Monday, June 08, 2009

More From My New Home




Top: the view from my bed - through the windows, I can see majestic willow trees.
Middle: a huge mirror I found on Craigslist, with its curvy frame
Bottom: when he's not at the window, keeping an eye on the squirrels, birds and dogs roaming through what he considers his garden, Benjy likes to sit on this big chair - its matching ottoman is somewhere else in my room. Its color echoes that of the neighboring red trunk I bought recently, where you'll always find some fresh flowers and a book about Leonardo Da Vinci, propped up to grace us with the master's divine sketch on the cover.

Usually, I like decorating my places with wood furniture and sleek metal, all in clean lines, but in this 1940's (?) beach bungalow kind of studio, it didn't seem right, so I decided to go for a very sparsely furnished place, but with a pop atmosphere, hence the roundish shapes and all that red.
Make sure to come back for more in the days to come - I'll be showing off my scarlet mannequin as well as details from my kitchen and more...

26 comments:

Unknown said...

what a beautiful view out your window. mirror is so cool and what a cute dog. I had a dog that was part dachshund and lab. very unique dog. She is in doggy heaven now.

Marci said...

Sea como sea tu nueva casa disfruta de ella! siempre es gratificante decorar una casa siguiendo su alma...

Daniela Valdez said...

I loved the third picture, dog included :)

sealaura said...

love that mirror. Craigslist has been a good friend to me. I have found many treasures there. Benjy looks so majestic on his throne. /lookinf forward to seeing your cocinita. I am still under a lot of boxes but slowly the villa is coming together. un abrazo. :)

Beth said...

Benjy OWNS that chair!

Love the view from your bedroom.

Laura in Paris said...

I love the mirror!! And of course Benjy on "his" chair.

Mary-Laure said...

DOREEN - it must have been so sad to lose your dog... They are such precious companions...

SEALAURA - I too have found so many things via Craigslist, including my bike.
Good luck with the boxes. It can be frustrating but in the end you'll be so happy!

BETH - you have no idea how right you are. Benjy thinks the chair is his and his alone.
He won't settle for the matching ottoman.

Gabbi said...

I love the theme of your decor and that amazing mirror! Great find... I always have the hardest time finding anything on Craigslist?

Kisses for Benjy!xx

Deidra said...

You have a beautiful view to greet you each morning. And that mirror is wonderful! I do believe the house itself belongs to Benjy, though. =)

Mary-Laure said...

GABBI - ah yes, it takes a lot of patience to find good stuff on Craigslist. There's a lot of junk out there, and what's worse, it's often expensive junk that gets listed again and again precisely because it's ugly and overpriced.
I used Craigslist to find some items such as the mirror and also to find listings of yard sales, where I then found good stuff.
Once I drove all the way to North Hollywood from Venice only to discover the alleged darling yellow chaise I had my eyes on was not in "mint condition" as advertised but rather disgustingly stained and dirty.

DEIDRA - that would include the garden, as Benjy will bark at anyone who dares approach.

Emz said...

Oh that looks so gorgeous! I love the view =)

Bri said...

I like it so far - can't wait to see what else you come up with!

If that gets old - my vote is for Hollywood Regency style. ;)

Miss Cavendish said...

Very pretty! You should indeed do some "redwork" to complement your cool trunk . . .

Roxana said...

needless to say, i am totally in love with that magnificent mirror!!!

Spangler Cummings said...

a scarlet mannequin, I can't wait...

Mary-Laure said...

MISS CAVENDISH - you once recommended some books about redwork. I wish I were less clumsy...

SPANGLER - I thought you had seen it when you visited me...

Joyce said...

The mirrow is perfect! I love how Benjy has his own chair. He is a cutie!! Thanks for sharing. xoxo

Arlene said...

Bet your cottage is older than that - probably the 30's. There are so many cute bungalows in that area just dying to be loved. I know what you mean about decorating an old place. There's something about it that makes you want to do it up a bit differently. Our cottage in Glendale was built in 1927 and we were the second people to live there. The woman who'd built it with her husband, moved when she was in her nineties. Loved that house. Have fun making the new place your own!

Mary-Laure said...

JOYCE - but the chair was not bought FOR Benjy! He just thinks it's his.

ARLENE - actually, a neighbor thinks the building dates from the 20's, so I'm not too sure.
I'd love to see pics of your own California place.
If ever you're around Venice, do drop me a line (petipaw@gmail.com), as I love meeting fellow bloggers!

Joanna said...

Can't wait to see more pics of the new digs. I'm slowly showing my new place on my blog. One post at a time. :-)

Alexa Johnson said...

We're preparing for a big move next week, so your post cheered me up! I love your view that you wake up to each morning--what a beautiful way to start your day!

jean-louis said...

Je comprend que dans le " nouveau monde " on puisse qualifier d'ancien ton bungalow de 1930 (comment d'Arlene ) Tu es habituee, toi, a l'ancien puisque notre maison date exactement de 1867! Elle date de l'epoque ou le baron Haussmann a perce le Bd Exelmans ou nous habitons a Paris en 1867.

Hey Harriet said...

What a lovely view! Benjy looks very comfy in that chair. Looking forward to seeing more of your new home :)

Nikella said...

Oh, I always love seeing how people decorate their new places. Make sure you post lots of pictures.
Preferebly with Benjy in them...:)

Sherin said...

Thats a great view from your room. Thats lucky.

Kwana said...

Love it. Benjy is so cool. He knows how to hang.