Thank you!

Dear Readers,

I am overwhelmed in a good way by all the kind comments and emails I received yesterday and today.  I want to thank everyone who took the time to write.  I tried to respond to each email but so many came through that I'm afraid I won't get to you all but please know how much your words touched me.

The Kindness post was written with the hope that people would think twice before writing a mean comment or email to anyone, not just me.  As a New Yorker, I like to think I have a thick skin but sometimes there is only so much a person can take.  There are also times when something else might be going on in our lives that doesn't allow us to just ignore a rude comment or person.  I wish more people would remember that before hitting send. 

Thank you again for your wonderful support and encouragement!  Oh, and for the new motto, Illegitimi Non Carborund! 

XOXO,

Heather

Traditional Home Tour

Traditional elegance is how I would describe the home of Carole and Buddy Stalling in Lynchburg Virginia. You enter into a grand foyer with a spiral staircase, beautiful wallpaper, an exquisite mirror and antique botanical prints that came from England.

To the left is the formal dining room filled with sentimental heirlooms and antiques, and a fabulous crystal and silver epergne as the table centerpiece. The portrait is of Col. John Banister from Petersburg, Va (b. 1734 - d. 1788). He was a delegate from Virginia to the Philadelphia Congress in 1778 and was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation. My favorite is the grand sideboard with the candlabras, silver service, and antique knife holders.

Crown moulding and oriental rugs are present throughout the home. The living room is filled with more antique furniture paired with updated upholstery in rich colors. The antique miniature highboy chest is made of burl walnut. Carole and Buddy Stalling collect original paintings from their travels and have quite a beautiful collection in every room.

On the way to the master bedroom is a glassed in hallway similar to a greenhouse filled with various potted plants and hanging baskets.

As you step out the side entrance, there is a beautiful garden. Currently the geraniums, seedum, hydrangea, and impatients are in full bloom.

As you head to the backyard, there is a full bricked in patio perfect for entertaining, complete with a built-in grill. There is also a guest house in the back for out of town visitors. Nestled in the woods, it is truly a private retreat.

Thank you Carole and Buddy for the tour!

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Superhero Room Ideas

Superhero Room Ideas







Interior Decoration Of Bedroom

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Decoration And Furniture Design In Home

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Best of the Week on BB&B

Sometimes I have my camera at the right place at the right time. Viola ... Pretty butterfly enjoying the day. {and you know how I love butterflies!} Enjoy these links for the week in case you missed anything.

Color Inspiration: Lavender

Art: Colors on Canvas in RUE magazine

Join me on Bloglovin

Summer Fun inspiration

Fashion: Street Style

More Best of the Week blog posts and

Mo

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Kindness

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful support and encouragement regarding my upcoming book.  It is really more for you than me and I can’t wait until you can see it.  I also appreciate all the kind words regarding my apartment.  It’s taken a lot of work to get it where it is and will take more work to get it finished but I am really happy in my new space. 

It’s funny how things can change so quickly.  Just a week ago, I had one of those periods that every blogger experiences.  I lost my mojo and was feeling uninspired.  A rude comment from someone berating my grammar didn’t help.  Mind you, he didn’t politely point out my error so I could fix it.  I would have welcomed that help. His comment was on the heels of a nasty email from a reader who was upset that I didn’t post her other comment immediately or take down the photo she demanded be removed because a flag was hung incorrectly.  I guess she didn’t know or care that I was out of the city visiting my family and trying to recharge my batteries by not being on the computer. 

Those can’t top the two accidental replies that I received yesterday in response to my apartment photos.  The subscribers meant to forward the emails to their friends but instead sent their comments to me.  They weren’t terrible but it’s interesting how people who don’t put themselves out there are so quick to judge those who do.  They sit behind their computers and post Anonymous comments or worse, email bloggers directly to tell them how much they don’t like their work.  It’s one of the reasons why I don’t like to post my client work.  I don’t need them seeing something written somewhere that hurts their feelings. 

A top interior designer once told me a story about when he was just starting out at a firm.  In those days, shelter magazines were rare and when Architectural Digest arrived, they all stopped and looked at it together.  While reading one issue, he kept commenting about how ugly everything was and he hated it all.  His boss finally stopped him and said that “someone paid for that design so they like it.  A magazine chose to publish it so they also liked it."  One of things that I have always tried to stress is that “to each his own.”  Just because it’s not your style or you would have done something differently, that doesn’t make it wrong. 

I also don’t pretend to be perfect but I do try to see the good in everything or at least be polite  There have been times that I have thought to myself that something was ugly but I certainly didn’t write an entire blog post about it for all to read.  Why is it necessary to be so unkind to strangers online? 

Just as I kept wondering why I continue to blog for people who don’t even appreciate it, I received an email from a friend.  She was in Paris and couldn’t wait to check out the hotel that I just posted.  She also informed me that she was moving out of New York because she was just diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.  That put everything in perspective.  There are a lot more important things in this world that we should be worrying about than whether I misspelled a word or you didn’t like someone’s room. 

