Animal Magnetism

Do I need to be stopped? I just can't help myself. I'm drawn to them. Monkeys, horses and now dogs. Foo dogs. Fabulous fanciful foo dogs. I know I know - am I decorating a pre war pied a terre or a Manhattan menagerie? But tell me - if you saw these Barbara Cosgrove numbers - would you be able to resist?

Didn't think so.

Excessive Equine Effusions

So apparently I have a penchant for horses too. And here I was thinking monkeys were the only mammal at risk of gracing my decorating dreams. But this A.M. Cassandre print is positively perfect to perk up my boldly striped bathroom. And a nod to the home country? Oh yes, let's.

Equine Effusions

Anyone have $4000 they want to loan this girl so she can get this fabulous horse triptych for above the couch? She'll let you come look at it whenever you please.

Zarin Fabrics

Obtaining fabric in the city is anything but easy. While there is always my trusty Discount Upholstery Fabric for the covetable-I-must-have designer fabrics - sometimes one needs to touch and feel. When I get this craving, I head downtown (waaaaay downtown) to Zarin Fabrics. The staff is extremely helpful and they have an insanely huge selection of fabrics, home accents, curtain accessories and hundreds of swatch books if you can't find exactly what you're looking for. Plus, they'll humor this DIY dummie when she explains she wants to reupholster her headboard herself. I found fabric for the headboard and the bed skirt and even got some discount batting (which I apprarently need) thrown in. Zarin is always worth the trip.

Will report back on the DIY decor - fingers crossed.

A Bedding Bargain

I know I promised to keep my monkey madness in check, but sometimes you can't help yourself. Both Momma and I agreed we needed to get some color into the navy bedroom and this gorgeous Uzbek duvet cover from Horchow acheived just that. It just happens to have monkeys on it. I promise I didn't go looking for it...mmm.

Bonus it was bought during Horchow's 30% off everything madness. Hurrah sales.

Lamp Love

Another reason I'm thrilled with the guest bedroom decor decision? This lamp:

I will try to keep my primate passion in check. Although I'm not making any promises.

A Regal Retreat

With my new navy walls just barely dry, I begin the rather terrifying task of determining a decor that the whole family can live with. While one member of the team will be thrilled if we go bare bones, Puritan-chic with little more than a bed and a lamp (framed picture of Oliver Cromwell perhaps), and another will no doubt be clamoring for ways to add as much blue and white floral/china/wallpaper into the already blue boudoir, I will have to play mediator and find a middle ground (that I can live with and adore of course). So after quickly ruling out the crisp and clean white and navy look (see previously posted perfect paint pic) as a bit too seaside summer house (Nantucket preferably, in my dreams) we embark on our mission. While navy lends itself marvelously to all things Americana (and by Americana I mean Ralph Lauren), my family hails from that tiny English speaking island across the pond. Union Jacks perhaps? In my Jonathan Adler-dreams. No, we're heading even farther across the pond (or ponds). After stumbling across this fairly fabulous Diaghilev fabric from Clarence House, inspiration came in a blinding flash. India. Or should I say Indjaaaah? An homage to the long gone hey day of those colonizing countrymen of mine. British Imperialism does the British boudoir. And finally, a reason to buy those John Robshaw pillows.

Old Navy

Anyone who's ever searched for navy paint knows it's not as easy as it sounds. A practically perfect paint swatch turns a violent violet on your walls, another looks chalky and yet another slightly brown. Without some guidance, it can be a fruitless and frustrating quest (with far too many hours spent in paint sections of various home improvement stores). Determined to find the best blue out there, I hit the books and came across this:

Benjamin Moore Old Navy. It's paint swatch perfection.

Dialing Up the Draper

Ah the bathroom. While I may dream of a palatial powder room complete with a double vanity, claw foot tub, maybe even a chaise lounge...I am a New Yorker dwelling in a pre-war abode and have some grasp on reality (most of the time). So how does one add some water closet wow to a 5 x 9 marble box? I needed to look no further than to the doyenne of decorating and first lady of fabulous - Miss Dorothy Draper. Her signature style stamp of dull white and shiny black stripes would fit the bill perfectly. A little black paint, a laser level, and a fumes headache that lasted a week, was all it took to Draper-ize the bathroom. An inexpensive interior wow factor. Now all that's missing is that chaise. Dorothy would approve.

Classic Dorothy & my Draper-ized Bathroom

As I Lay Me Down to Sleep

After having my fill of dreary Manhattan rentals with grey-white walls and crown moldings with 64 layers of paint, being able to choose the colors that would adorn the walls was quite a thrill...and also quite daunting. Having determined early on that my beloved pink would grace the foyer, next up was my bedroom. Growing up in the heyday of Laura Ashley - I had little experience with anything that wasn't pink bow-adorned wallpaper. I was searching for something sophisticated, simple and with a little bit of glam. Already the proud owner of multiple pieces of mirrored furniture, my attraction to that vintage Hollywood aesthetic was unavoidable, but I also wanted my bedroom to be soothing. I live on this teensy little side street called Fifth Avenue and while the cars (and M5 bus) fly by just below me, I need the color to feel quiet and cocooned. So to my trusty House Beautiful archives I went - et voila - Benjamin Moore Windmill Wings. It's the perfect pastel backdrop for this gal to rejuvenate and revive. Plus it reflects beautifully of all my mirrored casegoods...now if only I can keep my penchant for reflective furniture under control.