a peacock wreath for the holidays

From the LA Times Home Blog today…love the whimsy and color!

Why wait until turkey day to hang the holiday wreath? And why spend a small fortune on greenery when you can quickly and easily create something equally dramatic that will last for years?

These questions were on my mind on a recent craft supply run to Michaels, where I found a $19.99 peacock feather wreath that spoke to me. What it said: Peacock motifs are everywhere these days, why shouldn’t they replace Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas cardinals? (The wreath was a fierce name-dropper too, whispering Auntie Mame, Tony Duquette and Bob Mackie in one breath.)

Naturally, I had to have it. With one push of a pushpin it quickly adorned my front door, which happens to be a pale shade of peacock blue. Stylish as it looked, it needed a little something extra.

That’s when I remembered the stuffed peacock I recently found at Mercado in Silver Lake for $23. Made from hand-spun wool by women in the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, it was the perfect folk art counterpart to the drag queen glamour of the wreath. And with a pushpin through its feathery tail, it is now happily perched on the wreath.

Not bad for $42.99. (Tax and pushpins not included.)

– David A. Keeps

Photo credit: David A. Keeps

tera's living room makeover

Tera recently contacted us to help her reinvent her living room. Here is her letter:

Dear Lisa,  My husband and I bought our first home together, and it’s a hodge podge with many relics from our single days. We traveled for 18 months after we were married, so we also have many things we’ve collected from our travels. My husband, Jim, is a huge movie buff, so I have convinced him to pare down to just two movie posters which must stay in the room. Also, the sofa is something that we’d like to keep.  We’re definitely interested in new paint. I like warm, cozy colors, but I tend to overdo color when I paint and it feels either claustrophobic or trendy. We would love new window treatments but nothing frilly or heavy. I’m currently obsessed with Etsy.com and love their unique handmade items. I feel like I know what I like, but I’m stuck on how to pull it together.  I hope you two can help!  Tera

Okay, Tera, we’ve got your room reinvented with a global eclectic theme fit for two world travelers (and one movie buff!).

1.  To bring some of the warm and cozy colors Tera likes into this space, we are using that industrial chic brick wall to direct our color palette. For the fireplace wall, we’d love to see an accent color and Benjamin Moore’s Misted Green (2138-50) picks up the sage green in the fireplace surround beautifully. To counterbalance the brick color on the left side of the fireplace, we recommend that Tera use BM’s Bricktone Red (2005-30) on the wall to the right of the fireplace, behind the TV. For the remaining walls, we suggest BM’s Spring in Aspen (954) for a cozy cream color that will complement the brick and sage green accents. Also, we’d LOVE to see Tera paint the wood mantle on her fireplace and the refresh the vintage wood trim throughout the room with BM’s White Dove (OC-17). By painting the mantle, the tile surround on the fireplace will really pop, and the mantle will blend with the original trim rather than look like an add-on.

2.  Fortunately, the track lighting in Tera’s living room has a main junction box, so replacing it with a simple yet elegant new chandelier will be an easy task for an electrician, and a minor ceiling repair job for a painter, or even for Tera and her hubby if they decide to do the painting themselves. With Tera’s soaring ceilings, adding a chandelier is a subtle way to draw the eyes upward while leaving ample room for even the tallest visitor to walk underneath. This unbelievably priced chandelier has an oil-rubbed bronze finish and will set the room aglow with soft light. It also complements Tera’s two recently purchased lamps without being too matchy-machty.

3.  These elegantly striped curtains will frame Tera’s oversized front window beautifully. By hanging them as close to the ceiling as possible, the vertical stripe will emphasize the incredible ceiling height in the room, and the fabric will give a shimmery contrast to the rugged, earthy texture on the exposed brick wall.  At 108″ inches, these beauties are still an affordable option, and their grommet tops give them an edgy, urban vibe.

4.  In addition to their globe trotting history together as a couple, there’s no denying that Tera’s hubby, Jim, loves his movies. We think his two movie posters that currently flank the fireplace, and are “must stays” according to Tera, might be a little lost, so we are game to pump up the movie theme just a bit with this trio of vintage film reels. Hung above the fireplace, this collection will pull the movie posters into this global mix and give them the attention they deserve.  Right, Jim?  Hey, we know first hand that compromise in decorating is good for a marriage.

5.  This antique globe is a nod to Tera and Jim’s travels and a fun accessory to sit on top of the fireplace mantle or to adorn their new bookshelf.

