A Valentine For You

 Happy Valentine's Day to all my Vignette Design friends!

We Will Rebuild

"Stormageddon2" hit hard last weekend with torrential rain and wind gusts as high as 65 mph.

We had broken hurricanes, candlesticks and flower pots but the tent really suffered damage.

Somehow the tent must have been airborne because one leg literally jumped the fence and landed in the neighbor's yard.

 Speaking of legs, I'm afraid it is on its last one!  In fact two of the legs are now bent.  

This Zgallerie tent has been such a source of joy for us and I'm just not ready to let it go yet!

I'm hoping it can be salvaged for the time being. 

We will rebuild!

How To Cure The Winter Blahs

Our flat in the City is very dark because there isn't a lot of natural daylight with windows only in the front and the back.  

 Add dark painted walls and you get the picture.

Dark and gloomy, especially when cloudy.

I was telling my friend about how my dark flat was affecting my mood, giving me the winter blahs, and she suggested three things:

Flowers, candles and music.


Ok, let's see if this works.
Flowers.
Check.


Candles.
Check.

Flowers and candles together.
 Check.

 Flowers and candles in every room, like the kitchen.
Done.

 Flowers and candles in the bedroom.
Absolutely!

 But what about the music?
All my music is on my iPhone and I have no way to play it.
Until now...
Introducing "The Pill" by beats.
This little "pill" picks up my music from my phone and plays it in the room for us all to hear.
The quality is great too.

Have a listen...
They're playing my favorite song!
And that's how you cure the winter blahs!

Age Is Just A Number

 Landslide is such a poignant song.

It speaks of changes, life and getting older.

But it also celebrates those things.

So for today as I celebrate one more number, I'll remind myself that today is the youngest I'll ever be again.  

Today is just a number.

K9 Photoshoot Fail

 Last week, Kat and I attempted a photoshoot with the Les Méchantes dogs wearing our new line of dog apparel.

It was an epic fail!

While Benji on the left cooperated nicely, Oscar did not.

Trying to get him to stand still and stay is just impossible.

He has a mind of his own and would rather run and chase the seagulls!

 Of course it would have helped if I actually remembered the treats!

Notice Oscar looking up for them?  Yea, I forgot them.

He was not amused!

 Not Bear though.

He is the perfect male model!

Doesn't he look handsome in his bowtie?

Oscar and Benji modeled the bowtie too.

We found if we put them on the bench, they actually cooperated.

Who wore the tie better?

Oscar or Benji?

I think Oscar did!

Off the bench, they were like herding cats--every which way!

Who wore the harness better?

Oscar or Benji?

Definitely Benji!

I'm imagining Oscar whispering in Benji's ear that this is stupid!

Who wore the coat better?

Oscar or Benji?

Yep, Benji again!

To see more dog clothes and accessories, be sure to visit Les Méchantes here.

Use the code Dlo15 to receive a 15% discount off your purchase.

Where's The Bathtub?

 I love a long soak in a tub at the end of the day.

Just add bath salts, a candle, soft music and a glass of wine and I'm so happy!

So it was quite a disappointment when I had to give up the tub in the master bathroom.

No matter how we tried, it just wasn't going to fit.

The space that the tub would have gone, but wasn't quite big enough will now house a linen armoire instead.

 The armoire makes me happy because I'm already filling it with white fluffy towels, baskets and apothecary jars in my mind.

It just doesn't make me as happy as a tub would!

 That's ok.  

I've always loved the idea of furniture in bathrooms anyway, so now I'll have fun creating a whole new look.

 The armoire will now replace the built in cabinet that the architect included for bath storage.

This is much better and original.

Hopefully I won't miss the tub too much.

And hopefully I won't hear the question, "Where's the bathtub?'

So this poses a whole new dilemma.

Should I put a shower-over-tub in one of the guest baths, even though I was planning on a walk in tiled shower?

Just not sure if it even matters anymore!

What do you think of a home without a bathtub?

Apothecary Sinks

 Evoking both a vintage and contemporary aesthetic, apothecary sinks add charm to bathrooms with their open framework and marble top.

Equally at home in a powder room when storage isn't a must... 

...but also in a guest bath with a basket of towels underneath at the ready.

The options are endless with this style of sink.

The legs can be custom made in any width and style, but also in chrome, nickel or brass.

Glass cross bars are also an option, as well as glass legs.

I prefer chrome or polished nickel with a cross bar for towels.

I also prefer a lower shelf, preferably out of marble, but glass or metal shelving is also an option.

Pottery Barn sells the perfect apothecary sink for my needs.  

I love the marble sink with its custom look and the marble shelf, perfect for storing towels and products.

 Pottery Barn also offers the same sink as a double.

A nice option for a small master bathroom.

Restoration Hardware sells this industrial double apothecary sink for a new take on an old classic.

Another double sink alternative lets the beautiful marble take center stage.

This is definitely custom built.

In a master bath, two sinks side by side would be an option.

This side by side configuration sports porcelain sinks instead of marble.

I really like the shelf below.

For a custom sink, Palmer Industries is the best source.

They are the leading manufacturer of sink bases and can fabricate any size, shape or finish to accommodate any vanity top whether it be marble like above, granite or porcelain.

 

Imagine the possibilities for customizing your vanity!

The possibilities are endless!

Whether I end up using the Pottery Barn sink or have one custom made, I am definitely going with apothecary sinks in my downstairs guest baths.

In our powder room, I may go custom and create an apothecary sink like above.

As for the master bath, we have decided that we need cabinets to hide our stuff!