WEST ELM MUST HAVE

I stopped by West Elm today and fell in love with the Huron line of outdoor furniture made of all weather rope. The line includes a side table, coffee table, ottoman, chair and sofa.  I love all the pieces!

PAPER FLOWER COLLECTION - WEST ELM

I was in West Elm several days ago and saw their new paper flower collection first hand.  I think they are beautiful.  What do you think?  I purchased some of the blush Hellebore's for my new dining tablescape.

CLIENT OFFICE: MUD CLOTH OR PLAID

Mud cloth is a handmade fabric originating in the West African country of Mali.  I first learned about it last year while watching an Emily Henderson Secrets of a Stylist episode.  It has also been used by West Elm on ottomans and BCBG for fashion.

BCBG Tribal Mix inspired by mud cloth

I'm currently working on a client's office.  We are keeping everything black and white with just one pop of color, kelly green.  The furnishing are a mix of modern and vintage.  One item the client wants to keep is a very traditional Bergere chair.  I'm thinking of covering it in mud cloth like this:

Or black plaid like this:



Which do you prefer?  Here are some other elements in the office.

Faux Bamboo Thomasville Dresser in high gloss black (not white like pic)



IKEA Table and Chair Set


Rug


CB2 Bookshelf


Woods Wallpaper



Hicks Pendant Overhead lighting (still need a cool desk lamp)



And here are just a few fun accessories we might use:




So what do you think, plaid or mud cloth?

A Dash of Asian

At Chateau À Gogo, a dash of Asian and a sprinkle of color are all part of the perfect room equation.  Today I'm hosting  Melissa from The Insane Domain.  She has been surrounded by Asian design since childhood.  As we sip our Asian inspired cocktail (Love Me Long Time:  recipe at the bottom of this post), I pick her brain about what makes this style timeless and how it can be incorporated into today's spaces.

Me:  What are your thoughts on the resurgence of Asian design?

Melissa:  I think people are now more than ever looking to incorporate items into their home that have a history and tell a story, so the Asian style is perfect for this. Whether it is a large piece such as a chest or a small work of art, these items are not only beautiful but have a sense of strength. Classic Asian design compliments many different design aesthetics so no matter if you lean toward minimalism or bohemianism, you can blend it in seamlessly.

Me:  How have you been influenced by Asian design?

Melissa:  My grandmother Ruby was obsessed with all things Japanese. She traveled several times to Japan and would bring back beautiful kimono's which she would wear on a regular basis. Her home was built in true Japanese style and had a Tokonoma alcove where she would display anything from art to oriental flower arrangements. She was a member of the Ikebana Club, which celebrated the art of Japanese flower arranging. You would find her picking up random sticks, rocks and flowers and placing them beautiful but simple vessels. Her standard poodle was even named Saki!

(Grandmother Ruby)

Me:  What items in your house are examples of this look?


Melissa:  I inherited many pieces of art from my grandmother and have them scattered around my home. I love saturated color so the deep blues and golds are perfect. I also have a warrior statue that was hers and I use that to hold my long necklaces. The doors on my husband's office are vintage panels which we had installed on a sliding system and they mimic shoji screens. 

Me: What are some of your favorite Asian inspired pieces available today?


Melissa:  Anthropologie has a great piece they called the "Traveler Chest" which can work in a foyer, bedroom, or living room and has a great Asian feel. West Elm has several pieces that are Asian inspired such as their "Window Headboard", "Terra Console", and their "Shirley Fintz Table Lamp". These are all easily accessible and affordable. Just looking in your local thrift shops or flea markets can be a gold mine for either lacquered boxes, blue and white china, or ceramic garden stools. And last but not least, Jonathan Adler and his horse or dragon lamps.

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Source: google.com via Chateau À Gogo on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Chateau À Gogo on Pinterest

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Thanks Melissa for stopping by the Gogo. If you guys have not checked out Melissa's blog, you should. She is currently undergoing a kitchen transformation that is so exciting to watch.

In the meantime, have a cocktail on me:

LOVE ME LONG TIME (Cucumber Lychee Saki):
3 slices of cucumber
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz lychee juice (from can)
2 lychees
1 1/2 oz Prosecco (Italian Sparkling Wine)

Muddle cucumber & lychees in bottom of glass. Add lemon and lychee juice. Shake in ice filled shaker (you can also stir the drink extremely well, in lieu of shaking). Strain into champagne flute. Top with Prosecco and drop a lychee fruit into the bottom of the drink for a pleasant surprise. Garnish with cucumber. Enjoy!

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Making Progress

I purchased the Jardine outdoor expandable table from West Elm over a month and a half ago (see previous post) and have been agonizing over the right chairs. What I liked was either too expensive, too low or too wide. I thought for sure I was going with the Panton S chair but I realized our aggregate patio surface would ruin the bottoms in a matter of days as they were pushed and pulled from the table. Last weekend I spied a possibility at TJ Maxx HomeGoods. For those of you that shop HomeGoods, realize the chances of finding two matching chairs is slim let alone SIX but ours had exactly that count. I snatched them up and think they look pretty good not to mention the price was right. They aren't exactly the vibe I was originally going for but I'm sure I'll find ways to "funk" the area up.  I'm already working on that with white planters from Target (yes I know they need plants in them Mom), artichoke candle holders and funky Asian style lanterns.

West Elm-Etsy Recap - Nashville's Got Talent

This past Saturday at the West Elm in Green Hills, Nashville style blogger Elise Yetton (Pennyweight), curated a collection of handmade goods on display and purchase as part of the ongoing partniship between Etsy and West Elm. The event featured the work of Nashville area artisans, food, drink and music.

Featured local Etsy artisans include: Acorn and Archer / Adelyn Stone / D Terry Designs / Gracey May Needlepoint / Gypsy Intent / Hummingbird Factory / Music City Suds / Oh My Deer / Peaces of Indigo / Pine Street Makery / Shutters and Shuttles / Simon and Ruby / Southern Lights Electric / Tina Eva Renee.

Please check all of their sites and awesome works. It was such a fun event and opened my eyes to new talent in Nashville. Who knows......maybe my 60th follower will get a gift from one of these artists.

Hummingbird Factory:

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Oh My Deer:

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Gracey May Needlepoint:

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Southern Lights (Super Cool!!!)

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Shutters and Shuttles:

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Pine Street Makery:

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A little bit of everyone:

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