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Happy Memorial Day: Decorating with Stars & Stripes

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. 

~ Elmer Davis

A special thank you to the United States Military for protecting our freedom and way of life. 

Happy Memorial Day!

 

*images courtesy of Country Living, Wisteria, Martha Stewart, Pottery Barn, About.com

The Zhush goes to the Hamptons

I thought while I was away on vacation that it would be appropriate to ask a few of my favorite bloggers to come over to Odi et Amo and guest blog about their favorite vacation homes (real or imagined). Today Sue from The Zhush will be kicking things off with a fantasy guest home in The Hamptons courtesy of one of my all-time favorite designers Steven Gambrel. It's got to be just about the most sophisticated beach house I could ever imagine. Sue, you've got to promise me that if you ever do get to live out this fantasy that you will invite me over for a long weekend -- deal?

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Hi! I'm Sue from The Zhush. I'm such a fan of Averill's blog! When Averill asked if I would do a guest post, while she was away, I was more than happy to oblige

(that is, once I got over my seething jealous rage over her fabulous vacation).

Fittingly, Averill chose vacation homes as the topic du jour,

and I knew exactly what my ideal vacation home would be!

Since I have a mild fear of flying, and since we already have a little ski condo,

I began to daydream about The Hamptons!

I can drive there from my home, I love the beach, and since its my daydream, I would have Steven Gambrel design the whole place.

Join me as I create the fantasy beach house of my dreams!

It would have a beautiful and comfortable family room...

(preferably with gorgeous Missoni-esque furniture and a giant t.v.).

I would need a lovely space to email and catch up on all my favorite blogs.

A beautiful cozy breakfast nook would be the perfect place to host

some lovely, relaxed beach brunches.

Even the beach can get chilly sometimes, it would be so nice

to cozy up by the fire and read here.

For more formal "Hampton" type events, this gracious living room

would suit me just fine.

This bar and butler's pantry would be the perfect place to mix

up some cocktails for friends dropping by.

Of course we would have a fabulous basement too...

complete with wine cellar, private cinema and even a disco ball!

And, since this is a daydream...why not include the closet of my dreams...

I hope you enjoyed this "fantasy" vacation house.

all images via: Steven Gambrel

"Happy Memorial Weekend . . . "

from House Beautiful

Greetings,

It's going to a be rock-star beautiful weekend here in San Francisco. Clear skies. Ocean breezes. Warm temperatures. Personally, I've got a few parties, one fierce workout, and a laundry list of projects to accomplish here at the house. Can't wait. And if you're in need of inspiration - enjoy . . .

Ralph Lauren "La Plage" Collection

from House Beautiful

Don't eat too much,

tartanscot

CSN Gift Card Winner & Friday Find from Wisteria

Happy Friday folks! And congratulations to lucky comment #15, Mary. She has won a $50 gift card good at all CSN Stores. Happy shopping Mary and a big thank you to CSN for sponsoring this great giveaway!

This "WELCOME TO THE ZOO" doormat from Wisteria caught my eye and is my Friday Find. I am seriously thinking about getting it for my front door. It's been that kinda week. How was yours?

Latest Sports News & Magazine

http://viasportbg.com/

Via Sports Blog brings sport fanatics the latest sports news, reviews, pictures, leagues, player stats, histories and much more

Jojo Guinea Pig with Carrot.avi

Here's a video of my pet - Jojo. He loves carrot and willing to stand for it....and also for other vegetables actually. well, he always excited for eating! eat...eat...and eat.

Video



His menu and other data
click the image for zoom

Jojo Guinea Pig with Carrot.avi

Here's a video of my pet - Jojo. He loves carrot and willing to stand for it....and also for other vegetables actually. well, he always excited for eating! eat...eat...and eat.

Video



His menu and other data
click the image for zoom

It's a relocation situation

The day has finally come and tomorrrow we are moving. We are so excited, we cannot contain ourselves. Even packing was fun. We're moving to the Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas and will be surrounded by artists, musicians, vagrants, gritty urban scenes and overall delicious beauty. Stay tuned for info on the grand opening bash.

Our color scheme is a combination of charcoal gray and white with accents of gold and chrome.

Here's a sneak preview of some of the things we've ordered for our fabulous new office:

Floor lamps from Arteriors, flanking a console similar to this from Christopher Guy, in white lacquer (our favorite!):

Print This Product View">

We're thinking of hanging this mirror, from Z Gallerie, over the console:

Our fabulous receptionist/intern will be sitting in this white leather chair from West Elm:

We're using these beautiful storage boxes, in charcoal, also from West Elm:

We have 2 chandeliers hanging over our conference table, from Cyan Design. They kinda look like this:

Check our their website, they have FABULOUS stuff.

The ladies from LMS are hooking us up with a conference table top in Zebra wood, like this. We love them!!!

We found some a-mazing chrome based conference chairs on Craig's list that we're having recovered.

We also found a funky 70's style banquet bar. We're having it reupholstered in shiny gold faux-leather, smoke gray rhinestone nailheads and antique mirror on top. Sick.

