Lucca Antiques

A very fine antique store with beautiful unique european treasures.  I am very attracted to the soothing palettes of their furniture selections.  They have a very "earthy" timeless appeal to them.   Raw elegance with rustic textures.  I love coming across beautiful stores and knowing they are out there makes me happy!

Check out their inventory at Lucca Antiques...it is vast and certainly beautiful!

Los Angeles Address:

Lucca Antiques

744 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

New York Address:

Lucca Antiques

182 Duane Street

New York, NY 10013

Have a wonderful weekend!

xojamilyn

{images from Lucca Antiques}

My French Reading Lamps Are Finally Here

Finally!  Waiting forever for these petite handmade French reading lamps from Galerie des Lampes.  They are here and I am really enjoying my new reading "nook" in my living room.  I think they are just the right size for this area and are beautifully handcrafted.  However, I need something really interesting on either side of the window to hang on the empty wall space.  Space needs more personality.  Seems very bare bones right now and a little too neutral.  My one wish would be to NOT have that wall radiator right under the window!  I really despise the thing.  Ruins the whole look for me!  Thinking of painting it the same as the wall color but then thought it would just be this "ugly" thing painted!

Grasshopper Lamp in antiqued bronze from Galerie des Lampes, France

Wall color:  Camouflage by Benjamin Moore

Trim:  White Dove by Benjamin Moore

Now back to my reading!

xojamilyn

{Images property of Living It At Home and taken via me}

Dizzy With Delight-A New Source

Did you ever get so giddy over a place?  Yes, I am using that silly word!  Dizzy...giddy...lighthearted...frivolous...they all apply to this place, Bob Withington Antiques on Route 1 in York, Maine.   I had the pleasure of visiting several antique stores along this scenic route in Maine and had a blissful experience!   I have posted the map of this area below (end of post) so you may see all the wonderful shops you can visit along this route.  There are at least twenty three stores to visit!  I went a little faint seeing all of these garden urns.  Love them!

Martha Stewart also loves this store too!  We have alot in common her and I....here she is with the owner.  Check out her post she did about her visit there on her blog, The Martha Blog.

This large store offers European and American furnishings, garden ornaments, and other fine vintage items. 

I love the feel of this antique store.  Everything goes together beautifully.

This statuary was already "sold".  Lucky for me...

I love the rustic elegance of these lamps.

Once again, I am a big fan of garden ornaments and urns.  This faux bois (french for false wood) planter is beautiful.

Here is the map of Route 1 in Maine.  You would start in York and work your way up!

Have a wonderful time if you go.  I know I will be back again soon, that is for sure.  Next time though, I am buying something from Withington Antiques.  I have my eyes on the garden urns!

Have fun!

xojamilyn

{Photo's via me, Martha Stewart Blog}

Create A Vignette From The Beach, The Dump and Salvation Army....

Sea Shells, discarded old {pretty cool} books, and a silver tray make a nice vignette for my foyer table.  I really get a kick out of doing things like this in my home.  Sometimes I find myself wandering around my house "fiddling".  I really should be doing the "important" boring mundane tasks but sometimes my creative brain just needs a release!  Not the most amazing creation but satisfying!  You never know what you can combine to create texture, color and interest to a "needy" spot.  And ya know...didn't cost much!  I think the silver tray was $1.99 at the local salvation army.  The seashells are from the Jersey shore and Maine.  There is a treasure trove of antique books at the dump...who knew? Easy!

Lamp is something we picked up at In Home Furniture when they were in business here and the print is from Ireland.

Not bad but looks better in person.  What can you create with items found and items treasured?  Give it a try...it satisfies your creative side!

Have fun!

xojamilyn

{Photo's via me}

Maine On The Brain Take 2

Heading up to Maine-from Boston- is always a great escape.  Was not that long of a drive and made it in under 3 hours to Georgetown, ME.  A week of bliss, relaxing, reading-no t.v.-and sightseeing.  Mostly a wonderful change of scenery and powering down.  Couldn't get enough of the views.  Truly special in every way!

I think our dog Maggie was afraid to walk on the porch for fear she may fall through the cracks!  She wouldn't even step on them.

Five Islands, ME

Views were spectacular from the porch.

Lots of sunning and reading here.

Best lobster shack!  Had plenty of lobsta' while we were there.  Yum!

Pemaquid Point Light House, ME

Our dog Maggie gets really perky when she is near water.  She also loves to hunt for treasures, which is usually sea shells.  Can't wait to go back again some day...

xojamilyn

Maine on the brain

In a few hours I will be sitting at this picnic table eating lobster in Maine!  We are off to our rental home on the ocean.  Happy Fourth of July!

Stay tuned for pictures!
jamilyn

Brilliant White for the summer

Yeah!  Just had the whole exterior of our house painted!  Finally it is done...no more peeling paint!  My house feels so solid now.  I couldn't stand driving up to my home and seeing it look messy.  The painters were here for a week and I am so happy to see them go.  I really don't like having strangers around.  You know how it is.  You get up in the morning in your p.j.'s and there is someone right outside your window working and looking at you!  Ugh!  More work to be done though and it isn't so bright and sunny...we have some dry rot issues and water just came pouring inside from a rotted gutter.  We were running around yesterday cleaning up pools of water in our home.  Never ends does it.  Home ownership can be tough with all the maintenance and expense of repairs!  Looks pretty though!

Our shed in the backyard even got a face lift.  Looks so fresh and sparkly.  Now to tackle all the other jobs.  Landscaping, new driveway, rotting wooden gutters, interior painting, new appliances, and the list goes on and on.  Help!  I think I am ready to move into a condo!

