This little footstool was feeling very dreary in its old finish of rust/grey…
So i took it home yesterday and gave it a coat of paint. I waxed it with a little clear wax and let it sit overnight.
This morning i threw it in the car, drove it back to The Whistling Elk where i finished it off by sanding for a distressed look and gilding it around the top edges with a little of the Annie Sloan kings gold wax which i also rubbed into the top then dry brushed the legs…you can never have too much gold!
It’s just too pretty now. I love the way it looks sitting on the oriental carpet.
Tag: home
I just looked out the window and it was snowing…again!
Spring please come soon!
You just never know what you will find in the garage…
Rummaging around in my garage i found this print that used to hang over my mantel about 12 years ago.
Wow, i forgot how much i loved this Icarte print…
So glad it works into my Powder Room Scheme – every time i see it it makes me smile…I cant believe it was living in the garage for so long.
Paint is part of accessorizing a bookcase
This wall mounted bookcase is in my guest bedroom. It’s from Elden Collections. I have always loved the architectual feeling it brought to the room. Since i just finished painting the room Ben Moore Adagio i decided to give the bookcase a facelift. Since the room is going in a shabby chic direction i went with Decorator’s White advance semi gloss. This is a fairly new trim paint from ben moore that is water base but it paints on like oil base…love it and the finished product!
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Taking Freight in the Pouring Rain
I have been in the new shop location now for one month and yesterday i received my first large freight order…in the pouring rain with nowhere to conveniently take delivery. I must say you can get pretty innovative when you have too. But i do miss the basement at my old location. Sigh…
The arched mirror above is one of the large mirrors that came yesterday…its very shabby chic and looks great in the Paris Boudoir.
This one i had stashed away but since we sold a piece of art…it got a chance to hang on the wall. What a crime that i didnt hang it sooner…
Here’s another one that is now unpacked and leaning on top of a beautiful habersham console. It’s one of my favorite mirrors.
Mirror Mirror on the Floor!
Just got this beauty back in stock…missed it!
Rich Damask Wallpaper transforms a little Powder Room
Just had a little powder room wallpapered in Thibaut Kenilworth…love the rich color and the damask pattern on the paper! I painted an old towel bar with Annie Sloan Primer Red and then brushed it with a little gold paint. It looks amazing. Since this powder room has a low ceiling i cannot put in crown molding so i am going to run a fabric cording around the top edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling…and i am thinking i will probably glaze the ceiling gold with sparkles. That will have to wait though until i get another day off.
Fashion is the name of the game in our new shabby chic bedroom
Our new Paris Boudoir at The Whistling Elk is showing off our new Pine Cone Hill bedding line. The bedding in the bottom left of the picture is Bella Blue which is draped over our pretty Caracole french ottoman and the queen bed is wearing a combo outfit Madeline Cafe au lait quilt and a Louisa Ivory duvet. I am in love with the Louisa ivory duvet! This room is painted in Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray and when the morning sun shines in it is beautiful!
Tea Anyone?
Our kitchen island is filled with our Teas and our serving ware collection.
Our Bar made from reclaimed french pine is next to the “tea” table and filled with lots of tabletop goodies. The custom wall shelf hangs behind the bar and looks as if it was made to go with it. Love this little corner!
In the upper right hand corner of the photo is our newest swarovski crystal chandelier…pretty all in pink crystals!
Sparkling Crystal Chandeliers and Deliciously Scented Air
Ummm the Lampe Berger fragrance fills the air and the chandeliers sparkle like diamonds…this is the new main room of the Whistling Elk.
You can just see the end of the elegant custom bookcase/cabinet on the right and on the left side of the room is our Lampe Berger and our Tea Forte.
Habersham tables line up down the center of the shop housing our collection of LoLLia, Shelley Kyle and in the far distance the La Vie Parisienne jewelry.
Sparkling overhead are those amazingly beautiful bohemian swarovski crystal chandeliers.
