And we did it!

With 22 minutes to spare we wrapped the two model homes.....

Here is how the containers with moss toppers turned out. What do you think? I thought they looked great. Nice work Paul.

We really struggled to find the right art pieces to flank the fireplace. I will share a little trade secret, promise not to tell????

We had to make some adjustments to these prints to make them work. They were the right size and the perfect shape, but they were the same. Identical! So we flipped one over to hang it upside down.

And they were still a little dull, so we broke out metallic copper paint and gave them a lift. This also allowed us to make changes to the prints, so they looked totally different when we were done.

Remember, scouts honor, no telling.

The backgrounds were neutral and light throughout the model, so we needed some punch of color. We decided on peacock, orange, and copper to brighten the space. You can see touches of it through the rooms.

The bar stools really completed the island and we added hints of orange and white on the countertops.

We found that fantastic peacock blue vase and added the burst of orange with faux (a nice way to see fake) tropical flowers to balance the piece of art and brighten the area.


Mission Complete!

Cheers,

BBS



all images belong to me.

Model Home X 2

This is how my day started....

Last week one of our best clients called in a panic. He is the developer of a housing project we have been consulting on and they decided at the very last minute to partially furnish and stage two model homes. "Could we help?"

" Sure, of course". We have done plenty of models for this company.

Wait, there is a catch.....It has to be planned, purchased, shopped, and installed by when???? Tuesday at 11:00am. Gulp, sure, we can do it. So we put everything else aside and went shopping. And we did more shopping, and then some more still.

Yes, they were still painting the walls when we arrived this morning for installation.

Paul making an empty niche look pretty.

These are some fab synthetic wicker planters we found on our spree. We filled them with foam and they were eventually mossed. They look amazing!

We added bamboo sticks to the large one for some height. These planters are an inexpensive and effective way to fill an empty corner.

Empty bath this a.m.

Voila.....

Busy, busy, busy.....

Those pillows are my favorite thing so far. They are goldish, copper metallic on ivory burlap. Love.

That is the wall that was being painted in the morning. They are hanging the tv and notice the honed granite mantle that was just installed. Nothing like the very last minute...



I will post the completed pictures tomorrow....Whew, just a few more finishing touches and we will just make our deadline. I feel like I am on a show on HGTV today.

Cheers,

BBS



all images belong to moi!

An Education

After a long day at the office on a Saturday, gasp, I dashed home with Thai take out in hopes of finding a good film in my On Demand catalog. I try, ever so hard, to see all of the films nominated for Academy Awards each year, but there are always a few that I fail to see.

This year, An Education, was one of the films I missed, so I was thrilled to see it offered last night. As I settled in with Oliver and my dinner, I was completely taken in by this film. I did not want it to end.

Taking place in the early 1960's London it is a story of a teenager falling for a handsome older man who not only seduces her, but her parents, into his glamorous and scandalous life.

The acting in the film was superb, but above all else, to me, was the set decoration and costuming.

I wish I was able to find more images from this dinner club scene above. It was dazzling! So chic and sparkly.

Carey Mulligan was amazing and I enjoyed watching her character transform from a school girl into a glam young lady. I loved this auction scene and I think this image captures the transformation beautifully. Mulligan's character, Jenny, is discovering there is more to life than school and studying for Oxford.

Odile Dicks-Mireaux served as the costume designer for this film and the clothing was perfection. I love, love, love the leopard jacket and pill box hat. So 60's.

Emma Thompson has a tiny role as the Head Mistress of Jenny's school and she is wonderful, as always. The perfect 1960's school marm.

The set decorating was done by Anna Lynch-Robinson, who I was not familiar with by name, but have discovered that she did one of my favorite films, In Bruges. She is currently working on sets for Bel Ami, which is based on Guy de Maupassant's short novel and has Robert Pattinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Cristina Ricci, and Uma Thurman in the cast. I am looking forward to that release in 2011.

I love this scene from a Parisian hotel room where Jenny delivers the best line of the movie. I won't ruin it, but watch for it. It is so humorous and ironic.

I am in love with the dress from this party scene. Actually I am in love with the entire party scene.

I could have filled this post with images from this chic London pad. An "Art Collector", Danny has impressed Jenny with his elaborate and extensive collection. The apartment is so glamorous.
This will definitely be one of those films I re-watch and pause as I go, so I can really take in the decor and design.

I love the simplicity of Jenny's childhood home. So English. So early 60's.

If you have not already seen it, do yourself a favor and rent An Education. You will not be disappointed.

