandi could find peace....

good news, i have acquired a new ottoman (pictured above), my neighbor always buys the most beautiful, quality furniture and i happen to always stroll over to her house to see all the new candy she has bought, i fall in love with many things and sooner or later they end up at my house. i don't know if it's my very persuasive arguments of why certain items are better at my house, or if she just loses interest and move on to the next it item... whatever it is, fine with me... i can't wait to get her new bohemian style bed!

a gem amongst gem; for my mother

2009-05-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

“i look at my myself; and see a stone, i look at my friends and see gold, but I look at you, and see a gem.”

may you see the gem she is, was and always will be....

Happy Mother's day to all.

the organized home

2009-04-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

well i have been M.I.A. but i have one organized house to show for it. i took a break to completely gut my house (not literally), just getting rid of stuff i haven't even thought of in the past year or so. it felt good to get rid of things (i had friends come over and have at it). now i feel that i can rejoin society at least my little space on the net. since it's spring time, get the bug and de-clutter your life! remember be friendly to mother earth and recycle or free cycle! Happy cleaning!

style sparing no expense

2009-04-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

when i think about my style, an eclectic, funky, classy style comes to mind. from neo classic to stream line contemporary. and so i give you kate spade apartment which screams eclectic, funky yet classy. i love, love her apartment. since our home is floating in a jungle of beige and neutral tones, i decided to do something funky in our downstairs coat closet. the plan is to paint the walls kelly green, wallpapering the ceiling with a black and white stripe wallpaper. pray for me! this is obviously something i am just thinking about, stay tuned to see if i come to my senses....

mirror image

2009-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

well, here is my new obsession (as you know i have many), mirrored furniture! i love them. i just feel they add a bit of glamorous elegance to any room. i have decided that one of these babies are going in my bedroom (i will be purchasing a bedside table and dresser). as you know i am doing a tone on tone beige in my bedroom and i have been contemplating what type of furniture to buy for our master bedroom and one day it hit me that mirrored furniture would work perfect. it will really exhibit the tone on tone look very well and will give me just enough glamor. for your very own glamor check out Horchow for a touch of elegance

welcome to my master suite!

2009-03-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

at last, the perfect master retreat. happy friday!

monté

2009-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

remember when my husband surprised me with a flatscreen? well here is the newest addition, up and ready for viewing. i must say i find myself spending more time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, even thought the house rules are, i cook, and he cleans, now i enjoy cleaning more! as you can see the walls are still bare and though i am not a fan of overcrowded walls, i must admit this is pushing it... soon very soon the walls will reveal their own personal touch with art, stay tuned!

relax, it's going to be okay

2009-02-19T18:28:00.001-08:00

finally things are coming together, at least for the guest room! i have been creating a very relaxing, calm like feel and today one of the finishing touches has just been added. i have been searching for the above lamp every where, i wasn't yet desperate to pay pottery barn $130 per lamp and thank the Lord i didn't, because i found the perfect fit at Marshall's for only $70 each. Marshall's never seem to let me down... Although they do keeping me waiting but it's always worth the wait!

out at the barn

2009-02-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

as you guys know from earlier post i have a bit of an obsession with pottery barn. i just love the inviting and comfortable looks they create. yesterday i attended a decorating class at Pottery Barn. It was very informative but nothing the average woman doesn't know. the topics include, thread count {Egyptian cotton is the best}, furniture arrangement, lighting, mixing textures {my all time favorite way of decorating}, dressing your dresser, fabric no no's {don't hang a silk curtain with casual cotton bedding}, and so on.... one thing that i did learn is, pottery barn will give you a private consultation either before they open or after they close. If you have questions about arranging your furniture or setting the right mood throughout your home with lighting, the barn is there for you...

it's a domino effect!

