Thanks, Thank you, Thankful for and Thanksgiving

In the spirit of giving and thanks, this Thanksgiving I'm giving you a list of a few of the random things I'm thankful for, and that just make me feel happy...

NEW ORLEANS:  No city like it and I love it, quirks and all.   
Thank you NOLA for being you:

SAINTS FANS: If there was ever a definition for eternal optimists, Saints fans would be it.  It took a long time for our team to be 'winning,' as Charlie Sheen would say, but the fans never gave up.  Also, the sheer creativity behind many of the die-hards' costumes is genius.  


Thank you Saints fans for seeing the glass half full -- we could all learn a lesson or two from these people:

BOOKSHELVES and STACKS OF BOOKS:  Even if you don't read them, books in your home make you appear smart.  Perception is everything, people (kind of).  Plus, colorful book spines and cover art are pretty additions to any shelf or coffee table.


Thank you books for providing an inexpensive form of decor (and for making me appear smarter than I actually am):

PUBLIC ART:  It's free to enjoy and something we can all share in.  Art like this gets the conversation started.


Thank you to all the talented artists and patrons who provide the cash to make this type of art available to us all:

Arthur Silverman

Claes Oldenburg

Leandro Erlich

Ida Kohlmeyer

FAMILY:  The dysfunction in all of them is sort of what makes all of these inherited units function.  We love them, but admit it, they are all a little dysfunctional.  Otherwise, we'd have no need for friends -- the people we actually pick, and I'm way thankful for those too!  

Thank you to family and friends who make my life so fulfilling, strange, exciting and wonderful!!  Being this is the favorite time of year for the requisite family photo-op, here are some great family portriats to inspire us all for our holiday cards:

Shorts, strangling and sneers from the skunk-haired sister.  Interesting.

The bigger the hair, the bigger the love.  Rock on.

Yes, mama's tired...tired of the '70s clothing and haircuts perhaps.

A family who hot-tubs together, _____ together. (fill in the blank) 

My all time favorite dysfunctional family.

My second favorite dysfunctional family.

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  XOXO

Breaking up with the green...

Remember these chairs?  

Farewell green.  Onto other-colored pastures.

The more I looked at them, the more I agreed with my friend.  Green and the chairs were just not a good match.  Breaking up can be hard, but the parting was amicable.  Plus, I have a power-sander.  


Where do good-looking, repro Italian armchairs go to find their next match?  1stdibs.com of course.  The number one online marketplace for all things beautiful, antique and vintage, 1stdibs.com provided me and the chairs' owner with ample inspiration for the next look.


Nothing phoney about these online photos (all courtesy 1stdibs.com).
These are the real deal:

Pair Italian neo-classical armchairs

But then we also saw this, and loved the hints of gold in the paint:

Ohhh la, la, gold!

Here are the chairs in progress:

Come to mama hot stuff!

Details....

A little antweak crackle goes a long way...

We're in the process of narrowing down fabric choices.  Check back soon for the 'happily ever after' photos...

Are you a Tiger or Rolling the Tide?

Sorry Crimson Tide but as far as mascots go Mike the Tiger wins.   

Apologies in advance to all my wonderful friends who went to University of Alabama, but the fact that I went to graduate school at LSU and that I live in its proximity, I'm thinking purple, gold (yellow) and tigers at the moment.  


Listen Bama fans, don't give up on me yet.  I'm fickle, especially when it comes to team loyalty.  Knowing me and my fascination for underdogs I'll just root for whoever's losing tomorrow. In other words it's a bad sign if you see me cheering for your team by the second half. 


Until the big game, here's a little purple and gold inspiration from the style files (most images are from my Pinterest).  Have fun! xoxo, Kat

Tiger print pillows in bedroom done by Miles Redd

Very cool desk chair, via my pinterest

purple and gold painting by Hiroshi Matsumoto  

Yellow chesterfield by Anthropologie

Hickory Chair by Alexa Hampton

Aerin Lauder's dining room via Elle Decor 

Purple living via Elle Decor

Yellow and Gold (and zebra_!!!

Gold and purple pillows via Elle Decor 

Gorgeous yellow drapes via my Pinterest

Purple and gold by designer Massucco Warner Miller

Beautiful purple room via Elle Decor

Caption this Contest ---

Seriously creepy yellow dude on purple velvet via random photo from the interent...
All he needs is a tiger to come eat him to complete the look.
Will someone please caption this for me?