Around The Hood

We had a beautiful weekend...it was 78 degrees out, perfect California sunshine!

Most of  you who follow my blog know I love vintage finds...I found this bowl at an estate sale and put it on my coffee table in the living room.

I want to share some of the things that I brought back from Round Top. This rug is one of my favorite things. You can see in the background that I had new curtains made.

 I can thank my dog, Sway aka FeFe, for peeing on the last ones....the little stinker!

I had a band of fabric put on the edges...

My new rug has a tad of blue in it.

This rug is a vintage rug that was washed and sanded...Yes, I said sanded down with sand paper!

 This style is actually really pretty...I wish I would of bought a couple of them.

I also found these prints and the ones below.

I have always loved pictures of birds and I had to buy two of these for each side of my window in the dining room.

This is an antique French Grape Pod. I loved the color, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

A lot of people hang them on the wall and put flowers in them.

I was trying to think of something different.

Any ideas?

My roses were so pretty I had to take a picture of them and show you...


A little up-date..

I was on the mend from pneumonia, but I got a cold from my daughter! I can't quite believe it! Cross your fingers and for those who are religious, please pray this cold doesn't go into my lungs!

 I have to many things to do to be sick!

Thanks,
Julie

Halcyon House a Boutique Hotel

I know where I want to go on vacation! Halcyon House in Australia...designed by Anna Spiro.
Its a boutique hotel that just opened...
It's my kinda place!

It feels like a comfortable beach-ie home. Don't you love those lamps?

Bike riding anyone?

I wonder where the cabana boys are?
OK!
Just kidding...

And to lay out here!
 Heaven!

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have an event here!

These are the chairs they used in the dining room...

Anna, is very creative and has a way with vignettes..

I love all of the vintage paintings and the lamp shade covered with fabric.

The walls are upholstered in this blue and white fabric...

Love!

Nice view!

If you want to visit, check out Halcyon House.

You might not want to leave this place, ever!

Hope you had a great 3 day weekend!
Happy Memorial Day!

Segreto Finishing

When I went to Round Top I had the privilege of meeting Leslie Sinclair, the owner of Segreto Finishes. I now have two of her books that I love! There filled with timeless designs and ideas.
She works with some of the top designers in Texas. The images I'm posting are from her new book.

Leslie owns a Faux finishing business which she started in 1995 after her third child was born. It started as a hobby and grew into a part time venture, but the company kept growing. For Leslie to be able to work at her hobby as a career was really exciting and fun for her! 

The faux finish in this bathroom is subtle and beautiful.  That's what I love about her work!

Look how pretty the walls look in this entryway..

This is her newest book.

She has another book, Segreto Vignettes coming out Sept 2015.
 And yes, I do want to get it! 

The first 17 years she operated her business out of her home so she could see her kids in the morning, be there for lunch in the summer and see them after school. Her staff and her clients grew up with her family and Visa Versa. She said her sweet husband was so patient. But, after 17 years she purchased two small 1950's homes  close to her home and moved Segreto there.

Every room has her work displayed..from the walls to the flooring! 

I love both of her books, but this is my favorite so far! I can't wait until her next book comes out in Sept!

Leslie has been renovating her own home for the last 15 months. She says, " I practice what I preach, no one loves finishes, or design more than me." It will be fun to see her home when shes done!  To see the before pictures of her office go here. To order her books go here and here. 


Here is her Bio!

The world of decorative painting is limitless, ever-changing and richly complex. Finishes for walls, ceilings, floors and cabinetry are crucial to the embodiment of a home’s character. Segreto Finishes’ niche in the world of design motivates owner Leslie Sinclair to constantly explore new techniques and finishes that appeal to a vast multitude of styles and personal tastes.

Leslie lives by the philosophy that upon entering a room, your eyes should not draw a distinction to one element or finish but should see the surroundings as a whole. By developing a palette that complements a home’s architecture and design, surroundings are given a new perspective.

Graduating from the University of Texas with a business degree, Leslie, mother of three, left her corporate job in 1995 to start Segreto Finishes, naming the company after her husband’s family. Segreto, which means secret in Italian, rolls up all of Leslie’s passions — architecture, interior design, art, people and business– into her idea of the perfect job. Leslie’s talent for color, bringing innovative products to Houston, hiring and training a quality staff and working with people on their individual needs, built Segreto’s reputation.

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

stripes

M.Elle



I've been on the sofa with pneumonia and it isn't going away real quick! In fact it feels like eternity... 
But, for now lets get on with stripes!

M.Elle




 You can add texture, color and drama through a variety of different striped fabrics. I love stripes, they go with almost any pattern and style..

Does anyone know who designed this?

M.Elle





Contemporary, casual, or formal.

( Bill Ingram)



They work

Anna Spiro




If you look closely, most of the fabrics have some form of a stripe. The size, direction and color of the striped pattern determines the outcome.

Anna Spiro

Anna Spiro



I've always loved stripes on a sofa...

Upholster a chair, love-seat in a striped fabric to jazz up a room. Look how the casual stripe up-dates this antique chair.

Anna Spiro

Kate Forman





So pretty...
A small stripe on the sofa and the rug has a free form stripe

There's a lot of fabrics in this room..The striped sofa calms all the other fabrics down...brings everything together.

I realized I have a lot of striped clothing, but I don't have furniture with striped fabrics..
Hum!
I guess I need to change that!

( House Beautiful)

You can mix a stripe with other patterns in the same room. Keep the patterns in the same color hues and mix larger and smaller ones together.

(M.Elle)

Irving&Morrison, Photo,Miguel flores-Vianna, Elle Decor





Love, the fabrics in this display...again, there are 3  patterns of stripes. It works because there different in scale and pattern.

I love this quote!
(found it here) 



Being sick has given me some time to think about where I want my business and blog to go and what I need to do to achieve that.

I'm working on a web-site and gathering new photos of my work. The photos I have are old...

Yes, I'm married to a photographer and you would think this would be an easy task. 

My goal is within the next couple of months to photograph my new work...I have at least 5 homes to photograph.

The last two years I've been helping take care of my parents..it was hard to focus on my blog and to give it the attention it needs...I'm hoping I will have the extra time now.
 Don't get me wrong...
I loved my parents and was blessed I could be there for them...it was a stressful time and I miss both of them so much. 
I also wanted to thank all the people who reached out to me during such a difficult time...it amazes me the wonderful bloggers and people out in blogland!

You are awesome!