Back to the Dining Room

Now that our beautiful shutter is in place I am trying to focus my attention back into the dining room. I think I have some kind of issue that does not allow me to concentrate on one area very long, or long enough to complete it. So, I'm back with a focus on the dining room and the next step is a roman shade to go between the existing Silhouette shade and the drapery, see below.

I'd like to bring some red into the shade and I have found some fabric at Pierre Deux that I really like. However, I have not been able to convince myself that I should pay their exorbitant prices for the fabric. I started a fabric quest and have not been able to find anything I like as well or better. That's the problem when you start at a high price point.

So, today I did a little searching about how to obtain designer pricing without becoming a designer (I have already procrastinated a long time and a few more years just to get the discount seems hardly work it!). And to my surprise there is really nothing out there. I have an old book that was published in 1995ish about how to buy furniture and accessories at designer prices called, The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings, but the material is a little dated at this point and, to my knowledge, has not been updated. I see, though, that the same author has a newer book out, Furniture Factory Outlet Guide 2006 (Furniture Factory Outlet Guide), so maybe I will order that book and find out if it is equivalent (Do you see another post coming soon?).

I'll keep you posted on my decision but, for now, I am thinking on it.

A Potential Furniture Source

Last week when I was groaning about finding good deals on quality furniture and accessories I came across this website, The Elysee Collection, that has many great finds that may not fit every style but, as the name suggests, many of their offerings fit my style just perfectly. I like the bookcase that I show, above.

Now that I have clicked around the site I see that they are wholesale only, well if I follow the process outlines in Kimberly Causey's book, The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings, I can buy wholesale but in the meantime I checked for a store near my home and there are none. However, I have the option of buying online at The French Mix which unfortunately went out of business as of June 8, 2008, which is unfortunate because their web site, at least, looks quite intriguing. The only other option is Layla Grayce that carries many home accessory items as well as furniture. While the offerings on the site are not the usual fare, the furniture prices seem to be a little pricey.

I think I'll wait...but at least there is some food for thought here.

Shutter Complete!

So, last weekend we had out beautiful shutter installed and it is really lovely. This shutter changes the entire look and feel of the space. Here are before and after photos so you can see:

This is the before photo

These are the after photos, first with shutter open, then closed

The installation of this shutter has made a much larger impact that I had anticipated and has gotten me primed to get the remainder of my dining room and living room complete. Next is the fireplace mantel, valances for the windows that flank the fireplace, new base boards, then I am ready for furniture (you can see that we use the space for furniture storage at the moment) to complete the look. Maybe within a year or so the living room and attached dining room will finally be complete.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

I found this light fixture and thought it to look pretty cool. If would not work in my dining room because I have the wrong decor going on for it but picture it with a modern table and chairs, something very sleek. I think it would really look great. And lit I bet the throw from all the crystals make a great show.

A Party Idea

I went to a party at some friends' home and the idea they had was fabulous. They used gate-leg tables as console tables then when they have parties they pull the tables out into the room and open them up for serving or seating. I have never seen this done before and I thought it to be a fabulous idea. They are much more sturdy than a card table and you can leave them in the room in the folded state when not in use for entertaining. Since I am always troubled about how to accommodate everyone when entertaining I really latched on to this idea. Now, the implementation, that's a new nut all together.

I Shutter to Think About It...

All right, you are right, that is a bad pun. But I have to say that our shutter is finally on order. Actually we ordered it several months ago but because they were doing a custom color match we had to approve the color. The first sample was too grey, the second sample was too yellow, so we got out our can of paint (Kelly Moore Ice Cream WS 11) and stirred ti up with a paint stick, let it dry and shipped it off. Low and behold the third time was a charm, it matched perfectly! So now that we have the correct color approved, the shutter should be read in about 2 weeks. Then our gigantic, West facing window can be covered to keep the summer heat out and the winter warmth in. I'll post a photo when it's installed but for now I'm just so happy we are almost there and just in time for Indian summer.

Where in the World?

I found this cool quiz on the Architectural Digest website. It shows you pictures from various countries and gives you three choices for each picture of where the photo was taken. The photos are beautiful and the hints, well, they are non existent. I'm embarrassed to say that I only got 2 correct! Now that's embarrassing. If you take the quiz, let us know how you do.