2009-02-05T14:36:00.000-08:00

what is the world coming to? first house and garden, then blue print, now domino? this is crazy folks! what are we to do, really? i suppose now we will have to eat dinner at the dinning table and talk to each other! it's a sad day, month, year! i certainly hope president obama can get us out of this funk, so regular folks can get back to consuming stuff we don't need!

weekend warriors

2009-01-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

well it's been a while but finally the banquette is stained. and yes my designer in training husband was right there to guide me step by step of how to accomplish the above look. i am very pleased with the way this turned out. it's the first project that i actually did by myself (kudos to me!). I am also happy because my designer in training husband surprised me with a flat screen TV for the kitchen, so that I can enjoy cooking that much more (yeay me!). well, gotta run and start cooking :)

until next time....
Cheerio!

table pour deux

2009-01-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

while i try to move on from my mourning of not being chosen has Michelle's decorator, i forgot to inform you of my other let down and mission. a couple of months ago i was reading the Nest magazine and I came across the image above. notice my stolen table by the banquette {this was the best picture i could find of the table}! i have been wanting the exact table for our kitchen. would you believe they will not give it back and the furniture store {room and board} is out of stock. so now i am stuck in a rock and a no table for my kitchen type of place... i know it's hard to see the entire table, but if you come across something similar, you just let me know... i will keep you up dated on the developments....

it's good to be Mr. Smith right now

2009-01-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

the Obama's have chosen their decorator, no, it's not me, unfortunately, but they have chosen the next to best! Michael S. Smith. i see why the Obama's chose him, he's an excellent designer with a style and passion for beauty. his decorating style is a collaboration of all era's. an eclectic style! i wonder what he has in store for the White House? with Michelle's style and Michael's talent, i am sure it will be fabulous! click here to get a taste of the style and beauty that is to come to 1600 pennsylvania avenue.....

project ungava

2009-01-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

i interrupt my special posting of "trends for 09" for a special broad cast.... step one and two of my banquette has been accomplished. step one, find paint and antique agent. step two, test out paint and antique agent... the above picture is the finished product of step two. i must say, i am good... i absolutely love the way it turned out... but if you asked my husband {designer in training}, he will inform you, the paint needs a bit more beige... as if! i had to politely remind my husband who was the designer and whose bright idea it was in the first place to antique the banquette. I also had to remind him he didn't even know what antique was until he married his beautiful wife... and so tonight i will be working hard at antiquing our banquette...and since we will be having house guest in a couple of weeks and the stain takes forever to dry, i better get started...

those of you who would like to try this method on you own, see reciepe below;

1 quart of creamy white paint, by glidden {you can use a darker color, perhaps something with a little more beige}
1 can of stain {I used Minwax stain in satin antique walnut}, you can use a darker or lighter shade if you would like
1 paint brush
1 lint free rag
1 sand paper
1 glass of your favorite beverage :)

first clean the surface you are painting. If the item needs to be primed first, prime it and wait until the primer dries. Paint the surface {i only use one coat of paint} and let it dry fully, about 4 to 8 hours. once the item dries, lightly sand the surface. you can sand it a lot or very light, depending of the looking you are going for. using a paint brush, wipe away the dust or you can vacuum it or use a wet rag {but make sure the surface is dry before continuing to the next step}. dip a clean paint brush into the stain {making sure you do not put too much stain on the paint brush}, gently brush your painted surface with the stained paint brush. using your lint free rag to gently wipe away the stain. depending on the look you want you can wipe most of the stain off to give a faint antique look or a more heavier antique look.

* the stain takes quite some time to dry, possibly 8 hours to overnight
**also i would test the technique out on scrape wood before actually using it all over the item you want to use it on

enjoy and i hope you like it as much as i do!

out with old and in with the 9

2009-01-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

and so the story of 08 has ended and a new chapter opens with 09 and in making sure you are ready and prepared for what this year will bring, I leave you to ponder over a couple trends for 09!

