Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 23, 2009, 10:05 am
This was the state of my living room back in August. After moving from a much smaller townhouse with one main living space into a home with both a living room and upstairs' den, we found ourselves...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 20, 2009, 12:11 pm
Odi et Amo Editor's Note: A few weeks ago two very dear friends of mine (let's call them DK and his lovely wife and sous-chef KK) submitted the following post as a rebuttal of sorts to my sist...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 19, 2009, 2:21 pm
One of my favorite features in all those gossip magazines is the old-standby "Who Wore it Better"? Not only am I consistently amazed at how the same dress can look completely different on two differen...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 17, 2009, 7:21 pm
I have an early case of holiday fever. Perhaps it's because this will be our first holiday season in the new house, or perhaps it's just because I've been very busy at work and this has be...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 16, 2009, 2:41 pm
Back in September I blogged about my love for DwellStudio for Target's Hadley Headboard. The modern bold stripes paired with the more traditional curve of the headboard is truly high-end design at...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 13, 2009, 11:00 am
For the past several months I've been on the search for the Holy Grail of kitchen tables. My requirements: Because of the length of the back benches, I needed an oval table rather than a round one...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 11, 2009, 10:00 am
Kate Spade Right now I can't get enough of all the sparkly flats that are popping up just in time for the holidays. Bedecked in sequins, rhinestones or even ornate broaches, these shoes are all o...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 9, 2009, 10:00 am
Antwerp Chair, spectrum swirl (Anthropologie; $1698) Today brings a second installment of Mood Board Monday (this time hosted by the lovely Tracy of Comfort & Luxury). This week's challenge is to...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 6, 2009, 11:01 am
I was surfing the internet yesterday afternoon, trying desperately think of something good to post on (to say I've had blogger's block the past few weeks would be a serious understatement). I ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 4, 2009, 12:34 pm
LivingEtc. The response to my post last month on bookshelves, curios and built-ins with painted interiors was pretty overwhelming. It seems that there are many, many people out there who are as obsess...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 3, 2009, 2:48 pm
Brown DesignRecently I can't get enough of topiaries. Their perfectly manicured shapes (tall balls and double balls are my favorite, but spirals and triangles have their places as well) recall lus...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Nov 2, 2009, 4:10 pm
North BayDave and I just got back from our long weekend in South Florida, where we had a wonderful, relaxing time. I apologize for not posting while we were away (I had the best of intentions, I promi...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 31, 2009, 9:48 am
May you have a glamourous (but still a little bit ghoulish) day! For more gorgeous fashion photography, go HERE.
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 28, 2009, 8:52 am
Tonight Dave and I are off to Miami for a four-day weekend. The first three nights will be spent at The Standard, where I plan to take full advantage of its many spa amenities as well as its salt wate...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 27, 2009, 5:05 pm
After a summer hiatus, Chef Babs is back with a new installment of Cibus Corner just in time for fall entertaining. As the temperatures in Houston return to hospitable levels, fall is our favorite tim...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 26, 2009, 8:43 pm
As the countdown to the holidays continues and the specter of hosting seven people over Thanksgiving looms ever larger, my desire to get the new house in order has increasingly become a necessity. Thi...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 23, 2009, 2:30 pm
Amanda NisbetOn chilly fall days like today, all I want to do is to curl up with a good book, a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and read the afternoon away. If I had the luxury of doing so in one of ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 22, 2009, 10:55 am
A few months ago I literally stumbled into Crave Cupcakes while killing time over at Houston's Uptown Park before a dinner meeting. After buying a dozen on the pretense of treating Dave for his bi...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 20, 2009, 5:31 pm
Elizabeth R ($70, original painting on wood panel) I first became acquainted with oh, kirby! artwork via decor8 way back in 2008 and have been charmed by Sarah Kirby's original work every since. M...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 19, 2009, 8:25 pm
Up until a week or two ago, the very thought of launching into another painting project at our house left Dave and I exhausted. After all, the memories of our painting marathon back in August were jus...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 15, 2009, 7:43 pm
Vena Amoris candle from D.L. & Company I've never really been particularly keen on traditional Halloween decorations because, quite frankly, none of them ever manage to be at all scary. Sure, a ja...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 14, 2009, 5:05 pm
Sean Scherer I know that for a lot of people, color can be a scary thing. Hours can be spent agonizing over a bold color choice for walls or upholstery (or even just a throw pillow): "Will this color...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 12, 2009, 5:09 pm
Today is Mood Board Monday over at Room Remix and PK's challenge to the design blogosphere was to design a mood board using the lime trellis fabric shown above (which, at less than $9/yard, is a w...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 8, 2009, 6:28 pm
Mary McDonald In the past 18 months, I've managed to build up quite the collection of virtual tear sheets -- rooms and vignettes that have caught my eye as I've embarked in the past year or so...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 6, 2009, 5:31 pm
As regular readers of this blog know, I've become a big fan of blue in home decor (and not just because it's a color I can get my husband to agree to). I think blue is an incredibly versatile ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 5, 2009, 9:25 pm
