I hope you’ll join me on my never-ending search for beautiful pieces, with history, for your home. Find my curated treasures, in Booth #154, at the Antique Trove, in Roseville, CA. ~ Barbara
Well, as promised, I added cabinet hardware to what was, the kids’ “Jack and Jill” bathroom, this week. Before… After… I’ve mixed a round white porcelain knob with silver polka dots, on the doors, with brushed nickel pulls for the drawers. Installing cabinet hardware is one way to add some instant pizazz to any room. During the process of installing the pulls, I’ve confirmed that I have no interest in becoming a handyman. With that said, there are a few tools you’ll need to avoid making a huge mess of your cabinets. Trust me. Besides needing the obvious drill and…
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We’ve lived in our home for nine years now and I’m slowly adding cabinet hardware, to the many unadorned cabinets doors and drawers. I’m sure the previous owners built the house that way, in an effort to save money. But, pulls and knobs are beautiful as well as functional. They’re sort of like wearing the right earrings to compliment the perfect outfit. It’s just a shame to go without! Today, there are more hardware choices than ever before. And since most bathrooms don’t have a ton of cabinets, it’s easier to afford spending a bit more, to achieve a more…
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Just like millions of us, I love New York City! You can find anything “under the sun” there and the people you meet along the way are half the fun! Thanks to our daughter, who’s been accepted to West Point, about an hour from the city, I plan to visit even more often! I head to NYC Thursday morning, brighter and earlier than I care to think about right now. On one of our recent visits, we visited a small flea market in Brooklyn, located in a neighborhood school yard. While the sale merchandise was a bit “iffy”, the food…
Read the rest >>It’s official! My blog has a new identity! After weeks spent working-out with the personal trainer (AKA blog designer), and cosmetic surgeon, (AKA blog designer), Transitions Home Design is in recovery after completing a major face lift. The transformation was inspired by all of you talented, fresh faces in the blogesphere. If you’re a blogger, you know what a personal connection there is between you and your blog. For some time now, I’ve felt that the name “Transitions Home Design” sounded like a half-way house for frustrated interior designers, driven to drink. So instead of reciting the 12-steps, I gave…
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Well, Sunday morning, bright and early, a neighbor and I made the trek to the monthly flea market, under the freeway, downtown. I squinted just a little, to try and invasion myself in Paris, on an old cobblestone street, shopping the wares, at one of their neighborhood markets. Somehow, I just couldn’t pull it off, although I did have a wonderful time! There’s a real mix of inventory, from the new to the old and everything from fishing rods to musical instruments and old typewriters. I made two great purchases. First, I bought two “frogs”. Not the kind you find…
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Well, I did it! I chose new upholstery fabric, for the chair I just sanded and stained. While I was considering a more traditional fabric… I decided to take a more “daring” approach, with an ultra-suede animal print, what many people call a new “neutral”. Now, I’ve heard that every room should have one surprise, so hopefully this will be a good surprise! There was a lot to consider, while walking the aisles at Sal Beressi Fabrics Co., on Bryant Street, in San Francisco. The family room, where the chair is destined, is filled with natural fibers, corduroy, leather, wood,…
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There’s a brand new shop in midtown, packed with vintage collectables, called Scout Living! Scout Living’s eclectic inventory is a wonderful compilation of mid-century artifacts, stocked by ten local collectors. Erin and her husband are the store’s proprietors. They’re a sweet couple and their excitement about this new adventure is infectious. I saw several pieces I could have loaded into the back of the SUV, right then and there, including this Dorothy Draper reproduction chest of drawers. The zebra, right in front of it, would have been mine fore sure, had someone else not beaten me to the punch! This…
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One of my all time favorite home furnishing collections can be found at ABC Home and Carpet in Manhattan. Well, the husband and wife owners of ABC divorced, so the husband went to California and opened a 100,000 sf store in L.A. Six months ago, the San Francisco store opened and I finally had a chance to take a look last weekend. There’s a good mix of contemporary furnishings, with everything from natural organic fabrics to the more glamorous end of contemporary. This metallic silver nightstand is 32″ wide and runs approximately $1200. I absolutely love it!! It’s much more…
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I purchased this chair 5 or 6 years ago, with intentions to stain and reupholstering it soon. Now, I’m finally getting to the project. Now, I was using an old block sander, when my husband gave me a piece of sponge backed with sandpaper. What a difference it makes when you’re using the right tools! Once sanded, I was able to put on 3 coats of stain, taking the chair from oak to dark walnut. Now, I’m think about this fabric, but wonder if I should go with something less traditional. The colors will go well with our family room…
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Want a new look, without breaking the bank this summer? Decorative throw pillows are one of the world’s greatest accessories, that can add new life to a sitting area or bedroom. Dwell Studio has a great selection of pillows to check out at a very reasonable price point, in the $50’s and $60’s. The color combinations just say summer to me! I can see them in our kitchen window seat. Hmmm… If you’d like to open the door each day, to a home you love, call me! 916/203-3060
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