1. mixing the old with the new (i know, we have been doing this for years, but i guess no one was listening)

2. go green
it is becoming more of a trend to be environmentally conscience of the materials we use in our home. and for 09 we go green with more organic and environment safe products. happy decorating for 09... more trends to come!

a new me.new year.09

2008-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

it's that time of year again! making our New Year resolutions. this year i have opt to skip this step of bringing in the New Year. i have learned from past experience that after the first week of posting my list of New Year resolutions on my refrigerator nothing gets accomplished by the end of the year. i have decided to pick one thing i wanted to work on for 09', and that is
STOP PROCRASTINATING (aka, paint my banquette, hanging artwork on the walls, stain the cabinets...etc)... check back to see how my not procrastinating is working out....

art work by Francine Turk

our newest addition and have a very merry heart of a holiday

2008-12-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. -Agnes M. Pharo
(ornament by Oregon artist Margaret Furlong)

love.

2008-12-15T17:32:00.000-08:00

today i reveal the truth about love. for months i have tried to get rid of these canisters because they did not fit the decor (i feel they are a bit country). I have tried taking them back but I just didn't have the heart to. For months/years this has been on my mind and I have searched to find something else,but I just keep coming back to these canisters... even though i have tried taking these canisters back many times, to buy a better canister that I feel i will love even more. but your first love will be your only true love... it's not in my heart to just abandon my canister as if I don't love them... that's the thing about love, love will come find you just to remind you of who you are... and so my friends, even though these canisters look a bit country, the perfect marriage has been formed and I am keeping my first love!

days after the stuffing

2008-11-29T19:12:00.000-08:00

things at our home has been quite hectic, first the banquette, our antique fixture and now the crown molding, however in the midst of all of this we take a break from our day to day to give thanks that we have each other. i hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. i must say this was the first Thanksgiving that I ate til I just couldn't eat anymore and then I ate some more... while we live in a construction zone, I thought I would post some eye candy...I love the stillness of this bedroom. it invites me to start a fire in the fireplace and curl up with a good book on a cold winter morning. more updates to come on our home. i will post the finished product of the installed molding soon. stay tuned....

a way to my heart

2008-11-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gents... as i type we are having crown molding installed. My husband is on a roll and as promised, he feels so good doing it (crossing off things on his list and making his wife happy). Stay tuned because i will definitely share the finished product with you...

let your light shine

2008-11-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

okay, i lied, my banquette is not yet painted as promised, but hey I am only one person with a millions ideas and things to do. However, I am crossing off more things off my husband's-to-do-list. This week we finally hang my awesome antique find. I love this light fixture, it reminds me of Morocco with an old world feel. I found this baby at an antique shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida... Below you will is my husband's-to-list. He has quite a way to go before he's finish but I am cheering for him that he will complete these things quickly... because the list continues to grow honey and the faster you mark things off the better you will feel, I promise!

My husband’s To-Do-List
1. Install wood floors in living, dinning and staircase
2. Install new base board
3. Stain kitchen cabinets
4. Purchase chandelier from pottery barn
5. Install chandelier from pottery barn
6. Re-paint front and side door
7. Install crown molding downstairs
8. Get new mirror for downstairs bathroom
9. Install lights above kitchen cabinets
10. Paint inside of coat closet
11. Hang frames along staircase wall
12. Paint outside porch railings and porch floor
13. Install surround sound in living room
14. Hang drapes in bedroom
15. Re-Upholstery bedroom chair
16. Install California closet in master bedroom
17. Get organizers for garage
18. Hang art work in living/dinning room
19. Install brick work on the outside of the house
20. Finish landscape in the font yard
21. Install pavers in the back yard and start landscape
22. Get closet organizers for downstairs coat closet
23. Paint front, kitchen and garage door
24. Hang mother’s antique clock in entry way
25. Change out light fixtures downstairs
26. Get flat screen for kitchenette
27. Install surround sound downstairs
28. Change downstairs fan
29. Change master bedroom fan
30. Install brick on the outside of the house
31. Redo backyard with pavers
32. Install banquette
33. Paint banquette
34. Organize garage

decisions! decisions!

