Design Dilemma Fridays!!!

I've been wanting to do this for a long time....come up with something to do on a regular basis - a feature of sorts - for all (you!) my lovely MLHP friends. After some commiserating with my closest design junkies, an idea emerged: Design Dilemma Fridays!

Here's how it'll work. Email me a picture, or if you prefer, just ask a question, (but as the cliché goes - a pic is worth...) about a Design Dilemma you're having. It can be anything as big as "What do I DO with this room?" to something as little as "What sort of lamp should I pair with this table?" Anything goes!

I'll put some thought and time into throwing together some ideas for you, and then I'll feature your Dilemma on a given Friday. I'll email you to let you know the exact Friday your Dilemma will be featured. Sound fun??? I think so...but then again, I live for this sort of thing!

Please keep in mind...I'm not a design professional - I've just always been told I have a knack for putting rooms together...oh, and I absolutely love doing it!
Feel free to tell some friends about it - the more Dilemmas, the merrier!

So....On with the Show!!!

For the First Episode of Design Dilemma I've put myself out as guinea pig (imagine that!)

Dilemma: Boring, way-too-much-brown guest room at Casa Giese. Can I give it some much needed life?

Well...There's a picture from House Beautiful I tore out about a year ago of a beautiful bedroom owned by designer Kathryn Ireland.

I'm just crazy about how she incorporates her own ethnic-inspired fabrics (on coverlet) with a large lumbar pillow covered in a festive Otomi embroidered fabric. This room is happy and colorful - and like mine, has white, white walls as a canvas to work with. It's just. so. FUN!
Coincidentally, you may have noticed over the past year the use of lots of amazingly-embroidered fabrics. Otomis are only one kind - a type of embroidery specific to tribes in Mexico. If you want to learn more about these and other Uh-Ma-Zing textiles from Mexico - go to this site.
Otomis come in any number of colors - trust me, its hard to decide on just one!

...And you can see where designers have done some pretty fab things with them...

The above two images were snagged from an earlier post by EofS - originally from Domino

This headboard is slipped in a Suzani (I believe) - but the feel is the same - Just FAB!! pic from Domino

So...back to the Dilemma....guess what I just happen to own? ;) Yep - that is an authentic Otomi. I bought it in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico when we were married there (almost five years ago - gasp!) I'm thinking Miss Otomi is sick and tired of being cooped up in the cedar chest, and would be much happier being the center of attraction in my Dilemma guest bedroom. What do YOU think???

So...I've left you with a bit of a teaser! I've got some W.O.R.K. to do this weekend to try to pull off a resolution to this Dilemma before Monday, and I hope to see you then for the "After Party!"
Have a great weekend!!

P.S. - A big thank you to my design blog partners-in-crime (you know who you are.) I appreciate your ideas and support more than you know.

Blogger's Block?

You'll be delighted (and maybe a little envious) to know that in Brazil, there is a three-day national holiday for the festival of Carnaval. Tacked on to the weekend, its a nice mini-vacay - all in the name of one, giant party. Since my hubby, Ben, has been home for his days off, I should have had a perfect opportunity to do some great research, and get some seriously sublime blog posts out, right?

Wrong.
While Ben actually got something productive done, I followed him and Avery around with my camera...so much for splendid design blogging, huh? Oh well, my Mom will love it!

Ben's target: pair of faded adirondacks

Consequently, these aren't just ANY adirondacks...they were hand-patterned and made by our good friend, Scott. Check out that handiwork!

So, we feel a little more inclined to keep them looking their best...

While Ben was putting in the elbow grease to give our chairs some much-needed TLC...I found someone having a grand 'ol time throwing a ton of plastic balls in and out of the house

So, I got some shots of our backyard

...And the bridge and lake near our home

But, it IS a holiday, after all...so the other chair will receive her spa treatment tomorrow...

Besides, we can all think of a better way to spend our afternoon...

Blog Crawl

Hi Everyone! Please join me for a "blog crawl" of sorts, today. MLHP is guest posting at We Love Domino - a site dedicated to the best of Domino magazine. Here's the link to my post - See ya there, and back here mañana!

Traveling Wilbury...of the Glam sort

I thought I might leave you for the weekend with some serious travel eye candy. You see, this time of the year sparks many yearnings for sundrenched locales (at least for me!), and these travel gear items just give me another excuse to crave a voyage du soleil - I'd like to say I'm a stylish and savvy traveler, but that might be a bit of a stretch. However, if I had any of these accoutrements from Toss, I'd have a much better shot at being labeled a traveling glamazon!

Who Knew?

In case any of you haven't noticed, JCPenney has kicked it up a notch in the design department. I pay more attention to their classic catalog, now, because they are one of the few vendors who can or will ship larger items to an APO box. Now, don't go hoity toity on me ;) You don't have to look too closely to see 'ol JCP has gotten some serious design "inspiration" from the likes of PB, RH, and Ballard - I'll let those parties work that out amongst themselves....In the meantime, check out these finds to see for yourself!

