Author: elegantparis

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Feeling very proud….

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Hope everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day Weekend and honoring our troops.  It’s been beautiful here (for a change)! 

I am sitting in the shop right now looking out, just finished putting the final touches on my new website for

 The Whistling Elk and published.   Yah!

I am so amazed at myself….although i had a website for The Whistling Elk for 20 years – this is the very first one that

I actually built by myself… https://elegantparis.wordpress.com

i still have a few kinks to work out….like my photo gallery needs to get redone in a slideshow…but i

have yet to figure that out!  Maybe tomorrow.

Enjoy whatever you are doing today!

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Candy and Dessert Buffets….mmmmm

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My friend Ivanna has started a new company!  She attended a show yesterday to kick things off and here are some pictures

 she shared with me…enjoy!

The name of the business is THE SWEET BOUTIQUE  Elegant Candy & Dessert Buffets and the link is

http://sweetboutique.com  – check it out!

Soooo pretty and elegant!

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Window treatments enhance the beauty of a room

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I’ve been busy installing window treatments for clients this week….here are some of my favorites.

This goblet pleat panel is trimmed with rouche (brush fringe).  It’s a trellis pattern silk from Fabricut and the color works

so nicely with the wall color in this dining room.  These panels just frame a very large series of windows (almost 12′ across).   I wish i had taken a close up of the hardware which is amore…the rod is a

rustic brown and the finials and rings are an antique iron finish.  I love this hardware!

This casual swag below is in a beautiful master bathroom….it fits right in with the elegance of the room!  It’s a trend fabric

 with an RM Coco beaded tassel trim.  The beads are almost black and add a little glitz!

 

I did take some close ups of this one….

 

 

 

Installing these treatments has made me impatient to start the sewing projects for Little Paris….I have some of the fabrics

 and trims already – its so hard to keep myself on track.  I want to move ahead but have to keep reminding myself “all

 things in good time!”

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Surrounded by beauty

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Good Evening…I’m so worn out from spending hours and hours and hours on website creation…so much

uploading and design work!  I needed a break so i thought i’d just upload a picture here and say hi…i sold the painting in

the background and i still miss seeing it in the shop!  It’s so gratifying to have pictures that

remind you of such beauty. 

 

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Shabby chic shutters speak to casual elegance

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Old shutters and doors look fabulous to me…whether you just lean them somewhere or nail them to the wall – like i did in my bedroom!  (I’m all for easy installation).  These are just “leanin” in the shop right now! 

They are such a great color…very shabby chic and rustic (actually the more beat up they are the better i like them) These could work in a formal setting too.  Just love their ambience and style.  

These would be swell in the Paris Boudoir or the Paris Apartment in our new “Little Paris”….but sigh…we wont be open til September…and they are here now.

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Make a design statement with a beautiful mirror!

by elegantparis1 Comment on Make a design statement with a beautiful mirror!

Yesterday we brought some beautiful mirrors onto the shop floor (I should say lugged as they were very heavy…the detail is amazing though!  Always worth the trouble!

The picture above is a catalog picture so we snapped a few other photos after depositing it in its new home in the shop.  The iron top is so pretty – very simple yet elegant.
 
 
 
 
 
This one doesnt look that great in the catalog photo yet in person its beautiful and it would make a great leaner mirror at 73″ high.  The picture below is the same mirror where we leaned it in the shop.
 
 
The mirror below is one that truly has presence…the frame is so wide and the ornamentation so regal.
 

 

 

Here it is in the shop – leaning at 60″ high it reflects everything around it! 

 

Ok i know this one seems  small after all those big ones but it really is a beauty too.

I cant wait to put this one in the Paris Boudoir on the little skirted Dressing table. 

We didnt get this one but i included it cause its a favorite and it will probably be here again soon!

Mirrors truly make a room more beautiful and we love making a design statement with them.

