Friday, October 29, 2010

Slipcovers a la Maison Decor

White boxed style sofa slipcover.
This is the first slipcover I ever made.
It is traditional style with a pleated skirt and welting.
Fabric is a basic white duck
Detail shot of piping and skirt. 
This has been washed many times!
Yellow toile loveseats and ottoman
I made this out of Laura Ashley Garden Toile. 
This was my second attempt at slipcovering.
I was very happy with them.
Encouraged I attempted to do this harder shaped chair. 
I used three fabrics and did a cottage style slip.
Pink leopard for welting,
 cameo print in pink on green stripe,
 and a green window pane plaid.
I made a girls dress sash as the back tie
 instead of a fitted zipper for the back.
 This was taken last summer before I started blogging, 
so hence the blurry picture and messy background!
Thanks for sharing my slipcovers!
Don't forget to enter my giveaway for the fabulous book
The French Inspired Home.
Click here to enter.
Linking to 
Pink and Polka Dot
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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Romantic Seating, Frenchy Style

Linen slipcovers and needlepoint pillows.
A sweet ballet pink table...a ruffled lampshade
A white linen slipcover,
rusted urns with ivy,
bird cage and old books,
a victorian garden table...
When I sit in my chaise I dream of spots 
like those above...
they are from the new book
The French Inspired Home
by Carolyn Westbrook.
I am having a giveaway sponsored by Cicobooks.
To win a copy click here!
This is a little reminder with two new pictures
 from this marvelous book on French Decor. 
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Maison Decor Mom Cave

I have been working on my living room a lot lately.
 Kate from Censational Girl and
 Susan from Between Naps on the Porch
 invited us to post on our mom caves,
 and I realize that is what this room is becoming! 
A mom cave!
One of the new additions to the room is the carved element
 I added yesterday above the mantel.
It may be getting a whitewash, 
but this oatmeal color is the way I found it.
I think it looks cool with my iron and crystal sconces.
Gee, I think I see a spot for a chandelier in my future!
I bought it at Home Goods for our NH house
 and it used to be above our bed.
But now we have sold the house, 
and it gives this room even more romantic character.
The other new things in here are the vintage hooked rugs.
Just adore the soft pastel floral patterns.
I have two different valances right now.
 I have yet to make a decision, so I just threw a tablecloth
 on one and a remnant over the other.
Want to know a decorator secret?
The rush bench, pillows and all my mirrors 
came from Home Goods too. 
I mix antiques and vintage finds
with treasures I spot at Home Goods to create an authentic
living space with character and comfort.
Really happy with my white slipcovered sofa.
I have a white table with layered mirrors against the staircase.
I've never seen this done, but what happened when
 I did that was it created more of a defined space in
 our living room instead of your eye heading past the staircase.
 Makes sense, doesn't it?
And its kind of quirky, so I like that.
Two carved mirrors with a pretty old lamp.
My sister gave me these tole bookends.
They are one of my favorite things!
Pastels accent the white and beige tones.
A toile dining chair came in the room this morning.
I like it!
Here is my mom cave favorite spot: my chair.
I have all my favorite mags in a rush basket
A cozy white fur throw.
A view to the outside...and
a fire at my feet if I press a button!

Don't forget to enter for a copy of The French Inspired Home~
its located at the top of my sidebar.
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Monday, October 25, 2010

French Inspired Home Book Giveaway!


The French Inspired Home by Carolyn Westbrook
Do you remember me waiting to get this fabulous book in the mail?
Take a peek at the images...

Well now I have a special treat to offer my followers!
Cico Books has offered to give a copy to one of my followers! 
Yes, this gorgeous book on French decor!
They saw me raving about it after reading a review on Cote De Texas.
Joni was right~the book does not disappoint 
and it is loaded with breathtaking pictures.
I wish author Carolyn Westbrook was my sister so I could hang
 out at her house and travel with her to the Paris flea markets.
This gorgeous kitchen with my favorite purple transferware 
makes my heart skip a beat.
Beadboard, painted cabinets with glass doors and the mix of an
 iron chandelier and farmhouse fixtures all in one glorious space! 
 I am obsessed with soaking up all of the frenchy images.
 Cico Books has even more to say about my latest obsession:

Designer and decorator Carolyn Westbrooks love affair with all that is French inspired began long before she ever travelled to France. Growing up in the US, her Southern heritage was infused by French influences from the chic elegance of New Orleans to the romance of southern plantation houses. Here, Carolyn brings you her first-hand knowledge, acquired through years of combing French flea markets for unique treasures, of what makes a beautiful French interior. Immerse yourself in her own beautiful plantation house, a sleek urban apartment or a classically elegant town house. Each home featured has its own distinctive style, but all are essentially French in their inspiration, whether it comes from a distressed gilded mirror, or a faded rug that exudes age in just the right places. Carolyn Westbrook prides herself on these French-inspired interiors that are classic and timeless but never stuffy. The French have mastered the art of this time-worn yet sophisticated style of living, and you too will fall in love with the colours, the textures and the inspiration that is truly French.


