Ongoing Project: A New Office & Library

Remember last month when I blogged about this  if you dont remember you're welcome to go check it out.  But basically I was announcing my intent to start a new project.  Projects take me time.  And the first part is always just the idea part.

So I know I want an office & library, and I know I want it to feel really great and polished, but also comfy and a smidge sophisticated girly maybe.  But that's about all I was sure about.

I was totally torn on color.  But for the past two years I have been obsessed with the idea of a peacock blue room.

Yesterday I came across two pillows the EXACT PERFECT peacock blue.

Kinda like these colors:

You have no idea how excited this made me.  I have been looking for something in the exact correct color all this time.  I now have something I can take into Dunn Edwards and get them to match it to the exact exact color I want.  So now that is making me want to re-paint my family room in these colors too - white with at least one accent wall in this strong color.

Guys.

I'm so excited.

Now to empty out the room and start painting.  I'll keep you updated.  I'm sure it will take me months to get it all finished.  But sometimes coming up with the perfect idea is the hardest part.  

And Also in my Fantasy Fashion Life There are Gowns

Honestly.  I want to know who wears gowns?  Are there really so many women in the world with important and very fancy functions to go to?  Because designers are always designing them.  But I don't know who wears them.  And how many times a year do they go to an event that requires a full on gown?  This perplexes me a tad.

I suspect the reason girls get so upset about the idea of missing prom is because it's maybe our one shot at wearing a fancy long dress.  Right?

I never went to prom, which might be why I still have an obsession with long gowns.

So in my fantasy life, I wear these.  Where do I go?  I don't know.  But I need them.  Several.  Lots.

Carmen Marc Valvo

Elie Saab

Marchesa

Gucci

Valentino

McQueen

McQueen

My Fantasy Fashion Life

Continuing on the theme of imagination, here's what my imaginary fashion life looks like.  Bear in mind, in this imaginary life I am quite thin and more wealthy.

I would rock this look.  On my way to my very important meeting. At some sort of job where no one can blink an eye that I'm wearing a HOT green sequined skirt.  I have no idea what that job is, but I'm certain it's one nearly anyone would want right?

This is more like stylish mom picking up the kiddos in her convertible mercedes on a chilly day.  But I still drive with the top down.  That's just how I roll.  Heated seats so it's all good.  Buckle up and hold on kiddos.  

One of my lovely bags by Valentino.  Yes, it's in the $3,000 dollar range.  But that so seemed like a steal for such an awesome bag didn't it? 

Not everyone can get away with those pants.  I'm very pleased to say that I am able to.  They aren't terribly expensive dahling but they are european.  

Isn't the color of my Gucci bag to die for?  And such a bargain at just under $2,000.

My favorite pair of casual jeans.  Because only boring people wear BLUE jeans.  

At $350 this Michael Kors bag is positively cheap.  But I couldn't resist the deep turquoise color.  

Where does one wear this look?  Oh just about anywhere!  But I like to wear this to lunch with the girls.  

You know it.  

See, I photographed this one all moody and well lit.  But I had to you guys, I had to have professional photos taken of my Hermes.  It cost $12,000 you know.  But it was so worth it for that green right?  

Oh of course I needed these Amethyst earrings.  

And this.  That goes without saying.  

I wear these oxfords when I'm being cas. 

don't worry, this Prada bag wasn't nearly as expensive as the Birken.  Only $1,500.  I'm being so reasonable these days with how much money I spend on my bags.  Once I got the Hermes I was all "bandanamom, you can be frugal until the end of the year".  

It might seem like I have plenty of bags but 1.  I didn't have a Diane von Furstenberg for this season YET and 2. I didn't have anything in neon.  So obvs I was going to have to get one.  It's almost embarrassing to admit guys but sometimes I do buy things on ebay.  It kinda feels like gambling to me, except you win accessories and not money.  Oh and you have to pay for it.  But still.  This was on ebay for $500!

I'm a bargain shopper at heart.  I can't help it.  

Ta for now.  

Using My Imagination - Dream Home

Today a friend told me she lacks imagination.  Oh Man, I almost WISH I had that problem.   I so can't relate.

My brain is full of imaginings about so many things.  There are parallel versions of my life where I live on the beach, in a high rise apartment in the city, a cabin the woods, a cottage in a meadow, a mid century modern in the desert...

Of course my imagination doesn't stop with where I might live.  It extends to wardrobes I don't have (including the youth and the waist-size to go with it), boyfriends I might date (see also: John Cusack), and alternate versions of my life involving a gamut of careers, locations and accomplishments too numerous to mention.  It even involves minutia like chandeliers I would buy if I had a grand home.  Do other people imagine this stuff?  I don't know.  When I'm in a place like home depot I can't help myself but to choose the one door I would buy if I were buying a door.  Except I'm not.  I'm only there to get some weird lightbulb I need.  But I can't stop myself from imagining some unreal home that I am furnishing.

When I was little I loved to imagine there were little tiny people who lived in my drawers.  I believed in all kinds of magic.  My memories of playing as a child include imaginary friends who seemed real.  I have a very vivid memory of playing ring-a-round the rosy with 3 other people, all of whom I had imagined into existence.  I was maybe 3 years old.  I had one imaginary friend who stuck around for a long time. He was a boy and his name was Dendy.

I love to read because it's way to use my over-active imagination, I love movies for the same reason.

I have just always been like that I guess - everything always seems kind of possible to me.  Even when I know, logically, it probably isn't.  But my brain never can stick with that pure logic long and I'm off on a train of thought that imagines possibilites instead of realities.  You can't convince me there's anything wrong with that.  I think it's the main reason I'm never bored and pretty much always hopeful.

