Custom Items

There is nothing more fun than having something made just for you, or more thoughtful than having something made for someone else. Sometimes it's as simple as adding a monogram or having an item of clothing tailored to fit perfectly, and sometimes it's as big as ordering a piece of furniture or custom cabinetry for a new kitchen.

Here are some different items that you can have customized:

Custom Furniture
One of the reasons that I love Ethan Allen is because you can customize their furniture. Like one of their chairs? Pick from one of thousands of fabrics. Picked out a pink sofa or chair? Then why not paint the interior of a library bookcase to match it?

Monogrammed Gloves - I saw these on Oprah's Favorite Things and they were definitely a favorite for me.

Monogrammed Shirt

Luggage

The navy and white bag is no longer available but a similar bag can be purchased here, the Keepall 50 is from here.

Bracelet

Signet Ring

Cuff links

Design your own suit or shirt at Brooks Brothers here.

I am currently waiting on two pieces of custom made furniture for the study at our home in Georgia. It's fun to design what you want, but the anticipation is killing me! 

      

Decorating the walls

I'm sure you have a lot of fun choosing furniture and accessories for your home. I know I do.

However I always have a hard time finding artwork. It doesn't seem to matter if its original or mass produced, it just seems to take me a while to find the pieces that speak to me.

When I was building our country abode I found that since this is a second home that not only did I need to devote a lot of time and energy to the building process but I also needed to fully furnish it from scratch. That meant a lot of new artwork.

Here are some of my finds...

In my foyer I have a very large map of London that I found at Restoration Hardware. The color of the river exactly matches the silk curtains. A very lucky coincidence!

In my sons bedroom there is a gorgeous framed photo of a yacht from Ethan Allen.

In my daughters bedroom there are six framed antique pressed flowers that I found at Scotts Antique Market in Atlanta.

In our bedroom there are four pictures of birds (you can just see the edge of the fourth on the far wall of our bathroom)

I won't admit how long it took me but I actually made these myself. They are all cross stitched on linen...

My Home Theater - Georgia

This is my home theater. The pictures are terrible because I took them with my laptop, but you can get the idea.

We weren't using the children's playroom much anymore so a few years ago we converted it into a theater.

We knocked out the closet, replaced the single door with double doors, added hardwood floors, changed the lighting.... and this is what we ended up with.

Sources:

Leather sofas, chaise and ottoman - Restoration Hardware (they don't have these exact pieces anymore but they are by Mitchell Gold so try there if you're looking for chesterfields. Mitchell Gold make a lot of furniture for both Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, so it is a good place to look if you see something you like but maybe want it in a different fabric.)

Moss Ball in pot - Scotts Antique market

Leather tray on ottoman - Ethan Allen

Paint - Ralph Lauren Leather

The theater part only takes up half of the room, we also have a bathroom, table for games, fooze ball table etc.

Sources:

Metal table and Leather Chairs - Crate and Barrel

Sideboard - Ethan Allen

My favorite part about the home theater is that the remote even controls our lighting. I just love to dim the lights as the movie starts, it makes me feel like a big-shot!

Ethan Allen - Rent Table

I have always loved rent tables.

They look fabulous in a foyer, but wouldn't work in mine so I didn't think this was something I would own as long as I live in my present abode.

I have been trying to look around my home with fresh eyes as part of my Spring goal to refresh things and I realized that the table I have between my chair and sofa looks a little small.

I purchased a leather top Newport rent table from Ethan Allen and it works perfectly. The scale is much more suitable for the room that what was there before.

Artwork

I have so many things that I want to share with you that I hardly know where to start.

There have been a lot of things that have inspired and excited me during the last 6 months, but I think the first thing I'll share with you is some new artwork.

I knew that I wanted a photo of a sailing boat in my son's room at the lake, but just could not find the perfect one.

After 2 years of looking, and one year of living with an empty wall I am pleased to say that my search has ended.

I bought this photo at Ethan Allen ...

It is very large, about 3 foot by 4 foot, and is one of a set of 3 if anyone has a lot of space to fill.

Ethan Allen Tea Table

One of my favorite pieces of furniture is this tea table from Ethan Allen.

I use it as a sofa table, and every time I look at it, it makes me happy. I just love it.

Mercury Glass and Antiqued Mirror

I have subscribed to Traditional Home magazine from the time I moved to America and credit it with my design education.

I loved the cover story in the March 2010 issue.

It focused on a home decorated in silver, which resonated with me because for the past couple of years I have been collecting mercury glass and antiqued mirror items like these...

Rosette wall mirror from Ethan Allen.

Candleholder from Target.

Antiqued Mirror Vanity from Horchow.

My home in town is very traditional, and to me nothing says traditional better than the sparkle of crystal or silver.