Fab Florals: Tole Chandeliers, Artwork Pillows

While waiting for spring weather to arrive I have been keeping busy by getting things on my wish list checked off, so that when it finally does get nice outside I will be ready!  And I think that the snow and rain and generally awful weather in Boston has had an effect on my desire to brighten up the interior around here.  Florals have been really attractive to me lately, (hence my decoupaged floral desk a few weeks ago) and when I saw this brand new line of pillows by artist Jennifer Lanne of New York, I couldn't wait to get one for myself.  She creates beautiful artwork, based on historical references, generally Rococo in feel, and has turned them into full blown version of European Old World Gypsy Boho style art that I think are amazing! She came up with the idea of taking her paintings and putting the images onto fabrics and released them this week for sale.  So I was first in line, and now I have my own art pillow by Jennifer Lanne!

This is from her website ( I will provide a link at the bottom of the post, don't worry!) and it shows off her style very nicely.  There is MY pillow, far right, tipped in a vertical position.  I was tempted by the pillow front and center, but decided the overall turquoise pillow with small roses would look best for my home.  She also has fabric tuffets and eiderdowns to choose from. Anyway, her artwork is one of my current obsessions~and come to find out we will be in the same field at Brimfield, next month, and our tents are back to back! I love it when the universe lines things up like this!  Justin, my son, and I will be at New England Motel lot #40, and you will find a mix of Maison Decor Frenchy stuff with his Pioneer Goods, rustic stuff!! You can see us and then check out Jennifer Lanne's amazing booth all at the same time! Dates of Brimfield Antique Fair are May 10-15, 2016.

Ok, so back to my house~I just propped it up on my iron daybed to show it off.  It looks pretty in my kitchen on the old worn green painted bench and just as pretty on the living room sofa! I guess I will let Fifi O'Neill decide where to put it when she comes to shoot my house in June. Thats another reason I am getting a few projects done around here, a magazine shoot will make you spring into action like nothing else!  I plan to make a Sunbrella cover for the daybed mattress before it goes outside for the season, as you can see the foam sticking out on the end.

 I will be doing a project with Matthew Mead for Sunbrella Fabrics, and in the corner you can spy some of the gorgeous Sunbrella that just arrived!  I also got a bolt that you can barely see that is all white and it looks like a duck cloth, which I plan to use as the mattress cover. The celery green and the lilac geometric will likely be pillows. He will be shooting my courtyard and its going to be terrific fun getting it all looking amazing outside. 

 Since the daybed is an oddball size, as its likely 100 years old, I found a 4" thick foam mattress at Walmart that I cut to size with my electric carving knife.  I plan to spray the bed an antique Parisian green, then put the white cover on it with the pretty green and purple pillows!! Maybe have a monogram on a pillow or two...can't wait to see this project come to life.

And in the kitchen, I finally got Mr. Maison Decor to switch out my kitchen chandelier for this old Italian Tole number that I have had for years.  It was offered for sale in my shop but no one ever bought it. One lady would come in and look at it every few months, but she never bought it. It was the weirdest thing, haha. I wonder if she wishes she pulled the trigger and bought it after we closed up the shop? Anyway,  I just love these kind of chandeliers. All handmade by some Italian craftsman. It has the original paint on it, and I think it looks great with my cottage kitchen.  

 As you may know, I just love antique or vintage lighting and I think it adds so much personality to a room.  As does artwork and fabrics of course...its so nice to add a refresher for spring in the way of a new pillow or two, and with that, why don't you pop over to Jennifer Lanne's website and get inspired!  Visit her here at Jennifer Lanne Art at Home. I am all about her art, so I just had to share my pillow and say this as well, its beautifully made with a down insert, zippered closure and as you can see by her label~MADE IN AMERICA! 

What is not to love about a small business like this?

Read more »

A Glittery New Years Eve Affair

Christmas is in the books and there is one last party 

that we will be hosting, here at Maison Decor.

Its the end of 2015, time for pause and reflection

and a time for getting ourselves ready for a brand new year.

2106
Its time to celebrate!

Throwing a party is a great way to celebrate any occasion and its
certainly the best way to celebrate those who are special in your life.
The nice thing about a party is that when your guests walk through
the door, they are already in a great mood!  All you have to do is set the scene
for all to party and have fun.  As always, I get a basic theme and then gather items 
to decorate the room and table setting.  For this New Years Eve, I liked the idea
of glittery metallics with the boldness of black and white.

