Eddie & Jaithan are coming to town!!

I KNOW everyone knows that Eddie Ross & Jaithan Kochar are touring around the US taking people on flea market tours, but I just wanted to remind any DC-area readers that they're coming here in September & to sign up fast before all the spots are taken!!

WASHINGTON, D.C.Big D.C. Flea

Saturday, September 19 — 11:00 am (I'm going to this one)

Sunday, September 20 — 11:00 am

Check out more details & also dates for other cities here.

We met Eddie & Jaithan last fall at their very first flea market tour in NY. There were only 7 of us & it was just so much fun!! Check out Eddie's post on the trip here. I had literally started blogging the month before & Eddie & Jaithan were so great at encouraging & inspiring me to stick with it. (That's at the point where pretty much only my grandmother & mother-in-law were reading it. haha) My take on the trip is here (found some AWESOME (cheap!!) things.)

We all had such a great time that we got together again in the city just before they moved to the country. I was so excited to see them again, and-not gonna lie- their apartment in person!! It really was amazing to see what they did with such limited space. The ceilings were high and they used the most gorgeous gray- Brompton Gray by RL- on the walls. Mirrors & tons of white made the place sparkle like a little jewel box. I really loved it. They made us this awesome antipasto (which is actually my FAVORITE) with prosecco & pomegranite juice- yum!! and then we went out to this great little local restaurant where they were so sweet & served amazing food.

Eddie & I are both pretty high-energy and Jaithan & Dave are both really laid-back so Dave was laughing later on about how Eddie & I were just going nutty switching from subject to subject... It does get a bit ADD when you have so much to talk about with other design-lovers. haha (same with meeting Camila!) Also, before I'd met them, I had no idea how much Jaithan knew about design. He went to school for itand has an amazing eye and his knowledge (like Eddie's) is insane. It's no wonder they've taken off!!! They're both so sweet- when we were considering buying the farm house, Jaithan gave me the lowdown on living in a farmhouse, they've been so great about encouraging me to get my work out there & helping along the way, and they've been great friends to just get excited with. Hahaha ok, before this sounds stalkerish, I'll go.

When we went to their place last time, I was just getting into blogging & forgot to take any pics, but I definitely will in September when they come to stay with us for a night at our new place!!! (Really gotta get my house, above, in shape before September ahh!!! haha ;) We can't wait, as they really are so much fun to hang with. It should be a busy fun-filled weekend!!! I'm planning on going to the Saturday flea market tour so sign up!!! If you're going to be there, send me an email!!! :)

xoxo,

lauren

My Favorites: Linen Florals & Toiles

I'm looking for the perfect fabric for a pair of chairs in my living room. I'm leaning towards a linen or linen-look fabric with a pattern. I want it to have a hint of old-fashioned in it... something that reminds me of my Grandma Maestranzi's antique flowery china. I plan to put it on clean-lined upholstered pieces for a fun mix of modern & vintage. I also might use one of these fabrics on the reverse since they're linen and can be just as beautiful when they're all muted & washed-looking...

***Unfortunately I haven't figured out MOST of the manufacturers for these fabrics but found most of them through Greenhouse Fabrics and P. Tree Textiles when I was browsing around for ideas. (SO if anyone knows any that I don't name, please let me know!! :) Most of these fabrics are fabrics I love but the ones with ***s above them are ones I'm considering.

The first batch of fabrics is green. Now, many of you know me by now... And you know how much i LOVE neutrals and being able to switch up my throw pillows & accessories. So the green sort of nixes that... BUT maybe when it became time for a change, I could slipcover the chairs and then have the option for green or neutral??? Anyway, since I was little, I always thought about that drapery fabric from the Sound of Music that Maria uses to make the kids' clothes out of. (below) I even found a dress in college (still have it, but preggers belly is keeping me out of it this year!! ha) that reminded me so much of it that I had to have it. I love that fabric. Remember it?? ps- green is my FAVORITE color ;)

Anyway, I'm not in the mood for a damask but some of these fabrics (below) remind me of it AND my Grandma's china.

This next one gets **** It's Braemore's "Chiara" in pistachio linen:

*** Definitely need to order a sample as this is the same fabric: ( i love both though)

Braemore also makes this cute cane fabric that I thought I'd share. I'm not into that much matching but it is really great:

***Another of my favorites, This one of by Richloom, "Confection" in umber, again linen:

*** oooohh love this one too!! Don't know the manufacturer (anyone please??!!) I actually love this in all it's colorways so I'll call it "PRETTY FERNY FABRIC" I found it at Greenhouse Fabrics and they call it '"moss"

Another Greenhouse fabric: i'm a paisley-lover too

Mirage in kiwi found at P. Tree Textiles:

Greenhouse floral:

"Jungle Vine" in green by Waverly:"Picture Perfect Petal" found at P.Tree Textiles:Black & white Greenhouse floral:

*** I have to say I really love this fabric in black too. Again, if anyone knows the name of it, please email me!!! :) ...

