French Antiques, Anyone?

As I mentioned in a previous post, Shopping the French Riviera , I was very blessed to start my summer with a trip to France. One of my favorite adventures of the trip was stumbling upon an Antique sale in Nice. Now, I know nothing about Antiques - NOTHING. I do know French design periods (as well as British and US styles and periods). However, I could not spot an original from a reproduction to an all out fake. The whole thing intimidates me. Now, if you do have any expertise with Antiques in any capacity, let's chat. I'd love to invite you to be a guest blogger and share this wonderful knowledge with us, laymen.
Despite my lack of antiquing knowledge, the sights at this market were wonderful. I have a special place in my heart for both Art Deco and Art Nouveau, both periods in which the French absolutely excelled. There were beautiful finds in both periods, as well as many others. Enjoy!

There were great lights from all periods. Here is a collection of Art Deco Lights. If only getting them home were easier, some of these would now be in my possession.

Provincial Pottery - yum!

Beautiful Sconces

I love this light. I would love to have this in my dining room. Granted, that would require a whole dining room makeover, but that's another blog post.

Old street lanterns - would look beautiful restored or as is and indoors or out. 

Art Nouveau Ceramics

And the shop dog - he's adorable.

I mean it, if you have some knowledge about Antiquing that you'd like to share, please email me. I'd love to learn from you and share with my readers.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Ulu Table.

Beautiful things keep appearing in my inbox.  I met the Ulu Table through my email today. She's such a pretty little thing that I wanted to introduce her to my wonderful blog friends.The Ulu is one of the many beautiful creations by Jiun Ho. He is a truly talented interior and furniture designer. If you haven't seen his work before, please take a little time to browse through his website. You're sure to find some inspiration.



Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

This Week I Said Goodbye to "Home"

My grandmother passed away last year.This week we sold her home of 52 years and I said goodbye to the house that has been the most stable notion of "home" in my life. My childhood home was sold many years ago and I seem to be a restless nomad, moving house every 2-3 years. Yet grandma's house has always been there as the stable, comfortable "home" for the whole family. Family members gathered there every holiday, and on occasional Sundays. It was a hub.It was full of food and laughter.

My grandmother's home wasn't a "beautiful" home by the typical musings that I write here or that you might see in magazines and on HGTV. It was a fairly typical post-war track home. My uncles and grandpa dug  the basement themselves (yes, you did read that correctly - they dug the basement). It had one tiny bathroom and one very tired kitchen.
Yet, despite any physical flaws, it was the most comfortable and loving home that I have ever experienced. This is the feeling I would love to create for every one of my clients in their home. If I could, I would ensure that everyone in the world had such a haven of their own - a place of perfect love and comfort, with a few cosmetic blemishes, too. I haven't totally mastered this process, but I'm working on it. How did Grandma do it? I think just a whole lot of love. That's exactly what you get when you have a house that has played host and home to 8 children, 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and even 1 great-great-grandchild.
I miss my grandma and I will so miss her home.

Moving in with the 8 kids.

The Living Room addition in the 1960's. (love the draperies)

Christmas with the grandkids in the early 1980's

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

If a Sofa Can be Sexy

If a sofa can be sexy, then this one would certainly qualify for it's high sex appeal - the Clint sofa from Bradley Hughes.  I love it when beautiful piece just pop into my inbox. This morning I found this little jewel and had to share. The shape is classic with a masculine appeal. The blue velvet takes it to the next level (aka sexy). Bradley Hughes provides an exclusive product line of furnishings fashioned from exceptional materials such as acid mirror, colored glass, hand-forged iron, exotic wood and stones and hand-finished concrete. All products are proudly manufactured in the USA. 





Bradley Hughes also has fabulous lighting. See more here: http://beautifulhabitat.blogspot.com/2010/03/metal-lighting-that-says-wow.html

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Inspiring Images - Shopping the French Riviera

In May I had the wonderful pleasure of traveling the the Cote d'Azur for a sunny getaway. I found loads of inspiration and beauty to share with you. Today I'd like to focus on the beautiful images and vibrant colors I found while shopping. The French are truly gifted at window dressing, even in the smallest shops and sans windows. I found myself pulled into so many boutiques simultaneously wanting to buy the gorgeous items, yet not wanting to disrupt the artfully arranged display. If only photos could really do it justice... Enjoy!

This is my Cote d-Azur teaser. Look for more Inspiring Images coming your way very soon - including Cannes Film Festival, beaches, yachts, antique markets, and Art Deco.
Happy Weekend!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Still Obsessing: Nail Head Trim

I still in love with all the creative uses for nail head trim, and still planning my own DIY project. Here are more out-of-the-box applications for nail head trim that are inspiring me. I hope you'll find inspiration, too. Enjoy!

