the new chandelier is in

i gave my dad one honey-do for his time in austin - to put up my new capiz chandelier from west elm. i bought it earlier this week using coupons and gift cards, bringing my personal total to only $58 down from the original $269. i've been pining for this chandelier for months so i'm totally pumped to finally have it up. loooooove!

the first three pics are of our thanksgiving dinner table before we sat down to stuff ourselves silly. i love the "omigod i forgot a centerpiece-centerpiece" courtesy of the rose bushes in our front yard, and i was so excited to use our wedding china and crystal. i should break it out more often, just for kicks. the last picture i just took as i'm writing this - see the computer? that's where i'm blogging from!

guest room vision: viceroy santa monica...in texas

i haven't been able to get the decor at the viceroy santa monica out of my head since i visited for a work trip many years ago. kelly wearstler is just genius for her work at that hotel and i wish wish wish i were as talented as she is. i'm totally poaching the grey walls with white plates, vibrant accent colors and white and grey textiles.

the current room: the hideous blank slate

the vision: the viceroy santa monica by kelly wearstler

the materials:

while i'm in mexico, nick and his dad will be painting the currently light purple walls a slate/elephant gray.

meanwhile, i'll be waiting on the arrival of this duvet cover and white canvas curtains from west elm.

the accoutrements: i'll be accenting the room with purples and yellows, so will be on the hunt for pillows and such. not to mention all of those plates i'll need for above the headboard! i'll also be scouring craigslist for a different bed frame. although i do like the white, i kick myself for buying that low-profile bed. haaaaaate it, especially when i knock my shins on it while making the bed.

yellow accent pillows in the living room

just picked up these terrazzo silk pillows in yellow from west elm for the living room couch. for some reason they don't have the yellow version on the website but there are tons in store. loving their new "decorate with yellow" stuff. the silk pillow covers are $34 each and $14 for the down inserts. tip: i had a 10% off welcome to the neighborhood coupon that i received after changing our address with the USPS.

ps. can we talk about the long hanging capiz pendant lamp in last photo above? i MUST have one of these i an high-ceilinged foyer one day. MUST. $259. here are more images from the west elm website. *sigh*

chateau annie and nick

so i thought i'd give a quick update on recent happenings in austin...aside from the usual work, etc. nick and i have had a really fun couple of weeks. the chateau (also known as our guest room) has been booked solid...our BFFs christy and bobby came for their inaugural visit and it was so.much.fun., plus a really great long visit from my mom followed closely behind. we love having visitors! hint hint.

here we are at oasis to watch the sunset over lake travis...but it was cloudy and freezing so we took a photo in front of this sunset billboard instead. love it.

and here's me and nick at salt lick in the perfect 70 degree weather while waiting for our table. mmmm bbq...

...and then enjoying a bottle of wine and the view at driftwood vineyards in hill country.

we don't know who this pink gorilla is but he was the highlight of our night at rebel's honky tonk on W 5th st. pink gorilla, i hope to see you again next time.

i wasn't a great of a photog for my mom's visit but we had a great time. we ate a lot of bbq (i decided i'm obsessed with county line but i'm not into the no-fork-rule at kreuz') and tex mex (free margaritas at el chile while they await their liquor license? yes please!), explored the town, did some shopping, went on some long drives through hill country, tasted some delicious pie, saw avatar at the imax in 3D, and about a billion other things i won't bore you with. i heart moms!

in other news, monday's my first day of work at the new gig and i'm super anxious. i've done a bunch of studying and prepping but i definitely have the scaries already...

monthly mood board: december

wait, it's december?! oops, i'm late with my monthly mood board. sorry! anyhow, i'm obsessed with all things bright blue/teal and silver this month. why not red and green you ask? come on people, this is 2009! you can wear white after labor day and you can even decorate for christmas with blue. yes, blue.

clockwise from top left:

• medallion jewelry boxes, west elm, $49 - $79
• mirrored star tea light holders, graham and green (uk), 17.95 euros
• ew tote, marc jacobs, price not listed (it usually goes for about $900)
• watch the snow fall wall decal by threadless, blik, $40
• teal snowflake gift tags, littlepumpkinpaper on etsy, $3.50 for 15
• french rose love pillow, dedeetsyshop on etsy, $34
• soho blazer in tea, boden, $168
• sequin fingerless gloves, topshop, $32
• blue dove christmas ornaments, amazon, $14.95 for four
• petite starburst sequin dress, topshop, $135

chunky plaited wool rug - sounds awesome, doesn't it?

nothing says comfort like the combination of "chunky" "plaited" and "wool" when describing items for the home, and i've been obsessed with this chunky plaited wool rug in ivory from west elm since before i even knew what it was called. i saw it in the store when nick and i were looking for new bedroom furniture this past spring and i haven't forgotten about it. so soft, perfect ivory color, nice quality and the perfect size for our current living room. we were <---> this close to buying it before i chickened out. excuse = what if we don't need a rug or it doesn't fit if we move or buy a place? i'm sure some of you other NYC renters know what i mean - i'm totally in renter's limbo when it comes to grown-up purchases for the home.

anyway, it's on sale for $549 for the 8x10. and i have some pottery barn gift cards that have been burning a hole in my pocket (they work at west elm). ugh...renter's limbo is torturing me.

images from west elm.