Beautiful Antique Reproductions from Eloquence Inc.

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We don't see new vendors very often in the last few years. We imagine starting any new business, and especially home furnishing business, is tough. This is why we were so happy to see a new one that we really like at the High Point show -- Eloquence Inc.

Based out of Santa Monica, CA, this company makes antique reproductions that are really, really pretty. It's the kind of furniture that you want to have if you were living in, say, an Ialian villa or something. Although in Los Angeles, where we have many Spanish Mediteranean homes that were built in the 1920s, these would look amazing as well.

Here are some samples:

To see the complete line, visit the company's web site.

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So pretty...

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We saw this picture from Vanity Fair today and we just love it.  It's under the slide shows titled "Oscar Moms".  The picture is of a young Audrey Hepburn pushing a baby carriage (were baby carriages this big in the sixties?).

We also just finished watching a couple of episodes of  the "Real Housewives" series and thought about the contrast of how the women look there vs here.  Enough with the Botox, hair extensions, bad French manicures!

Doesn't Hepburn look so beautifully natural?

Image courtesy of Vanity Fair

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Small Businesses Are People Too...

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A friend of ours who runs a small drapery wrote us an email to vent about a particularly nasty client of his. The woman was referred to him by a friend.  She insisted on meeting early in the morning, so to get to her house at 10am in LA traffic, my friend has to leave his office at 8am.  He spent a couple of hours the night before picking out fabrics for her.  Once he got there, she proceeded to tell him that she only wants to have someone measure the windows for her so that she can buy the window treatment over the Internet.  Mind you, she wants to have the measurement done for free! 

Another friend of ours owns a restaurant in San Francisco.  We don't know if you know, but this is a particularly trying time for the restaurant business.  Our friend is struggling to survive.  At any rate, there was this group of four young guys.  They ordered a noodle dish and the dish had a tiny thread (that was used to tie the dry noodle together).  My friend apologized and made a new one.  When the check came, they demanded that the whole meal, including 2-3 bottles of wine, be comped!  My friend explained that that is not possible, but she would comp them for the appetizers.  They proceeded to stomp off and left the waitress no tip.  Then wrote a Yelp review about it.

One recent customer of ours ordered $4000 worth of merchandise, then proceeded to cancel/return/refuse 80% of them, leaving us with restocking fee, shipping fee and opened merchandise that we now have to salvage. 

Which leads us to the question, is common decency dead?  Do people feel that merchants exists to be abused and used?  Is common courtesy only goes one way-from the merchant to customers but not the other way around?

If a customer experiences bad service, and we have many times ourselves, there are many outlets they can vent to.

Yet if a merchant gets used/abused like this, all we can do is vent privately.    Yet the same customers will go elsewhere and repeat this deplorable attitute to other businesses.  Most small businesses that we know, especially retail/restaurants are working fingers to the bone to survive day to day.  Having this type of customers just kill us.

We wish sometime that people understand that businesses are people too.

PS We do have a lot of many good and amazing customers that we just love.   To them, we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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You're So Vane

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I found these vanity benches at different times years ago at thrift stores. I bought the second thinking that it was an exact match to the first. It wasn't. The legs are different but fortunately the size is the same. They sat in my storage room until I found this darling fabric. It's too light weight for upholstery fabric so I knew that if I were going to use it on a piece of furniture it would have to something that wouldn't be used every day. That's when I remembered the benches. I knew that with a little makeover they would finally find a home.With a little Mediterranean Blue spray paint to unite them, and cushy new tops for comfort, those worn out benches now look fresh and new.
They now reside at the foot of the bed in the guest room.

They finally look right at home!(And I might have just enough fabric left to cover that small pillow!)

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Happy Haus Minimalist House Design in Australia

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Happy thirsty by Donovan hill in Australia

The Happy Haus is a minimalist house development designed by architects Donovan Hill in Australia. Happy Haus Brisbane based architectural practice Donovan Hill is among the nineteen chosen design for the Service Bushfire House last week. The Bushfire House Service is a joint initiative of the Australian Institute of Architects (Victoria) and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect looking to support the process of rebuilding after the destruction of forest fires in Australia in February this year. Donovan Hill DHAN range for the Happy Haus 'house ready made solution' which is fully adaptable, transported and climatically sensitive in design. Designs can range into either 'stand alone' or combinations such as parks and outdoor spaces with all modules fully in accordance with national standards of new buildings for fire-prone zones.