 Since this is a buffet style service, that means setting up so those can 
help themselves with ease.  Silver trays hold gold rimmed wine glasses
and punch glasses for the Holiday Moscow Mules I will be serving.

 Gold lusterware plates will be used for piling on hors d'oeuvres.
Everything and anything in my butlers pantry that had gold would be
gracing the table for the glittery affair.   
(Haha, I wish I had a butlers pantry....)

 Adding sources of ambient lighting will make the table dance at night.
Lighting is always important, so include candles, votives and the new wired lights that
run off of battery packs to create ambience for your table.

Dishes with gold rims are stacked in a rattan tray, which is on top of 
a gold flecked runner, which is layered on top of the black and white tablecloth.
Layers make a table interesting!

 Its not really a table cloth though, the black and white is a bolt of Sunbrella
that I just rolled out over the table to create a dramatic backdrop. You can 
use sheets, quilts, and basic fabric by the yard to make your own table cloth.
Black and white checkered ribbon was woven through the chandelier and 
over mirrors and my mora clock to reinforce the black and white scheme.

 A package of cardboard stars and Happy New Year letters found at HomeGoods
 was perfect for the party decor, in black, white and gold with glittery edges.
All the chairs are pulled away from the table for the buffet and lined up in groupings.
In front of the French doors are a pair of slipper chairs to create another 
spot for guests to sit, sip and talk.  I can picture everybody already here!!

All that is left to do now is to set the food out,  pop the champs 
and make a batch or two of Holiday Moscow Mules when the big evening arrives.
And answer the door!
For other New Years' inspiration, including a great Moscow Mule recipe
check out the other bloggers  below who are on the New Years Blog Hop with me.

Sunday, 12/27

Duke Manor Farm

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Yesterday on Tuesday

Monday, 12/28

Celebrate Creativity

Our Southern Home

An Extraordinary Day

Tuesday, 12/29

Housepitality Designs

Town & Country Living

It All Started with Paint

Wednesday, 12/30

Sondra Lyn at Home

Finding Silver Pennies
Maison Decor

Thursday, 12/31

Celebrating Everyday Life

Sew A Fine Seam

Read more »

Auction treasures: Pretty French and Swedish items!

 I love pretty decorating. I always have~since I was a young girl I favored 

this style of decor and adored my french provincial bedroom set as a young teen.

French and Swedish styles are my favorite now that I am all grown up,

and currently at auction houses these kinds of chairs will go for a song, 

mostly because the decorating rave is all mid century modern right now.

Above is a wonderful french provincial tufted back chair with some elaborate

details.  The fabric is old and worn but has silver threads woven in an ivory 

background and faded aqua can be seen here and there.  I love it!

It is not in the best shape as far as the upholstery goes, so that may need

to be addressed, but for now its a nice looking piece of French sculpture.

 Another fun french provincial chair I got was this one in purple velvet!

 This was the big thing I was hoping to get at the auction! Can you tell what it is? The rounded head.....its a mora clock case with a Boston clock works inside. The yellow stickers show that there were left bids, and one was a phone bidder too. So I knew there would be stiff competition for this clock.  It was a miniature mora clock standing about 4 feet tall, and it had everyone oohing and ahhing all over it! There aren't too many times at auction that I am determined to get something regardless of price, and this was one of those times. You all know I have an obsession with mora clocks and that we sell mora clock reproductions at our shop, Maison Decor.  I had never seen a mora clock like this one, its quite rare I believe.  There was interest from a reputable Boston auction house on this piece as well as all the left bids.  Would I be able to get my mora?  How much would I have to pay? Would someone push me out of the bidding? 

 Find out by watching the actual video of me bidding on the clock!

 There were a pair of Waterford crystal lamps 

with their original price stickers on the bottom

priced at $455! How much would they get at auction?

 This wedding cake chandelier was another item 

I really wanted as this style is one I love.

I don't see good vintage chandeliers very often, 

so this one was on my wish list in addition 

to the clock and the fun french tufted chairs.

 Well you can see I prevailed at auction! 

My mini mora clock was headed to its forever home.

Upon close inspection I could tell that the original paint 

had been stripped. I could see remnants of white paint 

and aqua paint on the edges of the backside.  

I am pretty sure I will be painting this clock, 

but for now was just over the moon about having this wonderful little clock.

 Mr. Maison Decor offered to get the clock running.  

