Refresh and renew part 2

We live in daunting times. Fearsome days because of terrorism and tragedy that too often turn into tears. I recently sat down and searched my heart why I, a private person blogs and shares. Surprisingly the answer was simple. I want and hope to provide my reader's respite in thought and vanish concerns of the day for a brief while. Each post takes time to plan its message, weaving my stories in and refining my words as I share my poetic expression. Hopefully my sentiments leave you pondering, smiling and feeling inspired. I delight in reading blogs. For me it is a perfect diversion in the morning with a cup of coffee. Distracting my mind from daily stress visiting blogs reward me with inspiration.

This is part 2 of our Living room updates to freshen our nest, our true respite where we live and entertain. Conversation and the sound of laughter resonates in our home providing happiness and solace. There's no grand gestures with my décor style and if pressed to describe my style I'd say it's a collected eclectic global feel with a French vibe. But since our home is always evolving time will tell. It's in the consistency of color's and pieces that flow room to room that to me logically blend everything together in my tactile design.

Serendipity often factors into our choices. An example is our new color washed to look aged Persian inspired 8x10 rug purchased from Pottery Barn. We weren't expecting to purchase a new rug quite so soon. We had a large cowhide over a sisal rug. Great texture and we adore cowhides, own several and plan to use the current one downstairs in the central area when the renovation is completed. I flipped back the sisal to clean underneath and noticed that the latex backing had started to stick to the hardwood floor. Quickly we rolled up the sisal and it went out on trash day. Thankfully whatever latex that stuck was easily removed with orange oil cleaner. I learned afterwards latex backings all eventually break down. Our new rug is made from Organic virgin wool and the rug pad is made from all natural materials. 

I admire over dyed vintage Persians very much and merchants claim they disinfect the rug removing all dirt and odors. I was very tempted to purchase one but with Simon >^..^<  I decided against one. Reason being with my luck and Simon's sensitive nose he might/would smell Yak pee or Monkey poop (just saying) and feel the need to mark his territory! I know accidents happen and I always have Nature's miracle spray near by but went with the new over dyed rug to look old instead.

Antiques are displayed in a contemporary way, our collections and art is lived with casually and appreciated everyday. Relaxation and movie nights take place in here.

On either end of our antique Lineberry 100 year old factory cart (serves as our coffee table) are two antique African stools I collect. 

We've added a French petite chandelier we purchased from eBay and hung it over our coffee table. The chandelier is from the 1940's. The 40's in French design is magical for me. Not that I'd like to go back and live in that era but would enjoy owning more authentic French 1940 objects and furniture. Our chandelier came with crystals that were pretty, but I wanted a different look so I removed all the crystals and purchased loose vintage crystals on eBay. 

This chandelier is our third petite, this one has 5 lights, the other two 4 lights. The other chandeliers are hung in our bedroom over our bed and in the guest room over the bed. Our bedroom chandelier has Amber drops and vintage clear crystals mixed in. The guest room has Cobalt drops mixed with vintage clear.

Our living room chandelier is jeweled with dark amethyst Purple drops on top. These are vintage and rare. There were only 5 up for sale and I scooped them up with a buy it now on eBay.

The bottom arms has teardrops in dark amethyst and appear very Purple in sunlight. Rare to find and I am trying to hopefully purchase more. I am absolutely smitten with the Purple crystals. I keep having this daydream where I find vintage 8 mm dark amethyst garland beads to replace the clear ones. I call the beads rosary beads because tactile wise it feels like rosary beads and the 8mm size even more so.  Finding 3 yards will be difficult ... But hey I'm a daydream believer.

Awhile back I did a post named Tossing and Turning and for that post I photographed the bedrooms chandeliers in Black and White. I enjoyed the photos so much I asked John to print them out directly onto canvas to hang on our Living rooms floating gallery wire. With the addition of our 5 light chandelier there is a serendipitous vibe that's occurred in our Living room.

Beneath the canvas prints are two ledges we display antiques on. Antiques from Burma, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, India and Africa. Some are part of my Buddha collection I been collecting for nearly 20 years and are displayed throughout our row home.