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A few days and nights in Aruba…

by elegantparis1 Comment on A few days and nights in Aruba…

What a great week….sunshine & warmth, great food, beautiful sunsets…

aruba ocean club
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Delicious dinner at Carte Blanche – appetizer duck with foie gras creme brulee
gate leading into madame janette's in aruba
 Madame Janette’s – delicious dinnersssss
 
  
 
  

 

 

A wonderful week cant wait to go back!

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Courage to make a change

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A friend was incredulous that i was starting a new business in these turbulent times. It got me thinking….and reminiscing.  When i started my first business i really had absolutely no idea what i was getting into (i didnt actually know that at the time…it hit me later when i realized how lucky i was to still be in business). What i do know is that i did follow my heart….and i had a lot of luck!

It took a year of planning and a lot of courage to actually quit my job and head out into the unknown land of no paycheck…and it took an act of fate.  That act of fate was a simple thing – a budget revision…but just one too many.   I remember marching into the boss’ office and giving two weeks notice.  It was a good decision.

At the time it was like opening a door…

 

 

A beautiful door to open…

That was 22 years ago and it occurs to me now that i have never looked back.  The first business took a full year to plan – this new one took shape almost instantaneously.  Oh, my!  As to the economic climate….i look at this new business as a way forward, like hedging a bet.  The current business will  be the incubator but then they will work in conjunction with each other quite nicely.

Just got the new biz card…its so exciting!

Coming Soon!

So I am wrapped up in details as i posted recently but i know that in my mind they are already worked out.

But, i am ready to walk thru another beautiful door….

Source:  http://apieceofthesky.tumblr.com 

 

This whole process is an amazing gift.   To be immersed in something new is a truly wonderful and rejuvenating experience.

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Details, details…

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I find myself thinking incessantly about all the details that i have to oversee to accomplish the opening of the new shop, and planning like crazy – writing orders, making timelines, overseeing each piece of the project so no detail gets lost in the shuffle…here are some favorite details of mine.

my photoThese two doors are attached to a great console cabinet.
my photoThis is a such a pretty stenciled door – i am trying to figure out how to remove it and put it in the new space.

veranda magazine april 2011
Love the boiserie style molding on the walls!
Source: Veranda Magazine April 2011

my photoCrowning detail on a 9′ bookcase.

joanna innes
from Joanna Innes "The New Paint Magic"

Love the way this armoire is painted…completely makes it amazing.
Source: Joanna Innes The New Paint Magic

my photoLove the lacey look of the orchids.

my photoAn old shutter nailed to the wall is a great backdrop for this corner.

my photoThis vanity is very pretty with a soft muted gold painted molding.

my photoOh just love this old chandelier and the beaded shades give it just the right touch.

my photo

my photoThe lionhead gives this old looking urn just a little something more.

my photoSweet tray of trinkets.

my photo
my photoA simple stencil makes this lampshade more special.

my photoThis pretty beadingis attached to the most amazing lamp shade.

Hope you enjoyed these details as much as i do!

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Chandeliers are like jewelry

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crystal chandelier

…the right one is amazing in a room – the crowning glory!

One of my favorite chandeliers…the Mayfair…when we have it in the shop we hang it low for impact. So pretty. The perfect balance of iron and crystal.

currey and company chandelier
currey and company mayfair chandelier

 

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Sometimes you just need a good chair

by elegantparis3 Comments on Sometimes you just need a good chair

Beautiful chairs are a weakness of mine….along with about ten thousand other things.  This hancock & moore chair makes me want to curl up with my cup of tea and snuggle with that soft throw.

my picture
Hancock & Moore
Actually, I’d love to curl up on any of these luscious seats….especially today – a good day for a nap!
hancock sofa
Hancock & Moore Parisian Sofa
hancock sofa
rugby club sofa
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My head is full of ideas, plans, supplies

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I think the left side of my brain must look like this inside right now…it’s neatly organized into compartments –  Everything looks lovely!  But inside the right side…all my plans, ideas, the logistics of the actions required, the supplies  etc are all stuffed to overflowing inside those neat little compartments…it must be a mess of chaos!

