Ooh La La Decorating!

I strolled lazily through the Puces de Vanves sipping my café latte while munching on a flaky buttery croissant. “Bonjour,” I called out to the old weathered man at the back of the booth. He smiled slightly as I spied a set of battered blue and white kitchen canisters with the words, “Farine”, “Café”, “Sucre” and “Pates” in faded black letters on the front. Trying to contain my excitement I asked nonchalantly, “Combien ça?” (How much is that?). But he was seasoned and saw the tiny twinkle in my eye. He replied back in broken English with a price equal to a week’s salary. I sighed as I bid him and the canisters farewell and moved on to the next booth. I’ve been to this Paris flea market so many times-IN MY DREAMS!

Alas, I’ve only been to Paris in my dreams! I love to collect Eiffel Towers and hope someday to see it in person-especially at night when its 20,000 lights sparkle and illuminate the sky for as far as you can see. The following pics I took of romantic decorating at the Antique World Mall and The Shabby House (in Boise) remind me of what I might find at a Paris flea market. Hope you enjoy your little bit of Paris today!

Your Paris apartment wouldn't be complete without a sparkly chandelier. This one sits inside a gold frame.

The entrance to your tiny Paris apartment would be through an ancient wood door like this one.

A turquoise and gold shelf could hold all your pretty collections.

This chandelier hangs cleverly from the middle of a fabulous white weathered door.

Before going to a play or the opera, you could primp at your faded blue dressing table.

This chandelier hangs from a tent outside giving instant glamour to the ordinary.

Tea with your best girlfriends would only be served with your good silver!

Black adds drama and flare to your French decorating scheme!

This worn window may have come from a church or old farmhouse in the country.

A wardrobe would be a necessity in your Paris apartment as closets and space are nonexistant.

This French chest would hold all of your special treasures.

au revoir!

Di

No-Fail Fall Decorating

Hello,

Fall decorating is the no-brainer of all the decorating months. Think of it as that easy class you took in high school-art, gym, home economics-definitely not algebra or chemistry! It doesn’t take much to decorate for fall. Just scatter a few brilliant leaves here-and-there to create a cozy feel in your home and make you want to put on a warm sweater and sip cocoa in front of a roaring fire. Fall is also the cheapest season to decorate for (thank goodness with Christmas right around the corner). Grab a pile of leaves from the front yard, a weathered grape vine from the garden, and a few apples and oranges from the grocery store, and you’re good to go! Like I said-gym class for sure.

Here are a few fall decorating shots I took on a recent Sat morning treasure hunt.

There's no place like home for Fall!

Take care,

Di

Pretty in Pink

Hello,

Pink is the perfect romantic decorating color. What little girl didn't want her room painted a soft pretty pink that made her feel like a princess? I remember when my sisters and I begged our Mother to paint our room pink and the chaos that followed as the three of us tried to help her-she ended up with a pink foot after stepping in the paint! I still love pink (no, you're never too old) and have pink file folders at my desk at work, a pink jacket, and huge pink suitcase. Here's some pics of romantic pink decorating from the Antique World Mall and Shabby House I snapped recently starting with the romantic dinner table, pink hutch, pretty pink flower dishes, and sparkly chandelier above.

Pretty pink shelf, pink striped wallpaper, and pink pots and cups ready to have your best buddy over for tea. One lump or two?

Faded pink linens

Chippy mirror painted pink

A romantic little corner of my booth

Pink farm chair and pink and black Paris hatboxes. So cute!

More sparkly romantic items in my booth-vintage French soap, cherub vase, tiny milk-paint shelves, and French cigarette tin.

The Eiffel Tower is always romantic!

Vintage pink bulbs shimmer on a silver tree. No, it's not too early for Christmas!

Happy Day!

Di