Between the chandelier prints hangs a Cartapesta (papier mâché) winged heart made by Méa StauB (source at bottom of post). I've hung it on the gallery wire with twisted thin copper wire. There is a rhinestone embedded that dots the word étoile (French for star). It sweetly blinks and shines as you walk by. It's always the little details that blow me away.

It's amazing how our global eclectic décor just by adding a French vintage chandelier can suddenly be lifted in emotional allure to romantic whimsy. Hey I wonder if John will enjoy romantic comedy's more now ... Probably not!

I admit I love Black and White photography. Sometimes when it's en noir the photo capture seems timeless and I love that aspect. 

300 years old+ and emitting a powerful peaceful karma that greets our guests. His hand positions gesture's are a welcome and blessing of protection. Made of hand carved wood they once flanked a Tibetan monastery's pavilion in China. One of a pair, this is the right side Buddha.

Buddha is adorned with a 1940's 14K White Gold and Austrian crystal necklace that was my Mom's. Occasionally for a special event I will borrow it from Buddha.

Last post I featured "Le Salon" by Méa StauB here is a photo of where it's placed on our stairway wall.

The finial on top of the piece is twisted wire coated with Méa's Cartapesta mixture she creates. I adore the finial that sits on this magical piece.

When we purchased our house John and I fell in love with the stair case and guess what 37 years later we still love it.

Purchased in the mid 90's from Pottery Barn our hanging pendant lamp. Inspired by an Italian Venetian lamp made with a wired silk shade, knotted tied pearls and 2 beads that secure a silk tassel. Lighting is an irresistible weakness for me. In our home each light and lamp has been installed with a dimmer to achieve mood lighting.

Whimsy will always factor into our home's décor choices. I delight in the little unexpected touches in décor and when visiting others what lingers in my minds eye.

I've named him Rex. My favorite breed is the wire haired Fox terrier. Although I've never owned one I've loved them since the Thin Man series.

I purchased this pillow from Antropologie for the sofa in the living room. But ... Serendipity played its hand and it wound up on the Settee upstairs in our sitting/reading room. I've kept our house consistent in color's and textures so everything is complimentary and interchangeable from room to room. Often moving a piece to another room gives a whole new appreciation to it.

Yet somehow I prefer this long 40 inches by 14 high pillow here. Let's ignore the swiffer duster propped up against the guest rooms door frame! Our French bulldog Marcel a bobble head pretends he's a watch dog! As we go back downstairs and leave our row home one more photo is left to see.

In our vestibule a vintage movie poster that was displayed in a Japanese theatre. We purchased it years ago at a auction. It is from the French 1965 movie Paris Vu Par (Six in Paris). The movie is six vignettes set in different arrondissements (districts) of Paris by six different directors. The vintage movie poster has great appeal to me. I adore the graphic of the Eiffel Tower in the cat's eyes and love it's Purple.

I hope you found part 2 interesting and thanks for spending time with me. I appreciate your visits and enjoy reading your comments. I leave you today with my poem titled Refresh and Renew. 

xx,

Vera

Source: Measvintage.blogspot.com

It's not about gutting and buying everything new to update our homes, nor is it about tossing old pieces away

Sometimes it's just serendipity, the occurrence or turn of events by chance resulting in a happy or beneficial way

When walking around your house looking to find the perfect spot for a piece can turn into gratifying play

Do not believe what you love in your heart, embrace in your home or things that lift your spirit will ever become passé

It's just a clever mass marketing ploy to promote desire for new décor styles, remember the word passé is so cliché

Lately in our home it's been all about a refresh and repurposing approach as we delight in finding vintage pieces to display

Oftentimes it is more interesting to let your style evolve over time because impulsive emotional decisions can cause dismay

Enjoy respite in your nest that comforts and protects you from worldwide inconsolable headlines of today

We are living in daunting times with violence from both domestic and foreign groups that led to tragedy and I want to convey...

I truly believe "there's no place like home" and being incognito to find peace and solace at home is perfectly okay.

© Vera