Adding some green

Yesterday I used the sunny afternoon to visit the nursery around the corner to purchase first greens to decorate the house for the holidays. Just a couple of branches are enough to make it work for me. I do like simple arrangements best. Candles and all my other decorations take care of the rest.








There is a wreath with lights on the front door, greeting us in the dark when we come home. We will add and refresh the greens as the days go by, decorating the Christmas tree in mid December. I use a fresh evergreen garland over the mantel, but I will do it in the next weeks. This way it will still be fragrant by Christmas Day!

Do you use fresh greens?


xx
Victoria



Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

What I am reading now

On my bedside sits always a collection of books, patiently waiting for me. The stack never gets any shorter, since I add to it...oh for the love of reading! Occasionally I straighten them out and some of the ones on the bottom get reshuffled to the top... for fairness!
But a few days ago Justine Picardie's Coco Chanel biography was displayed at my local bookstore and I simply couldn't resist.
It got plonked right on top of it all!

I love her story, her couture, her style, the movies about her and now I get a chance to read all nicely assembled by
Justine Picardie. (She also has a wonderful blog, just follow the link on her name above)



And have you read 'Daphne' by the same authoress?


But this will have to wait a little longer, now it's Coco all the way!

It started as good as I was hoping it would...

XX
Victoria

Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn

Here come a little more then a few snap shots from our delightful visit to Bedford Ave, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
We started out late morning on Sunday and after about 40 minutes driving arrived at our destination. The sun was out, a little cool, but lovely walking weather. Bedford Avenue between Grand Street and 9. Street is a hip heaven for everyone looking for fashion and music, small shops with everything from soap to sausages and many nice places to eat, drink and be merry...









For the more design oriented among us there is from junk shops to thrift stores and places of unusual modern to mid century high end design all to be found what one could wish for in this rather small area.
I spend an hour browsing through the shelves of one of the larger thrift stores located on Dribbs Avenue and 9St Street.
Old wonderful editions of Dickens and Thomas Hardy, L.M. Alcott and Walter Scott caught my eye. I have always been drawn to old books and the only reason not to bring many of them home is the limited space in our already packed library. I know, it's a lame excuse for the true collector, but thinking that all these stories line my shelves, I hesitated...





I saw an old doll house and chandeliers, a comfortable wing back chair, although old covered with a rather wonderfully current pattern of shredded upholstery.





After this we walked back towards Bedford Ave and then along smaller side streets to a pretty place with the fitting name
'The Future Perfect'.
A little treasure box of modern design and decorative objects.


The chandelier is such fun, I would have loved to bring it home...







We had such a fun afternoon and we will return soon! There is so much more to be explored, discovered and visited!


XX
Victoria



Pictures by V. Zlotkowski

Singing in the bathroom

This morning I woke earlier then usual. The sun was shining into our bedroom and I heard a concert of different voices outside my windows. Nobody stirred in the house and out I went, with my camera, stalking some birds and flowers in my garden...
She was grooming herself while singing happily along. I video taped her, but I could not upload the clip... :(



There was more then this as I slowly made my round along the well worn path along bushes and hedges. Mama or Papa bird tending the eggs...


The chipmunks running busily among the roses and peonies...


I love the picket fence across the street...and the lovely house behind!

And then this little guy caught my eye:
And I hear a "Good morning busy bee!" My husband calling out the window...Good morning, love!

And a good morning to you all!

XX
Victoria


All pictures and video by V.Zlotkowski

Come sit down with me

I love pretty sofas, which give immediately character to any blander environment...
Some are very right now, some are truly timeless and all are absolutely fun!
I know there is this notion of a nice and neutral sofa, prettily upgraded with different pillows, but I say: The heck with it! Stop playing it safe...

This one is great even for little dirty feet and hand, forgiving, but unforgettable...


This one cries for a beach house...or a lovely relaxed, but elegant room!


A bench mark...


For the love birds...


For the dreamer...


I see this in a garden room...


Or an artist studio...


And this one anywhere....cool!



I admit my own sofas, at least one of them, still stem from the philosophy that leather is good for kids and dogs, and yes, it is still in great shape, but oh, have I changed...
The other one is the result of a tiny budget. But one day - oh, one day I will have a marvelous piece of a sofa!!! Do you have a spot for something different? A corner in the house dedicated to fun and fabulous? I put it on my list!



XX
Victoria



Pictures via Anthropologie, last one Urban Outfitters(?) I think.