2008-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

1.
2.
3.
4.
hello my decor101 designers, it has been a few days, but again I have a great excuse... my husband and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary!!!! we had a lovely time at Marco Island, i recommend it to all... back to business of course... i have been up day and night tossing over the idea of cushions for our new banquette, above are the fabrics I have chosen. I have not decided which one I will use but I will be getting samples of these fabrics to see which one will go with the style I am creating for our home... hopefully my next post will be of the cushions I have chosen and hopefully they will be on my painted banquette (note that I have not yet painted the banquette)... more to come as usual...

day two

2008-11-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

well my friends #32 has been accomplished. behold the finished product above. I am quite pleased. I wanted more details but jeff the carpenter advice me to keep it simply, now that I see it completed, i agree. my next step is painting this baby... below is a picture of the type of treatment I would like to apply to this banquette... using antique white (cream) and going over it with a brown or amber glaze...

I'm off to home depot to pick out paint and glaze and then it's off to the fabric store to get cushions made...

day one

2008-11-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

of the many items that is on my husband's to-do-list, we are finally accomplishing number 32 (not that 1 through 31 has been completed, but whose keeping track). after many discussions of building this banquette together and how fun it would be to do a project together, or taking a class at home depot to learn how to build this banquette that is in my head, we caved and threw in the towel to seek the help of a carpenter. whom did all of the wood work in the house below (including the floors).

if anyone is interested in hiring this carpenter (we will call him Jeff the carpenter) do a little handy work, contact me (he's located in the Orlando area but he is willing to travel)...

back to day one of the construction zone... I am so excited to see the finish product... stay tune for more on the banquette (and yes, I know the honey oak cabinets has to go).

obsession part 2

2008-10-21T15:56:00.001-07:00

okay my friends, i am not letting you guys down on our new found obsession! i was just surfing the net and minding my own business when i came across this bed. Funny, it looks just like the one in Mara Brock-Akil's bedroom. what a big coincident (i promise, wink)! well my friend this bed can be yours as well and you can have your own Mara Brock-Akil look-a-like bedroom from plantationusa.com. more to come... obsess away!

obsession

2008-10-20T17:43:00.001-07:00

as you might know by now, i am officially obsessed with Mara Brock-Akil and her style. so much so, that i had to search out items to mirror some of her decor. i found the above picture of this drum table (similar to the one in her bed room) at west elm. i love the copper tones Akil used throughout her home. although i am keeping to my decor style i would like to incorporate more copper tones. enjoy! and more updates with my new found obsession!

understated beauty

2008-10-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

the august issue of Domino magazine featured tv producer (producer of girlfriends and the game) Mara Brock Akil's home and I have been inspired every since. not just by her home decor but also her elegant, relaxed style of fashion. every aspect of Akil's decor i love. she has created in her home the same elegance and feel i want for mine. i love how she mixed modern and traditional pieces together. I have been trying to achieve that look in my home and it takes such a long time to find the perfect piece that just looks as though they were meant for each other. i love Akil's use of cooper and golds, so rich yet elegant and calming. i have been bugging my husband if he can make a shoe caddy for me exactly like the one above (fourth picture above, that use to be a mail caddy)... this issue of domino will definitely be in my magazine collection for quite some time or at least until i have mastered the look that Akil so elegantly put together.

i found your picture today

2008-10-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

i love this! i think it's great to cluster all of your framed photos in one location to give your walls a clean balance look. i have been collecting picture frames from Pottery Barn to create this look along my staircase. love love love it!

ode to the dinning room

2008-10-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while, but I have a good excuse. I have been working on my business ventures and it has been kicking my butt. Finally, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Back to what's important, the picture above is long over due and we still have a long way to go in our dinning room. The horrible chandelier has to go...replacing it with this. Next is art work! Then a buffet table, wood floors and lastly the window coverings.... so much to do, so little time... but I promise not to be gone so long without keeping you in the loop...more to come on our renovations....

be back soon!

