I like some grit and pink

So, I'm browsing old rags - circa 2006 - and there's a spread in the March issue of House & Garden featuring the home of Sasha Lazard and Michael Mailer (now split). They were guided in the design of their digs by Emma Jane Pilkington (who everybody but me, apparently, knows about). So I thought, I like certain aspects of this place. The use of color, the mix of ethnic and traditional pieces, for instance. So I wanted to post some pictures from online because I don't have a scanner.

While doing a search for decorating pictures, I come across this (and please enlarge to appreciate all the grit)

via thecobrasnake.com

I love photos of people that show personality. And there's lots of personality in this one - all that gel, that awesome top, the pasty paunch with belly diamond and tattoo, and the fag. (I'm not a smoker, don't endorse smoking, etc., etc, but cigarettes do something for me in photographs.) This is not a picture of Sasha and Michael. I don't know who it is, but I love it - just seedy enough. 

Anywho - here's a couple pics of the decorating

via  cote de texas & style hive

How do you think the look has held up over 5+ years?

Dreamy and good

 

From the Philly design studio of Ashli Mizell, take a look at this simple, pretty dining room. The wall color really sets off the other design elements in the space. I love each of the chosen pieces. The marble Saarinen table, Danish Modern chairs with black leather seats, graphic rug, and brass chandelier – perfect!

Coming soon..

My new and improved blog with this new blog banner. The work of susie q at eye spy, it’s nearing completion and will be live just about the time I’m ready to start blogging in earnest again.

I’ve been spinning my wheels in attempts to get something going at Casa Blanca, between traveling and family visiting, and I feel discombobulated and spazzzed out where decorating is concerned. I haven’t taken the time to start any projects, and Lord knows, they’re stacked up around here like dead flies. Focus Melissa, focus!

And then there’s this

It’s a long story and another project that got plopped down in my dining room, where it can not stay! I would like to see it refinished because it is a beautiful piece and BIG. Big and beautiful – but not for my house.

Neither is this

But I would like to snatch it up from the thrifty store and refinish it! It’s BIG and solid wood, with fantastic hardware. It could be a true beauty. For someone. And for 114$ I think it’s cheap! I hated to leave it behind and may have to go back for it. 

I’ve been yammering on about a store for many years now and that’s why I keep collecting – it’s all for the store! One of these days………

I haven’t blogged much lately

but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t acquiring more junk - ‘cause I was. Some of it may move into Casa Blanca for good, some may be sent to hibernation in the Secret Warehouse.

All of it will be treasured. And sooner or later my “intuitive” decorating plan will look like it makes sense!

This brass floor lamp with a very cute green tin shade might work in this guest room. I know everything looks plain and disjointed right there, but I think when the whole space is fleshed out, I’ll like the looks of that corner. The lamp is definitely a keeper.

This wicker floor lamps makes me vibrate with glee! The chinoisserie chair has been sitting there begging to be reupholstered, but I took so long that now it may be replaced with a different chair – the big, open wingback envisioned in kelly green velvet. The lamp will stay.

The little brass table has to stay! Somewhere. What a terrific shape.

Great trash picked chair my girly-girls pulled from the side of the road in Sarasota. They spied it, they pounced, and they brought it home proudly to Mamma. It sits next to a pile of other finds, and a suitcase that’s packed and ready to go if ever Mr. Man can take no mo of my hoarding and tells this pack-rat to hit the road!

Another rescued chair! A concerned friend sent me a pic and hoped I could save this pair from those poor living conditions. Of course I said yes – no chair in need is ever turned down.

I’m big hearted that way.

Thrifted scarf gonna be made over into a pillow.

Mirror painted white and hung on the wall! The first thing I’ve put up.

I’ve deliberated – this is going to be painted off-black with slightly off-white cushions. I have a glass top. This group may be staying on the back porch.

Also hung – these two mirrors!

And FINALLY – the upholstered headboard for the guest room is right and ready to be slapped up behind the bed!

Hopefully, this little spurt of activity and gathering will be just the start of lots of creative moments. I’ve come so far with this project, yet still have so far to go. I want to be a closer and get it wrapped up so I can start moving on to the next project – a store! It’s only in my head right now, but if I keep up the  hoarding….

Space awesomeness!

On this blog, I’m usually yammering on about this or that fantastic space – in my house, or someone else’s. But this is fer realz space awesomeness!  I’m an invited guest of an astronaut and will be a part of the amazing spectacle of the launch of the final space shuttle mission! Positively, vibrating with glee! I’m a Florida native and a life-long NASA fan, so I’m proud and excited to have this opportunity.

Go, Atlantis, go!

images via denverpost.com

my astronaut on the left - Commander Chris Ferguson

atlantis on the launch pad at kennedy space center

chris takes pictures while exiting the orbiter access arm

payload canister w/spare parts for the iss

Oh, David Weeks!

I like what you do. Again.

And again.

I still mourn the fact that I wasn't given the go ahead by Mr.Man to have one of your fab chandeliers. One would have been so perfect in my house. So perfect. Yet so out of reach. (And this one wasn't even around then, so it's probably, really, a good thing I didn't get Tri Boi, because by now I would have been crying over Kopra Burst)

Then there's this. I like this bench. I saw it on my FB page when you gave a shout out to Design Milk

It would have looked great in my house, too. But there's no decorating dollars for it. I did just revamp some dining room chairs doing bare wood and black, slick "leather" so I'll have to be satisfied with rockin' that vibe that way. (Not even close.)

Thank you for all that you do. You makes lots of cool shit that's fun to look at.

That's stunning stuff right up there. Just too bad I can't have it.

Auctioning with the pros

Just 20 short minutes from my Philly area home, there is what must be something of a Mecca for used, vintage, antique and MCM furniture dealers. I was turned on to this country block long strip with two auction houses and one vintage furniture store by Naomi @ Design Manifest. I’ve previewed and observed a couple of live auctions and was excited to be attending one again today. I did a quick run-through after spending 4 hours lurking on the fringe of the bidding crowd at the other one yesterday. Today’s trove, overall, seemed better to me and there were definitely more lots I could be enticed to spend my money on.

So, this morning I set off with Mr. Man, who had a day off of work, and was anticipating a fun-packed adventure at the auction. I will just say, it didn’t turn out to be as long a day as I had hoped and only slightly as much fun. Now, Mr. Man is a swell and usually game for new things, but he’s a guy who people like to talk to and it became quite a distraction. I was trying to pay attention to the fast-moving action, waiting for some Paul McCobb-esque etegeres to be on the block, while chatting up some local dealers and getting the scoop on furniture auctions. It finally became evident that the mister was annoyed and not enjoying the spectacle of an auction so we bugged out, but only after I watched the faux McCobbs fetch 450 bucks apiece!
 
There was a Pierre Cardin lamp I told my new friends I wanted to get in on (my dad repped some PC licensed home goods lines) and I watched it with one eye, while catching Man’s ‘get-me-the-fuck-out-of-here’ look out of the other eye. I snoozed and never even got my hand out of my pocket before it had sold for 240.

Of course, when we got home I waved a couple 1stdibs listings for the same lamp under Man’s nose and pointed out the 800 – 1800 dollar price tags.

Freakin’ non-bidding remorse – it’s real, people.

The best part of the day was running off some of my fave vintage dealers – Steven Sclaroff, Las Venus, ABC Home – and these dudes saying, oh yea, they’re one of my customers and even producing email proof on the smart phone. I was impressed and determined that I will go back at every opportunity. By myself or with a gal pal. It is for sure, my new high.

I’m warming up my right arm.