Vivez Bien * Live Well

Friday, July 29, 2011

Strangely beautiful or just strange?

Lately I have come across some images that I find somewhat odd. The kind that you look at and say "seriously?"  I thought, for fun, I would share a few with you.



The first is this living room. I love this room. It has lovely features and beautiful proportions. I love the ottoman, the floors, the mirror and the fireplace. But, I have to ask.... is that the best way to hang the beautiful chandelier?




And then we have this study. I love the rustic trestle table used as a desk, I love the upholstered chair, the lantern and the lamp, but that imposing bison head?!?




Then this kitchen - a beautiful light, spacious and airy room. I love the red Smeg fridge. But .... ( I'll bet you are thinking I'm going to ask about the wisdom of the car on the wall..) I'll admit, it would not be my choice of art, but I can see it's appeal. No, the thing that I find disturbing is the table. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine table, but it seems to be missing a front right leg?!? Isn't that weird? How on earth does it balance?




A lovely pendant lamp or lantern would have been my choice for this pretty room. That upside down boat just gives me that sinking feeling!




I have no words....
(I wouldn't choose this even if I was backed into a corner!)




I have seen this picture a few times and I really do find those chair legs disturbing. Is it just me? I think I would feel like I was sitting down to dinner on my dog!



I would love to hear what you think.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Till next time


Sharon x

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Linen Love

My dear blog friend, Colette, from the beautiful blog La Brocanteuse, had a bad fall recently and broke her leg and her foot. She has to recuperate with her leg elevated for 8 weeks, which must be so frustrating for her! If you follow her blog, you will know that she is the queen of beautiful old French linen. It is not only her business, it is her passion and she is hugely knowledgeable about the subject. In fact the very magazine I referred to in my previous post, the August issue of House and Leisure, includes an interview with Colette on vintage linen! I thought, to cheer her up, I would find some pictures of beautiful linen, some old, some new, but all lovely. Get well soon, Colette!


Via here

Via here


Via here

Via here

Source unknown

Source unknown

Via here

Via pinterest

Via here

Via here

Via tumblr


Via here

Via here

Via here

Via here


Via here


Via here


Via here


Via here


Via here

 
Via here

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Till next time

Sharon x

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Heavenly Home

One of my favourite local magazines, House and Leisure, featured this home in their luxury edition this month. I totally fell in love with this house, and felt compelled to share it with you. I tried to scan the photos in, but for some reason it wouldn't work, so I ended up taking photos of the photos so I apologise for the bad quality. If you can get hold of a copy of the mag, it is really worth it. It is choc full of wonderful inspiration.

I just love this facade with the deeply recessed French doors, the wall and trim colours, the lanterns and the wonderfully long table under the plane trees. It is just pure romance.




This house is based in JHB but many of the fixtures and furnishings were brought over from France. The daybed, light fitting and columns in the picture below came from various places in France.




The house is an original farmhouse and has many of the features of these old houses such as numerous fireplaces and thick walls. The picture below is the house's original serving area. What a wonderful place to serve drinks from.



The kitchen is large and inviting. The copper pots are from Rue Montmarte in Paris. Don't you love the basket full of eggs in the background. That would make one very large omelette!



This French settee is covered in original Aubusson fabric.




These carriage lights are 16th century Venetian and the table is from a French bistro. The beautiful herringbone floors are white oak.





The stone fireplace you can catch a glimpse of to the left was hand carved. The "calissons", a French confection, in the foreground were made by the home owner. Clearly someone with many talents!


The sitting room is so beautiful. The mirror is an antique from the Empire period.


The main bedroom is triple volume with an antique chandelier and silk curtains. I just love the scale of everything in this home.




The main bathroom with matching French porcelain basins. Beautiful!





This pretty Toile de Jouy bedroom belongs to the eldest daughter. The bed and canopy are also French finds.



Truly a beautiful home don't you think? 

All pictures from House and Leisure magazine


Till next time

Sharon x




Monday, July 18, 2011

Guestroom Blues (and Reds)

I am back from my little break, my boys back in school and the pup very settled in his new home. Thank-you so much for all your lovely comments. I can see that you have all been busy with some wonderful posts so I have a lot of catching up to look forward to!

Onto today's post...

 

We did extensive renovations to our home less than 2 years ago and the only rooms that didn't get any updating were the guest bedroom and bathroom, previously the main bedroom and en suite. We had no furniture for the room and no budget left to furnish it. For a while we used it as a dumping room for bits and bobs. Then when a friend was coming to stay, we were forced to buy a bed and make it somewhat livable. I have slowly tried to improve it,  still with almost no budget. Besides the bed, the only new purchases I made for the room were the bedside lamps and a few accessories and bed linen.

My starting points were a collection of blue and white china that had been in the kitchen of my previous house, and a lovely piece of red toile that I got on a fabric sale. I had a picture in my mind of the look I wanted. These are some of my inspiration pics.



I repurposed my changing table from when my twins were babies.  I would love to replace this with a lovely French chest one day. The wicker chair was previously on my patio. A French Bergere chair is on  my wishlist.




I would really like a French bed like one of these flanked by a lovely chest on one side and a round table on the other.



But I settled for a headbaord made by covering a piece of wood with batting and calico and making a slip cover out of the red toile I had.


 

The prints above the headboard used to belong to my late grandmother. They are of brides from the 19th century.

 

This side table was a butlers tray with the tray part turned upside down and topped with a bigger piece of wood to house my newly purchased,  fairly large lamp. One day I will replace it with a lovely round wooden or iron table.


 

This side table is also an "el cheapo" pine butlers tray that I had from previous years that was given some paint and embellishment. Hopefully one day to be replaced by a pretty painted French chest.

 
 


Also on my wishlist is a dressing table and chair along these lines...

 

...but for now have settled on using the cane dressing table from my student days, painted and adorned with new handles.  The little table at the end of the bed was my boys homework table when they were younger. I would really like an ottoman here. Perhaps I could turn this table into an ottoman. I'm sure one of you fabulously creative people out there have done something like this. Any ideas?








This old pine corner shelf from my cottage style phase was painted and used to house some more blue and white china.




The dressing table chair is one of my old dining chairs which I recovered in the same red toile.


Now onto the bathroom....


These are some of my inspiration pics.

 

I decided to just stick to blue and white for a fresh look. The bathroom is very plain with white tiles. I repainted the area above the tiles for a warmer look and just added some blue accessories.

 

Another old dining chair was painted and recovered.


 







So, would you be happy to stay in my budget beating guest room or perhaps you would rather wait for my ship to come in!

 
Till next time

Sharon x