A little taste of Shangri-La
So, right... the staircase!! The old glossy white woodwork has been transformed by layers of gorgeous, shiny black lacquer... Vintage-inspired ceramic foo dogs are perched atop the banister columns... And of course... THE ORIENTAL RUNNER! Can you handle it??? Totally over-the-top... with rich, Asian-inspired patterns in luscious reds and golds... We even had the brass rods installed on each stair tread for a more authentic, old world feel. Of course, the staircase is adjacent to our little nook with the lipstick red doors, bookshelves, and huntress wall... It truly is one of my favorite places to linger now, which might seem hard to believe... since it was merely a hallway passing through to other rooms in the house before. Now this space has a unique flavor all its own. John and the boys just love it (as I do I... especially since it hides all the delicious messiness of children and puppies scampering about!!).
xoxo,
Tracy
posted by Tracy Porter Blog
40 Comments:
Oh, my. I am frothing at the mouth at ALL these videos. Tracy, you've outdone yourself (haven't I said this before tho'???). May I move into your home??? I am on the prowl RIGHT now for MY "London" wall. It's too perfect. I have sooooo many treasures (the ever-collector). How perfect to make them part of a wall. Thank you for making my Friday! Tally ho.
I got so excited I wrote above about the London wall instead of where it should go. Ok, this oriental runner, shiny black. I'm drooling. The foo dogs atop the posts. Goodness. How good does it get at the Porter home??
Hi, this is a first for me. I am a huge Tracy fan and check my emails every day for more fantastic ideas. Thank you for the inspiration Tracy! By the way, we've had daffodils and hyacinths for awhile, as long as the deer don't eat them!!
Tracy, the red doors, the runner on your stairs, the black staircase, the huntress wall, and the book ledge.....all so DIVINE!!!! I wish we had a staircase in our house....I'd be tempted to mimic what you've done to yours. LOVE IT!!
PS....Glad to hear that y'all had a fabulous time in Hong Kong!!!
Oh Tracy...I am ever so inspired (yet again)...i seem to think I am bold with color, and then you show me how I can really pump it up. I LOVE your Asian inspiration...and with us bringing our little Asian beauty into our home...I really want to incorporate more of that culture into my decorating. I wish you could peek through my computer screen and give me some advice...sometimes I just need a little nudge. Thank you for all the wonderful videos to "replay" over the weekend and give me inspiration!!
xoxo
Tracy and all....y'all need to check out two of our wonderful blogette sista's.....Melissa from Off The Wall featured our very own Artist!!! Too cool!
Tracy, you might want to skip on over to Off the Wall.....you may need a piece of artwork or two from both of the fabulous ladies!!!
I love all your ideas!!! I also love foo dogs!!!I am looking for a large pair to put at my entrance door.
Tracy and gang,
WOWIE!! What a gift the videos are....thanks so much! I enjoyed so much watching them...I am tortured though. I am at my mom's, and her computer does not have a speaker. So I can only try to read Tracy's lips until I am home tuesday. ha
-Priss
Oh Priss, I so feel your pain. Every other Thursday, I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the newest Tracy Porter videos. What a tease to be able to watch but not hear.
Tracy, the runner you choose is gorgeous. You are really blessed with the eye for the finer things!
Hi Priss, Hope your mom is doing better. We know she has a good nurse in you!!'You must do an Asian wall. How fabulous that would be! I'm already jealous of the wonderful family pieces you could include. Please go for it!!!!
CC, thank you so much for the flattering words about my art. I am honored to be a guest on melissa's blog. You are all so kind!
I am SPEECHLESS!!!! You need your own show on HGTV Tracy! ;)
Love the staircase! In one of the homes I grew up in, we had a staircase with a black oriental runner and brass rods. I always loved the look of it and miss it now. I am a huge Tracy Porter fan and am always inspired by the things you create!
