House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'schumacher'

Sunday Mishmash of Goodness

Sunday Morning | Covet Living

Gooooood MMMMORNING (!)  This post is not about The Bachelor, nor is it another Gone With The Wind-esque run-down of what’s popping over at Casa Covet Living.  Lately, I’ve been looking at an AutoCAD / Cabinet Vision screen and reading plumbing fixture & wood flooring reviews with a fervor that I think may’ve begun to make my eyes start crossing inward.  And sidebar – lemme tell you – I honest-to-goodness LOVE doing all of those things, and feel REALLY grateful to be doing them for a living (which is still such a funny and amazing concept to me), but it’s also been a minute since I free-balled it and did my absolute favorite thing… and that, my friends, is fiddling the morning away on Pinterest – while the coffee maker gurgles in the background and bacon cooks and Gus lays at my feet.  Which is what is happening right now (except the bacon is pappardelle), and it’s heaven I tell ya.  And it’s good for my soul – in the same way planting potted herbs and using my power sander and riding a beach cruiser and smelling saltwater and painting and spending the day at a flea market is.  So you can tee up my favorite Sunday morning mix if you wanna…

Sunday Morning Mix | Covet Living

…and then, hey.  Feel free to fiddle faddle with me – here are the things that make me REAL happy, and the things currently tickling my proverbial pickle these days:

Is it Spring yet?

peonies | covet living

This Easter-egg-amazing crochet ditty from Kiini

crochet boho bikini | covet living

Love me some Aloha.

aloha collection | covet living

PS: Get 20% off sitewide today with the code SPRINGDREAMIN.

This situation, which is a sultry version of my every-day wardrobe.

White and Denim | Covet LIving

This stunner, which – at this point if I ever wanna get married – I would probably wear.  On a warm saunty beach.  With a taco stand as a caterer.

Moda Operandi Alexis Dress | Covet Living

…or this:

simple sequin dress | covet living

Speaking of marriage and tacos, have you seen this?  Truer words have really never been spoken.

Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 5.54.46 AM

I love this Gigi Stoll photograph so much it hurts.

www.gigistoll.com

www.gigistoll.com

Could I please get two claps for my big man GusGus for President?  I’ve never seen him not chase and/or have an absolute melt down when faced with a cat.  My friend Kristine graciously took (amazing) care of him while I was in Hawaii, and sent me this one day.  I was all kinds of jaw-on-floor for at least an hour.

bus

This striped blue fabric makes me weak at the knees in an English country house / It’s Complicated sort of way…

fermoie stripe | covet living

And while we’re in a blue period, so does this custom ottoman from Brooke Wagner Design.  She’s a designer out of Newport Beach, and I lovelovelove her work.

Ottoman by Brooke Wagner Design | Covet Living

That goes for these perfect blue and white pots from Bixby & Ball I saw last week at the John Robshaw event (remember when I diddled in my drawers when he kissed me on the cheek?  Then patted him on the arm LIKE AN A$$ HOLE and said, “Good job buddy.  Keep it up!”  Cuz I do.)

Perfect Blue & White Pots | Bixby & Ball | Covet Living

Last blue and white thing: I need this.

IMG_2146

Today, I’m delighted to be hibernating and working on my own business and I haven’t thought too much about it as of late… maybe I should, ‘fore my ovaries look like something from the Walking Dead… but someday, maybe this’ll be nice to have again.

love | covet living

The perfect weekend outfit..

sunday outfit | covet living

I wanna make luscious drapery panels out of this Zak + Fox “Sauvage in Raffia” situation REAL BAD.

zak and fox raffia | covet living

This goofy outtake is the only pic I have of it, but how gorgeous is the fresh jade lei Hope’s mama made??  PS have you guys ever smelled pua keni keni??  It’s this little flower that grows on a bush, and it is the most delicious thing these nostrils have ever encountered.  If somebody makes a pua keni keni candle, I’m buying stock.

jade lai

Um.  Schumacher took one of their most gorgeous wallpaper patterns (Feather Bloom) and came out with a buncha new color ways, including Fuschia.  Could you die?

feather bloom in fuschia | covet living | 5006076

My homegirl Priscilla Presley aka Adrienne showed me this last week and I basically did.

Schumacher wallcovering

I dig this bathroom – in all its rustic + unpolished brass glory.

rustic glam bath | covet living

I saw these at Country Floors last week.  They’re brand new and they SO PRETTY IN PERSON.

country floors | covet living

This tile is not new but it’s also not ugly, AT all.

country floors | covet living

This makes me so happy.

