Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

Elegant Zebra

As I was looking through some of the pictures I’ve saved in my “Inspiration File” … I noticed a trend. There was something with a zebra print in an awfully lot of them.

For me, zebra print usually falls into one of two categories. I like to call them Nightclub Zebra and Elegant Zebra. Nightclub Zebra is really in-your-face, kind of cheesy. It conjures up images of Lindsay Lohan clubbing in Miami at 5 am in a place with zebra velour couches, purple rugs and disco balls.

Elegant Zebra makes me swoon.

Elegant Zebra is versatile. It works in a variety of rooms and color schemes. Here’s a kitchen and a bedroom that pair zebra with turquoise:

Here’s a bedroom and a library that pair zebra with a kind of citrusy pallate. One’s traditional, one’s modern … but the zebra rug works in both.

 ElleDecor San Franicisco Show House via Good Bones Great Pieces
A zebra print also works beautifully in a neutral room. It almost becomes the “pop of color” in the space.
James Tse Photography via DecorPad
Would you ever consider using a zebra print rug for your staircase runner?  If you’re thinking, not a chance, take a look at this next picture.
Sometimes, just a small zebra chair or two is all you need for a lot of impact.

What about replacing your coffee table with a zebra ottoman?
via Domino

As much as I love zebra however, I believe a home can really only support one statement making zebra piece. I am still holding out for a zebra rug for our bedroom. Good Bones Great Pieces has done a great roundup of zebra rugs at various price points.

Here are a few other pieces you can add to your home, depending on your level of zebra-love.

Horchow Zebra Chest –  $3,199

 Just want to say thanks again to everyone for reaching out to me and for all of the wonderful support this week with the launch of my blog.  It has been a fun week!

We’ve got a busy weekend ahead, so no new posts this weekend. But I promise a swoon-worthy Valentine’s Day post on Monday and more vintage finds to come!

My favorite vintage finds … Part One

I love looking for little vintage treasures … not so much large antique furniture, but fun little things that look like they have a story to tell.

Even if your decor is more contemporary, try sprinkling in a few vintage pieces here and there.  I guarantee you’ll get compliments. They are conversation starters; the things that make people say “Wow, where did you get that?” They are the things no one else has or seen in all the stores.

Here’s a few of my favorites:

I picked this up shortly after we moved into our house when I realized we lived a couple minutes away from Old Plank Road … one of Nate Berkus’ favorite shops.  (Sadly, they have recently relocated to the city, but I am dying to go down and see their new space.)
Anyway … Swoon! Since then, I’ve seen other ones in NapaStyle or even Pottery Barn. But they  aren’t as curvy and don’t have the cool vintage label.

I’ve also collected an assortment of vintage copper cookware that I have hanging over our kitchen island. I have loved finding different sizes and shapes. How cute is that little butter warmer in the front?

It’s just a little thing, but I love this book!  If you’re an avid reader of home decor magazines you’ve likely seen it in numerous tablescapes of well-styled living rooms. It makes an exotic addition to any stack of books, don’t you think?

I move mine around the house periodically. I bought it at one of the stands at our local outdoor “French Market” (kind of a Farmer’s market).  Doesn’t every husband want his wife to have a book called “I Married Adventure?” I once saw one on ebay selling for $90 dollars!  I just checked again and there is currently one for $23 … go snatch it up now if you can. (Then please come back and keep reading!)
I love this little chair I found at a local store called Vintage Charm. I wasn’t crazy about the fabric so I recovered the seat with a remnant I found in the sale bin at one of favorite fabric stores, Les Tissus Colbert, which sadly has also closed up shop.
It’s really weathered and, well, it just made me swoon. It may get moved around the house over the years as well. I can just change out the fabric.

Also in my bedroom is this old Gardener’s toolbox.

It is perfect for holding large earrings and chunky bangle bracelets.
It would also be great in a kids room to store craft supplies, Lego’s, race cars, or other trinkets.

I love these old tins I found at the Randolph Antiques Market that’s held the last weekend of every month from May to October in the West Loop of Chicago.  The big one is an old hot cocoa tin. I usually put it away come spring and bring it out again right around the time you want to start drinking cocoa in late fall. The other three are say cloves, ginger and mustard. I love the pop of color they give to this shelf in my kitchen. They were very inexpensive, too!

Do you have some favorite vintage pieces in your home?  Where are your favorite places to go “hunting”?

Stay tuned for more of my favorites, as well as some online sources for vintage goodies!

Wednesday Wish List – Chandeliers

As satisfying as it is to complete a project or get something new for your home, I think it’s also fun to have a wish list. It’s kind of like planning for a vacation to a city you’ve never been before … flipping through magazines and catalogs, doing a little research and daydreaming.

My wish list includes a new chandelier over my kitchen table.

While I do like some of the lighting choices our builder made, others … not so much.

There’s nothing really wrong with it. I just want something more … interesting. I’ve been inspired by these photos.

I’ve tried to spruce it up by having this painted on the ceiling above it …

If money were no object, (and we didn’t need to completely rip out and redo our front bluestone steps this spring … another story) I’d love to get this:

Restoration Hardware 6 Arm Wine Barrel Chandelier $2595

This one is pretty swoonworthy too …

Restoration Hardware Foucaukt Iron Orb $850

I also like this one …

Restoration Hardware Parisian 6 Arm Chandelier $895

Shades of Light has one with a similar feel that’s slightly less expensive …

Provence Crown and Tassel Chandelier $698

I love the light creamy color of them both and all the little details give them the interest I am looking for.

This next one has a more casual feel … but that might be nice for a kitchen. I love the rustic texture and that it’s modeled after an old wine barrel.

Shades of Light Wine Barrel Lantern $998

Then I saw this one from Wisteria …

It’s simple, French, and elegant … and the price … (swoon!)
What do you think? What’s on your wish list?

Swoonworthy Color Combo

Do you watch Sarah’s House on HGTV?  I absolutely love the “country house” she did for Season Three.  Ever since I saw the bathroom and kitchen of that house I have been loving yellow and gray together …

The fabric on those bathroom curtains makes me swoon (and that tub ain’t so bad either) … here’s a closer look:
I really want to use this color combo in my house. I’m thinking of my dining room.
The fabric looks a lot like a wallpaper swatch I ordered a while back from Walnut Wallpaper:
Anthropologie has another version:

There are also more modern ways to use the color combo. West Elm has some great bathroom goodies using  bright yellow and charcoal gray.

And Dwell Studio has a great selection of yellow and gray fabric, pillows and rugs.

Even better, their line at Target is cheap and chic!

How about this rug from Ikea?
Adding in some black accents is another option … how dreamy is this room ?

Via Chicago Home + Garden

Some of the pillows I mentioned in yesterday’s post would go nicely too.

Throw in some artwork …

From Bird Babble on Etsy

From Nature Mandalas on Etsy

From Apple Blossom Print on Etsy 

And some accessories …

Baskets from Furbish Studio

Vase from ZGallerie

From MexChic on Etsy

Swoon!