2008-09-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

sorry i have not kept everyone in the loop but I have been extremely busy, but I will be back next week for new discoveries and renovations.

soho style

2008-06-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

today i was in one of those moods (i hate mondays type of mood)... so to cheer myself up, i wanted to share with you a few signature pieces that i really like. what can i say, they speak for themselves. personally, i would put all of these pieces in one room (perhaps a sitting room) and pull it all together with a splash of color. maybe a pumpkin orange, a warm apple green or an international klein blue ...i almost forgot to share the good news...our couch (view here) has arrived today and it's all i hope for, atleast until i found the above soho couch. isn't that something, when you search and search for the perfect piece and can't find it ,settling for the next best thing seems to be the next best thing and i will be darned, the perfect piece floats to surface... oh well,in the end i still have a nice beautiful couch...

going to the mattresses

2008-05-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

exhibit A
exhibit B
exhibit C
our home is slowly coming together. decorating your home can sometimes be a full time job. the problem is, i know exactly what i want but finding it has been the dilemma. sometimes i wish i knew how to do everthing. i have been searching for the perfect kitchen banquette. although i love exhibit A, it's not very functional for our kitchen area, but it sure is stylish. my husband and i have thought about turning our kitchen area into a little cafe (sofa, coffee table, cappaccino machine...etc) after much measuring and contemplating, we decided it's not going to work and it's time to "go to the matresses." it's time for custom made. i want the detail and look of exhibit B with the back board of exhibit C. so now i am on the search....stay tuned

feeling blue

2008-04-27T12:30:00.001-07:00

feeling blue but loving it. i love everything about this room (the amoire, the pictureless frames, the bird print, love it). this is my advice for you this summer, add a very bright exotic print to spice up any room and while your at it, add some color to those white walls....i love bright colors for summer, inside and out. summer is in, enjoy it!

my summer color for 2008 is yellow, it reminds me of a warm laying on the beach eating grapes sipping on a nice glass of lemonade and spraying myself with cucumber lime mist kind of day. what's your summer color and why?

hanging with drew

2008-04-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

this is the april issue of domino showing drew barrymore's office (flower films).
can you tell i am in love. i love her style, her sense of who she is and most of all her taste in decor (interior designer ruthie sommers) just check out the purple pumps, and vintage chairs above. enjoy!

modern girl in a modern world

2008-03-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

while everything around me moves to the new ages, i always decorate with pieces true to its form and looks elegant in every era. mixing modern, traditional and old world pieces together to get a look that is clean and simple with a little mystery. i say that's the way to do it if you are not a trendsetter or follower for that case. i love this room above, and most of all i love the use of black, anchoring the room and pulling everything together. for ages i have been stuck on clean lines and simplicity. mission accomplished

playing with pink

2008-03-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

i am not a pink girl, but when i came across these four amazing rooms, i quickly found my new favorite color. each room is done with a lot of sophication and just a touch of pink. this season just add a splash of color (even if it's pink) to a neutral slate or a neutral print (just like the black and white print above).

cleaning house

2008-03-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

Hello all! i know i have left a few of you guys hanging. life has taken over and i am now getting in the swing of things, married life, new job, settling in a new home, and catching up with old friends. now that I have that out of my system. i am all yours. so stay tune for some hot looks for 2008.

.summer on the brain.

2008-01-29T19:27:00.000-08:00

this week I am in St. Lucie and it is quite chilly here. i can't wait to break out my sundress and beach bag. while dreaming of what the summer has in store for me i came across these beautiful outdoor spaces. what a great way to bring your family room outdoors. it's inspired me to get started on some outdoor decorating. where's a cabana boy when you need one.... happy summer dreaming!

bright, bold, color

2008-01-21T12:02:00.000-08:00

i love the warm yet bright colors pottery barn introduced this fall.

good friends are hard to come by

2008-01-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

just the other day i was walking along minding my own business and i bumped into my good friend stein mart and look what my friend had in store for me, this beautiful side table by nina campbell (similar to the one below). there were thousands of them (okay, maybe not thousands but there was a handful). so if i were you i suggest you visit my friend stein mart if you want this beauty next to your bed or perhaps next to your couch or as a small entrance table for a small foyer. see you there.

let's reflect

2008-01-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

as you can see i have not had time to focus on decorating my home (I have been traveling like crazy), but i am having fun checking out the decor of others. i am loving this side table. let's file this under - loving it

making a grand entrance

2007-12-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

each so extraordinary in it's own unique way

i now pronounce you man and bed

2007-12-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

one of our wedding gifts was a gift card to West Elm (thanks tiff). this called for a serious day of shoppping. we headed to west elm to take a gander at what they had. we came across this amazing bed (well, i love it). and what's even better, west elm keeps there warehouse at their store location (how convienent is that?), so they are always in stock.

