Pilgrimage to the Homeland

My children and I traveled to my hometown of Memphis over the past weekend to visit the family. It was a short trip, but full of good times and some misadventures. 

 No, we didn't party on Beale Street but I just grabbed a Memphis promo photo off the Internet.

On Saturday, we got my son's 5-year-old shots at my dad's pediatric office then proceeded to get lost on the way to my nephew's baseball game across town. How is this possible when my mother and I both grew up in Memphis and were both in the car? I have no idea. I blame the fact that I had never been in this particular part of town and on my mother's inattentiveness (sorry, mom).

My daughter happened to be snapping photos from the backseat during our seemingly endless wandering in a not so nice part of town. Fun.

After the game, my sister and I escaped to one of the Worlds Away outlets in Memphis to check out the merchandise (I neglected to take photos, sorry. These photos are actually from their website).

These pieces were in the store, but even at wholesale prices nothing was really within my price range. Sigh.

Later that day, we went to see Marmaduke (not exactly an Oscar-worthy film) with the kids because it was too hot do anything else - oppressive heat blows.

After the terrible movie, my sister and I rewarded ourselves with some shopping. This time - paydirt. I didn't buy anything but I did find some super cute and super cheap fabric at this great store called Premier Fabrics in Germantown just down the road from my sister's house.

Hello . . . fantastic prints at incredible prices -  $7.99 a yard for cotton and $8.99 a yard for linen fabrics. They also offer a very affordable line of furniture upholstered in the fabric of your choice. You can check out more of their fabric options online.

Here's the cute Parson's chair they offer for $215. Somehow, I neglected to photograph the chair I would like to purchase for the corner of my bedroom - a skirted winged-back chair variation. Now, I just need to pick a fabric. I'm leaning toward the bamboo lattice or possibly the zebra. I know I have zebra throw pillows on my sofa already but that's in a totally different room for heaven's sake.

Since that's all the shopping I got to do out in the real world, I decided to go shopping around my parents' house. Not as exciting, but there are always things to covet.

I used to think this gilded candle holder passed down from my grandmother was gaudy. Now, I'd like to steal it. No dice. Mom's not parting with it. 

A gigantic suzani from one of my dad's trips that hangs on a wall in their den behind an old desk. How cool is this? Once again, they're not letting go of this puppy. 

And more faux bamboo that you could shake a stick at. This chest of drawers was part of my bedroom set growing up and still sits in my old bedroom. Good ole Ethan Allen circa 1975 (or so). Of course, years ago, I didn't want it. Now, I want it back please. There are matching twin headboards stored somewhere too possibly under a bed. 

Lastly, I was able to barter a deal with my sister for this little beauty . . .

It was very inconspicuously hanging out on a corner bookshelf in her living room when I spied it. She bought it many moons ago at Pier One, but I think it's got a nice timeworn elegance.  She didn't really want it anymore so I traded her a necklace that didn't fit me well. Apparently, my neck is fatter than my sister's because it looks great on her. Win-win situation!

But the best part of the trip was getting to visit with family and friends. Most importantly, these little monkeys got to spend lots of quality cousin time together . . .

Meg is happy. She really is. She just hates getting her photo taken. Especially, now that her two front teeth are gone.

And, I got to visit one of my best friends from college and finally see (and love on) her new baby . . .

Josephine Claire aka "Josie"

and her beautiful red-headed big sister Abigail.

Aren't they precious? 

We had a great visit and hope you have some safe and happy journeys this summer!

Sources: Roamingtimes.com and Worlds Away

Help Wanted

While on a little thrifting excursion Monday morning, I happened upon this: 

My love of Chinoiserie is no secret, so my jaw about dropped to the floor when I saw it. I've been looking for a different table and chairs for my breakfast nook since we moved in four years ago. I've always thought an oval table would fit the space better than my dark, rectangular farm table with cabriole legs.

In our old house, we only had one dining area and this table and chairs fit the space and style perfectly. However, in our current house we have a dining room and a breakfast area. This table was too small for the dining room, so into the breakfast area it went.   I've always thought this space needed a different set-up - specifically, an oval table with chairs and a banquette or settee.

So, four years later, I'm excited to announce that I purchased the Chinoiserie-style faux bamboo dining table (with 2 leaves) and four chairs for what I consider to be an absolute steal. Now comes the fun part - figuring out what to do with the finishes and fabric.

It's been suggested I should leave the table as it is . . .

Please excuse my super messy garage.

And paint the chairs a fun color. But it has to be a color that fits in with the rest of my house because of my very open floor plan. Luckily, most of my furniture is fairly neutral. Yet another reason a pop of color might be in order. I'm leaning towards a rich saturated peacock blue shiny lacquer.

