Too late for Swedish?

When I named my daughter Sophia in 2007, at the height of the Sophia craze, I had completely convinced myself that I had loved that name for years, long before everyone else did.  Now, I honestly can't tell you if that's true or not, because I have been known to convince myself of untrue things before (I also thought the same thing about knee-high boots and skinny jeans).  It just seems sometimes that I get to apply something I love at the peak of it's appeal, or unfortunately sometimes slightly later.  And although that in itself makes me want to search for the next thing, the appeal is too strong for me to resist.  I HAD to name my daughter Sophia, I love the name, even though I was fully aware that I may be joining the masses.  The same goes for my apartment.  I have dreamed of a Gustavian meets the left bank breezy style apartment for years, long before it was hot (I'm convinced) and long after it was replaced by the chunkier, more masculine lines of the Belgian craze.  The thing about a trend, however is that unless it makes the transition to being a "classic" or "traditional", it can look dated and uninspired if applied too soon past it's expiration date.  But, that's neither here nor there because I won't be happy with anything else.  I must have a breezy white swedish apartment.  I finished purchasing the final pieces from Oly Studio and The Lone Ranger Antiques and I'll give you a little preview of them before you get to see the final result.

I fell in love with these chairs, they are wider than most antique swedish chairs, which makes them hubby approved.  These will get simple white linen slips and each will go under a different desk.

  

This beauty is going in a little hallway nook which is visible from the living room.  P.S. This is NOT a Mora clock!  I was given a very strong speaking to from Jeff after referring to this as a Mora Clock. Mora Clocks are a specific to a region of Sweden and are the most widely available and inexpensive of the antique tall case clocks.  He and other dealers sell very little true Mora clocks.  They are not that desirable and are rather unattractive, I think. 

  

I am thinking a few pairs of these will look great in the Dining area flanking a mirror with some interesting objects or bud vases on them.

Linen sectional and ottoman from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture waiting to ship.

Oly Studio Stella shelves will flank an antique armoire opposite the sectional and will be stuffed with beautiful design books and interesting pottery.  I think these coupled with the dark farm table in the dining area and the walnut leather will give enough contrast to the whites, I am being very careful to keep it from going too shabby-chic.

That's all you get for now, final pictures of the main rooms should be up within a couple months.  I swear!!

Take two

I'mmmmm Baaaack!!!  Call it divine intervention if you will, but I just came across my old blog completely by accident, realized I posted a measly three times before throwing in the towel and after shaming myself endlessly for being so unreliable and being such an awful blogger after rather arrogantly naming myself the Home Provocateur (hand covering face),  I've decided it's time for round two.  So much has happened since my original posts (which had a little to do with my untimely departure).  I have two babies now, we have relocated AGAIN (this time to NYC), and hubby is a bit more stable in his career.  I have done SO much work on the country abode in Michigan and am also nearing completion of our pre-war Swedish-Parisian-style apartment on the Upper West Side.  I am now ready to sink my teeth into my blog, and live up to this grand name I once threw around so flippantly.

Keystone Cottage?

I just stopped by the house today and noticed a keystone resting over the top of my large dining room picture window. WTF?? Its gotta go, when I told the builders it didn't go with the style of my house they seemed puzzled. Apparently they think keystones go with every house...

3635 Shannon Road, my first true love :)

I am still mourning the loss of my home in Los Feliz. A 1936 French normandy beauty with thick plaster walls, iron sconces, massive beamed ceilings and stone balconies. I basically had to be dragged by the ankles out the front door. A front door of which my Farrow and Ball paint had not even had a chance to dry on when I was told I had to go. I had just completed a complete remodel of every room, replicating the beauty of the period with waterworks tiles, fittings and fixtures, hand-made vanities and shimmering plastered walls. I scoured every antique store to find the perfect sconces. Tested every period paint color to do my bumpy walls justice. Replaced every knob and curtain rod at Liz's antique hardware. You get the picture. Here are some house shots post rehab.

Backyard with outdoor kitchen and stone patio, french cafe stools from Maison Midi.
View from front entry to kitchen, sconces from 20th century lighting.
Upstairs hall, Venetian plaster walls, original lighting.
Front entry stoop with little window...love the dark wood and stone.

Front Living room, vintage dhurrie, full beamed ceilings.
This was before i hung anything on the walls :)
What we called the "Corleone Room" Vintage french clubchairs from Bountiful in Venice.
View from the balcony, we almost cut down the oak tree thinking it ruined our "view." Thank god we didn't, it made the backyard.
View from back, I planted the creeping fig

My lovely green bathroom, I love this color!! Miss this the most of all :( Tiles are Green Veil subway, floor is thassos and ming green basketweeve all from Waterworks, sink is Dornbracht.

I did the 2 cm Thassos above the chair rail.

Front staircase, Venetian plaster walls, antique khotan runner. I hung black and white family photos on all stairwells walls.

Sinks are pounded nickel, faucets "etoile" polished nickel, both from Waterworks.

Custom faux bamboo vanity. Counter is honed calcutta, floor is "Soliel" tumbled limestone.

Closeup of Calcutta hand-clipped tile in shower.

Original Sink, Waterworks seat and tile. Paint is F&B borrowed light.

Built ins in the powder room, antique glass knobs, floor is carrara and thassos marble.

I love the wide beaded paneling, Paint color is BM Hawthorne Greene

Light fixture is original to the house, beyond the door is the dining room balcony

Guest Bedroom; Paint is BM Monterey White, Chandelier is from Pom Pom in L.A.

California Dreamin'

Well, My story goes something like this: After living in the hills of Los Angeles for 6 years with my husband, purchasing my dream home and preparing to start a family and live happily ever after, hubbys job transfers him to Honduras to manage a factory. Soooo, I moved back to parents house in Michigan with our newborn daughter to oversee the construction of our replacement home, start a kitchen design business and try to adapt to my new rural surroundings. Sounds easy, right?