Peonies & Lysianthus

I'm back, with another post dedicated entirely to flowers.  

I love having fresh flowers around the house, & for me...the more the merrier! 

As we were preparing for company yesterday, we swung by Trader Joe's to pick up some essentials & like clock work, I always stop at the front to check out their latest selection of flowers. 

This time I hit the jackpot. 5 peony stems, for $5.99?...absolutely!

Oh pink peonies, how I love thee :)

I put them in the center of the dinner table last night, & as we were all sitting around enjoying our dads on their special holiday, each bloom opened, and by the time we were thru with dessert they had all completely blossomed into these GIANT pink beauties.  

... and while I was at it, I couldn't help myself but pick up some equally beautiful lysianthus. They were too pretty to pass by.

Now, they happily sit on my desk where I can enjoy them to my big hearts content :)

(all images: theplushpad.blogspot.com)

The Metropolitan Building

Dating from 1909, the Metropolitan Building, located in Long Island City, NY- first started out as an electrical parts factory. Seventy years later, it had long been vacant, sitting there desolate and in a sad state of disrepair.

In 1980, Eleanor Ambos, a successful business woman, with an antique furniture rental company, based in Manhattan, purchased the building for storage space and to accommodate a variety of artisans to set up their studios and workrooms. She undertook a massive restoration project, and today- The Met Building is one of the hottest locations for weddings, parties, photo shoots, & movie sets.

Hundreds of frames hung from the ceilings. This was one of the first rooms I came across, my first time at the building. When I wondered away from everyone else, I turned a corner and my jaw hit the floor. Immediately my heart started RACING with excitement. I knew there was a lot more to be seen here.

Lamps, lamps, lamps. What a collection!

 

Rows & rows of chests, side tables, cabinets, you name it- it's there.

  

Hundreds  of old antique chairs fill the second floor space...

...My Heaven.

 

 I was alone walking around from floor to floor and come across this statue. I could only look & snap her photo for a second. 

(all photos by theplushpad.blogspot.com) 

Fluffy White Goodness

This morning, as I was getting ready for my day- fresh out of the shower, sipping my morning coffee, the door bell rang. Usually I never answer it, but today was a different story.

I looked thru the peep hole to see who it might be, and "Oh my gosh!", I swung the door open to see a gorgeous arrangement of my favorite flowers; fluffy white hydrangeas :)

I couldn't believe it; out of the blue..."Just because I love you".

They're so beautiful, I had to share.

Sunburst Mirrors: A Love Hate Relationship

(click image to enlarge)

I looooooove sunburst mirrors. I mean- LOVE. And I happen to love them in gold *swoon*. Luckily for me, when I told my husband I had plans of putting one above the fireplace, he quickly quipped "Those round things? Oh god, I hate those." 

Wanting to know why & where in the world he would have ever found a hate for these stunning beauties, I asked why. His answer- "An ex girlfriend of mine when I was a kid...her parents had one in their house and I remember seeing it, & hating it.".

...oh geez.

So I put together a bevy of examples to prove to my husband that they don't have to look like the one his ex's parents had in the early 80's.  I mean...nothing fabulous came from the 80's. So I put my imagination to work, & I can definitely see why he'd remember them being not so "fab". 

As for me....they'll always be stunning, creative, sophisticated, & down right EYE-CATCHERS :)

From top left: 

Inspiration For Home Blog; Ruth & Ollie; Matthew Izzo ; Lisa Epley; Kellie Cashon @ Cashon & Co.; Shabby Slips- Dallas, Dovecote; Lisa Epley; Southern Accents; Stacey Hyde- Dallas; Graham & Green; Corbis; Kellie Cashon @ Cashon & Co.; Dec. 2005 Homes & Gardens Mag.; Phoebe Howard;

Beauty

-Photograph by George Hurrell c.1937-

Tyrone Power & Loretta Young for "Second Honeymoon"

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."

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)