Bedroom Love

I came across this bedroom photo today in one of my favorite fabulous blogs, the Decorista, and knew that it must have been designed just for me.  This bedroom  incorporates literally just about every design element that I love:

• A faded oriental rug to lend a quiet stateliness juxtaposed against some ultra-feminine elements
• blue chinoiserie fabric
• a Louis XVI chair
• full silk curtains
• warm stained wood furniture
• white bedding
• table lamp with a silver base
• a small bouquet of fluffy pink flowers

What's Behind the Velvet Rope?

A very mysterious business is moving in right next door to where I work and it has everyone wondering....what's behind the velvet rope??

Last week we saw dark red velvet banquettes being moved inside and caught a glimpse of ornate carved interior door frames.  We heard one rumor that it was going to be a burlesque speakeasy and another that it would be fine Middle Eastern dining.

As long as we have no idea, the imagination can run wild!  So I've compiled a collection of the most exquisite bars and restaurants around the world where I think I would look especially good circa 5:30PM on a workday.  If any of these places wanted to move in next door it would be fine by me.

The Round Robin & Scotch Bar at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC

Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, DC

The Campbell Apartment, New York City

King Cole Bar Lounge, St. Regis Hotel, New York City

Bemelmans Bar, the Carlyle, New York City

Monkey Bar, Hotel Elysee, New York City

Rose Bar, Gramercy Park Hotel, New York City

The Hemingway Bar, Hotel Ritz, Paris

Gondolen, Stolkholm

Paris Bar, NYC

George V Hotel Bar, Paris

Arnaud's French 75 Bar, New Orleans

Harry's New York Bar, Paris

The Merchant Hotel, Belfast

Old Town Weekend

I had an Old Town weekend, touring/volunteering at three different historic sites around Alexandria:  Gatsby's Tavern, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary and Mount Vernon.  I was following in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers!  Then I topped it all off with a Sunday morning tour of the food, flowers and wares of local vendors.  A perfect weekend I would say!

Mount Vernon at sunset

The view from Mount Vernon.  Not bad!

I love a farmer's market on a Sunday morning - especially if it's in the cutest town on Earth:  mine.

 Sorry about the picture quality.  So far the iphone has not proved to me to be all it's cracked up be!

Color Block Thursdays - Purple

Purple is popping up in home decor a lot these days.  Maybe because it looks chic, refreshing, cozy and fun all at the same time.  Rooms done in several shades of purple have a high drama factor but little splashes of purple here and there can be also be a good way to brighten up a room in an unexpected way.

Elle Decor

House Beautiful

Bright Bazaar

House Beautiful

Savvy Home

the Decorista

Old Lucketts Gift Card Giveaway!

It's a great weekend - my favorite place to shop for furniture, Old Lucketts in Leesburg, VA, is having a gift card giveaway!  The desk I painted silver-gold last summer came from there.  It's a little bit of a drive (about an hour) if you live near DC like me but well worth it! 

Arzu Rugs

I've been thinking about rugs a lot lately.  Not because I need one, but just because I've been thinking about them.  I'm partial to rugs that have bright colors that look like they faded over time.  Maybe I've been thinking about rugs lately because I recently came across this amazing rug company that is doing wonderful things socially and aesthetically.  The company is Arzu and they sell rugs made by women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan.  Here are some of the amazing rugs they have for sale:

Back to the Blogosphere!

I just went a week and two days - the longest stretch since starting my blog - without writing a single post or commenting on another blog!  Somehow the past two weeks have turned into a crazy whirlwind of activities and responsibilities; most of it really fun and enjoyable, some of it a little more boring.  Here's a little overview of some of the fun stuff I've been doing:

1. Planning my sister's shower and bachelorette!  I got these super cute invitations on Etsy at J Press Designs.  It worked out perfectly for me because I could even customize the color schemes to match the wedding!

2. I framed a favorite piece of art I did in college and added it to my gallery wall (it's the hairy dog)

3.  I started working on an interior design for the Connor Homes Winterthur Country Home Collection.  Here is what I have blocked out so far for the Hottenstein design:

Phew!  Ok tomorrow I'm going to catch up on correspondence with all of my blogging friends whom I've missed so much!!