A most infuriating mantel

Fall 2011

 I spent this early morning scouring Pinterest for ideas for my mantel. It is a most infuriating spot.

It is only 6 1/2 inches deep but more annoying is the hole.

Painting covers "THE HOLE"

I have a large painting in front of this abomination. It was for the purpose of housing a TV. Yuk!

I can't just drywall over it because it houses the wireless internet connection for the house and several electrical outlets.

The whole mess makes it difficult to "dress".

So here is a taste of what I found on Pinterest.

I prefer symmetry in formal settings but my mantel is in a casual space.

I am drawn towards feminine collections and pretty things but that just wouldn't suit my space.

A collection of oddities seems more appropriate.

I had to include this

No guts, no glory. The mantel above gets my vote for most creative and I really love it.

Here are a few more.

I am open to suggestions.

I should also add that the ceiling above my goofy mantel is angled, 9 feet high on the left and 18 feet to the right.

Ugh.

Blue and white confession

I have a confession to make... (sounds like a line from a '70s family sitcom)

I have a long held obsession with blue and white porcelain.

The photo above shows my entry hall which, in my opinion, does not contain nearly enough blue and white.

I have some that was my great great grandmother's and a few new pieces but I am itching for more.

In a effort to affordably find more I went first to eBay and then Etsy.

I urge you to try this search, just type "blue and white" after clicking the vintage modifier in the drop down menu of Etsy's search box.

It turns up some very interesting results.

This mid-century bowl is just plain cute but not what I was after.

Nice but I already have lots of plates.

Lovely but I have a more extensive set in Czech porcelain.

 Hmmm. I have a cow creamer but it is all white. No, no one is enough.

Yes, this is right but at $400 it was a bit more than I want to spend.

Starting to think that I'll only find crap for for a few dollars.

This painting is charming.

I should mention that I have a thing for boxes too.

This one is $55. I am still on the fence about it.

I am now bidding on these on eBay.

They seem to fit the bill.

 Sorry I forgot to link to everything. If there is something you must have email me and I'll do my best to find it for you.

Style study: Lambrequins, cornices and pelmets.

Lambrequins, cornices and pelmets are structured top treatments on windows often above other "soft" treatments.

Lambrequins go farther down the sides of the widow frame and can go to the floor if the window does.

There is little difference between a pelmet and cornice. They can be painted or covered in fabric.

I think this shaped cornice is charming and works nicely with the angles of the ceiling.

I am racking my brain trying to think of a room to incorporate a chinoiserie pelmet like one of these.

Happy Monday!

Curtains, a Blogiversary, and thoughts on quality

Finally, we got my living room curtains hung yesterday. It was after much cajoling and a few threats that my husband got to work on them so the light was not right that late in the day but you'll get the idea.

You may already know that against my better judgement I bought ready-made curtains from JCPenney. I had bought curtains there before and thought the quality was very good for the price. Now I'm not so sure.

I got Chris Madden faux silk panels that are lined and interlined.

First the good things: They were on sale and I use credit card points to get store gift cards, so they were nearly free.

The faux silk facing material looks nice.

The rod pocket was a consistent and correct size.

Now on to the problems: The lining and interlining were were of very low quality.

There were no corner weights.

Worst of all the interlining was not cut or sewn in straight which makes it so that it stretches and will not lie flat and wrinkles while ironing.

I wish it was easy to convey to you the difference in construction and quality but its rather a matter of feel.

I am satisfied with the overall look for now. My husband hates the fact that they "break" on the floor. I wish I had made them myself. If I had more 2 year old free time I would have but I use that time for frivolous things like bathing.

The other quality issue concerned the trim I used. I got it at, of all places Walmart. It worked out to $1 a yard.

Are you sensing the "you get what you pay for" theme?

Well lets just say one of the 3 yard rolls was not and since my panels were 108 inches that was a problem.

On a more positive note I love the hardware I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond. 

I got Cambria adjustable rods and these clear acrylic finials.

In all I like what I got for the money but it will gnaw at me that the quality is not that of every other window in my house as they are all custom. My short stint helping out in a drapery workroom has spoiled me forever.

