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Desk ? Vanity ? Identity Crisis makes for elegant, sleek design

by elegantparis7 Comments on Desk ? Vanity ? Identity Crisis makes for elegant, sleek design

This amazing piece of furniture arrived on Friday. 

desk with french leg
Note to Self Desk...or Vanity

It came along with the sofa that i recently blogged about…you know the one i waited all day for…that was so late in arriving…

I was so excited about the sofa that I didn’t unpack the desk right away. 

 Yesterday we brought it up to the shop floor of  The Whistling Elk  and put it together.  It’s gorgeous. 

Desk with french leg
Vanity or Desk elegant and sleek

Top down…its a beautiful desk…

Raise the top and voila its an amazing vanity with a beveled mirror!

No real identity crisis here – just imaginative design. 

The legs are metal with a silver finish that looks fabulous – sleek and elegant satin finish French legs.  OOh la la!

The entire top is ivory with a patterned art finish in a soft gray which resembles wallpaper.

Gray patterned vanity or desk
Vanity / Desk with slide out shelves on sides

 Originally I was thinking this piece would be placed somewhere in  Little Paris as it looks very French and very sophisticated

but it’s going to look amazing anywhere in the shop or in your home for that matter! 

When  I purchased this piece of furniture I must have been in  a hurry or something because i didn’t realize that the middle section of the top was hinged

 and raised upward to reveal a beveled mirror…creating a vanity.  I must be slipping…I did order it from a catalog picture — something that i RARELY do. 

 But all’s well when its a happy  and beautiful surprise.

Desk
Desk top seen from the back

The name of this desk/vanity is Note to Self….how appropriate!

Patterned Desk Top
Wallpaper Pattern on top of vanity

What a beautiful and clever design which will elevate the décor in any room.

Accessories on Desk Top
Note to Self Desk Vanity
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 Shabby Chic Sofa is sheer elegance

by elegantparis1 Comment on  Shabby Chic Sofa is sheer elegance
sofa
off white shabby chic sofa

Friday we got a new sofa for The Whistling Elk shop floor!

 Its very beautiful and comfortable and has that shabby chic appeal which means it also works for Little Paris.

It’s sheer elegance for your home!!

The main fabric is an off white and the decorative pillows have  embroidered designs in icey blue.

shabby chic pillow
pillow with embroidered design shabby chic

It’s simple and elegant – just what i like for good interior design and will work in either a formal or informal room. Perfect!

I set it up in the back of the shop near the custom cabinetry and my favorite picture of an elegant lady – just love her.

sofa custom cabinetry and lady picture
shabby chic sofa and elegant lady print

The sofa is grouped with a gold chenille swivel chair from Hancock and Moore ….

shabby chic sofa with mirrored cocktail table
sofa, chair, cocktail table

I love the way the mirrored cocktail table reflects all the color around it.  It adds a special elegance to the whole setting.

The sofa was worth waiting for….It was supposed to arrive around noon and instead showed up after 7:30 pm….

Sometimes in retail you have to have a very open schedule and be very, very patient!

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Painting Fleur de Lis Stencils for a Romantic Room Design

by elegantparisLeave a Comment on Painting Fleur de Lis Stencils for a Romantic Room Design
wall design
Fleur de lis stencil for the wall design

Here on my desk is my lastest project for a client.  We are going to paint fleur de lis designs randomly on her office walls.  I cut this Fleur de lis stencil when i painted the Paris Boudoir in Little Paris shop.

In order to give my client some choices for how the fleur de lis will look i first painted some copy paper with the wall color (2 coats)…

wall design fleur de lis stencil
fleur de lis stencil with modern masters 14k gold metallic paint

Then i stenciled the fleur le lis design over the paint three different ways.   The first (above) is stenciled with just full strength modern masters 14k metallic gold paint.

