GOT SILK?

I thought this dash of color would catch your attention...in keeping with the colors of Valentine's Day, I thought I would post a little pink, coral, and chocolate colors of a project that I worked on a while ago.

I had wanted to post the "after" photos of a entire room that I worked on and designed in conjunction with David Suttle, designer and architect. However, as I started to load the photos, there were so many projects for this one bedroom, that it will have to be a series of postings. I had forgotten how much custom work I actually did on this one project!

I can only show you sections of the room I designed and produced and not the entire room, as I am told it may appear in a design magazine. But for today, I am starting out with the largest of all the projects - the custom bed and bedding!

This bedding was designed for a lovely teenage girl who is very appreciative of all that her parents provide for her. She is classy, hip, and loves pink and chocolate brown. Not done in my signature Elizabeth House colors of creams, whites, tans, browns and black, this room is still very elegant, but youthful.

Everything you see was custom designed and built - even the bed itself!

These photos do not do it justice, as they were snapped on the fly and not styled. It was getting late and I happened to bring my camera along and snapped away. I hope to go back, style the shots and do it right. But for now, these will do.

Before we get to the photos, I would like to take a moment to say that while many of us aren't fortunate enough to afford such luxuries (a lot of what you see is silk), it does my heart good to see a young teeneager appreciate my work as well as everything she is given. She is the most polite, sincere young lady and she has a very good understanding that most people don't get custom-designed beds and bedding. And having said that, while the rest of us may not have a custom bedding set, we are still able to customize our own haven with our own personal touches.

Whether it is throw pillow that your aunt made, or a pair of heirloom pillow cases, or an antique jeweled brooch that is pinned on a new pillow, it is these little personal touches that make a house a home and a room warm.

Thank you for warming my heart and always remember it is your personal touch that gives your home its soul.

From my house to your house,

Elizabeth

This area was designed for the headboard of the bed to fit perfectly inside. Wall sconces are added later. The color of the wall is a pale pink.

The silk, chocolate crown is mounted to the ceiling. A chain cover is made of the same material. The bed is covered in a dusty rosy-brown chenille fabric.

Chris, a wonderful carpetner, is installing the dowls that he made, and I painted, to hold the drapes of the canopy. The measuring and re-measuring of this project was numerous!

Chocolate, silk rosettes are at the base of the dowls to finish off the drape.

The canopy is lined with a silk check, which goes with the dust ruffle below.

A punch of grape silk and green monograhm gives this pillow a little edge for a teenager.

The complete bedding set used over 100 yards of fabric....I died and went to fabric heaven with this fun project!

Happy Chocolate Day Part Two

"More photos! More photos!" seems to be the topic of many emails I recently received since the Feb issue of Romantic Homes arrived on the shelves of stores around the country.
So, unlike the past, there will be more photos and less text in this posting....hmmmm.....not sure if I can keep my fingers from typing my thoughts though!

Below are photos that were not a part of the article and I hope you enjoy them. By the way, the photo of the lollipop wreath is shown without plastic over the candy...that was for shooting purposes only. Please keep them covered when you make the wreath. They get sticky and you'd be surprised how I had flick off little dabs of "floaties" that landed on the candy right before I took the photographs!

Oh - I also had a lot of questions about my coat. No that is not a ruffled scarf or glove - the coat has a fabulous collar and cuffs and even the bottom of the coat has about 8" of the same ruffle effect. I bought this coat last year at a tiny boutique - only after I had customer after customer come in and tell me that they saw a coat that was just made for me. After about a week of hearing this, I had to see what the fuss was all about and yes, as soon as I saw it I knew I would be pulling out my checkbook. The little boutique, The Time, was located down the street from my store, but it is now located downtown St. Louis. I can't say if that coat is available anymore or not - but it came in white, brown and black. And it is VERY warm and I just wish it would be cold enough for me to wear a lot more than I have yet so far.
Oh, and one more thing - I had a lot of people ask several questions me about the photo shoot itself. And so, I will answer some of them and I hope I don't burst your fantasy bubble...okay...that is fake snow! The shoot was done in Aug/Sept and yes, I am sweating in that coat! Because of the timing of publishing a national magazine, many articles are done months in advance. The candy is real, and yes, I made all of the crafts myself, yes I made up the poem for the nose gay, and yes, that door is really a door of a friend of mine. And finally, my hair is done by my fiance. He cuts and colors it! More on him later....