So eventually I will pony up the hundreds of dollars and get some proper curtains for that room.

In other news, today is my two year anniversary blogging, albeit not entirely under this header. I started out with Good Taste Good Tasting with the idea of a food AND design blog.

Not so good.

I mean to resume posting over there about food only but its somewhere farther down on the "to do" list.

I am going to go bask in "doneness" of my living room. It is basically as done as anything ever is in my house. I do want to change the coffee table and add a few other small touches but to the untrained or not crazy, design obsessed eye, it looks done.

What is this?

Yesterday I went to a local thrift store for some vintage plates that match my grandmother's. They were there before X-mas and over priced but I changed my mind.
Alas, no plates but I brought home this mystery chest.

It is about 21 inches high and has three small drawers along the top and a flip down panel on the front.

The interior and the back are papered with writing (see first photo) that I think is Korean but I am not sure.

There is another recessed drawer inside.

I found it charming.

It needs a little TLC.

It is missing a back ogee leg and there are a few chips in the veneer that would look much better with a touch up.

The confusing part is this hasp lock. It was detached and inside the piece but the holes don't line up.

As you can see the escutcheon plates on the lock line up and seem to fit.

This is the bit that closes the hasp. It has very faint engraving on it.

I did a quick search for information but I think this might require more time. 

My guess is that it is no more than 40 years old.

Anyone know about this sort of thing?

Winter knocking on my door.

I don't regularly keep wreaths on my front door, except at Christmas, but I really felt like having this.

It is simply a white foam wreath, craft feathers, glue and ribbon.

It was all very easy. The feathers have a cozy and warm look to keep winter's chill away.

Now if if I can just get it hung straight. hehe. I didn't even notice when I took the photo that it is a bit off.

Are you a "wreath person"?

Guest post--British colonial bedrooms

 * this is a sponsored post*

Hi everyone! I'm Jessica from Arcadian Lighting, a website and blog where I get to write about the latest in interior design and all the different types of lighting fixtures that go with them. I'm delighted to be guest posting for Design du Monde today because I'm going to be sharing some beautiful British colonial bedrooms. British Colonial style emerged during the 19th Century when the British empire expanded across the globe, reaching parts of India, Africa, the Caribbean and China. British colonists incorporated familiar décor from their home country with the exotic styles they found in their new exotic locations. I hope you find these bedrooms inspiring!

The handsome panel molding and rich tones of this bed are perfectly English, while a zebra skin rug and Chinese pottery add an exotic flare.

I love the tropical accents in this bedroom vignette. Warm colors, bamboo details and botanical prints draw the mind to faraway locations.

The makeshift bamboo frame of this canopy bed looks like an authentic British Colonial find. The collection of Chinese pottery, a Persian rug and zebra print pillowcases add lots of texture and romance to the room. The warm yellow lamps above the headboard look beautiful against the dark red wall color.

This luxurious bedroom has a more subtle British Colonial influence. Canopies made of lightweight cotton or netting were an essential defense against mosquitos in the humid countries that were under British rule. Floral pillows and textured rugs add a tropical feel.

High ceilings, vast open windows and the always necessary mosquito netting make this room a wonderful example of British Colonial design. The ebony furniture is so gorgeous against the white fabrics.

I love the fresh, feminine feel of this British Colonial bedroom. The four poster bed in dark mahogany is classically English, and the high ceiling and ceiling fan are good reminders of the tropical environment outside.

A more modern interpretation of British Colonial, this bedroom is fun, vibrant and fresh. The colorful patterns blend well together, and the tropical ceiling light and bamboo bed frame are wonderful exotic touches.

This bedroom wall is filled with travel ephemera from top to bottom, each reminiscent of the 19th century and the British Colonial empire. Vintage suitcases and tennis rackets are very English touches, while an eclectic variety of taxidermied animals,a zebra skin rug and painted portraits give off a very well-traveled and masculine feel to the room.
Images  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

I hope these rooms have inspired a bit of wanderlust, and maybe even the desire to redecorate your bedroom in the British Colonial style. Be sure to check out Arcadian Lighting, where you'll find traditional light fixtures and much more.