Sorry for the silence, everyone! Summer has such a mischievous way of luring me away from my laptop. Well—that and multiple projects that have us running ragged when we’d rather be in the garden. Speaking of, if you’re looking to bring the outdoors in, consider this sophisticated, summery print called Portobello from Carleton V. The whimsical birds, butterflies and flowers remind me of the lush butterfly bush I just planted this week!

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A traditional print like this I might turn into pillows paired with a more clean-lined sofa. It could also be the inspiration for a dazzling bedroom redo with a fully upholstered head and footboard board on a chrome, four-poster bed, flanked by mirrored demilune tables with Chinoiserie ginger jar lamps. The duvet might be a rich, monogrammed turquoise with peacock blue and white hotel bedding, together with Euro shams and X-benches at the foot of the bed covered in the coordinating damask, La Reine in Teal. To finish off the room, I’d paint the walls a pretty robin’s egg blue with deeply plush wall to wall carpeting in navy. Come to think of it, birds and butterflies would look right at home all winter long!

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Two more new fabrics at Carleton V include Tiburon, an unusual, embroidered silk perfect for draperies and Chelsea, a linen ticking stripe in colorways that easily mix into multiple schemes.

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In our newest window for Carleton V, more of an homage to the fabrics themselves than a view into the life of an imagined character, we used multiple fabrics in unconventional ways. Take the ticking stripe our talented friend Susan Schneider turned into lampshades.

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Now pair them with these chic, lacquered Chinoiserie tables from Lindsey Harper of Lamshop, available in a variety colors and finishes.

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A quick stop at the Goodwill for a 1960s faux carved clock ($4), then to Jamali for a round table mirror ($2), and suddenly it’s the chicest, most expensive looking sunburst mirror that’s completely one of a kind! 

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The walls of the window I covered in the embroidered silk to suggest curtains that might play up the height of a room, while the lamps our friend Susan made from old bed balusters. I loved the rustic wood finish of the lamps and floor paired with the lacquered side tables from Lamshop. A neutral linen settee I paired with a slip-covered cushion in the damask with pillows made from the same ticking stripe as the shades. Swap out the cushion and pillows, and the settee gets a whole, new look! 

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We’ll be back Tuesday with more ideas from my story in the Easy Decorating issue of Woman’s Day. Have a great weekend, everyone!