Meta Manifesto

Probably those of you who have been reading for years are a little worried about me. I mean, I used to write about trendy mctrendster things -- things irreverent young hipsters marched toward like lemmings off a cliff. Also I was in a very teak state of mind -- if it was mid mod, I bought it without question. I'm not sure what's happening to me, but I think it's called growing up. I'm working on expanding my repertoire and developing my own style, rather than glomming onto random shiny trinkets and hopefully assembling them into something passable (not that I won't continue to indulge in that heady pastime, albeit ccasionally). But I think maybe the world is a little different, too. With the downturn came a yearning for better days, and with that for well made objects that are crafted to last for generations -- or at least beyond the next overhyped, overpriced trend cycle. A bit of antiquarian nostalgia goes a long way though, so I also appreciate bold choices with color, art, and form that balance out all that stuffy stuff. Plus my twinsie pals brass and chrome never hurt anyone, now did they?

All I'm trying to say is: don't worry (too much) about me. I'm not going crazy cat lady on you. I won't hang fiberglass hotel pleated curtains and declare them "fantabulous!". I'm not planning to dedicate every nook and cranny to my burgeoning Capodimonte collection. And although my home is beginning to look like I'm opening a Persian rug store, I promise to mix it up with some youthful, arty choices. Because I'm not actually old. yet.

I am Erin, hear me roar.

Or perhaps at least meow very loudly, like a precocious kitten still practicing at sharpening her claws.

[image via Atlantis Home]

Get Delfty

After Friday's post it has become clear that curtains are a controversial topic. Some love the sweeping luxury of cash, and some prefer the crisp modern asceticism of roman shades. I myself used to be firmly anti curtain -- that is until I bought my first pair of white linen curtains from Ikea (Aina) and saw what they could do for me. They gave soft edges to my skimpy windows and no frills architecture, and somehow the texture just made everything look more expensive -- mostly because it was. Curtains are pricey, and it's going to take a while to sort out exactly what I want to happen in our great room. I can't afford to make mistakes and do things twice over. So while I'm busy mulling the finer points of pinch pleats, and agonizing over white vs taupey natural vs soft indigo, have a look at these pictures and let's talk Delft.

I know some of you think that blue and white porcelain is headed down the primrose path of grandma regency, but I give you Exhibit A in its defense. Everything about that picture is genius. Except for the sad clam. Sad clam wants to go home.

And just look at that kitchen -- it's ridonkadonk. Am I planning to go out and swath our kitchen in billions of expensive blue tiles? No. But the world is a better place now that someone else did.

I don't really need to defend this, do I? Except that I would use those roses for kindling.

Apparently this is tiny picture day. Sorry about that. Although I do not care for Tory Burch's clothing or shoes, I find her living room to be utterly charming. Mossy green + delft + tigre = yes.

Here is Mary McDonald on better behavior. I want a pair of giant Chinese porcelain planters with lemon trees in the worst way. And just in case you were wondering -- I do know that China and Delft are different places. I am just not particularly picky today.

ps: did you notice the curtains? I like them.

Now this shit be kinda crazy. I do not like matchy matchy -- pretty much ever -- but there are some nice elements here. I'll leave it for you to decide what they are. Just choose wisely else the swift hammer of my judgement and condescension shall fall upon ye like the mighty thunderbolt of death.

Perhaps I got a bit carried away there. Many Rush Limbaugh jokes were discarded in the making of that sentence... I decided that death seemed a little safer.

And anyway, I'm just kidding. I love reading all your comments -- whether you agree with me or not.

You guys make bedrest tolerable, and I thank you for that.

[House Beautiful, Yoko Only's pinterest, Grant K Gibson, Tory Burch, Mary Macdonald, Jorge Elias via AD]

Double Height Curtains

Thanks ever so much for your feedback on the fireplace dilemma -- I now have a lot of things to think about. Most pressing it seems I must do something about the windows, and the new question du jour is: what, praytell? Should I do shades or curtains? Do I address all four windows or just the lower levels? And then there's the adjacent (non tv wall) -- it has glass patio doors. So whatever happens on the fireplace wall must carry over onto that wall, as well. (You can see a rough old floorplan here). Shades would be the easiest and most cost effective, or perhaps it would be even cheaper to only hang curtains over the bottom windows and treat the top ones as transoms, as per Nelya's suggestion. But I have to say the double height curtain plan has got some traction... inside my brain at least. Turns out the height to the top of the window is 148," which is too tall to use the longest premade curtains I can find -- by a matter of inches. UGH. Who built this house?! So now if I go that route we're talking custom curtains and that means berserker cash. Let's look at some pictures and see if such a thing might even be worth cleaning out my piggy bank.

Leggy. Like Angelina Jolie.

What I do know is I don't want this to happen. I mean, that is my house.

Gone horribly wrong.

So there's a lot of drama inherent in the giant curtain idea. I like drama, but will they be too overwhelming?

What do we think about double height curtains?

And is there anywhere I can find them premade in lengths longer than 144"?

Once again I'm depending on you to save the world.

[Fawn Galli, House Beautiful, Tom Scheerer, Happy Home Workshop, Harpers Bazaar, AD -- thanks Pieter!]