Tuesday, December 15, 2009

John Robshaw Mixes It Up...

It was great having John Robshaw himself visit our store! Even the shirt he wore was his own fabric! He was really nice!
Robshaw pillows are perfect for the sofa or the bed! There are endless combinations of different color schemes!
Blues are really in style now with many designs to choose from. I love these Indigo Blue pillows! Bold patterns make a statement! John Robshaw makes it so easy to mix and match creating a unique look every time!
These mirrored pillows are earthy yet glamorous!
Glamorize with Vintage Chandeliers...


This 1940's European crystal chandelier was probably once hanging in a luxury hotel or restaurant. The amount of crystals and detailed beading is amazing!


It took a lot of muscle to hang this in our front window, but we did it! 

These shades with velvet overlay  are lovely and give an amber glow! This "Mission" style chandelier has been re-wired and ready to be hung.


This "shabby" chandelier would make for a beautiful dining room piece or an entry way.

Crystal lamps always compliment a home, because they reflect the light.

The classic tear drop crystals on this chandelier are more traditional. Hanging this over your dining room will bring in warmth and sophistication to your home.

Baby blue and dainty chandeliers are perfect for your little girl's room. This one is too cute! These also come in pink and white.

Steph E. Designs are made with swarvoski and vintage crystal! We had to put these in with our chandelier post..


The aurora bourealis and on this necklace sparkles at any hint of light! Night or day you are sure to feel glamorized in this piece! $125.00


The chandelier influence is obvious in this pair of crimson red and clear crystal earrings! $50.00 


Crystal doesn't always have to be just "pretty," this necklace is totally fierce and elegant! $75.00


A little retro glamour is always fun! This one speaks only glitz!


We have had so many shapes and colors here over the years. The amber and green colors on this one are really special...

This green color is very dramatic and dripping with glass and crystal! Just beautiful...

Blue Springs Home carries a large variety of crystal drops in different colors and sizes. Mostly vintage, they are here if you need to replace a crystal!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Dreaming In Purple...



Well, Bella Notte actually calls this color "Amethyst." This duvet is seen in a Silk Velvet Embroidered fabric. We decided to go all out and dress this bed top to bottom with silk velvet, lace, and satin!

It's always fun to mix colors and create your own color scheme, but we decided to stick to all Amethyst which really makes a statement in our front window! The zebra print throw pillow by Pillow Talk really pops against this purple dream bed! It's nice how Bella Notte custom dyes all their fabrics creating a variation of color hue within all their luxury bedding.

The Amethyst theme looks fantastic in the reflection of this vintage carnival wagon mirror with purple frame!

This 19th Century purple tray is fabulous! I have never seen this color before! A rare find and it goes perfect with our Amethyst bed!



Your Bed is Your Palette...

"Colette" looks spectacular in Bella Notte's "Graphite" color. To accent the gold floral jacquard of "Colette" we threw in a "Ginger" boudoir pillow and "Cherry" sham to bring it all together.

This royal look is fit for a Queen and was inspired by the 16th century tapestry featuring a grand castl that's hanging behind the bed. We love it!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Matteo, Matteo...

We are forever in love with Matteo Bedding... The owner, Mathew Lenoci has developed a design culture in his Downtown LA loft and studio, by enlisting an amazingly talented group of young designers from the local fashion schools like Ottis and FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising).

They have always kept a sort masculine design sensibility, that seems to appeal to us all. This bed has a wonderful mix of their crisp percale with a menswear feeling, Madras Plaid for the Euro Shams. We went ahead and threw on a vintage French fabric throw pillow that pulled it all together.

The pallet from Matteo is almost always in this muted, hand-dyed feeling that gives it such a great vintage quality.


Believe it or not, Blue Springs Home has probably the largest selection of Matteo bedding anywhere in California. It allows our customers to come in and make up there own ensembles.



The Matteo Baby Collections carry on that same masculine, vintage theme. This is the Vintage Linen mixed with the Blue Madras Plaid.

Friday, November 13, 2009

All Dressed Up...


I have to say that it was a lot of fun getting the store all dressed up and ready for the event withAnnette Tatum, and her "Well Dressed Home" Book Signing.

We had another wonderful turn out and everyone really seemed to enjoy it, I know I did.. Annette and her photographer, Karen Millet, could not have been more fun.


This was the front of the store... We set up a rustic reception table with a Navajo Rug for a table cloth and tumbleweeds arranged as a centerpiece. Everyone loved it!



Annette is a strong and talented woman. It ceases to amaze me how she can run her wholesale business, have two retail stores and oh, write a book, with a husband and four kids. Pretty unbelievable!


Here Annette and I are with Romantic Homes Editor, Jacqueline De Montravel. I have been an advertiser with them for years. Jacqueline and I have become friends over that time. She is always so supportive of the me and the store.




Thank you again for all of you who came to our book signing event. Special thanks to my Blue Springs Home Girls...

I Really Love This Book...


Ok, as most of you probably know, the Holidays are upon us.. With that, I have to tell you about this great new book we just got. It's called The Gathering of Friends and is the perfect holiday gift.

This book provides menus for several different types of get-togethers, complete with recipes and pages for notes. The nice thing is that one of the authors is a designer, so there are some great suggestions for decorating and centerpieces. The recipes are all really delicious and not too involved.

Price $29.50

Ooh.. 100% Bamboo..