My custom cabinetmaker is amazing
We moved the custom cabinet that i had built into the shop several years ago from the old shop into the new Whistling Elk shop…this piece is 8′ high and 17′ long…
This was another important part of my store opening plan – i wanted this piece to move with me because i use it every day to sell custom cabinetry and furniture.
It’s a major sales tool for my interior design business.
It is a great showcase for our picture frames and all my design books! Plus since it has 17′ of cabinets under the bookcase it provides much needed storage space.
My cabinetmaker took the built in apart, he and his helper carried the components over to the new shop (20 ft) and then they reassembled it! The whole process took him 4 hours! So not only can he build beautiful pieces – but he can move them and they still look Beautiful – that’s pretty amazing if you ask me!
Clocks and Draperies create a curiously beautiful combination
We re-created our clock wall in the new shop and now it greets you as you walk in the front door.
It is surrounded by our beautiful custom draperies.
It was part of my store opening plan for the new Whistlng Elk to have this room say “we do interior design, window treatments, color consultations” – it is a very pretty room so i think we were successful!
Elegant Entrance
As you enter our new shop you are greeted with an elegant design vignette that showcases our sofas, art, lamps draperies and carpets…
The paint is Ben Moore Silver Mink – its one of my new favorites!
Every time i walk into this room I feel surrounded by beauty. The details please the eye and create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. I love the soft color scheme…it makes me want to curl up with a book amongst the pillows on the sofa.
I went a little crazy with the distressing
well, i might be done…
I did really go crazy with the distressing…but i think i like it!
I used a little of the gilding wax on the hardware and on the drawer front.
You can never have too much gold!
Ooophs – i just couldn’t resist painting the insides of the drawers with Henrietta – Annie Sloan Chalk Paint –
its the sweetest lavendar!
I love the little Fleur de Lis detail smack in the middle…
every time i open this little drawer i know it will make me smile – yes! I am definitely done with this piece!
It’s a Wine Cabinet Makeover
Remember that black wine cabinet that i posted…well the makeover is almost done!
First coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint…Louis Blue and Louis Blue mixed with Pure White.
I left the inside black….liking the contrast!
Later I’ll distress it…
The seasons are changing…time for cozy details at home
It’s that time of year when having a throw blanket to curl up with is really important.
I love piling up a group of throws in soft, natural colors with some of our custom pillows –
It’s hard to resist going by this chair without stroking the throws which do not disappoint!
They are soft & luxurious – so cozy!
The iron canopy bed in our Bonne Nuit colored bedroom is virtually packed with custom made pillows…
Textillery throw blankets are piled here…they are acrylic chenille and just exquisite.
I have several at home and can’t bear to actually use them – I just love to drape them everywhere – ooh la la!
Below a gorgeous purple silk drapery embroidered with sprigs of leaves shimmers with a reddish tinge when you move it…
a fabulous multi-colored bullion adorns it as it hangs over the entrance doorway to this bedroom.
I love the way the ready made 100% cotton organdy embroidered floral drapes hang on the other side of the doorway
creating a multi-layered elegance and depth – very pleasing to the eye (mine anyway).
Both The Whistling Elk and Little Paris are ready for season change…are you?
Say hello to my latest Annie Sloan Chalk Paint project
Say hellooooo to my latest painting project…
This little wine cabinet is my paint project for the next couple of days.
It’s really cute but i am going to make it even cuter!
Stay tuned for the results….
Purple Just Feels Like Bling
Lampe Berger is one of our favorite things…
and what could be prettier than purple?
Not only do we love the scents but they add to any room design….
Feels like bling – I want one!
The Beginnings of our Christmas Bling
Little by little the Christmas Bling is creeping into the shop!
It begins by mingling with our home accessories..
this will continue for the month of October!
Gifts and Decorative Accessories Interview with The Whistling Elk
We just got written up in Gifts & Accessories Magazine….
Check it out!
here’s the link http://www.giftsanddec.com/article/555546-The_Gifted_Retailer_The_Whistling_Elk.php?intref=sr
The Whistling Elk 
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