State of the Union Address

You guys really love you some Thibaut Cheetah, and who could blame you? It does feel a little Zsa Zsa Gabor on acid, which can only be a good thing. Part of me feels like I need to jump that cat and plaster it all over the place, but the other part of me is realizing how unclear my vision for this whole nutty faux Tudor house is, and how difficult it is (for me) to commit to expensive and/or permanent finishes. I have to cop to a certain fetish for the Cole and Son papers because they're easy to hang, non woven, and can be stripped from the wall in one piece -- thus saving commitment phobes like me from much hand wringing. I mean, what if I hang not-easily-removed Cheetahs all over the baby's nursery and one day the kid wakes up terrified that he/she may be mauled by rabid felines while sleeping? It could happen. On the other hand, I'm sick of decorating like a poor, itinerant loser. I'm tired of wimpy rooms that could be reshuffled into endless ho hum configurations. Isn't it nice to see a room that's dressed to the nines?

I'm trying to push myself to get crazier, and also to create more finished rooms. But that requires some serious planning.

And money.

And more wallpaper samples.

But don't discount Cheetah yet.

[via A Dreamer's Den, Head Over Heels, Jean-Louis Deniot via Material Girls, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Barrie Benson via Head Over Heels]

Wallpaper Wallpaper on the Wall, Who's the Fairest of Them All?

I just received the first shipment of wallpaper samples I ordered from Ye Olde Englande (that's what the English themselves call it, yes?) and I'm already adrift in a sea of choices. I was pretty pumped to start taping samples all over the walls until Ike caught wind of game, and let's just say I had to take him on as my assistant. Or else. Kid is either going to be a decorator someday, or he's going to design race cars made of paisley foil wallpaper. Boys are weird. Anyway, let's check out Round One of Wallpaper Sample Throwdown 2012.

Some cutie pie black and white patterns: Feather Fan by Cole and Son and Abigail Edwards' Seascape. You may recall I was pretty set on the seascape print for the nursery, but I'm not loving any of the white white fields in this house -- I feel like the walls need to go dirtier/creamier.

These are superfly powder room options. From left to right: Cole and Son Wisteria, Osborne and Little Summer Palace, Osborne Mara (fabulous with jewel tones). Any could work in there, but I was thinking of Summer Palace. However, the old teal colorway seems to be gone, and I'm still on the fence about this delfty colorway. Maybe too formal?

It's kind of... girly, and girls are weird.

Moving on, look how I am artsy AND fartsy. Embarrassing. Anyway, on the left is Neisha Crosland's Zebra. On the right is Cole and Son's Silk, which looks like a fabulous tufted fabric with this oddly tactile quality due to the layers of ink that sit on the paper surface. It's a really sweet paper. I picked these for the entry way but I think Zebra is too dark and Silk is too light. Bummers, because Silk is the one I had in mind, but like I said -- not loving the whiteyfied look. I did reorder a sample of Zebra in the stone/beige colorway. Maybe maybe.

I like these two better for the hallway. The left is Cole and Son Malabar and the right is Cole and Son Malachite. Bonus points to C&S for making non woven papers that are supremely easy for even a village idiot to hang (see my post here). Both are popular papers, but I think the tone on tone colors give them some new life. I'm not digging anything overtly graphic for the entry since you see it from both the dark teal room and the living room -- midtone neutral with a little something something is the way to go. I'm still not so sure about the metallic aspect, as I've actually been trying to cool it on the bling blung front (yeah, who am I?), but I like the way the patterns appear and disappear.

And then there's Thibaut's Cheetah. I don't know what I had planned to do with this paper... maybe powder room? Maybe upstairs hallway? Maybe paste it to my face? It's pretty amazing.

It's also totally ridiculous. I'm trying to avoid anything over the top, but... it's talking to me. I'm just not sure what it's saying.

Stay tuned for Round Two of Wallpaper Sample Throwdown 2012, which should be arriving any day now.

In the meantime, please tell me which ones I should choose, and which I should burn. Thanks.

You Guys Know More About Lamps Than Me. Period.

Hidey Ho everyone!!  I am almost ashamed to show my face around these parts, what with all the CRAZY INSANE HUGE HELP you all were with my mondo-lamp dilemma last week.  Erin told me you dudes would be able to find the lamp of my dreams but she didn't mention that you would find the 1,012 lamps of my dreams.  Seriously, it's kinda amazing.  So amazing that I won't let your hard work go for naught and instead will be rootin tootin your lamp finding skills today.  right here.  on this blog.  right now. let's go.

In case you've forgotten, I was looking for these million dollar lamps for (far less than) half of a a million pennies.

Here's what you found:

Colleen, E. and NKP all have me drinking the kool-aide from team wo and we

Everything out of this French design house is amazeballz (do people still say that?) but the Applique Potence Industrielle Ajustable in particular is insane in the membrane.  (Ok, I know people no longer say that) and at 325 Euros, the price is pretty great too.

Commenter KVH pointed me to her friends studio: Yes Cincinnati

The Pivoting crane light is excellent at an even more excellent price (ahem!  $99 for the 3 foot model)  With a variety of sizes, I strongly encourage you lamp-hungry dudes to check it out pronto.

Elizabeth of Modern 24/7 sent me this (seriously you guys are really out doing yourselves)

The Anita lamp from KMP Furniture is a steal at $245 for EIGHTY INCHES of lamp.  It's too big for my kitchen, but I feel like I could find a place for this somewhere.  It's soooo gooood

Kate and Rye tipped me off to Atelier de Troupe, which is pretty badass all-around but wins gold stars for their a de t 'potence' bronze jib lamp

Oh yes, me likey.

MB from the Big D.  (That's Dallas to you non-Texans B-T-dubs) pointed out that Restoration Hardware is sporting quite the lamp selection as well.  They have a flash site with embedded images so you're going to have to go over there to see the lovelies there for yourself.  I'm too lazy to download and re-upload.  Sorry.  But I do LOVE the lights so it's worth the mouse click.  promise.  Here and Here

Long-time-reader Alison of Lipstick on Your Teeth knows my test well and sent a link to workstead

they too have flashy images so you will have to cruise over after you're done reading my brilliant and amazing post.  Worth it.  Totes.

Cassie, Rosenatti and NKP all gave a shout out to One Forty Three on Etsy:

Here is his totally amazing and totally affordable Potence Lamp as seen on The Brick House

Kathy at My Interior Life and Jenny over at My Favorite and My Best pretty much nailed it with this West Elm find:

Their Long-Arm Wall Sconce is simply awesome at only $99.

So which will I choose?  Hmmm... did I mention I'm even worse at making decisions than I am at finding lamps on my own?  Ok, I promise to keep you posted.

But for realz ya'll, thanks for all the amazing links, every single one of you sent something fantastic.  Seriously, you're simply the best.  better than all the rest.  better than anyone.  anyone I've ever met.