Mod Mix Monday #114

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Love this iron bed turned summer sofa...don't you?

A big bunch of brightly colored pillows makes it the ideal spot on a summer's day.

I'd like to see it out on a porch but this little room will do.

As usual many pretty and inspiring things created by Mod Vintage Life readers this last week.

Lets peek at my favorites, shall we?

Cindy at Cottage Instincts named this table "Victoria" and she's befitting the name

with all her elegant turnings and scallops. Love her in the chippy white finish.

Cindy of Oakview Cottage added some turquoise and red splashes of color to her sideboard in the dining room. I love how cheerful it is.

Marty of A Stroll Thru Life turned some really tacky knick knacks into exquisite brass look a likes.

Gail of Purple Hues and Me was inspired by some cute burlap owls she saw that another blogger had bought. She decided to make some of her own and put her own spin on them.

She has a tutorial on how to make your own.

Rita or Suburbs Mama shared her play room / guest room.

This bed from IKEA really caught my eye all decked out in fun pillows.

Love the wall stencil she did in the room too.

Cyndi of Blue Star Antiques whipped this small buffet into shape. 

I can just imagine some baskets on those blue shelves. 

Denise of Bella Dreams has been working on her outdoor potting area.

She just got it all put together...plants to follow soon.

It's pretty as it is...I can just imagine how it will be full of growing things!

Can't wait to see!

Share your new mixes below.

Remember anything old made over to be new...anything new changed up to look old.

New and old together...

Please include the Mod Mix Monday logo and back link to me.

Use a permalink to your individual post not to your entire blog.

If you link up...I'd appreciate it, if you'd follow me.

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Be Still My Heart.....

It's only Home Accessories for Goodness Sakes!

I just discovered this...

I think this is just about the most perfect kitchen and sitting room imaginable.

I didn't know about this catalog of delights till today.

Aidan Gray

Did you know about this company?

I absolutely love the lamp above. It's similar to one I created. See it here - lamp. Mine was free except for the cost of paint and fabric to cover the shade.

This one below is expensive...but it's beautiful....a great inspiration.

look at this shade below...that might inspire the next shade I create.

I'm a sucker for anything mercury glass....

Love this little urn lamp too.

Is that chicken wire over the shade? Nice effect!

and this one....

This one looks to be covered in barnacles...like it was at the bottom of the sea for decades and then washed upon shore. 

Lots more goodness in the pages of this online catalog. 

Tell me...did you already know about Aidan Gray?

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What do these two objects have in common?

The St. Louis Arch

and

the Iconic Tulip Table?

You probably already know but I didn't. I discovered it today while searching for photos of the arch for a project at work. I'm sure all of you formally schooled in interior design know, but it never came up in my art history or design classes.

They were both designed by Eero Saarinen. Isn't that amazing?

My Aunt Jane had this table and the matching set of chairs when I was growing up. I loved them. They were so Mod. My parent's house was full of antiques. Which of course I loved too.

But oh...how I'd love to have my Aunt Jane's Saarinen tulip table now. I'd have a dining room that would look like this.

photo: styleathome.com

So pretty mixed with the aqua chairs and mirror.

Alas, I believe her table and chairs are long gone.

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Dogs Live Here

Last Friday, I got off work early and headed to Home Depot where I purchased ferns and herbs to plant in pots on my deck. It was the perfect day for shopping in a garden center. After that I went by a Mom & Pop Garden Statuary place. They make all their own stuff. I've always wanted to pull in and browse. So, on Friday, I did just that. And left with this new puppy. It now stands proudly by my front door. I've wanted a statue like this for ages. One that foretells of what lies inside. Dogs...and lots of em.

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Easter Greetings!

Easter

I get so excited at Easter. It's a time of new beginnings. A renewal of life. Plus I love pastels and pastels are everywhere at Easter. Remember the old books with photos of bunnies dressed in clothes? I loved those although even as a child..I knew that was not right... dressing bunnies in clothes. Poor bunnies.

I promised myself that my dining room furniture would all be painted in time for this Easter....as you can see here....it's not because I am showing no pictures of my dining room. So I decorated my mantel to the hilt. But I swear...soon...I'm going to have a dining room table fit for decorating.

I went a little overboard on Easter decorations this year. But all were bought for not much money at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Target and Pier 1(all on sale). I originally planned to have the easter basket on the mantel...but filling the mercury glass bowl with eggs seemed more sophisticated and less expected. I got two dozen more eggs yesterday at Pier 1. I feared they would be all out...but they had plenty and they said they had just got a shipment in. I am so there to pick up another couple of dozen on sale for next year.