For the 2nd sample of the wall design i mxed the 14k metallic gold with glaze to make it more transparent.

wall design painting
fleur de lis stencil with modern masters 14k mettallic gold mixed with glaze for a room wall design

Lastly, I added some paint crystals to the 14kgold/glaze mixture (below).  This gives the fleur de lis a glittery effect.

The glitter will catch the light and sparkle – its a faint effect so you actually wonder if you are really seeing it!  Love it!

wall design
fleur de lis with paint crystals

Voila !  Beautiful effect -so easy to do and painted randomly around the room makes a completely original wall design!

 PS….I have little sparkles all over me (from the paint crystals)….its like fairy dust maybe it will bring me luck today at The Whistling Elk.

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Spring colors are delightful!

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Don’t these beautiful colors just make you happy! and want to make flower arrangements?

I love to design florals for clients.  These are all the colors i am using in

Little Paris!

love the soft hues…

even though they are all fakes!  love them anyway!!

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful spring day!!

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the shop still looks pretty…we still have gifts for all!

by elegantparisLeave a Comment on the shop still looks pretty…we still have gifts for all!

It’s still christmas here at The Whistling Elk and Little Paris…things are still sparkling!

and vibrant and happy colours are everywhere….

The bedroom is all dressed for Christmas….so inviting!

pretty soon it will all be over again, sigh, i will miss it!

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Little iron details

by elegantparis1 Comment on Little iron details

Gee, the fall has really crept up on me! 

 Today I am sitting here (feeling too lazy to do much)  and  my toes are cold!  I should probably move some furniture….but no instead i am thinking about the last few months and planning for the next few…

 and I realized that Little Paris

has been open over a month now and I havent posted a blog since it opened!

We are starting to get in all the fall goodies and holiday merchandise…the other day i unwrapped this little gem

 

 

It really is the little things…this simple scrolly iron ornament is great over a doorway or a bed.

  And, I love putting them over pictures too! 

 I particularly  love this one because it is only $39 and it’s like a fashion accessory – it will jazz up anything

 you put it with.   I always order a lot of them because it is so popular and i hate to be without it!

I love to paint them too – the one above comes in a rust but it would be pretty gilded.

This next one comes in white….shabby chic white…but i got the gold fever and gilded it!

It’s only $36 and that is a bargain for all the good looks you get out of it!

 

 

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Little Paris Opens Quietly Today!!

by elegantparis2 Comments on Little Paris Opens Quietly Today!!

Well, today was the day!

We opened Little Paris to the public – we still have a few kinks to work out but we decided to go ahead and softly greet the world!

Here’s a little virtual tour….its better to click on each picture to see everything – I didnt want to shrink them too much!

Have fun!   Here’s the entrance foyer/staircase.

Going up the regal staircase…

Looking up the staircase into the French Country Estate Room. 

The Paris Boudoir

Remember this Vanity that we purchased in June, I think…

There are two of these prints in Little Paris….so amazing! 

venice window pictures


This next series of pictures is from our Paris Apartment Room

We are calling this last room the French Country Estate Room…

as it just kinda took on its own easy going relaxed  feeling.

Well, that’s it….I will finish up the details and have the Grand Opening in Early September!!

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I want to move into my little Paris Apartment…

by elegantparisLeave a Comment on I want to move into my little Paris Apartment…

The bedroom portion of the Paris Apartment room is almost complete.  I finished the window treatments last night. 

 The cornice box is made of cardboard and painted with a white texture paint.  I love the light feeling of this room!

These pastel vases are so pretty!

  I would love to put them on my vanity.

Compassion….

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excuses, excuses

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OK, I have been hibernating…at least that is my excuse for not keeping you uptodate…

I have been working on Little Paris a minute here and a minute there

…painting, organizing, moving things (that i shouldn’t be), planning etc.  Task by task i am getting there….

heres a few pictures -first  my ceiling medalion in the Paris Boudoir

 
 
K now for excuse #2 – my camera is on the blink…so the picture quality is not going to be pristine….sigh.

