Acid Wasp Moodboardlets

First of all, we must come up with a new name for "moodboard," because that word has jazz hands. Utterly unacceptable. And since I have now spent so much time making virtual dioramas on the cracky addictive program Olioboard that dust has settled on my shoulders and my hair has grown Rapunzel long, the matter has become pressing and urgent. Internet, please be my Prince Charming and rescue me from this tower of dorkiness. So, let me just tell you that making moodboards IS ridiculous. It's like playing with a dollhouse on your computer. Wait -- that's AWESOME. Want to play, too? I thought so. Let me introduce you to the cast of characters and their zany spaces, which combine blue blooded traditional elements with a dose of magic mushroom tea.

This room is for the Estelle barbie. Estelle enjoys playing with her King Charles Cavalier spaniels, long walks in Central park, and drinking her martinis sans underwear a la Julienne Moore (be very sure you want to click that link...). She doesn't give a rat's ass what you think about that, either. Room highlights include a vintage sofa upholstered in psychedelic Jack Lenor Larsen fabric, Anthropologie rug, Ikea curtains, Soane lighting and chairs, 1st Dibs table.

This room is for Bunny. She dropped out of Wesleyan to start her own "merchandising firm" -- at least that's what she told Daddy. At night she smokes pot and eats a box of pastel macarons while watching Craig and Smokey attempt to outwit Big Worm in Friday. Room highlights include art by Eileen Quinlan, Overstock Aubusson rug, Ikea curtains, Soane lighting and chairs, 1st Dibs coffee table.

This room is for Lila. She loves to host key parties for her neighbors in Aspen. It's kind of an Eyes Wide Shut situation, so I probably shouldn't say any more, except that the trunk provides excellent storage. Room highlights include a Marimekko tapestry, Anthropologie rug, Ikea curtains, wallpaper by Manuel Canovas, chairs and pillows by Layla Grace, lighting by Soane, and a leather 1st Dibs coffee table.

Ok playas, I'm really busy today with a laundry list of things to do (some of which may or may not include moodboardzing) so that's it for today. Hope you enjoyed play time with me.

Check ya later.

Bedtime Story

Yesterday I regaled you with exasperating tales of bedding shopping and decor waffling. Let's back track to the beginning of this convoluted plot arc, shall we? For over a month now a new bedroom plan has been percolating, largely inspired by Karly's suggestion to use a wicker screen as a headboard for our hulking king size bed -- our bed for which an inexpensive, conventional headboard cannot be found. I mean seriously, could Ikea not make this dumb bed in a king? Could West Elm not make prettier beds? Could craigslist not throw me a vintage bone instead of listing after listing of gross Haverty's sleigh beds? Apparently they cannot. And I can't find a wicker screen large enough to stretch behind our ginormous, now white be-duveted king bed, heretofore known as Moby Dick. Pun intended.

Anyway, here's what I'm thinking. Sort of.

I mean, how could I go wrong with a Miles Redd inspired room, featuring an awesome vintage screen as my bedding focal point?

Here's how: I have two big windows behind my bed. They are ruining my life.

So, if I use a normal size screen, then I am effectively blocking our beautiful windows. And while the mole in me approves of this idea, the sunnier, sparklier me knows it's dumb.

Even though that's exactly what's going on in this picture. Surprise! There's a window behind the bed! Yeah, I'm not fooled, either. Plus our wall is much, much longer than this one.

What I really need is a low, long screen that won't completely cover the window wall. And this entire bedroom. Hot diggity dog.

This screen would also do.

Because the necessary dimensions are so particular (at least 72" wide, and rib cage height), I'm thinking about buying one of these blank canvas screens and recovering it:

This is exactly what I suggested Elissa do when she wrote in for decorating advice, so I'm not sure how it's taken this long for me to apply the solution to my own conundrum... I'm really not too bright.

Anyway, I like the idea that this plan would allow me to pick a nutty fabric, and my white duvet and neutral wall paint will be totally understanding and supportive. Plus, it would be easy to change up the scheme when I tire of it, which will probably be about three seconds after I finish the project.

Now, I just need to commit, pick a fabric, and decide what to do about my window treatments... curtains? Roman shades? Scrap this whole idea and waffle some more?

The forum is open to suggestions.

[Miles Redd, Michael S. Smith, Trad Home, House Beautiful x 2]

Love Hate Love

I'm feeling the urge to paint again. I swear paint fumes give off some secret crack that compels me, knees and shoulders screaming in resistance, to repaint just one. more. time. I see no problem with the fact that I have repainted some rooms in this house three times in the three years we have lived here, because I blame blogging. Looking at a zillion gorgeous images a day fills my head full of dancing sugarplum dreams, and just when I think I'm a fully recovered paintaholic, something will come along and spark up the old addiction. Ah, I love the smell of fresh paint in the morning.

Well, let me tell you what color I am not going to paint my walls.

Ok, so actually this house is amazing... but that paint color! It looks like my mom's lipstick from 1983.

It's a color that loves naked lady butt cleave.

It's a color that invites Demons to bed.

But then I look around and I think, Damn this house be fine.

I really like the colors that go with that other, weirder color. And what the hell color is it, anyway? Mauve?

I try to keep an open mind about decor. I consider myself to be an eternal student of everything, because people who think they know it all are doomed to turn into boring old fossils incapable of growth and change. Not that I feel strongly about that or anything. (And not that I actually think I know anything.)

Point is, sometimes that open mind can get me into trouble. Sure, I have things I know I always like. But sometimes things I think I hate surprise me into becoming things I love.

Can you tell that paint color is starting to confuse me? I plan to adjourn to my cracky ultra addictive but incredibly delicious (if only it were laced with paint fumes!) coffee to sort this issue out. Feel free to join me if you'd like.

[AD Russia]