Anyway...

I thought it might be fun to share some of my various fantasy versions of my life on this blog.

So in this post, one of my dream homes.

This is one I came across recently.  It's a California remodel. I'm not sure what city it's in.  I IMAGINED it was my house and I lived in Pasadena.  But you're free to imagine it anywhere you like.

My Favorite Literary Tattoos

This morning I was in a store and a young man was helping me who had a tattoo printed on his forearm.  I was trying to read it as he was moving around and putting my order together.  When I finally was able to make out the print, I realized it was a quote from one of my favorite poems.  And somehow, it was exactly what I needed to see (hear) to make my day better.  It reminded me of important truths.  It was kind of a powerful moment for me.  Which got me to thinking...

First off, I cant really ever see myself getting a tattoo.  For lots of reasons.  And secondly, a lot of the tattoos I encounter on a daily basis seem rather hastily decided.  The artwork is bad, the placement is unfortunate, etc etc.  Plus I think now that tattoos have becomes so ubiquitous, we never even really notice them very much anymore.  It's sort of not unique or special in any way to have one.

So this is not really a post advocating for running out and getting a tattoo.  I don't even like it when my kids draw on themselves!  But, the tattoo this morning reminded me of another time when I ran into a girl at LGO who had a Kurt Vonnegut tattoo.  And that had the same effect on me as the tattoo this morning.  It kinda touched me and got to me.  I was even, I'll admit, jealous of that tattoo for a moment.

So if I were going to get a tattoo (which I'm not)  (do you sense my deeply ingrained paranoia about this idea that you, my blog reader, will assume I might be advocating for tattoos)  (okay good, carry on).

I digress

So IF I were to recommend a tattoo (which I'm not), I would probably recommend one of these.

Which frankly (can I admit?) I find to be pretty awesome.

From the Outsiders

Catcher in the Rye

Catcher in the Rye

Kurt Vonnegut

The Outsiders

Catcher in the Rye

Kurt Vonnegut

Catcher in the Rye

Alice in Wonderland (photo by never going home on flickr)

Vonnegut

And even our darling Mr. Ryan Gosling has opted for a pretty cool tattoo up there on his upper arm - The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Supah Glam Glam - Glamorous Decor

This week the new season of Million Dollar Decorators started.  Love that show.  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard is fond of saying things like "Supah Glam Glam" in the most affected british accent you've ever heard.  I mean, he's really pretty ridiculous.  But you love him.  You totally forgive the affectation.  The whole show is ridiculous.  If your name is Tamera Mellon and you have a MILLION dollars to spend on a room remodel - that is correct, you didn't misread, one MILLION dollars on ONE room remodel - then your name will not be pronounced TAMERA like normal people say it.  Oh no, then you'll be Tah-Mare-ah.  The mind reels.  Anyway, it's gross and ridiculous but this is the thing that makes it so darned compelling.

The level of glamour in these kinds of rooms is, as my teenage daughter would say "cray-cray".

Sometimes the normal every day person who cannot afford one million dollars on a remodel would also like a glamour make-over for their room.   It's hard to fake things that honest to goodness crazy money can buy, but here are some dreamy inspirations:

Kinda sorta doable - those tiny tiles can be done with a mirror found at a second hand shop - that sink console is probs pretty pricey, but I feel like you can find something that will make it work.  That blue color is very specifically classy.  

I'm not really gonna lie here - good luck on finding a mirrored dresser in your price range if you're on a tight budget.  Probably not going to happen dude.  BUT you could emulate that super awesome tasty lavender color and combine it with mirrors and camel.  In fact, lavenders with camel and creams and off-whites is very glamour decor right now.  

Guys - this is the "office" in the palace of versailles.  Give up on coming anywhere close to this idea.  Plus you know what happened to Marie Antoinette when she went all nuts with the household spending, and you don't want to end up like that anyway.  What I just want you to notice here is how mirrors, chandeliers and a well upholstered pink chair can really be something to aspire to matter how much cashola you have in the bank.  

This is kinda reasonable I feel.  That headboard and chandelier are really what make this seem so chi-chi.  The problem is finding a mirror like that could be pretty pricey.  BUT if that's the one place you spend the most money, wouldn't it totally be worth it?

This kind feels like it's inspired by Tiffany.  I like it.  I'm not sure if I love it.  There's almost TOO much black accents I think.  But what I wanted to show you is how great black and white can look with tiffany blue.  Throw in a chandelier and some mirrors and you're getting glamour all up in that space.  

the other way to add instant glamour is an animal print.  BUT NOT if your room is some crazy bright red with leather couches.  No, if your room is otherwise demure as a little old lady and then you add a leopard print, you'll look like you shop at Bergdorf's every day.  

these are some pricey things in this room.  I know.  But what I really want you to see is the color combinations.  If you happen to have fantastic furniture and are thinking of getting it upholstered - I would really consider this color scheme.

first of all I super adore that little painting of the little birds, don't you?  But second look how simple and glamorous this is.  

This is a pretty grand room.  But I feel like you could make this work in a less sweeping space.  Chandeliers guys, I'm telling you.

I want to go live in this room.  Just read all day.  And be happy.

Paintings that look like a million bucks never hurt to class up a space.  Love the color scheme here too.  

What have we learned?  Chandeliers, mirrors, good color schemes with nice subtle touches, upholstered furniture and an attitude.  Those are all things you can do on a budget.  Don't be too intimidated to try it if you love the look.  

Just get an attitude like Martyn and you can work it.