Things Of Beauty | Nicole Jane Home

July 7, 2010

dreams of faraway places…

Filed under: Articles,Cooking,Things of Beauty — Tags: A Girl In Madrid, hydrangeas, Madrid, Nicole Jane Home, olive butter, tea and scones — jennifer @ 9:02 am

I’ve been really fortunate to meet some special people through my business, and Katharine Harringer (@agirlinmadrid for all you Twitter followers) is one of them. I first met her as a customer, who was on her way to a new life in Madrid, and we quickly became long-distance friends. She’s a talented photographer/stylist/epicurean and I am enjoying her daily musings about her food passion and life in Europe on her blog called A Girl In Madrid. She has been in town visiting family and we had a chance to meet for tea and scones and delightful tales of her adventures. Such a classy girl–she even brought me a beautiful bouquest of hydrangeas and some delectable olive butter from Spain! Lucky me.

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May 8, 2010

shine never gets old…

Filed under: Design,Dining Room Design,Drapery,Kitchen Design,Living Room Design,Things of Beauty — Tags: Apartment Therapy, Country LIving, Houzz, Nicole Jane Home, silver, silver decor, silver decorating — jennifer @ 9:16 am

Dear Silver,

Don’t go changing, to try and please me. You never let me down before. Don’t imagine you’re too familiar, and I don’t see you any more!

Forever yours,

Jennifer

Some things just never go out of style, and silver is on top of the list! I always follow trends with interest, but I don’t always go along when things are declared “over”. Although the design pundits declare it “in” and “out” regularly, it really never goes out of style. I figure, if you love it, then it’s in style…at least at your home it is!

(Nobody panic! Silver has not been deemed “out”. I’m just sayin’, if that were to happen, I’d have to deem “them” stupid.)

photo courtesy Coburn Architecture

photo courtesy Laura Hardin via Houzz

photo by Designs by Shoshana via Houzz

photo courtesy Country Living

photo by Amoroso Design via Houzz

photo by Celia James via Houzz

photo courtesy Apartment Therapy

Call me crazy, but I doubt everyone is going to freak out and change all their fixtures to bronze, just because someone decides chrome is so “last season”. In my opinion (and really that’s all that matters, right?), I think silver is a versatile neutral that packs a style punch!

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April 26, 2010

very vignette…

Filed under: Dining Room Design,Front Entry,Hallways,Living Room Design,Things of Beauty — Tags: Belle Maison, Decor8, Habitually Chic, House Beautiful, i l'aria, Jon Jensen Photography, Oldphone.com, One Simple Addition, This Is Glamorour — jennifer @ 10:56 am

I love a good story and I guess that’s why I love decor vignettes. They’re a glimpse into the homeowner’s joy–what makes their toes curl and their hearts swell (okay…perhaps a bit dramatic, but you get my drift). What books do they love? Where did they pick up that seashell? Where did they find that exquisite vase? Where was that photo taken?

photo courtesy This is Glamorous

It gives me a lot of pleasure to arrange and rearrange little vignettes all over my house. I’m constantly sprucing up my arrangements with fresh flowers, forgotten treasures I find in my storage closet, old paintings, favourite decorating books, beach rocks, my latest purchase from a favourite store, photos… They’re all precious and I love to see them every day.

photo courtesy House Beautiful via One Simple Addition

My styles constantly change (hey, I’m a Gemini…I’m allowed to flip flop) and vignettes are an inexpensive way for me to express myself, without having to make the major renovations!

I just love old phones, and this sweet little orange one is featured on Habitually Chic. There’s even a source for vintage phones listed, if you’re on the lookout for one: oldphone.com.

photo courtesy Habitually Chic

There’s a happy trend well on its course of using typeface decorating. It’s all about words in different typefaces, and I love it (notice the framed “LOVE” above and the gold “D” peaking out from the phone–at least I thinks it’s a “D”). It really tickles my fancy if it’s an vintage factory or store sign–they’re fabulous!

photo courtesy House Beautiful via Belle Maison

I predict a huge comeback for clogs. I saw a pair on a TV show last week, and now I’m seeing this pair. You mark my words–everybody is going to have a pair of colorful wooden clogs on a table somewhere in their house!

photo courtesy i l'aria's photostream via Decor8

This definitely qualifies as a beautiful vignette. One of my best friends did something very similar in her entrance and it’s absolutely stunning. If you get a chance, check out Jon Jensen‘s website of gorgeous photography. Uh huh! I see a typeface “3″ and “x” on that shelf! I should really be posting a blog about typeface decor!!! Maybe tomorrow.

photo courtesy Jon Jensen Photography

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April 6, 2010

blushing pink…

Filed under: Flowers,Kitchen Design,Things of Beauty — Tags: April Cornell, Barbie, La Rochere, Lily & Co, Pop Tart, Twitter — jennifer @ 12:37 pm

Ahhh…pink…what’s not to love. Last week somebody on Twitter told me that not all people love pink–incredible! I know, I know…I’ve gushed about pink before, but this time, I need your advice (more on that later). The clematis vines covering a trellis and our garage roof are just about to burst. In about two weeks, it will be a sea of blush pink blossoms, and I’ll be able to happily stare out the kitchen window and take in the beautiful site while doing the dishes (ugh). Until then, I’ll just have to entertain myself with these gorgeous images!!!

SIDE BAR: I get the Bad Mother award for just sneaking in to my daughter’s Easter egg stash and swiping a bunny! Don’t judge me…writing takes energy! I swore I’d only eat the ear, but I’m halfway down the face now! I must be stopped.

