Happy Halloween!

May you have a glamourous (but still a little bit ghoulish) day!

For more gorgeous fashion photography, go HERE.

Viva Miami!

Tonight Dave and I are off to Miami for a four-day weekend. The first three nights will be spent at The Standard, where I plan to take full advantage of its many spa amenities as well as its salt water pool. On Friday, I'll be dragging Dave to Miami's fabulous design district for a bit of serious art and decor sight seeing. We'll also be meeting up with Dave's brother and his wife (who live in Plantation) for some fine dining and drinking on Thursday and Friday nights. The weekend will be spent back at Casa Conn for some trick-or-treating with my niece and nephew. I'll be bringing my laptop with me and will try and post some while I'm there, but if posting and/or commenting is light until Monday, I promise to make it up with some great Miami-related posting next week.

Cibus Corner: Autumn Culinary Delights

After a summer hiatus, Chef Babs is back with a new installment of Cibus Corner just in time for fall entertaining. As the temperatures in Houston return to hospitable levels, fall is our favorite time for entertaining and cooking warm, inviting meals. To help put you in the mood, I've also included pictures from a rustic barn home in upstate New York featured recently in Martha Stewart Living. In addition to being a lovely example of rustic-meets-modern architecture and design, the rooms also feature wonderful fall touches that could be inexpensively replicated for your next fall get-together. And with that, I'll hand the keyboard over to Chef Babs!

Fall has always been my favorite season. I love this time of year. In Texas, at least, our best weather is often in the Autumn. I also love the culinary delights of the colder seasons. The hot apple pies, the roasts, stews, curries, soups and hot chocolate that people steer away from in the warmer seasons is finally brought back to the culinary forefront. The following is a sprinkling of some of my favorite recipes that are perfect for this time of year.

Chef Babs’s Turkey Meatball Subs

I normally do not spend much time making sandwiches at home. Unless it is tuna, I tend to stay away from making them myself. I am not sure why, but most sandwiches bore me. One night, however, desperate for a new recipe but not wanting to venture to the grocery store, I looked at the contents of my fridge and decided to try my hand at a meatball sub. It is the perfect meal to enjoy in the fall. It is also tasty and impressive enough to serve to guests who come over to watch the football game of the weekend. It would also be a hit later in the winter at a Super Bowl Party.

1.5 lbs Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (casings removed)

1 egg

½ cup Italian Style Breadcrumbs

¼ c. Olive Oil plus more for drizzling

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Jar of your favorite marinara sauce

¼ c. Fresh Basil

4-6 Large Sub Rolls (I prefer Wheat)

4-6 Slices Provolone Cheese (1 per sub)

4-6 Slices Mozzarella Cheese (1 per sub)

Combine the Italian Sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Roll the meatballs in your hand into the desired size (I use about two tablespoons per meatball). Continue to make meatballs until you are out of the sausage mixture. Place the meatballs on a non-stick skillet over high heat on the stove top. Cook the meatballs until they are beginning to brown. Turn them so that they brown on all sides (about 7-9 minutes). Once the outsides have browned, pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs and turn the heat down to medium. Cover and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Turn on the broiler. Drizzle the subs with olive oil and place in the broiler for about 2-3 minutes, until the subs are lightly toasted. Once the meatballs have finished cooking, place them in the subs and place one slice of provolone and one slice of mozzarella on the top of each sub. Place one whole basil leaf in the middle of each sub. Place the subs back in the broiler until cheese is melty (about 1 minute). Serve with a salad and a cold beer or cider.

Grandma Christine’s Fresh Apple Cake

I love apples in the autumn. I eat one for lunch every day from September to December. They are the one food that I never tire of eating. Their hardiness and freshness also makes them a perfect fruit for baking. This cake recipe has been in my family for at least 50 years and is the perfect cake to finish a hearty meal, like stew, but is also great served for breakfast as coffee cake. My father’s mother used to make it every fall, and my Aunt and mother continued the tradition. Now I bake it at least two or three times between September and December. If you want to make it even more special, drizzle with caramel sauce and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 ½ cup Wesson oil

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups apples, chopped and peeled

1 cup chopped nuts

3 cups sifted flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp cloves

¼ tsp All Spice

Sift and measure the flour. Then add the soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, and cloves and resift. Cream the oil, sugar and eggs together. Add vanilla and beat in. Add the apples and nuts. Add the sifted dry ingredients and mix well. Bake in greased, floured Bundt pan for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, then at 325 degrees for 30-40 more minutes.

