QUOTE: Fun with Colour

"My space is all about fun, function,

and colors"

~Charlotte Hedeman Gueniau, designer

image from decorate book, via decor8 Holly Becker

Dining Room of Charlotte Hedeman Gueniau, Designer

I complete love this space!  My house is grey, white with bits of colour.  But this house is all about colour!  It's refreshing, sunny and bright!
xx
callie

COOL THINGS: Typhoon

Soy Sauce Pot with Bamboo lid

Completely adore this range of brightly coloured kitchen accessories! How awesome is the soy sauce pot!! and the storage containers would be perfect for tea storage or my dried herbs!!  Check out the other items here at Typhoon.  These would look fantastic in an all white kitchen.

xx

callie

Large storage pot

Small storage pot

Ching pinch pots

COLOUR PALETTE: Yellow and Black with pattern

image source

photographer Emma Lee

I am loving this colour palette!  Sunny and cheerful grounded with the black!

This was in Living etc earlier this year and I just fell for the gorgeous mix of pattern with yellow and black!!  Even the textures of the seating is amazingly paired; wicker chair with the cotton sofa! the throw pillows make that whole sofa.... pretty!

What do you think of yellow and black?  What  colour combo are you into at the moment?

xx

callie

INTERIORS: Portraits

image source

This large portrait just rocks! With it's simplicity of colour paired with the Gustavian chairs in a stunning green! Love.

image source
I feel in love with this living room last year when it was published! The portraits are what inspired me to begin a collections of old portraits. Just wish I had heigh ceilings like this space!
Old portraits paired with mid century furntiure, brilliant!
{note to self, design high ceilings for lake house!}

image source

image source

I love the idea of having a beloved pet painted for my living room in a large scale such as this one!

image source

Beautiful image of Lauren Bacall
Her glamorous beauty durning an era of amazing movie making mixed with a few of my favorite modern pieces of furniture is fresh colours in the home of landscape designer Jay Griffith.

What are your thoughts on large portraits? a wall of portraits?

I personally love them!

xx

callie

ps Since my parents have come to visit, my dad has taken to looking at my blog daily!  Thank you poppy!!  AND today is his Birthday!!!! SO, please join me in wishing my dad the best birthday ever!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pop!!

xx sissy

A wee break

This week has been a bit crazy, so I am signing off for the week.  I will be back on Monday with some things that have been really inspiring me lately!! 

Have a great weekend all!

Enjoy the weekend and see you on Monday!

xx

callie

PRODUCT LOVE: fresh skin

I have to say, I think I have found the perfect skin care system for my skin!!  I have really dry skin and I go to great lengths not to get wrinkles! Really, I do! and living in Chicago can be brutal on one's skin.
I use sunscreen diligently and I have a total skin care regime that works!  it took me years to find the perfect skin care regime.

I use products that have glycerin, vitamin b3, vitamin b5, amino peptide, vitamin e....

I use Oil of Olay products! yes, Oil of Olay!
Regenerist Regenerating Cream,  to deep clean and scrub away dirt and grime.
Regenerist Night Recover Cream, to deeply replenish my skin!  sometime I use it during the day when I need a bit more moisturizing.  It also firms the skin!
Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream,  deeply moisturizing and keeps my dry skin at bay.
Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum!! now this I can not CAN NOT live without!  It keeps all those nasty little lines away from my eyes and leaves my skin looking dewy soft.
Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel, I use this twice a week!! oh, my! my skin glows and looks fresh! Leaves my skin looking clean, fresh, even toned and soft!! Seriously!! and it smells awesome.

I start my day with Oil of Olay and light make up and I am good to go!
What products do you use and love?
xx
callie

DESIGN: pretty pretty

via country living

This sofa is just pretty!!!

I love the soft lavender colour.  I bought two slip covers when I purchased my sofa with the thought that one of the covers I would dye a perfect colour for winter and have the white one for summer.  I think I just found the colour! This gorgeously soft and very pretty lavender!!

Here is my sofa in my living room.  Don't you think it will be really pretty!!

Let me know your thoughts!

xx

callie

HAPPY Friday!

