First Lamp Update

That was quick, right? (Lamp gods are smiling on me this week)

So, we went from this...

To this...Ben said the shade isn't quite long enough - he was promptly asked to leave the room.

A little hasty, and probably not permanent styling. (Little paws abound at Casa G)

Injection of color and tad of drama with height of lamp = goodness
Terrible lighting for impromptu photo session = arrggghhhh

Next up on this vignette: cooler fabric for that slipper chair.

In my world, this is huge (and so is this post)

Over the last few months, I've been on a lamp-buying binge. So many of the lamps in our casa have a serious case of the sads because they're either just plain ugly, or suffered some form of abuse during our overseas move. In most cases, they have punctured, warped or faded shades that I try to strategically turn so as to maximize their one, small "good spot."

The problem with buying lamps that I then ship to Brazil, is that they sit forever, shadeless.

I bought these brass lamps while we were in Texas over the holidays.

They're intended as replacements for the vine candelabras on our dining room buffet.

I found this pair of white ginger jar lamps after searching (in vain) for weeks for a vintage set that didn't cost my arm and two toes.

They'll replace my "do-I-have-to-look-at-these-again, today?" candlestick lamps on a desk we use as a sofa console. Lampshades, not included.

THEN, I found this single, vintage lovely from a vendor in Palm Beach (Ebay), and had to have her. I'm not quite sure where she's going to live, but, it doesn't matter, she'll have her own glorified nook. Again, though, sans shade.

See, here's my problemo - I can't just go buy a lampshade down here because all lamps in Brazil (that I've seen) have Uno fitters (you know, like Ikea lamps), and all my lamps have harps for spider fitters. It's just one of those you're not in Kansas, anymore kind of things you deal with when you live in a foreign country.

I've tried ordering shades from the States, but all the packing required to get them here in one piece makes shipping impossible.

I've also tried ordering a harp-to-uno conversion kit - no dice.
My frustration is tangible.

This weekend, my sweet hubster, tired of hearing me piss and moan about never being able to finish a project, offered to look for lamp parts in order to convert the lamps to fit Brazilian shades.

We made two trips to the closest thing we have to a Home Depot, and after much engineering, Ben succeeded in converting the bulb socket on the vintage lamp.

Yesterday, with excitement building, I carted Vintage to the one lampshade store I know. I quickly spied a suitable black drum shade on the shelf (heartrate increasing), went to try it out on the lamp (sweaty palms) and BLAM-O - the socket we used is too big - the damn uno ring wouldn't fit over it!
I was so close, and even a tad desperate, so I tried to convey to the shop owner in my pathetic Portuguese,"meu esposo tem máquina "Dremel", não problema." But, she, oh wise woman of the lamps, suggested they replace the socket (really? Smiles.) And, when I said I have many lamps, she offered that all could be converted (Big, Goofy Grins), and that if they don't have shades I like, I could have them made to the shape, size, and color of my desire. (Nearly unconscious with glee)

This is epic.
I sense lamp bliss coming on.

Stay tuned...

Turning Vision into Reality...

I love receiving emails like these, with pics of a room I've helped envision becoming reality...

In this case, my sister's living room. The tufted linen sofa arrived last week, and this weekend, she scored an enviable Moroccan tray table at the Warrenton Antiques Festival in Texas.

I'd say she's interpreting my (basic) design board rather perfectly, wouldn't you?

Sari Curtains: Yea or Nay?

Doing a little research for a project when I came across these curtains made from Indian, saris.

I'm not sure about this sari, but think about the endless array of colors and patterns. Could be incredible, right?

Dead Ringer Fabric?

This fabric, Botanical Fern, by Schumacher caught my eye in the latest issue of HB.

(Room designed by my boyfriend, Tom Scherer.)

I noticed it primarily because it's a dead-ringer for the Brunschwig & Fils' Les Fougeres which covers a chair we inherited from Ben's Grandparents. ....Which then reminded me that I'd love to rework the chair...

If only I felt inspired over what to do with it.
I think all its good karma is being zapped by that pirate chest it's been forced to sit near for almost two years. I have no love whatsoever for said chest, but my bluff has been called on all threats to put it in the garden shed....or paint it pink.
It's definitely the Wagon Wheel Coffee Table in our house....

