wallpaper removal

This dining room by Martyn Lawrence Bullard incorporates many of my favorite dining room elements such as -

*Chinoiserie wallpaper
*pagoda chandelier
*bare dark hardwood floors
*silk curtains
*leather dining chair seats

I have all of these in my dining room except for the leather seating that is on my eventual to do list. Right now I am enjoying the Cowtan and Tout Malabar fabric on my chairs - a velvet epingle animal print I got from a Mary McDonald One Kings Lane sale.

House Beautiful describes the room as "formal, with a glamorous, young point of view," designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard says. He designed the silver-leafed chairs, covered in leather in Frost by Garrett Leather. The ball-and-claw-foot table is also his design. "We're so used to seeing things that are streamlined and made for pure ease of use these days, it's nice to add some whimsy into a room." One more such touch: the chandelier, based on one he saw in George IV's exotic Regency pleasure palace, Brighton's Royal Pavilion. Hand-painted silk wallpaper from Stark.

I have been wanting leather dining room seats ever since seeing this gorgeous dining room by Grant K. Gibson. The idea of green leather sounds wonderful.

Draza Stamenich

Loren Audrey Taylor

 I won the ottoman above at a local auction house for $50.00. It is Ralph Lauren Home and has the original tags still on it ($1,100.00) from a very spiffy store in Alexandria. The colors are perfect for my blue and white room. I also love combining checks and Chinoiserie.


I decided I wanted a really great laundry hamper. I have never been a fan of those covered ones for wet towels and such. I got this commercial style divided hamper from Crate and Barrel and I couldn't be happier. It is from Steele - an American company that has made commercial grade canvas products since 1921.


I bought three of these rugs from Ikea to make a runner. Once I got them home, I decided I have really grown attached to the black and white tile floor all by itself. These are going back.


I found this brand new Smith & Noble dupioni silk roman shade in my exact dimensions on eBay for next to nothing - $40.00 and it would have retailed for about $400.00. The customer changed their mind or something. It is a top down/bottom up shade which is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I figured my curtain hanger would make it work as a regular roman shade, but he has cancelled on me three times and I have given up on the idiot. I will try installing it myself. Help! I hate DIY!

*UPDATE - I decided to just go hang the thing myself and voila! Time to celebrate my great DIY achievement with a glass of bubbly.


This laundry room below was my inspiration for the table and seating I wanted for my own laundry room.



I bought this Ava X desk in antique white from Pottery Barn to use as a multi-purpose work surface.  It was super easy to assemble and looks great. I think the glass top will be very functional for all I plan to use it for.


I didn't want the seating to look like a desk chair and I wanted something edgy and kind of industrial. I found these stools at Rejuvenation and they are perfect. They are based on 1930's French industrial stools.

This coming week I will be accessorizing with lots of blue and white and Chinoiserie including goodies from my sponsors and friends of CC.

Christopher Leach

Temperatures have really cooled off here in DC and my thoughts have turned to my fall wardrobe and toasty fires in the fireplace. I love the mantel display in the London flat of Christopher Leach with its collection of mini foo dogs. Speaking of Brits, will I be seeing any of you at the Hugh Laurie (House) concert tomorrow night at the Birchmere?


The mantel/fireplace is such a perfect place for displaying Chinoiserie - blue and white Chinese porcelain, foo dogs, a Chinese garden stool, a Chinoiserie mirror - I have a Pinterest board with lots of inspiration here.

John Stefanidis

Claydon House

Rosaline - This is Glamorous

Jane Lilly Warren

Antique Gold Faux Bamboo Chandelier - I love its elegance and simplicity

 Many of you have asked about sources for pagoda lighting. Charlotte and Ivy has very sophisticated choices that are well priced and include free shipping. Here are some favorites of mine. There are ideas here for any room of the house including the entryway, hallway, dining room, breakfast room, and kitchen. I love the idea of a pair of pagoda lanterns over a dining table or kitchen island. A pair is a very modern look. The lamps are wonderful choices for the bedroom, living room, or office.

Pagoda Lantern in Duck Egg Blue - the twisted iron is a great twist on the pagoda and the color is lovely

Mirrored Pagoda Lamp - very Mary McDonald/Hollywood Regency and a fantastic price

Grace Gold Pagoda Pendant Chandelier - a gold pagoda wraps around a white linen shade

Grace Gold Pagoda Large Barrel Chandelier - a white linen barrel shade is enclosed by a gold pagoda

Refined Pagoda Lamp  - I have this glamorous lamp and I adore it - available in many colors including green, hot pink, navy, turquoise - this is a must have!

My pagoda chandelier went up in my dining room this past week and it is gorgeous! I'm just waiting on one little addition before I show it to you, hopefully this coming week. You can read more about the chandelier here and here. It's really a great story. I love pagoda chandeliers in dining rooms - here are some wonderful examples. I can't wait for you to see mine.

Lisa Sherry Interiors

It's not too often that I see a kitchen that wows me like this. This is a very chic kitchen with incredible mirrored mosaic backsplash and modern white cabinetry. The white cabinets pair with sleek brass hardware and marble countertops. A pair of brass table lamps with black shades flank the stove top. The kitchen island features an undermount sink with modern polished nickel spray faucet. The cabinet doors on the underside of the island feature black and gold molding detail. Three chartreuse saddle stool barstools line the kitchen island. A fabulous pink palm frond chandelier hangs over the space.

I love a white kitchen with glamour and color. If you, like me, love Hollywood Regency, Chinoiserie Chic, and Palm Beach Chic, this may give you some great ideas. I made over my kitchen for my first One Room Challenge. You can see the reveal here or the whole process here.

People love "interior designer secrets" like hanging a mirror 7" above the mantel or hanging the chandelier 30" above the dining table. My number 1 tip would be to invest in original art for your walls. In so many beautiful homes I see, the entire level is brought down by ill chosen reproduction art. Wonderful original pieces of art can be found at local auction houses. There are many amazing emerging artists on Etsy. I love the giclees of artists like Harrison Howard and The Pink Pagoda.

The work of Kerry Steele is among my very favorite. I have posted before about how her stunning abstracts pieces go beautifully with Chinoiserie and with any style, including traditional, bringing a sophisticated and elegant modern element into a room.

Original art is more of an initial investment, but if you buy what you love, you will have pieces that will always bring you joy and that will be of real value. Works of art are more than decoration for your home. Some experts say that art is second only to real estate as the best place to put your money.

Some galleries and artists have started special purchase plans, and I am happy to announce that Kerry Steele has begun a Patron Installment Program. For art over $300, you can have the piece removed from inventory and held for you while you gather the necessary funds and make payments on it. Once the painting is paid in full, the piece is shipped to you. Commissioned work is included in this program. There are no fees or interest added. This is a courtesy to customers to make investing in these major pieces easier. You can read all the details here.

Visit kerrysteele.com to view her portfolio, to inquire about commissioning a piece of art, and to learn more about this exciting and innovative new Patron Installment Program.