And once again - Happy Chocolate Day!
from my house to your house,
Elizabeth

A Healthy Heart Begins with Chocolate!

Just when we are all off to a wonderful start with our New Year's diet...along comes Valentines Day! No fair! Okay, I admit, I use February 14th to cheat on the diet - but I cheat all day long!

Just as I promised, I am posting a sneak peek at the next issue of Romantic Homes feature that I produced for Valentines Day. I believe it will be on the stands any day now. In this feature, I do something a little different: I use color! Yes, candy red, pinks, and shades in between. Why color now? Well, it is the dead of winter, no leaves on the trees, no flowers in bloom (well, for most of us around the country that is) and in some places, snow on the ground. A little color is needed this time of year and what a better way than to add some to your front door. After all, opening a colorful door helps us to cope with the dreary day we are about to leave behind as we enter our cozy home.

In this feature, I show one door, adorned three ways for Valentines Day. We have a tradition of hanging up a wreath on our doors for Christmas, and most of us adorn our door with a Fall wreath as well. I decided to add to the tradition by having a Valentines Day wreath on the door. When one enters your home, the "wreath of love" is a greeting and a welcome that all will enjoy.

In addition, my article also shows a new way of using a nose gay for Valentines Day, not just for May 1st, as tradition states. You will have to go out and read the article for yourselves to get more information on this "love thy neighbor" tradition that is bound to mend any fragile fences between neighbors or strengthen those already steady. Enjoy the photos and please pick up the Feb issue of Romantic Homes to see the article in its entirety. I have to brag for a moment about Romantic Homes...this magazine is fast becoming more and more popular and the editors are doing a stellar job in creating a magazine filled with photos, elegance, and practical tips for the readers. I love it!

In the meantime, remind yourselves that dark chocolate has been found to have health benefits! Ummm..yeah...right... Well, I am all for good health! If not a heart of gold, then a heart of chocolate will do for now. And a healthy heart is a heart open to receive love and to give love.

And may your February be filled with good health and your heart filled with love.

Happy Chocolate Day - er - I mean Happy Valentines Day!

From my house to your house,
Elizabeth

"Priceless" Before Photos....

As I sit here in my favorite coffee shop, Kayak's Coffee, near Forest Park, and review these photos, I find it hard to believe that so much work is finally behind me! I have been working 18 hour days the last few days to bring to fruition a project in the making for months now. Although the project is not completed, a large portion is!




The above photos are the "before" picture of this one room that I, in conjunction with the architect, my carpenter, seamstress and upholster have been working on for months now. What an honor to be selected by the architect to help bring his vision to fruition and for allowing my input to take part in this fabulous home. I may not be able to afford a home like this, but it is a treasure to be a part of its completion. This room is for a teenage girl - a very lucky one! And she is such a sweet and very talented young woman, this room can't begin to demonstrate her sweet spirit, but it is a start.



Before photos of a tiny antique side table I am going to paint and a chair that I am redesigning and painting as well - all for this one room.
My, my, my, what could my seamstress, Maureen and I be up to in my workshop? We are creating a custom something for the room - you will have to wait and see what it is in the next posting! ;-)
Did I say "custom"? Yes, everything in this room is custom designed and built. Below is an example of how meticulous and detailed this room will be. What are they you may ask? You will have to wait and see.


Below are part of a wardrobe - I didn't get a photo of the true "before" of it. This is only a base coat. You will see the final piece in the next posting. Again, all of this is customized!

I cherish the opportunity I am given to create. But even better? The fact that my creations will be enjoyed by others, possibly handed down for generations, and that there is just a little piece of me sprinkled here and there in people's homes. While working on someone's piece, I often think of the recipient and how this piece will make them happy and the fact that there is not a single piece out in the world that is just like this.
My clients are truly getting a one-of-a-kind piece...and why shouldn't they? They, as people, are a one of a kind in their own right. And so are you. Never forget that. There is not a single person out there that is just like you - isn't that fantastic when you think of that? In a world of mass production, international trade, and "how to books" filling the bookstores' shelves, how comforting to know, that some things are not replicated and are truly unique - such as our spirit.
And sharing your spirit with others is like giving a very customized gift to them. The lucky recipients of your gift (your spirit) are truly getting a one-of-a-kind gift. And while most customized items are so expensive that most of us could never afford them - your one-of-a-kind gift is priceless. And what a joy to give and to receive a priceless gift! You are a very special treasure to me - and I mean that.
from my house to your house,
Elizabeth
http://www.elizabethhouse.us/