I would have never believed that Bamboo Fiber could be this soft and cozy, until I took one home and put it on.. These new Bathrobes we just got in from Pure Fiber are 100% Bamboo. They feel like a combination of silk and cotton and are super easy to maintain.


At $75.00, these robes make a wonderful, but reasonable, Holiday gift. We have them in Cream, Sage and Grey and will try to keep them in stock through Christmas.

Oh, by the way, Bamboo is an extremley sustainable fiber and using it is good for the environment..

A Special Thanks to Rachel Ashwell and You All....

I want to say a very special thank you to the amazing Rachel Ashwell and all of you for making last month's Shabby Chic Interiors Book Signing Event, such a great success. I was really touched by the turn-out and response from everyone who attended and equally as touched by the graciousness that Rachel showed.

It was really a treat to have her at the store, bringing her life experiences and stories and sharing them with us all. Our round table discussion at the end of the signing was so much fun. She answered everyone's questions and went page by page through her new book.
We will all be watching to see how she will re-invent herself, and know that she will be as successful as before... perhaps more so.

Friday, November 6, 2009

We Love our New Bed... And Bedding of Course.



We just got in this beautiful Canopy Bed from J.R. Conte, Ltd. and everyone is in love with it. This guy is a real old world craftsman, if you could believe there still is such a thing. All of the furniture from Conte is made by hand, right here in Orange County and they will do pretty much any custom finish you want.

My friend Tania Taddeo came in and did up this gorgeous Fall mix of Bella Notte, Matteo and Les Indiennes bedding all together. Tania has a wonderful eye for styling and design. It shows in everything she does.

Thank you Tania, for doing such a wonderful job!




Having a local Bohemian Artist in our backyard has it's advantages... Susan Brown saw the bed in the window and just whipped up this painting. She so prolific with her artwork, especially when she gets inspired. I guess this bed did the job for her..

We'll be redressing beds all through the month and I'll be sure to keep posting new and fresh looks. Or you can just come and see them for yourself in person...

Twigs, Sprigs and Tumbleweeds...


The other day I was driving to work and saw this perfectly shaped tumbleweed on the side of the road... I don't why, but this little tumbleweed just kind of spoke to me. Anyway, I pulled over, picked it up and put it in the back of the car. It looks really great in the old galvanized tin.

Last year we drove to the Grand Canyon about this time of the year, and on the way back, I had to stop and fill the car with all the creosote bushes I could find! They smelled a little funny, but they made the most gorgeous arrangements in the store.

I don't believe in spending a lot of money on cut flowers when you can just go into your own backyard and find the most wonderful things in nature such as fallen leaves and twigs. And don't forget to look for those tumbleweeds along side the road. We don't really have to spend a bunch of money on cut flowers or orchids, when you can just put your imagination to work. I feel good about that little tumbleweed.

Actually it kind of inspired me to do more of this in the store. I'll post some more photos soon.

Necklalces from Nikki....For your Puppy or Kitty

My Aunt Nikki McLaughlin from back home in Alabama, makes these adorable little "Pet Necklaces"...


Monday, November 2, 2009

A Well Dressed Event at Blue Springs Home...


In the spirit of our theme of new books and Book Signing Events at Blue Springs Home, we are really excited to announce that Annette Tatum, Author, Designer and Stylemaker, will be coming the store Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Annette will be meeting and signing books for everyone and we hope you all can make it. We have the books on sale now for $35.

House Beautiful and Luxe Magazine just voted "The Well Dressed Home", one of their favorite new design books of the year.





Oh, by the way... Annette is also the owner and head designer for House, Inc. Beautiful furniture and bedding for adults, juvenile and baby. We will also be showcasing the latest collection from House, Inc.

Hope you can make it...

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Rachel Comes this Saturday....


Ok everyone... This Saturday, October 24th, is the day that we'll be hosting "Ms. Shabby Chic" herself, Rachel Ashwell, for the signing of her new book, "Shabby Chic Interiors". Rachel will be on hand to sign books, meet and greet you all. The event starts at 2pm and will go on to 4pm.

We think that a signed copy of the book from Rachel, would be a great holiday gift for any fan of decorating. Books are on sale now at the store and will last as long as we have stock.

Please join us this weekend for what we think will be a super fun time. We'll be serving some yummy pastries from French's Bakery and really hope to see you all there...

Blue Springs Home for the Holidays...


We've been working diligently over here at Blue Springs, trying to get the store filled with lots of fun gift items for Holidays. Instead of the same old thing you'll find at a lot of other stores, we are always searching for local cottage industry artists and craftspeople. Luckily, there are some amazingly talented folks here in the OC that we're able to draw from.

I have always been a supporter of local artist and am constantly encouraging them to bring by their works to show off. Recently, one of our favorite bohemian artists Susan Elizabeth Ashurst, has brought some really beautiful pieces that are depictions of local vistas and scenes. There priced at between $25-$125 and are being snatched up really fast.


We just started to vignette some adorable hand-made and one-of-a-kind ornaments..


I love these little velvet elves..


And these super cute little mushrooms..



Another local artist has and will be bringing in these succulents, all potted in hand-thrown ceramic cashepots, straight through the Holiday Season. They are all priced at around $20 each and make for great hostess gifts.




We just set up this "Mermaid Bed" that everyone seems to love. We like to mixed it up with pillows from all different designers to create a fun look.


Beautiful new Cashmere Throws in pretty Fall colors...

And always lots of new pieces from John Robshaw. We his love his inventive and eclectic style and the pricing is always really accessible.