IMG_2397

So does this oyster chandelier from Lowcountry Originals, which I fawn over every time I see it at market.  I’ll take one for my beach house.  Thanks.

lowcountry originals lighting | covet living

Where was this number when I was packing for Hawaii?  Remind me to blog about that untouched fairy wonderland soon.  Or you can just scroll my insta feed from 2 weeks ago and you’ll get the idea.

Mikoh Belize Bikini | Covet Living

Speaking of suits, this Samudra situation is the best one-piece I’ve ever seen, and the colors are beautiful in person.  I have Easter Egg fever – can you tell?

samudra-splash

samudra-makena-palm-makena-palm-one-piece-makena-palm-product-1-028020813-normal

As things that aren’t ugly go, there’s also this:

white one piece | covet living

PS: I’m eating leftover Lupi for breakfast right now, and it is nothing short of amazing. #pms

pappardelle with lamb rage | covet living

Sigh.  Nostalgia.  This looks like the field behind my house as a kid.

nostalgia | covet living

Since I am currently on the custom cabinetry side of design, I notice gorgeous details – like the molding on these doors – more than I used to:

cabinet door molding | covet living

Love how these folks used a repurposed shop counter as a kitchen island:

reclaimed shop counter as island | covet living

Love an unexpected color-combo – like neon + beige.  Maybe I’d cut the sleeves off this guy though – or make it cap sleeved but backless.  Cuz, you know, I’m not a pilgrim.  As is evidenced by my affinity in recent years for crop tops, which I know my parents love.

neon and beige | covet living

I’d like to have that.  For breakfast. #pms

short ribs | covet living

Walker Zanger wonder.

walker zanger tile

Exhale.

pier | covet living

This Bolivian blanket is gorgeous.  These aren’t cheap, but man they’re stunnahs, and you can use them in oodles of noodles of ways… as a rug, thrown over a headboard… as upholstery for your dining chairs… or at the foot of the bed – à la Karrie’s guest room.

bolivian blanket | covet living

Um.  I saw this and then read it 7x, because it is as true a phenomenon as I’ve ever seen when it comes to SO MANY of my close friends’ relationships I know about, and my own relationship from a few years ago.  I don’t know if it’s a Peter Pan situation or what… but maybe not, because it applies in some of my 50-something friends’ relationships too.  And loving someone like that is so, so ****ing rare that it is truly the saddest thing in the world to let go of when the other person can’t get it together… but whoever wrote that is right – about the you must leave part & all.

walk away | peter pan quote | covet living

This chunky, nubby Boho coverlet.  Please get in my beach house.

boho coverlet | covet living

I am so about to paint my bathroom this dreamy, salmon-y dreamsicle color.  Don’t tell my landlord.

Coral Gables Benjamin Moore 2010-40 | Covet Living

My favorite print from Spoonflower.  Looks like Eskayel, but sans the price tag.  I just ordered this sample and it’s even more gorgeous in person.

Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 6.28.10 AM

Love these antique pendants from Ann Morris, cuz seeing the SAAAAAAME usual suspects of lighting gets real snoozy real fast.

Antique Pendant Ann Morris Antiques | Covet Living

And this Scottish lantern.  It’s a cool $5k, but hey.  Great for inspo.  (*COUGH* – you can also have things like this custom-made, which is not inexpensive but not as $$ as you’d think)

Scottish Lantern | Ann Morris | Covet Living

Speaking of knocking things off… y’all know from this post that Sally King Benedict (former fellow Charleston-ite) is my favorite artist, ever.  And then she shared the Dream Beach House thing I put together on her Insta and I nearly shat myself.

Stephanie Ballard Covet Living | Sally King Benedict

ANYHOW, the ditty below which popped up in her Insta-feed recently is one of the most gorgeous paintings of hers I’ve ever seen… but she’s become SO POPULAR in recent years and her pieces are now so valuable that there’s no way in hockey sticks I’ll be able to afford one – at least not for the foreseeable future.  And so my right hand woman Karrie is painting me something similar.  I accidentally saw it hiding in the guest room when I was there last weekend and it was already so beautiful I almost died.  I cannot wait till it’s done.

sally king benedict | covet living

Love this dreamy exterior.  We’re using it as inspo on my Modern Farmhouse project in Ohio.

beatiful exterior | covet living

This is goofy and I love it.

ruffle off shoulder bikini | covet living

On a more covered up note, this I love so much it hurts.  It speaks to my I would’ve also loved being born in the 1940’s sensibilities.

off the shoulder | covet living

This pillow slays me.  I don’t know what’s so different about it than alllll the batik and mud cloth situations I’ve seen 9 trillion times, but something is.  I think I might buy it for myself for my birthday, like the slut that I am.  Nothing haunts you like the things you love and didn’t buy… or so they say.

chairish blue pillow | covet living

Preach sistah.

life is tough | covet living

Je love.  And je don’t know why je love things like that and then je wear sweatpants in real life, but c’est la vie.

black feather skirt | covet living

Anyway – it’s Sunday before 7am so imma go hike with Gus then take my pasta-from-last-night-filled buddha to the beach, then watch the Oscars.  Which makes me feel like this.

freedom | covet living

Sees yous latas!

