Well, my credenza finally came from Beyond Stores. Never, ever, ever, ever buy anything from them. Way fair was prompt and Houzz was beautiful and timely but Beyond Stores was a nightmare. I put the order in on Dec. seventh of 2015. I received the credenza at 5:30 pm, Jan. 13th, after so many phone calls back and forth that I know employees’ names, voices and they know mine.

After moving it around all over, I finally settled on the initial and intended location, in the dining room, under the huge white mirror, against the accent wall painted in slate violet (which I adore).

I chose the credenza because of its dimensions, warm, dark colors of deep teal grey and brown wood grained top and distressed, stately style.

I have been learning about vignettes and stylist tricks. I first began with a bare bones stage, choosing my objects by quality, color and appropriateness.

Then in the second picture, I added more organic items that brought energy to the room and made the wall and us, sing with glee.

You and I know this will probably look just a tad different and I will play with it to suit my mood, weekly, if not daily. But, oh, what fun!

I saw this on a friend’s FB post and just had to share. It is so true, grieving never ends but it does change you each time you let go.

It focuses you on the priorities of living. It gives you a “live in the moment” perspective.

It reminds you to live and savor life. It doesn’t go away if you have a heart.

So long, Thin White Duke, goodbye to the original Star man transformed into a Black Star.

Last night, we lost one great genius of an artist.

“One day, thought it might as well be someday.” Odd this post should be on day one of year four.

Imagine our surprise after watching and listening to his new album in our den while he lay waiting for death’s door on the East coast. I had just read two articles in the LA Times about him and so I opened up I tunes on my laptop and we listened to samples of each track on Black Star.

Everyone who knows us, knows the connection we had with Bowie. He was truly part of our story, ahead of his time and a “cracked actor” till the end. He made sure he went out with a bang. Disturbing as it may be, he staged his farewell with an uncanny precision of macabre magnificence and significance.

Love to color. Love colors. Love to color with colors!

For Christmas, My true love gave to me, 48 coloring pencils, already sharpened and a Asian Motif adult coloring book (sung to the 12 days of Christmas tune). I immediately went to town and the first page I tackled was a mandala.

Instead of buying a new table, I have decided to upcycle our old wood and black glass wood table.

It took a while to get the painter’s tape straight.

And then I could enjoy the table and painting it. With each stroke of the brush, crawling under the top, swirling color over rounded corners, I invested my energy and the piece spoke back to me. After seven coats of color and washes, I stepped back and allowed the  heavy, strong and well built table to talk to me.

Meanwhile, the painters applied the colors I chose for the accent wall (Sherwin Williams Slate Violet), the adjoining wall (Sherwin Williams China), the trim (white semigloss) and the ceiling (Sherwin Williams Ibis White).

I was trying to match the finish to the bureau I tackled a few weeks ago. And I believe I accomplished that. It took another gray wash and a final two coats of shimmer semi gloss white. Notice the bureau in the mirror. I can’t wait to really stage it, add wall art and dine in our new dining room.

At the top of my list and research are three books that would only attract persons with the love of chalk painting or the whole French Country/Farm look.

Quick and Easy Paint Transformations, Creating the French Look and Color Recipes for Painted Furniture  – All by Annie Sloan, the much beloved English designer and creator of Chalk Paint.

I am also reading an Isabel Allende book I borrowed from J but is somewhere under plastic in the middle of a room upstairs because I didn’t realize this was going to turn into a massive, lengthy relocation and I have had to purchase the above books and take some off my shelf from downstairs.

What I took from my library and am reading again is Alexandra Stoddard’s, Open Your Eyes. Although this book was written in 1998, it has a wealth of classic and timeless design formulas, tips and strategic solutions for the home decorator. Plus, she writes like a dream. I own other books written by her but none as eloquent as this one.  Alexandra was privileged to live in a wealthy community in Connecticut, travel abroad with a rich aunt at a tender age, studied art and eventually became known all over the East Coast as the interior designer to hire. She has graced mansions, embassies, cottages, lofts and studios for her clients throughout the years. She also is a sought after speaker on the art of living. She has great wisdom and common sense from her background and her passion for the great philosophers. Her books are infused with quotes from Socrates to Joseph Campbell, poets and artists of all mileu.

“By visualizing ideal scenarios of how you want to use your space at different times of day, you can see the logic of placement more clearly. Then you can intelligently approach the setting up of the different areas of your home life, achieving both greater fluidity and order.” She promises. And then, she proceeds to show you how and why this is true, historically, intuitively or academically.

Another of her quotes speaks directly to me: “Never let your desire for order and neatness blind you to seeing the wonder and beauty around you.” I guarantee anyone with a creative bone in their body, is a little messy.

The other book I am divulging and indulging in is Goddesses Never Age, the latest installment by Christiane Northrup, MD. I am just getting into this one and I bought it after seeing her on PBS not too long ago. It is about using positive images, words and movement to age with quality and grace. It is the perfect prescription for honoring, acknowledging and validating the goddess within me right now.