Thursday, January 31, 2013

Blue and White Dining Room DIY


I am crazy about this room I first saw via The Pink Pagoda. When I researched it thinking it was very expensively done, I was very pleasantly surprised. The chairs are from Ikea. I suspect they are the Harry at $49.99 that they slipcovered in a blue and white stripe. One could also use Henriksdal for $89.99 that you can get with a long white slipcover. The really big surprise is that the slipcovers were stenciled with Chinoiserie designs. A fabulous DIY. The Stencil Library has a huge selection.

Eddielicious just left a comment about a wonderful Waverly blue and white Chinoiserie toile that is an indoor/outdoor fabric that could be used for the slipcovers in lieu of stencilling at $10.98 a yard. Thanks for the great find - link and photo at bottom of post.

For the dining table you could find a great vintage version or use the classic and budget friendly West Elm Parsons Dining Table in Chocolate Oak.

Roman shades take very little fabric (usually a couple yards per window) so they are a budget friendly choice. I have shown two blue and white Chinoiserie fabrics I like, but there are many options out there in every price range.

Henriksdal

Harry

West Elm Parsons Dining Table

Yosca Blue

Robert Allen Full Sails

Waverly Palm Palace

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Happy Birthday Kate


 It is my wonderful daughter Kate's birthday today. Wow does time fly when you are having fun!


Readers' Requests Series - Black and Chinoiserie


Chinoiserie and black are an ideal combination of elegance and sophistication. Black may be in the form of black painted walls, Chinoiserie wallpaper, a piece of black and gold lacquered furniture, a black and white toile fabric, a Chinese screen, or perhaps Chinese Chippendale chairs. Even if you adore color, an element of black in a room is a great way to ground the space and add contrast. Check out my Pinterest board on Black and Chinoiserie for more inspiration and ideas.























Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Pink and Green Chinoiserie

Embellishments Design Studio
So perfect for a girl's bedroom - Lilly Pulitzer dragon curtains in hot pink, Chinoiserie walls in mint green, and an emerald green pagoda print from The Pink Pagoda - preppy, girly Chinoiserie. I love this color combo - I even have a Pinterest board on pink and green.

Trending - Black Windows


A look I am seeing more and more is window frames painted black, either left bare or dressed very simply as in the Ellen O'Neill apartment just below. Although one can find many examples of this trend, I especially like black windows juxtaposed against Chinoiserie as here - with blue and white Chinese porcelain above, Chinese toile fabric just below (Cowtan and Tout's Siam), and Chinoiserie wallpaper in the bottom photo. It is also a perfect choice if one has very tall windows that are difficult to do window treatments for that don't look awkward.



Monday, January 28, 2013

Chinoiserie in the City


I generally love the layered and collected look, but these two rooms absolutely haunt me. The bedroom above is fantastic with its soaring ceilings, bare old wood floors, black framed enormous bare window, and white linens on the bed. The gorgeous Chinoiserie wallpaper takes center stage, a wonderful juxtaposition to this dramatic urban space.

In the Manhattan Greenwich Village study below, an eclectic mix of antique, mid century modern, and modern furniture and again bare old wood floors stand in contrast to the high ceilings with beautiful Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper. These are great examples of using Chinoiserie wallpaper in urban and loft settings.

Vogue - Julie and Luke Janklow

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Readers' Requests Series - Seashells & Chinoiserie


This post is for the follower who requested inspiration on combining seashells and blue and white Chinese porcelain. This is a lovely combination that works not only in a beach house, but in any setting.

Mark Sikes

Traditional Home

Jonathan Berger

Markham Roberts - seashell encrusted hurricanes

Jamie Meares

Jennifer Nicholson



Saturday, January 26, 2013

Readers' Requests Series - Chinoiserie & Chevron

Miles Redd - Chinoiserie wallpaper and Madeline Weinrib chevron rug
 One reader asked that I show how to combine two of her favorite elements - Chinoiserie and chevron. This is a fantastic combination - the geometric boldness of the zig zag pattern is a perfect foil to the often more feminine and pretty elements of Chinoiserie. You might want to check out my new Pinterest board on chevron.

City Sage - Chinoiserie wallpaper and chevron rug

San Francisco Showhouse - Mod Chinoiserie wallpaper and chevron rug

Diane Bergeron - Chinese Chippendale, ikat, and chevron

Greek key and chevron

Miles Redd - an eclectic mix with chevron

My dollhouse dining room - Chinoiserie wallpaper and chevron rug

Miles Redd - Chinoiserie wallpaper and chevron floor

Greek key and chevron table setting

Greek key and chevron table setting

Bookcase with foo dogs and chevron ginger jar

Pink Wallpaper - Chinese Chippendale chair with chevron cushions

Jamie Meares - blue and white Chinese porcelain with chevron tray

Closeup

Bamboo furniture with chevron walls

Jennifer Eisenstadt - Chinoiserie wallpaper and chevron floor

Tory Burch dressing room - orange and chevron

Decorpad - bamboo table and chevron mirror

House Beautiful - Chinese chest and chevron rug