It's Saturday: Making and Doing

It's Saturday, and I have two things of note:
1) Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. Make Them. Trust.

Follow the recipe at my food blog - here

2) Still have this going on....and oh, it is SO good!

Have your Hide

Following-up on yesterday's post which featured this room, and its out-of-this-world awesome, Moorish-patterned hide rug...

Source: flickr.com via Alison on Pinterest

A little bird (thanks, Anita!) clued me into the work of Kyle Bunting. Based out of Austin, Texas (which, by default makes him rockin' to me), this designer takes hides, laser-cuts them to perfection, and voila - turns out show-stopping takes on the traditional hide rug. Can you say quatrefoil, greek key, and chevron in hide? Yeah, I know.
By the time I went through all the patterns, there was a puddle of drool on my keyboard. I think the genius is quite obvious.
I'm partial to the nuances of color and texture in the neutral styles....

...but imagine I could be easily persuaded to work a bolder pattern into my own home.

Do we even want to know the price points? Probs not...but I've got an inquiry placed anyway. ;)

Inspired by October

Now that October is in full swing, I feel I have permission to begin seasonal sprucing around our casa. I don't go all-out for the holidays in general, but I do love Halloween. This month, I'm playing hostess-with-the-mostess for a couple of small soirees, so I'll probably go a bit beyond my usual.
Avery is dying to decorate pumpkins, and I need a new centerpiece, so I'm thinking some blingy pumpkins might be a fun projecto.

Source: stylelist.com via Alison on Pinterest

..but otherwise, I think a subtler approach - maybe a hint at glossy black goodness, or a speck of harvest orange might be enough to set the mood just right.

Source: None via harim on Pinterest

High gloss black doors can do no wrong in my book.

Source: google.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Whoever said dark walls retract space clearly never saw a powder room this grand.

Source: thedecorista.com via Jen on Pinterest

However, an all-white kitchen benefits from a shot of color

Source: bystephanielynn.com via DL on Pinterest

Making a huge mental note on the pumpkin detail of the bookshelves amid the slate-y walls. And wait! Is that a cowhide? Cut to mimic Moroccan tile? I die.

Source: flickr.com via Alison on Pinterest

New Trad goodness. Stripes never fail.

Source: janiemolster.com via Lacey on Pinterest

There's just so much gone right in this reading room, but I'll go ahead and note the orange leather.

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Virginia on Pinterest

So, go on. Let some orange and black do the talkin'.

Ghetto or Genius?

Upholstery Fabric Spray Paint... from here

Gets decent reviews. Would you do it?

Plate-Driven Color Palette

Shameless plug of my food blog, here, but there's no question that there's interplay between food and interiors. There's great opportunity for a delish dish to influence style and/or a color palette, so let my food references drive you to eat, decorate!

Taking a cue from this dish of Tandoori Pork I made, we can see the colors of Curry, Saffron and Cinnabar. Don't those conjur up so much more warmth and interest than Gold, Burnt Orange and Deep Red? JCrew was so ahead of their time, way back in the day, when they were the first to merchandise their clothing colors after luscious fruits and ripe veggies!

Once you're tuned in, food colors pop up everywhere in design:

A smattering of spicy barstools

Source: myparadissi.com via Alison on Pinterest

A little mustard for your walls

Source: desiretoinspire.net via Alison on Pinterest

A curry coverlet. Double the cozy.

Source: scoutdesignsnyc.com via Lissette on Pinterest

Pattern and Paprika. I won't complain.

Source: lillysnotebook.blogspot.com via Alison on Pinterest

Just a splash of Saffron makes it just right

Source: vtinteriors.blogspot.com via Alison on Pinterest

Tufted curry, courtesy of Nate - but like him, keep it all in check with some cool tones.

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

For more lovely inspiration images like these, follow me on Pinterest!

On this Week's Agenda...

• Finish this God-forsaken project....

Anyone wanna guess what I'm attempting?

• List these finials (and perhaps some of their friends) for sale.

Since you all liked them so much, I think you need some to make your lamps sing. No Etsy shop or anything fancy just yet...

• Stalk our postal center in the hopes that my Hague samples will arrive, so I can create something like this:

Mfamb

• Begin Life Coaching sessions - I SO need them, and I'm psyched!
• Style some areas in my casa to prep for portfolio pics - Yes, peeps, MLHP is growin' UP!
  
