Another Mantel Idea

I love this look (and my walls are almost identical to the color of these)!

I have been obsessed with finding a new mantel, or I guess any mantel since we do not currently have a mantel and I really like the look and feel of this one. I think though that the side pieces that hold up the mantel might be a little ornate for my taste but, I really like the detail on the top shelf part of the mantel. Now I can't remember where I found this so I cannot even see if there is something like it or not.

The search goes on...

Life is a Commode!

Or something!

I was reading an interesting article today about all the new advances in toilets. I was interested because seeing as that all of our commodes are approaching twenty years old we are looking into getting some new ones. But why get new toilets when you can get a new bathroom to put it in? We may not be able to do a new bathroom but toilets are doable, and necessary.

There are so many options now when it comes to toilets, heated seats, nightlights, dual mode flush, air assist flush, and so many other choices. But, my favorite was the "green" alternative, can you guess? Well, it's a toilet that comes with a built in rinsing mechanism, both low and high powered depending on need. This is sold as a *green* alternative because they claim you do not need to use toilet paper saving approximately $125 a year on toilet paper. Okay, I get the rinse thing, don't want to have an entire discussion about it because I'm not quite sure where it will go but, I wonder after you rinse do you just drip dry? I would think you would still need a little toilet paper.

Oh, Mickey!

Today's New York Times has an article on the new marketing prospects of Disney. It seems that Disney is starting market its brand in apparel, art and furniture without the character connection .

In 2006, Disney began a venture with Drexel Heritage, The Walt Disney Signature collection that features retro or modern inspired furniture, the kind which you might have found in Walt Disney's office or home when he was alive. Drexel Heritage describes this line as follows:

Streamlined shapes and sleek textures accentuate this collection of furniture inspired by Walt Disney. These superbly crafted furnishings for every room of the home feature decorative veneers, multiple finish selections, brushed nickel accents and fanciful shaping reflecting an Art Moderne style that has been carefully edited & outfitted to appeal to today's tastes.

They have pieces for any room, dining room, living room, bedroom, or even your home office, truly something for any room. And wall art too. It really looks enticing.

What Kind of Mantel Do I Need?

Now that the shutter is complete in our living room, I am starting to focus on the mantel. This is a picture of our, as yet, untouched mantel in all its glory. Now, the picture that my husband hung for me that is way too low, but it's there. I don't have a photo to show you but the wall that that fireplace sits on is very tall and the room has a cathedral ceiling which makes the wall appear even taller than it is. We are lucky in that the fireplace is not just hanging on the wall like so many are these days until we finish them off but, actually already had a nice marble tile surround that I think I'll keep intact. So, the trick for me is finding the perfect full mantel in the right size and for the right price.

I keep waffling back and forth between stone and wood. I think I want a lighter color, like a creamy or whitish color and that is why I think a stone or faux stone mantle would be nice. I think any wood color might look funny but, it also might tie in nicely with the wood floors from the dining room and pull the two spaces together.

Now, if I am able to just focus on one space, the mantel area, I actually might be able to get something accomplished.

Here's the fireplace up close. The marble part is 64.25 inches wide by 43 inches tall with an 18 inch apron and the fireplace is centered in the marble tile at 40 inches wide by 31 inches tall with the actual opening starting at 6.25 inches from the bottom. I think I'd like to remove the doors and just have a screen there and maybe even just put in the fake logs so we can have a fire without polluting the environment.

What do you think? Do you have any good sources for mantels? If so, I'd love to hear them.

Comfortable Country French

I found this article that describes Country French decor as "comfortable" and as I read the article I thought that that is exactly what I like about it. The colors are peaceful and calming, the minimal simple accessories with the curvy, yet simple, lines of the furniture all make me feel very relaxed.

Fung Shui The Easy Way

I have heard so much about Feng Shui and never really read or studied it. One day not to far in the past I decided I would do a little search on Amazon for good books on Feng Shui. Of course, being the person that I am I wanted something that I could easily understand and a good read. So, I settled on Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life : How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect and Happiness.

Here are the basics of Feng Shui. The basis of Feng Shui is that your home, room, car, or whatever other space you can imagine is divided into nine areas. So, whatever space you are thinking about Feng Shui-ing (is that a word?) you would place a grid with nine squares in it, or a bagua, overlaying your space. Each of the nine squares stand for an area of life with the nine areas being Prosperity or Abundance, Fame or Reputation, Relationships, including Marriage and Love, Creativity and Children, Helpful People and Travel, Career and Lifepath, Skills and Knowledge or Wisdom, Family, and Health and Other Situations. So, the bagua looks like this:

The idea is that you need to stock items with certain elements of water, earth, fire, and metal to balance your space and, therefore, your life. There is so much information to digest that it is impossible to go into in one post but if you want a great overview, I highly recommend this book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life : How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect and Happiness, for a great overview of Feng Shui.

Modern Furniture, Is It Your Thing?

As you undoubtedly know by now, modern designer furniture does not fit into my design scheme but that's not to say that I don't think its sleek lines and color choices are not intriguing.

I like this Baroque Low Table that is available in seven color options, one for any color scheme you are working within:



In the right space, I love this table and actually all of the elements in this design. I think what I really like about modern designer furniture is the simplicity of it. Generally modern design elements carry clean lines, usually with some circular element thrown in for interest and movement. Also, the color scheme used in modern design is either monochromatic, different shades of the same color, usually neutrals, or black and white with some pop of red or other vibrant color.

Now, I need to buy a second home so I can employ some modern design elements while still keeping my Country French style intact.