Old Vegas

This dining room is inspired by old Las Vegas. Last week I did a "Christmas" room so this week I wanted to do something for New Year's. When I think New Year's celebration I think Las Vegas. My goal was to create the feeling of an era when women wore gowns to watch the Rat Pack perform at the Copa Room at The Sands in 1960.

First, I selected the crystal sphere lamp because it reminds me of the crystal ball that drops at midnight and also because it has a flashy old Vegas elegance. Then I worked around that element and chose items that had bling but a classy kind of bling. Because it's a Vegas room I am bound by law to include some sort of neon item. The 'Lounge' neon sign I chose inspired the room's turquoise, gold, black, and silver color palette. The gold ribbon chest reminds me of something I would see in a room at the Golden Nugget. The zebra print rug anchors the room and adds visual interest. The mirrored round table allows you to check your make-up before heading out to the dance floor. The plush chairs look decadent and expensive but are actually reasonably priced. The sunburst mirror and platinum dinnerware add to the circular patterns throughout the room. Champagne flutes are a must when toasting to the New Year and of course, if we're talking Vegas, they also have to be sparkly.

All in all I think I created a room that captures the over the top feeling of Vegas that still exists today without actually going over the top. Funny thing, it was only after creating this room that I realized there are similarities to the last dining room I did. Mainly the round table with a spherical lighting fixture. I promise my next dining room will look completely different.

Paint color is Spring Breeze by Benjamin Moore

Happy New Year!


Resources:

Neon Lounge sign ($1500) from Roadhouse Relics
Belvedere Hanging Lamp ($69.95) from ZGallerie
Ribbon-Front Mirrored Chest ($1999) from Neiman Marcus
Antique Sunburst Mirror ($279) from Ballard Designs
Mikasa "Platinum Links" 5-Piece Place Setting ($89.99) from Macy's
Alan Lee Conical drinkware ($85 for 2 flutes) from Horchow
Hand Tufted Zebra Rug (7'6 x 9'6) from Target
Venetian Dining Table ($899) from ZGallerie
Upholstered Dining Tufted Parsons Chair ($279) from Home Decorators Collection

The Twelve Days of Christmas

This nursery is inspired by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". I wanted to do something for the upcoming holiday but I didn't want to do a standard holiday themed room. So, I decided to create a room that takes elements from the well-known Christmas carol without using any Christmas decorations. There are times I played fast and loose with my interpretation of the song's lyrics but I think the end result turned out to be a sweet vintage nursery for a little girl.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Partridge pillow in chair ($9.50) from Douglas Cuddle Toys. Also, Partridge Family print (8x10 - $14.99) from Art.com with White ornate frame ($11.99) from Bealls Florida

Two Turtle Doves: Glider upholstered in "Ophelia Dove" fabric ($939) from PoshTots.com

Three French Hens: "Louise the Hen" stuffed animal on dresser ($20.99) from Target

Four Calling Birds: Dresser/changing table with four birds on each drawer ($1399) from Wisteria.com

Five Golden Rings: Five Stacking Rings ($36) from Rosenberry Rooms

Six Geese A-Laying: Nests with eggs ($24) from Wisteria.com

Seven Swans A-Swimming: Cygnus hook (I picture little vintage dresses hanging from these with small pink hangers) ($14 ea.) from Anthropologie

Eight Maids A-Milking: Milk Glass Chandelier ($356) from Rosenberry Rooms

Nine Ladies Dancing: Ribbon Dance rug (5x8 - $249.91) from Lamps Plus

Ten Lords A-Leaping: Vintage crib sheet featuring Kings (Lords) leaping ($11) from Etsy

Eleven Pipers Piping: The Fairy Piper print ($19.99) from AllPosters.com with Ribba Frame ($9.99) from IKEA

Twelve Drummers Drumming: Elephant Beating Drum print ($19.99) from AllPosters.com with Ribba Frame ($9.99) from IKEA


The room is rounded out with the beautiful Olivia Crib in Vintage Pink ($799) from Pottery Barn Kids. Paint color is "Sunshine on the Bay" by Benjamin Moore

Merry Christmas!

Gustav Klimt

This living room is inspired by the paintings of Gustav Klimt and, in turn, is also inspired by the Art Nouveau period. I created this room per the request of reader legerdemain but I also happen to like the aesthetic of that time period. The first aspect of the room I selected was the artwork. I knew I was going to include Klimt paintings so I selected two peices and worked around their colors and images. The first piece I chose was "Nuda Veritas (Naked Truth)". I think it's an unconventional Klimt work because it lacks color but at the same time is very much in line with his aesthetic because it features a woman. I really wanted to use different Klimt works than what everyone is used to seeing. I based the room's main color scheme off the the second painting called "Music". Much like the painting the room features golds and turquoise with a hint of purple.