Mora clocks have simple mechanisms inside and 

with a bit of thinking you can usually figure them out.  

I will post more on this part later.

 I was victorious on the wedding cake chandy too! 

 It was filthy rotten dirty, as my nana used to say 

when looking at us kids after we played in the yard all day. 

 Each crystal was taken off its tiered mount

 and bathed in white vinegar and hot water.

 What a splendid looking chandelier!  

It is going to be installed for me 

by Mr. Maison Decor when we have a chance~

perhaps on our anniversary next weekend!  

 This was another item I brought home from auction.  

I have always wanted a fainting couch and this one 

is in rough shape, so it could be my initial attempt at reupholstering.  

Then it might get loaded into Mr. Maison Decor's truck and 

brought to a professional.  But first I want to see if I can figure it out.

  Maybe my friend Betsy Speert will give me a few pointers, 

as she has taken classes and knows how to do 

a lot of this kind of stuff!!! (heheh hi Betsy)

 I rounded out my Sunday reading some of my new magazines.  

What a treat~I never get much time to do this kind of 

thing anymore as I am always in the shop. 

 Or playing catch up at the house.  But I am just excited to see 

Pretty Decor coming back into favor. 

 Check out the French and Swedish influences on this cover. 

 I think its fabulous!

Oh...and that Waterford crystal lamp came home with me too.  

At one tenth the MSRP sticker.  Now that's a good deal.

Read more »

Blue Opaline Karma

  How did I end up with two blue opaline chandeliers?

It was karma~

Do you believe in karma? 

I had been to Betsy Speert's house and she had this beautiful blue chandy

hanging in her dining room! I snapped this pic that day and then wrote about

it on the blog....one day I got a package in the mail and inside was a 

collection of blue opaline parts~enough to create the chandelier of my dreams!

 It came as a gift from "the other Betsy"~a blog reader who

 follows Maison Decor and we had become friendly through 

email as we shared many similar likes~she had TWO blue opaline chandies as well

as sconces that she was not using and she wanted to GIVE me the opaline parts!! 

Yes, Betsy gave them to me~she wrapped them all up and 

sent them to my house with a pretty Christmas card too.

 The next morning in my PJs I set to making my blue chandelier~

 It was so thrilling! I loved it!! I was beyond happy~

it felt like Santa Claus did exist in our grown up world afterall.....

and then a month or so later I got an email from someone looking 

to sell their antique blue opaline chandelier that was their mothers~

she had died and they were settling her estate.  Was I interested?  

Oh my!!  Of course I was interested~so I gave them

 my best offer and it was a sealed and signed deal!

 The chandelier arrived in a big brown box haphazardly packed....

They let their furniture movers pack this baby up!! Eee Gads! 

 I was hoping there was no breakage.  But there was~ 

one broken prism, and a cracked bobeche.  

 Still it was lighter than air and on a frame that looked like 

Cinderella's carriage. And not only did I 'buy the chandelier....

 Their mother had loved blue opaline too and had amassed a 

collection of glassware and other bits as well as a 

matching pair of sconces! Woo hoo!!

 It was the Blue Opaline Motherload! 

And it was all mine!!

 Mr. Maison Decor hung the chandy with care and his wife was in heaven~!

 Many photo ops ensued~I was totally digging the pale aquamarine glass.

 It looked good with white and it looked pretty with pink~

 My living room chandy now had a big sister~

and you could see them from one room looking into

 the next.  It is so pretty and I was feeling very 

grateful for how these two chandeliers came into my possession.

I would soon paint my Mora to match in pale blue~

 I bought aquamarine candlesticks to match~

 This was my idea of heaven.....

so when I got an email yesterday from a lady, 

asking me if she knew where she could get a prism 

as she had suffered a broken one~well I knew her pain.

 She got this antique blue opaline chandy in France 

and was told it was from the late 1800s.  

She had her electrician go to install it and he BROKE 

one of the prisms!!! ARGH!!!! They don't make 

these anymore...or at least if they do 

I haven't found a vendor...and they aren't 150 years old either.

 I asked her if she had the measurements and a photo...

so she sent me these.  Well the other Betsy had

 given me enough drops so that I had 3 extras. 

 I used one for my broken prism, 

and I had two spares left in my coveted stash.   

So as karma dictates one of my prisms from Betsy 

will go to Tricia now so her chandelier can be complete.

Don't you just love karma?

Read more »