I am bursting at the seams with excitement about all the things that have to happen to get this new store open – the trick is to keep things on a neat schedule….i cant get ahead of myself.  Chaos is good right?

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My new favorite color

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Ok its true that almost every day i have a new favorite color….but right now i am totally in love with Adagio – here’s a brownstone just completed using this beautiful & soothing color and I cant get it out of my mind! 

Adagio was perfect – kind of a bluish/gray smokey color!  I am going to use it in the new paris boudoir along with harbor haze, pink lace and paper white.  Definitely getting the itch to start painting.  And, of course there will be lots of 14K gold and warm silver.

The little hancock & moore slipper chair in the foreground is amazing.  They came up with this process of metallizing leather and then lazer cutting it.  It you run your finger over the leather it shimmers!

Off to continue the planning process!

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A few relaxing hours

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Every design project starts with some kind of a floorplan.  It’s like GPS – a guide to your final destination.  I find drawing floorplans and elevations to be a relaxing and rewarding pastime and always enjoy the beginning of each new project.

You can draw your own with a few simple tools…a good tape measure (so you can measure your room and draw to scale),  a couple of soft-leaded pencils, an eraser and some quarter inch block paper (each block equals 1 foot).  Voila!  You are ready to have some fun. 

Yesterday I spent the afternoon drawing floorplans for the new shop.  The one below is a combination floor/elevation plan.  Convenient for seeing everything all in one place…sort of informal but succinct and to scale with a laundry list of items needed to complete the project. 

Paris Studio Apartment

If you like to paint its fun to paint these in the colors you will be using.  Off to work now!  The sun is out so it will be a busy day!  Have fun.

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I love french boiseries

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Boiseries make my heart beat…I love looking at beautiful rooms with boiserie panels and intricate appliques and moldings.

from Villas on The Italian Lakes, Elizabeth Helman Minchilli

These doors are amazing! 

I can see that my cabinet maker is going to be busy making me some moldings for our Paris Boudoir….he does beautiful work – you can check it out by clicking the Facebook link on the sidebar.  The album has about 30 pictures of work we’ve done.  And soon it will contain pictures of the work he is doing for the Paris Boudoir!

Meanwhile more amazing fabrics showed up today in the mail….here’s my faves.

this last fabric is a sheer and is going to make some amazing shades!

Have a great evening!

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so many beautiful fabrics

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I found so many beautiful fabrics for the Paris Boudoir that it is overwhelming.  I decided that money was no object and so selected every fabric that made my heart beat!  Most are silks…and the trims are just amazing.

my pictures

I find that photographing fabrics never does them justice….but i tried…some of these fabrics will comprise the bedding, draperies, swags, skirts and pillows.  Here’s some trims laid out on my antique danish oak desk.  Some of these beauties will make it into the final mix!

my pictures

Each day is one closer to the grand opening!

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It’s Been A Long, Cold Winter

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I think that sometimes adversity sharpens our creativity.  Surprisingly this long, cold winter has actually been an inspiration for me.   Maybe my present surroundings had something to do with it too….here’s a few rooms I love and that may have inspired me to take the steps I have planned…

This is a our “tea party” room in my shop – The Whistling Elk.  I love the soft colors, the flowers and the pretty little tufted settee.   Here’ s a few more of my favorites.

These beautiful silk drapes were made for the Old Lafayette Designer Showhouse.
The hanging wall cabinet in the background here is made to order by my cabinetmaker - we've adapted it to fit in many different situations.
Love this warm sitting area featuring a comfy down filled Hancock & Moore sofa.
This room was decorated soon after my return from the last Paris trip.
One of my favorite cozy vignettes!

This fall I will be opening a new little shop…The long, cold winter was a kind of gift that provided me with the time to plan all the details for this vintage style furnishings shop. 

It’s all on paper…so now the fun begins…selecting the actual colors, fabrics and trims, furniture and little trinkets to make it a reality.  Yesterday I spent the day in New York selecting fabrics and trims!  It’s all very exciting and makes the winter just a memory…