Here are my giveaway rules:


1. The give-away will end on November 9.




2. To enter the give-away, you must become a follower of my blog Maison Decor, 
and leave a comment~ thats it!

3. Leave me a comment on why you would like this book with your email or personal website link stating that you've become a follower on any blog post through November 9th.

4. If you're already a follower, just leave me a comment with email or personal website link and let me know that you're already a fan for automatic entry.

5.  You get one entry in the contest for following/commenting. You get an extra entry if you write about the giveaway on your blog or tweet about it!   Just be sure to let me know that you did either for the extra entry.

6. If winner is unreachable after seven days, s/he forfeits the prize to second place, so make sure I can get ahold of you! 

For this and other great decorating books go to www.Cicobooks.com , or follow them on twitter like I do @cicobooks.

The French Inspired Home
Author Carolyn Westbrook
Publisher Cico Books
Price $29.95

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Friday, October 22, 2010

Floral Shades & Fairies

I specialize in window treatments, 
although I don't do a lot of posts about them, 
I thought this pretty silk treatment was worth talking about.
And if you don't believe in Fairies, stick around...
I made two of these London shades for a client.
 This gorgeous fabric is a Colefax and Fowler 
silk embroidered pattern in pinks and green
 on an ivory ground~my favorite colors!
We selected this two toned green tassel in an onion ball style
 to coordinate with the green grass cloth wallpaper
 that was being installed in her living room
 while I was fabricating the window treatments.
My workroom
Small rings are attached to create the soft folds
 and gathers that make a London Shade.
The pair are ready to go! 
Come along and see how they look in their new home.
They are perfection against the grass cloth wall covering
 as well as a good solution for this window
 considering the rad boxes underneath.
The velvet settee has a pair of needlepoint pillows.
These pink flowers echo the silk floral pattern beautifully.
Detail of the fabric and trim.
I wish I had taken a good picture of the hooked rug.
 It is just gorgeous, and it was her grandmothers!
I recently did the Winston Valances in the dining room.
 The wallpaper reminds me of a Bermuda style pattern.
 Very British in a happy kind of way...
also in pinks and greens on cream. 
Another gorgeous silk fabric!
Formal yet friendly....
But then a very weird thing happened. 
And it involved Fairies!
While I was installing the draperies my clients friend,
 Brenda Reishus, stopped by. 
She is the interior decorator who helped Lisa pick out her
 fabrics and wallpapers for these rooms. 
We got to chatting about friends in common 
and one of these friends we know believes in fairies.
 She even held a fairy seminar retreat. 
The seminar was full of women who believed in fairies! 
She said you can see fairies in your garden
 and around the house if you are open to them. 
She also said fairies will often appear in your photos as white dots....
Brenda, Lisa and myself got quite a chuckle over this topic. 

What happened next was the WEIRD part.
 I asked them to step aside so I could 
take one more picture of the living room. 
And this is the picture....
White dots covered the entire photo!
I was more than a little shocked when I checked the image.
  Quickly I shared it with Brenda and Lisa.
You should have seen their faces!! 
I had goosebumps!
Are fairies lurking around this neighborhood?
It seems so! 
 The fairies must have been offended by 
our naysaying comments and decided to show up in force!
Not the average day in the life of this decorator.
Sometimes life can be a little weird....
and fun!

Hope you have a fairy nice day!
Fairy Images courtesy of The Graphics Fairy
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Romantic Hooked Rug

This is the rug I just got from my friend Bridget's
 shop in New Hampshire, Rustique. 
Isn't it gorgeous?
 I have been getting a lot of my treasures from Bridget. 
Many of you may know that she writes a blog, 
The Rehab Boutique~you can find it on my sidebar.
I am going to pair it up with my slipcovered sofa.
 This rug, has an oatmeal colored ground 
with ballet pink border,sprinkled with a 
 yellow pink, green and blue floral pattern.
 It has the vintage frenchy feel! 
I will give you a sneak peek at how it looks.
When I threw it in front of the couch, 
I might have let out a squeal of delight!

Here is a quick sketch I did of the room with the rug.

I am using a rush bench for my coffee table.
The soft faded colors of the rug were just what I was looking for.
A fitted slipcover will be made for the chair and ottoman
 I have hiding under all that slipcover fabric!
The iron and wood table will be getting 
a paint job as well~in off white.
A cozy white faux fur throw is a perfect touch of glam.
A sequin fleur~de~lis on an aqua pillow~so yummy.
I realized I have quite the mirror collection
 between the two houses, 
and now one of my favorites 
is over the mantle waiting to be hung. 
An old  crocheted mantle runner 
creates a romantic feel.
This reversible table skirt has a beige and cream check
 on the underside with brush fringe on the hemline 
giving it a heavy hand and beautiful drape. 
I made this about 15 years ago and am glad I saved it.
I am working my way towards being 
one of the Most Romantic Rooms Ever!
Yes, I fantasize about creating this magazine. 
This room looks like a cover shot to me!
Price is only $2.95~
 because I hate paying a lot for a magazine, don't you?
I'll keep you updated after the 
new drapes and slipcover and other tasks are completed!
And if and when I get my magazine deal....
linking to 
and 
and
and 
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