Spring-Summer Home Refresh

As many of you know, I am an unabashed textile whore. When hubby and I bought our apartment in Dec 2008, the most exciting prospect for me was 1686 sq. ft. of brand spanking new space to decorate with my growing textile collection. Since we moved in, one of the things I do to keep things fresh is to update some of the soft furnishings seasonally to rotate my collection—cushion and throw pillow covers, slipcovers, throws, drapery.

I have most of my soft furnishings made in India, so it’s easy enough for me to indulge in glorious silks, brocades and linens. In fact I’ve become so efficient in recycling old drapery into new cushion covers and throws into duvets (with Mama coordinating the upholsterers and tailors in Calcutta of course!), that hubby thinks I should start a wholesale/retail venture here in NYC. Fat Sister Furnishings, perchance . . . ?

At any rate, I’m digressing. Here are a few snapshots of my Fall-Winter to Spring-Summer home refresh. Some of the changes—like repainting the guest room a butter colour (from a warm mushroom tone), and changing the accent wall colour behind the bed in the master bedroom from an avocado to a darker sage green—are things I’d been putting off for a while and are not seasonal enterprises by any means. These colours are staying put, at least for a while! But changing just the cushion covers and throw on the sofa and chairs in the living room, slipcovers in the dining room chairs, table linens for dinner parties and the drapery behind the master bed were quick and easy updates.

 

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The final (and possibly biggest) change was a pure stroke of luck. I’d been looking for a new coffee table to replace our 7-yr-old Ikea one since we moved to this new place. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted—simple square or rectangular shape, solid stone top (ideally marble or limestone) with a wood base and some storage space. I looked everywhere (in 3 continents!) and my persistence finally paid off when I stumbled across this beauty at a sample sale at Ligne Roset, from where we had bought our dining table and chairs. I guess my stubborn refusal to settle for anything less than perfect paid off with a monolithic, white Carrara marble top on a dark walnut base with storage in the middle—everything on my wish list. Best of all, I got it at 60% off, even though it was a new addition to their 2010 collection!

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Next on the to-do list is addressing the sliding pocket doors that separate the living room from the media room, and re-tiling the kitchen backsplash. Both these projects have been in the planning stages for a long time, and I’ll post pictures and details once they’re done.