Museum Room

Did you grow up in a house with a museum room?

      

Any of these rooms look familiar to you
A room that no kid was allowed to visit unattended.  A room that your parents only used when company came.

Talk about useless real estate- seriously was your house so big that you could give up an entire room to guests you want to impress???  While we’re talking useless real estate then lets mention the McMansion.  If we had any intention to continue with the Mcmansion concept then we could also perpetuate the museum room, there is more than enough room and wasted space in the run of the mill McMansion’s to leave completely unused rooms for company. I’m not sure what’s more ridiculous - the McMansion or the museum room. Are we so insecure that we save a chunk of real estate in our houses for what others think- Really?
What would company think if there was a stain on the living room sofa from years of use or wear marks on the coffee table where our feet were- Oh god, they might think we put our feet on the furniture, how low class! Seriously speaking, what would happen- would the other mom’s at school talk behind your back, get kicked out of the country club, not get that promotion at work???  In this day in age- repeat after me- USE your house- every inch of it!!!  Really use it!!!  Let the kids live like you value them being part of the family more than what your company might think, drink red wine in every room, put your feet on whatever is going to make you most comfortable. What’s the worst thing that could happen- you spill (that’s what Oxyclean is for) or you wear a piece of furniture so much that eventually it needs reupholstering or refinishing? Seriously- who the F%$k cares at least you lived fully in YOUR house that YOU worked hard to pay for. Isn’t that what working like a dog to afford this house and it’s contents is all about- living!
Coming soon – a post on how to create a formal space that doesn’t make us slaves to our possessions.

Color

To me experiencing color can literally change my mood, my day and inspire my thoughts.  The idea that by giving my house “flow” and “continuity” might require me to have an overall color and style theme connecting all the rooms is such a kill joy!  Sometimes I need warm and cozy, or fun and wacky, or serene and tranquil all in the same house and all within the same day. 
Wake up to sunny and pretty:

Make the kids lunch and eat breakfast in sunny, uncluttered and clean:

Go to work in exciting and vivid:

OR

Then come home, Pour a glass of wine, read a magazine, open mail and return emails on the laptop in warm, familiar and sophisticated:

Homework with the kids and dinner in warm cozy and casual:

Kids in bed, watch your favorite TV show with Hubby, just before retiring for the night:

Then so sleepy you go to bed in the coziest bedroom ever:

Now how you go to sleep in dark, warm and cozy but wake up in Sunny and pretty………….well that’s why you hire a designer!

My life as a professional Scavenger

Many many years ago (In what seems like a different life) I worked as a photo stylist- It was tons of fun, tons of stress and very exciting.  I remember being asked to find a solid crystal globe.  It could be anywhere from 3” to 12” in diameter but had to be etched like a globe.  This was pre- internet (dating myself I know) you can only imaging how hard this was to find.  I was paid three day rates to complete this task.  This was the hardest item I’ve ever had to find.

Now in 2010 it would take me about 2 seconds to locate the item on Google and a simple overnight delivery charge and presto- task done.  Total cost to find globe about $50.00 Vs. $3000.00 PI (pre- internet).  My kids can’t believe I used to go “Old School” searching- they think it’s hysterical.
Now I’m addicted to all the fun ways to shop and there are seemingly new ways popping up daily, my favorites are:
http://www.ebay.com/
http://www.1stdibs.com/
http://vandm.com/
Lately I love searching in auction listings, and I can blow threw hours at:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/
Some of the antiques directories are fun:
http://www.goantiques.com/
http://www.tias.com/
http://www.rubylane.com/
I have had great luck finding art for clients as well as the perfect unique accessory- Check them out and have fun!  This is just a partial list of the possible fun out there, What are your favorites?

Obsessions: Opaline

Now many of you know I have various things I collect.  Entering my house you are, of course, struck by the vast turquoise accents.  Many of my collections were inspired by my Grandmother Alice.  One such collection is Opaline Glass and it started with these lamps that I adore- my family is so afraid to break them that they make me put them in a place where they rarely go (whatever- as long as they stay intact).

Opaline is a semi opaque, hand blown, hand polished French glass that began in production in the early 1800’s.  White and blue are the most popular colors but the other colors pink, green, yellow, red, black and lavender are more expensive due to rarity.  Although Italy and England have produced glass similar to Opaline, real Opaline was only produced in France.

Below see some examples of the blue color which can range from an intense medium blue to turquoise and aqua.  The picture of the lamps shows a particularly translucent variety.

White Opaline was the first color Opaline, and is created with bone ash which gives it the white color.  Opaline has a very high lead content and with oxides of anatomy and arsenic the other colors can be achieved.  When you hold the white Opaline up to the light you will see a red color radiating from where the light shows through.

Here are some examples of pink:

 

Even though the glass looks so translucent you would think it’s paper thin, it’s not and actually has some heft to it.  It is much thicker than you would imagine.  Here are some green and yellow examples:

And of course red, lavender and black:

Information gathered from House Beautiful article on Opaline Boxes, January 2001.