Patent Leather...Unexpected, and Fabulous!

I think the best design elements are the one's that are unexpected.

Which is why I'm really loving patent leather upholstery on classic chair shapes.

Give me a Louis XVI style chair or a classic mid century shape in a punchy patent,

and I'm totally on board!

Jan Showers

I love the combo of yellow and green here.

Super fab!

Love this tufted yellow version too!

Kelly Wearstler---Always a win!

What's your take on patent leather on a classic chair?

Contrast Trim---Love it?

Part of being someone who tries their hardest to decorate well on a dime, is looking for ways to add "expensive" details for very low cost. 

One of the things I'm super obsessed with right now is contrast piping.

It takes hardly any fabric or time for your upholsterer, yet the impact is very high.

I love the black piped blush sofa in this apartment designed by Erin Gates of Elements of Style.

This is another example, although, let's be honest, the fabulousness of this situation has almost nothing to do with the contrast orange piping. It all lies in the stunning Trina Turk for Schumacher fabric.

It's to die!

I also adore trimmed cushions on sofas. 

It makes the look so much more cohesive.

Jan Showers

images via pinterest

I love the trimmed moss green velvet sofa in Tory Burch's living room.

FAB!

What's is your take on contrast trim/piping on a sofa?

I DO like Green---Sam I Am!

When I was going through my Shabby Chic phase, I was majorly into light green.

After finding my way out of that overly floral tunnel, I had a long-standing aversion to green.

Recently however, I've found myself lifting out of it and returning to my green obsession with a new outlook--and hopefully a more "chic" stance this time round.

I'm loving it in fashion.

And wedding style.

And of course in chic door foliage.

I'm realizing that in the right shade it can be SO sophisticated.

And a far cry from the shabby chic or super preppy decor stages.

Jan Showers

I'm loving it in these retro bar stools--- and ya'll LOOK at those mint cabinets.

TO DIE FOR.

Loving it in my favorite Celerie Kemble Hot-House Flowers print!

Or in a deep moss green velvet--- How great would this look on a tufted sofa or chair?

Real Simple

It looks sophisticated when mixed with blush pink.

And oh-so-darling when mixed with mint or aqua!

All other images via Pinterest.com

Love these window treatments!

What's your take?

Do you have green ENVY or not so much?

Coffee Table Time..... The Revel and the Reality

I'm currently on the hunt for a new coffee table.

Remember when I showed you the most current photos of my living room a couple months ago?

Well, my former black and gold Hollywood Regency style coffee table was chewed up 

by a couple naughty little monsters.

The Culprits.

One Mr. Trump and one Ms. Trammell.

It was looking pretty bad. 

This Ikea "Lack" coffee table is currently holding it's place 

while I figure out exactly what I want.

As with all shopping/decorating dilemas, 

I typically like to drool over the items that are out of my price range first.

Like this lucite and rope coffee table from Pieces.

I love this Rattan table, also from Pieces,

but I'm quite certain that my dogs would see it as one giant chew station.

These are great too.

Pieces, I love you, but you're unfortunately not in my price range right now.

The second you are, I will be purchasing everything in sight at your store.

Of course when you're browsing through things you can't afford, 

you find---- OTHER things you can't afford.

Like this FABULOUS burlwood and lucite console.

Or this burlwood and lucite desk,

that NEEDS to be mine.

Other Coffee Tables I just adore...

Love this brass and wood table from

Jonathan Adler.

And this gold and mirrored glass piece, The Sabine Table, from 

Jan Showers Collection.

And the Harrison Coffee table from

 Jan Showers Collection

This table is SO fabulous. Love the lucite mixed with the glass and architectural bronze.

As for what I can afford today, I'm loving this piece from Circa Who 

in Palm Beach.

I'm really liking multi-level coffee tables.

I also like this all-lucite version.

images via pinterest.com, PiecesInc.com, JonathanAdler.com, JanShowers.com, Etsy.com, CircaWho.com

I found this burlwood beauty on Etsy.

I'm pretty into burlwood, mainly because I feel like it can be styled so many different ways.

It's obviously very 1960's, but it can go Hollywood Regency, Mid Century Modern,

Dark and Sophisticated or Light and Colorful.

What is your pick?