Mary McDonald Wallpaper (Chinois Palais & Park Avanue Python)

Mary McDonald's fabric and trim collection for Schumacher is so beautiful, it will make your eyes pop out of your head.  :)  But now, that collection is even BETTER because two of her most popular prints-- Chinois Palais and Park Avenue Python--are now available in wallpaper panels.  Hooray!!! 

For me, it doesn't get any better than this green colorway...

The "blush" version is equally stunning.  Just gorgeous.

And, one of my absolute favorites-- the Park Avenue Python-- is now a wallpaper.  I love this...

I have samples shipping to my office as we speak.  Very excited to use them in upcoming projects.


As a refresher, here are some of my favorite images from the Mary McDonald collection.  The appliques and trims are seriously in a class of their own (if you ask me).  Bravo, Miss Mary.

  

 

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Casual in the Country

I'm loving the casual nature of this Upstate New York home, featured in the March issue of House Beautiful.  It's simple and unpretentious and so welcoming!  In terms of interior design, I'm noting the classic wallpaper, unique mix of pattern, the trim & door colors, and (of course) the interior shutters-- so good.  Lots of fun inspiration here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

see the entire House Beautiful slideshow here.

 

 

interior design by Charles O. Schwarz III

 

 

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New Fabric Collection: LuLu DK CHILD

Did you see the new collaboration between F. Schumacher and Lulu deKwiatkowski?  The marketing material reads, "Lulu DK, For the Sophisticated Child" (which is so cute, isn't it?).  And I've gotta say, even though these fabrics are really fun and playful, they're pretty sophisticated too.  Take a look for yourself...

Jungle Jubilee wallpaper

Parade & Star fabrics

(elephant and monkey dressed in Skittles)

Butterfly

Star

Parade

from left to right: Firecrackers, Cha-Cha, and Jelly Bean

My favorite FAVORITE part of the collection are the flat trims.  I'm so in love with every colorway (and the fact that they're 3.5" wide!!!)... 

Twix Tape

I love the way this trim looks on the leading edge of these drapery panels-- so fun.

To see the entire Lulu DK CHILD collection, hop on over to the F.Schumacher website.

Lulu, together with her two boys.

(featured in Lonny Magazine)

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Current Inspiration

I'm currently obsessed with the idea of using a small-print wallpaper somewhere...  In a bedroom, a bathroom, or a tiny hallway-- I can't stop thinking about it. 

Also on my mind: I want to paint my (100% brick) house...

I'm also inspired by these green kitchen cabinets...

(and that awesome floor tile)

Love the idea of using two mirrors, side by side, instead of one large one.  We're doing this trick at a clients home and I'm really excited about it.  This image is from Thomas O'Brien.

(again, another great inspiration for small-print wallpaper-- love it.)

Spring is here and that means getting out in the yard and working on the landscape.  Love the White Flower Farm catalog and want to buy (and plant) everything on it's pages...

I planted Allium and Jacqueline Tulips last fall, and they're already starting to pop up.

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Faux Bois Walls

"papier bois" wallcovering by Nobilis

I was first introduced to Nobilis faux bois wallpaper when I worked as a designer at Burnham Design.  We used it in the family room of this gorgeous Manhattan Beach home:

project by Burnham Design

featured in House Beautiful, December 2007

Then, I recently spotted it in a project designed by Nina Freudenberger, featured in TradHome Magazine (the shelter magazine love child of Traditional Home and Lonny Magazine)...

It's such a versatile wallpaper and looks great in SO MANY applications.

a bathroom?

bedroom?

dining room?

and, of course a living room.

I love how the Nobilis wallpaper feels like a modern interpretation of panelled walls.  It's cozy, and a little rustic.  But all together clean and modern.  The greyscale colorway is my favorite (seen at the top of this post).  The greys are so subtle, like a gorgeous chalky piece of grey driftwood.

Since this French wallpaper is a little pricy, here's how we can achieve faux bois walls on the cheap:

If you have a lot of patience (and a steady hand) you should try Martha Stewart's faux bois painting technique.  Here's Tom demonstrating how to "faux bois" at the Martha Stewart blogging party last year...

Looks easy enough!

Martha Stewart faux bois dresser

Here's what Martha says you'll need:

• a base coat paint (in this case BM White Dove)
• a glaze tint (in this case BM Sienna Laurel)
• Martha Stewart's Faux Bois kit (including the faux bois imprinted rocker), available at The Home Depot
• 9 inch (with a 1/4 inch nap) roller

If you're serious about this project (which in all honesty, does look like a doable technique)...  you should ABSOLUTELY watch the "How To" Video, on the Martha Stewart site.  They make it look eeeeeeasy.  Also, it's really informative and very inspiring.

I'm already thinking about what I can "faux bois" in the future...  a serving tray maybe?  Or, even a desk top?

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