Steph's Scanned Signature

Inspiration Board: The Chic Bambino

So listen…  I’m not knocked up.  But all of my friends TOTALLY are!  In all seriousness, I get a lot of texts, emails and calls every week with things like: “How do I decorate my mantle?  It’s hideous and I don’t know where to start.” -and- “We’re moving in together – how do we merge our belongings and make our space look cohesive?” …and evidently, all my girlfriends rocked out to baby makin’ music this summer because now they’re shouting in unison: “OMG – we’re pregnant!  I need help with the nursery!”  And even though I don’t have as much time as I’d like to help everyone, I am beyond delighted and kind of honored every time someone asks, because there is nothing I love more than helping people make their houses into homes… hence the reason I packed up my life and threw Gus in my hooptie earlier this year and drove cross-country to start my pipe dream job.  So – starting today, and as often as I can – I’ll pick one dilemma or project that lands in my inbox, and do up an inspiration board in its honor.

First up is a soon-to-be-mum and dear friend of mine who’s still staying mum about her news.  So kiddo – you know who you are (!) – this one’s for you!  Love you longtime.

1 – Schumacher Suwon Sisal in Champagne Grasscloth Wallcovering – once you see how warm and cozy grasscloth makes a room feel, you’ll have a hard time ever going back to paint.  Rooms covered in grasscloth make you feel like you’re enveloped in a rich, luxurious cocoon.  Not unlike a womb (!) which should make the new kid on the block feel right at home.

2 – Matchstick Pleated Custom Drapery Panels – I love, love LOVE the matchstick pleats.  I’ve seen so much Greek Key tape and so many pom-poms that I’m cross-eyed.  This detail is fresh and sweet and so charming.

3 – Laura Kirar for Arteriors Dove Chandelier – what little nugget or nugeeta wouldn’t want to look up and see glass birdies perched on a shiny gold vine?  I know I would.  Big bonus if they could tweet in the morning.

4- Coleen & Company for Harbinger Scalloped Sconce in VerdigrisColeen Rider can do no wrong in my book when it comes to whimsical light fixtures, and this verdigris finish – which looks like what happens to copper once it patinas and turns green – might be the best thing I’ve ever seen.

5 – Serena & Lily Presidio Glider in Antique Linen – I learned when I was doing Vani’s Nursery that gliders are the new rockers.  Bonus points if you can find an ottoman that glides with it.  And while I know slipcovers are incredibly practical, I generally stay away from them because I think they look messy, but these manage to look relaxed but still sharp and tailored.  Love.

6 – Rugs USA Vendimia Overdyed Rug – I think my Dad turned his nose up when he saw this rug and said, “It looks like you threw a da*n bottle uh bleach on it!”  Which might be perfect, cuz guess what.  I guarantee a few dirty diapers and about 7 gallons of spit-up are comin’ at that thing in the next few years, so someday you might need to toss a bottle of Clorox on it.  And who would be the wiser?

7 – Serena & Lily Hudson Crib – I love the clean and simple shape of this crib.  It also comes in white and grey, but I snagged a two-tone finish because I wanted the stained wood to ground the rest of the light neutrals in the room it a bit without the whole thing being too heavy.

8 – {FABRICS} These two patterns have been on my hit list for a long time:

I might use the charcoal Galbraith & Paul “Fern” as the bumper fabric…

…and the Gaston Y Daniela Inigo Rosa / Gris floating cartoon aliens on a throw pillow for the glider.

8 – {RUG} Serena & Lily Macramé Wool Rug – we *probably* don’t need two rugs for the space (though Estee Stanley pulled it off beautifully in this room via Lonny), but this rug represents the most perfect, nubby texture that I would love to see somewhere in this room – maybe as a throw blanket on the glider.  Something about it feels so homey and nostalgic to me, and the diamond shape also calls back to the fern pattern and helps tie everything together.

9 – Home Decorators Elephant Hamper – cutest thing I’ve ever seen, period.

xoxo!