A High Quality Escapade Part 2

As there is no Wednesday Hodgepodge this week, why don't we take another fun visual escapade.  Sounds good to me.

First of all, you must see this picture of Granddaughter Savannah and her unconditional love partner, Skye.

This is just about the most adored dog in the whole wide world, and she not only revels in it but returns it.

One day last week friend Margaret and I had lunch with a group of ladies from our Village, then had time to kill before meeting our husbands for a movie.  And, by the way, if you haven't seen "Show Me the Father" you must.

Just so you know, this place is the only business that warrants my driving on the North Dallas Toll Road.

IBB is the most amazing home furnishing store and I could literally live in every vignette.

The owner and designer, Beth Rafferty met us at the door, welcoming us and insisting we make ourselves at home and to take all the pictures I wanted.  They truly are the most friendly staff of designers and made us feel like we might actually belong in such a place.

Just feast your eyes on all this beauty and I will only interrupt when I feel it necessary.

The artwork alone is worth going to see.  You know how I love abstracts and these are some of the prettiest I've seen.

The silk grass cloth on the walls in this set-up along with the silk drapes were so elegant.  Notice the lamp.

Not every painting has to be hung and it can have another layered over it.  I love the composition this creates.

Following are some examples of how one can bring touches of Fall into a room.

The minute we saw this arrangement Margaret said, "Oh Libby, you could live here!"  And yes, she was right.

Perhaps you would prefer a few fall touches without going overboard like I prefer doing.

You may want to switch out some of your art work to bring more warm colors for this cozy season.

One single chair, or a few pillows and a colorful throw may give you all the color you want.  Don't forget faux fur pillows, throws or toppers for the bed.

Orange will warm up an otherwise cool blue room with just a few minor pieces.

Designer Kay Lewis (right) let us browse then took us behind the scenes into "Wonder Land."  Here are hundreds of square feet holding accessories of every size, shape and description.

She explained that they do many, many model homes, but their main business is guiding homeowners in remaking their living spaces.  In this area are what they call "white rooms" where a designer will set up a space exactly as it is in someone's home and design it to meet the homeowner's specifications.  Once the client sees it, they are able to tweak and make changes directly from the warehouse.  Wa La, it's done and ready to be moved and set up exactly as planned.

Another service they offer is in-home design consultation and space planning.  After meeting with a client, they will take all selected items into the home for the client to live with for a while.  If not pleased, they will make what changes are needed.

Kay explained that they only order a pair of chairs for instance and no duplicates, so one is not likely to see their furniture in someone else's house.

This section is filled with row after row of all kinds of fabric for window coverings, and upholstery to meet any desire and taste preference.  They also provide customized plantation shutters and motorized shades.  In fact, there is very little in high quality home furnishings that they don't provide.

And oh my, my favorite accessory, the throw pillow!

If you happen to be needing a little home furnishing escapade, then come to IBB in Frisco, Texas.  It will bring refreshment to your soul.

Recent Escapades Part 1

The other day my sweet Cassidy asked if I would like to join her to see an estate sale preview.  I wanted to say after I stopped jumping around the room, "Are you kidding, that's why I'm here!"  Instead I simply replied, "Yes, that sounds wonderful!"  And it was!

Background Required

Everything was stored in a downtown Dallas warehouse as this would be a 2-day online auction.  There were well over 1,000 items.

The collections were from the Musselman & Rigney estates, with some odd mid-century pieces thrown in.  Most of the items were 19th century French antiques, oil paintings, diamonds and other jewels, both large and small furniture pieces, accessories, and an enormous amount of Rose Medallion Porcelain.  My Dallas girls love that.

James Musselman is an oil and gas magnate here in Dallas and lives in an enormous mansion where all the other Dallas multi-billionaires live.

