AGOURA ANTIQUES

Agoura Hills, the gateway to Malibu, has a row of "charm fairy" antique stores. To say many of them exude imagination and creativity is an understatement. We found ourselves asking the question, "how do they think up this stuff?" Sitting right off the 101 in the Whizin Center you simply must go by if you are in the area.

picture from a beautiful mess

One of our BeckwithRoad readers was so taken with the establishment, "A Beautiful Mess" that she simply could not leave without a purchase or two even though her vehicle was brimming with weekend purchases from here and there!"

picture from a beautiful mess

One of the unusual chandeliers we saw at "A Beautiful Mess". It is an aged garden fence rolled into a cylinder and outfitted with a vintage-style Edison bulb. This well merchandised store is the most talented  Kymberley Fraser's concept. You may remember she was among, if not the first to design creations from vintage and antique grain sacks. Many other talented women are showcased in her store, among them: Karen Chambers, Marilyn Thompson, Victoria Stoehr, Leah Cox, Tina O'Flaherty and the Junk Girls. Their tag line is, "Where antiques, design and oddities meet pure and simple elegance." Well said!

You can read more about them on their website, abeautifulmessantiques.blogspot.com.

You may have seen the articles in the NY Times or Romantic Homes that featured this store. One item that caught our eye in the window was the brass fluted part of a gramophone outfitted with an Edison bulb and hung as a chandelier.

We loved the color and patina of this piece.

We remember having a bike just like this one...well it was in better condition... that is until it was not being used anymore and then it was stored behind the barn... it was very similar...too bad someone carted it off to the trash. They just didn't see the beauty in rusty objects! We saw things a little differently then. There are some industrial pieces in these stores that are eye-popping amazing, you know things you've seen twirling around on top of a building and now being used as lighting? A metal basket that used to be standard farm equipment is now turned upside down radiating light as a chandelier. You really must come visit then tell us what you think.

You can see how far down the stores go. Oriental rug for ambience on the sidewalk anyone?

An interesting collection...did you see the picture recently of the galvanized wash tub like this one pictured here mounted as a laundry room sink?...what a smashing look for just the right home.

To visit, take the 101 north or south depending on where you live to Agoura Hills, CA. Exit Kanan Road. Make a slight left on Roadside Drive. You will find the antique stores behind Wood Ranch Restaurant. Happy antique hunting!

Ralph's California Collection

Ralph Lauren's artistic genius for capturing the essence of a geographical area, its people and the type of lifestyle elements he visualizes are a never ending fantasy of creations.  His current home collection focuses on Santa Barbara. When we think of SB our minds conjure up images of easy living...a sense of rich history...gardening....wineries...Spanish Haciendas..surrounded by loveliness and the sound of crashing waves on the beach.

We could see ourselves living here!

The agey hued walls speak to eras past..but we want to live in it now!

How smart is this?

Dinner on the terrace anyone?

Details...

This is Santa Barbara at it's finest, laid back but dripping in goodness.

The craftsmanship is art in itself!

Click on this photo and look at the finish work on the edge of the seat, and the nailhead trim...simple yet it makes a solid statement!

This book caught our eye...amazing...perfect book to flip through while lounging on a Sunday afternoon. You can read about it on Ralph Lauren.com

all photos from Ralph Lauren

Arte Pura

Ancient flax....flavors of the past....pure luxury....timeless....

table...bed...bath...linens...clothing....accessories

Check out all their designs at artepura.com

Getting our home ready for the holidays

We're getting ready for the holidays and there is a little spot that needs some ompfh! A little sassing up! We took an old mirror we've schlepped around for a ka-zillion years, cleaned the surface, then sanded it and taped it off for paint.

The paint we chose for this project was Restoration Hardware's Slate color,

and a touch of Mediterranean White to highlight the textured rice paper we added at the top.

We added a patterned rice paper using 1/2 white glue and 1/2 water to adhere it. When it was dry, we added a medallion and roped some tiny pearls for a beading effect along the top under edge for interest. We used a hot glue gun to attach the ornaments. We then began the painting process. First 2 or 3 coats of the Slate color.

A close up view. After we painted the Slate color. We used a dry brush with a small dab of Mediterranean White just to pop the pattern in the rice paper and the beading. We then wiped it off. Use a light hand. The rice paper came from Paper Source.

A close-up of the finished process.

Here it is in it's new place.
A close up view.

The Rolls Royce of Wallpaper

In an era when so many 20 and 30 somethings' are fanning the flames of dying arts, one of the forerunners of this movement is Claud Gurney. Headquartered in Kent, England, his company, de Gurnay, is gathering fans from all parts of the globe, such as, Lulu Guiness and Kelly Wearstler. His traditional and non-traditional designs are the ultimate in luxury handpainted wall coverings. We love the agey India tea paper, small stained sheets of lavish quality paper affixed to large 4'x10' panels.

The de Gourney establishment.

They also make splendid 18th century chinoiserie paper and lavish 19th century French designs.

Check out the de Gourney website for yourself, http://www.degournay.com/

A more modern approach.

India tea paper.

A Nudge Out of the Nest!

The Urban Outfitters Catalog came this week. It got us thinking about all the gazillions of eye popping creations we've seen over the years from all of the companies tied in with Urban, i.e., Anthropologie, Free People and Terrain. Working in visuals for these companies is a schooling in and of itself. Each season is well thought out, has it's set of muses and you might even get a dvd about how beavers build their dams or how birds build their nest,etc. We kid you not! As crazy as it sounds, it works! They have visual books pre and post season when the "best of" is presented. I'm sure we all have our favorites, and just when it seems that they have exhausted their resources, out comes a whole creative process using coffee filters or plastic soda bottles cut into floral shapes or simple cups creating a modern collage.

Have you seen Keith Johnson's, Man Shops Globe, on the Sundance Channel? When Keith's partner, Glen Senk took over as President of Anthropologie, it was then that Keith found his genius as a buyer for Anthro.

What do you do when you pull the bag of tea out of your morning cuppa?

In London, they string them in strands ~ by the hundreds and viola~a show stopper window.

Who knew books could be so sculptural

This is a peacock created out of plastic spoons.

So we all have imagination. Really, it's true! Keep your home fresh and current. Shop your own home. Find different ways to use your possessions. Maybe you could create a visual impact with a collection, or switch rugs around or pillows, or art work. Open your eyes and walk around your home and look for things you could change up.

It doesn't necessarily take money to have good taste or to be creative. If you could live any way, any where you want, where would you live, how would you live? Could you incorporate some of that into your home? Live it now? How would you live in that dream "someday I'll"?

Nate Berkus said something very interesting the other day, he said, "Why do we get our homes just the way we want them when we are putting them up for sale, but live in them less than the way we'd like to ~ prior to that?"

We hear it from every decorating direction, paint can change the whole vibe of a room. Bring sample paint chips home and tape them on the wall. Now stand back and eliminate the ones you don't like. One of us has been itching to do a lime wash on some walls. I know one follower of ours that just needs this little push to finish painting her beautiful family room. (hint, hint) Live in the moment, but live! Also consider wallpaper which is very hot right now!

Families can foster a culture of good design. Encourage each other. Have swap parties. Bring something nice you don't use and swap with someone else. Here's a little secret, creativity is similiar to the term "priming the pump". Nothing seems to rise up at first, but the more you exercise those creative juices, the more they will flow. Few people feel creative all the time. We find it often surfaces when needed, and the more you use it, the more you will grow with your style and great taste.

Do you feel nudged? It won't be long until Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Nows the time to "just-do-it."