Behr's In The Moment

I usually write a post on Pantone's color of the year. However, this year, I am loving Behr's 2018 color of the year...which, happens to be called "In The Moment". It's the perfect combination of blue and gray with a touch of green. It will work well with traditional and modern decor. There's something about it that just makes me happy and relaxed...the kind of color that I would love to come home to everyday. And, I think we all could benefit from a little happy "In The Moment" right now!

FYI: Pantone's color of the year is Ultra Violet.

Dreaming of Gig Harbor

It's that time of year again when HGTV unveils their annual Dream Home. This is the first time that HGTV has chosen Washington State. It's located in Gig Harbor where this beautiful house has several breathtaking views of Henderson Bay.

The exterior is dark to blend into its surroundings. But don't be fooled by the dark exterior, there are a ton of windows in this home to bring in natural light. The garage doors are glass which gives a view thru the house out into the Bay. (Photo by David A. Land)

The main living area has a neutral palette so the outside view and the iron chandelier is the main focus. I am loving the many windows in this room! (Photo by Rustic White Photography)

The modern kitchen features an open concept so it doesn't feel closed off to the rest of the house. My favorite design elements are the oversized island and the quartz backsplash. (Photo by: Rustic White Photography)

I am loving the spacious master bedroom suite which features a beautiful mural and an adjoining private living area and bath. There are 5 bedrooms in this house but the master is a show stopper!(Photo by Rustic White Photography)

Another favorite space of mine is the cocktail lounge. The design of this house was well thought out for entertaining a large group. (Photo by Rustic White Photography)

Of course, the backside of the home has awesome views of the water with several decks and patios for outside living. (Photo by Rustic White Photography)

For more info on this gorgeous house and your chance to win it, check out HGTV.

A Sleepy Goodbye

I've decided to move out of The Sleepy Poet by the end of January. I just didn't have time to search for antiques....it took more time, patience and $$ than I initially anticipated so I just decided to move on. I did enjoy being part of an antique mall and I met some really nice vendors and customers! I'm having an additional 20% off sale until the end of the month so come check us out (vendor 1344). Feel free to e-mail if you have any questions about anything in my space. Thanks so much to all my loyal customers who came out over the year and a half to support The Brushed Bureau!

On trend for the new year

I'm happy to report that some of the 2017 design trends will still be popular going into 2018. Vintage mid-century furniture is still instyle. Brass and gold accents will keep going strong throughout 2018. Greens and pinks are still popular. Here's a brief summary of what's hot....

Mixed metals are definitely in style. It's not uncommon to see chrome mixed with
brass in 2018.This is a great example of a "mixed metallic" living room from ZGallerie.

Green is the new black. From olive to sage, greens are making a big comeback.

They also complement the popular pastel pinks and blues well. So, if you are thinking of painting a room a new color, check out the greens. I'm thinking this trend will last awhile.

Colorful Trim in in. I've been seeing this for awhile now with
Designer Showcase homes. I think it will finally go mainstream.

High Contrast colors will be very popular in 2018. The black and white theme is going strong. I love this trend! Black adds sophistication to any color scheme. I especially like to pair it with pastels.

Check out this wallpapered ceiling by Kelly Deck Design. Statement ceilings are
back in style. I am seeing more ceilings painted in bold colors or wallpapered.

Great gifts for the "already has everything" person!

It seems like gift giving is getting more difficult each year...it's so hard to find perfect gifts for my family and friends as they get older because they have everything! So this year, I am spending time looking for special and one-of-kind gifts. Here are some ideas that I came up with...

I love to give food and drink gifts...especially cocktail gifts. This cocktail shaker
from Paper Source takes the guess work out of making a perfect drink.
This would also make an excellent hostess gift. Another great idea would be
a vintage decanter paired with a bottle of their favorite liquor...

or fill a beautiful glass decanter with your favorite margarita mix!

You can't go wrong with a personalized gift. These pillows would be perfect for a
newlywed couple. Prices start at $11.69 from Sham Shak on Etsy.

For the college student or sports fan, Dooney & Burke has a line of

purses and wallets for almost every NFL. MLB and collegiate sports team.

For the chef, I love the idea of buying a vintage Pyrex dish and filling it with spices

(check out local spice shop) and maybe a few cooking gadgets. You can find great vintage

casserole dishes in almost every color and pattern on Etsy and Ebay.

These pins would make stocking stuffers or white elephant gifts.

Check out Get Badged for all sorts of badges!

For People who have 4-legged children, you can't go wrong with getting something for
their furry friend. I found his adorable advent calender from Noribees Crafties

For the Bookworm, I love this personal library kit from Anthropologie.
I can't tell you how many times that I have loaned out a book
and forgot when and who I let borrow it!

These tags (also from Anthro) are the cutest! And, the receiver will surely appreciate a
special monogrammed tag. The gift wrap can sometime make the gift extra special!

Final countdown for Fixer-Upper

Set your DVR....Fixer Upper's final season will begin Nov. 21 on HGTV. I have enjoyed watching this show over the years and I will miss seeing Joanna Gaines transform her magic makeovers every week. Of course, you can always visit Magnolia Market in Waco. They have made the little town of Waco, Texas a hot spot destination by opening up their many successful businesses, which includes a bed and breakfast, bakery, restaurant, garden, gift shop and much more.