Minimalist Home Designs

Queensland based, Donovan Hill joined another practice that works as part of the architecture of free services to help rebuild homes lost in 2000 in a fire. This service offers a Bushfire house people who lost their homes to access architectural expertise will add value and improve the quality and ease of rebuilt homes in areas devastated by fire in February. Donovan Hill, co-founder, Brian Donovan says, "We are very pleased to be involved in post-fire rebuilding. We feel that the Happy Haus DHAN presents a low cost, flexible and sustainable design solutions that can feasibly work as a model for the mass reconstruction."


The Happy Haus is designed so that each module can be easily transported to new places, or transferred from an existing address as a life-changing requirements. Flexible design means that modules can be accommodated by the Happy Haus most sites. DHAN series is characterized by the completion and details of domestic architecture is developed in practice Donovan Hill. Off-white interior with wood window and door frames allow personalized interiors by owners. The wooden pelmet lighting combine the common room and the provision for art and hanging curtains. Plywood exterior according to environmental conditions in Australia and is offered with a choice of colors to suit individual settings. Distinctive roof forms and cover ventilation colored exterior form features.

Home Interior Designs-Happy Haus Minimalist House Design in Australia

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Lamps to Dream about

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I was perusing some of the major retail outlets today & fell in love with at least a dozen lamps! I especially like these ones from Beacon lighting . How can you pass up a range of lamps with matching candle holders, I was very tempted to grab these & store them away for my new home . You should take a peak at the website, there is a range in all decor styles including kids & nursery lamps. http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/

I love the cosiness that lamps create in a home & find they help tie a room togethor visually . Do you use lamps to add atmosphere when decorating? Do you think having the lamps & candlesticks within one room would be a little to matching & turn it into a display room rather than a cosy retreat?

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Minimalist Modern House Design in Japan

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Minimalist Modern House Design in Japan

Here, the ultra-modern minimalist design house in Komae, Japan, completed in 2007 by architect Makoto Yamaguchi Design. This modern house proves that simplicity is beauty, with a contemporary, clean lines and a palette, crisp white both inside and outside. From the outside, clean, boasting a cube-shaped slopes slightly, which lends an illusion of fluidity. The front was interrupted by a little but focus on the floor to ceiling windows, but beyond that, the exterior leaves everything to the imagination.


Home interior design: in the house this minimalist modern design with a pattern of milk continues to design, with a high wall finish and understated, with a mirror, forming a narrow alleys that sweeps you from one room to the next life. Makoto Yamaguchi Design
Photo credit: Ano Daici

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A Lot Of Happenings Goin' On Here

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Did you notice a few changes here at Joys of Home?

I've been working with the wonderful
Jenn from Munchkin Land Designs.

She is awesome!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how patient and talented, and patient and creative, and did I mention patient, she is! I am such a detail oriented person and she was so willing and helpful and PATIENT while we worked on the new design. If your blog home is in need of a makeover I highly recommend that you contact Jenn! Just go to her website and check out her design gallery. I'm sure that you'll like what you see and I know that you'll love working with her as much as I have!

I also am pleased to tell you that Melissa from
320* Sycamore has asked me to do a guest post today. All this week, in celebrating Mother's day and motherhood, Melissa has asked marvelous women bloggers to post about some things they've learned about being a mom. I am honored that Melissa gave me this opportunity and humbled to be among the other incredible women that are guest posting. If you don't already know Melissa, go give her a visit, I know you'll enjoy her! And if you're visiting here from Melissa's blog, Welcome! I hope you feel right at home!

Speaking of home, I've been busy here at Joys of Home with several projects. Some are for clients and some are for my own home. I'm excited to show off a few in the coming days and weeks.

Here's a sneak peek of what I am working on now--- I'll show off the finished project tomorrow!

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Our dream Home

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My dream guy & I have purchased a somewhat sloping acre of land 5 minutes form the center of town . Its situated in a new subdivision that is surrounded by farmland. Its very quiet & peaceful & you often hear the neighbors cows "mooing" so it feels very much like your on a farm of your own(without the hard work ,of course).

We are now in the process of designing our dream home!!!!!!

