Happy Friday!

Seeing as how tomorrow is Halloween and I have not gotten into the spirit at all (I have yet to buy a costume, eek!) I figured looking at these photos might get me in the mood, so to speak. And I'm willing to bet there are a few of you out there who also need the extra kick in the butt to get into the spirit of Halloween.

{Photo Credit: Cecily Ink}




{Photo Credit: Country Living}


{Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens}

{Photo Credit: Pottery Barn}
This photo makes me want to throw a party! Sadly, it's too late for that. Maybe next year?

Rain rain go away!

On days like this, all I want to do is snuggle up in bed with my dog and watch films from The Golden Age. The kind of bed that comes to mind is this...


{Designer: Albert Hadley}

But I would be perfectly content with the ones below too.





Close the curtains, build a fire, and snuggle up to watch a movie.


{Designer: Susan Zises Green}


{Designer: Stephen Shubel}


{Designer: Nancy Price}


{Designer: Andrew Halliday and David Greer}

Check out the plush flooring! Forget the bed, I could snuggle on the floor instead!

Local Hunts Part VIII: The Paris Market

If there were ever words to make me swoon within 2 seconds of saying them it would have to be 'Paris Market'. First off, just saying 'Paris' evokes images of sitting at an outdoor cafe drinking a café au lait people watching. How très chic is that? And 'Market', well that just evokes being surrounded by shops - heaven! Can I just say, I am SO excited about going to Paris next year! My husband and I still have yet to go on our honeymoon. Reasons being we bought a house and then went to Africa for a wedding which means no money for a honeymoon. But come next spring we will be there!

Anywho, I'm getting off track here. So yes, when these two words were uttered by my good friend, Linds (she mentioned this fabulous shop she discovered in Savannah, Georgia) I literally clutched my chest and swooned. I'm pretty sure I did that, right Linds? Linds was sweet enough to give me their business card so I could check out their website since I wasn't exactly planning on taking a trip to Savannah anytime soon. Although, I might considering their items are right up my alley!

So without further ado, here are a few of the goodies at The Paris Market!


If I didn't know the name of the store, this photo alone would make me book a plane ticket to Savannah for this store.


Silver Napkin Rings for $14.50.

Multitasking items are the best and even better when it comes to the tablescape.


Chain with Occo Geode for $112.00.

A statement necklace using stones I've never seen on a necklace before. Truly unique! C'est si bon!


Mirror Pendant Lamp
$247.50: medium
$462.50: large

It'll instantly warm up any room and add a bit of vintage elegance.


Framed/Unframed French Land Deeds
$40.00: Unframed
$65.00: Framed

A piece of history in the most romantic language. Who cares if you can't understand it?


Paris Decanter
$337.50: small
$390.00: large

Such a delicate and fashionable way of serving drinks. Perfect for those holiday parties coming up.

Don't forget about this weekend!

You know what I'm talking about - On a Whim's Fundraiser sale tomorrow and Sunday! All of the proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation so come out and shop for a good cause! See you all there!


When:
Oct. 24th & 25th (Sat. & Sun.)
10:00am til 5:00pm

Where:
14920 James Monroe Hwy,
RT 15, Lucketts/Leesburg, VA

Directions:
From Leesburg, RT 15 north toward Frederick, we're 6 miles north of Leesburg. We're on the right side of the road.

From Maryland take RT 15 south towards Leesburg, VA. We're about 7 miles south of Point of Rocks. We're on the left side of the road.

From Washington DC take Rt 66/Dulles Toll road to 28 north and then RT 7 west to Leesburg, or take Greenway to RT 15 north toward Leesburg. We're on the right side of the road.

Bulletin Board: Victoria Molinelli

I am very, very picky about what goes up on my walls so I get very, very excited when I find something 'worthy' to put up on them. I especially love finding original artwork or as close to it (vintage prints) as I can since I try not to put up things that I might see at someone else's house.

I melt for oil paintings but that's just a tad outside of my price range most of the time (okay, all the time!). Same goes for watercolor paintings as well but I am in luck today! Victoria Molinelli is a featured artist on Coleen & Company and is showcasing 4 original watercolor paintings and I am dying to get my hands on the one below. It is a rendering of a vintage interior and is a limited edition item.

Hanging Robe - $285.00

The colors and pattern are what draw me to it. Bright & cozy and is fused with a little bit of French and Traditional styles to create a gorgeous room.

