Huge Vintage Lamp

This week, I bought an enormous vintage lamp from someone in my neighborhood. Really, this thing is over three feet tall! But I needed a big burst of light in my dark dining room and this lamp certainly fits the bill.

And as for my bathroom remodel, we are definitely in the final throes of this massive project. I'm so pleased with how it's turning out. A few more finishing touches and it will be ready for photos! Here's a little sneak peek. Thanks to the amazing people at Moen who donated this faucet fixture for the project. I think it  looks really sharp.

And finally...

Three random things you should know:

1)  THIS cashmere sweater from J.Jill, usually $249 is on sale today for $101.99. I got it for Christmas from my in-laws and it's my favorite thing ever. It also comes in petite and plus sizes. Go get yours.

2)  And for those of you who just thought to yourself, "Yes - I need plus size clothing that is stylish and doesn't look like a potato sack", I just found a beautiful collection of linen clothing in exactly my style for the more statuesque. (They also have misses styles). Check out Vivid Linen.

3)  There is still time to enter our Radical Homemaking giveaway. Click HERE for details and to enter!

I love Pendant Lights

If I ever have a chance to remodel my kitchen, I'll definitely be installing some pendant lighting. Whether you have an eat-in kitchen table, an island or a bar, pendants are the way to go. My tastes are pretty wide ranging, but here are some of my favorites:

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And look at these pink bulbous babies! 

Aren't they crazy... and kind of awesome?

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Check out these Italian steel pendants. Sexy!

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I love these Hydro Lamps carved from wood, created by Hungarian designer Laszlo Tompa. 

He was inspired by the shapes of deep sea animals like cuttlefish, medusas and polyps. 

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Green glass and wood? Yes, please.

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I love these glass bulb pendants from Niche Modern. 

They come in all sorts of colors but I like the blue sapphire hue best. 

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This hammered metal globe pendant would be great as a trio above a kitchen island. 

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These beauties, from Blue Suntree, are made of cork. Aren't they groovy?

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All of the lamps below are from an Etsy store called Modern Space Design. 

They have some fantastic vintage modern Danish lighting for sale. 

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Clamp Lamp

My grandpa used to have three or four of these utilitarian clamp lamps in his basement paint shop.  To a little knee-high kid, they seemed like weird robots towering over my grandpa's work space.  But now... What I wouldn't give to have just one of them for my studio table.

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Create Some Drama

I guess I've always been kind of a drama queen. My grandmother was calling me "Sarah Bernhardt" when I was old enough to cut my own potatoes. I don't throw epic fits anymore, but I'm still prone to exaggeration and wearing red. I usually, however, keep my drama confined to the decorating and design of my home.  Here are some lovely dramatic spaces to get your creative juices flowing.

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Thrifted Blanc de Chine Lamp

While browsing a thrift store yesterday with my kids, I happened upon an awesome Blanc de Chine lamp!  I was so excited I yelped aloud and ran over to it.  After a breathless explanation to my four-year-old about the history and importance of Chinoiserie style, to which I received a bored, blank stare, I hauled my score to the front counter and paid five dollars. Well, my actual total was $5.50 because the four-year-old found some vintage Hot Wheels. I'm still on cloud nine.  Here she is:

And here are some more vintage Blanc de Chine lattice style lamps for fun:

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The lamp below looks just like mine.  

And I love the slick black lamp shade!

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Fur

I usually don't go in for fur, but I keep coming back to the photo below.  Is it the wood built-ins?  Is it the wonderful light quality?  Is it the Buddha on the shelf?  Is it the natural fiber rug?  Possibly.  But I think it might be that crazy fur covered couch. 

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Gold Fixtures in the Dining Room

The title of this post says it all.  I love look of gold and brass lighting fixtures in the dining room spaces below.  Even a simple gold candelabra takes the elegance factor up a a couple of notches.  I think my favorite is the marvelous curly-cue piece directly below hung above the side board. 

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Champagne Mood

Last weekend I had a small dinner party and one of our guests brought a bottle of Prosecco to share.  I sat looking at the beautiful golden bubbly beverage thinking, this is a great color.  I love champagne.  Whether its in a flute or the color of a bedspread, it has a breezy, elegant quality that says, "Hey, I'm special".

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A Break in the Weather

After the barrage of 100 degree days we've had this summer in Dallas, the weather finally broke.  For the past few days the evening lows have dropped into the 60's and the mornings have been hovering in the 70's.  Do you know what this means?  First, that there is a merciful God or a higher power who watches over us.  Second, that Autumn is on her way.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  I love the weather, the holidays, the clothes, and most importantly, the quality of light that Fall brings with her.  I'm ready for that slanting, focused light of Autumn to fill my home. 

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And don't forget to enter our giveaway - a gorgeous necklace from One Man's Trash!