Leopard: Trend or Classic?

Remember when zebra rugs made everyone go all swoon! and lurve! and heart it so much! Ah, the 80s. Kidding -- that was just a few days ago. The internet in all its infernal efficiency has shortened the trend cycle almost to death, as in it's busted before it even begins. Case in point: I find myself yearning to jump on the leopard band wagon because it's trendy and I have been inundated with eight trillion hot ass pictures of fancy leopard sundries that make me want to run out and tattoo leopard spots all over my face. But if I invest in reupholstering a pair of wingback chairs in leopard velvet (something scalamandreish that magically costs about $40/yd hahaha), or -- even more attainable -- a leopard rug, will I regret hitting a wave that's already crested?

But I'm also lusting for leopard because it's dirt colored. Thank you, evolution, for considering the unavailability of showers in the wild for our feline friends. I, for one, support all things invented by necessity. And if you have a toddler you know patterns and dark colored fabrics are a necessity. Toddlers are a lot like wild animals.

Also leopard is just really pretty.

So what do you think? Is leopard a classic -- worthy of an investment piece? Or is it better used in small, easy to swap doses -- like pillows and throws?

Due to a major case of analysis paralysis (and a very tight budget), the fate of my living room decor depends on your opinion.

[via This is Glamorous, Barclay Fryery, via My Interior Life, Aerin Lauder's couch two ways, Miles Redd]

She Wore Blue Velvet

Yeah, I still want a blue velvet sofa. But when Jenny from MFAMB started saying things like "folex" and "lint roller" I got a little skeered. Maybe some people are better at keeping their hot stuff tidy, but I am in kid vomit and sticky jello red alert phase. Not that it's stopping the sexy feeling I get from gazing upon such beauties as these:

Purdy.

As I type this, I remember that I may have a slice of cobalt velveteen goodness of my very own:

Oh yeah. That guy. Somehow he has escaped Ike's jelly period unscathed, mostly due to the magic of a sheepskin cover and general neglect.

Which is why I think I'm going to sell him. Her. It. It brings tears of sadness to my eyeballs, but our bedrooms in New House are just so much smaller than they were in Old House. Blue velvet rocker must go.

Let me know if you're interested.

In the meantime, don't think about this:

Scary Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet... don't think about it!

Later, taters. Sleep with the lights on tonight.

Blue Period

All these peachy pink walls are giving me the blues, but not in a weepy wimpy way. More in a, I must have cobalt blue velvet stat, kind of way.

Case in point:

This fabulous vintage tufted sofa with brand new blue velvet upholstery just popped up at a local dealer's shop. Sadly, I know this particular dealer will be charging 1st Dibs prices. Double sadly, that upholstery in my house would go from pristine to a jelly smeared nightmare in 3.2 seconds.

But look how good FloLo makes peacocky blue look with a juicy pink palette. Delish.

Almost as good as my girl Naomi Stein's fabulous Klein blue and pantone pink office nook. Genius, no?

Go check out the rest of her amazing apartment reveal over at Design Sponge.

And then please report back to let me know where I can get an amazing kid friendly blue sofa.