My dear loves! You are incredibly kind! I am delighted that you like the videos. I am always inspired by other peoples spaces and how they they bring their vision of home to fruition as it is all so very personal....well this is what I believe as you all know!
I think now you are all becoming the High Priestesses of blogging as you truly waste no time...and I LOVE you all for it!
The Asian influence is something i just cannot seem to get enough of, the more i have the more of it I want, color being much of it. When was a kid my parents traveled a lot
and sometimes to the orient, they would always bring back the most interesting items... I would spend hours in our "asian " room, and read and listen to Bille Holiday or Dinah Washington ( my parents have had a huge influence as you can read!!) I think I just continue to explore comfort and warmth in our home...for me this always seems to lead to more intense color. Do you use intense color or shy away? Dawns comment was interesting to me...I know it is sometimes a new exploration if you generally are drawn to whites, creams etc. I am ever curious.........If you put color on your walls do you also have it in your wardrobe? I am pretty bohemian in my home and wardrobe....no rules, you know...I love trying new things, but I also have a ribbon of classic in all that I love.....let me know!
TTFN!!
xo
Tracy~
I definitely bring color into my home and my wardrobe...I love a really great colorful top with a classic pair of great jeans, that classic element. I have a couple of red walls, gold walls, a chocolate brown office...I just finshed repainting my pantry door black...now I'm tempeted to do my stair banister black, my front doors are black. So you see I really am not afraid of color, I just sometimes have a hard time getting started when I want to branch out a little further...am I making sense...like that beautiful teal blue in your stairwell. I really think color brings a feeling of warmth. The great thing is...it's only paint...right?? I am having such a great time with all of your inspiration...I did 3 book shelves above the doors in a small hallway, I am getting things together for my London wall, and my picture wall is still a work in progress, but I love it!! I think I might be nesting?? :)
Honestly, over the past year, I have really come into my own when it comes to styling my home. When I first got my house, I thought I had to follow all of these decorating rules. Then, something happened, and I realized if I decorated with what I loved, then I loved the space I was in.
I am getting bolder and bolder with color!!!
The red doors look so good because you have painted the door frames black since we last saw them. That makes such a difference!
Tracy, I've enjoyed looking at the new fashions on line. Seeing all the rooms was almost as good as the products!
Tracy you really are inspiring. Even if you send us in a different direction and out of the 'same old' you have done a lot for us. Thanks again.
I just got the email newsletter. LOVE the bohemian outfit. That is soooooooooo ME!!!!!! LOVE IT!
Tracy, Katie, Sarah,Robyn, and ALL! Y'all have done an incredible job with all of the "fashion videos" that you've given us!!! What fun to watch each and every one!!! Thank you!
BTW....you've got some beautiful things in store for summer! ;)
Love, love, love the fashion videos!!!
Ok, I am going crazy here...WHERE are the fashion videos???? I can't find them.
Dawn, click on one of the new pieces of clothing. Right under the description you will see a pink band that says video. Enjoy!
Alright, I have to ask who the English Bulldog is. I have a thing for those!!!!!!!
Priss, we haven't heard from you. Hope all is well with your mother. Hope you are enjoying these videos as much as we are!
So glad you like the fashion videos!! I know it would help me to see clothing etc. on a person...you know fit is very specific and great to see all the details, lining etc!! We did those during a photo shoot, so you are very much seeing a " behind the scenes" take!
* Melissa I posted on your site but when I was done it said ERROR, so I don't know if it went through? But, wow you are looking so good! so much great stuff, cool ideas! Loved the feature on Diane ( artist) such gorgeous colorful work...I love florals anyway, and these are beauties!! And...Miss Diane! nice to know you name and see your work!!
The bulldog is TANK! He is a love indeed! He is Sarah's dog, just a lovely hunk of gorgeous doggie flesh! We have been having a tiny bit of warm weather....more things popping up in the garden.....oh.joy!!! Smells like worms outside today...( this is a good smell to me....earthy and rich!)
xo
Tracy, I finally got to see all of the videos yesterday. I love all of the behind the scenes peaks into your home. That's one of my favorite parts of it all. It looks like your walls are brown, am I right?