6.   Tera is a big Etsy fan, and so are we, so we were happy to scour Etsy for some suitable finds for the living room.  Tera wants to keep their comfy, neutral sofa, but it can be spruced up with this collection of  handmade and Asian-inspired pillows. We say throw the rectangular shaped one on the newly slipcovered slipper chair and pile the remaining three on the sofa for those cozy date nights on the couch watching movies and eating takeout while your little one snoozes away upstairs. Now that’s parental bliss.

7.  And, ah yes, what to do about those two imposing bookcases in Tera’s before shots? Well we’re taking a risk here and suggesting that Tera replace them with just one new bookcase. We say this for two reasons. The first being that a heavy and tall wall of books in a 12′ x 12′ room is a little too top heavy and encroaching. We’re confident that with some careful editing, the books can be paired down, and the remaining collection can be housed on this light and airy leaning ladder shelf in an espresso finish.  (This type of bookcase comes with hardware to attach to the wall, so it’s also a safe option for Tera’s toddler.) The second reason for transitioning to just one bookcase is that by moving this single shelf toward the entry, the perfect reading nook is created for Tera’s newly slipcovered slipper chair. Tera’s existing floor lamp can be moved over to this corner to provide ample reading light with the added benefit of balancing the sources of light throughout the room.  The overall effect is one of a grander, more open space.

8.  We like this well-priced TV stand because of its simple lines and the espresso finish that will complement the bookshelf and Tera’s recently purchased end table.  The cabinetry below will provide additional closed off storage. The dimensions of this stand work nicely in the corner to the right of the fireplace.  We suggest that Tera place this stand flush with the wall and then angle her TV on the stand slightly toward the sofa for easy viewing.

9.  And speaking of favorite pieces from their single days of yore, Tera’s slipper chair, which she was reluctant to relinquish, can be revived and, frankly, swankified with this new damask slipcover. It’s warm cozy tones bring the same tan and pecan colors from the curtains across the room, and we love the subtle raised velvet damask pattern. But not as much as we love the price on this baby. What a score!

10.  Now, for the element that pulls the whole room together.  This 100% wool rug blends together our color palette of cream, tan, sage and burgundy and adds a lovely pattern to the room.  The rugs Indian origins and patterning complete our global eclectic living room for Tera and her family.

tales of an ugly kitchen: painted cabinets!

Flooring, check.  Appliances, check. Countertops, check. Wall paint, check.  Ahhh, progress!  Next up, cabinetry. In any kitchen remodel, the cabinetry is a key element that really defines the mood and style.  With so many styles and choices out there at varying price points, the selections can be daunting. Should we go for glossy, sleek and modern?  Painted, glazed and old world European? Distressed, rustic, farmstyle? I happen to have an intimate relationship with cabinetry as my dear husband has worked in the architectural millwork industry for years. You could say I have the inside track, but the truth is that while he works in six figure kitchens regularly, we can’t actually afford one.  So, we’ve decided to paint our existing maple cabinets and go for a cool and contemporary vibe to stay true to our mid-century ranch’s inherent style. It was a totally manageable process, and the payoff is huge, so here’s a handy little tutorial on just how to solve your cabinet conundrum on the cheap. Read on!

Step 1:  Sand the cabinetry. Frankly, this step just plain sucks because of the dust and elbow grease involved, but it’s essential if you want the paint to stick, and you do, don’t you? By removing door fronts and drawers to a garage or outdoor area for sanding, this eliminates some of the indoor dust. When Steve emerged from garage after sanding the door fronts he looked like a skinny snowman wearing a baseball cap and goatee. Wish I took a picture to prove it! Plan on a lot of time to wipe everything down after the dust settles. It was a mess.

Step 2:  Primer.  We did one base coat of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 water based primer. A lot of folks will tell you to use an oil based primer, but I’m not a fan. Too smelly and messy. The guys at Guiry’s told me to go for it with the Zinsser’s primer, and they know their stuff.

Step 3:  Paint.  After a variety of colors from beige, to gray, to even sage green, we decided to go with my perennial favorite “White Dove” from Benjamin Moore. I love how the warm white tones complement the cool, charcoal gray countertops and steely backsplash. One tip on painting cabinets, add some Floetrol paint additive (available at Lowe’s, Home Depot or any paint store) to diminish your roller and brush marks. The paint will have a smoother look, and you’ll feel like a pro.

Step 4:  Enjoy!  We’re almost there!  Next up, knobs and a new light fixture!