Find of the week

Want to share a Find with you before getting back on the topic of our beautiful new drapery line at DeCocco Design!

Google Chrome.  Are you using it?  It's fantastic.  My I.T. slave brother-in-law got me to try it when he was rescuing my laptop and pulling me into the world of Outlook.  Google Chrome is MUCH faster than Internet Explorer!  When you spend much of your day on the computer, speed is what you crave.  Chrome makes my computer go zing.

Ciao,

Anne

Semi-custom window treatments BY DeCocco Design!

Small blast of the trumpet please.  Finally ready to make this exciting announcement about a new venture for DeCocco Design.  We're getting ready to launch our very own line of semi-custom window treatments, sold right on the website! And they're going to look amazing in your home!

I've long wished for a choice between the blah, low quality, ready-made options offered by the big catalog/stores and the high price point of truly custom products.  That choice has never appeared to my satisfaction, so I'm going to do what any pioneer woman would--do it myself.  Of course, that's with the help of Gail, my hard working partner in this project, and a cast of amazing suppliers, all found right here in the U.S.A.

Our launch date is sometime this Spring, so I'll tell you more as the days go by. There's SO much to do, including a full reswizzle of the website.   In the meantime, look at these photos from Houzz.com.  They all show how beautiful draperies can polish, warm and finish a space.

Ciao,
Anne

This is more a test than a post

Tough couple of weeks for the computer.  Good thing my brother in law is a genius.  I'm just making sure this post works and will be back with BIG news later in the week.  I know, you've heard that one before.  You'll see.  It's very exciting and I want to tell you about it properly.  Good things come to those who wait....

Jane--will there be computer problems in the future?

Ciao,
Anne

Find of the Week!

To be truthful, the Find of the Week for this past week was found in the cold and flu aisle. Totally unfair to get both!  But I'm going to shake it all off and move on because I did come across 2 finds to share with you.

We're doing a photo shoot this weekend on an interior project that's not quite finished.  Design projects can take a very long time to really be  photo ready because these are people's homes and there's no rush to be "finished."  We all need to take our time and keep our eyes peeled for those pieces that truly personalize our spaces.  We find some things while travelling while other items reveal themselves when we least expect it and in places we would never have thought to look.  That's a long way of saying that when I'm ready to shoot some pictures, it's not unusual to have to run out and get a few things to fill a nook here, a cranny there.  In that spirit, I found this table at Target:

I love it!  Nice size, made of metal, very, very useful.  Could be an end table or an extra seat in the room.  And it would work indoors or out.  $70!  I tried to find a picture online, but could not.  Target often carries these "global bazaar"items for a short period of time.  If the client doesn't decide to keep it, I may not be able to bring myself to return it because it's just too good.

Here's my other Find for this week.  The Naturalizer Granola sneaker.  A girl should never be too sick to order a pair of shoes.  I love this Converse/Chuck Taylor look, but cannot wear those super-flat sneaks.  These may look flat, but they're not.  AND they have those "gellin" pads inside.  I've never tried those pads and now know that they're awesome!  My feet weren't just fine by mid-day, they were happy feet.

So a good end to the week.  Wash your hands a lot.  Get your rest, take your vitamins and watch what you eat.  Don't get sick.  My Hub took great care of me, but he can't take care of everyone and now he needs a rest.

Ciao,

Anne

Make your bed!

The Raleigh News & Observer's Home Section did a nice article on bedding 2 weeks ago and included me in it.  I love that paper and have been a subscriber for a long, long time.  It's unthinkable to me to start the day without at least skimming through the local paper.  After this article came out, I received so many nice comments, but almost everyone especially liked my admonition at the end of the article to make your bed!

"Cutsom" pillowcases, aka homemade, DIY, handmade. Whatever you call them, they're fabulous on your bed!

Here's the link to the article " Linens In Winter" by Mary Beth Breckenridge (click on the title).  Enjoy!  And I hope you've made your bed.

Ciao,

Anne

DeCocco Design is growing!

Things are really hopping in the office and I've got a couple of announcements to make.  The most important one is that Gail Healy has joined DeCocco Design as a Design Associate.  Sound the trumpets please. I am so glad she's here!

Gail has run my workroom for many years--that means she makes the beautiful custom window treatments that I design for my clients.  She's super talented and a lot of fun to be around.   Her company, "It's Curtains" is well known in our area (and beyond) for creating the best of the best. Gail trained as an  interior designer, specializing in kitchen design, but just liked sewing better. I've convinced her to come on board to help me launch a related product (next announcement, coming very soon). 

I know she would want me to post a very professional photo.  But this one shows you the true Gail:

Her passion is water skiing.  Doesn't that look like fun?

Welcome Gail!

Ciao,

Anne

Find of the Week!

TJ Pappas of Soft Wind Soap makes really wonderful products.  I'm sure I've told you about his soaps before--everyone in this house uses them.  Grandboy uses the oatmeal soap in the tub because he has very sensitve skin.  Hub likes the shampoo bar (yes, shampoo in the form of a bar of soap!) and I use the Tea Tree complexion bar for my tissue-thin little face (replaces prescription soap).  Late last year TJ sent me some lotion disks to try. They are FABULOUS!

The lotion disk comes in a sweet little tin.  I pull the disk out at bedtime and rub it between my hands, which warms it up and releases the rich lotion.  I really work it in over my hands (you can use it on legs, arms, feet, etc. of course) and they have NEVER looked better.  While it doesn't turn back the hands of time (oh, almost a pun there), it does stop it in it's tracks.  It costs $4.00 a tin!  One tin lasts me 5 weeks.  Lots of fragrance choices, including unscented.  I like the Lavendar and Gardenia best.

If you're moaning about your dry hands, contact TJ by clicking on his name and order up a couple of disks to try.  You can also find Soft Wind Soap on FB. You will love them.  Can you tell I've just discovered the Text Background Colour tool?  Fun!

Ciao,

Anne

A Joyful Noise

I'm a lifelong Roman Catholic, although am sure I'm the kind that makes the Pope roll his eyes. Yes, I'm a pick-and-choose Catholic, believing and not believing in all kinds of things my church does not.  But I love the Mass, the music, the priests and the community here in my tiny part of the world.  This Sunday, during Mass at St. Francis, we had a guest speaker by the name of ValLimar Jansen. 

ValLimar doesn't just speak.  She also sings (what a voice!) and is a performer of the highest level. It was jaw dropping and fabulous. Catholics are generally a quiet bunch. ValLimar is a Catholic like I've never seen. She is on fire with her talent and love of life. It was joyful, uplifting, entertaining and just completely awesome! She will be performing for the next couple of days at St. Francis of Assisi and I hope to see her at least one more time.  ValLimar is the embodiment of a joyful noise!

Ciao,

Anne

Unplugging a bit on MLK Day

I worry that the Wii that Santa brought is going to take over Grandboy's life.  It is fun, we all play, he's often moving and strategizing, BUT it's still staring at the tv, which I'm not a fan of.  So today I made him look in the cabinet for some of the other things that Santa brought.  He pulled out the paint-by-number set.

Such a cute kid.

The masterpiece.  Love it!

Ciao,

Anne

Just made me laugh

West Elm's latest ad

This ad from West Elm was in my email today and when I saw the photo I had to laugh.  These are all examples of end tables in the homes of friends and family members 30, 40 and 50 years ago.  What goes around sure does come around!  West Elm has added a couple of fun colors to freshen things up and they're all fairly affordable.  They're also the kind of things many of us look for in thrift shops to buy for a song and spruce up ourselves.  Either way, they've got great, classic lines and can work in just about any room. 

Ciao,

Anne