Hits And Misses

We all make mistakes. We see something we love and just have to have it, and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I try to learn from my errors and move on to make better choices.


Serial decorating. Do you suffer from this obsession? Are you ever truly finished with a room?
I'm mostly done with our house. We moved in five years ago to a fixer-upper, and the decor choices came out of necessity. But as time goes on, sometimes I can upgrade an earlier choice.

Our kitchen still needs a major renovation, but we do not have the money. So cosmetic solutions are the best we can do. Lately we added these oversize lanterns, one over the island, and one over the dining table. These are definitely a hit, and I have no regrets for upgrading from the chandeliers we put in five years ago. Go HERE to find out more.


The chaise lounge was purchased for the living room, and by and large we love it. The fabric is holding up very well. The upgrade is the pillow, and both are another hit.

The vintage sofa was recovered in faux white leather in 2008, and it is still the greatest and wearing very well. The glass coffee table is gone. It was too scary with Cholo flying off the couch when we play. Also it was a bit too large for the room.
The black and white stripe rug has been moved to the guest room. While good looking, this rug is a miss. I would not purchase it again.

The sea grass rug in the master bedroom is a year old and still wearing very well. This is a hit and I would use sea grass again.


The black and white stripe rug was moved to the guest room, and works better because there is much less traffic in this room. The bedding is new this year, and I love it enough to recommend it as a hit.

The drapes in the guest room are new this year and a hit. I got them at Half Price Drapes HERE. This is an excellent company for a girl on a budget.


I just had to have a deep drop ruffle white bedspread! So chic! So glam!
But after having it for a few months, I must say that it is not all that I hoped for. Because the dog sleeps on the bed, it gets dirty fast. It is a royal pain to wash and dry and iron. I did it twice and now it's in the closet: Instead I'm using an old matelasse white coverlet. This was a pricey purchase, and I would not buy it again, so sadly this is a miss.


I got drapes for our bedroom too, the same size and color as the guest bedroom, so that if I ever want to move them to another room, I have two pairs to work with. A design choice to paint the nightstands turquoise and have a mirror top cut for each of them, is a hit.

I bought a pair of these mercury glass lamps by Nate Berkus at Home Shopping Club. They were a good price ($129. each including the shade), and I love them. Apparently alot of people loved them becasue they are sold out. This is a hit!
I also painted two bombe dressers white. This is a hit too!


Reupholstering the antique French settee in the same faux white leather is a hit. As are the four antique dining room chairs I also reupholstered this way. I got a huge bolt of this fabric at a great price (on eBay) and used it all.
I replaced the glass coffee table with a vintage Saarinen table, and it is perfect!


The cow hide rug is the biggest hit in my book. It is impervious to dirt, spills, and dog hair, and I still love the way it looks.
In fact I got a second all white hide for my office. The pair of lamps were a miss. Too expensive, and after living with them for a couple of weeks, I went back to a lamp I got three years ago. I save my misses in a a closet I call the magic closet, and often revive and rotate (or sell) things that get put away.


The Kartell Mademoiselle chair was a miss. I borrowed it for a photo shoot, and it looks great in the shot, but it was not practical at the price point for me. So sadly I must say it was a miss, and I returned it.


I have more decor plans for 2010: Some upgrades in my dressing room/closet.


And finishing the master bath, getting some sconces for the dance parlor to replace a pair of mismatched vintage wall lamps that have seen better days. The yard and driveway and patios really need attention, and I think this Spring will be the start of those projects.
I am also thinking about repainting the kitchen!!!
What about you guys? What serial decorating projects are you planning?