*** LOVE this... Although I have to say this isn't a flattering picture. ;) ;) But really, the repeat is huge in person and this was the fabric I love on the reverse too. It's Richloom's "Confection" in charcoal. Currently this is at the top or close to it. Would use it on the reverse for sure...

**** Another Greenhouse mystery. They call this one "spa" and it does actually have a very pale aqua background.... I'd rather it in more of a gray as it's showing up on my computer. SO mabe it comes in other colorways?? Does anyone know who makes this?? It's a linen..

Greenhouse, but I think the name might be "sunroom" because I found a yellow version from P. Tree Textiles:

Greenhouse: (love this one too-- anyone know the manufacturer??)

Oh Greenhouse again! Greenhouse: (shocker!)Here is Chiara by Braemore in robin's egg. Really pretty:Another pic:Another unnamed Greenhouse fabric:

*** love this one.. a Greenhouse mystery, sadly. They call it "porcelain"... anyone??

The pretty ferny fabric again:

*** Here's the yellow version of the one higher up. It's called "sunroom" in camel and I found it at P.Tree Textiles.. anyone know who makes it?

Greenhouse:

Greenhouse:

Ooooo a favorite of mine that I've used a time or 2... I found it at Greenhouse but it's by Richloom and it called "aviary" in surf. This fabric is STUNNING in person. Check out what I did with it here.

So pretty, and now we move into birds... I would love any of these for throw pillows if I did go neutral... (All found at P. Tree Textiles)

ok, so there's my list right now. I add to it all the time. If anyone knows any of these manufacturers, let me know!!! thank you soooo much!!!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- I also have to apologize because I am so insanely behind on emails. If anyone has sent me a question in a comment or email that I didn't answer, please send me an email with it again!! I'm really sorry about this!! thanks!!

Inexpensive Artwork for Childrens' Rooms

Some of the most beautiful art can be found in children's books. And what an inexpensive way to decorate?

Remember the curtains I bought at Ikea this weekend for my little guy's bedroom?? (below) Well, the first thing I thought of when I saw them was My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (above)-- one of my favorite books as a kid. How fun would it be to use the book for art?

And also, how about The Saggy Baggy Elephant by K.B. Jackson with illustrations by Tenggren? (below)I think it would work perfectly.

The colors are vibrant and the story takes place in the jungle, which is exactly what the curtains remind me of.

Christian loves the book and loves naming all the different animals & making animal sounds. I think it would be so fun for them to be blown up & framed as a set of prints on the walls.

The crocodile (below) is one of my favorites. It's the illustration that made me want to start framing this book because it's just so vibrant & pretty.

How cute is Sookie the elephant's belly below??!!

Ok, I know I've shown an insane amount of this book by now, but just one more. (I can't help myself they're too cute!!! :) At this part Christian always points to the elephant in the center and says "baby" and then points to 2 big elephants and says "mommy - daddy."

And another of my favorite books is Murice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. The fabric below comes in a green & aqua colorway and when I saw it I immediately thought of Where the Wild Things Are. (I wish I had an image of the fabric in the right color but hopefully you see the connection anyway.)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. The images are beautiful and the story's great.

When I was little, the library we went to had a big Max doll (wolf suit and everything) that came with the book when you checked it out. He was probably as big as me and it was awesome. Christian has an old furry snow suit that looks like Max's wolf suit and he sometimes puts it on and runs around growling.

The illustrations are softer & I think they almost deserve a room of their own. My original idea was to have Christian's new room be "where the wild things are" with letters spelling "WILD THING" above the bed, but then I found the really cheap Ikea curtains. Maybe Baby 2 will get to be the WILD THING??? (The Napping House is also a contender.)

We'll see... That fabric is much more expensive so... Anyway, there are so many beautiful children's books out there!! It's a really inexpensive way to decorate and kids will love it. (and you will too!!) Can't wait to show you finished pictures. Christian is getting his "big boy bed" soon so it'll be shortly!!! What are some of your favorite illustrated children's books?? Do you have any book artwork on your walls?

xoxo,

lauren