Always Wanted a Crystal Chandelier

Do you have things that you've always wanted, always admired, but for whatever reason never purchased? That's how crystal chandeliers are for me. I want one sooo badly, but I have exactly 0 places to hang it, so I've always just admired from afar. Someday, when I have my big old house and rooms upon rooms, and 12ft ceiling in all those rooms, I'm going to hang crystal chandeliers in several of the guest rooms. Until then, staring longingly at pictures will have to suffice. What have you always wanted but never purchased?
Happy Wednesday!

Infinitely elegant, this bedroom melds chippy old doors with a massive drop crystal chandelier.

There is something so reserved and refined about this muted bedroom. Swedish blues and neutrals create a restful space, and the antique chandelier adds just the right amount of sparkle.

I love this dining room. The exceptional architectural remnants that casually lean against the wall balance the formality of the ruffled seat covers and chandelier.

An absolutely stunning bathroom. I love the three matching mini chandeliers, but I can tell you that the tv would drive me crazy. I'd take it down immediately.

Another gorgeous space here. The large powder blue armoire and antique chandelier are simply perfect together. 

And finally, a beautiful living room. This space is so smashing. I love the Mora clock, the chippy french bistro chair, and I actually have teal blue seltzer bottles on my Christmas List this year. But why would you leave your violin on the floor?

New Acquisitions

Last Thursday I made a HUGE purchase for the business. It took me two trips up and back in the pickup to haul everything. I scored a solid oak sideboard, a solid oak dining table with two leaves and eight matching chairs, a solid oak coffee table and side table, and a solid oak dry sink. I sanded for about five hours yesterday, and I'm making huge progress on all of it, plus another solid pine sideboard. I'm hoping to have everything finished by the end of the week.  I also got a cute little antique shelf off the side of the road on Sunday. It needs a little work, but has great potential. It's a home made interpretation of the mission style. The best part? The original make used an antique gaming board as one of the shelves, I photographed the underside so you could see :)
Here are some 'before' pictures below.

A Sweet Kneehole Desk

This is another desk that I just custom refinished for a client. When she purchased it, it was painted solid black. I was unsure if the top of the desk would be salvageable - both because I wasn't certain it was solid wood and not veneer, and because sometimes desk and table tops get painted because there was something seriously wrong with the wood that the previous owner wanted to hide.
Not the case with this desk though, once I sanded it, I found an incredibly beautiful solid poplar top underneath. Poplar has a bold wood grain, and is easily identifiable because of the wide bands of green. Once stained, you can't see the green anymore, but the wonderful woodgrain remains. The client loves teal and she had the brilliant idea to paint the interior of the drawers in a teal. I custom mixed the color to match another piece that she owns. We kept the same nickel drawer pulls because they were so super cute.
Before and Afters below ~

A White and Barn Board Desk

This is a little project that I just completed for a client. She wanted some more desk space for a cottage she's decorating. I love the lines on this desk, really great turned legs. The top was a factory finished composite material, so to get the warmth and texture of real wood I added a barn board top. We did a very subtle finish on top to keep the piece light and bright. I would call this look Modern Cottage.
Before and Afters below ~

Decorating with plants for Christmas

Happy Holidays! How is your Christmas shopping going so far? I've done very little! But we did get our Christmas trees yesterday afternoon, so that's a step in the right direction. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I'm keeping the Christmas decor pretty restrained this year, lots of silver and mint green, not a lot of red and green frou-frou stuff. One thing that is a must on my Christmas decor list? Live plants. Don't you just crave them this time of year, when everything outside is dead for the season and you know you won't be seeing fresh spring green for another four months. I've got three batches of paper whites going, a terra-cotta pot of mixed herbs, and a large rosemary topiary. I think everyone should have some paper white this time of year. They're so easy to grow, look so pretty and fresh, and cost almost nothing (usually $1 per bulb).
Here are some pretty pictures of living plants for the Holidays!

This neat little line of potted Amaryllis looks so modern. Very cool!

With birch wraps and a cluster of frosted pinecones,
these paper whites help create a winter wonderland vignette on the mantel

An elegant round topiary, a beautiful aged planter, and a single mercury glass ornament. Beautiful.

Antique aqua soda bottles and a rosemary topiary? I'm sold.

A beautiful dry sink is repurposed to hold a collection of holiday plants here.

Such a sweet gift idea, a little potted evergreen in an interesting container. You can plant the tree in the spring and keep the container!

Not exactly functional (these people must not have pets or children) but oh how sweet, bunches of paper whites going up the stairs!

This carefully set sideboard has such a timeless elegant feel. The wine cooler of paper whites is the perfect touch.

A gorgeous spread of urns, plants, and mercury glass adds twinkle by a window.

More rosemary topiaries, this time with simple white vitiates and bunches of fresh greenery.