Photo credit: Magnolia Market

Old stuff repurposed

It's no secret that I love to re-purpose old stuff. I've been freshening up antique furniture for years. I've found some fantastic recycled ideas on re-using furniture and everyday items on Etsy and Pinterest. Just thought I'd share.....

Love this idea of transforming an old suitcase into Hemingway Desk by Destinations Village.

Galvanized bucket repurposed into an ottoman by Knock Off Décor

These mid-century side tables are easy to find but they are not always in great condition. Fussy Monkey Business  had a genius idea to turn them into kid's furniture. Wish I had thought of this when my son was a toddler!

I am loving this beautiful piece of furniture by Morning Whispers Art!
A great way to cover up veneer or wood when it is damaged beyond repair.

Gus N Boots Lighting is featured at a shop in my neighborhood. They were one of the first to repurpose mason jars into lighting. Check them out on their Etsy page....GusNBoots

 

Last but not least....my stuff repurposed! Top photo is an old desk drawer lined with wallpaper that is made into a wall cubbie shelf. Bottom photo is a old cabinet door/glass knob/wallpaper that was re-purposed into a wall hook. Check out my Etsy site.....

Brushed Bureau

Halloween Haunting

If you are doing some last minute Halloween decorating, check out Pinterest for some great creepy ideas. Here are a few of my favs....

 These realistic ghosts are made from cheese cloth and Styrofoam mannequin heads.

Add dry ice for a scarier effect!

The more the scarier...found this on Pinterest. Love the arrangement of witches!

Re-create a scene from Alfred Hitchcock...simple, easy and cheap.

If you want to totally creep out trick or treaters, create this wreath of plastic snakes!

Chinoiserie Chic Style

I love Chinoiserie Chic style especially when it is updated in bold, bright colors and modern prints. It seems like Asian inspired home décor is popping up everywhere these days. I've also noticed that the Chinoiserie style furniture seems to go fast and furious at the antique auctions. I've been lucky to find a few items at reasonable prices. Below are a few of my favorite examples of Chinoiserie Chic...

A modern take on Chinoiserie style by Jonathan Adler. Love the bright orange cabinet!

I never get enough of Anthropologie! Loving these pillows and chairs from artist

Paige Gemmel. Her updated take on Palm Beach Chinoiserie is beautiful! 

A more conservative approach to Chinoiserie Chic is this lovely
hand knotted Tibetan wool and silk rug by The Rug Company

I'm loving this modern print fabric called

Escher Pagoda by Kelly Steele on Spoonflower

Check out this beautiful pink, feminine room by David Kaihoi featured in House Beautiful.

This wallpaper looks like a hand-painted mural....a great alternative to original artwork!

Getting benched

Getting benched is not fun...however, this kind of "getting benched" was a lot of fun! I purchased these two bench seats at a local antique auction. Then, picked up some colorful upholstery fabric for the seat cushions and painted them in coordinating colors. The top bench is painted a moss green with a bold floral eggplant colored fabric. I love the finished product! The bottom bench is a little more conservative with a bright green floral fabric and dark gray paint. You can check them out at the Sleepy Poet (vendor #1344, space N-14)....they are ready for a new home!

(Update: bottom green/gray bench is sold)

Just beachy on Bald Head

As promised, I decided to post a quick follow up on the Southern Living Idea House on Bald Head Island in NC. This gorgeous beach house has a laid back open style with several porches that welcomes outdoor living. Perfect for entertaining a large group...the ultimate party house! There are also a couple of wonderful design features that make this house unique...

1. Built for the warm beach climate. Love that the builder eliminated dry wall on the ceilings so the walls could breathe with less mold mildew buildup. An opening in the kitchen ceiling (see picture above) lets hot air escape upstairs, which means cheaper energy bills. 

2. Open to outside living. This is a popular concept but this house really takes advantage of opening up to outdoor living. There are many porches in this home, which includes a sleeping porch. The photo above shows retractable windows from kitchen to outside bar...who wouldn't love to eat lunch out on the porch or take advantage of cocktails after a long day on the beach?

3. Extra flexible living space. There's a separate living quarters with its own kitchenette attached to the house by a breezeway which makes it perfect for an office space, mother-in-law quarters or rental income.

The 2017 Southern Living Idea House is still open to the public for a short time. For more info, check out Southern Living. (Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller) 

Moody blue

I've added another furniture piece to the store...a beautiful blue vanity desk. It has a fresh new coat of ASCP Aubusson Blue with a top layer of clear wax. It's distressed along the edges to give it that worn look. However, I decided not to go heavy with the distressing on this piece. I also kept the original brass federal pulls....the brass complements the blue nicely! I am guessing this desk is from the 1940-50s. And, it's ready to go to a new home! (update: This desk is SOLD)

What's "in store" for July....

I've been busy adding a few things to my space.....baskets, floral prints, barware (glasses, decanters, ice buckets, etc.), furniture and chalkboards. Come check us out at The Sleepy Poet.

 

 

Update: blue chest is sold