kid friendly fabrics

My dining chairs are trashed. And I mean trashed. They are vintage faux bois chairs and I LOVE them, but the upholstery on them has seen better days. I've been on the hunt for quite some time for a kid friendly but stylish fabric that I could recover them in. Let me tell you that even with all the resources at my fingertips, this has not been an easy search. I just got grass shades for my kitchen windows so now the kitchen space is almost complete and it has really got me itching to deal with the chairs.

I was so overjoyed when I discovered a random sample from Joseph Noble floating around my office,

and I was even more excited when I discovered how reasonable their pricing is.

Their heavy duty abrasion collection is full of great options that are industrial strength

and will hold up to all the the spills and stains the the little munchkins attack them with.

I'm trying to decide if I want to use the New Zealand Faux Ostrich, Shagreen, Stingray, or the Great Fake Leather.

You will seriously not believe how much these fabrics look and feel like real leather, and they are only 39.50 a yard.

I even tested my sample by cleaning it with soft scrub and it worked like a charm.

Just what I need to hold up to my little boys.

The dining nook

Here are some pictures of a cute little dining nook I completed for a client earlier this year.

This little space is just off the bohemian family room I posted about a few weeks ago.

I love the texture of the grass shades and the mix of patterns in the pillows

And don't even get me started on the gorgeous chairs!

Seeing an outcome like this is one of the many reasons I LOVE my job!

Photos by the fabulous Sara Bateman

Serena's Kitchen Makeover

I got the new Serena and Lily catalog yesterday and I was so excited to see the darling kitchen nook styled by Serena herself.

Isn't it lovely and crisp?

on the table

I know it is totally unreasonable to have a dining table that looks like this, but boy do I love all that styling! Wouldn't it be grand to spend a whole afternoon just flipping through those wonderful books? For more of this lovely studio apartment of Bill Brockschmidt (I'm enamored with his whole portfolio) visit New York Social Diary. 

Back in style

This is a picture of my Mother-in-Law's eat-in kitchen in the 70s. When I came across this picture I died because I would use this exact wallpaper, and thonet chairs in a room I design today! I never knew my Mother-in-Law was so hip and shared my love of kelly green. 

My version of this room would look something like this:

I'd start with the lattice wallpaper in grass from Echo Home (I've been waiting to use this for a client FOREVER) on the walls. For a dining table, I'd opt for this version in a clean white. 

Of course we have our thonet chairs. I'd search out a vintage set (hopefully 6) and paint them a fresh green like Sherwin Williams Overt Green.I'd dress the table with a runner made out of some simple grey ticking for some contrast to the green. 

I'd top that with some classic French dinnerware in our fresh green and some simple napkins by DwellStudio from All Modern. 

As a centerpiece we'll stick with something simple like a bunch of simple white daffodils

and place them in these modern canisters from Z gallerie. 

Thanks for the inspiration Joan! If any of you have rooms from another era that you'd like to recreate, send me an email and I'll do my best. 

big plans

I'm in the process of moving out some old furniture to make room for the new. I spotted these dining chairs at a local consignment store and my heart went a flutter. Oh the possibilities.A set of 6. When I looked the price tag of $35 I was sold. Eventually I'll paint and reupholster these babies, but for now they're getting a good steam cleaning and a wipe down. 

I envision them evolving in to some thing glamorous but fun like the images below. 

Aren't good deals just the best?