There are 3 others available as well:


Pink Gallery Wall - $285.00

Green Banquette - $285.00


Tiger Print with Fire - $285.00

They are hand signed and hand numbered which makes it that much more special!

Modern Shabby Chic?

Is it possible to be Modern and Shabby Chic? Great question! What if you favored plush, feminine, vintage pieces but your significant other would rather see clean and visually light pieces in the space instead? Why not have elements of both styles incorporated to create a Modern and Shabby Chic space? It's possible!


{Photo Credit: Elle Decor}

In this great example, the sofa and chairs are very shabby chic (white slipcovers & lush cushions!) while the rest of the accessories are modern (i.e. clean lines, no frills, white/black color palette).


{Designer: Anita Calero}

Geometric shapes juxtaposed with the softness of the sofa and chair create a quiet harmony.


{Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy}

Mid-century modern pieces (floor lamp, Poang chair) are combined with French Shabby Chic pieces (blue wood-carved chairs and stool) to create a colorful eclectic style.


{Photo Credit: Domino Magazine}

The sculptural shape of the light fixtures in both rooms balance out the frillier vintage pieces.


{Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy}

Let's be honest here, the floral pattern could be a bit overwhelming but the lamp definitely helps bring the frilliness down a notch.


{Photo Credit: Alkemie}

Clean lines found in the shelving and countertops, but everything on them is as Shabby Chic as you can get.

You can do all sorts of combinations to get both styles to work together. Your main pieces could be Shabby Chic while your accessories are modern or vice versa. The use of color and pattern could be the Modern that you inject while everything else is Shabby Chic. The possibilities are endless as they say.

Bulletin Board: Shabby Chic

Okay, so ever since Rachel Ashwell was on the Style network awhile back, I have been in love with the 'Shabby Chic' style. If you don't know what 'Shabby Chic' is, it's pretty much everything that is feminine, rustic, and comfy all mixed into one charming style. Rachel made this style famous with the belief that style can be comfortable and lovely at the same time; that a room shouldn't be so precious that you can't enjoy it.

Most of you have probably figured out how I feel about furnishing a home and that is it must be comfortable - that's my #1 rule for decorating. I don't want to have to think when I'm in a room, I just want to be. I don't know if that makes any sense to you but when I come home from work, I don't want to think about anything except just to relax. And in order to do that, my furnishings need to be relaxing and cozy or else how am I to unwind?

Of course, the one room in our house that is no where NEAR being relaxing or cozy is our bedroom. How sad is that? But we've made some progress. We've decided on a color scheme and what mood we want to evoke upon entering the room. It must be RELAXING. And with that in mind, the shabby chic style is the perfect style to go with.



{Photo Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn}


{Photo Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn}


{Photo Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn}

So soothing. It would be easy to fall asleep in this room.


{Photo Credit: Cottage Chic}

Who says Shabby Chic has to be all white?


{Photo Credit: Cottage Chic}


{Photo Credit: Layla Grace}

All white! How am I to keep it all clean?? Its all slipcovered so don't worry about it! That's another wonderful thing about shabby chic, easy cleaning.


{Photo Credit: The Bella Cottage}


{Photo Credit: Interior Furniture}


{Photo Credit: Wake Up Frankie}


{Photo Credit: Layla Grace}

Don't be afraid to interject different styles into the Shabby Chic style. What I particularly like about Shabby Chic is that you're able to mix and match pieces from different styles and it just works. It's a great base to start with since you really can't go wrong with comfort as the basis for a room.

Mix French Eclectic into it with a little bit of Traditional Country and it will look incredible. Or at least that's what I'm hoping since that's what I want to do to our bedroom!

Local Hunts VIII: On a Whim

Attention everyone! On A Whim Home Boutique will be having its 4th annual fundraiser to raise money for The National Breast Cancer Foundation. They were able to raise $1600 last year and hope to do more this year. All of the proceeds that On A Whim makes from your purchases goes straight to the NBCF!

It is a great cause to take part in and you'll be able to score some wonderful items at amazing prices. Plus, they've got a whole bunch of items that are pink for the cause.

Here's a taste of what you'll find and hopefully you'll find yourself, just like me, on the 24th at On A Whim in Leesburg, VA.






I am loving the white cabinet on the right...might be a good option for my bar.






If I wasn't so adamantly for an upholstered headboard, I would be buying this one in a heartbeat!






And this is my reason for going to this sale, I NEED this vanity.


If I could do high school all over again (this would be the only reason to go back), I would wear one of these dresses to prom. Seriously, I really would if I could.

{Photos from On A Whim Home Boutique}