Framing a Suzani

So, I (obviously) haven't felt much like blogging lately. We've been soaking up our time here in Brussels and having adventures in the surrounding countries. Although, with the end of summer coming so quickly, I now find myself daydreaming about decorating. Being cooped up in sterile corporate housing makes me a little stir crazy to paint or reupholster something!

I've got plenty of ideas for changing up our house in Cambridge this fall (my poor, sweet husband is so patient with me...), but right now I'm thinking of suzanis.

Straight from wikipedia: Suzani, an antique and decorative tribal textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asia countries. Its name is from the Persian سوزن Suzan which means needle.
I learned about suzanis a few years ago and since then have noticed them all over the place in design magazines and books. Decorators use them as table cloths and bed spreads, for upholstering chairs, love seats or ottomans, or for cushions and pillows.
Suzani jewelry box that used to be available through Anthropologie
Madaline Weinreib Ikat and suzani pillows. To die for. Via Apt Therapy

pillow case available here


I really love the idea of framing a smaller-sized suzani (they are usually quite large). You don't have to be a textile nut like me to appreciate the bright colors and bold patterns, not to mention the incredible workmanship.
Each piece is hand-embroidered and uniquely designed, which means with a little patience and a lot of searching, you can usually find the style and color scheme that you're looking for.



While the large pieces can get pricey, small suzanis especially are quite affordable on eBay. You can easily find a small-scale suzani for $20-$100, which is pretty cheap for a beautiful and original work of art. I'd go as simple as possible with the framing. Sleek lines and white matting (or no matting) so that the textile can be the star of the show. As a budget-friendly alternative to custom framing, I'm sure IKEA has something that would fit the bill.

Top Design Revisited

It rains a lot in Brussels. When we can't get out and all my kid creativity has been exhausted, I put on a Seseme Street DVD for the girls and I watch an old episode of Top Design on my laptop. {Or I watch So You Think You Can Dance? on YouTube, but that's another story.}

Remember how great this loft was? My favorite element was the grouping of photos by the front door. I tried to confirm this online to no avail, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that Matt used some photos that his Dad or Grandfather took in Rome and had them printed in an orangey-red ink. Genius. Plays perfectly with those killer Andre Arbus dining chairs. love them.


The orange accents in Matt's top design room remind me of my favorite Tia Zoldan bedroom. Just beautiful. I think I have an orange accented room in my future.

Spray Paint

Our neighbors in Cambridge think I'm crazy (and single-handedly destroying the ozone) because I'm outside spray-painting a lot. It's amazing what a little spray paint can do to transform a piece of furniture, a picture frame, or, in this case, ceramic figures.


I can't remember which magazine I saw this in (I think it was Cottage Living), but the owners of this home sprayed random, mis-matched ceramic bird figurines (from thrift stores and eBay) all white to make the grouping look and feel more like a curated collection. I love this idea!! Your new collection would look great on a mantle, or on shelves against a painted wall, similar to this idea...
A couple quick spray painting tips from me to you:
1. Invest in a canvas drop cloth from a home improvement store. They are cheap (less than $10), prevent runaway paint particles from permanently coloring your driveway or sidewalk, and the canvas material dries quicker than the plastic drop cloths.
2. Make sure the surface of whatever you're painting is squeaky clean. A clean surface takes paint SO much better. Grime under the paint causes premature peeling.
3. Save your big cardboard boxes! When I'm spraying something smaller (like a lamp base or a ceramic figure) I like to leave the item in a box during the painting and drying phases, especially if it's a windy day. To me, there is nothing worse than dust particles stuck in your glossy new paint finish. What an eye-sore!

For Anna

Remember this rug?


I think it is so great. Neutral, but not boring at all. It can be found in so many incredible rooms these days.

Look for designer knock-offs at:

West Elm $299 (9x12)

{It seems to look less dark/graphic in a room setting.}


Home Decorators $379 (9'6" x 13) or $549 (12' x 15')


or Pottery Barn online $449 (9x12)

Mexican Embroidery Pattern a la Lena Corwin

Lena Corwin's new book, Printing by Hand, is available today on Amazon.


As you can imagine, I am in love with this project:


Also, I'm totally intrigued by the stencil idea. Wallpaper is so expensive! If you have nice and smooth walls, stenciling is a great alternative to paper, which can be such a commitment ($$$$).