Shortcut: You can use canned apples (found in the baking section with the pie fillings) instead of fresh apples. Rinse them off before using and then chop them up.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cupcakes

I happen to be a big fan of pumpkin and cupcakes, but until last weekend, I had never before combined the two. A few weeks ago, I came across a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes in a new cookbook The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook that my friend gave me for my birthday and is rapidly becoming my new favorite cookbook. Everything that I have made in it is wonderful. The cupcakes are creative, tasty, and easy. The Hazelnut Cupcakes may be the best cupcakes that I have ever tasted (the recipe calls for a spoon of Nutella in the center). Even better, you do not need to be a skilled baker to master these recipes. My other favorite recipe, which is seasonal, is the recipe for pumpkin cream cheese cupcakes. What I like about these cupcakes is that people who do not generally care for pumpkin enjoyed them. Averill, for instance, will not eat pumpkin pie, but happily ate a couple of these delightful cupcakes! They will also make a nice addition to any Thanksgiving feast. Since I do not have permission to publish the recipe, to obtain it you will have to purchase the book. It retails on Amazon for $18.45. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is especially a great purchase for people with children from the ages of 4-11.

All photographs courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Weekend Progress Report

As the countdown to the holidays continues and the specter of hosting seven people over Thanksgiving looms ever larger, my desire to get the new house in order has increasingly become a necessity. This weekend saw the completion of a few more random projects around the house and the delivery of some new pieces for the living room (finally!).

After weeks of waiting we finally got one of the pieces I purchased at Ethan Allen over Labor Day. My Rand wing chair arrived on Saturday and I absolutely love it! Between the nail head trim and the subtle metallic and blue hues in the fabric, I nearly swooned when I saw it in the show room back in September. If every room has a star, then this chair is a bona fide diva, and my hope is that the sofa (which should be arriving in two weeks) and other major pieces (not yet purchased) will play a supporting role as they compliment and hold their own against the chair without overpowering with it -- after all, two or more divas in a room can end very badly.

I've paired the wing chair with this greek key floor lamp that I bought from Shannon over at The Designer's Attic. Shannon (of Pink Wallpaper fame) features unique fabrics, accessories, lighting and small furniture pieces that she's scored in her years as a designer. It's a "must" follow for anyone on a perpetual hunt for unique, designer-y finds at wallet-friendly prices. I simply added an inexpensive shade from Shades of Light and a cheap-o harp and finial from Lowe's and -- voila! -- gorgeous floor lamp for under $100!

Ever the princess, Olivia is rather fond of it, too.

Progress was also made in my study as I added a ceiling medallion around the new chandelier that Dave so painstakingly hung last month. Because of the height of this room -- and the look on Dave's face when I suggested we add a ceiling medallion -- I used a ceiling medallion that came in two separate pieces, which allowed us to mount the molding around the existing fixture without having to remove it!

Since the medallion is made out of lightweight polyurethane, we installed it easily with just some heavy-duty glue (which saved us an additional step of caulking and painting over any nail holes!). Prior to mounting, I did repaint the ceiling medallion in our trim paint to ensure an exact match. I was a little concerned that the seams between the two pieces would show, but from the ground they blend indistinguishably with the petal detail. All in all, this was a quick and simple upgrade that took us under an hour (dry time for the paint not included).

And lest you think I've forgotten altogether, I'm also announcing the winner to the oh, kirby! giveaway tonight. Through the highly scientific process that is random.org, the winner is...

Maple!

Christina, please email me with your address and choice of print. Many thanks also to everyone who participated in the giveaway and congratulations to Christina!

Take a Seat

Amanda Nisbet

On chilly fall days like today, all I want to do is to curl up with a good book, a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and read the afternoon away. If I had the luxury of doing so in one of these window seats or reading nooks, all the better. There's just something so cozy and peaceful about these beautiful, confined spaces that makes me want to kick off my shoes, grab a soft blanket and nestle in for a lazy afternoon. In fact, these images are so cozy and peaceful, that I won't spoil the mood with any more unnecessary verbiage -- sometimes it's nice to sit back and soak in the pretty, no?

Frank Roop

Phoebe Howard

Jean-Louis Denoit

Canadian House & Home

LivingEtc.

Miguel Flores-Vianna

And don't forget to enter HERE for your chance to win a 5 x 7" oh, kirby! print of your choice. I'll be selecting the winner on Monday. Happy weekend, everyone!