Source: pluggednotthugged.com via Ana Laura on Pinterest

It's Friday!

I am so happy for the weekend. How about you?  
Found this image on Pinterest.... I am so addicted to that site. So mysteriously romantic!  


enjoy the weekend my friends!
xx
callie

QUOTE: Big Part

"Antiques and
         vintage play a big part
in modern glamour"
~Melissa Palazzo
Decorate by Holly Becker

image: Nate Burkus 

ps
I love this song! it's beautiful and it cuts deep. her voice is amazing.

For you Z!

For your drive tonight!

enjoy, I wish I was there to take the drive with you

it would be great fun!

xx

callie

MUSIC: The Carnival Is Over

This song always makes me feel light and floaty= happy and giddy. Not sure why but I love it!!
xx
callie

love her hair!! all crazy stacked on top of her head!!


images

ARTIST: Jan De Vlegher

I came across this amazing artist through Greet!! Thank you Greet!  He is truly amazing.  When I was first looking at them they were so clear and true I though they were photographs then I realized the slight blur and noticed the brush strokes.  Please go to his site and look at all his other works too! He is someone of amazing talent.   Jan De Vlegher is from Bruges, he has a masters degree in painting and teaches at Stedelijke Academie Bruges.  Oh, how I would love to study under him. His technique is beautiful.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the facade section (and one interiors thrown in just because, I love interiors!!).  I chose pieces from places I have seen in person to narrow it down since all is work is phenomenal!  and it was hard to select a few for the post.

Who is favorite artist this week?  I love learning of new artists.
xx
callie

all images his website 

UPDATE: Sorry, the website is no longer available and the images are not coming through.  His work is amazing and you can view them on Greet blog I had them feeding directly from his site so they aren't coming through.

I will post again, later today.

EVENTS: AACA Car Show, the second showing of the 1928 Imperial Chrysler

1928 Chrysler Imperial

This past weekend was extremely fun! and I spent all of it with my family and friends.  My uncle, whom I will call "Guido Panzini" collects cars.  We are a family of collectors; my uncle Gui collects cars along with my dad like I collect shoes! 

Well, he has a special car as you can see, I shouldn't even call it a car! It's an automobile 

The 1928 Chrysler Imperial is the only one in existence. The only one ever made!  It has been completely restored to a pristine condition by some very talented people.  The major renovations were done by Renaissance Restorations. The paint is so beautiful and shiny that is reflects like mirror.  The detailing stripes as you can see below are meticulously done and add wonderful character to the automobile. The details and accessories are restored to a level deserving of the "Senior Award" in which is received!  Congrats to my uncle Guido!! and his team of preservationist on such a lovely automobile.

This automobile makes me daydream...... "great gatsby" Gorgeous 1920's dresses and roaring music. {oh, and the gin and tonic! but of course not when driving!} But this car is not a driving car... it is a show automobile. Again, congrats uncle on preserving something so beautiful! 

The lights on the car are really amazing, the lower lamps turn with the wheels!

 Look at that hood ornament!

Again, the paint.... Beautiful!!

The Stone Guard, meticulously woven by Henry who is 93!

 Renaissance Restorations

Zack & Terry Hulsey

Just look at that beauty! The engine shines smooth as glass, Zack

clocked in well over a 100 hours to get it so smooth and perfect!

Details of Zack's work. 

Lots of practice to make the free hand lines so straight.

Christine's work:

a very talented and small women worked on the leather seating.

Details like this just amaze me.

they even have a small plaque on the tail lights

and the letters SLO for indication of turning right!

The voids between the bumper are very cool.  

{I see a painting inspiration coming on}

 Just look at that bumper! 

The artistic swoosh and overall detail is absolutely stunning!

They do not make cars like this anymore, which is sad. 

 The chrome is so shiny that I thought this was glass!!