Cheers,

BBS




all images from Google Image and belong to BBC films

Thank you for being a friend

I will admit it. Golden Girls was one of my favorite shows growing up. I still love to catch episodes here and there and I laugh just as hard as when I first saw it. As I type this that catchy tune is running through my head, "and the card attached would say,thank you for being a friend".

I was 13 when the show first aired and I loved that they made growing older look like so much fun. I loved that they all lived together. I found it funny that they dated, and often. I don't know why I found it so funny, but at the time the only Seniors I knew were my married grandparents and their friends. It seemed so foreign to me.

We never saw much more than that condo they shared, but it didn't matter. That was where the laughs happened.

My favorite character by far was Blanche. The mere thought that you could be a "swinging single" when you were older was hysterical to me. Her name, her accent, her clothes, her style; perfect. And she always had the wittiest and smartest lines. She was the best.

RIP Rue McClanahan and "thank you for being a friend".


Cheers,

BBS

McGuire Does Kitchen..Well

Yesterday I was treated to an introduction to McGuire's new Kitchen collection and I was quite impressed.

I was at the Baker showroom for a meeting and we got to see many of these new pieces in person.

This swivel walnut counter stool caught my eye. I love how simple and small scaled it is, yet it is surprisingly comfortable. A new classic.

Don't they look great all lined up????

These slatted walnut chairs would look great with a glass top and metal table.

I really like the entire collection and the finishes are great.

To see more of these lovelies check out http://www.mcguirefurniture.com/ or let me know and I can send you a catalog.

Cheers,

BBS




all images belong to McGuire Furniture and I really hope they don't mind that I borrowed them. I mean I am promoting their product and all, so I really hope they don't.

Sex and the City 2

Like almost all females I went to see Sex and the City II this weekend. It was my birthday this weekend, so my best girlies and I headed to the theater Friday night, cosmos hidden in our purses, to take in the ladies of SATC.

I know, I have read the reviews and I have seen the media criticism, but I really enjoyed the movie! People, this is not Schindler's List.

It had everything I expected and wanted.....

1. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte were back to them being themselves. 2. The other characters like Big, Smith, Stanton, etc. were in it just enough, but not annoyingly. 3. The clothes were out of this world. 4. Do we even have to discuss the shoes, purses, and jewelery??????? 5. I laughed. A lot. But, most important to me...6. The sets were amazing

Carrie and John Preston's (As they are known in this movie) apartment was like another character in the movie. They have moved 12 Floors down from their dream Penthouse showcased in the last movie. Supposedly Carrie has spent the last 2 years decorating and ordering furniture."She" has done a good job. In reality, Lydia Marks is to be complimented for the gorgeous set design.

I am overly obsessed with the tile back splash in the Kitchen. As the movie ended, my friends started to gab about the movie and I blurted out, "did you see the tile in Carrie and Big's Kitchen?" Blank stares, then right back to convos about the clothes, shoes, hair, jewelry....

My absolute favorite part of the apartment is their bedroom. I just love the pattern on pattern in this space. In design I have noticed a movement away from the clean, crisp modern of a few years ago and this illustrates it perfectly. Love, love, love the wallpaper, especially cut into the picture moulding. And you can barely see it from this angle, but the patterned headboard is perfection on the wallpaper.

If you have seen the movie, you know that this sofa plays a big role in the story. The navy jewel toned fabric is scrumptious. And I love how the tray on the cocktail table is staged with all of the books and those succulents. But the piece d'resistance in this scene is the lapis pouf on which Carrie is perched. Love the whimsy of it.

The most fantastic sets are from their trip to Abu Dhabi. I just love this scene when they first enter their $ 22,000 per night suite at their hotel. It is so over the top in all the right ways. Just look at that pale pink and bright green with all the gold. (And those outfits!!!!)

I am so glad I was able to find a shot of this chandelier because it was one of my favs from their suite. Anywhere else this would look gaudy, but here....perfect.

I loved this scene about as much as I was drooling over the decor. The room is so sophisticated and glamorous.

Not really a set, but I just love everything about this scene. The clothes, the decadence, the tents, the laughs.

Such a great nightclub set. Terrible song choice though. I really thought they missed on the opportunity for a great, memorable song moment. Sort of lame. But I love the design.

Ahhhh, Carrie's old apartment returns in SATC2. It becomes a respite for several of the characters and I was reminded how much I loved her renovated space. I am still in love with those blue walls and I like how her love of blue was "carried" (sorry, I had to do it) subtly from this apartment into her new place.

And her closet.....

Cheers,

BBS



all images found on Google Image and are property of Warner Bros.