In designing this room I discovered that Art Nouveau is not an easily accessible movement for which to find decorative items. Because of this, the Gustav Klimt room is probably the most expensive room I have put together to date. The furniture played a big role in racking up the bill. The pricey, but beautiful, couch and chair are reminiscent of the era but also have a modern twist to them. The walnut armoire is an antique from 1890 with an Art Nouveau influence and is also very beautiful yet pricey. The copper side table and glass top coffee table have the curves of the Art Nouveau period but also incorporate modern lines and materials.

The french wool gold rug anchors the room and goes well with the style and colors of Klimt's paintings. The pillow in the chair brings the gold up to the furniture. The chandelier, while not Art Nouveau per se, reminds me of one of Klimt's most famous paintings "The Kiss" . The cascading gold squares on the fixture look like the gold squares on the blanket wrapped around the lovers in the painting. The Dancing Maiden sculpture and Lady of the Lake Wall mirror are in homage to Klimt's favorite subject, the female form. An Art Nouveau room wouldn't be complete without the appearance of stained glass. I chose a nice understated floral green window panel so I wouldn't overwhelm the room with a large pattern. I think the curtains bring more violet into the room without being in-your-face purple. Finally I included the clock because I thought its shape added interest.

Paint color is Peace and Happiness from Benjamin Moore.


Resources:
Nuda Veritas (Naked Truth) Print (framed- $119.99) from allposters.com
Music by Gustav Klimt (framed- $248.95) from Bellacor
Turquoise Leather Chair ($2399) from Horchow
Annie Selke Home Sofa ($3339) from Horchow
c.1890 French Louis XV Walnut Armoire ($9,850) from 1st dibs
Tristan side table ($299) from Crate and Barrel
Eva Zeisel Coffee Table ($1500) from DWR
Louverne Rug (7'6" x 9'6" - $1199) from Ballard Designs
Gold Suzani Pillow ($175) from Jayson Home and Garden
Lady of the Lake Wall Mirror ($29.95) from Design Toscano
Dancing Maiden Sculpture ($39.95) from Lamps Plus
Stained Glass Tiffany Window ($162) from Lighting Direct
Avignon Curtains ($248 a panel) from Anthropologie
Metro Clock ($109.99) from Target
Gold Capiz Hanging Lamp ($349) from ZGallerie

Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball

This family room is inspired by the baseball team the Arizona Diamondbacks. My husband asked me to make a "man cave" so I complied and used his favorite baseball team as the inspiration. The team's colors are Sedona red, black and Sonoran sand (tan) so I incorporated that color palette throughout the room. I didn't want to go the typical "man cave" route and make it overly masculine but I didn't want to over-feminize it either. I picture this room to also be used as a day-to-day TV room for a family with kids.

I know technology is a key element so of course I had to include a TV and a media stand that holds up to a 42" flat screen TV. It's also important for the furniture to be comfortable and be able to accommodate several people for game days. The slipcovered chaise sectional and red side chair serve those functions well. They have clean lines but look like you could sink right into them. I chose the white ottoman/table because there needed to be something you could put your feet up on plus I thought it looked like home base. I included the accent table because it reminds me of a baseball bat. And the striped rug is reminiscent of pinstripe uniforms.

Every "man cave" needs pool table so I chose one that also is a little more stylized than your average pool table. The pendant light above it looks like a more modern sleeker version of the fixtures that hang over pool tables in pubs. And the old baseball photographs are also more stylish than your typical sports posters. The Diamondbacks art glass clock is there because I think the room needed at least one item from the team plus it nicely integrates into the rest of the decor Finally, the baseball playing gnome is funny to me so I had to include that.

Paint color is yellow clover by Benjamin Moore.

Resources:

Newkirk media stand w/ back panel ($798) from West Elm
Slipcovered Chaise Sofa ($2,579) from Pottery Barn
Paloma Chair ($1,999) from Room & Board
Soho Tufted Square Ottoman ($269) from Home Decorators Collection
Remy Wooden Accent Table ($99) from Grandin Road
Monty Red Woven Cotton rug (9x12 - $385) from Dash & Albert Rug Company
Solid Hardwood Pool Table ($2,311.99) from Overstock.com
Tacoma Collection Pendant Light ($718.91) from Lamps Plus
Boy Running Scoreboard print (framed - $164.99) from Art.com
The Baseball Game print (framed - $119.99) from Art.com
Arizona Diamondbacks Art-Glass Clock ($32.99) from Shop MLB.com
Baseball Gnome ($19.99) from Target