If you want to buy flowers in Jackson Hole Wyoming, I think you should call Lily & Co. If these bouquets are any indication of their designs, I’m sold!! I wonder if they deliver to l’il ol’ Surrey, B.C.?

photo courtesy Lily & Co.

Wouldn’t your morning be so much more exciting if you were greeted by this in the kitchen? Even better if it had a sparkly iced Pop Tart in it!!! Amazon sells them for $172.

SIDE BAR: Feeling sick from all the chocolate. Shouldn’t have typed in “Pop Tart“…oh boy!

photo by Amazon

This sweetheart mixing bowl would look just perfect on my counter filled with cookie dough.

SIDE BAR: What is wrong with me? I can’t stop writing about sweet stuff. Could it be karma? (shudder)

photo via Torrie Jayne

This is where you come in with heaps of help.

Just spoke to one of my sales reps and I’m thinking about bringing in these french glasses by La Rochere. What do you think? Bet they’d look stunning with some of our Apri Cornell linens…or even a brown paper bag! Love ‘em, but need your advice…should I carry them? Do you love ‘em or would you leave ‘em? Which size do you prefer? I don’t know what they retail for but I don’t think they’re terribly cher.

This is me at my house getting ready for my wedding 21 years ago. Take that Barbie!

SIDE NOTE: Do you think somebody can go to heck if they steal their children’s Easter bunny and lie about what they look like?

photo via Wedding Inspirasi

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April 2, 2010

wood it work?…

Filed under: Front Entry,House Design,Products,Things of Beauty — Tags: B&N Industries, House Beautiful, reclaimed wood, reclaimed wood decor, reclaimed wood panels — jennifer @ 11:13 am

Yes it wood. These gorgeous reclaimed wood panels by B&N Industries are soooo cool. They would definitely inject style in a front entry! I came across them on House Beautiful’s twitter post and just had to let you know about them.

photo courtesy B&N Industries

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April 1, 2010

not your grandma’s easter eggs…

Filed under: Crafts,Easter,Things of Beauty — Tags: Easter eggs, fabric easter eggs, Kim Vallee, Retro Easter eggs, Retro Mama, Target — jennifer @ 7:39 am

Sew retro Easter eggs? Oh yes you can. I came across these adorable eggs on At Home With Kim Vallee. She profiled the artist who created them, Kim from Retro Mama. Aren’t they just the cutest eggs ever?

Kim, even offers a tutorial on how to make the eggs on her blog. Apparently she picked up the wire cake plate at Target–isn’t it fabulous? I think the trick to the eggs is the right fabric. I just love the combinations that Kim uses.

photo courtesy Retro Mama

I just love the pears and owls too.

photo courtesy Retro Mama

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March 27, 2010

chocolat ooh la la…

Filed under: Articles,Easter,Things of Beauty,Travel — Tags: chocolate, Easter in Paris, Eastre chocolate, Paris, Patrick Roger, The Paris Kitchen — jennifer @ 8:44 am

Easter in Paris looks très delicious at Patrick Roger‘s chocolate boutique. I came across this amazing chocolatier in a fantastic blog called The Paris Kitchen, definitely worth your time to take a look. This just confirms my theory that I am actually a displaced Parisienne, who should return to her make-believe homeland immédiatement!

photo courtesy The Paris Kitchen

These are Patrick Roger’s chocolate boutiques in Paris. Ces sont tres magnifique, n’est-ce pas?

photo courtesy Patrick Roger

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March 24, 2010

garden fresh…

Filed under: Garden,Things of Beauty — Tags: Flowers, gardening, Pike's Place Market, Seattle — jennifer @ 6:40 pm

I felt completely sorry for myself today, so I went looking for flowers to feel better. My mouth was completely numb after a double filling at the dentist’s office and I could barely talk to shopkeepers, who came running to help the lady with the slack drooling face.

First, I popped in to the neighborhood plant store…

Who knew there was such a plant as a Drumstick Primrose?

My Grandmother used to have English Daisies in her garden and I loved them. So sweet.

Then I sulked my way over to the local florist and I ogled some flowers before deciding on a bouquet of anemones and tulips.

When I was downloading my photos I realized I had some with the gorgeous flowers that I saw at Pike’s Place Market in Seattle last week. Hmmm…I thought to myself…they’ll make me feel better.

Nope…still feeling sorry for myself. I’m going to go pout in a corner!!!!!

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March 17, 2010

tiny chair necklaces…

Filed under: Products,Things of Beauty — Tags: Bruxe Design, Liiving Etc., Tiny chair necklace — jennifer @ 11:54 am

What do you think?

Should I carry these necklaces by Bruxe Designs?

The collection of tiny 10K gold and sterling silver reproductions of famous chair designs keep popping up here and there, taunting me with their clever, shiny, sassy looks. This latest image sighting was in Living Etc. e-zine.

My instincts tell me that they’re original and interesting, but they’re not…how shall I put this delicately…cheap! I want to carry the sterling silver necklaces which retail between $200 and $500.

So I would REALLY appreciate your comments ’cause I’m drawn to them, but I don’t know if my customers will be drawn to them.

photo via Living Etc. e-zine

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makes me smile…

Filed under: Art,Bedroom Design,Things of Beauty — Tags: Coach purse, Macy's, The Sweeterie, Truffle Girls — jennifer @ 11:15 am

Just thought I’d share some of the things that are making me smile today…

I found this photo on Truffle Girls blog. It’s driving me crazy…just makes me want to take the day off and make art!!!

photo via Truffle Girls

This pretty bedroom by Burnham Design is putting a really big smile on my face. I love everything about it. The blue chaise, the sweet red chandelier (blue and red is such a smokin’ hot combo right now) and the gorgeous horizontal panelled doors leading to the balcony.