Ebay, 1 Great Find At A Time.

One of my favorite things to do online is to browse/shop Ebay. Partly because you never know what you'll find, and mostly because it's a one-stop-shop! The site is chalked full of the most unique finds, priced high to low. 

If you're any sort of treasure hunter/bargain hunter/ or heck even a (literal) hunter, you'll find it there.

Recently I came across some pretty amazing pieces. Take a look...

First up is this French Chinoiserie Bombe Commode. This piece dates back to the 1920's era & could very well have been made by Maison Jensen.

I'm finding my interest in Asian (Chinoiserie) pieces growing more and more each day! They're just so beautiful. The detail, the scenes, the colors. The stories they tell! 

Next is this antique glass & brass pendant light. The leaf and scroll accents are what caught my eye. I haven't seen anything like it. It's vintage, art deco, and feminine all in one pretty pendant.

I saw this & thought WOW. THAT is a piece of furniture! Tucked away among the other listings this seller had, was this to-die-for French Louis XV Carved Baroque Gilded Frame. It's perfect at 37"L x 33"W :)

Pair of Italian hand carved alabaster candlesticks, inlaid with genuine malachite.

I happen to love anything malachite, so even though these don't have much- the pop of green is just enough.

Pair of "Pinkie & Blue Boy" Gold Framed prints.

I absolutely LOVE this set. The frames. The boy. The girl. They're not painted together in one piece, but when I look at them, all I think of is romance.

Castilian: A Love Affair of The Décor Type

"Castilian Trading began as a brassware gift and home accessory importer based in Jackson, Mississippi in 1977. After 12 years as a successful business in brassware items, Castilian Trading was bought by Simon and Lily and relocated to Houston, TX.

Simon had a vision for the direction that his company should take. He set about expanding the designs and materials used in the home decor accents that became the new focus of Castilian Trading. Simon headed up the design team and began introducing porcelain, crystal, glass, wood and silver along with the brassware. The results were beautiful handcrafted pieces that were both innovative and traditional."

Below are a few of my favorite pieces from their expansive collection of home decor, & lighting. I've got my eye on a few of these beauties...

 Gourd Shaped Finial with Vines & Birds

  Leaf Panel Table Lamp

(Above/Below: I would love to see a set of either one of these flanking both sides of our bed, or down in the dining room with our new dining set)

Wood Urn Table Lamp w/Velvet Trim Lamp Shade

Antiqued Oval Mirror 

Black Wood Urn Table Lamp

 

Sea Coral Table Lamp w/Custom Black Silk Shade

Round Mirror with Beveled Sunburst Border

Textured Sand French Style Buffet Lamp

 (Lft: Cubed Crystal Tabletop Box Rt: Square Crystal and Silver Tabletop Box)

Blue & Tan Floral Table Lamp

And last but not least...

Fressco Urn On Pedestal Table Lamp

  Cheryl Collins has this lamp (above) in her store & it caught my eye right off the bat. I-LOVE-THIS-LAMP. The wire mesh overlay on the shade is unlike any ol' lampshade. To me, that additional touch says it's a quality piece, made with attention to detail & innovative craftsmanship. Bravo!

(images via Bellacor & Castilian) 

High End Gadgets: The Hermès Contre-Temps

Designed by French designer Alexandre Fourne, the Hermès Contre-Temps Agenda is yet another step in top design house' attempts to broaden their brand, and leap off the glossy pages of luxury apparel & accessories, and into the electronics world.

The Hermes Agenda does almost everything an iphone does; including an electronic organizer, photo sharing, email, GPS, RSS reader and more. Featuring an OLED touchscreen and e-paper technology, when closed it's about the same size as a smart phone. ...But is it practical? 

As of right now the Hermès Agenda is only a concept, but should it actually come to fruition, will it live up to today's high standard of smart-phone/pda?...We shall see.

And speaking of designer electronics-- my husband had the Giorgio Armani for Samsung phone. While it was a fun gadget to have, it didn't last long- he was back on the Blackberry in no time.

In the end, I think it's more about the name than the actual capabilities of the device.

Looking Up

I happen to have a "thing" for painting. Ok- it's more than just a "thing"...I can't seem to put the paintbrush down! I love to paint anything really, but my house is the main victim in this saga. (I say victim in a good way). Next, I'm onto working on the ceiling(s).

I've realized that most spaces I fall in love with have some sort of treatment on the ceilings. Whether it be a dark shade like black or brown, gold/silver leaf, wood beams, or a complimentary color to the walls, it really makes the room come full circle & definitely a lot cozier.

PAINT/LEAF

Mary McDonald

MURALS

Ramona Balaz

Ramona Balaz

A shot from our recent trip to Vegas.

The Palazzo

The Venetian

Las Vegas

COFFERED & BEAMS

Therese Long of La Dolfina

Jill Kollmar

Kellie Cashon of Cashon & Co.

   via Cote de Texas

Boxwood Bliss

While envisioning a design for my back yard, I always found myself drawn back to images of Boxwood gardens.  The rounded; spiral, boxed, or swirled shrub,  spoke to me in volumes of  class, glamour & of course elegance. 

As long as I can remember my dad has had an affinity for gardening. I remember on the weekends he'd be out in the backyard, pruning, planting & precisely trimming his array of plants & bonsai. He's so good at it. 

Maintaining these bushes definitely takes a certain amount of talent & restraint; & that I've always admired.

Les Jardins de Marqueyssac

    Vézac, France

Les Jardins de Marqueyssac

    Vézac, France 

Even when used in more modern spaces, the bush adds a touch of softness while still being perfectly trimmed.

Kelly Hoppen

Luciano Giubbilei

Oh Happy Day!

Today, my husband & I went out to grab some lunch & check out some antique/furniture stores. As of today, we've never had a formal dining table. Not because we don't like sitting down at a beautiful table to eat dinner, but because I never found the table. I've looked high & low, in between & all around, & could never settle on one I loved. (I refused to buy a cheap set that would "hold us over" in fear that we'd have it forever). So we went out in hopes of seeing something we'd like...

A new store opened in town, by interior designer Cheryl Collins; she carries the most exquisite, unique, & rare pieces of furniture. I just knew I would fall in love with something the second I stepped foot inside. ...and I did.  With about 30 different things! I slowly made my way towards the back of the store, & heard my husband call out "Hey Babe, there's a table over here!". I hurried back & as I rounded the corner, my heart skipped a beat. ...Cheryl came over & gave me the break down. 

She said Baker.  I thought SOLD.

So as of today, my very first dining set is a Regency Style, Baker Split-Pedestal Dining Table + 2 Arm Chairs & 4 Side Chairs in a Black Lacquer finish. Circa 1920-1950 :)

Oh happy day!...

Our new dining chairs. 

I couldn't get a proper of the table as it was in a corner; so those will  have to wait until it gets home :)

(all images: theplushpad.blogspot.com)