I'm slowly entering the mode of changing Avery's nursery into a "big girl's" room, so this create-your-own bedroom caught my eye - where have I seen this before? Hmmmm???? ;)

create your own room system

But what little Diva wouldn't love this fit-for-a-princess tufted headboard? Especially when you can order it in hot pink!

hollie tufted headboard

Then again, I love the tailored look of this monogrammed, upholstered bed - again, comes in several color selections

upholstered twin bed

This woven grass bed would be perfect for a guest bedroom here in the tropical savannah area where I live

hancock bed

I think I'd use this wall lamp on either side - love it!

bridge wall lamp

And I can think of any number of places to put this sleek side table

palmer side table

I'm sure you've seen sawhorse desks like this one...they've practically obtained iconic status!

cordovan desk

Oh, the lamps! I'm crazy about lamps - always seeing ones I love, but not having a place for them - maybe I should start some sort of lamp rescue shelter (but, I digress...)

from top left: tustin crystal, Madden glass (ooh-wee!), hammered table, ceramic tile table lamp

If your home leans more rustic, you might be thrilled to know JCP has gotten in on the antler chandelier action

antler chandelier

Or if you prefer a more glamourous approach, this mirrored bedside table might be a perfect match

versaille cabinet

To me, design is not so much about having an expensive piece, or something from a well-known designer as it is just being able to create the look - the space - that makes you happy. If you can accomplish that from JCP, or any other go-to place (especially in this economy), I say kudos to you!!

Guest Apperances

Hi everyone! Just lil 'ol me checking in after the long trek back down to South America. It always takes me a few days to complete my "lattitude adjustment," so posts may be a little thin this week... The GOOD news (other than being back home with my Hubby!) is, I'm penciled in to guest post at We Love Domino next Monday, Feb. 23rd. This newish blog (which I also have a link to in my Watering Holes section in the sidebar) is dedicated to keeping the memory of Domino magazine alive. So many of us in the design-loving blogosphere have been tortured by the loss of our fave magazine. I hope you'll pop on over Monday (or before!) to read up on the best Domino had to offer. Take Care, and see you in the next day or so! Tchau!

Rug Query

A reader inquired about the jute IKEA rug we used in Brooke's dining room...It is the TARNBY
and, it's a great one, if I must say so myself, quality, thick weave, and not scratchy! Hers is the larger of the two available sizes. Hope that helps, and thanks for asking!!

Project Time! Dining Room Facelift

My sister, Brooke and I have been scheming on what we could do (cost effectively) to give her dining room some much-needed punch. She wasn't happy with the way her table visually melded into the hardwoods - being almost the same honey color... but the purchase of a new table wasn't really in the budget...

She also wanted to bring some pizazz to her built-in china cabinet - to help make her lovely china and crystal stand out...

So, with brains bubbling creativity, off to the paint and craft stores we went...

Thursday was a perfect day for a painting project. First comes (tinted) primer...In case you're interested, in my humble opinion, Zinsser "Bullseye" primer is top-notch!

Project Mascots: Miss Betty Prukop and Sir Winston Sumbera (with matching pink tongues!)

After the first coat...loookin' gooood....

Friday's weather wasn't as promising, and we had to work in double-time to get that second coat on - all in all, made much easier with the help of the Wagner Power Painter** We had about three hours of outdoor dry time before the mist/sprinkles turned to a full-on shower - HURRY! We have to get the table in the house!!!
Thankfully, the table was dry enough to skeet indoors, and, really, it was a good thing to get it out of the humidity. So onward, project we went!

You've seen people using wallpaper in the backs of cupboards, secretaries, etc, right? Well, what about something a little less labor-intensive, and a bit less permanent....say...Scrapbook Paper???
There's a wealth of selections...Brooke was aiming at a damask-ish pattern, but look at that oooh-wee green faux-croc - fantabulous!

Factor in some removable double-sided scrapbook tape, a ruler, and some patience...and Voilà!

A custom look for nothing near custom price!

Doesn't it flatter her pretties soooo much more than the previous, basic white background?

Here's a B&A shot of the table - big difference, huh? We also put down a thick jute rug she picked up at IKEA - a truly fabulous find! I swear, I saw a picture in a recent PB catalog that nearly mimics this look - and we killed this project for under $100! (not counting the rug)

So, there ya go! What do you think? Did we knock it out? I'm super excited we got this done before I head back South, and ofcourse, glad to get my design fix! ;)

To my Valentine....Sorry we are not together on this day for sweeties, but you are very much in my thoughts - Love You, and Happy Valentine's Day! See you Monday!

**Just a little helpful note - I can't exactly give my endorsement to Mr. Wagner, the Power Painter. He can't help it, he means well, but he just doesn't have quite what it takes to give a smooth, professional paint finish. He's a great buddy for detailed paint projects that don't require an expert touch, and will save you some time, but he won't be going back to Brazil...so sorry, Mr. Wagner. For my Portu-Giese paint projects: Plan B....