Recap: Weekend in Rio

So, I had a little getaway to Rio this weekend. I won't lie - it was awesome. Weather was awesome, being a kid-free adult was awesome, doing whatever we wanted was awesome. Ben travels a lot for work, and doing the single-parent thing while he's gone is rough. It helps to make up for it, though, when we get the rare opportunity to recharge on our own. The Recap...

When I arrived (Ben was already there), I was amazed at the view from our room - Copacabana Beach.

Ha! That would've been more than rad - that was the view from the restaurant.

THIS was the view from our room - not shabby - see the full moon rising?

We toasted our weekend with a starter of pineapple and berry caiprioskas (caiprinhas made with vodka)

...and proceeded to get just toasty enough to brave a (dark and fuzzy) pic of the zealous couple next to us at dinner

Saturday morning, we walked all along the famed Ipanema beach and its charming neighborhood. I think we walked for more than two hours, so I justified the whale's worth of sushi I ingested for lunch.

Later, we took a tour of Pão de Açúcar (The Sugar Loaf) mountain via one of these...

The views of the city and beaches are great...

(Someone knows how to live well - I need them as friends)

...but I'm much happier on terra firma, with a mid-afternoon espresso

Saturday night: Date Night. (We'll forgive Ben his shoes...this time)

Dinner overlooking the city. I think he was trying to seduce me ;)

...by ordering drinks

The food was as good as the view - dessert, phenomenal. I'll be working off the food from this weekend for the next two weeks. *sigh*

Sunday morning was all about the Ipanema Hippie Fair - an art, artisan, and craft show. It's always a must-do when I visit Rio. I considered this cowhide, but it wasn't quite right...

Totally bummed I forgot to go back and buy one of these leather cuffs

The folk art scene is always interesting and lively

We've eyed these chairs the last couple of times we've seen them. They have a large selection of leather or hide "inserts," and they're amazingly comfortable.

We couldn't decide on a pattern, or where we'd put the chair, so we passed. All in all, it was a very uneventful shopping trip. We didn't even bring home a small painting, but that's fine by me, since I finally snagged this Michelle Armas this morning.

Relish "Graphite," but don't covet - she's spoken for.

And, your weekend was????

Workin' for the Weekend

My week here is just a jumbled mess. You see, I'll be experiencing that rarest of rarities in a few days: a kids-free weekend. In Rio de Janeiro (Say it like a Brazilian, "Hee-O jay Jan-eeeer-oh" - sounds even better!
I fully plan to get my shop on at the Hippie Fair in Ipanema - home to local artists, artisans, leather and hide dealers to name a few.

Unfortunately, tying up all the loose ends prior to departing makes for weak bloggy days. You'll forgive me, I imagine. So long as I share my snags next week, right?

Déjà vu?

I've lamented before that, typically, my magazine subscriptions arrive two weeks after all of you have already feasted and had your fill of the latest issues. So, I have mixed feelings of gratitude and spoiler alert-wariness when a blogger scans early pics of the glossies before Zinio even has the digital versions posted. (What's up with that delay, anyway?)

Anyhoo....Alcira couldn't contain her excitement over the latest Elle Decor, and from what I saw, I can't say I blame her. But WAIT - that house - the one in Bahia, Brazil - I've seen that before! Recently.

I distinctly remember thinking the house didn't look like a typical Brazilian home. Rather than the usual plethora of low-profile, contemporary furniture, this home had lots of textures, textiles and patterns, layers of them - on a blue and white background. Ethnic-Beachy. Goodness.

And then, it hit me. I had seen it in the Sotheby's real estate listings (because I troll sites where homes cost more than a lifetime's earnings.) Yep, this home of Brazilian designer, Sig Bergamin is for sale. Listed for just under $4 million, in case you're interested.

Bergamin's NYC apartment was featured in ED in January. Wonder why the editors featured the same designer twice over such a short time? As if there's not a ton of talent out there to publish!

Anyway...back to the beaches of Brazil...

There's so much for the eye to follow in this house, here's a few of my take-aways:
- Oversize poster and fine photography art have won me over - many times.
- There's a still a strong case to be made for suzanis (and Ebay has tons)
- Layering chunky jewelry over figurines and other tchotchkes is a brilliant way to add color, texture and whimsy. I'll be doing it, too!