wallpaper borders

I am crazy about this room I first saw via The Pink Pagoda. When I researched it thinking it was very expensively done, I was very pleasantly surprised. The chairs are from Ikea. I suspect they are the Harry at $49.99 that they slipcovered in a blue and white stripe. One could also use Henriksdal for $89.99 that you can get with a long white slipcover. The really big surprise is that the slipcovers were stenciled with Chinoiserie designs. A fabulous DIY. The Stencil Library has a huge selection.

Eddielicious just left a comment about a wonderful Waverly blue and white Chinoiserie toile that is an indoor/outdoor fabric that could be used for the slipcovers in lieu of stencilling at $10.98 a yard. Thanks for the great find - link and photo at bottom of post.

For the dining table you could find a great vintage version or use the classic and budget friendly West Elm Parsons Dining Table in Chocolate Oak.

Roman shades take very little fabric (usually a couple yards per window) so they are a budget friendly choice. I have shown two blue and white Chinoiserie fabrics I like, but there are many options out there in every price range.

Henriksdal

Harry

West Elm Parsons Dining Table

Yosca Blue

Robert Allen Full Sails

Waverly Palm Palace

 It is my wonderful daughter Kate's birthday today. Wow does time fly when you are having fun!

Chinoiserie and black are an ideal combination of elegance and sophistication. Black may be in the form of black painted walls, Chinoiserie wallpaper, a piece of black and gold lacquered furniture, a black and white toile fabric, a Chinese screen, or perhaps Chinese Chippendale chairs. Even if you adore color, an element of black in a room is a great way to ground the space and add contrast. Check out my Pinterest board on Black and Chinoiserie for more inspiration and ideas.

dear mother nature,

i didn't complain a bit when you decided to rain on my wedding day, but *this* has got to stop!
(i'm trying to build a house here!)

Embellishments Design Studio

So perfect for a girl's bedroom - Lilly Pulitzer dragon curtains in hot pink, Chinoiserie walls in mint green, and an emerald green pagoda print from The Pink Pagoda - preppy, girly Chinoiserie. I love this color combo - I even have a Pinterest board on pink and green.

A look I am seeing more and more is window frames painted black, either left bare or dressed very simply as in the Ellen O'Neill apartment just below. Although one can find many examples of this trend, I especially like black windows juxtaposed against Chinoiserie as here - with blue and white Chinese porcelain above, Chinese toile fabric just below (Cowtan and Tout's Siam), and Chinoiserie wallpaper in the bottom photo. It is also a perfect choice if one has very tall windows that are difficult to do window treatments for that don't look awkward.