Our Foyer and Dinner

Here is our foyer. Can I just show you the house in little pieces? I can't seem to keep it all together long enough to photograph, ha!
I made Giada's saltimbocca last night...

Chicken, prosciutto, basil (her's calls for spinach) and parmesano reggiano

roll 'em up...

Really yummy flavors :-)

Paired with a caprese salad....delish!

Hope you're having a great week! Happy Hump-Day :-)

My Curiosity Cabinet

I got this barrister bookcase at a used furniture liquidation warehouse for $20!

It was used by the U.S. PO Dept. The minute I saw it I thought, 'I love that!'.

The icky brown stain wasn't cool. It just looked like bad office furniture from way back when. Easy fix though.

It still had all the tags on it.

I had a vision for it and so I reworked it.

Here is the finished product...

I went with the weathered look. The rest of our house really isn't like this and since the nook/family/kitchen are kind of removed from the rest of the house I thought it would be a good opportunity to do something different and fun.

I distressed the piece all over to make it look old.

It, actually, is old but I wanted it to look older.

These metal tags are one of my favorite details on the piece.

Some more details of the distressing...

I filled it with strange little things that make me happy.

I've always loved herbs under cloches, I don't know why. I found that cool locker basked at an antique store in Boerne, along with the apothecary jars and the vintage botanicals.

This is one of my favorite things in there! Restoration Hardware ain't got nothin' on the real deal! It even had some kind of cocoon thing stuck to it from being wherever it had been.

Anyone who knows me, knows about my affinity for all things Alice. Notice the old tea box, the tiny chair and of course the mushrooms :-)
My beloved antique mercury apothecary bottles.

The tags in the iron holder came out of the inside of the cabinet. They are just part of whomever's filing system it was, but I like to be reminded that the piece had another life once upon a time.

This is another one of my favorite things. Yep, that's a wasp nest in there...I know that is probably weird, but I like it.

Reproduction vintage Italian apothecary bottles and a crab from my collection (I collect crabs).

Odds and ends that worked here.

Old skeleton keys...another fav. Guinea feathers and shells from our trip to St. Barths.

I hope you've enjoyed my little mini makeover.

I will show the whole nook once the light fixture comes in and is installed.

Happy Monday!

For Sale

I recently completed a project where I specified this amazing photographer's tripod floor lamp. It didn't work in the space that I wanted to use it in and so it is going back into my stock. Normally it would just remain in my stock until I found a new home for it, but with my blog as an outlet to 'speak to the masses', I thought I would give my readers the opportunity to purchase this unique designer piece discounted from retail pricing.
I don't think I need to tell you that this style is piping hot right now. You see the 'industrial chic' movement popping up everywhere! Similar styles of this classic tripod floor lamp sell at retailers such as Restoration Hardware for almost $1500!!!
Not mine :-) I'm selling this little baby for designer cost!

Restoration Hardware's tripod lamp.

A similar style at the good ol' Pottery Barn.

This lamp style works so well with the industrial chic look that is so hot right now.

As seen with Restoration Hardware's new look.

Great as an accent light instead of a typical floor lamp that you would see in everyone's house!

This beautiful lamp retails for $1300 and I am selling it for $800.
If you are interested in this awesome designer piece email me at maria@mebeck.com

Lovely Alice Lane

This gorgeous boutique is in Utah, but their website has some fabulous pieces if not just for inspiration!

Beautiful! Inspiring! They have a portfolio that will make you gaga!

Are you likin' what you're seein'? Well, hot bliggity blog, they have one of those too!

Enjoy!

Our Nook

We've been working away on our new home and it is almost to a point that I feel like I can share photos of it. Of course, a designer's house is never done! If I don't just take pics and show it, even though I don't feel it is complete, you may never see it!
My recent project is our nook. It is a great space and has wonderful light. It isn't done so I'm doing a half reveal just to show you what I've been working on.
I painted tone on tone stripes. This is not as easy as you think it would be. I enlisted the expertise of a friend who does painting and faux finishing for a living (Hi Allison!) and she helped me through how to figure it out. After a couple of hours of taping off, my husband walked in and kindly stated "those stripes are really crooked" which resulted in tearing all the tape down and walking away from it for a few days. I finally got it done and I'm very pleased :-)

I still have to reupholster the banquette, change out the lighting and install a piece of furniture that I am refinishing.
The idea for the piece of furniture is an antique apothecary cabinet. Here are some inspiration shots.

I have some of these that will be housed in the new cabinet.

I love vintage Italian apothecary bottles!

Herbs under cloches.

Check back soon for the final reveal with before and after pics.

I hope you are having a productive Monday!

Have a great week!