this is a picture of the idea of how i would like the master bedroom. tone on tone (someone please explain this to my husband). once i saw the bed at West Elm, i thought it would be a perfect start and look. although the headboard goes all the way to the ceiling and it's fabulous, it was a detail i wanted to eliminate but maybe adding decorative upholstery nails.

a trip to macy's

2007-12-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

a recent trip to macy's my husband and i came across these delicious chairs. i love em. not so much for the hubby, he continues to ask "why are you stuck in time?" i believe these babies would go fabulously anywhere as an accent piece (with the right colors and decor, of course). for my retro babies out there, check these bad boys out at macy's....

trends in dinning

2007-12-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

it seems that every magazine i look at, the trend is dinning in comfort. Couches paired with dinning tables and chairs in elegant settings (check out House Beautiful). My husband and i have decided to custom build our own for our eat in kitchen. this will be a task for two. me supervising while he hammers away.

spaces i am loving today

2007-12-18T06:53:00.001-08:00

what's not to love?
i love the pasley wallpaper
i want this window. it makes this area very airy and large
okay, who wouldn't want to retreat to this bedroom every night?

all dressed up and no where to go...

2007-12-08T20:33:00.000-08:00

i just refuse to believe an entire year flew by... i cannot believe 2008 is right around the corner, well, nothing i can do to stop, so i better live it. my husband and i jetted out today to get a few christmas decorations and being the decorator that i am, everything had to go with everything. this was the only wreath we saw that would go with our home and our black door (honestly, i think he was just ready to go, so if i liked it, it worked for him). hope you like

it's so hard to say goodbye

2007-12-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

do i believe my ears?????? the december issue will be the last for house and garden....what will we do????? i don't know about you but i know that house & garden has brought me through some devastating decorating dilemmas and for that, i am thankful. but you know what they always say when one door closes another opens. my good friend B has introduced me to domino and i am loving their issues. i would peruse through the magazine while in the checkout line but never really read through it. i went over to B's house and was there for quite some time (long enough to read through the issue) and i am loving it. it's the same as lucky (also loving), except it's for desigeners vs. fashion enthusiasts. let's raise our glasses to house & garden, for paving the way......

P.S. I am loving that wreath!!!

and the beat goes on....

2007-11-29T17:01:00.000-08:00

i am back! i know, i know, it has been a while,but i have good reasoning. ladies and gentlemen, i am a married women/off the market/no longer sailing solo..... so please forget me. now, where were we? for the past weeks i have been focusing on getting married/honeymoon/settling into our new home. we are loving our new home and having the time of our lives decorating our home. here's a sneek peek of some of the improvements we have made so far. throughtout the home we have chosen an oyster white (which is a light beige/tan color). drum beat is the color of choice for the dinning room (check out picture above), this is a sneek peek but once the finishing touches are made, we will have an unveiling of our masterpiece.

simply beautiful

2007-11-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

welcome to my winter home foyer. i am loving this birdcage. i use to obsess over birdcages, not sure why (that will have to be another blog to explore). i could lounge here all day. i return to the real world on friday, check back for updates on our summer home... we are still trying to decide on window treatments.

lights.camera.DRAMA

2007-10-31T16:56:00.001-07:00

this week i am in cape may, new jersey and once again i have come back to congress hall, which i have declared my new winter home. this place is amazing. i am loving the dramatic statement of the lounge area. i want this dramatic look for my living room. there is so much eye candy it will take a while to digest the beauty of it all. check out the carpet (brown zebra print), love it. i wonder if i can get away with that in my living room?

christmas in the barn

2007-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

thanksgiving is not here yet, but that doesn't stop pottery barn in showcasing their christmas collection. the great thing about this room is when christmas is over you can take down the wreath and enjoy the room year round. cheers, to pottery barn for always making it work.

