On My Mind...

A quick little post to say hello and some photos I've been staring at these days...

Amazing dress!

Love the place cards. I'm pretty sure my grandpa still has one of these label makers. I remember he used to label EVERYTHING.

Another gorgeous dress.

Love the black and white.

Yes please!

Black and White Tile...Très Chic

Continuing with the love of black with just about any color... I thought I would share some gorgeous pictures of black and white tile. NOTHING is more glamorous, regal, edgy and rich than this color combination. And decorating is a blast because it helps any color stand out.

This black marble is very mature and rich looking.

A very easy pattern to create - you can buy plain black and plain white floor tile at Home Depot for a great price and create whatever size stripes you want. I highly recommend the dark grout on the white. We used  "Delorean Grey" in my kitchen with the white tile and it makes it look more interesting.

Black subway tile - a great alternative to the standard white. Using the white grout (I always like using the opposite grout color) looks gorgeous.

Have fun with patterns for a more modern feel.

You can never go wrong with this classic. You will find it in many homes built in the late 1800's to early 1900's.

There are so many showrooms and tile stores you can go to to find these tiles but I really suggest shopping around. I went to many high end places to find the patterns I liked and then looked online and found them for a fraction of the price!

Mr. Thomson... Please

Yesterday I found some amazing vintage gems at the Sacramento Antique Fair and Fringe. While Fringe is always loaded with treasures, the Antique Fair every second Sunday of the month is definitely worth a visit! I try to go every month if nothing more than just to look... Although it's rare that I don't find something worthy of the house or my closet - the prices are great too!

This visit I found an awesome pair of vintage fuchsia trousers that fit like they were made for me. No alterations needed! Even better... The original tag is just perfect! Take a look:

At the antique fair I found a painting to go in my dining room and an over-sized mod letter. Both will go great mixed with something new. While the painting could be seen as overly feminine because its of flowers, I am placing it with a  few black and white photographs that will help balance it. When going to an antique store and you see a collection of old paintings, decor, etc, it might seem like everything just looks "old", in a bad way. BUT, if you look at them individually, they can really look great on their own or mixed with other more modern pieces. Sometimes, even just replacing the frame with a gallery frame or painting an old table, vase or knick knack does the trick.

Happy hunting!

Kings and Queens of Style: The Swedes!

Today I thought I would share some amazing photos with you of homes with crazy style from Sweden. Since I will be marrying a Swede, I have been fortunate enough to have a few awesome pieces of furniture brought over from Sweden in our house. We will be going there for our honeymoon next year and I can't wait! Their sense of style and understanding of how to mix mid-century pieces, flashy and bold antiques and country style  is very inspiring. And I love the simplicity of the black and white mixed with natural woods. I can only imagine all of the great boutiques we will see.

Jake and the Wet Bar

The bartender is in and he's waiting to take an order.

Let's Hear it for the Boys

Masculine influence in women's clothing and in the home - YES PLEASE! I've said it before and I will say it again: I love menswear on women! Nothing is more sexy and powerful than a woman in a tailored suit. Blazer's alone are a great way to command attention. I have often found that they only need a little tailoring to look exquisite. One thing I will note: Make sure to go to a tailor you know and trust. I have ruined some amazing vintage blazers by trying to get them tailored faster or cheaper and it's really a disappointment. It's not cheap to reconstruct something to fit you perfectly but it's definitely worth it.

I'm pretty sure Bianca Jagger's wedding suit was surely a showstopper. In the home, dark colors and clean lines are so chic and will make both the lady and the man of the house happy. Dark charcoals look great with everything including natural woods, which men seem to look better than white. When my fiance and I first moved in together, I had a lot of white "shabby chic" furniture that he wasn't a fan of. Today, with a simple coat of flat back or charcoal grey they still live happily in our home. Have fun with the bedding too - don't be afraid to mix and match masculine colors/prints with lighter things such as white

J Crew in Good Company

I love that J Crew is collaberating with other designers, both established and up-and-coming! And they just keep getting better. Here are a few of my favorites:

PRABAL GURUNG

http://www.jcrew.com/

LULU FROST

http://www.jcrew.com/

FENTON FALLON

http://www.jcrew.com/

http://www.jcrew.com/



I Heart Grey

It is no secret that I love grey walls as do many of us these days! Any and every color looks wonderful against it because it contrasts so well. My favorite colors with grey are shades of yellow and orange. I must note, choosing the right grey can be very hard! If you want a "true" grey, no hints of blue, I recommend asking the store to tell you the colors that are in your selection. I find that those with only black, white and a LITTLE bit of yellow are best. The grey in the photo below is perfect because it doesn't read anything but grey. And check out those colorful  Herman Miller Eames Shell chairs! They pop off the grey and really make the room more interesting.

Happy 3-Day Weekend!

I have a to do list this weekend that I can't wait to complete - shocker! My list includes: finding an assortment of old frames for some really cool textiles I have, painting our porch/garage door and gardening. Sound fun? One thing I have on my "possibly" list is working on an old dining table and chairs that were left by the original owner of our house. The set is from the 30's and is in need of some paint and new fabric for the chairs. I've noticed people using indoor furniture outside and since we have no use for it in the house... I think I will try it out.

http://www.casasugar.com/

Va Va Valentino

I have never worn a jumpsuit nor will I probably have an occasion to do so but these bad boys from Valentino's Resort Collection are stunning. How about one of these as an alternative to a dress for a special event? Their silhouettes are beautiful and like a refined version of those from the 70's. YES PLEASE!

http://www.fashionologie.com/

http://www.fashionologie.com/