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
We returned to one of my many favorite neighborhoods in New York today, Gramercy Park, which is located around 20th Street and 5th Avenue. There seems to be an abundance of interior design related businesses in the area, from plumbing and lighting, to gorgeous tile and home furnishings. I stumbled on to a wonderful store, Lillian August, that is probably going to become my new fave, replacing, or in addition to, ABC Carpet and Home, when visiting New York, but more on that later. We’ve enjoyed lots of wonderful restaurants, this trip, but so far, our “top pick” is Gramercy…
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The great thing about being in New York, is just being here. Does that make sense? Hope so! This morning, bright and early, we headed over to the Rockefeller Center, to watch the Dr. Oz show. We’re not talking major “star power” here, but he’s warm and engaged in the audience and just watching the production process is fun! After a deli lunch looking out at the skating rink, we went “Thrifting”. As you can imagine, Mr. Wonderful was super-excited! I told him he was my subway director and body guard! He wore my backpack on the subway, and said…
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Even though I’ve been to NYC a half dozen times in recent years, I had never been to the beautiful Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the largest art museum in the western hemisphere, this is a place that requires some time in your day, but it’s well worth it! Where else in the world can you see such amazing talent, history and beauty, in one place? Not to trivialize the art itself, the frames are works of art, by themselves! I found “The Master Painters of India” very impressive. Their art was created for religious manuscripts, not to adorn walls…
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I hope you enjoy architectural history as much as I do, because today we’re taking a quick peek at Union Station, in Washington D.C. This morning, we took the train from D.C. To NYC, which by the way, is a great travel option. I had never been to Union Station, and was in awe of the place! This is a true national treasure, that is owned/managed by Amtrak. I figure that Amtrak could get on budget if they sold this amazing piece of property. The station was built in 1908 and was refurbished in the eighties. Isn’t it stunning? How…
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Hello friends! Bob, Mr. Wonderful and I “won” a 2-night stay in Washington D.C., at a recent fundraiser and enjoyed lunch with our Congressman, Dan Lungren, in the Member’s dining room today. Lunch was followed by a stellar tour of the Capitol and Congressional Library. In fact, we were able to climb the steps within the congressional library’s rotunda and step outside to enjoy some once-in-a-lifetime views of the town. I think our forefathers did a pretty amazing job of selecting timeless finishes, and commissioned talented artists, to withstand the last 200 years and still look fabulously grand! We had…
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If life gave me a do-over, I’d gather my courage and build a home with a great big, great room! Beamed ceilings, soaring steel windows, with doors that open wide, to a beautifully designed outdoor room and lush greenery, everywhere. But since most of our homes have both living rooms and family rooms, I thought I’d pull together some of the favorites I’ve collected over the last year. As you’ll see, several of these lovelies belong to you talented bloggers! Forgive me if I miss giving credit to anyone. In many cases, I know your homes as well as I…
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The San Francisco Design Center offers all sorts of lectures on every topic you can imagine, regarding design. I’m a member, but membership isn’t required to attend their events. If you’re an antique lover, you might want to check out this presentation, or the San Francisco Antique Show itself, starting Wednesday, October 26th and running through the weekend. The Curated Home: Designing Today with Art & Antiques San Francisco Fall Antiques Show SFDC members $10, Non-members $15 Interior Designers and Authors Thomas Jayne, David Kleinberg, and Suzanne Lovell Moderated by Suzanne Tucker Saturday, October 29th 2:30 PM Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason In honor…
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There are all sorts of fun goodies, for the home, in stock at Marshall’s, right now. If you’re looking to spruce up your accessories “on the cheap” or ready to add more bling to your holiday decor, waste no time! Here’s what caught my eye… These orange nightstands could be really wonderful and I’d pair them up with turquoise and white bedding. Add two good sized ceramic lamps in white and you’re good to go. If these fabulous crystal lamps didn’t have the black shades, I’d say pick them, to go with the orange nightstands…but we all know orange and…
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I’m a big fan of using silver flat wear for “every day”. We use Grand Baroque sterling, my mother got me started on and a set of silver plate, purchased at an estate sale, years ago. I never tire of it like I did with stainless sets, I used to buy every few years. It makes me happy to use pretty things like this every day and requires little maintenance. As I prepare to build an inventory for my shop at Veranda Antiques, I’ve decided to sell silver plate flat wear by the piece. It’s popular to mix flat wear…
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Yep, I woke up with the roosters today and what do you know, BAM! I’m 57 years old! Mr. Wonderful greeted me with flowers, a gooey sticky bun… …and along with my cards (one from the dog!) and flowers, was a wrapped…drum roll please… Makita drill! Sort of like getting the housewife a new vacuum! Sorry, honey! I know you hate shopping for gifts, but please, no more power tools, ok? Yes, I did mention getting my own drill, so thanks, sweetie! More big news, I sold my very first piece of furniture! Ta-Da! How fun is that!? Lunch with…
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