Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Home Decor Trends

Yesterday my friend Lynette and I checked out the new model homes down the street. In LA land is at a premium and they are building homes VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. It gives new meaning to the phrase "reach out and touch someone"! To fit in the max number of homes they go UP.  These were 3 levels. 

Our  goal was to see the latest trends. The GIANT OPEN ROOM concept let's you cook in your WHITE and GRAY kitchen with no walls to block your view of the dining and living area.  Love, love, love these GREIGE DISTRESSED wood feeling floors!

Rich TEAL is this year's accent color to pop the neutrals. 

I was excited to learn how to KARATE CHOP pillows! Can't wait to try this at home!

There's something about a set table that is so inviting! BROWN wood complements the gray, white, and black. SUCCULENTS are the centerpiece of choice. 

Now that's a great idea! A SEAT in the shower! 

No more boring shower stalls. The new look is TERRACED. 

Looks like we all liked this MINI TILE backsplash. 

Outside are the mansions we pass on our way to church. Even they are close together! Just found out we have a famous neighbor that lives there with the first name Ashton...Yep! That's the one!

As soon as I got home, you guessed it, I started karate chopping my pillows! I'm down with the GRAY thing too! 

Experimenting With Chalk Paint

Well I finally did it! I have wanted to try chalk painting for a long time. For those that don't know it's really "in" to paint old pieces of brown furniture giving them an aged, distressed look. Chalk paint is so easy as it's water soluble and doesn't have fumes like regular paint. You can literally paint the piece in the house right where it sits! As with any new project I start small. After watching You Tube videos and researching chalk paints I ordered these small containers in versions of this year's fashion colors LILAC GRAY and ROSE QUARTZ along with basic brushes and CLEAR WAX.

Here is my first "victim", an old yarn holder we bought at an antique store in Ojai years ago.

And here is the finished piece! I applied one coat of Lilac Gray chalk paint. Let it dry, which only took like 15 minutes... Distressed some spots with a scrub sponge to add worn marks...and finished by painting on clear wax. EASY!!!

Next project were these gold grapes. I wanted to add some pink to use them as cake decor.

It was the perfect finishing touch for this birthday cake I baked for a friend. So fun!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. The OLD has passed away; the NEW has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Isn't it good to know when we put our faith in the Lord He makes us new!

Shopping! Vegas! & Elvis!

Complementary coffee...the start of a recent Las Vegas buying trip for our store, Mountain Rose GIFTS. We're going in!

Elvis seemed to be everywhere.

Even in the showrooms.

A purse, no matter how light, can get heavy after walking showroom floors for hours. Thankful my hubby gave me a break. I'm FREE!!!

Catching a seminar while enjoying a boxed lunch.

Sometimes only a Coke will do.

Say what???

Received a hearty welcome to this showroom. You won't find this in Atlanta or New York.

Yup. This is wholesale shopping Vegas style.

Love it! Love it! Love it! The French theme and neutral color palette in home decor continues to be MAJOR.

The Las Vegas Market even entertains store owners at night in the courtyard.

Live music, appetizers, and shows around the campfires.

Marshmallows for roasting anyone?

We found so much good stuff!!! Bye bye Vegas! See you next time.

Back safe and sound in L.A. Thank you Lord for leading us as you do and for giving us strength and good energy.

Quickie Gift Buying Spree

One of the advantages for a retailer living in Los Angeles is the tremendous access we have to designer, fashion, and wholesale shopping venues. On this beautiful day we hopped in the car and headed downtown for a private event.

Let the hunt begin! Sometimes you find the best stuff when you don't "need" anything but are looking for new discoveries. That's what happened today. Some of those orders we placed JUST ARRIVED at our store MOUNTAIN ROSE GIFTS! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Even the elevators are decorated here. Our specialty French, Paris, Eiffel Tower theme is still going strong. LOVE it!

Downton Abbey,our favorite show, is influencing fashion too. There's something that draws us to those elegant days when life was simpler. I am seeing the Downton/Victorian influence in jewelry and home decor.

We are very excited about the newness for Christmas 2014 but for now we are thoroughly enjoying Spring & Easter in Montrose!