Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

My buffet project …

Ever since I blogged about this idea I saw on Pure Style Home back in May, I’ve been thinking about trying it out on my own dining room sideboard.
 
 

 
You see, my poor buffet has seen better days …
 
 
It is a wonderful piece we purchased at Mig and Tig many years ago, and it has seen a lot of love …
 
 
… and unfortunately, one too many bowls or plants that have left their mark.
 
But we love it … and I have tried to cover the spots by strategically placing things over them …
 
 
 

 
But … sometimes it’s felt a bit cluttered and I haven’t used it much for actual serving because it looks so bad when you take everything off. 
 
I know we could have it refinished … but this chalkboard idea has stuck with me as a great and inexpensive alternative. And so, as part of my dining room makeover, I decided it was time to give this project a try.
 
At Home Depot I had them cut a wood board to size …
 
 
I sanded the edges and applied a coat of primer.
 
 
Next up,  the chalkboard paint.
 
 
I opted for the Moonstone color to mimic natural stone or slate.
 
 
The can says to do 2 coats, but I did 3 just to be safe … and because it was so easy.
 
The can also says to wait 3-4 days before “curing” it with chalk. Because I’m a little impatient, I only waited two, then took the long side of a piece of chalk and covered the entire board with it …
 
 
… and then erased it … still leaving a little bit of a chalky residue.
 
 
 
You’re supposed to wait another few days before wiping it down. (I think I waited 2 again.)
 
 
And Voila!
 
Of course … it’s more fun like this …
 

 
I love how it looks like slate. Everyone who’s seen it before cannot believe it’s actually a piece of wood.  Fun for serving and writing what’s on the menu.
 

 
So … just a sneak peek of my dining room makeover … I’ll do a “full reveal” soon, I promise!

 
 
Have a great weekend!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our Date With Nate

So, like two giddy school girls, Kristy and I headed into the city last night for a date with the adorable Nate Berkus.

Ok, so, we weren’t the only ones, (there were hundreds of others) and it wasn’t really a date (more like a book signing party for his new book takig place at Jayson Home and Garden.)

But still …

 
We’re up next!!!!
(And check out that amazing lucite desk.)
 
Just as charming and adorable as we expected. He smiled, shook our hands and knew our names … (They were written on a post-it on top of our books.)
 
He even asked us if we wanted to meet up after the book signing party.
(Just kidding.)
 
 
But see that exclamation point?  Clearly, he was sooo excited to see me.
 
Sadly, they wouldn’t allow pictures with Nate.
 
This was the best we could do …
 
 
Is it creepy?
 
Ok, maybe we look like Stalkers.

 
But we are friendly stalkers.
 
That’s his face behind one of the strict Bouncer-Lady’s hands …
 
(If you’re wondering how we got these oh-so-sneaky pictures, it is the work of our friend Karen, who is not just an undercover photographer but an amazing seamstress as well. If you need curtains, bedding, pillows or upholstery, she is your gal!)
 
Anyway, we thought it was nice that Nate had champagne waiting for us …
 
 
Champagne in cans … to drink with a straw! It was almost as adorable as he is.

 
And some amazing food …
 
 
(The pork belly was our fave … we won’t talk about how many we had.)
 
 
With Leeland, one of the amazing designers at Jayson Home and Garden.
 
So Nate … wherever you are today … thanks for a wonderful evening. We’d be happy to come to New York next time and stay in your new digs.
 
 
(Have you seen the pictures of his Manhattan Duplex in Architectural Digest? Swoon! Yes, there IS a guest room.)
 
 
 
 

Unexpected Shopping Sources

 
 
 Sometimes when you are trying to design on a tighter budget, you have to get creative. You have to seek out unexpected sources for art, lamps, furniture, rugs, etc. It takes a little extra digging, but can lead to some seriously swoonworthy finds.
 
I bet you’d never guess where some of these pretty things are from …
 
First clue: While it’s no secret that kids’ rooms have become WAY more sophisticated than when we were growing up … sometimes shopping those stores designated just for kids can yield some beautiful pieces that are actually quite adult.
 
Restoration Hardware Baby + Kids Dandelion Art

Restoration Hardware Baby + Kids French Naval Clock
PBTeen Teardrop Chandelier
PBTeen Mercury Glass Accessories
How many of you think of Urban Outfitters as kind of an edgy, I might-be-too-old-for-it, there’s-nothing-in-it-for-me store? Think again.

Urban Outfitters Zigzag rug

 
 
Urban Outfitters Brass Leaf Side Table

Did you ever consider that you might find just what you’re looking for at a hardware store?
Lowe’s Baxton Studio White Table

Lowe’s Pewter Chandelier
 
Even some older stores and brands known more for their clothing are branching out into home decor items … with very on-trend pieces and budget-friendly prices.
Land’s End Ikat Pillow Cover

JcPenny Antiquus Lamp
JcPenny Versailles Mirrored Chest

So what do you think? Time to think outside the box?

A Natural Cover Girl

Ever wonder what those gorgeous, leafy trees are called …you know, the ones that often grace the cover of magazines …
 
 
 
 
… and seem to be nestled in the corners of the most glamorous, swoonworthy rooms.

 
It’s called a fiddle-leaf fig!

 
I have been searching for one of these trees (actually a bush!) for many years now. Finally, I asked at my favorite florist (locals … you all know Sadie at The English Garden Flower Shop) where I could find one.
 
As always, she came through for me and tracked down several sizes at one of her growers in Florida.
 
I wanted tall and trimmed (topiary style). You can also get them where the leaves grow all the way down the trunk.
 
A week later, she delivered this beauty to my living room!
 
 
I just love the big full leaves. These plants like lots of indirect light and to dry out a little between waterings.  
 
 
I hope she will be happy in my living room for many years to come!