A New Craving

A few months ago I literally stumbled into Crave Cupcakes while killing time over at Houston's Uptown Park before a dinner meeting. After buying a dozen on the pretense of treating Dave for his birthday back in May, I've been using just about any excuse (baby showers, birthdays, random Tuesdays) to swing by and order two or four...or twelve. As a self-appointed connoisseur of the cupcake (I've had my fair share, believe me), I can honestly say that these are the best money can buy -- and yes, even better than Sprinkles or Magnolia. At $36/dozen they aren't cheap, but boy are they worth it. Moist, flavorful, and with just the right amount of icing. And today, after waking up at 4:30 am to participate in a company charity event, I'm in need of a sweet pick-me-up more than ever. Alas though, Crave Cupcakes don't exactly jive with my recent efforts to eat healthier, so a little day dream eating will have to suffice for now.

Of course it doesn't hurt that they're pretty to look at as well. If you order at least 24 hours in advance, you can even select from an assortment of cute decorations to personalize them further.

While you can take your cupcakes to go (or even have them delivered -- Lord help me!), their storefront is so retro chic it's worth eating one (or two) there to fully appreciate the ambiance. Something about it feels very Southern Californian to me.

Unsurprisingly, I love all of the soft turquoise; it's the perfect counterpoint to the cool whites and rich chocolate browns. Unlike a lot of cupcake bakeries in Houston, this one doesn't look cutesy or overly sweet (thankfully). The large menu board displays the flavors currently on offer that day.

While I highly doubt the dozens and dozens of cupcakes baked here each morning come out of this vintage oven, I absolutely love the retro touch. It also coordinates with a half dozen vintage turquoise mixers on display by the cashier.

While I have yet to have the privilege of sampling every flavor they offer (there are 28 flavors, many of which are only available on certain days), my favorite so far is a tie between the red velvet (shown above left) and the vanilla on chocolate (shown above right).

Two flavors on my "must try" list include candy bar and nutella. Since both are available only Wednesdays and Sundays, it might be worth a drive-by for a little hump day treat.

...All I can say is, as far as my waistline is concerned, I'm very, very fortunate that Crave is a bit out of the way for me.

Artist Spotlight: Oh, kirby! {and Giveaway}

Elizabeth R ($70, original painting on wood panel)

I first became acquainted with oh, kirby! artwork via decor8 way back in 2008 and have been charmed by Sarah Kirby's original work every since. My attraction to her art is partially based on a shared fondness of similar historic periods and figures and partially because her style recalls the many, many paper dolls that I cut and played with as a girl. Knowing that anyone who regularly paints the likes of Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette is a girl after my own heart, I got in touch with Sarah after making a recent purchase on her website and asked her if she'd mind doing a little interview for Odi et Amo. Fortunately, Sarah was happy to indulge me and my amateur attempts at interviewing and I hope you enjoy her responses as much as I did.

By way of a brief introduction, Sarah is an artist, vintage clothing dealer, and freelance costume designer from Georgia. Although Sarah is a self-taught artist, she has an undergraduate degree in art history and master's in museum studies from St. Andrew's University, both with a special focus in historical clothing. Drawing upon her historical background, Sarah creates lovely, stylized portraits of both famous and ordinary historical figures that possess a certain undeniable charm. Any oh, kirby! print or original painting would be lovely additions to any space where you're looking to add a little bit of timeless whimsy. Be sure to check out Sarah's other Etsy shop oh, kirby! the vintage shoppe, which features vintange clothing, as well as her lovely blog.

The Lady Who Had Her Cake and Ate it Too ($18, 8 x 10" print)

Odi et Amo: How did you first become interested in historical clothing? When and how did your interest in painting historical figures and costumes begin?

Sarah Kirby: I've always been fascinated by history and the clothing of the past. I've been sewing historical costumes since I was a young teenager, but even when I was little, when we would visit museums I would find myself gravitating towards displays that featured historical clothing. Now that I’m older, I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work with historical clothing in museums, and being able to lovingly prepare them for storage and learn the stories about the people who wore them has only increased my love for it. Likewise, I've been making art all my life. I've done everything - landscapes, portraits, abstracts, etc - but if you looked inside my sketchpad, all my doodles were always of costume illustrations and historical characters. A few years ago, I decided to do a few pieces inspired by my sketchpad doodlings, and haven’t stopped since!