 Onesia Rigney (1940-2020), was the renowned interior designer whose husband, the late Frank Rigney, founded Anderson’s Furniture in Dallas in the 1960s.  From what I've read, there were stores all over Texas with the last store closing in 2016.  Evidently, at one time, this was the place to purchase nice furniture. From what I've read, Ms. Rigney was known for her timeless interiors and for maintaining a portfolio of classical traditional design.

These Louis XVI-style Gris Pointe Box sofas are covered in elegant raw silk and one sold for $1,900 the other $1,700.  Someone got a great bargain.

I couldn't believe the size of the chandelier and the crystals.  And yes, it came out of someone's house and went into another.

To get an idea of the immensity of those lamps, realize that is a Steinway baby grand in front of them.

These large 19th century French Bronze Andirons sold for $1,200 and will require quite a large fireplace to make them happy.

The faux marble on top of this beautiful 20th century Italian Painted and Gilt Credenza was hand-painted.  It was impossible to tell the difference.  This piece sold for $1,700.  The set of 19th century French armchairs with Aubusson upholstery, sold for $950.

I had never seen such an amazing display of marble.  Solid tables made out of the most amazing veined marble.

There would be no rearranging of furniture once these pieces were placed.

Too much for the mind to absorb and eye to take in.

Look at these faces.

This pair of carved Italian marble busts of Boy And Girl were sculpted in  approximately 1900 by Guisto Viti and sold for $800.  I fell in love with them the minute I saw them.

I do not know what these happy cherub marble musicians went for, but I assure you, it wasn't enough.

Cassidy loved this large signed oil painting done by Getahun Assefa, an Ethiopian in 2014.  Although I didn't care for it, she has really good taste.  It sold for $6,000.

There was one particular item that we both did agree on though.

This 18k Gold Diamond Necklace with 136 diamonds over 20 carats, total was one of the most expensive items to sell the first day.  It went for $13,000 and some lady somewhere is very happy.

What fun this was and to enjoy it with my antique-loving granddaughter made it all the more special.  By the way, someone has this Hollywood Regency chaise lounge in their home for only $250.

Another escapade another day.

 

Oh Fall, Wherefore Art Thou

Yes, there is beginning to be a touch of Fall in the air today.  I even wore orange in honor of its arrival.

Joining Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this week's

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It's fall y'all! Officially that is and in the northern hemisphere only, so if you're visiting from down under happy spring! Does it feel like fall where you live? Does it look like fall aka are the leaves beginning to change? What is your favorite fall color? Scent? Flavor?

It is 87 degrees right now where I live and the sun is shining quite brightly.  The wind is whipping around the leaves on our Crepe Myrtles that are yet to show signs of turning any color but green.  It is my understanding that there is not likely to be a color change until mid October or November.  Unfortunately, trees in North Central Texas are not affected by our desire to see actual seasonal change just because the calendar says so.

Give me all the rich tones of red, orange and yellow with a bit of purple and brown thrown in that is typical of Autumn.  My favorite scent would be a burning wood fire; flavor is my year-round Mystic Chia that just becomes better when the temps drop.

2. What's something you're not?

A sweet princess!

 

3. Share a favorite quote related to fall and tell us why it's a favorite.

"I like the woods in autumn when dry leaves hide the ground, when the trees are bare and the wind sweeps by with a lonesome rushing sound."

These are words from a childhood poem.  As autumn has always been my favorite season, I delighted as a child in playing outside, in the woods when the leaves were falling and covered the ground.  Oh the places our imagination would take us.

 

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite fall meal?

Soup!

5. Share a favorite photo you took last fall?

This is just one of many taken on our two-week road trip last October.  This was taken in Charleston and one of the most stunning Fall entrances I've ever seen.

This one would be #1 if I had taken it.

Two beautiful granddaughters at their brother's wedding in October.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

And this is the happy couple!

Fall is definitely a time to spend with friends!  We enjoyed seeing the movie "Show Me the Father" with friends today.  If you haven't seen it, you must before it leaves the theaters.  We love anything the Kendrick Brothers produce.