New love...

Ok, so I've been cheating. Well, not so much cheating as one sided two-timing. I have found a new obsession, and it is called Pinterest. Instead of uploading my cool finds to my blog, I have instead been posting them on www.Pinterest.com. I am embarrassed and ashamed, but alas, there it is.

Pinterest is a semi-new site that showcases all the awesome things you find as you surf the net. You just sign up and get your own page to post things. How cool is that? You make your own categories, such as Art, Home Furnishings, Food, Style...the list is endless. You can even follow the directions on their site to add a "Pin It" button to your toolbar. Then, every time you see a cool photo, or a DIY project you don't want to forget, you hit Pin It and add it you your personal page. It really is fantastic.
If you want to look me up, my Pinterest page is listed under WendyOakley8. Come see my pins!

Happy Pinning!
Wendy

I would eat them on a train, I would eat them in the rain

I love the cute little Breakfast Train from Reiko Kaneko.

PTA or NRA?

I came across these awesome mid-century pictures of different homes and interior rooms, as well as commercial spaces. I will be posting them randomly, because I think they should be shared :) I absolutely had to post this one first because the combination of a Carol Brady sewing center with a GUN RACK totally cracks me up.

Enjoy!

Wendy

Kartell Masters

Many of you know how I feel about the fantastic chairs that were designed back in the mid century. Kartell was/is of those awesome companies that produces unique pieces that can stand the test of time.

Recently I saw a chair that I thought was extremely interesting. It is called the Kartell Masters Chair. This chair incorporates three designer chairs in one. If you look closely, you can see the silhouettes of the Series 7 by Jacobsen, the Tulip by Saarinen, and Eiffel Chair by Eames...all iconic designs.

They are on sale now at Emmo Home for $488.00/set of two. They come in black, brown, orange-red, orange, white, and blue. Not cheap, but definitely not a bad deal for pieces that will be cool for years to come. Here's the link if you want to view other colors, or purchase a pair for yourself  http://www.emmohome.com/kartell-masters-chair.html.

Happy Sunday!

Love!

Wendy

Peace or Drama

I am so proud to be part of an amazing music and art project featuring Nashville singer/songwriter Eve Fleishman. In her most recent CD "Peace or Drama" Eve weaves together elements of smoky jazz, motowny pop, showtunes and even a dab of country folk.

For this new project, she has embarked on a unique journey with music and art. Eve enlisted 13 different artists to interpret her 13 original songs through painting. I was lucky enough to be chosen, and assigned my favorite song, "Van Gogh Heard". The finished painting is shown below. Although the background is painted with acrylic, I constructed Van Gogh out of layers of modern wallpaper. This was my subtle way of putting an Interior Designer's spin on it.

  

Eve is now on a year-long tour performing concerts along with the art exhibit. Please visit Eve's website to learn more about her, and click on "Art Project" to see all of the paintings and hear the accompanying songs.
www.evefleishman.com


Hope you enjoy!

Love,
Wendy

Louis, Louis

When I was in design school, I took two classes covering the history of furnishings. It was NOT for sissies - having to learn all of the styles associated with every period throughout history was really tough! But in the process, I learned to appreciate styles that I had never given a second thought to.

One style in particular is the French Louis XV. In this period everything was curvilinear, and designed with lightness and grace. The scale is delicate, as opposed to the very massive previous style of Louis XIV. This style is commonly used in today's homes. Its shape and size are very practical, and is one of the favorites among designers.

Although in most cases we see this style in traditional homes, there are many designers that love to work with traditional styles in modern ways. For example: upholstering chairs in modern or fun fabrics, or recreating the style in a new medium. I have come to love these "reinventions" of the classics, and will love sharing them with you as I find them. 

Here are some fantastic examples of Louis XV Fauteuil chairs, updated for today's buyers: 

  

The first, called the Louis Ghost Chair, is my favorite. It is designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell, and sells for around $410. There's even a kid-sized one aptly named the "Little Lou Lou". 

The ghost chair comes in clear, but is also offered in a variety of other hues. Of course, there are knock-offs priced at $130 and up, which will still look great - and no one will know you are on a tight budget.

Until next time,

Love!

Wendy

Little Boy's Room

After some trial and error, I finally decided on a paint color for my 3 1/2 year old boy's bedroom. In an earlier post, entitled "New Home" I posted a photo of his bare wall with a painted test area. I decided not to go with the hue in that shot, but instead with Benjamin Moore's Blue Hydrangea, #2062-60 which has a bit of gray. I love the result!

Here are the before and after shots:

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

We used the low VOC paint in a satin finish, and applied two coats. This is still a little boys blue, but not a boring choice like so many of the boys colors available. I am really pleased with the outcome, and so is he! He loves his new room now, and that makes all the difference. Feel free to leave a comment or question!

Love!

Wendy