Friday, March 22, 2013

I need your two cents . . .

None of my friends are into decorating.

That isn't quite true - my oldest friend is a professional interior decorator.

But, her style is very formal and not at all "cottagey".

So I am asking for your opinion.

I made slipcovers last summer for my sofa and made the back pillows buffalo check.


What I really did was be lazy and make the blue buffalo check pillows, but use red buffalo check pillows I already had from the old slipcovers.


And those red buffalo check pillows are not going to make it through another washing.

I started looking on-line last night at Cath Kidston, Ralph Lauren and a variety of other sites for fabric in red, yellow, blue and green.


I love ALL of the Pierre Deux fabrics.

They are just what I am looking for.

The fabric in the largest box is EXACTLY what I want, but I can only find it on Etsy and I don't think the seller has enough fabric for 4 large pillows.


I "sort of" like these fabrics, but they are light weight cotton prints and I don't think they are a heavy enough fabric for living room pillows.


I looked at Moda tablecloths, but to have enough fabric for four pillows could get a little expensive.


I even looked at Ikea sheets for ideas.

I love both sets of sheets and I see an Ikea visit in the near future.

But, that doesn't solve my dilemma.

I recently swapped out the bright yellow pillows for a lighter floral.


I have at least 10 yards of white fabric left from the slipcovers so I am thinking of painting the white fabric and then making the pillows.


Maybe I will paint the back pillows with different colored stripes -

one with red stripes,

one with blue stripes,

one with yellow stripes,

and one with green stripes?

I have a couple of considerations.


The bench in front of the sofa was red, is now green, but paint can change that if necessary.


I will be replacing the cushion and pillows on the window seat this summer.

And I know absolutely that I don't want white on the window seat.

Our house is so tiny that I want the fabric in both rooms to be complimentary.

Tomorrow Steve and I are going to take a drive up the coast to Santa Barbara to The Remnant Store.

I don't know what I will find there.

Oh, what should I do?

Mix and matched colorful florals, checks and stripes?

White pillows with hand painted stripes?

I would love to hear your two cents.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at

Jennifer Rizzo

The Charm of Home


French Country Cottage


Common Ground


My Romantic Home


Redoux


Rooted in Thyme


34 comments:

  1. Hi Carol. Looks great. I also have loved Pierre for many years. They are out of business. Jill loves decorating.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think mixing up the fabrics would be very cottagey and cute.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think everyone has to do what makes them happy but what would make me happy is the florals, gingham and stripes. Can't wait to see what you do!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You totally stumped me on this one!!! Whatever you end up going with will look amazing! You are good at moving, painting, and reinventing so I have no doubt that your creative self will come up with the perfect solution! Have fun at the shop!!! Sounds like fun...hope you score and find some cool things!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Carol,
    Thank you for visiting us at Red Rose Alley. What a nice story about how you came up with your blog name, thanks for sharing. You have such a nice blog, and I love all the bright colors, especially the red and white checkered chair. Color brightens my day. I hope you visit us again, it's so nice to meet new friends.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carol.
    I forgot to mention....my husband and son are surfers too.....something we have in common.
    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would use bold colorful patterns and complimentary solid colors or stripes on the rest.

    LindaLee at
    CrossN' My Stitches

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think a mix of florals, stripes, checks, inspirational words, etc. would be great! It would be perfect for a relaxed, colorful, happy, pretty cottage like yours. :-) Just one of those alone wouldn't be nearly as much fun in feel or look. I hope you find what you're looking for tomorrow. Have fun! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well I must be the " boring " one because I would go with white and different colored stripes lol -
    I am SO jealous that you can make slip covers ( they charge more than the furniture to have them done
    professionaly! )
    It all looks so gorgeous - beautiful room!
    XOX

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would mix it up and use only fabrics you absolutely love!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the mixed look. I think it's both less-formal and more cottagey!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carol I know what ever fabric you end up with will look stunning!!
    OMG!! I have been looking at your husbands paintings!! So much talent there.
    It's great that we live with creative husbands, they say we will live a longer life....
    Mine makes wooden trucks, machinery etc out of scrap wood, puts in many hours just for the joy
    of it. All our grands have his creations as well as great nieces and nephews>>