Blackbird, Victorian Mourning Lady ($85, original canvas painting)

OetA: What historical periods and types of fashion are you most interested in? Why?

SK: There are so many that pique my visual interest. I don't think I could pin down one, or even a few, periods in fashion history! But if I had to choose, I have always been very drawn to the Rococo period and the Renaissance period. It's quite funny, too, because they are so different from each other. One is the epitome of decadence, frilly and pastel, and the other is very rigid, with more earthy, realistic colours. I also love the Victorians, because their frills had a strange, pinned-up, gothic quality, and I find this inspiring both for my art as well as my own personal style.

Marie Antoinette necklace ($18)

OetA: What do you think future historians will have to say about early 21st century fashion?

SK: I think they will write that fashions in the early 21st century were very much influenced by the 20th century, but that there were a few rebels, such as Alexander McQueen, who broke away by creating designs that were completely ground breaking and truly modern. With that said, I like that the 20th century still plays such an important role in fashion, because it means that vintage continues to be relevant! I think there is room for both ground breaking and old-fashioned, and that is what is so great about 21st century fashion. Anything goes.

Miss Austen ($18, 5x7" print)

OetA: What's your favorite piece currently available in your store?

SK: I would probably say Miss Austen. I just love the simplicity of the portrait, and the colours -- and of course, the Jane Austen reference. When I painted her, I knew I couldn't sell the original, and it is now in my bedroom!

OetA: Your store mentions that you're making room for lots of new pieces -- can you give us a preview of what's to come? Do they represent a departure from what you've been offering?

SK: I am working on a few projects that will be appearing in the next few months. In November I will be introducing my holiday themed card and original art collection. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, and I’m very excited! As far as whether or not my upcoming projects will be a departure, I don’t know. I just paint as the inspiration comes to me! Sometimes a piece will seem wildly different from what I usually do, but then sometimes it will be cozy and familiar.

Sarah, modeling some of her own vintage finds

OetA: What attracts you to vintage clothing as opposed to modern, "of the moment" fashion?

SK: There are so many reasons, yet somehow I find this question hard to put into words! Simply put, I’ve always found that vintage fashion just suited my shape and my look better than modern styles. There isn’t a single item of clothing that I feel more comfortable in than a full-skirted cotton 1950s dress. I also love how unique each piece can be. When you wear vintage, the chances of meeting someone else who owns the same dress is very slim!

OetA: Tell me a little bit about your vintage clothing Etsy shop. Where do you find most of the pieces? Do you have any helpful hints on vintage clothing shopping in general?

SK: My vintage items come from thrift stores, estate sales, antique malls, and personal friends. For example, I recently acquired all the clothing items from the estate of a friend’s mother, who was an antique dealer, so I suspect those will be keeping me busy for quite a long time.When looking for vintage clothing, I try to go with an open mind and persistence. You’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, after all! Sometimes I go to five different shops and find nothing, and other times I go to one shop and find thirty items. Also, certain vintage items may not look fabulous on the rack, but keeping an open mind can bring about so many more fashion possibilities – sometimes a simple hem is all you need to completely change the look of an item!

Just because it's Tuesday, I thought I'd give away one 5 x 7 print of Kirby's original artwork. To enter:

1. Head on over to Oh, kirby!'s Etsy shop and select your favorite 5 x 7 print.

2. Come back here and leave me a comment, letting me know which print you'd select if you won.

3. If you'd like a second entry, become a follower of Odi et Amo (and be sure to let me know you have by leaving a second comment).

I'll be taking entries until midnight CST, Sunday, October 25, and the winner will be announced Monday, October 26, 2009.

Finishing Touches on the Master Bathroom

Up until a week or two ago, the very thought of launching into another painting project at our house left Dave and I exhausted. After all, the memories of our painting marathon back in August were just too fresh. Now though that summer has turned into fall, I find myself with some renewed energy to focus on home improvement projects around the house and over the weekend I managed to talk Dave into repainting our master bath from the boring-but-pleasant builder basic beige to a lovely, rich medium-tone gray (Lamp Room Gray to be exact) that ties in perfectly with our blue-gray master bedroom.

And so, with the UT-OU {hook 'em horns!} and then UF-Arkansas {Go Gators!} football games in the background, Dave and I managed to knock out the painting in just a few hours. While the "before" and "after" photos aren't terribly different, I do think the bluer gray works nicely with the white ceramic tiles and white Silestone countertops. In addition to the new paint color, we've also swapped out the hardware with Restoration Hardware's vintage collection, which features a lovely combination of frosted glass and oil-rubbed bronze.