I am loving this summer weather.  Nice and hot!  House paint is Brilliant White by Benjamin Moore Paints.  Shutter paint, Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore.

Jamilyn

Photo's via me

Norfolk Island Pine-will have to replicate this

While shopping in Nesting On Main in Concord, Mass., I focused in on this charming houseplant.  There were several of them scattered around the store and I had to find out what they were.  Never heard of Norfolk Island Pine but new I had to replicate this arrangement.  I even love how the plant is potted in an urn.  I don't think the urn was even an expensive one.  Wasn't very heavy or anything (you know one of those fake ones).  I am just smitten with this plant.  Too bad they weren't for sale...just a decoration for the store.

I just love how feathery and whimsical it looks.   

I am on the look out now for a pot or urn to plant one in.

This is not a very good picture, but this pine was larger that the rest.  I would love to place one in my kitchen by my sliding glass doors.

The only problem with a houseplant is when you go away...  We are renting a house up in Maine on the ocean in a few weeks and I don't want to buy a houseplant before that.   I usually kill my plants and that combined with leaving it for a week without water would surely do it in.  If you would like more info. on the Norfolk Island Pine go here.  

xoxojamilyn

{Photo's via me}

Let There Be {Cute} Light

I am sure I am late joining in the blogosphere to do a post on this cute pendant lamp from Ikea.  Honestly? Better late than never and I needed something to write about!  You know those days! Saw this lamp while shopping at Ikea the other day and just had to do a little spot on it.  It is modern whimsy at its best.  It reminds me of a dandelion when it is all feathery and ready to spread its seeds to the wind.  My daughter loves dandelions when they pop up in our yard..."Honey, please don't blow on them!  You're spreading the weeds all over our lawn!"  This does not stop her and yes it is fun.  However, we now have plenty of weeds in our yard.  That's ok...more for the cute chubby bunnies.  

Ikea PS Maskros Pendant Lamp for $89.99

See what I mean?  They look exactly alike and ya know that is wonderful!

photo via my daughter

I do not have high ceilings for this pendant lamp because I live in a colonial!  Next house reminder...higher ceilings please!

photo via my daughter

via me

Other {cute} pendant lamps from Ikea.

Well, that is all for today.  It is rainy and glum here today and kinda chilly!  I am off to wrap up our summer plans.  We may be renting a house in Maine or on Martha's Vineyard...could I be more indecisive?  I am making my hubby nuts in that regard.  Also lining up some day camps for my daughter.  Once again...better late than never!  My new motto {well, maybe an old one}.

What are your summer plans?

Have fun~

jamilyn

{images via me, via Timothy Harteley via More Ways To Waste blog, via roomforrefinement.com}

Two Benches I Ordered and some Feng Shui

I really don't like waiting for furniture to be delivered.  Actually just learned from customer service that there will be more delays and would I like to still keep the order?  Mmmm...I was tempted to say, "No thanks!".  Well, I did start to kinda say that and the nice lady on the phone offered me another discount on top of the sale that was running for the two benches.  OK!  I reconsidered and decided that would make it worth waiting another month or so.  I may get them in July.  I have been searching and searching for a bench for our bedroom which seems like forever.  Finally decided to bite the bullet and go for the Louise bench from Restoration Hardware.  I may put it at the bottom of our bed.  However, our room looks nothing like this and I hope it works!  I really don't like matchy-matchy so I am hopping I will love it.  Bottom line...I feel like I don't know what the heck I am doing!

via Restoration Hardware

Another idea that I am kind of sticking with is to put the Louise bench along side this "lonely" wall we have in our bedroom.  {There is really nothing else that can be done there} Above it I want to hang a really unique mirror.  This useless area will then serve as a place to sit and put on your shoes or to just gaze at our lovely selves in the mirror.  Did you know if you have a mirror in the bedroom that you are supposed to cover it at night?  According to Feng Shui:

Remove or cover any mirrors in the bedroom during sleep.
A bedroom mirror that reflects the bed creates the most serious problems. A single person is less apt to attract a romantic partner -- in fact, the mirror doubles his or her solitude. A couple with a mirror reflecting the bed is more apt to attract a third person who may disrupt their relationship. People with depression -- and related stress and health issues -- also are affected by a mirror reflecting the bed because it disturbs sleep. In all these cases, cover the mirror at night ... during waking hours it's fine to uncover your bedroom mirrors.

{Pay attention!  You may want to listen to this if you are having issues in your life!  Hee!}  Go here to read more.

OK, that doesn't inspire me to hang a mirror.  I guess I will have to cover it at night.  My husband will think I am wacky!  This mirror below is really pretty and I think it would look great above the bench.

Plus...

The bench...I have been waiting for forever!

via Restoration Hardware

Valorie from Visual Vamp blog uses a similar arrangement in her dinning room.  I really love how the mirror and bench look together.  To see more of her fabulous transformation in her dinning room, go here.  This is really the look I am going for in my bedroom.  Don't you just love it?

via Visual Vamp

Here is another arrangement but with artwork above it.  My foyer isn't big enough for this set up so I have to recreate it somewhere in my house!

via Visual Vamp

The other infamous bench I ordered from Restoration Hardware... the linen Toscane nail head bench.  I am not really sure where I am going to put this yet.  It may just serve as extra seating somewhere in my house.  Or just use it as an ottoman by a chair.  This bench was also on sale making it hard to resist!

via Restoration Hardware

Don't you just love how it looks at the foot of this bed?

Anyway, I am off to "try" and make more decisions for our home.  It gives me a brain ache!  Wish me luck!

xojamilyn

{Images via Restoration Hardware, Visual Vamp}