Hate It When This Happens

Don't you hate it when you buy something and then a few months later find something you like better at pretty much the same price?  That's how I feel about the new Admiral Pendant Lantern from Wisteria.  If only I procrastinated a few more months I could have had this!

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Lovely London Details

Lots of lovely eye candy to be found in London -here's just a few from our trip. 

Fabric & Trim Sale at Haute Arlington

Haute Fabrics in Arlington is having another great sale:

$15 a yard for fabrics in the garage

$22 per yard for fabrics on the first level (with a few exceptions)

20% of all trim 

Sale prices on leather.  

Roxene also mentioned there are a number of silks with good yardage available too.

Haute Fabrics730 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22203

(540) 364-1221
Monday - Saturday

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Street Art in Florence

To the Street Artist in Florence, It was a great joy to turn the corner while touring this beautiful city to find the face of Jesus greeting me. Thank you for sharing this and all your other creative efforts.  xoxo

And to the person who found these keys and placed them on this ledge in hope their owner would find them,  how kind.  

Hoping everyone has a kind and loving weekend full of beauty and thoughtfulness.  xo Michele

My New Carpet & Eco- Fiber Rug Pad

We just put down a custom-size remnant of Stark Whittier Linen in my daughter's room.  She picked it herself and I think it looks beautiful with the Farrow & Ball Theresa's Green walls and the bright pink accents she's added in. It's made of 80% wool and 20% polyester so it had only had a slight "new carpet smell" that you typically expect.
When I purchased the carpet, I didn't get the rug pad to go along with it.  The experiences I've had with rug pads have been disappointing - they've smelled for a long time and they pretty much disintegrated, leaving particles behind.  Looking something like this.  In fact, I haven't bought a rug pad since 1992 (seriously - I know the date because I wouldn't buy one for my son's nursery in 1994 )

I know that every carpet should have a rug pad to improve wear and tear but I really didn't want to spend money on something I feared would harm the air quality in our home.  Fortunately for me, the folks at RugPadUSA offered me a rug pad and they had just what I was looking for: the Eco-Fiber 100% felt rug pad.

It comes in 3 thicknesses - 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4".  I went with the 1/4", it works well with the low pile of the Stark carpet and provides just the right amount of cushion.   When it arrived and we rolled it out, it had no smell at all -  please know that I don't make this claim lightly.  Even though this pad was given to me, I am so happy to say it didn't have any odor to it.   RugPadUSA notes the following about their Eco-Fiber pads - "are non toxic, odor free, and 100% safe to use on your floors and in your home. Unlike many other felt rug pads, our products are tested quarterly by the Carpet and Rug Institute, a non-profit agency with strict environmental standards. Our Eco-Fiber felt pads also contribute to the LEED point rating system of U.S. Green Building Council for low emmissions, design innovation, and recycled content."   Here's a pic of ours before the carpet was rolled over it

and a close-up shot.  It is a nice, dense felt with a solid feel underfoot.

While I went with the 100% felt rug pad, there are are a range of options to choose from to meet your exact needs, including rug pads to reduce slippage.  All their rug pads come with free shipping, free returns, free custom cutting and trimming and a warranty.  They also have a discount to the Trade.  Be sure to check RugPadUSA out - I'm so pleased to have this source for the next time I need a rug pad!

Details from Oia Santorini

Staying in the beautiful village of Oia was on my bucket list - along with a million other people- but even in the midst of day trippers and cruise ship travelers there are still quaint and charming spots to be found.  

In my opinion, the best thing to do is to head through the village in the morning and down the 240+ very steep and long steps down to Amoudi Harbor, past this charming church and all the donkeys and the stuff they leave behind...

We did it 3 of the 4 days we were there - both down and up.  My waist line thanked me later in the trip and I ate Saganaki (to-die-for greek fried cheese) guilt free the whole time.

After you get down there, walk past the waterside taverns, over the rocky path and you'll be rewarded with this beautiful place to swim off the rocks, or jump off, if that's your thing.

If you're not the jumping type, like me :), you can gracefully launch yourself off these rocks.  Can't promise the return climb back on will be quite as effortless.  My favorite part was swimming over to the little rocky island.  There you'll find a little church with a working bell.   Notice the one guy in the middle standing?  Depending on the tide, there are places where you can perch on rocks for a rest.  

On your way back, you can have a late lunch at one of the taverns and enjoy fresh seafood and that fried cheese I mentioned.  

Along the main drag of Oia there's one holdout who hasn't given over to all the shops.  I saw her walking through the village one day in her floral housecoat.  Made me wish I knew enough to have Oia on my bucket list in the 80's.

Our Bathroom Progress: Tub & Faucets

Our downstairs bathroom is almost finished - last post was about the tiles and now here's some pics (sorry for the quality of these) of the stand-alone tub in the wet room area.   The shower is off to the right, frameless glass partition coming soon.

 I chose Newport Brass NB3-1685-01 Virginia Wall Mount Tub Faucet Only, Cross Handles -

I thought long and hard about going with unlacquered brass but the Forever Brass finish by Newport Brass convinced me not too.  It's a really pretty patina and I liked how it looked against the wavy green tiles as is - so  I went with it.

We've got some adjustments to make with the vanity (which also has a wall mount faucet) so hopefully I'll have more updates soon!

Before & After Wolfe Island Cottage Remodel

Back in 2009 I noticed this weather worn cottage on Wolfe Island, CA (Thousand Islands) and wondered how it would be with a little TLC.  Well, somebody thought the same and fixed it up in the most charming way. 

I came across it while checking out vrbo.  The homeowner has covered the walls in an on-trend and classic horizontal planking and added cheerful touches throughout, like this bright green door on the upstairs landing.

Rag rugs on the painted floors are charming.

A cozy living room for conversation and watching the boats go by.

If you've never been to the Thousand Islands, be sure to add it to your bucket list!