For a bit of personality, I also hung some antique Japanese woodblock prints (which I scored from Fuji Arts on the cheap years ago) that had been sitting in my closet. Frames are simple Pottery Barn gallery frames that I've used (and reused) for years.

My next project is going to be to replace the existing light fixture with something a tad less boring. I'd like to do something with some serious personality, but because of the height of the ceiling (9 feet), the fixture needs to be either flush mount or extend no lower than 6" or so. Right now, I'm debating between this Jonathan Adler flush mount or this Morovian star pendant. Since our house is currently tied 1-1 on which to go with, I thought I'd let you the readers cast the deciding vote.

poll by twiigs.com

A Haunting Light

Vena Amoris candle from D.L. & Company

I've never really been particularly keen on traditional Halloween decorations because, quite frankly, none of them ever manage to be at all scary. Sure, a jack-o-lantern can be cute, but how often does the sight of one sitting on your neighbor's front porch really give you a fright? To get into the spirit of the season, you don't need a lot of ghoulish decorations or Halloween paraphernalia. All you need do is turn out the lights and light a few candles. After all, there's nothing like some dark shadows to really get the imagination in overdrive.

As someone who enjoys indulging her childhood penchant for the macabre every October while still maintaining a certain level of, shall we say, decorum, I can't get enough of D.L. & Co. and (the more affordable) Modern Alchemy candles -- both brainchildren of the candle maker, perfumer and probable genius Douglas Little. The Seven Deadly Sins candle set ($150, shown above) is a wonderful opportunity to indulge in your own favorite sin(s) -- and, broken up into individual candles, would invariably be amusing gifts for your seven favorite (or least favorite) friends this year. ("Why did she give me a pride candle?...Is she trying to tell me something?")

My absolute favorite though is Modern Alchemy's Salem candle ($45), which has a gloriously authentic bonfire smell...perfect for burning (next to) your favorite witch. I visited Salem, MA, my junior year of college in mid-October and was completely agog at how crowded it was. Indeed, I remember being sorely disappointed by how overrun it was by tourists and how most of the sites seemed to cater to a rather cheesy and/or childish version of the events that occurred there over three hundred years ago.

That same fall I was taking a course on Witchcraft in America, which was really just about the witch hunts in New England in the late seventeenth century. At the time I was taking the course, I was completely unaware that I was in fact related to (and indeed named after) the a woman who was among the first group of women convicted of witchcraft in America: Sarah Wildes. It was only after my husband started doing some genealogical research on my family that we discovered that Sarah's maiden name was Averill (as in my first name) that the link became clear. Sarah though, like all other "witches" (save the sole male victim who was instead crushed to death) at Salem, was hanged rather than burned. Despite the historical inaccuracy of the fiery scent and image, the candle is nevertheless a haunting reminder of my family history. On a more cheerful note, it's also a wonderfully cozy...and slightly creepy...scent to burn on a cool autumn night.

I have a penchant for pairing candles with books and/or movies, as a foodie might pair wine with cheese. With your choice of D.L. & Company candle, may I suggest Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, a haunting novel about the world's greatest perfumer and his quest to capture and create the ultimate scent.

If you'd prefer to cuddle up in front of your TV this weekend, I'd highly suggest Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. I am an unabashed fan of both Mr. Burton's and Johnny Depp (who plays Ichabod Crane) and of their many collaborations together, this one just may be my favorite. As an added bonus, the set, costumes and make-up are utterly fantastic and well deserving of the movie's Oscar nods (and win in Art Direction). Indeed, I'd argue that Burton and Little are cut of the same, beautiful black cloth.

Happy {haunted} weekend, everyone!

From ghoulies and ghosties

And long-leggedy beasties

And things that go bump in the night,

Good Lord, deliver us!

~Traditional Scottish Prayer~

Turquoise is a Neutral

Sean Scherer

I know that for a lot of people, color can be a scary thing. Hours can be spent agonizing over a bold color choice for walls or upholstery (or even just a throw pillow): "Will this color work with the other colors in the room?" "What other colors could this work for in the future?" "Am I limiting myself to only working within a narrow range of colors and/or styles?" That sort of thing.

