Getting into the spirit

There is nothing like a Christmas tree to put me in a festive mood.  Ignoring the fact that I have killed a tree for my own decorating delight, I can't be in its presence without having the lights on.  It makes me happy.


That type of homey-ness only highlights the missing elements of our new place.  As a designer, you have deadlines set to make sure you get your client's projects together.  When it comes to your own abode, the list only grows and the deadlines are elastic.  


Here are some of the things I've been thinking about to finish my digs.
This light in the small vestibule:

Somehow mimicking this Moroccan shape in Isabel's room.  Maybe fabric pelmets or valances in the shape of the lattice ones here?:

I like this too:

The kids bath has a vibe like this (image below) due to a 40s or 50s poster print with odd animals we hung up.  I purchased some matte black brackets from the hardware store to use as a base for a driftwood shelf.  Will I ever find the piece of wood?  How about the hooks for the towels? Sometime before they've moved out, perhaps.  Like I said, elastic deadlines.

I'm having entry envy.  While there is a tiny vestibule, it's not large enough to turn around or take a shoe off, so really it's a pass through.  We painted it a beautiful Farrow & Ball blue and it needs a new light fixture.  What I crave is a bench or console.  A place where eyes can rest upon entering.  A place to put keys and take shoes off.  On the hunt.

This is the one I am thinking of from the Paris Apartment.  It's so girly and not me at all.  I think it will be a great juxtaposition.

Rugs est arrivee!

So pleased that our Moroccan carpets arrived today!  This evening's challenge: where do they go?
Or as the man at the souk says:  वेयर ओदो यू प्लेस थेम?

At entry or..

...In downstairs hall to the kitchen?

This one looks perfect with my orange leather Moroccan poufs.  

I'm thinkin' too perfect.

Though, this one is no better in the den.  May move it upstairs somewhere.

This one is just a jumbled mess at the moment.  Something I've never learned, and likely never will: 

A two person job is a two person job.  

On another note, Christmas tree is up (sans 1 missing string of lights).  The tree has been placed in the center stair so you can see it as you look down from the top floor.  LOVE.

And an entirely different key.  Roast chicken for dinner तोनिघ्त (एंड नो - आईटी'स नोट तागिने):

Sadly, it's not Tagine chicken in honor of my Moroccan friends.

slowly but slowly

The house is coming together.

Thanks to Kevin with spot on suggestions for placement, I've had Joakim, the ever steady art hanger, over to put up some art (and one heavy a** mirror) on the walls.  It's starting to feel like home around here.

seasonal affective disorder ?

Winter is here (unofficially).  It is dark too early and I miss the light.
Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming of summer and wish my feet were dangling in the water.

But we have not even reached the winter solstice.  Ah, the shortest day of the year.  Gets better after that. If only it weren't for January, February and March.  sigh.  Time to look forward to winter activities.  An upcoming Christmas-New Years snowboard trip to Sun Valley, Idaho has been shaken those S.A.D. blues pretty much out of my head.  These incredible images of a house in the Pyrenees floor me:

Stunning.  

And the black.  Oh, I'm all over that.