Prints for a Pretty Pad - Fabric Choices for my Renovation

Hi people! I've been going through some of the fabric I set aside for the apartment renovation. I know it's a bit pre-mature to be thinking about fabric before the construction is complete, but it keeps me going... I thought I'd show you some of my favorite possibilities.

This one is very chic - sort of a Roman revival style from the early 60's. I love the rich blue with shades of gray in them. The circles look sort of like coins to me. There isn't enough for upholstery or curtains, but it's perfect for accent pillows, don't you think?

This is one of my favorites. I love the wandering, painterly pattern and the color palate is so sophisticated. The scale of it is enormous as well. The repeat is so large, only two repeats fit on one width of fabric. There's enough of it to do over a small accent chair or hassock too! Expect to see it featured in the new scheme.

Here's a fun pattern that might work in my kitchen. It's a bit bright, and perhaps a bit off message if I use the gray print above in the living room. I like it though. It has that colonial quality that I enjoy so much.

This will probably be my kitchen fabric. I have enough for curtains and accessories like pot holders and appliance covers. I love the old style labels on the simple off white ground. I also love the color palate.

I love vintage prints. They seem so much more unique to me and have an air of affluence to them that can't be matched pricewise by buying new. You can find great vintage prints on eBay and Etsy. It can be hit or miss with yardage, but the more you look the more you'll find and eventually you'll find the quantity you need.

It may be a while before you see me implement these choices. We still have to re-do the kitchen, install the new appliances, put in some built-ins and carpeting, among other things. It'll take some time, but I'm excited about tackling it!

I'm selling still off some of my extraneous belongings to help fund the renovation. Right now you'll find some great jewelry and vintage clothing up on eBay. Have a look!

High on Hicks - Design From a David

David Hicks has become a great source of inspiration for modern day designers like Jonathan Adler, and, for that matter, myself for a good reason. He was a master at creating beautiful rooms that were both formal and casual at the same time. His ability to mix traditional and modern pieces and his bold use of color (traits he shares in common with Eero Saarinen) make his interiors both serious and whimsical at the same time.

In the 1970's, he published a series of decorating books that are a bit hard to come by now-a-days. I was lucky enough to get my hands on David Hicks - On Decorating with Fabric a while back, and it's been a joy to study his work.

Some of what he does has an almost candy like quality to it. The rooms look good enough to eat, bursting with flavor. these are a few of my favorite plates from the above mentioned book. I hope you'll find them as inspiring as I do.

This was his own bedroom in New York.

I love the use of lacquered walls in the two images above.

This dining nook is a good example of the mixing of modern and traditional. The architecture in the room has a decidedly antique quality and he mixes it with modern Saarinen tulip chairs and table.

The attention to detail and boldness of spirit are definitely an inspiration to me. I hope they are to you as well! Who are some of your design inspirations? Could you live in a David Hicks room?

Fab Finds in Fabrics - Vintage Prints

I've been having some luck as of late with vintage fabric finds. I came across a few fun fabrics at a thrift shop a while back and it inspired me to look on eBay and Etsy for more. Here are a few of the standouts:

This one is an Etsy purchase. It's such a sunny tiger print, isn't it? It's a synthetic knit and it's going to be a hostess dress when it grows up.

This sophisticated print features dancers - sort of a 50's Follies Bergère on beige. It was one of the thrift shop finds that started my current obsession. I don't have any plans for it yet. This one is a drapey rayon crepe.

Heavy linen is the substrata for this painterly plaid. It's such a pretty print and the colors are just delightful. It's an Etsy find. I'll be making this up into a simple shift dress.

Another Etsy find is this polyester crepe de chine with a 70's chevron print on it. This will be a shirt dress one day. It's very Vera, isn't it?

This is another one of the thrift shop purchases that launched this ship. It's a sheer print that reminds me of suns. This will be a summer shirt for me this year.

I've always been fond of printed crepe linings in jackets and coats. That's what this mod polyester floral crepe will be eventually. It's from eBay.

All this fabric acquisition has taxed my storage space a bit, so I'm destashing, as they say, on Etsy right now. Have a look at the vintage fabrics and patterns I have up for sale.