Here’s some images of the staircase that i have been adding to daily!

I freehand painted this railing using a stencil for the little gold details – my yardstick and

tiny little paintbrush were my best friends! I added the swirl on top of the railing yesterday – i really love it!

This swag will hang at the head of the bed with side draperies…

and finally, i am ready to hang these cornice boxes over the windows….

they are made of cardboard with wood trim and a little texture paint.  

There is a crown for the top middle but i havent attached it as yet.

Stay cool!

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The devil in the details!

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I’m still painting!

Yes, the devil is in the details…but if you want perfection – ya gotta go for it!

Had my mom cut me a few stencils from architectural pictures i collected…then used parts of them randomly.

Here’s the beginning of the faux iron staircase railings!

Just finished drawing this in today and will start painting on it tomorrow!

Happy Fourth!

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Everyone needs a little pink

by elegantparis4 Comments on Everyone needs a little pink

I just finished painting the “Paris Apartment” in our Little Paris shop…

it’s a beautiful shade of pink called Cotton Candy!

 If you ever told me i’d be painting pink walls in any room of mine – I’d have laughed….

but yes people can change and adapt.  I really love it.

Here’s some pink inspiration for you!

 

via http://bellafayegarden.tumblr.com

Yes I am truly loving the pink!!!

So now two rooms of Little Paris are on their way to completion….

Happy Father’s Day all.

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New artwork just arrived at The Whistling Elk

by elegantparisLeave a Comment on New artwork just arrived at The Whistling Elk

Yesterday we got in a large shipment of artwork….

here’s a pretty piece that would fit right into our Little Paris shop….

These next several pieces are all very Whistling Elk….very tuscan – rich colors – warm and cozy…

 

This pretty picture is a favorite already….it will be hard to part with it!

And i usually dont buy art featuring people!

Switching gears a little – here are some smaller pictures exquisitely framed….great for little groupings with other architectural details mixed in

The two pictures following are amazing – they are 4′ x 6′ – very impressive! 

They make you feel like you are right there on the patio!

 

There is more but you will have to come and see!

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Paris boudoir gets a fresh coat of paint

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So i just finished priming the walls of the Paris Boudoir!  

This brings Little Paris a step closer to opening day.   Painting is great therapy…

you can think about anything you want and get the job done at the same time

with very satisfying results.

Now I have the final coat of ADAGIO on – if I was in love with this color before NOW i am over the top!

It’s beautiful, soft, inviting, soothing and the perfect backdrop for the furnishings

set to go into the Paris Boudoir.

The mantel too is ready for gilding and for the appliques that will be strategically placed on it.  Tomorrow.

Dont you just love the little red cup…I guess painting is thirsty work!

Benjamin Moore’s Adagio is greyer when well lit by daylight and bluer in the evening when the sun sets.  A very

adapatable color.  Enjoy your Sunday – I’ll be painting later after closing…

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Vintage vanity is the first find

by elegantparis2 Comments on Vintage vanity is the first find

I found a beautiful vintage dressing table…

it turned up a little early but i just had to have it for Little Paris!

 

It’s such a pretty creamy yellow…with gold trim.   And the mirror is amazing!

 Of course we displayed out favorite perfumes from Shelley Kyle on it.

It’s going to be gorgeous in our Paris Boudoir…which i just primed yesterday.

I plan on finishing up the general painting early next week.

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Distracted while shopping for antiques….

by elegantparis1 Comment on Distracted while shopping for antiques….

Yesterday I was out shopping for antiques and ran into the most gorgeous babbling brook!  It was so pretty and

 refreshing and made the greatest rushing sounds….lovely

I found some great pieces for Little Paris too…and have some decisions to make about a few larger pieces of furniture. 

Some of the small pieces follow…hardware, books and a great compote.

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Feeling very proud….

by elegantparisLeave a Comment on Feeling very proud….

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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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.