Million Dollar Decorators

Tonight's the Night!

Designers; Mary McDonald, Jeffry Alan Marks, Nathan Turner, Kathryn Ireland and Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Tonight will be the greatly anticipated premier episode of Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo.

I spent some time last night over on 

going through their portfolios and watching the videos of each designer.

Which made me even more anxious for this show.

 Rooms like this will be seen...

Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald

Jeffry Alan Marks

Jeffry Alan Marks

Jeffry Alan Marks

Nathan Turner

Nathan Turner

Kathryn Ireland

Kathryn Ireland

Kathryn Ireland

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Each designer has video up on the Bravo website giving tours of either their own homes or client homes.

I loved Martyn Lawrence Bullard's home. Not so much the way it was decorated but just seeing the 

details of this home where the likes of Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson and William Faulkner once lived.
Kathryn Ireland's place was great as well. Well, they were all worth viewing.

There is a silver walled bathroom in Mary McDonald's that was to die for.

Anyway...I'll be glued to the TV each week on Tuesday nights to watch this show. 

I hope there are no cat fights. I don't want any drama other than just decorating drama.

I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the appearance of my favorite LA Designer -

Christian May

of

I'm sure he'll show up at some point. (Christian, let me know which episode)

It's totally worth it going to

http://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-decorators
to view all the photos and video about the show.

Will you be watching?

Mod Mix Monday #2

So Good

I want to start off this week's Mod Mix by showing a room done by the 

Queen of Mod Mix - Valorie Hart aka Visual Vamp

Go to her blog to check out the house she redid for a client.

She mixed their collection of antiques with new pieces, new fabrics and new art to create a home that 

is exciting while respectful of its heritage.

See all the rooms at her blog -

http://visualvamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/french-twist.html

I finished my tile project in the kitchen.

Here's a bit of it. I want to finish at least one more little project in here before I show it all.

But it looks like I have all new tile. 

Here's a reminder of how it did look.

I hated those black tiles soooo much.

I changed all of it for less than $15. No I did not use paint. 

I used white high gloss sign vinyl. Cut and stuck on...very carefully.

I'll show up close and all details about it this week.

It's totally washable and the manufacturer guarantees it will stay stuck and last outside for 15 years.

Inside it should last indefinitely. 

Yes, it was time consuming...about 8 hours worth of work but less time than retiling.

I still want to retile someday but for now this is pretty darn good.

I really love it. So much better. 

And really....it looks like real tile...it is just as glossy as the original tile. 

Now, my favorite mixes of last week...

Valarie's window shade made from an old feedsack mixed with her red chandi at 

Glimpse of My World

I have to say that chandelier painted red makes me very happy and then to mix it with 

the rough texture of the feedsack behind it...just makes such an interesting statement.

This one I've loved for awhile and was happy to see that 

Erin of 

It's a Wannabe Decorator's Life linked up.

The new chairs mixed with her older table work so well with all the other elements in the room.

Erin's house is very much Modern Country at its best.

After a very recent move Nancy of 

Nancy's Daily Dish

created this room for her daughter. 

She mixed it up by adding very modern bedding and pillows and drapery to antique furniture. 

You have to see the whole room to see all the inventive things she did in here.

All in all a very successful first week for my Mod Mix Monday.

I mixed up the button a little so feel free to use this new one.

use this larger one if you want a big one on your blog -

and if you were featured this week...feel free to add this button to your blog

Please link up your new mixes below.

Open House Sunday VII

In the Neighborhood

built in 1931
This home with fabulous clinker brick is in my neighborhood.
It was built the same year as my house but has had quite a few changes made over the years.
On the far right where the large window is - that would have been an open porch originally.
The landscaping is not looking too good at present. The grass probably looks bad, I would guess
because it's part shade grass and part bermuda.
My bermuda has only just the past couple of weeks started to grow.
Here are some photos of the house in years past so you can see how it looks when things are growing.
Or maybe the current owners have a brown thumb.

You can see the irregular pattern of the brick here mixed with stone and brick in a herringbone pattern.

Landscape looks full and lush in 2004. And this house may look like this again in a few weeks.

Unfortunately, the owners have already moved on...so you just get to see an empty house.

That's a very unusual fireplace. I'm not sure its original.
It seems like the last time I was in this house, when it was on the market,
I was told that the fireplaces were brought in from Europe by a previous owner when he added on.
I love the step down to the living room. Quite a few homes in the neighborhood have this feature.
I like the way it looks but I wonder how often people trip on it.

Those curtains are way too much. And that chandelier looks new and cheap.

This is obviously not the original kitchen. I'd say it's time for a redo.
Some white paint and new countertops would make this kitchen look great very quickly.

Looks like there is a pantry. That is unusual for this neighborhood.

This is an addition on the back of the house.

Kind of a weird wall of shelves but nothing that white paint couldn't fix.

I do remember this odd space upstairs. This is the attic turned master suite.

Large bath...but it does need updating.

(see the listing here)

How about a house in Hollywood?

built 1926

I don't know what is up with all those chairs lined against the wall.

outside space is very pretty

Love all the windows in this kitchen and the subway tile that goes to the ceiling.

The art deco light fixtures are unusual although with the checkered floor and lots of metal...

it does have a diner feel about it.

Cool vanity...love the faucets and the marble of course

This home costs just under 2 million and the rug in this bedroom is from Target.

I don't know really what that says...I think it might speak to how awesome Target is.

A friend of mine has this very rug in her living room. 

Get rug here.

(see house listing here)

Be back here later tonight for my link party. Party starts at 6pm Sunday.

I'll have my favorite picks from last week and you can link up your mixes from this past week.

Remember something old mixed with something new or something new mixed with something old. 

Mix It Up!

I finished my kitchen tile project and it turned out better than I expected. 

Actually, I'm over the moon about it.

See how I transformed my kitchen for $15.