since fall has officially arrived, i decided to make autumnal nature the theme for this month’s projects. sometimes i wish i could be a squirrel so i could stow away a giant collection of acorns, seeds, nuts, etc. in my little home inside a tree. when i stow a collection like that in my house it just gets kind of messy and spiders start living there, but that’s another story. ironically this week’s diy is actually sort of anti-squirrel, but they do just fine by themselves so i thought i’d give the birds some love. the wooden bowl for this feeder not only makes the perfect acorn cap, but it’s slippery so squirrels can’t hold onto it (hopefully). i wanted to put it out immediately, but unfortunately it’s pouring rain in oakland, so you have to see it in ‘faux nature’ for now. this is actually a great rainy day project though, or something fun to do with your kids.. have fun!! -kate
CLICK HERE for the full project after the jump!
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October 14th, 2009 - 10:30am
This past week I tried my hand at wallpapering a room for the first time and let’s just say it’s a lot like wrapping up a big, slimy Christmas present but with higher stakes. I only had one single roll of 1940s wallpaper (purchased from this amazing store) so I had to be extra careful to ensure I’d have enough to cover the whole room. If you’re not ready to take the plunge and paper a room, a great alternative is to paper your kitchen or bathroom cabinet doors. Less mess, less money, less time! Also- if you landlord is a stickler for rules, this project could easily be done on mountable pieces of thick cardstock and attached with removable adhesive strips. -amy m.
CLICK HERE for the full project after the jump!
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October 14th, 2009 - 09:30am
it’s been such a treat having elisabeth dunker at the d*s guest blog this week. today she’s introducing to one of her talented friends, ceramicist marianne hallberg. i just love marianne’s striped bowls and mugs- i can’t imagine a nicer way to start off this chilly morning than filling one of those cups with some hot coffee. click here to check out elisabeth’s full post….
October 14th, 2009 - 08:00am
Some girls are rabid Audrey Hepburn fans. They dress up like Holly Golightly every year for Halloween and watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s once a week. Perhaps I’m going to get crucified far and wide across the internet for saying this but, um, I tried to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s for the first time last year and I just couldn’t get into it. To each their own. I’d rather watch Two for the Road over and over again, anyways. Few movies show the true nature of relationships so honestly; happiness, heartbreak, boredom, jealousy, misery and all. Plus, the story is told over a serious of different road trip flashbacks. All road trips, all movie long. It’s amazing.
[image above, clockwise from top left: headband $12,Diana f+ camera $103, passport cover $20, suitcase set $395, fermob bistro table $337, espresso cup and saucer $60/ set of four, classic MG rental, cashmere sweater $95, fermob bistro chair $189/set of two]
What could be more painfully charming and utterly adorable than Audrey on a lifetimes’s worth of road trips through France? Ummm… nothing. Highwaisted jeans, classic convertibles, striped shirts, kerchiefs and suitcase sets. So maybe renting the MG is a little, ahem, impractical for your average weekend getaway, but a girl can dream and dream she will. -amy m.
[image above, clockwise from top left: suitcase set $395, hermes scarf $375, clown hat $13, striped top $22, dresser $798, canvas rucksack $8, schoolhouse clock $128, Corrigan chair $1998]
October 13th, 2009 - 01:00pm
concert room of sanssouci palace in potdam, germany by eduard gaertner, cooper-hewitt museum
After the Louis chair guide, a number of you commented that it was really the rococo style that made your heart flutter. I promised to delve into the style in greater detail. And I keep my promises! Here’s the ins and outs of rococo.
Rococo is really all about the two C’s – curves and comfort!
Beyond that, there are three characteristics of rococo style:
- Curved lines
- Exoticism
- Forms suggesting rocks or shells
madame de pompadour by françois boucher, c 1757
We can’t talk about Rococo without talking about Madame de Pompadour. Louis XV was known for his love of two things – hunting and women. Madame de Pomadour was born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson and she was one of a string of royal mistresses (Only titled nobility could be presented at Versailles so the marquisate of Pompadour along with its estate in Limousin was purchased for her). In her role as royal mistress, Madame de Pompadour was challenged to keep an easily bored Louis XV entertained. In addition to the countless suppers, festivities and shows, de Pompadour distracted the King by embarking on a series of building and redecorating projects. The Petit Trianon was one of Marquise’s projects. She commissioned the neoclassical building from architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel.
2 photos of madame de pompadour’s private apartments: Ethan Robey
As part of my graduate studies, I had the opportunity to study 18th century French decorative arts in Paris. (I might have mentioned this before!) One of the unexpected highlights of the trip was a visit to Versailles as our French instructor had worked at the chateau for 35 years and was able to get us into all the private rooms (I even saw Louis XIV’s bathroom!). One of the highlights was Madame de Pomadour’s private apartments – this was not on the regular tour. The rooms were small and intimate as was the fashion, and perfectly coordinated in the Rococo style. (Don’t you love her little alcove bed? They were called lits de travers and were introduced in about 1740.) I should add that this is only one example of Madame de Pomadour’s taste. She had many apartments in a number of different residences. After her death, it took a team of notaries working for a full week to compile a list of all of her possessions!
Looking to bring a little Rococo into your home? I’ve rounded up my favorite Rococo-esque items – everything from Pamela by Samuel Richardson (a favorite of Madame de Pompadour) to rococo-esque drawer pulls!
CLICK HERE for the rest of the post – including facts to know and my favorite books about Rococo (and Rococo roundup with 25+ items!) after the jump!
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October 13th, 2009 - 12:00pm
[image by john lampard of disassociated]
today’s city guide is all about one of my favorite cities in the world- amsterdam. my best bud bryan lived there for years and we were fortunate enough to visit him a few years back for my birthday. the architecture, the gorgeous yellow light, all the public parks- it was such a gorgeous city to visit in the summer. today d*s reader jennifer wolfe is walking us through her favorite spots to eat, drink, shop and site-see in amsterdam. if you’re lucky enough to be visiting, be sure to check out jennifer’s guide and grab yourself a paper cone of fries with mayonnaise for me. that’s right- mayonnaise- i like the way the dutch think. thanks again to jennifer for sharing her recommendations with us. as always, if you have a favorite that’s missing feel free to add it in the comment section below.
CLICK HERE for the full guide after the jump!
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October 13th, 2009 - 11:00am