This past weekend found me hosting three out-of-town guests and no big plans other than a birthday dinner on Saturday night. And so we decided to spend Saturday afternoon at the Greek Festival, one of...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 4, 2009, 10:42 pm
Design insiders have been touting industrial chic as the next big thing in home decor for a year or so now, but until fairly recently I'd been ignoring it as a passing fad that I didn't partic...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Oct 1, 2009, 7:15 pm
I know it's a popular thing to say, but Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I've always loved the fun traditions surrounding the holiday, its religious roots, the folk lore -- and of cou...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 30, 2009, 7:10 pm
A few weeks ago I looked out from the window to see this staring back at me: One of the most basic tenets in microeconomics is de gustibus non est disputandum (there's no accounting for taste). A...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 29, 2009, 9:29 pm
My favorite form of shopping therapy has always been purchasing perfumes and candles. There's just something about a gorgeous scent that's pure escapism. And just as relaxing, while there are ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 28, 2009, 6:00 pm
Over the weekend a few more small projects got done around the new house I thought I'd share with you. Dave assembled and hung the Murano glass chandelier knockoff I purchased months ago up in my...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 25, 2009, 5:18 pm
Want to read about my plans for transforming this orange and tan study into a fun and modern guest room? Head on over to A 'Lil Welsh Rarebit, to read all about my proposed design plans for Christ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 23, 2009, 8:05 am
... though, I'm increasingly drawn to zigzag patterns and I suddenly feel like I'm seeing it everywhere, be it in the form of a Missoni print throw, a Madeline Weinrib zig zag rug, or even j...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 22, 2009, 7:00 am
Time for a little quiz. What's the difference between these two chairs? One, is an authentic reproduction of the Eames molded plastic rocking chair and retails for $479 at DesignWithinReach. The ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 21, 2009, 9:01 pm
This week I'm traveling to and from Princeton, New Jersey, for work so I'll be a bit out of touch until Friday. In the meantime, should my posting and/or commenting be sporadic, feel free to b...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 18, 2009, 7:54 pm
While unarguably little more than a brilliant marketing tool, Metropolitan Home's Showtime House is nevertheless a whole lot of fun -- and not just for those who are fans of Showtime's many or...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 16, 2009, 5:23 pm
While scouring the Internet for fun bedding ensembles for guest room makeover I'm working on for Christy over at A 'Lil Welsh Rarebit (stay tuned next week for more details!), I came across Dw...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 13, 2009, 8:51 pm
I'm not entirely sure why, but I find the idea of an internationally-renowned university signing on to "design" its own fashion line to be fundamentally distasteful -- and a little bit sad. Rather...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 11, 2009, 8:57 am
Rust and Teal Peacock Enclosure Cards ($5/set of 5) Ever since I blogged about my newfound love of all things peafowl, I've continued to see peacocks (and peacock feathers) pop up just about every...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 10, 2009, 8:15 am
As most of you already know by now, my second major extracurricular activity (after decorating the new house) is preparing for my younger sister's wedding next May wherein I am the matron (ugh) of...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 8, 2009, 8:27 pm
I've been mulling over what to do with the family room for weeks now and it's been driving me crazy. For some reason, I've been having a complete decorator's block on how I want this s...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 3, 2009, 2:30 pm
I've been a huge fan of the Bravo reality series Flipping Out since it first aired three years ago. And, like most people, it's not so much the design/flipping aspect that entertains me, but t...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Sep 2, 2009, 8:30 am
Three years ago today Dave and I got married. In celebration of our third anniversary, I thought I'd share with y'all some memories of The Big Day. To be frank, I have never been one of those ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 31, 2009, 6:20 pm
Judging by your responses to Friday's post, my half empty, half unpacked home really resonated with y'all. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though, after all, is one's home ever real...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 28, 2009, 5:43 pm
I've been debating internally on whether or not to post pictures of the new house as it stands now, but I've decided that -- at the very least -- posting pictures will help provide a benchmark...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 26, 2009, 6:21 pm
I've always enjoyed coloring -- and no, I don't mean drawing. Unlike drawing, coloring is free form and pressure free. You're not trying to create something, you're just...coloring. It...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 24, 2009, 5:59 pm
After another weekend spent unpacking, I'm still in escapist mode so I thought I'd share pictures from the Malibu Barbie Dream Showhouse that Jonathan Adler designed in honor of the iconic dol...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 20, 2009, 9:01 pm
Nanette Lepore Fall is without question my favorite season -- and not least of all because of fall fashion. While I'm digging quite a few of this season's biggest trends (though I'm still ...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 19, 2009, 8:32 pm
The only thing I've ever purchased from Wiliams-Sonoma Home is a set of black and white chinoiserie dessert plates that I scored at a Pottery Barn outlet outside Austin. As much as I adore WSHome&...
Comment - Like

Averill C. posted an article on Odi et Amo Blog - Aug 18, 2009, 6:35 pm
After a long weekend of packing, moving and (slowly but surely) unpacking, I'm ready for another vacation. Since I won't be taking one for a while, I thought I'd indulge in a little virtua...
Comment - Like