She also said, “Your blog makes me happy so keep it up.”  It was always my intention to make Habitually Chic a happy place where you could come to see something pretty or learn something new.  Maybe have a laugh and be inspired as well.  There is nothing I can do for my friend to help her condition but if reading my blog everyday will bring her some sense of happiness during her struggle, then I will definitely continue. 

Her last line read, “Life is short, live everyday to the fullest!”  And to that I add the immortal words of Plato, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend and make it a bright bold and beautiful one!

Still time to enter the giveaway ...

Mo

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photo: little blue deer via justbesplendid

By Invitation

A few readers asked me about my bulletin board so I thought I would take a minute to explain.  It is actually an old one that came from my childhood bedroom.  I covered it in batting and then attached fabric with a staple gun.  When a board has ribbons, it's usually referred to as an "invitation board" since you would tuck invitations under the ribbon.  I crossed strips of ribbon and stapled them behind before using small upholstery tacks to keep them down on the front.  I don't like making holes in my postcards and pictures so I prefer this method.  The best part is that if you redecorate, you can just change out the fabric or switch out the ribbon for another color.  Pottery Barn makes two sizes of bulletin boards that look great as they are or you could also add the ribbon and tacks.  Good luck!

Street Style

Street savvy fashion, casual yet sophisticated. I have been looking for a comfortable and stylish denim button down shirt and found one via Late Afternoon, a refreshing and fabulous fashion blog. Oh yes, and did I mention how much I love those cool shoes?

photos and links: skirt-H&M, denim button down-Madewell, shoes- Mia Shadows, bag-c/o Hobo Intl. necklace-Painted Bird, scarf-vintage, sunglasses-c/o Norma Kamali, bracelets- Ruche via Late Afternoon

Related: Maxi Skirts for Fall 2011

More Fashion Blog posts and Mo

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New Apartment Pics

It's been challenging to say the least to work on decorating my apartment while keeping up with all my other work projects.  That's definitely why only one side is finished or maybe I should say mostly finished.  I am sure I will make more changes and move things around as I continue around the room.

I am so happy that I purchased the John Widdicomb dresser or commode depending on how fancy you want to sound. I love that the word commode comes from the French word for "convenient" and the drawers on this piece are very convenient.  I like having place for your eye to rest when hanging art which is why there is a bare spot above the lamp but that might change as I add more artwork to my collection.

I also tried to make the television blend into the art installation so it is less prominent. The piece in the black frame might be swapped out after I get another piece of art in my collection framed.

I bought this painting from Belgium on eBay and it is one of my favorites. The little brown leather box with the gold embossed lion contains two sets of playing cards from Piatnik and were made in Austria.  I'm going to have to pull them out and photograph them because the face cards feature royalty including Marie Antoinette, Louis XIV, Maria Theresia, and even Count Axel von Fersen.

Kelly Wearstler's book Hue is also a favorite.

I couldn't think of a better place to hang my Marie Antoinette etching than above my favorite blue chair.  Technically it's from Belgium (via Jayson Home & Garden) but looks French enough.  There seemed to be too much space between the chair and picture so I hung one of my new red Willow plates that I bought while visiting home recently.

As I mentioned, the drawers in the John Widdicomb dresser are very convenient and the second drawer now holds all my stationery, paper products, and ribbon.

I tried using this chair at my desk but it's a bit fragile which is fine.  I think it's more fun to look at it than sit on it anyway.

In my move, I finally found my calligraphy pen and ink.  I also can't wait to use my new orange Smythson notebook that was a lovely gift from the company. 

The bench fits perfectly in front of the bookshelves as I knew it would when I picked it up at the flea market this weekend.

I bought this little painting on eBay as well and wish I could find the artist again.  I just love looking at it.  I just read an article that mentioned scientific research that concluded that "looking at art induces the same feelings of pleasure as being in love."

My bookshelves again.  I'm waiting for a pair for the other side of the room so I can finally unpack the rest of my books.

My prized pile of old Domino magazines.  Yes, I have doubles of some issues and no, you can't have them.

There is a funny story about this painting of a house on the other side of the room.  My parents own this same painting and when I asked if I could have it, they said no.  But my mother commissioned the artist to paint me my own version.  As an only child, this means I will have two of the exact same painting someday which always makes me laugh.

I bought the painting on the left also on eBay for probably not more than $30.  It reminds me of Van Gogh and also makes me happy when I look at it, or maybe it's love if that recent research is to be believed.  The back has a stamp from the Thompson Art Gallery c/o Thompson & Basile, 20 Cornelia St. NYC. It also has tape on it from the Tribune Subway Gallery with the phone number Wisconsin 7-4899.  Very old school and dates the painting to around the mid 1940's.  The other is just a post card in a vintage frame.

I love the sound of my Bose iPod dock.

More books.

My current inspiration board near my desk.  I need to work on that area next and have the skirt made.

I think the chicest thing you could buy for yourself or as a gift are monogrammed matchboxes from ForYourParty.  I love giving them out at events and using them in my apartment. The absolute best thing about my new apartment though is the south facing front windows.  They certainly make up for the one that faces the brick wall in the microscopic kitchen. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic