Paint It Black.

The Rolling Stones told me to Paint It Black.

So I did.

Quite a few of you also suggested I paint my bathroom black. Remember? Click here for a reminder and the Before photo.

Actually, I used chalkboard paint on the walls (if it's good enough for Jenna Lyons...) and glossy black on the tub. The chalkboard paint is not quite flat and not quite glossy and it reads somewhere between black and the deepest blue.


I tried black feet but it looked blah and I was going to replace all the towel bars, etc., with polished nickel or chrome but we're in a Depression people so I decided to go with the brass since that's what I have (except the lights go either way - I just haven't found anything I like yet). Fresh new white towels are on order from Restoration Hardware (I went here and got 10% off my order which also reduced my shipping - yay for discounts!).

So I think I'm in the market for a gold/gilt mirror (which is why my daughter's 1st grade artwork is on the floor - for frame color reference) - that is, unless I can have chrome lights and mirror and everything else brass? Light ideas? I love this combo - she mixes chrome and gold and more; more of a beach look but you get the idea. Opinions?

Playlist for a Broken Heart.

You know how music can take you back to a single life episode, to a new relationship, to a broken heart? My first husband died of cancer just over 7 years ago (this post was a tribute to him on the anniversary of his death; the last gravestone was his). Today would have been our 23 wedding anniversary. When my heart is broken I play sad songs over and over. This is a partial playlist from that time period ("Songs to drive your car off a bridge to") and, unfortunately, due to my unbelievably shit week, it is my playlist today:

Give Me Love by George Harrison
Bring on the Rain by Jo Dee Messina
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart and I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry by Al Green
If You Leave Me Now by Chicago
Without You by the Dixie Chicks
What's Going On by Four Non-Blondes

Please pile on and add your favorite sad songs. Hopefully, I won't need them tomorrow.

The Domino Fairy Came...

Okay, so we've been having some trouble getting Domino in upper and lower Delaware which you may remember from this post. The October issue arrived well into November but November came compliments of the lovely and talented Habitually Chic! Habitually Chic may have a few lying around because she is also mentioned in the Nov. issue. Thank you H. C. for pitying me and my Dominolessness. And congrats on the mention!

Everybody has already posted on it, but I must profess my love for Jenna Lyons' house. The rooms read black but are really deep navy. I covet them. I will only bore you with a photo of one of the rooms since you've already seen them:


I will bore visually reiterate for you these two photos from another house, also from the same issue, with black walls. Love.



I first saw black used in an appealing way in an 80s home decorating book from Home Depot and, more recently(about 5 years ago) from the book, Bachelor Style. Here's the pad that got me thinking about black, the Paris Apartment of Jean-Pierre Calvagrac.



That sleigh bed is just dreamy. And I love the mix of burled woods and (let's say) faux furs against the darkness. Then today, while visiting the site of Hollister Hovey, I find more black beauty in the apartment she shares with her sister, Porter (of Porter Polaroid Project). Hollister calls their style a hybrid between Royal Tenenbaums and Charlie Rose. Ha.



So gorgeous and the coolest blogs. For the record, I have subscribed to Domino to avoid further delivery mishaps. Even though I'm not sure they'll still be around in 6 months... Hope I'm wrong.