My Car Turns One

My Audi

My car is about to turn one! I can't believe how this year has flown by. I will be taking it in this week for its first maintenance. I'm so glad I listened to all of you and got a white car - so perfect for Florida.

Blue and White Cleaning

The Laundress

I will be the first to admit that I actually love cleaning my home. And I think that using great cleaning products and tools makes it far easier and more enjoyable. Here are a couple favorites - in blue and white.

On Vacuums and Life

Dyson V7 Motorhead Fuschia

What a difference a day makes. I have been in my house officially for 24 little hours and it feels like home. I was in the other house for 9 months and it never ever felt like home for one minute. I have high speed Internet, I have TV, and I have a brand new security system with cameras in a gated community with great security guards. I have already made great strides in the house with most rooms looking pretty wonderful. I am in love with this house. I always loved the title of Bunny Williams' book An Affair With a House.

I am waiting on starting to hang art for a couple of weeks. My one and only phobia in interior decorating is hanging artwork. For two of the One Room Challenges, I hired the owner of an art gallery in Alexandria, Virginia who hangs art in people's homes to hang all of my pieces - one was very large and another was a set of six, both of which I was nervous about doing myself. I would love to hire someone for a few hours to come over and put everything up for me. Do any of my local followers have a recommendation?

I mentioned ordering the pink Dyson cordless stick vacuum for this house. This review is "An Affair With a Vacuum." It is pink. So so cute. It is light as a feather. It has no cord. It has excellent suction. It goes 30 minutes on a charge - I can do this entire house in 10. I am very very visual. I can't stand ugliness. Even my cleaning tools are works of art to me. Here they are hanging in my old laundry room.

I think this vacuum visually is a little work of art and functionally fantastic. And remember I have two long haired dogs. I highly recommend it.

It's one reason I have always had Apple products - gorgeous form and great function. I still have my raspberry pink IMac.

I came across this old post of mine on Pineapple Monograms. aren't these fun?

So "Florida" style, I think.

I am taking the day off tomorrow - I have not had a day off in weeks. On tap is HomeGoods - the manger has probably already sent out a search party looking for me. And seeing my friend and hairdresser for a cut, color, and blow-dry.

On a somber note, I am incredibly saddened by the number of emails and comments I have received from other survivors of domestic abuse who are followers of CC. Covid is not the only pandemic out there, I'm afraid. I think many women suffer in silence and I think many others who speak out seeking justice face a system that falls so far short of what it should be. I hope when the dust settles I can find a way to use my legal background and personal journey to help other women.

This and That

My Garage/Staging Area

Yesterday I arrived at the house around 9 AM and the painters were already hard at work with classical music and opera wafting throughout the house. Not your typical painters for sure.

We decided on Benjamin Moore Aura Matte in Classic Gray for the walls. The Samplize samples were great and I highly recommend this product. Beautifully painted (with the actual paint) and packaged with quick arrival, they are easy to use - peel and stick and you can move them around from room to room.

Samplize paint samples

It's the one in the middle.

And we selected the orange for the guest bath. Benjamin Moore Tandoori - we are using it on the wainscoting, baseboards, crown molding and door. It will be a little jewel box.

Here is my Chinoiserie wallpaper with Benjamin Moore Tandoori.

Each day I take two trips to the new house with breakables and such. So much easier than packing and unpacking. I'm using my garage as a staging area while the painters are in the house.

I ordered the pink Dyson cordless stick vacuum. Why? It's pink. End of story. LOL

I usually read a hundred reviews and research for hours and not this time. It had me at pink Dyson. It has been shipped already. BTW it's the V7 Motorhead.

PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I texted with the owner weaver of the lobster rope doormat business. Turns out they are from Baltimore and Annapolis and now have homes in Canada and Florida. They are hand delivering my two mats this weekend to my house.

I think these reclaimed lobster rope doormats are stunning. Durable and so unique, they are woven from rope that once tethered lobster traps in the sea. To protect whales which often became snared in the rope, a heavier sink rope is now used. Tens of thousands of tons of sink rope slated for landfills is now being used by a few companies to create these historical and authentic mats. Lobster rope doormats are also woven out of new lobster rope which comes in a huge variety of colors, but I love the muted shades of the reclaimed. Someone commented to me yesterday that she has one and they are the only doormats that hold up beautifully year after year with our intense sun.

While researching these doormats to purchase one for my new home, I happened upon 30 Fathom Doormats and learned that, as I mentioned, they have a place in Canada and a place in Florida not far from me and the owner even weaves doormats from locally sourced Florida recycled rope. I was thrilled that I could source this locally.

I am getting two for my new home and will post pictures next week. One of the doormats I have chosen, the charcoal colored rope was from lobster fishing at Big Pine Key, and the pale blue was deep water off Ft. Lauderdale for golden crab. The owner was telling me they spend hours retrieving, detangling, and cleaning the rope. This is the Old Florida I love so much. This is charming.


Please check out the website. The owner is happy to work with you on custom colors and sizes.

30 Fathom Doormats

30 Fathom Doormats

30 Fathom Doormats

30 Fathom Doormats

30 Fathom Doormats

Day One

Casa Chinoiserie Chic

Thank you for all your supportive comments yesterday. Closing went well, although after an hour and a half with masks on in a conference room, I was so anxious to get outside and over to my new house. I had the car already loaded with things to bring over and as I pulled in I had to pinch myself that this is really happening. I did a couple of trips over bringing breakables. I decided since I will be back and forth supervising work on the house, it would be easier to throw things in my car than have to carefully pack everything.

I finally got back here late in the afternoon and had a favorite meal of sushi and Champagne to celebrate. This morning, I meet the painters and plumber and roofer at the house and it all begins.

I can't wait to try out the Samplize paint samples on the walls. I will take pictures and let you know how they work out.

And some miscellaneous updates, some might turn into posts soon.

Simplisafe

I just ordered a Simplisafe home security system after being with ADT in Virginia for years. I will let you know how I like it. Have any of you installed it?

My realtor gave me a lovely housewarming gift including all the fixings for mojitos. They might be on the agenda for later today at the new house.

Mojitos

I found someone on Etsy who handcrafts these personalized hand fans in Mexico with your monogram, logo, whatever you like. I think I will order some.

Personalized Hand Fans

I have wanted a reclaimed lobster rope front doormat and I went down the rabbit hole starting in Maine and Massachusetts and ended up with someone who weaves them by hand in my backyard. She is making a custom one for me.

Lobster Rope Doormats

And finally today, I want to buy a cordless stick vacuum. Recommendations? I had wanted a robot vacuum, but I think with all my low furniture and table skirts and such it will be an issue. I love this Dyson in fuchsia just because of the color. LOL! I seriously want this vacuum.

Dyson V7 Motorhead in Fuschia