• Therarebelle

the RARE belle

~ a southern gal's guide to all things fabulous in food, fashion, finery and frippery

the RARE belle

Tag Archives: interiors

A belle worthy book by a belle extraordinaire friend …

12 Thursday Oct 2017

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

About Decorating, amazon, books, design, interiors, Sara Ruffin Costello

One of us was blessed enough to attend Tulane University…actually belles went to Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University…Sophie Newcomb is no more, but the belles live on…

It was an amazing stroke of luck to get to spend those college years with a slew of fabulous girls…all with personality, charisma, mischief and creativity.  We thought it was about time we shared the tremendous creations and gifts they have brought to the world.

There is a long list, and they each deserve their own spotlight…so we will share them one at a time.

Sara Ruffin Costello is our first belle star! From the first day she stepped on campus, she was vibrant, vivacious, exhuberant and magnetic!  She was part of the dynamic team that started Domino Magazine…which is to this day one of our favorite mags…we only wish it was still a monthly.

Now we are proud to say that she has authored the most beautiful and extraordinary book…About Decorating.  In it, she writes about the work of famed Richard Keith Langham

Via Amazon

Even the hard cover is scrumptious…


Courtesy of Sara Ruffin Costello

And inside…oh my!  Yes, please!


Anyone who appreciates interiors, enjoys home design, seeks style with a touch of flair will adore this book…and it’s a great addition to any library or coffee table.

Y’all order it on Amazon!!

What a beautiful creation you’ve made, Sara…thank you for sharing!

a&a

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 75

11 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

autumn rickey, camel, chinoiserir wall paper, chinoiserirchic, fall inspiration, food network, fried chicken, interiors, Liquor.com, LPA, Paula Deen, pretty pink tulips, revolveclothing, sweater

A little fall home decor inspiration….


Makes us want to hit pumpkin patch and get in the Fall Spirit …via Pretty Pink Tulips

This sweater….


Via Revolveclothing.com

We both want it…don’t you think we need a team belle Sweater?? 

and…

We could wear it while eating…


the best Southern fried chicken

Be inspired by these Interiors….


Chinoiserie style

Oh Rickey you so fine….


Autumn Rickey

Now THAT should ring some belles!

a&a

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

book it, belle…brilliant accessories for the home

23 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison, what's ringin' our belle

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

books, decorating, interiors, jan showers, markham roberts, styling

Feel free to get out the fireworks and celebrate. We belles have come across two incredible design books that are as inspiring on the outside as they are on the inside…the total package, if you will.

Now, we have gone over decorating with books in the recent past. In case you have forgotten or would like a lil’ refresher, find examples here…and here (notice the books on the “dining/library” tables).

With these ideas in mind…just imagine adding these recent finds to the mix. First up…

Markham Roberts The Way I See It

This book is insightful, delectable and worthy of being in any belle’s home. You will find so many beautiful rooms and vignettes inside that your heart will just soar.

IMG_1509

But wait! Here’s the knock-your-socks-off part! If you happen to slip the cover off, just look what you get…voila!!

IMG_1510

We know!! Can you believe the gorgeous-ness?? Swoon worthy!!

Once you’ve collected yourself and caught your breath, we have another gasp-for-air option for your collection…

Glamorous Rooms by Jan Showers

A classic, clean, beautiful book of gorgeous, livable spaces….

IMG_1511-0

And this cover is no less heart thumping!!

IMG_1512

Couldn’t you just squeal with delight? We aren’t ashamed to say we did!

The two little beauties together…

IMG_1514

We might have mentioned before…we are sorta into “collecting”…and love the idea of finding more books as divine as these…so please share if you have made any of your own happy, book-ish discoveries!

Accessorizing…in all different ways…is very important, belles…and these are perfect examples of how to get your style on in your own belle maison!!

a&a

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

belles don’t fret…they do fretwork!

06 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Fretwork, home, interiors

Our dear belles…should we ever settle for just ho-hum? Why, never! Not us! When it comes to what we wear, what we eat, what we do…we want fabulous, don’t we? Well, here’s a little belle ringer for your belle maison. When you are stumped as to how to create some “wow” in a room, don’t fret, do fretwork!!

Here are some beautiful examples…

from sybaritic spaces.blogspot.com

from sybaritic spaces.blogspot.com

sybariticspaces via Elle Decor

sybariticspaces via Elle Decor

http://sybariticspaces.blogspot.com/2013/03/create-fabulous-fretwork-doors.html

We have both been doing a little updating lately (actually…we are in a constant state of update…much to our husbands’ dismay), so when we found this touch of fabulous-ness, we just went all giddy with the possibilities!! Cut to order in some of the most amazing patterns, there is sure to be one that is perfect for any project you can conjure up in that pretty little head.

