STAND AND DELIVER

Nothing else adds as much character to a room like a unique accessory. Trophy heads, regal dog statues, gazelles, Buddhas, bookends and even artichokes....all just standing there (but delivering) and defining personalities of home owners and decor style from Los Angeles to Dubai! Whether you prefer porcelain, ceramic, glass, stone or iron, these beauties are all the rage in the design business.
Here are a few of my faves in homes around the world!

The peacock in turquoise glaze, adding color, texture and elegance. Silver ram head figurine, perfect modern addition to any table.  
Pure white porcelain greyhound. Adds height and drama to room. 
The platinum octopus climbs atop the mantle for a conversation builder.
 
Another turquoise statue, this large thoroughbred is everyone's favorite.  
For a bookshelf in need of an antique look, these jacks in black do the trick.
 
Horns are so dramatic and provide a wild side to all decor styles.

 
Tone down a space with these organic artichokes on white pedestals.
 
Moosehead bookends in bronze bring eclectic style to a room needing flair.  
Another horse figure adding wood-like texture and rustic charm.
 
Orient sophistication of this dragon brings edge and culture to a room.
 
Another cultural statue, commands attention in a zen environment.

BARBARA COSGROVE LAMPS NOW AVAILABLE AT LOFT32!

There's a certain intrigue associated with antique lamps. I believe it has to do with the mystery and unknown past of antiques, as well as being unique. 
Antique lamps are also known to serve as a "work of art" when decorating. Because of this title, they typically come with a hefty price tag! Today, manufacturers and designers strive to recreate this very look, by coming up with their own version of the "antique lamp".

I fell in love with Designer, Barbara Cosgrove's lamp collection. I decided to offer her lamps as part of my LOFT32 product line. As some of you may already know, when it comes selecting potential new products or textiles for LOFT32-I only carry products and textiles within a price point that my clients/customers (YOU) can afford and only the items I would put in my own home!

Barbara Cosgrove specializes in nouveau-traditional lamps (which can be used in almost any decor style). Owner and creative force, Barbara Cosgrove began designing lamps out of her garage in the mid-nineties. There, a company was born when she put her first collection of lamps together and headed for the Atlanta Market. Cosgrove's lamps are inspired by her background in the Arts. Her lamps sell to retail boutiques from Manhattan to Beverly Hills to Claremont ♥. Neiman Marcus features her styles in their "Make Room" catalog season after season. A commitment to quality, style and good taste has earned her lighting solutions an extensive following in the design community as well.
Barbara Cosgrove Lamps are regularly featured in publications, a few being: Elle Decor, Domino, Southern Living, Veranda, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Home Magazine, Southern Accents, Country Home and Midwest Living....and now, my blog!


Here are just a few of my favorites from her collection:

Sold as a pair, these light gold horse statue lamps are perfect...nothing better than a lamp that also adds flair! I ♥ these lamps. Antique bronze base and stem, with white shades.

It doesn't get better than these floor lamps, which double as a side table! Choose the white or black shade on either Gold or Silver option.

Another statue lamp! This sitting dog lamp can add eclectic charm to modern sophistication in any room. White dog statue with a grey/brown shade and antique brown base and stem.

Just like at the studio! These amazing theatre/spot lights are still raising eyebrows all over the design industry. They're timeless and brilliant in their chrome finish. Choose from 3 different size options.

Cream Colored Foo Dog lamps! There's always a place for a Foo Dog in your home. Medium brown shades for these puppies and they are sold as a pair.

Who doesn't adore a nice pendant!? Glam it up or bring it to a casual mood with these hanging beauties. They're available in two different shape options and two color options. Silver or Antique Bronze.

So, which lamp fits YOUR style best?



For pricing on the above lamps or others from Barbara Cosgrove's Collection, email me.

CHIC TALAVERA LAMPS FOR SALE!

The first time I layed my eyes on these beautiful lamps, I fell in LOVE! I thought it was too good to be true....Talavera pottery, with a chic and slightly edgy style, painted zig zag or striped finish...WHAT?!
I not only had to have them, but I had to allow YOU to buy some too!
So, today...I am extremely excited to be able to sell them! I don't have them on a shop site yet, but if you are interested, you can still purchase them from me.

First, let me tell you a little bit about how they're made and the history:

In a small historic village tucked away in the Guanajuato Mountains, small shops and vendor stalls line the cobblestone streets. Women and children, squatting on curbs, sell juicy limes and just-picked avocados. Vases, hand painted with bursts of brilliant flowers and squiggly designs, decorate the sidewalks. This is one of the best places in Mexico to buy Talavera pottery. This village is known for their superior quality for production of Talavera.

All art pieces are created totally by hand-from the molds that they use to shape the pieces, to the colorful final touches that these creative Artisans put into each piece. They do not use patterns to paint the designs, they use their amazing talent (freehand) to craft different designs that you are going to love. The Artisans specialize in all Talavera, not just lamps. They are masters of their trade and their talents are showcased in plates, sinks, tile, planters, vases, ginger jars and much more.

If you ever have the opportunity to witness the Talavera process, you will be blown away. We are so spoiled by machinery and the American way of mass production, that the intense work that goes into every piece of Talavera is astounding and demands respect for the artists who create each masterpiece. Each piece takes hours and hours to make, then hand painted by skilled artists who have been taught this tradition for generations.

Black Striped Lamp
Size: 10"w x 18"h
Price: $235.00

Burnt Orange Striped Lamp
Size: 8"w x 13"h
Price: $185.00

Blue Striped Lamp
Size: 10"w x 18"h
Price: $235.00
SOLD OUT!

Burnt Orange Zig Zag Lamp
Size: 10"w x 18"h
Price: $235.00 

Black Zig Zag Lamp
Size: 10"w x 18"h
Price: $235.00

I'll also be selling ginger jars and vases in these same patterns soon!!!! Contact me to purchase or check availability! loft32@verizon.net

GOOD READS AND COFFEE TABLE ENTERTAINMENT

At it's best! I enjoy coffee table books....I have a small love affair with one of mine- KELLY HOPPEN "HOME-From Concepts to Reality" . I am constantly drawn to it over and over! A hard cover, and 192 pages to drool over...She is one of my absolute FAVORITE designers and this has been one of my beloved design books....EVER.

Kelly Hoppen is a high-end interior designer, celebrated in the pages of Architectural Digest, In Style, and the New York Times. Her cool, modernist aesthetic is at once timeless and at the cutting-edge of style today and KELLY HOPPEN HOME offers readers a chance to learn from the world-renowned British designer's chic design philosophy. Giving a clear picture of her approach at every stage-from the conception of an idea, through preparation and decision making, to implementing plans and achieving a reality-Kelly shares her insider secrets and reveals how to get the most from a living space.

Kelly's skill in understanding how a home works is illustrated in a portfolio of projects from the UK, United States, Israel, and Switzerland. Architectural plans and drawings, alongside stunning photographs of her latest work, help explain how to reconfigure a space by transforming ideas into workable schemes. Insightful text, practical tips, and information from expert consultants help explain how readers can become their own interior designer. That's what made me fall in love with her book and her design style.

Maybe you will find a new love interest in one of the coffee table books below! If not, at least enjoy looking!

Money Well Spent!

If there's one thing you can learn from my home remodeling experience, it's that you CAN decorate like a designer-without the high price tag!

Many of my friends know me as the woman who can always find a great deal. My husband says "I have champagne taste on a beer budget". However you spin it, I can find the look I want at a price I can afford....and that means NEVER paying full price. I've gone to the extent of having furniture custom made, simply because I couldn't find what I wanted for a price I was willing to pay. By doing this-you avoid the retail mark ups, and in most cases, get better quality at the same time!

Let me explain....I searched and searched and searched...for a simple dining room table. I wanted solid wood...none of the veneer stuff! I found ONE I loved, but they wanted $2300! Umm..NO! Even though it stole my heart, I was unwilling to invest $2300 into a table! So here's what I did....

I was able to have this dining room table custom made, to my specifications-for only $700! It's solid alder, 96" long, with espresso stain. It will last FOREVER! And to top it off, it's one of a kind!! I literally drew out what I wanted, chose the size specs and picked out the espresso stain.
Oh...the chairs, that's another great savings and fun restoration project. You can check out those amazing details HERE!

I also had a matching console made for only $300. Same style, wood and stain!

I believe a lot of homeowners end up paying the high retail or designer prices, because it takes a lot of time to find a great deal. I get that....sometimes it's just easier and quicker to buy the darn thing! So, I'm doing some work for you and featuring some SUPERB deals on some GORGEOUS decor items that might save you some designer bucks. 

First up...we have Swiss Dot Personalized Table Linens from Grandin Road. These crisp hemstitched napkins, placemats, and runners feature borders of embroidered Swiss dots that artfully add a classic touch. Currently on sale for $19.99-79.00. Comes in ecru (shown) and white.

Antique Copper Finish Glass Lantern Chandelier from Overstock.com. Add a touch of old fashioned styling to your home decor with this lantern chandelier. Only $166.99!

I might have to get this one for my bedroom! Brighton White Linen Storage Ottoman from Overstock.com. Upholstered in an elegant off-white shade that will match any decorating style, this ottoman is perfect as a seat or for storage. With a double-layered linen top, it is comfortable and plush, yet sturdy enough to set things on. For $201.99 it's tough to pass up!

Here's a peek inside!

Again, I will be grabbing a couple of these clover gems for myself! Do not under estimate decor items from stores like Lowes! Yes, you heard me...this 30"H x 30"W Quatrefoil Cloche Octagon Framed Mirror is from Lowes! You can get it at most stores, or order it online. And the finish is a beautifully hand-painted expresso. But wait....get ready to fall over! It's only $64.97!

And last, but certainly not least...what would you do without a signature piece? Absolutely beautiful Tufted Signature Ottoman from Overstock.com. This elegant ottoman/coffee table showcases a light tan-colored linen top, accented with button tufting. Carved wood detail on legs and millwork on apron completes the look. It's finished in espresso stain. How much, you ask? $215.99!

Close up of the signature pattern....pretty? Oui!

I'm guessing that you'll be hunting for some open spaces in your humble abode for these inexpensive, but "champagne" taste finds! Happy shopping! Let me know how it goes!!!



FLIPPING OUT...AGAIN!

As some of you already know...the new season of Flipping Out is here! And, I don't know about you, but my Tuesday evenings now revolve around BRAVO! Fly home from work, have a quick glass of wine, chat with my hubby about our workday, watch the dogs and chickens play, make a quick dinner...all just in time for some great entertainment!

I ♥ this show! 

Jeff Lewis' humor is a bit on the dark side (I do LMAO though), but his interior designs are to die for. I had to share these photos of his personal residence (Valley Oak 2), which he initially bought to flip. It was placed on the market for the low, low price of $2.4M until he decided to make it his permanent residence! To top it off, it's nestled in the middle of Griffith Park! What a gorgeous home, don't you agree? Wish I could afford it!

Valley Oak 2 is a two-story, mid-century modern, post and beam house that was built in 1963 and has been flawlessly renovated.

This Chef’s kitchen includes features such as a Viking range, custom cabinetry, built-in Miele coffee maker (Oh I wish I had one of those), Bosch dishwasher, SubZero refrigerator, wine fridge, and an oversized pantry.

This amazing home has it all! Clean lines, open space, as well as spectacular views from downtown LA to the ocean from the pool. So jealous!