My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Red, White and Blue Gloriously Displayed for Pink Saturday 12/4/10

Welcome to Pink Saturday and a thank you to Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for hosting it. Just click on the logo below to go visit all the participants.

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Do any of you know what it's like to be posting all these scans of photos from the Ethan Allen Treasury of American Home Interiors? I have to scan, edit, PhotoShop them—which I don't do as fastidiously as I wanted for lack of time, and then upload them to Photobucket, which just went through a transition and took me a while to get used to the new version. Can I have a cheer? Please!

These books used to cost $14.95 about 10 years ago, but they were free if you went in and looked around and showed an interest in purchasing something, which I did. But I got such great ideas from them, plus you all know how much I love eye candy. These decorating ideas are timeless. BTW, I don't get a cent from Ethan Allen for promoting their products. I just love their furniture.


Now, there's an aside to this post. My daughter was lamenting to me the other day on the phone about her family room sofa. She bought it as Sofas, Inc. or some inexpensive generic store several years ago and her animals have trashed it. I can barely sit on it because it's so broken down, but she had refused to replace it for the animals to just trash another one. ??? So she was lamenting about the lack of pretty fitted slipcovers. (Trust me, I don't know why frugality is taking over now; it's NOT an issue.) I recommended to her to go to Ethen Allen and look at the quality of their furniture. She got her Rachel Ashwell living room sofa at Layla Grace about 5 years ago and loves it and it looks like good quality, but it doesn't even compare to EA.

Anyway, I told her about the blog posts I'm doing on EA here and recommended she visit one of their stores in the SF Bay Area, where she lives. She mentioned Ikea, which is an inexpensive store, and their sofas are not the best quality. It's more for college students and people just starting out really. Good enough but not great. Now, I've raised this kid and she knows my stuff and my standards on certain things. She mentioned Pottery Barn. I told her that's a couple of steps up from Ikea, but better value can be had at other furniture shops in her area; after all, I lived there and know what the stores are like. So instead of following her mother's advice, she orders a sofa and 2 chairs and the 3 slipcovers from PB. Now, don't get me wrong; it's good but not the best. So much for a mother's recommendation.

As I've said before, I love red in all its value, pink especially. I think this room is stunning.

It's kind of funny but the tulips are what drew me to show you this room. Oh, I do like the room and the furniture, but I prefer skirts on my sofas.

Notice this bedroom has 3 different kinds of stripes on the bedcoverings.

This is a variation on my own sofa I've had for 15 years. The only difference are the pillows. These are "knife-edged" and mine are rounder and softer.

Again, the harlequin rug drew me to this room along with the red walls. Red is just such a commanding color.

Same sofa as the white one 2 photos above but with a different fabric.

This is one of my favorite rooms. I once considered painting my walls yellow, but pink won out many years ago; although, I did paint my bedroom in California yellow once but it was a snap decision brought about by hubby demanding I make up my mind at the paint store quickly. I hated that hue for a couple of years and then painted it another color. Just wasn't exactly like I wanted and got rushed. Never, ever again!!!

Can we say fantastic?! I could live in this bedroom. I love it, more specifically the bed coverings and textiles in the room. I'd love to have the exact same linens for our bed but it's not happening because I know they'd be too expensive and hubby would cry...a LOT...maybe even divorce me. But they are gorgeous!!!!
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23 comments:

  1. I love every single one of these rooms! My fav is the red and white rug with the yellow boots. So bright and fun! EA furniture really is top quality. Thanks for sharing all these delightful photos!

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  2. Wow, this is pure gorgeousness!!! I love every room, but then, I have had all Ethan Allen furniture since I was 19...I started young! I used to go in their showrooms, then come home, peruse the catalogue, and then go order...that was in the days before internet! I still love everything they make...AND I love all the red!

    One thing about Ikea...their furniture is great for young people starting out, but their sofas are actually not cheap...I don't know why they're not, but they are pricey compared to all their bargains.

    I love all your "mom" advice by the way! Too cute! (And I bet your daughter loves her pets!)

    Happy Pink Saturday!
    XO

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  3. I liked the flowery sheets in the red bedroom. They look like the ones we have in our flat in Budapest ... and are bought at IKEA there ;)
    Happy PS!

    http://fotochip.blogspot.com/2010/12/pink-saturday.html

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  4. Hi Connie, I am first up on PS. How about that. I love EA furniture, too, always have. The colors are always so rich, and the furniture just wonderful. Thanks for sharing these beautiful rooms.
    Hugs
    Gail

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  5. What a holiday red this is ... love those tulips, there's a pink one in there. Chuckle!!

    Merry Christmas ~
    Have a beautiful weekend ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  6. I had to laugh about your hubby wanting you to make a quick decision at the paint store... this is how I chose the color for our guest room recently.

    I am planning a red/white/blue room if we ever get a lake house. Someday...

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  7. Happy Pink Saturday Connie Sweetie...
    Oh what a beautiful share today. I love, love the colors in these photos. You are definitely in the pink for fashion today.

    I love red and each and every one of these grabbed my heart, and popped the old eyes a little. Love, love, love this share.

    That last bedroom is SO dreamy. I could sleep very heavenly there. Love the double gingham bed skirt, and of course I love the linens, so beautiful. And I love the way the tied the curtains in place. So country. Just like me. I love this look.

    The first living room was my favorite. Loved the red sofa, so bright and cheery and I loved the coffee table. So elegant and those striped drawstring curtains, love it.

    Thank you SO much for sharing with me. I have SO enjoyed this little tour. Thank you sweetie for taking me to a fun place today. I have so enjoyed my visit.

    Many hugs and SO much love, Sherry

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  8. Hello Connie, Happy Pink Saturday, your post is beautiful. Love the red bedroom! Thanks for sharing.
    Have a great week!
    I wish you peace! Shirl
    Shirls Rose Cottage

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  9. I love all of these rooms!! We once had a game room painted yellow..we were renting the house and couldn't change it. But let me tell you...it was sunshine 24 hours a day in there..it was impossible to be grumpy and sit in that room! haha! I know what you mean on the hubby not liking the bedding. I love floral patterns and animal prints but my husband only does grey, black, white and some dusty blue. And the blue is BIG to him. And it's mostly just solids or small, tiny stripes. He doesn't even let me have curtains!! No fun!
    Anyway, love your post!! have a wonderful weekend!
    -April

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  10. I think you are really a closet red girl Connie, rather than a pink one! Rachaelxo

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  11. What lovely warm rooms you showed us today.
    You know Connie...you can't tell the young anything!

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  12. All those rooms are so beautiful! They remind me of Ralph Lauren. Ikea is great for buying knick Knacks and what nots. The furniture is usually in 10,000 pieces and the instructions are in Swedish! LOL HPS!! Marcia

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  13. Well i love yellow too and the outside of my house is painted in it with a periwinkle trim. all of my neigbors have white, beige, gray but I went for yellow and have never regretted it! Of course my house is tiny(750 sq feet) and when it was white you couldn't even see it. have a grand week connie.

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  14. Just love this! Thanks for sharing!
    greetings from Holland,
    Ineke

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  15. Thanks for the sofa pep talk. I need a new one too and have just been putting it off. Now I know where to go (and where not to go). I love the pictures, they are great inspiration.

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  16. HI Connieness! Oh, I love these EA pix. I used to go and browse one, knowing I couldn't afford anything, just so I could have the catalog to take home and drool over! :)
    I would love to have Miss H. as a Diva!! So when you can - snap snap snap.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  17. Very nice. They could really give people some great ideas. Happy Pink Saturday.

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  18. Hi Connie, those a great ideas for red decor, love the last one, an amazing bed!

    Have a wonderful Sunday!
    Hugs
    Charo

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  19. I’m late visiting! Had to wok  Hope you had a great PS!

    ♥´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Lori Lynn ♥

    PS: I'm having a Holiday giveaway!!
    http://lorilynnscottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-happiness-giveaway.html

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  20. Great rooms and hope you had a great pink saturday!

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  21. I love Ethan Allan! And I agree with you about Ikea, it's fun to look at their catalogs and shop there, but quality- no. Same with most Potter Barn actually. I LOVE yellow walls!

    Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
    Christmas bracelet giveaway

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.