Here are the barstools from CB2 :

These are our desk chairs from Zuo:

That's all I'm gonna show you for now. We'll be back with more pics, tidbits and anecdotes from our new home DOWNTOWN lil mama's!!!!!

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Sanity Fair

Today's installment of the ongoing Shop Like a Design Blogger series is courtesy of Skyla from Sanity Fair. Skyla's blog was one of the first blogs I started reading and it has remained a favorite. Not only does Skyla have incredible style, but she's also a wonderful writer with a wicked sense of humor and a definite Southern sensibility. I thoroughly enjoy her educated, witty take on fashion, interiors and design.

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There are so many great stores to choose from (and so many that have already been ably covered here) that I've narrowed the list by choosing a theme: the unexpected. The stores I find myself frequenting are the ones that practice the old partial reinforcement technique we all learned about in high school psychology: they've surprised me once or twice, and I'm back looking for more. Since we're talking about shopping and not decorating, my list of favorites won't worry over pesky details like representing a variety of items or what sources are best for certain styles. Instead, this is a treasure map in the form of a list: follow the path to each place and you're sure to find something special.

VIVRE. If I were going to break into a warehouse (notice to the FBI and your humorless redactions: this is hypothetical) it would be the Vivre storehouses, which I imagine are rather something like the underground chamber in the movie National Treasure. After slipping past the wobbly bridge and flaming torches (which have been somehow magically burning for 100 years, just like in the movies), we'd find vast piles of Christofle sterling, Lalique vases, Hermes pillows, and Mesi Jilly jewelry. Or, you can just pony up with your American Express at Vivre.com and get the same goodies right now, sans sand and booby traps.

FAVORITES include this Marie Christophe chair, originally designed for Roger Vivier's show windows to display a new bag for Carla Bruni (how's that for pedigree?), loads of coral jewelry, and gold zebra bowls by Waylande Gregory Studios. And if you can't quite spring for Vivre prices? Go ahead and dream - the unexpected is inspiring.

ANTHROPOLOGIE. Anthropologie is the "all things to all people" of interior design, embracing everything from mid-century modern to eighteenth century French in one gasp. Quirky and unique, their stores are staged in venues that show off the wares in unexpected ways: beds with canopies of newspaper, knobs resting on piles of pebbles, necklaces held to cardboard displays with stick pins. They've endeared themselves to countless customers who rely on their unreliable style, and guaranteed that, whatever your taste, you'll find something to love.

FAVORITES are the hardware and kitchen items, which bring the element of the unexpected into mundane daily chores. Open your bathroom cabinets by pulling on a bronze hermit crab knob, or measure sugar for the morning cup of joe with seashells.

IOMOI. If a pattern maker and a monogram machine got married, they'd have Iomoi. Everything in the store is just waiting for a personal touch - monogrammed bags, match boxes, trays, stationary, and plates - and the patterns are as unique as your initials. Camels, monkeys, elephants, pagodas, tassels, and airplanes rendered in brilliant colors and smart styles cover every surface. The trouble with this store is decision-making; I'm almost paralyzed by the wonderful choices.

FAVORITES include home entertaining items like lucite-rimmed trays, matchboxes, and ice buckets. Your guests will never have seen anything like them!

WEST ELM. I've always loved West Elm, although to my surprise, when I looked about for my WE acquisitions, it was hard to tell. This store slipped onto the "unique" list because my favorite West Elm features are the soothing, neutral palette and trim graphic patterns - just what you need to showcase special finds. Their furniture is well-made, and lighter of heart (and weight) than most stores in the same price range; they avoid the mis-measurement issues of home stores such as Pottery Barn. With it's whale-size sofas and court-side coffee tables, PB seems to be laboring under the impression that it is decorating an actual barn.

FAVORITES on my list include the overlapping squares pattern (available in chairs, headboards, and daybeds), and the lacquer parsons pieces, which look smashing with a variety of decor styles.

TARGET. Target's offerings are as many-layered as the rings in its ubiquitous bullseye: where else are classic British prints (Liberty of London), lime-green mixers (KitchenAid), and bamboo handled brushes (Sonia Kashuk) going to co-exist under one roof? And all for a low, low price? Target's designer collaborations are proof that the only thing standing between a little money and a lot of taste is a touch of creativity.

FAVORITES: my Target acquisitions are generally of the unplanned, guilt-free variety. While you may not be passing your purchases on to the next generation (although, I would argue a few designer collaborations are so worthy), this is the place to shop for seasonal decor, such as beach and holidays, or accent pieces like trays, vases, and tableware. My motto for visiting Target is the same for visiting the pool: always do a lap. You never know what you'll find on the next aisle!

(KitchenAid mixer, Thomas O'Brien tray, Miss Trish of Capri sandals, Dwell Studio bedding, Liberty of London plate, Sonia Kashuk brush.)

I hope you found some new treasure here to inspire you - or were reminded of some special possession that brightens up your home. A big thank you to Averill for letting me participate in this very special series! It's a delight and an honor to be on Odi et Amo.

xoxo, Sanity Fair

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Laura from JourneyChic.