  
  

I'm probably over-reaching, especially since Ben is out of town this week, but hey, I'm aiming high.

The Little Paint Swatch That Could*

Recall that I've decided to paint our ugly, old Ikea media cabinet, and I want to go Hague Blue. I tend to become very one-track-minded when it comes to these sorts of things. NOT a great disposition to have when you live overseas, and the product you desire is only available in The USA and Canada.
I think by the time it's all said and done, this project might qualify as an Act of God, because that's practically what measures are going into finding the closest match to "Hague." You see, this deep blue has many faces....

In a flat or satin finish, she appears fairly straightforward - marine-like blue with maybe a hint of gray.

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

...but, gloss her up, and she takes on mutations of teal.

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

Nimble little minx, isn't she?

I won't go into the finer details of the attempts I've already made to find a close match, but let's just say they do things a wee bit differently in the paint world of Brazil, and it hasn't been successful.
So, I did what all desperate bloggers do - made a plea to Stateside blogstress amigas, Kathy and Jenny - who both have first-hand knowledge of The Hague.
According to Jenny, Benjamin Moore makes two dead-ringers for The Hague:

So, armed with swatches of all three, as well as another from a Sherwin Williams colormatch, I will march down to my local paint store, and demand my right to some Haaaggguuueeee!

Oh, and I'm pretty sure an 'interpretation' of this painting needs to go above aforementioned media cabinet.

Source: jaclynpaige.tumblr.com via Alison on Pinterest

Bottom Line: If I can design to my tastes in Brazil, I can design ANYWHERE!

*Post title coined by Kathy

Better late than never today

A kiddo home sick means my planned post for today is delayed, but if you'd like to see what I'm serving up on this (finally!) rainy, cool day - head on over to My Little Happy PLATE

What Would YOU Do?

The other day, I hit the jackpot on Shannon's The Designer's Attic - scoring five yards of Schumacher Katsugi for 1/3 of the retail price. Designers and bloggers have been singing the praises of this loose floral for years, and I for one, am still on the bandwagon.

Now, I just need to decide what I'll do with it! Five yards is a good amount to work with, so I'm not even considering something small like accent pillows.
Tom Scheerer aka Katsugi King has used it to great effect in bedrooms... but my bed frame would hide a great portion of the skirt...

Curtains. Maybe. But I'd have to pull it together in a room scheme....

So, what say you? What would YOU do with five yards of Katsugi?

MLHP Reader Discount: Rockin' Friendship Bracelets!

Remember these über cool glammed-up friendship bracelets I posted about awhile back? If you missed them, then it's your lucky day, as Lia, the designer behind PureEssentia is offering MLHP readers a 15% discount on the one-of-a-kind baubles.

Two (super-easy) requirements:

• "Like" PureEssentia on their Facebook page - Here
• Mention My Little Happy Place in your order, and Lia will send you the discount code

*She has several new items in the Etsy store, but if something you like is sold, she can do custom orders, too. Happy Shopping, peeps!

Fall Color Obsession: Saddle and Peacock

Every year about this time, it happens. That lust for all things Fall. I actually try to discourage my brain, since the seasons here in Brazil are opposite of the US, I have little opportunity to relish the fullness of the North American Autumn season, and it always leaves me a little remorseful.
Sometimes, I say to hell with it, and seek out the symbols of the season, other times (like this), they hit me - WHAM-O!

That was the case when I saw this image. Could the warm, saddle leather of the Wassily chair look any more fantastic paired with the peacock-blue of the small bureau?

Megan Young Designs

To me, the colors read comfort, nostalgia, hospitality - all symbols of the Autumn season, and now, my official Fall color-combo obsession. For the record, I'd also throw in some deep, rich cognac, but balance it with a punch of chartreuse - much like this designer did.

I began scouring my house for an area I could work in the combo without doing a complete overhaul.
Living Room.
Coffee table - certainly not saddle leather, but the color is similar. Great.

Broken, and in need of H.E.L.P. Ikea media armoire: Not. So. Great.

If I could get my hands on some Hague Blue paint, it could work magic, ya know?

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

A tad O'Killed, but....

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

Can you see it?

Don't let my doodling skills fool you. I'm serious, peeps. (Now go ahead and tell me what you think)