Tuesday, July 31, 2012

One Room Challenge: Reveal Preview and Olympic Spoiler


No, I'm not going to ruin it and tell you who won all the gold medals today. But for those of you have been following the One Room Challenge, the reveal is tomorrow, Wednesday, August 1st. For all of you late night Olympic watchers, I will be posting my reveal at midnight tonight ET. Stop by for a little dose of Chinoiserie after the Olympics and let me know what you think of my Chinoiserie Chic kitchen makeover.

Abstract Art & Chinoiserie

House Beautiful
One of today's hottest trends in interior design is combining Chinoiserie and abstract art. Here are some great examples. Artist Susan Brown has a wonderful eye for color and her pieces work beautifully with today's modern approach to Chinoiserie. Imagine one of these original paintings paired with blue and white Chinese porcelain, lacquered walls, a black and gold sideboard, or a white lacquered chest. Visit her Etsy shop here.

Apartment Therapy

Architectural Digest

Raleigh House Tour via Jamie Meares














The Chinoiserie Bedroom

Lonny
Here is a subtle approach to the Chinoiserie bedroom - soft green walls, a zebra rug layered over a neutral rug, a linen tufted bench, and white bedding. The Chinoiserie elements give this room pizazz - a pair of mirrored Chinoiserie bedside chests and celadon lamps.

Monday, July 30, 2012

My Chinoiserie Chic Dining Room


Well, this Wednesday is the big reveal in the One Room Challenge of my Chinoiserie Chic kitchen. I am devoting the day to photographing the kitchen, so since I'm in a photo shoot mode, I thought I would take a few photos of my dining room for today's post. Also on Wednesday, I will be unveiling my August Houzz Ideabook that will focus entirely on how you can add Chinoiserie touches to your own kitchen.








Congratulations!


My warmest congratulations to Daniela at Aesthetic Oiseau and her husband Carter who just found out they will be having a baby girl. I know this baby will have the cutest nursery ever, no doubt with Chinoiserie touches as well. As this photo says, this baby will have style from the start.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sunday Inspiration - The Chinoiserie Bedroom


This bedroom by Melissa Rufty (or rather a portion of the bedroom - I would love to see it all!) is so chic and fun. I love the Scalamandre Balwin Bamboo wallpaper, the tufted headboard, the white linens with black Greek key fretwork, the red and white striped bolster and roman shade, and the pelmet and curtains in Perroquet by Nina Campbell.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Girls Gone Wild


Junell at Seekers Bazaar has done a very clever post called Girls Gone Wild featuring some of the participants in The One Room Challenge. I have been called the over achiever of the bunch. Read it here - it's lots of fun. Thanks Junell!

Linda at My Crafty Home Life

Saturday Inspiration - The Chinoiserie Kitchen


This Wednesday will be the reveal on the One Room Challenge of my Chinoiserie Chic kitchen. I included this kitchen and breakfast room by Melissa Rufty in yesterday's post, but I love this so much I wanted to revisit it. The white cabinets, dark wood floors, marble countertops, and pale blue/gray walls are all gorgeous. But check out those counters stools with the pink croc leather with nailhead trim, the Parsons chairs slipcovered in a wonderful Chinoiserie fabric (anyone know what it is?), and that fabulous chandelier. Pink, high end Chinoiserie fabrics, and a glam chandelier are three elements I have included in my kitchen too.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Melissa Rufty of MMR Interiors


If someone were to ask me to name my very favorite interior designers, Melissa Rufty's name would without question be on my list. An interior designer based in New Orleans, MMR Interiors exemplifies my favorite style - a modern take on classic Southern design. I live in an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood  - Belle Haven, in Virginia just outside of DC, a historic neighborhood with beautiful older homes, many of them dating back to the twenties. The new breed of homeowners here exemplifies this modern Southern style - mixing antique and modern pieces in a look that is classic, yet today.


Melissa's approach is relaxed, elegant, sophisticated, chic, modern, classic, layered, and comfortable, with a wonderful use of color and accessories. If you look through these photos from her portfolio, you will see her love of Chinoiserie everywhere. It may be as subtle as a potted orchid or a calligraphy brush, or as bold as hand painted Chinoiserie wallpaper or a Chinoiserie toile fabric, but it is there.