Something like the color of this Miles Redd living room maybe. Of course, it would be on the chairs not the wall so you'll have to use your imagination.

I don't think I could pull off anything too bright a la Jonathan Adler:

Of course, there's always white . . .

Although white would not look great against my creamy cabinets. I guess I could go with a creamy white, but that's pretty close to how they look now. So, I could just leave them the way they are if I decide on that route.

Then, of course, there's the all important fabric selection. Should I pick that first, then pick a paint color to complement it?

I've always loved Chiang Mai dragon by Schumacher in the aquamarine colorway. I know some people might think it's overexposed or trendy, but I don't care - it's still one of my favorites. 

Unfortunately, it's super expensive. However, I shouldn't need much since there are just four seats to cover. I'll have to check with my designer friend Kristen to see how the price breaks down and if they have a minimum yardage ordering requirement. 

If it turns out that Chiang Mai is out of my budget (which it might very well be), I've found some other cute fabric options. Please excuse the sheer multitude, I went a little overboard.

Tazo by Premier Fabrics in Cocoa

Tazo in Denton

Tazo in Chartreuse

Key West by Premier Fabrics

Cadence by Premier

Waverly Sun N Shade Tile Trellis Lagoon

Richloom Cornwall Garden

 Waverly Sun n Shade Koi Coral Reef

Milton Creek Indoor/Outdoor Felton Kiwi

Waverly Sun n Shade Sea Scallop Coral Reef

Vertical Chocolate/Natural by Premier Fabrics

Zig Zag in Village Green/Natural by Premier Fabrics

Okay, so that's about a dozen fabrics. I have an obvious love of fabrics too. So, what do you think? Any keepers in the bunch? Would you prefer cream-colored chairs with bright seats? Or brightly painted chairs with a more geometric pattern? Oh, too many choices. So, please give me your opinion. I really do want your help!

Oh, and don't worry about the table and chairs that I'm replacing. I'm planning on using them in my basement once we re-do that (about 5- 7 years from now, if we're lucky) or I might sell the chairs and keep the table. Haven't totally decided yet. I'm a little indecisive. Can you tell?

Sources: House Beautiful, Jonathan Adler, Absolutely Beautiful Things, F. Schumacher, Aesthetic Oiseau, Sweet Nothings, Premier Fabrics, and www.fabric.com.

Good Things Come . . .

I'm sure we all know the old saying, "Good things come to those who wait." I think it rings true . . . in some cases anyway. In this particular case, I'm referring to a chair. Of course, I would be talking about furniture.


Does anyone remember this chair?

My friend Becky snagged it at a tag sale back in March, and I had major chair envy. For several months now, she has moved it all around her house and thrown numerous fabric swatches on it, but finally decided she didn't have the right spot for it. So, being the good friend that I am, I offered to buy it from her for the same amount she paid. Selfless, I know.

So, now it sits in my entryway, waiting patiently for its makeover. As it is a single chair, I think I will leave it here for the time being even though it seems a little lonely. I love things in pairs (as I have blogged about ad nauseam), but there's also something appealing about a single chair that can be pulled into another room when the mood or need strikes.

I really like the fabric that's currently on it - a turquoise and cream velvet that has striations like moire silk - but it is beyond faded and stained.

Since this chair could be used in various rooms as needed, I'm actually thinking of going with a black and white or dark gray and cream fabric. Very unusual for me. Maybe I'm turning over a new design leaf.


Of course, I love what interior designer Celerie Kemble did with very similar (if not identical) chairs.

It might be hard to tell from this photo, but the fabric Celerie used is an ikat pattern that seems to have a very small repeat. Most of the ikats I run across have huge repeats and thus are not appropriate for this rather thin, waif-ish (if that's even a word) chair. It's sort of like the Kate Moss of chairs -  whip-thin but full of style.


I really love the look of the fabric on these chairs by interior designer Meg Braff.

I'm not sure what fabric it is, but I know I've seen it before and it's expensive. So here are some options I came up with . . . 

Chipper in Charcoal by Premier Fabrics

 

Togo in black and white also by Premier. This one reminds me of . . . 

Confetti from Kelly Wearstler's Groundworks for Lee Jofa collection

This ikat fabric from Fabricadabra. Of course, it's only 15 inches wide. That may not work.

Leopard in black also by Premier Fabrics

Kenya Black Fabric from Ballard Designs. I like the ikat leopard effect of this one.

Are any of these appealing or am I just going through a phase? I think I should decide on a fabric first, then that will determine what color the legs should be. Also, I would do the piping either in black or a contrasting color (and maybe match it to the legs?).


And, in other chair news, I've hit a few roadblocks while trying to re-do the bamboo chairs for my breakfast area. That's another blog post altogether. Let's just say, I didn't inspect the chairs as well as I should have before purchasing. Details coming soon . . .