    ReplyDelete
  13. Carol, I love to give my opinion when asked. I would say "yes" to all of the above. I don't have any doubts that whatever you choose and make will be wonderful, charming, and right!! And thank you for always leaving the sweetest comments. I value them!
    Mary Alice

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would do a mix of floral, buffalo checks and stripes. My favorite of the fabrics, was the light weight cotton. I use that type all the time and don't have a problem with it holding up. I just just make them slips so they are easy to wash and you don't have to wash the whole form. Good luck with your shopping today! Can't wait to see what you come home with:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am absolutely enthralled with your blog. I finally had time this morning to really look around. I started here on this post, worked backwards to earlier this year, and finally went to your sidebar and found the beginning. I've never seen a blog with such a cohesive point of view and a consistency that seems so comfortable and real. Your blog is charming; you are charming! I'm appreciating your high res photos allowing for enlargement on my little laptop because each one is a work of art to be studied in detail. And YES! Sell your pillows! You could also become a stylist, publish a book about decorating, and sell your gorgeous photos!! Btw, I went to SDSU also and moved to Idaho from Westlake Village, which is somewhat near you, I think. Thanks for sharing your art, and have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like the idea of the hand painted stripes, maybe with one accent one using that paisley type print that you really like

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like the idea of mixing up the fabrics -- that can be just so darn charming. I also like the idea of using your white fabric and adding bands of that first fabric (the one you really liked but didn't think there was enough of) -- that fabric is gorgeous and looks like it would be perfect for banding across the middle (horizontal or vertical) or just on one side or......I have to stop now. My mind is racing!

    Be happy!
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  18. I absolutely love your abundant use of color, so I know you will come up with something wonderful. How about finding the checks in decorator fabric that is thicker and more resilient? Your colors are also my colors: red, blue, yellow and green. I love visiting here and seeing my fav colors!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  19. Since it is Saturday and your out shopping for your fabrics, I am excited to see what you pick. I always love your decorating. I am drawn to the mixing of stripes and flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Since changing out the yellow pillows... I say paint some striped yellow pillows add some florals and there is nothing wrong with some solid colored pillows either. Though the red broad striped ikea sheets are nice as well.
    I'm indecisive...so that's no help. But you did ask for two-cents worth! ;)
    Have fun with it, can't wait to see it.
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would do the handpainted pillows on the window seat and use checks and stripes in the living room.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like the mixing up of the fabrics and adding some handpainted ones. I think that would really go well with the white slip covers . It would add back alot of color.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I think you should do a mix of the lighter floral, your striped pillows, and painted "word" pillows.....I put a picture of my pillow (from you :) and it was LOVED....told everyone to visit your blog and encourage you....and any day you want to visit and make me a slipcover....I will cook you a nice meal!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the floral pillow best - more of them!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I think you should do what makes you happy! LOVE the choices all beautiful colors and styles!
    xx
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  26. I know that whatever you decide will look beautiful...But personally I like the floral, check, stripe combo idea. You have to have some flower print in your dreamy little cottage :-) Have fun looking for fabrics. Hope your having a wonderful weekend.

    ❤Ana

    ReplyDelete
  27. my favorite thing about just discovering your blog was those bright pillows...i love that you use such wonderful fabric

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think a mix and match of stripes, florals and checks in complimentary colours would suit a cottage look perfectly. I think cottages should always be a bit mismatched!

    ReplyDelete
  29. whatever you decide to do will look great and pillows can always be swapped around. cute fabrics!
    i also like the same colour pallet so things look good in any room.
    well done with the slip covers!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  30. Mix it all together! I'm reading the posts in backwards order. Did you find something? I love your buffalo checks.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I like the floral, check, stripe combo idea but I'm sure whatever you decide will look marrrvelous. lol
    And bright. I'm not much of a white person. It would be filthy within 5 minutes. Yet I love the way you cottage looks with the white slip covers and the bright checked pillows. Guess what I'm no help and since I'm so far behind in reading you've probably already made your choice. ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  32. The following is a beginning help guide to what kind of computer
    needs to be bought, according to needs and price.

    Ought to be reality, it's going to be very capable of handle generation x regarding games too. Philippines is certainly one country where its players wish to receive casino bonuses which may originate from $50 to $1000. HP Firebird 803: This is often a sleek looking desktop computer machine, which starts in a cost of USD 2099.

    Feel free to surf to my web page ... 15 laptop

    ReplyDelete