Pretty Things from the Sea

I spied these unique, sea-inspired accessories in a catalog that I had never seen before and was intrigued enough to share them with you.

What do you think? Sea anything you like?

atwestend.com

Silver and Gold Christmas Wishes

As usual, I don't have much of a Christmas list this year. My wishes tend to run toward the practical: I'd really like to get my car detailed, my kitchen needs painting, and my master bathroom needs a fairy godmother to wave her wand on it because I continue to drag my heels on that whole mess. I could definitely use the services of a personal shopper to update my wardrobe. But those are all things that can't be wrapped up in a box. As material goods go, I'm lucky enough to have more than I really need and most of what I want. But it's that time of year, when my mailbox is stuffed with catalogs full of pretty things and I couldn't help but notice a few. Among the things that have caught my eye, a pattern emerged. Silver and gold. Grey and taupe. Call me predictable, but I'm always drawn to these combinations when it comes to clothing and jewelry.

First up, who can resist a snow globe? Especially one as simple and perfect as this one, above. Trouble is, it's the watch inside the jar that's for sale. A one-of-a-kind mix of vintage faces linked together. Very intriguing but if it doesn't come with the snowman, maybe I don't want it after all. (anthropologie)

These I'll take just as they come. Sparkly daisy ear studs. Silver and gold. Better together.(anthropologie)

Less sparkly but just as much fun. A taupey-grey cardigan with appliqued leaves and flowers. Can I pull this off? I suppose I'd have to try it on to know for sure. But I do love it. (anthropolgie)

I also love the look of mixed up charms on a great chain. My favorite kind of necklace from the source of some of my most-worn pieces. (sundance)

Speaking of chains, silver and gold on pleated chocolate leather. The latest discovery in my ongoing search for the new perfect handbag. What do you think? Are chains over? I don't really care about trends but I don't want to look ridiculous either. (nordstrom)

And, finally, here's something I want that, sadly, can't be bought. . .

It's an image I saved from an Anthropologie email ad promoting their Christmas ornaments. I can't tell whether it's an actual shadow box put together to showcase birdies or if it's totally photoshopped. Either way, it's charming. Greys and golds and taupes and silvers plus a bit of color for fun. I just want to look and look and look at it. It makes me happy. And isn't that what the best gifts are meant to do?


Click on the images to go to their source. Except the shadow box. It's mine, all mine.

They've Got My Number

Big Brother is alive and well and apparently working at Horchow. You know, the online home decor company that in 1971 became the first luxury mail-order catalog without an actual “bricks and mortar” storefront. Currently partnered with The Neiman Marcus Group, it remains a reliable source for distinctive fine furniture, linens and decorative accents. All at a luxury-level price, as you might imagine.

Horchow has long been one of my "go to" sources for decorating inspiration. And they must be on to me because, yesterday, I received an email from the company telling me "our design team thought you might like these items". Curious, I had to look. Color? Check. Whimsy? Check. Transitional designs that work in both traditional and contemporary settings? Check. Pretty chairs with great lines and even better upholstery treatments? Check and check. (Will you just look at that peacock chair, below. It has a velvety bow buckled across its back!)

So how is it they happened to send images that were all just my style? Do you think they know about the chair I used in this post about purple? And again in this post about a plate? Do you think they know that I once used a lamp shade identical to the one you see here, below, to write about budget-friendly lighting? Do they know how much time I spend browsing around in their bedding ensembles and table settings? Somehow, I think they must.

"But wait", you say. "Tracy, don't you know they're just manipulating you?"— "Send her a bunch of pictures she'll like" the ever-watchful marketing execs growl. "If she bites and blogs about them, that's more free advertising for us!" Followed by barrel-chested, cigar-chomping, corporate bad guy laughter.

While I appreciate your (imagined) concern, my response to the above scenario is: so what. (And, no, I don't really think that's the way it went down.) If I can use Horchow's beautiful, colorful, sometimes over-the-top merchandise and design tips to advise clients and come up with my own easier-on-the-budget alternatives, then they are welcome to "use" my blog (to reach my vast readership of twelve) any time they want. In fact, I recommend you take a look at what they have to offer. Try to take away some ideas for your next creative decorating venture. Ideas don't cost a thing. But... if you are drawn to make a purchase (and they are, by the way, having a pretty decent sale right now), do tell them Tracy sent you. Maybe they'll send me some more pretty pictures. When they finish congratulating and slapping each other on the back.

In my mailbox

A new Williams-Sonoma Home catalog arrived this week. I love everything about this full-page pic of their Farmhouse Collection. (below) I've always liked the collected look of upholstered host chairs with completely different wood side chairs and these ticking striped wingbacks are quite nice. A little small in scale perhaps next to that chunky farm table and tall ladder-back chairs, but I'm okay with that. Not everyone has the space for a big fat armchair at the head of the table so this is a way to get a similar look without over-stuffing the room. The large botanicals over the sideboard are a dramatic take on a traditional look. The vegetable-dyed Peshawar rug adds beautiful, subtle warmth and texture with a minimum of pattern. The remaining accessories here support the Italian countryside look that's been so popular of late. Like I said, I love every bit of it.

Also in a ticking stripe, the Chelsea wing chair is a staple of Williams-Sonoma's upholstered furniture collection. She's available in many fabrics, leathers, and your choice of polished nickle or antique brass nailheads. Blue ticking is so perfect for Summer decorating and this chair would be appropriate whether your look is farmhouse, like the previous pic, beach house, or as part of a more eclectic mix as shown here in the catalog.


More pretty. A mirror from the Hampstead Bedroom Collection. No rules would be broken though if you chose to use it in an entry, a dining room or even over your bathroom vanity. Solid woods are turned and finished to mimic bamboo. Nicely proportioned and I love the criss-cross corners. However, I'd prefer to see it paired with something not so "matchy" as this dresser from the same collection. It should be allowed to stand on its own.


A beautiful dresser that might just steal the show from any mirror hung over it is this one from the Capri Collection. Solid cherry and tulip woods are stained and hand-rubbed. The pretty tapered legs, antiqued brass pulls and other nice details give it the look of a piece you might have inherited from a fashionable aunt. That it could easily move from bedroom to dining room to entry hall makes it a worthwhile investment.


Finally, here's my attempt to stand up for coral. Love it or hate it, there certainly has been a lot of it around. In reds, oranges, deep blues and aquas for the most part. This embroidered pillow, (reminiscent of Waverly's classic coral prints, don't you think?), in white wool chain-stitch on khaki-colored cotton, brings a little bit of beach to your home without a hint of garishness or kitsch. At $79.99, (reduced from $118), it's an affordable way to add this trend to your decor without breaking the bank. Or looking too trendy. And because it's more subtle than it's boldly patterned and brightly colored counterparts, it will play well with the pillows you already have and you could almost certainly keep it around into the fall. Then bring it out again next year to get another Summer's-worth of under-the-sea style.



All images via wshome.com and catalog