These picture are taken by me with my little tiny pocket camera so they are far from perfect but they give a peek at what our view will be once the dream house goes up!!!!

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My very first post!!!!!

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Wow, how exciting!!!! I have thought about this moment for months now as I've drooled over many fabulous blogs, on a daily basis. Its safe to say I have developed a small obsession for the blog world & all things interior design like.

I have talked of starting my own blog for a while now but fear of failure & humiliation & a very limited amount of computer skills has been holding me back, but hey, the best way to learn is to throw yourself in at the deep end....isn't it......So here I am!!!!

Twelve months ago my husband & I packed up our 4 children & relocated from a small town in the beautiful Blue Mountains in Australia. There wasn't a lot of career options or entertainment in our home town & we wanted to ensure the kids had every opportunity to get the most out of life. So we moved them 3 hours north to the Hunter Valley. Now we have everything you could ever need ,all within a 40min radius. We are surrounded by mountains, vineyards & beaches. There are universities, trade colleges, private colleges & employement opportunities in every industry imaginable & we love it!!!!

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HGTV Home Design Tips

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HGTV home design tips

Home is a place where all of us relax away from stress of our jobs and routine life. It offers comfort to all of us. However, one need to make sure that house is well designed and planned to avoid clutter and negativity. Take care of your house interiors and make it look gracious and beautiful place to stay. You do not really need professionals to enhance the interiors of your house.

Hgtv Dream House: Tip for You

You do not have to spend a fortune to make it a great place to relax, just be smart when you design your house. Some knowledge and motivation can do wonders in making your house is most enviable in neighborhood. You can use oriental furniture for making your living room look comfortable.

Hgtv Dream House: Interior Design

If you wish to add flair of romance in the room, use French furniture. Lighting is important consideration that enhances visual impact of room. If you wish to have a country charm, cozy room, check out some hand designed lights that illuminates and decorates every space perfectly.

Hgtv Dream House: Design Tip

You can also buy from a plethora of lamps, wall sconces, and handmade lighting fixtures for using in different rooms of your house for creating a distinct atmosphere. Use home furnishing to have dramatic style. Go for Japanese furniture and Chinese décor that will add to the beauty of the place. There are many other oriental furniture ideas that can help in tuning your home into a special place. Make use of HGTV home design tips and create a home that is not only beautiful but comfortable too.

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Ways Interior Design Room Guest Room

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Ways Interior Design Room Guest Room?

Interior design in the guest bedroom can be a practical design, comfort and hospitality describing the host in serving the guest. Or it could also describe the design of interior comfort and tranquility while staying there.

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Uncreative Break

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I've been missing in action for a few days. Not because I have been up to anything wonderfully creative. Simply because I've needed to do the mundane things of life.

A little weeding

and turning my junk drawers into junque drawers.

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The Idea Of Home Living Room Interior Design

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Home Interior Design Living Room

Interior design living room usually on the match with the character of his home owners to explore that can be shown to all guests who visit. Themes can design from the original regional concept of the landlord or his house is livable.

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Idea Or Mode Main Bedroom Interior Design?

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Idea Home interior design

To House Mansion / House of Large Size, interior design model Penthouse suite-style room or the hotel can be perfect, the available space is certainly large enough and all existing facilities in these rooms. Different from the bedroom to the house design minimalist who only need a small space.

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8 Minimalist Home Interior Design Suggestions | Tips and Tricks

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Home Interior Design>> Minimalist Home Designs

1. Note the space uncluttered form of accessories (clean, firm, without a profile, minimal geometric shape). Recall that the minimalist design, the principle is right, perfect, not excessive.
2. Curtains / blinds use a roller type, basic blinds (vertical or horizontal).
3. If you want to install carpet using carpet with solid colors with no motive.
4. Always seek the Surface of the table surface or cabinet in a state credensa clean and empty. Place books and other items in the Chest. The ideal accessories from a glass, the Vase is artistic, simple dishes containing fruit and / or place of candles.
   
5. Use a simple color (plain) for a sofa cushion.
6. Cover, bed, bed sheets and pillowcases feature a simple to use. Limit on two-color combinations of color without a motive.
7. Hang a painting with a simple composition and frame, without a profile or carving. Do not have too many paintings, select a major from your collection. Picture Below is an example of minimalist interiors of bedrooms.
   

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