This Ain't Devine Design

I used to like HGTV until all the shows turned to house hunting newbies who won't buy a $600,000 house because it doesn't have stainless steel appliances. But I still love Candice Olson's Devine Design. I love everything she does but, let's face it, she makes it look too easy. She just opens drawers and pulls out all the perfect finishes and fabric to make the perfect room. I wish it were that easy. Every choice seems so difficult.

I ended up deciding to go with the muslin and black velvet curves for the roman blinds because it think it will be a perfect counterbalance to the art wall I want to put on the other side of the room. When my friends came over to help me put down the rug, I was saying I thought the fabric looked like an abstracted or minimal zebra print. And one of my friend pointed out the hobnail table legs look like an impala's antlers.

Holy Cow, he's right! And now, with the mountain grass rug in place, I've got a total "Out of Africa" theme going on. So I headed to the fabric store with the idea that I'd try bringing in an accent color to soften the look.

I thought this mossy green color would be a nice accent to all the neutrals so I picked up a sample of this fabric to try out.

I think it would be nice to lighten up the dark gray sofa with some pillows. This is a grain sack and another mossy green basketweave pattern. I don't know that I love the print but maybe used as a welting cord on a pillow would be nice.

And then just for fun, I decided to play with the "Out of Africa" look and I brought in this old chippy black chair I bought in Vermont for $5 several years ago, an old kuba cloth I remembered I had in the basement, a grain sack (on the chair) and an ornate gold frame that adds a little shine. I don't know...but I don't hate it. It's definitely masculine.

Here's a shot of the new rug, the new fabrics and a few grain sacks I had purchased a while back (from Wendy Lewis of the Textile Trunk, a/k/a "Loodylady" on ebay) and never used for anything. I kind of like the combination of colors, patterns and textures. And I'm viewing grain sacks in a totally different way all of a sudden.

Here's Zazu checking out all the new stuff. She's wondering, "What are you doing now?"

So here are the fabrics again on the chair next the Impala table, my antique Thai wagon wheel and a vase that suddenly looking like ostrich skin.

I'll live with these for a little while and see what speaks to me.

Candice Olson, call me!