Leather wall tiles are certainly a way to make an impact in any room. Now, combine leather wall tiles with double rows of pyramid-shaped nail heads - WOW. This room was designed by Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford of Kristen Kelli, LLC  and featured in the May issue of House Beautiful.

If that look feels too edgy for you, try waves of traditional round nail heads on grass cloth wallpaper.

This room was part of the Denver Parade of Homes, 2007. Sadly I do not have the Designer information to give credit, but I loved it so much that I snapped these photos. If anyone knows the Designer, please share and I will be happy to credit them for this beautiful room.

Still working on my own nail head creations....stay tuned.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Latest Obsession: Nail head Trim

I am currently obsessed with nail head trim, but not just any traditional old nail head. I have been captivated by creative designs, uses and even shapes and color of nail head trim. So much so that I will be using it very soon on my own DIY project - watch this space. In the meantime, I'll share my many sources of inspiration for this particular project.
My number one source of inspiration on creative use of nail heads is Shine Home. The furniture line is amazing and creative.

Moorea Bed

Manhattan Sofa

Humphrey Ottoman

Verona Chair

Florence Bed

 This photo has another take on nail heads - notice the turquoise heads on red fabric. This is the home of Designer and Showroom owner Dan Marty, featured in Western Interiors & Design Magazine (no longer in publication)

In the next three photos, the nail heads aren't necessarily applied in a unique way. However, I like the use of nail heads to accentuate an interesting shape or line in furniture.

From Global Views poof collection.

The Quatrefoil Headboard by Ballard Designs.

This chair is featured in an ad for Scalamandre Fabrics. I like the combination of nail head over a tape trim.

And finally - nail heads (and fabric) don't have to be limited to chairs and beds, but go beautifully on case goods, too. Designer Tobi Fairly brought in side tables with great nail head accent in this room. The room was featured in House Beautiful magazine and tables are by Jan Showers.

Stay tuned for my incorporation of this nail head inspiration into a few projects - coming soon!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Metallic Wood Finishes

 Yes, your read that correctly - Metallic Wood. InOre is a stunning collection of solid wood flooring applied with real metal finishes.

Hand-produced in the UK by Seamless Industries, the products are available in Bronze, Brass, Copper, Nickel Silver, and White Gold (a composite of others metals, not real gold).

InOre is available in two finish types: Ingrained, in which metal is applied into the natural grain of the wood and reveals itself only when hit by direct light; and Coated with a solid coat of metal applied to boards with deep accentuated grain.

Ingrained finishes are delicate and subtle. 

Coated finishes are bold and dramatic.

InOre is made using only sustainable woods from renewable sources. The patented process involved in the application of the metal coating has received environmental awards applauding it's utilization of recycled materials.

Is there a US equivalent? I'd love to have some in my home.Drop me a line of you know of a US product like this.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

A New Use for Legos

By now you should know that I love unusual things and using everyday items or materials in unique ways. So it is absolutely no surprise that I LOVE the Lego Kitchen Island by Simon Pillard and Phillippe Rossetti.That's right - a Lego (as in little plastic blocks) kitchen island.The island is constructed of 20,000 Lego blocks surrounding an IKEA kitchen island.

I loved building with Legos as a kid, so here are some Fun facts about the worlds favorite building blocks, courtesy of Wikipedia:

• Legos come in 2,350 different pieces in 52 colors for a nearly infinite number of combinations.
• Billund, Denmark is the home of the Lego and also the prefab capital of the world
• Originally designed in the 1940's
• There are four Legoland amusement parks - Billund, Denmark, Windsor, England, Gunzburg, Germany, and Carlsbad, California USA.
• Lego was coined from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well".

Stock up on Legos and encourage your kid's creativity and you could have your very own Lego furniture soon!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Cool and Cozy Pet Beds

 My wonderful readers know that I adore my dogs. I also love to keep a stylish home and feel strongly that the two concepts are very compatible. This collection of fun, chic and stylish pet beds makes that goal achievable.

The Le Corbusier Dog Sofa will bring a cool Bauhaus feel to modern or transitional dwellings.

Available on Dogbar.com 

The "Doodle" collection of dog beds was designed by artist William Wegman for crypton fabrics. Not only do you get a fun design, you also get the pet friendly benefits of crypton fabric. Crypton is a specially engineered fabric system with an integrated moisture barrier. The Doodle comes in additional colors. If it's too cartoony for you, there are other more subtle designs available at crypton.com.

For more tips on designing for pets, see the post "For the Love of our Pets" or "Design for Dogs".


Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com