Some of our favorites from fretworksdesigns.com:

fretwork - Oxmoor

fretwork -Homewood

This pattern is Homewood

So, a few months ago, one of us realized it was time for a major overhaul of the master bedroom. Living in a nearly 90-year-old house, storage had become a touchy subject (i.e. – a certain husband might not be allowed to open the door to the wife’s “extra” closet because said closet, tiny as it may be, is so chock full of treasures, a purse and shoe avalanche could be set off merely by the low pitch of a male gasp…it’s take your life in your own hands dangerous!!).

Well, what’s a belle to do? Create as many places for storage as possible. In this case, we decided that some cleverly designed built-in cabinets could take the place of the typical bedside table/chest, and the cabinet doors could become a fabulous fret-work-of-art! The doors were built with mirrored insets…and the fretwork worked the rest of the magic.

20140219-222157.jpg
The fretwork (pattern is Oxmoor) was painted to match the cabinetry and fit perfectly into the space on the doors thanks to some accurate measurements on our part and skillful craftsmanship from Fretworks Designs LLC. http://fretworksdesigns.com/

Check out the photos of this project on their site here: http://fretworksdesigns.com/built-in/

A before and after view:

20140220-000038.jpg

20140220-000639.jpg

Now, our dears, how could we possibly stop at these cabinet doors with this fab treatment? Just imagine the doors, walls, headboards, chests, and countless other ho-hum spaces that stand to benefit! Heads spinning and belles ringing!!

a&a

34.833073 -82.394220

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

lacquer…if these walls could talk!!

27 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

decor, interiors, laquer, Paint

We have to admit that we are a little like magpies, constantly drawn to anything shiny. So, it stands to reason that lacquer would become one of our latest obsessions.

Our homes are ever-changing works in progress (hey, a belle is what she is!)…and walls are a virtual canvas that can add elegance, intimacy, sophistication, and interest to a room. Highly lacquered walls are beyond chic and oh, so shiny!! In a den, dining room, bathroom or living room, this wall treatment is On Another Level!!!

There is a little work involved…somewhat time consuming even. But the end result??? To die for!!

Here are a few examples that sent us over the edge.

20140205-230519.jpg
Via Pinterest

I mean, c’ mon, don’t you just want to wrap yourself in it?

20140205-230634.jpg
Via Pinterest

Or feel like you are living inside a Tiffany’s box?

20140205-230739.jpg
Via Pinterest

And this yummy room…the color… And don’t get us started on fret work….

20140205-230841.jpg
Via Pinterest
And for all you timid belles out there who just want to tiptoe into this scrumptious pool of glossiness…. How about just the ceiling? Divine

And the piece de resistance …
Our humble little ole selves gently suggested to a friend that her dining room was the perfect spot to try out this reflective finish….here’s how it turned out. And the pictures don’t even begin to do it justice!!

20140205-231434.jpg

Mind you, this is a work in progress. New walls and new carpeting, complete. Upholstery and sconces, etc, still to come. We will be sure to keep you posted as this belle room unfolds!!

We love laquered walls and hope you might be feeling a bit magpie-ish yourselves 😉 Ding, ding!!

a&a

34.830030 -82.405418

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

banquettes…they aren’t just for kitchens anymore!!

20 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

banquettes, home decor, interiors

We have been obsessing just a titch about banquettes. But not your typical kitchen, diner-style seating. To that we say nay nay!! We are drooling over that cozy nook, the intimate corner, the welcoming area to set a spell, read a book, have a chat or toast a friend.

Here are a few examples that got our hearts racing and motivated us to execute the idea in one of our living rooms.

20140203-212209.jpg
Jan Showers

Via Pinterest

20140203-212314.jpg
Via Pinterest

20140203-212420.jpg

Melissa Miles Rufty
Via Pinterest

As we have already proclaimed, we are so smitten with the whole banquette fantasy that we couldn’t wait to make it a reality.

We found a corner in one our very own living rooms and with a little tweaking (there we go again!!), our dream came true. We moved a chest and a floor lamp, and ordered the banquette pieces from Ballard Design. We picked the Coventry style. Once it arrived, we added a couple of pillows we had on hand and ordered some velvet to make the persimmon-colored ones. Pulled an old coffee table from the attic, added a couple of coffee table books and a pretty plant and voila!!!

Presenting what we think turned out pretty darn well. How do y’all think we did??

20140220-132121.jpg

20140220-132135.jpg
Banquettes will have you sittin’ pretty!

a&a

34.830204 -82.405502

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
Follow the RARE belle on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow the RARE belle on WordPress.com

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest

Follow us on Bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • the RARE belle
    • Join 698 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • the RARE belle
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: