A Dream Living Room - My 1stDibs Living With Style Design Boards

Here is my concept for the 1stDibs pin-it-win-it Living With Style contest.  The deal was to create a dream living room using at least 3 pinned items from 1stDibs.  No problemo.  1stDibs is a constant source of inspiration for me.  Admittingly, I cannot afford most anything on offer.  But I reference the site often and use it as a guide when I am out and about scouting.

At first, I set out to challenge myself by restricting my choices to reasonably priced options.  But like the insatiable Augustus Gloop, I dove headfirst into the tempting chocolaty river of provenance.  I mean, a dream should be lofty, no?  With a future state in mind, I set about creating a pied-a-terre for a woman of means.  I envisioned a woman, newly unencumbered by obligation and the weight of too many things.  The stately apartment is some sort of prewar situation in the city with lots of good architectural elements.  She has downsized, keeping only the things that are most meaningful to her, things that she has collected over a lifetime of experiences, both happy and difficult.  She gravitates toward European colonial influences, but having observed the glamorous heyday of the 70s through her parent’s viewfinder, she enjoys an irreverent nod here and a heavy dash of shiny there.  Pink is the predominate color as everyone looks their best against a fleshy backdrop and art continues to be a constant companion.  In a word, me.  Me, in a future state, left to my own devices.  A modern day swan complete with a Capote-esque confidante.  This is a dream, after all.

Sitting area - Long interior wall

Sitting area - long exterior wall opposite sofa

Dining area elements -  short exterior wall 

LH entry - short interior wall

Because I had a long salon in mind for the living area, one that also included a dining area, it was difficult to capture all the elements in one or even two design boards.  As with all projects, I started out by sketching and quickly realized that a sketch was the best way to capture the big picture.  Even then, I only had time to do one perspective and I ran out of time in the end to really accessorize but between the boards and my sketch, I think it captures the essence of what I had in mind.

You can see my Living with Style pinboard here and follow my pinning madness here.

All photos and layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V

Kelly Wearstler and I See Eye to Eye

I’m Not SayingI am a Genius, per say…

but clearly, what was good enough for me (remember my fantasy land 1stdibs shopping spree?)…

is also good enough for Kelly Wearstler.  This month’s Elle Decor – bam.

Photo credit:  Mikkel Vang

Photo credit:  Mikkel Vang

In other dazzling news, still enduring the Never Ending Summer.  Whomever thought it was a good idea to start the pre-school school year on September 10th has poop for brains and has no idea that I have important things to do like blog about my genius.

Layouts by mrs. V unless otherwise noted

kisses, mrs. V

Shopping 1stdibs

Let’s Play Pretend – the Holly Go-Lightly Version

These light fixtures have caught my eye.  You know, for times when I like to play pretend that money is no object.  And during those delusional times, I shop 1stdibs.  Because when we are talking stupid money, why would I buy something that everyone else has?

Clearly my love of brass knows no end.  I would find places for each one of these.

1 – 70s Swerve / 2 – Ribbed Vessels on Lucite / 3 – 70s Sexy Beasts / 4 – Rotating Console Lamps / 5 – 60s Billy Haines style / 6 – Rembrandt Parrot Lamps

Since these are clearly my boozy Gilded Age daydreams, I see no reason not to further gild the lily.

1 – Empire style gilt / 2 – 40s Italian gilt tole crystal  (perfect for Pieti's big girl room) / 3 – Antique Frenchy Swan goodness (if bling ain’t your thang) / 4 – 60s Austrian beaded business (if you are looking to get your Meares on) / 5 – 40s French Peachy Keen crystal (for that dressing room that I don’t have ) / 6 – 19th Century French crystal (would be lurvely in a kitchen over a marble topped island )/ 7 – French Art Nouveau (for a nod of masculinity) / 8 – Baltic style badass (for that inner oligarch)

Each of those Unusual Suspects promises a spin on the expected of-the-moment options.

