Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Color Me Mine

Alrighty....today? Today is about color. Specifically, wall color. Once upon a time I was a wannabe Shabby Chic devotee. The mostly white palette tinged with the occasional pastel pink or green is gorgeous. Gorgeous! I still love to peruse  the books. I have the whole collection. But, it's simply not livable or practical...for me. Might be the idea of perfection to you and to that I say with gusto, go for it! Me? Not so much. For little old me, color equals life. Vibrant life.
At the moment my house is fairly recently painted. I say "at the moment" because I'm known for repainting every few years. At least. Call me kooks, but I actually enjoy it.  This current color collection I am enamored with. These are keepers.
The living room was once color-washed green, a custom specialty finish by the famous designer Elizabeth West Thompson. Ever hear of her? Anyway, it began to bore me, but I had a hard time being decisive about the next paint choice. I hemmed and hawed over reds and golds, different tones of green, before ultimately choosing a shade called Ornate Gold by Olympic Paint. A saturated, golden blend of spaghetti squash and mustard that was perfectly yummy with the rich wood tones in the room. (And yes, for me, everything is related to food.)
Before:
After:




It's a similar story with the formally pale, but sunshiny yellow dining room, that brazenly became a bright, orangey coral named "Rejuvenate" by Sherwin Williams. It certainly has lived up to it's name. 
(side note: I love Sherwin Williams and will only use their paint now, but that's another post.)




I don't know who "they" are, but when putting color into room "they" say blue evokes comfort. Green is calming. Yellow, cheerful. Red, energizing, etc. This may very well be true. Technically. But, I don't believe in or follow color rules...or many rules for that matter. I do what feels right for me. Let's say a hot raspberry pink room is the epitome of rest and relaxation to you. Then do it! Paint that bedroom raspberry.
The color spectrum is endless. Grab some paint swatches and just play. And here's the kicker: it's cheap and easy! If you don't find it easy, I know a little blogger who does.
Today's lesson? Don't be a nervous nelly. Be brave. It's just paint. Life is short.
Paint it.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Tips-y Tuesday!

Today is the launch of Chandelierious's Tips-y Tuesday.  No, that doesn't mean I'm writing with Chardonnay next to the Mac...(though, I can't promise that might not happen someday.) It's one little tip, deemed worthy, by yours truly. My 2 cents. Take it or leave it.
Today's "hot tip"? Sample Saturdays at Wegmans Food Market.


 Simply, go.  Skip making lunch and mosey on over some Saturday after 11:00. The last time I was there I feasted on decent portions of turkey sausage, buffalo wing pizza, sauteed green beans and a strawberry smoothie. Nice....I left full and quite delighted!
If you're reading this and don't have access to a Wegmans nearby, I have only one thing to say:
I'm very sorry for your loss.
www.Wegmans.com

Monday, October 4, 2010

Chandelierious? Oh Yes...Chandelierious.

So...Chandelierious. Let's get down to it, shall we? I love chandeliers. Truly. I heart them. Hence, the name of this blog. Be it big and grand, petite, antique, crystal, vintage tole, reproduction, you name it...I love it. They are fabulous. In fact, they are chandelierious...and appropriate in any room. The natural placement choices are of course the dining room and hallway, but they are a perfectly surprising addition to the kitchen (kitschy), powder room (glam), nursery (charming) or master bedroom (romantic). Break the mold and stick one in your home office or closet.
Heck, in Elizabethville it would be decreed that every room in every home be required to have a drippy, crystal chandelier hanging smack dab in the center of the ceiling.
My home has 8. Yup. 8.
Proof:


And guess what? I wish I had room for more!
At the moment, I am loving the chic simplicity of the black crystal chandelier.
Stunning for a hallway, powder room, walk in closet or teen's room. Oooo, think over the bath tub. Decadence. This one, I found here: http://tinyurl.com/27nqnez


I'm also find the "tuxedo" trend quite beautiful. 
This one, from overstock.com http://tinyurl.com/2fj7pcy, would be at home in a dining room. Classic and traditional or whimsical.
My dining room, you'll see someday, is more whimsy than classic, and this would be very, very happy there indeed.
Your home needn't be be formal or fussy to make this type of fixture work. In fact, they are the perfect mate to modern style. There is something utterly gorgeous about a classic crystal chandelier in a modern, minimalist palette. They play off each other. The yin to the other's yang.
This room? A clean, clear, drippy light fixture would be just delicious. Picture it.




By the way, none of the fixtures in my home cost more than $50.00, old or new. Go hunting. Check the flea market, antique and thrift shops, online stores, and home stores. They're out there waiting. Just one easy, affordable way to make your room shine. Literally. Chandelieriously.
ps. today's coffee mug. Cheers!








Sunday, October 3, 2010

La Vita e Bella

Life is beautiful. It is. It should be. It can be.
No reason not to be surrounded by loveliness all day long, everyday, and twice on Sundays.
About me: Like many, I'm a lover of music, theater, art, good food and wine, my friends and family....
I also love to tweak and putter, create beauty and play house. I dabble in many things. I love to dabble. I'm a dabbler....and a work in progress. I'm taking a little jaunt here and trying something new. A blog. Who know's who will give it a look? But, hopefully, maybe a few...
The point of this little blog? To share. Share tips, projects, pictures, stories, ideas, maybe even a recipe or two...anything I believe is worth sharing. I'm simply hoping you might enjoy seeing me tweak and putter a little bit here. And perhaps...
might even like me to tweak and putter and create beauty here and there for you.
So, here I go...adventure time. Let's see what happens, shall we?