welcome home

2007-10-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

ladies and gentlemen, it's official. we are in like flynn... let's just say, this is a happy day for all

clean and out of the way

2007-10-25T04:25:00.001-07:00

i am always trying to find new and clutter free ways to display dish soap in the kitchen. i think this is absolutely lovely!

fall for style

2007-10-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

oliva star lighting (pottery barn)

my girlfriend pat and i are in love with pottery barn. everytime i walk into their store, i feel at home or i can see every item in my home. it's fall and pottery barn sure knows how to make you feel like going home, whipping up a nice winter soup and crawling under the covers to a good book. i love this oliva star lighting (above), i think it adds a spark of drama to any room. i love to decorate for every occassion, especially for the holidays or changing of the season. it gives me a fresh start and a new outlook. start yours today

bath time

2007-10-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

master bath
downstairs guest bath

this week I am in philly. but have no fair i do have my spies staking the place out and word is, the house is complete, when i get back in town we will have to see if it's up to my standard, and we all know, they are quite high. when do we close you ask? your guest is as good as mine, but moving on to better conversation. let's talk bathrooms. unfortunatley my bathrooms are a bit smaller than the above pictures (candice olson inspired), so I will scale things down to fit, this is in the way future. i have had these pictures for quite some time, saving them for the perfect moment and that moment has arrived. I just love the clean lines and airy feel. after seeing these baths I was on a hunt to find all the elements that make this master piece a master piece. thank goodness for home depot expo (sorry lowes) and guess what, i found everything down to the tiolet paper. so if you are inspired, and i know you are, vist your local home depot expo and tell them tamsin sent you.....a designers work is never done!

couch potato

2007-10-08T18:11:00.001-07:00

milao 2-piece leather chaise sectional (macy's)

we searched high and low. so we took a weekend to find the perfect something that would be just right for movie nights. since we have an average size living room we had to find an above average couch (see above), something that would work for the space and allow enough seating for our visiting family and friends, we also had to find a style that would flow with the rest of the decor (remember warm, contemporary (but comfy), traditional feel). i know the wait is killing you to see it all come together, but i promise soon you will see the finish product, as for now, enjoy the blog.

first purchase

2007-10-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

turner table (solid wood) (z gallerie)
dupioni silk pole pocket drape (pottery barn)
check your area for benjamin moore retailers

a couple months ago I walked into z gallerie and saw this turner table and knew this would be the dinning table of many sabbath dinners. however, i made the mistake we all so often make....."I'll think about it and come back later, or I'll wait until it's on sale." I returned only a few days later and the ultimate devastation happened, SOLD. i had to have this table (I saw my unborn kids creating art on this table, this was serious). i called stores far and wide and finally the z gallerie in estero, Florida made the creations of my little pisacco's come through. the plan for the dinning room is creating a warm but contemporary traditional feel (confused?). the plan, moroccan red on the walls (benjiman moore paints), ivory roman shades in oatmeal or Dupioni silk pocket drape in clay from pottery barn and my art craving, pisacco's lithograph. i can't wait for you to see it.....

spray paint?

2007-10-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

5-light beveled glass wall lantern (lowes)

another daily trip to the house (one of my favorite things to do). for the past couple weeks, Orville and I have been going to the house at night, parking in the drive way and sitting there talking about life, dreams, and decor. For instance, the lighting fixtures, i mentioned to Orville we need to change those(front and side door), his response, "maybe we can spray paint them black." the designer's response, "baby we have to create a look from the inside out and clearly those fixtures are not going inside or out." I certainly had a solution to our dilemma, Lowes (check out the 5-light Beveled Glass Wall Lantern from lowes....loving it!). no closing for us today, it’s giving me way too much time to look at all the things i need to do and change..

first home

2007-10-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

home is where the heart is, that's what they say, who ever they is. i plan on putting my heart into our first home and i hope you will join me on my journey of making this house a home. as soon as I close (hopefully this week, say a prayer for us), first thing is first, painting the veranda railings and steps (in the future i would like to put brick steps). for now it's off to Lowes for paint.