1- 40s Hollywood glam (like diamond studs for my hallway) / 2 – Bronze and crystal flush mount (a little crowning sexiness for my dark bathroom) / 3 – Italian industrial (a kitchen alternative to those predictable industrial pendants) / 4 – Hand-blown Latticino glass leaves (for a modish balance in my trad LR) / 5 – Lucite antlers (the glam girl’s version of chalet chic – or as my cousin likes to say, the bomb titty bow wow - for my beamed tile room) / 6 – Audoux Minet 50s rope chandelier (to scratch that 50 shades itch of all things rope) / 7 – Bakalowits crystal sputnik (another option for the hallway to cast crazy rays)

Sometimes you just need to make a simple point.

1 – 70s neoclassical style sconces / 2 – Bronze zodiac lamps / 3 – Eric Cohler Armillary Sphere*  / 4 – Chart House Leaf and Arrow Chandelier*

*From Visual Comfort not 1stdibs.

Because who doesn’t appreciate a well-hung form?  Hmm?

1 – 60s Artemide enameled metal & glass (a good alternative to the ever present Hicks pendant) / 2 – Capiz globe pendant (another good globe alternative to the Hicks) / 3 – White opaline glass pendant (the polychrome decoration is so interesting) / 4 – Arts and Crafts milk glass pendant (another great option for kitchen pendants) / 5 – Japanese brass globe (in my tiny entry) / 6 – Vintage Moravian Star (would be super cool in a small dark bath)

While I am busy daydreaming, I never forget to pretend that I also live in Palm Beach.

1 – 60s Maison Charles sheaf lamp (a femme version of a bouillotte lamp)/ 2 – Italian floral lamps (add delicate symmetry to a parson’s style console) / 3 – John Rosselli Alyssa chandelier* (a graceful note) / 4 – Maison Jensen palm tree floor lamp (for some serious Palm Beach flair) / 5 – Italian gilt metal bamboo (for a Ruthie Sommers style sunroom) / 6 – Sheaf of wheat lamp (perfect for that accent table)

*From Visual Comfort not 1stdibs.

Let’s not forget some lovely lady lumps and pleasing forms.

1 – Bari Ziperstein ceramic bust (a glammy whammy) / 2 – Desimone table lamp (for an artsy Cubist style swerve) / 3 – Frances Elkins tree form floor lamp (originally made for Elkin’s daughter!) / 4 – Plaster drape lamps (like lovely gowned ladies – great for a fashionista’s office or dressing area) / 5 – French opaline lamps (another shapely form – these would inject a burst of color)

I feel the same way about Chinoiserie as I do brass – my love knows no bounds -  a timeless element in any room.

1 – Tea cannister lamps (every room needs some black) / 2 – Tole bamboo chandelier (for even more Ruthie Sommers flair – but I would swap out those shades) 3 – Italian pottery monkey lamp (a dose of Palm Beach Regency) 4 – Antique Imari lamps (same feel as Chinoiserie) / 5 – 60s porcelain lamps (quintessentially Chinois-y) / 6 – Chinese blue and white vessels turned lamps (would compliment my growing collection)

Sconces add the perfect mood lighting and symmetry.

1 – 50s Italian Arteluce sconces (a pair would be everything over a bathroom vanity) / 2 – French bronze and ormolu lion head sconces (for a serious note) / 3 – Italian antique sconces (there is no substitute for real patina) / 4 – Arrodeluce attributed sconces (for some Palm Springs swagger a la David Jimenez)

When you need a dash of color, blue is a classic choice.

1 – 60s blue glass lamps (l want to channel Christy Ford!) / 2 – 50s Marbro Italian lamps (because I can never get enough blue and white) / 3 – Scandanavian glass lamps (Christy has multiples and so must I!) / 4 – French opaline (so good had to share again)

When all else fails, fake it until you make it.  A little crafting could yield similar results.

1 – 50s Earthenware lamps (for those chevron lovers – Danika could do these lickity split) / 2 – Tole bouquet lamps (colored card stock or spray painted thin metal) / 3 – Italian ceramic lamps (an easy project for thrifted lamps)

Happy Monday.

All layouts by mrs. V

kisses, mrs. V