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

My sister gave me this precious bunny about 10 years ago. It's a United Design sculpture. She worked at their plant for about 5 years. It was fun to find out what new thing they were designing and making. Alas...they got bought by a big corporation who then sent all manufacturing to China. I don't believe they are even in existence any more. But for a while you could go to their corporate offices and manufacturing facility in Noble, Oklahoma and view in their gift shop all the garden and home sculptures. My sister knew I wanted this bunny forever...like four years. And one day when they had their special day for employees to buy something at a super reduced price. She laid down her precious pennies to buy her sister the Easter Bunny of her dreams.

That's the kind of sister I have. Very thoughtful. So he is very very special to me. I love you, Jamie.

This should have all aqua and green eggs in it...but I ran out...hence the reason why I need to hit Pier 1 after Easter to get more.

Just wanted to share my Easter decor. I'm off now to grocery shop. I'm going to a friend's house for Easter dinner. My friend Shannon, who I met about 10 years ago. The first time I met her, I knew we'd be very good friends. It took her a little longer to realize it. Funny, because I don't usually meet someone and think....I want her to be my friend. Actually, I think that is the only time it's happened. Now, we are more than friends, we are family. We spend our holidays together. She is the most fantastic host, homemaker and yes....she brings home the bacon too.

Her house is always over the top put together. I've never seen the place in a mess...except maybe after opening packages at Christmas. 

So tomorrow. I go to her house for Easter and my Mom will join me. I'm making deviled eggs and lots of them and matzo ball soup. I think matzo ball soup is the perfect Easter food....but I know it's not...it's for Passover. But I love it so and my family has the best recipe ever...ever...ever for it. So that's what I'm making. 

Tomorrow....I'm also going to have an Easter egg hunt for the weenies in the backyard. I brought the video camera home from work to shoot footage. And if all goes as planned...I'll post here.

I hope you all have the very best Easter. 

And if your family situation is not what you dream of...please know that many, many do not have the family situation they dream of to spend holidays with. I grew up with the perfect family. After the death of my father...holidays have been a struggle. We were forced to do new traditions. My friend, Shannon lost her father the year before I and we just pulled together and created new traditions. We force ourselves to do up holidays big time...are they the same as what we had as children...no...are they the same as what we dreamed of for ourselves as adults...no. But we do go all out and make sure that they are lovely and caring and all about the people in our lives. 

If you are not happy this Easter, please, please go out and search for happiness. 

It is there.

I'm sharing this post on 

My Romantic Home

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Movie Decorating Inspiration - "Topper" circa 1937

I've been under the weather the past few days...lying low...trying to get over the world's worst cold and flu. This afternoon as I recuperated on the sofa...I watched the 1937 movie, "Topper". I can't believe I'd never seen it as I love old movies. But somehow I'd missed it all these years. Oh...I knew of it...but I didn't even know that the great Cary Grant was in it much less...Constance Bennett who I love. So as I lay being sick on the sofa (under a pile of weenie dogs)...I thoroughly enjoyed the silliness of it all and especially the 1937 clothing and sets. It's certainly worth looking for if you haven't seen it. Cary and Constance are just delightful together.

image source: www.moviegoods.com

image source: www.carygrant.net

image source: http://atavism.radnauseam.com/browse/by-name/constance-bennett/

image source: http://artdecomontreal.com/2007/11/en/

image source: http://hollywoodheyday.blogspot.com/2009/09/april-6-1932.html

Then after I watched the movie...I started thinking about having a bedroom inspired by the great art deco sets. So I compiled what I'd run out and buy tomorrow if I were going to do a bedroom fitting Constance Bennett. Even though I was imaginary shopping,  I tried to make this realistic and so shopped affordable options. Believe it or not I got almost all of this at Pier 1. If you haven't shopped Pier 1 in awhile...you are in for a surprise. I used to think of it as dorm and apartment furniture. But it's not that any more at all. It's full of budget priced options for a well dressed home. I for real bought the smoke blue ruffle pillow in this montage there last week. 

Here's Constance's bedroom ala 2010. Pier 1 does not have bedding...so I found this one at JC Penney online. Everything else is Pier 1. I especially love the range of chairs they carry. Like the one pictured below...that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I love mirrored furniture and eventually will have a piece in my home...just haven't found the piece for me yet. 

Today my new camera came so I'll be able to take better photos for future posts and now that I'm feeling better, I'll be able to get back to projects around my house. Stay tuned....

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