I have a thing with brown walls all of a sudden, I just painted my dining room brown and I am loving it!
I sure hate that you weren't able to comment on my blog, I'm not sure what the problem was, but I appreciate you visiting:)
Love the clothing videos Tracy! My favorite though are the photos in your bathroom...those are a riot!! That has got to be multitasking at it's best....you are modeling, selling your products, and potty training Gus...all at the same time!! How often have you seen a designer next to a potty?? Well, that took imagination and guts...love it!!
Dear Tracy,
You have been such an inspiration for so many years! I think you would love a store in Richmond, IL (just across the WI border) called Ginger Blossom. The owner, Ginger travels the world and finds the most amazing artifacts, clothing and furniture. It is an adventure just scouring her barn for Tibetan beds or handmade rugs. Please check out my house in the Feb./March 2008 issue of Mary Engelbreit Home Companion, I think you will see your influence. Thank you,
Linda Crispell
Linda...I certainly will check out your home. I do get MEHC...always lots of great inspiring homes to check out in Marys magazine!
Thanks so much for checking us out, I have never heard of ginger Blossom, but it sounds divine! My kind of store....anything that feels well traveled intrigues me!! Thanks for the thoughts!
Priss, love your comments, made me smile!
xo
Tracy,
Question for you. The black woodwork in your staircase is beautiful. Is it paint or actual black lacquer. I would love to acheive that look in my home. How do I do it?
Hi Kate,
Thanks! It is just 2 coats of high gloss black interior latex. Dries nearly instantly, which in my world is ideal. Little black fingerprints everywhere are great in a pre-school..not so good in a house!!
Very elegant and easy to clean!
Let us know if you go for it!
Tracy, will we get any new videos or products this week? It's always so exciting.
yes, yes my love...this week! you are good to ask!
xo
Tracy,
Thanks for the info on the paint. I think I am going to start with painting a few of my doors that shiny black lacquer color. Love it! Also, I just wanted to share my Mother's Day inspiration. I just ordered two of your "tea for one" teapots for the two wonderful moms in my life. I'm planning on giving the teapots with a couple of boxes of some good tea along with a good book. Two of my favorite books of all times are "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner, and "The End of the Affair" by Graham Green. Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers and Grandmothers!
Kate,
How cool! That sounds wonderful...and I am delighted and honored that you are giving our goodies as gifts to your moms!!
Hope they enjoy! Happy mothers day from us as well!! I love the creative twist you added to your gift! I need to check out those books, I don't know of them! But anyone that says " favorite of all time" is very worth a peak on Amazon! Hope the doors turn out...you may get as addicted to the "black lacquer" look as I am!!
xo
Kate, do tell us what those books are about. I am not familiar with them. Wonderful gifts you're giving.
About the books, its been a few years since I've read them but I remember not being able to put either of them down. "Crossing to Safety" is set in the 1930s and follows a friendship between two couples, from the time they are newly married to the end of their lives. You follow them from a college town in Wisconsin, to Vermont, Cambridge, and even Italy. I really fell in love with the characters and all that they go through. I could see people in my own life, and even a little bit of myself in these characters. "The End of the Affair" is set in London post World War II. Its about a love affair with lots of unexpected twists. It's a quick read, too. Right now I'm reading "A Thousand Spendid Suns" by the same author of "The Kite Runner." I'm really enjoying it so far. The story grabs you at the get go. Barnes and Noble is opening near my home next month. I can't wait to check out some of your book reccomendations, Tracy. The bookstore is a perfect after-dinner, date night adventure!
To Kate
Thanks for the book reviews! I also want to thank you for your post on my art work at Off the Wall! You were so kind. I hope you saw my response about using the watercolor pencils. Glad you've come to the Tracy blog too. You will love it here.
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