If you happen to fall into this color-cautious camp, then please allow me to make a suggestion: go with turquoise. Whether in accessories to give an otherwise neutral space some pop or as the dominant color in a space, turquoise (or turq-WAZ as Alison would say) is a surprisingly versatile color and should under no circumstances be relegated to the kids' room. In fact, I'd venture so far as to declare turquoise a neutral; it can work with just about any other color and in any style of decor.

Kim Coleman

Here, I love how the turquoise really plays off an otherwise black and white space to give it some serious sophistication (and a dose of fun). The bright turquoise border just under the crown molding and above the base boards is a brilliant (and easy) way to put some bold color on your walls without the commitment. This would also add some faux-architectural interest to an otherwise boxy room.

Christina Rottman

What's interesting about this turquoise kitchen is that it's the only colorful room in a very neutral (albeit lovely) house. I remember Rottman discussing in the accompanying article that she chose the kitchen for her bold color statement because it opened on to several rooms so the color could spill into the rest of the house.

Jamie Drake

Here again turquoise is used as an accent color, but this time in a very colorful room. I love the asymmetric placement of the art on just one side of the window, which balances off the small table and accent chair anchoring the opposite end of the long MCM sofa.

Ruthie Sommers

The pops of turquoise add some visual noise to an otherwise quiet palette in this sitting room designed by Ruthie Sommers. I particularly love the pale lavender walls that cast such a lovely glow on all the white furniture.

Ashley Whittaker

Admittedly Whittaker uses a softer version of turquoise in this dining room, but this is a quieter, more traditional take on the color that may be more palatable to folks looking for a more subtle statement.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

I love the high contrast between the turquoise ocean prints on the wall and the bright orange curtains and pillow. The turquoise/orange combination is a very of the moment take on a traditional red and blue. This room is also a great example of how a neutral base can be easily punched up with colorful accessories (that could just as easily be switched out in a few years if your color tastes are running in a different direction).

Rob Southern

This library was just about the only room I liked in the feature on this Houston home in a recent issue of House Beautiful (black vinyl walls, oh my!). That said, that deep turquoise (or peacock blue) paired with that gorgeous ikat print and stunning Persian rug make my heart skip a beat.

Jodi Macklin

While turquoise does indeed deserve a place outside the realm of childrens' bedrooms, it is nevertheless a great choice for the under-18 set. This room designed by Jodi Macklin takes full advantage of turquoise's youthful, bold spirit by pairing it with hot pink and lime. The plaid bedskirt and floral curtains are also a great illustration of the golden rule (keep the palette the same, but vary the scale) on mixing patterns.

Steven Gambrel

I love how Gambrel is able to successfully incorporate turquoise walls into a masculine interior. I never thought turquoise could ever read as "moody", but with the dark curtains, pendant and fireplace, it somehow does.

John Willey

The turquoise lamp that launched a thousand posts. Still stunning after all this time.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

Another gorgeous example of a turquoise chandelier, this time courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller out in California. I love this paired with the very traditional, very orate ceiling medallion.

And, of course, what would this post be without a roundup of my favorite turquoise items?

Sourcelist (clockwise from top left): 1. Christina Table Lamp by Bungalow 5 from Clayton Gray Home ($450) 2. Blue Beaded Globe from Pieces ($695) 3. Vintage French Glass chandelier from Revival Home & Garden ($1,200) 4. Mira sofa from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams ($) 5. Vince and Vincent Lamp from Stray Dog Designs ($425) 6. Zebra Waste Basket and Tissue Set from Clayton Gray Home ($160) 7. Lacquer Umbrella Stand from Jonathan Adler ($295) 8. iittala mug from AllModern ($14.40) 9. Turquoise Glass Jars from Grace Home Furnishings ($35-$55).

Sourcelist (clockwise, from top left): 1. Lush square pillow by Unison from AllModern.com ($36) 2. Turquoise Vases from Jayson Home & Garden ($80-$98) 3. Large lucite frame from Dabney Lee at Home ($120) 4. Azure pillow from John Robshaw ($98) 5. Writing Desk from Russell and McKenna ($2100) 6. Amanda Blue quilt by Roberta Roller Rabbit ($125) 7. Turquoise Pill Carafe from Jonathan Adler ($48) 8. Cyan pillow from John Robshaw ($105) 9. Ginny Shower Curtain from India Rose ($95) 10. Turquoise Moroccan pouf from John Derian ($265) 11. Turquoise Art Deco lamp from Target ($59.99).