Like anyone in a service related industry, I don’t often do for myself what I do for others – as in, the shoemaker’s children have no shoes. In fact, my own home and garden are more like aesthetic laboratories than bastions of great design. I’m fascinated by magazine articles featuring designer’s homes if for no other reason than I can’t believe they actually finished their homes.
Table Decorations! Samaritan House Fundraiser
It was a busy weekend for us with the fundraiser, the flea market and Alameda. I kept telling myself that if I could get through my overlapping activities everything would be unicorns and roses once again. It was so humbling to be a part of the Samaritan House’s chosen designers. In fact, I had a self-esteem meltdown pretty soon after I saw what the other participants were putting together. I’m not a table decorator by trade nor do I really know how many spoons, knives and strange ladles have to go on which side of the plate. I just like pretty things. It’s as simple as that.
Who Are You?
The other day I had a heavenly Caligula moment. I was indulging myself in anything and everything involving design. I went to the local bookstore and filled my arms with every imaginable publication – from designing southern style mansions to decorating tiny big city apartments. Flipping through the pages it’s easy for me to decide which ones are worth taking home. If even one picture deeply inspires me, I buy it.
We’re in the Local Papers!
We are so excited about the table design we’re doing for the upcoming Samaritan House fundraiser. The theme of our table is “Nature in Bloom”. I’ve changed my china pattern and my mind too many times to count but I do know that I’m covering my table in blanket moss and there will be a big tree coming from the center of it. We’re hoping our table inspires people to come visit our wonderful, eclectic little mad science lab.
Best,
Melisa
Love and Fleurs
Beautiful cream and brown ceramic pitcher featuring spring flowers
Pink hyacinth in a vintage creamer
White hydrangea in a 1960’s ceramic vase
1960’s teal ceramic handled urn vase – my favorite!
Just wanted to share!
Melisa
Decorating Your Space – Where to Start
This is the first in a series of posts I am doing in regards to redecorating and how to start. After several years helping people get past that first step, I realized that it’s a process we all go through and thus, I wanted to share what I have learned.
Lots and Lots of Lovely
Though it can still be freezing cold outside and rain storms seem to come out of nowhere, I find myself believing that the warm days of summer are right around the corner. I’ve furthered this delusion by surrounding myself with gorgeous garden books, redoing the shop windows with wonderful Spring-timey things and blasting the heaters in the evening. The start of the year signaled that it was time to start with a clean slate – finish those languishing projects, fix those broken things, clean the closets, and of course, refresh the nest.
Springtime Bouquets
I love this time of year for making flower arrangements. Heaps of crazy, curly jasmine scents the air of my shop. This, mixed with bundles of wonderful sweet pea in every imaginable color are stuffed into mugs, vases and containers of all kinds makes me happy. I believe in having fresh cut flowers in just about every room in your home. It lifts your spirits, brightens your space and brings the nature indoors. It is so easy to step outside and gather just about any blooming thing and create a great arrangement.
Little Romantic Things
Valentine’s Day was lovely here at Apartment 46. While we did a lot of beautiful bouquets, we were also happily surprised to see so many people get creative with their gift-giving! I feel the same way most people do about the “Enforced Day of Love” (why is there just one prescribed day?), but if you’re going to participate, then taking a little extra time to do something out of the ordinary makes it much more worthwhile for everyone involved.
We Now Carry Maris Naturals!
From the beginning, Apartment 46 has been devoted to carrying the very best and most lovely items for the home and personal environment. Along with fresh flowers, found treasures and unique home furnishings I have always saved room to tuck in to some delicious bath and body products. I am actually extremely choosy about what to offer as everything that appears in the shop has to be something I truly love and would use myself. I am admittedly a scent freak.