Important links:
Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA
Renaissance Restorations, Terry & Zack Hulsey
History of Chrylser

INTERIOR DESIGN: Abigail Ahern

CRUSHING:  Abigail's work is such an inspiration.  She is in a league all her own. She incorporates  styles and layers of texture and colour in an evolving undefinable style that creates interiors that are glamorous with a wee bit modern whimsy.  She plays with scale and colours to a level of quirkiness that is sophisticated not garish.  She makes her own rules and they are rules that we all follow! She is a major source of inspiration for me.  I am constantly saving images of her spaces!!
xx
callie

Image 1 & 2

Images 3 & 4

images 5 & 6

I love her use of grey (my favorite neutral) with the amazingly blazing colours!!

all images from Abigail Aherns website
photographers: photos 1, 2, 3 & 4 Rachel Smith. 5 & 6 Graham Atkins-Hughes

HAPPY FRIDAY! Car Show and family fun

It is Friday and we are having fun!!
 The weather is turning a gloomy grey with a bit of sprinkles but that will not hold down my spirits of my vacay!  I am enjoying time with my family and all the good food that comes with it.  What fun plans do you have for the weekend my friends???

Today, I will be hanging out with my parents and aunt & uncle doing family stuff (collecting more family stories for my book)

Tomorrow, I will be with my mum and dad at the AACA, Antique Automobile Club of America with my Uncle and Aunt who will be showing their vehicle.....  1928 Imperial Chrysler, which I will post more about over the weekend.  He is up for the senior award and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he receives the highest award in his club.

Then on Sunday, just relaxing and having yummy home cooked food (again! I can never get enough of mum's cooking)

Enjoy your weekend!
xx
callie

Source: etsy.com via Elin on Pinterest

QUOTE: Ta Da!

                  "It's the
      finishing touches
               that add
the wow factor and take any room from
 ORDINARY
    to extraordinary"
~Abigail Ahern, Interior Designer
quote from Decorate, Holly Becker

How are you all my lovelies! I am now enjoying the next week of holiday with my parents!! So, relaxing.... as I sit here reading and catching up on my blog reading enjoying a huge cup of coffee!
I really hope to bring you some exciting posts this week, I have a few that have been floating around in my head that I want to share with you!! and some images of events that I have been to over the past month.  Plus, some images of my home and DIY projects that need to be shared.

I have been reading the Decorate book by Holly Becker, which I love BTW!!  So, my quote days will be from her book over the next month or so because they are very inspirational!!

Today's quote is from Abigail Ahern, Interior Designer from London:
I love her style!
The textures to the details make the space.  The image on the far right with the edges of the vinyl record covers; worn and tattered contrast with the hard edge of the shelf and is complemented with the pattern on the lamp and artwork.  I enjoy the hits of hot pink in the first two images, unexpectedly placed. Making the entire space filled with energy and fun while keeping the allure to the spaces.

Who is your favorite designer at the moment?
xx
callie

ARTIST: A Place of Inspiration

Artist: Lindsey Bain Gallacher
Jewelry maker and Silversmith, graduated from Edinburgh College of Art
She has begun an amazing craft/artistry using jewelry binding wire as a drawing medium for her recent works.  The above desk is where she works, and it is such an inspirational space! love the images on the wall with stacks of books and papers and other items of inspiration laying about.
She even has a blog! Where she posts some of her wire drawings.
                                              They are gorgeous!! Just take a look!!

Here she used hand made card to give the boat some tone.  and these swallows are amazingly sweet!

She just won the Country Living Kitchen Table Talent Award, she will be showing her work at The Lemon Street Gallery In Truro.
I wish I lived closer, so I could see her work in person. I love this concept, the inspiration and the simplicity of this (even though I know that it is not simple to complete) the sweetness of just paper and wire, turns to beautiful artwork!!
What artist are you really loving today?
xx
callie

ps I love Highland Cattle, they are so darn cute!!

LOVE: Clutch love

This shop has the most amazing hand bags!! 

These a few of my favorites, and today she is having a sale for Labor Day!

The use of leather, patterned fabrics and sweetly coloured metal zippers are all done in 

great colour combinations.  Then the photography really shows off the elegance of each piece!

I need one or two of these lovely bags under my arm.

xx

callie

all images: K.Slademade site
introduced from jillian, cornflake dreams