And how perfect is this lamp shade? I love the clouds (especially for a nursery!), but the design possibilities here are endless.


I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book.

More pictures and an interview with Lena here

Martha Blue

Kitchen Aid is releasing some new appliances in Martha's signature blue. I love this color.

I could really use a new stand mixer. It's a toss up for me between stainless/chrome, pistachio and this new blue color. What color is your stand mixer and how have you liked it?via

Thank Goodness for DVR

I just emailed the family that's subletting our house in Cambridge for the summer, asking them to set up a season-long recording for the new Project Runway on our DVR. Don't forget to set yours - the new season starts Wednesday night on Bravo.


Are you ready for season 5? I couldn't be more excited...

You should visit this blog sometime today to get you geared up for the premiere.

My Dream Kitchen

Yes, Please.


via

Anthropologie Furniture VS. CraigsList

Confession:
While Anthropologie is one of my very favorite stores, it mostly serves as a source of inspiration for me. I always keep my notebook handy while shopping there. I jot down my favorite things and then go online when I get home to check other sources. It seems like I can usually find the same product for about half of the Anthro price. That probably makes me sound like a cheapskate. But hey, we're students! Cut me some slack!

I love a few of the furniture lines at Anthropologie, and even though they have a 25% off upholstery sale every few months, I still can't afford any of these pieces.

I love to keep these images of Anthro furniture in my mind as I scour garage sales and CraigsList for furniture with potential that I can paint or reupholster to get the desired look. It can be intimidating to paint an "antique" or to sew a slipcover. But I really think that anyone can do this stuff.

It's rainy today in Brussels, so we're stuck inside. I decided to have some fun and see what an "around the US" Craig's List search would come up with. I chose a random city for each piece of Anthro furniture that I liked and tried to find something for sale that, with a little elbow grease, could look very similar. I can't believe all the great furniture for sale out there! If you've got an hour (or more) to kill, type in "vintage" or "antique" in your CraigsList. You'll have to sort through some junk, but I'm sure you'll find some gems. Make sure you have this program downloaded so you can preview the pictures.

1a. Ditte Sofa. $3500

I am totally in love with the Ditte sofa. The photos don't do this beauty justice. It is shockingly comfortable. Seriously, take a seat next time you are in the store. You'll be surprised.

While at first glance it looks like a pretty modern piece of furniture, I think this couch would work in almost any style room.


1b. Hepplewhite sofa on LA's Craigslist. They're asking for $500, but I bet they could be talked down. I am so jealous of whoever snatches this one up. This picture's worthless, but I think a little paint, some beautiful linen and a few bolster pillows would make for a great transform.



2a. Amelie sofa at Anthro, $4000. This sofa caused a craze around the design blogs a few seasons ago. I still like it.It reminds me of Drew Barrymore's sofa


and Reshida Jones'. Both sofas are beautiful and don't look stuffy or old fashioned at all.


2b. Vintage sofa on Dallas CL, $90. Oh the potential...

3a. Calandria chair at Anthro, $1500
3b. Danish Chairs on New York CL $150. That fabric has to go! I think they're flexible on the price.


4a. Anthropologie's Josef Wingback chair, $2000
I love that this wing chair is not "granny" at all. It is a very stately chair. I think that is key in looking for a good, classic wingback.
4b. Phoenix CL Wingback, $100
This one is very similar to the anthro wingback. I would reupholster it in a fun fabric and add piping in a contrasting color.
6a. Anthro Memello Chaise. $2000.


I love a chaise by a window or a reading nook. They're always perfect in large bedrooms. I like the bird print, too.

6b. Chaise from Boston's CraigsList, $100.
It's not even close to the shape of the Anthropologie chaise, and I realize it looks totally dumpy in these photos, but this one has really clean lines and would be a breeze to upholster. I would purchase some new wooden legs online to replace those nasty fabric-covered bun feet.


7a. Astrid Chair at Anthropologie, $1300
7b. San Francisco Antique chair, $175. Again, not exactly the same chair, but the lines are similar. In a lot of ways, I actually like the Craig'sList chair more than the Astrid. I would paint the wood though. And obviously change the fabric.


That was fun! If anyone is lusting after an expensive piece of retail furniture, let me know and I'll try to find a substitute for you. If you're in the Boston area, I'll even help you fix it up!