Constructing A Rustic French Villa

The other week a client showed me a picture she absolutely loved on Houzz, and to my surprise it was the home of one of my client's / a good family friend. Last December I posted here while we were doing a drapery installation, but I have never shared pictures of this home before. Don't ask me why I haven't, aside from having 4 beautiful children (who I babysat ever since they were infants, and now the oldest is looking at colleges!) the client has a-ma-zing taste. The house is truly one of a kind. It's been about two years since they moved in and we are finally getting around to picking out window treatments for the kid's rooms. That's right, two years later and the kids still have the temporary paper shades hanging in their bedrooms and bathrooms, but at least they have a pool ;-) 

Our inspiration for the Dining Room / Library via 

Ankie Barnes of Barnes Vanze was the Principal Designer on the project (the most brilliant Architects in the country in my opinion) and Gibson Builders constructed the home.  Photos via here and here Photographer: Anice Hoachlander from Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC 

Son Of A ....

 Speaking of not having a living room big enough one day to fit the new Pipa cocktail table, my favorite  house ever came on the market the other week (10 years too early for the Mr. and I to be able to afford it) and it's already under contract. For my friends who live in other parts of the country I would like you to know how insane DC is... the 1920's Spanish Style home was apparently such an "Incredible renovation opportunity" aka a total fixer upper, that they had no interior pictures online. Not one flipping photo of the inside of the house I drive by almost every day, not one, and to top it off they didn't even have an open house! For the love, how's a girl going to stalk and plan the layout of her future home if she can't even see inside the damn place?  So what does a 4 bedroom fixer upper go for around here? Oh just a cool 950 thousand dollars, hence the title of today's post. Anyway this the house, and since I didn't get to see what the inside looks like, below you'll find a rendition of how it might look if Hank the Mr. and I lived there. 

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Biscayne

Our newest Thibaut book, the Biscayne Collection arrived this week and it is so flipping cheerful. I know it's winter and the holidays are right around the corner so I should probably be talking about decorating the table for Thanksgiving or a fun DIY Christmas tree skirt, but oh well.

ps that pink and orange cheetah print tray needs to be made into fabric and or wallpaper 

Friday Favs

The Hickory Chair Hallings Secretary, 
I don't think I'll ever get sick of this piece. 

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Friday Favs

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Highclere Castle

A few client's of mine mentioned to me ages ago that I should start watching Downton Abbey, if not for the story line but for the interior design. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me and why I didn't listen to them until recently, but I'm officially obsessed! The house, the grounds, the interior, and the clothes! A-ma-zing. I just finished watching the season finale of the second season and I don't know what I am going to do with myself until January when the show returns for season three. Highclere Castle is breathtaking. I can't imagine what the monthly maintenance costs would be on a property like that, but all the more reason to rent the place out for filming. The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon not only let Downton Abbey film at the estate, but they rent out parts of the Castle for weddings. Could you imagine getting married here, or better yet, living here?! 

PS Why can't more shows be as entertaining as this?


images via here and here and here