Tuesday Inspiration: Uniquely Chic

We stopped in to say "Hi" to Barbara at her store, Uniquely Chic on Saturday. Am I ever glad we did too.

Barbara could hardly contain herself with excitement. She announced that the one and only Fifi O'Neill is coming to Healdsburg in July, to Uniquely Chic for a book signing!

I said, "Fifi O'Neil, the author of Romantic Prairie Style? Are you kidding me?"

"Yes, that Fifi!" said Barbara.

I'm so excited for Barbara, and so excited to meet Fifi!

A lot has happened since my last visit to Uniquely Chic. Barbara started a blog, just last Friday. It's called Uniquely Chic Floral and Home. Check it out!

And now Fifi O'Neill is coming for a very special book signing!

Her store looks amazing too. Both floral and giftware, it is pure eye candy.

Fifi is going to love Barbara's store.

I love Barbara's store! I love stopping in and perusing her unique giftware. She has such a talent for displaying her merchandise. It is truly inspiring to me.

That being said, my dream is to have a store like this someday!

It was actually Number 8 on my "Design Bucket List." Remember?

It's not going to happen anytime soon though.

In the meantime, I'll continue to be inspired by Barbara and live vicariously through her.

Possibly an online store? Maybe! But I digress....

Mark your calendars for July 13th.

Fifi O'Neill at Uniquely Chic!

I will definitely be there!

Design Bucket List #7 - Build a House From Scratch

Design Bucket List #7: Design, Build and Decorate a House From Scratch.

When I was a kid, I used to draw floor plans for fun. I could sit for hours poring over a book of floor plans that my grandparents had, then attempt to draw my own custom design. I was eight years old!

Not much has changed. I'm still fascinated with architecture and finding the perfect house that would meet our family's needs. I like the floor plan above because the master bedroom is on the first floor, which is perfect as we age and our knees won't let us climb the stairs anymore!

The second story with all the en suite bedrooms is ideal for a large family. The bonus room could be a gym. This house was perfect ten years ago, but now with grown kids coming and going, an aging mother-in-law and mother, I think the ideal house should have a cottage in the back.

A backyard cottage would be perfect should we have to take in Grandma! I really like the simple layout of this studio cottage.

Even though I like the floor plan to this house, perhaps a different façade?

Although it's fun to imagine the perfect layout, I think actually building a house would be very stressful. I'm not so sure I'm up to the challenge anymore. However, I do know what I want and how I would want the interior to look.

A welcoming entry.

A lovely living room with beamed ceilings and large fireplace.

A dining room that would double as a library.

The kitchen would be industrial with a glass doored refrigerator.

The potting shed/mud room would be just off the kitchen.

The basement would have the perfect wine cellar, complete with tasting table and of course, wine!

The bathrooms would be something like this!

There would lots of transitional space like a sunroom or an enclosed porch from which to enjoy the garden.

The garden. There I am, tending the veggies. Wait, where are the chickens?

Where is the little cottage for Grandma?

Perhaps, something quaint like this! Oh, there's no end to the ideas and inspiration.

Thanks for indulging me this Sunday morning with my "build my own house fantasy!"

To read about the original ten items on my "Design Bucket List," click here.

Design Bucket List #6 - Decorate a Beach Cottage

Campagne Decoration

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a little seaside cottage?

House Beautiful

Imagine going to sleep with the sound of the waves, or waking up to ocean breezes.

House Beautiful

Imagine how much fun it would be to decorate a little cottage with a nautical theme like designer Gary McBournie did above.

Imagine looking out the window of this living room and seeing the blue ocean! It makes me go "ahhhhhh."

Campagne Decoration

More "ahhhhhh!"

Are you saying "ahhhh" yet too?

Coastal Living

Back inside, I am asking myself and you too, "how would you decorate your seaside cottage?"

I would find vintage oil paintings of the ocean or ships and hang them on white walls.

Definitely white walls....

Barclay Butera

Yup, white walls, vintage oil painings, and the color blue!

Although I'm not a "blue person," blue just makes sense in a beach house.

So do stripes!

Phoebe Howard

Of course, I would succombe to all the cliches of nautical decor!

The proverbial model ships....

....nautical lanterns

....driftwood

....kitchy wallpaper!

....old life preservers

And duh, a sea shell chandelier!

I think it would be so much fun visiting flea markets and antique stores looking for the perfect accessories, filling the cottage with treasures.

Ultimately though, it's all about the ocean. And the sunsets. And the beach!

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back to whence we came." ~John Kennedy

I couldn't agree more!

Design Bucket List #5 - Decorate a Cabin in the Woods

Number five on my Design Bucket List is to someday decorate a cabin in the woods.

Or a cabin in the mountains, at the lake or on a river.

My love affair with all things rustic began years ago in Oregon when my friend took me to her grandfather's fishing cabin on the river. It was perfect with its knotty pine interior and deck overlooking the creek. I fell in love with the worn leather sofa, plaid fabrics and antlers. It wasn't tacky at all, but rather accumulated over time, and with great taste.

Since then, I've always dreamed of having a cabin like that. Mr. A also dreams of having a little fishing cabin in Northern California, possibly on the Mattole River.

When my boys were little, I decorated their rooms with lodge pole beds and Indian blankets by Ralph Lauren.

I carried the theme through with vintage artwork of fishing and hunting themes. There was also

the proverbial deer trophies too. So, I got it out of my system!

For a while!

Inspired by this home, decorated by Mimi Maddock McMakin, I've been thinking about rustic cabin decor again.

Whether it is a cabin on the river, lake, mountains or simply in the forest, the decor should embrace the natural elements outside like Ms. McMakin did in this great room.

Nothing says rustic more than a stone fireplace, especially when set next to wood paneled or log walls.

Rustic cabin decor can be very dark and overwhelming with all the wood on the ceilings, walls and wood floors. I like how bright colors like red, plaids and Indian blankets liven up this room.

Another dark room, but I don't mind because it looks so inviting and comfortable with its masculine decor.

The light, neutral sofa fabric, high ceilings and river rock fireplace give this living room a lighter feel.

I love this room with the log walls and ceilings. It is simply decorated with vintage iron beds and white bedspreads. Who wouldn't want to sleep here!?

Who wouldn't want to wake up here!?

Even though I'm not going to be decorating a cabin in the woods any time soon, there are certain elements that I'm still drawn to. Hudson Bay and Indian blankets, kilim and cowhide rugs, leather chairs, wicker, tartan plaid fabrics, antlers and pine cones all say cabin to me.

"Cabin Lite"

This room also says cabin to me, even with the white walls.

Plaid sofa! Wicker! Kilim rug! Indian blanket!

I could live here!

It's hard to choose which I like better. The traditional cabin in the woods with the dark, paneled walls and ceiling, or a lightened up version like above.

How about you?

Do you also fantasize about a little rustic cabin in the woods to fix up?