Friday Frugal Finds: What do you think of these Lamp Pairs?
2 Fabulous Floor Lamps from a Studio Temporary Living Set Up
Contemporary & Traditional…we’ve used them in various projects, from Temporary Dressing Room Designs, Studio Set Ups, Photo Shoots and Publication Staging over the past 18 months…
Pair, Hand Painted Ceramic Lamps: A Feature on Pink, Old and New!
Getting Tagged & Readied for Sale…
Toile Painted Lamps: Kitsch and Fun
xo Ann
Wednesday Style Points: Behind the Scenes at Jason Wu’s with Brizo Faucet
Jason Wu Collaborates with Brizo
So, no WE aren’t this season…but some of my friends ARE!
Jason for Brizo
Stay tuned as we stay in touch with Jennifer Reynolds
Jennifer Reynolds
Denise McGaha
Denise McGaha
Traci Zeller
Traci Zeller
Lisa Mende
Lisa Mende
and Stacy Naquin
Stacy Naquin
We will stay in TOUCH with these ladies over the next week. They are the real deal. Hard working, smart, beautiful inside and out. BLESSED to call them friends.
I will be with these amazing women next week – but as we get updates will share on our Facebook page! xo Ann McDonald
xo Ann
Monday Matters: Labor Day
Happy Labor Day
What do you Labor and Toll at?
Our Studio Space is a mess as we prepare for our Sale…we are laboring to make it right for our friends…!…
Do you feel rewarded for your efforts?
Sometimes this is how we feel…we work long hours and get a “raisin pay”….our heart is to always give the best away to those who work alongside us!
We wanted to take today to say THANK YOU to those who WORK ALONGSIDE US at Couture Chateau
I have always loved this image…it is humble, honoring to work and reminds me that every stitch matters…”Young Woman Sewing, The Artist’s Sister Anna Hammerchøi,” by Vilhelm Hammerchøi, oil on canvas, 37 by 35 centimeters, 1887
We are NOTHING without the skilled men and women who are EXCELLENT at their trade
An Upholstery Shop
We believe in compensating them WELL for their CONTRIBUTION to our lives and homes
Fair Trade…in the USA, it means we use well compensated local workrooms that are as small and local as we can source. It is our belief that skill is a gift and a gift should never be treated as something disposable. Gifts should be honored and rewarded. We are grateful for the gifts our tradesmen and women bring to the table so that we might furnish beautiful spaces for you!
Happy Labor Day!
xo Ann
Sunday Stewardship: Time to Take Care of Self
The self…how do you see yourself? Love this picture ;)!
Do you love having a long weekend
I like this picture of the hard hat for Labor Day…symbolic of working on ourselves as well…
Sometimes Stewardship is about REST
That sleeping Lion…
Our Spaces – our Couture Chateau’s need to be places & spaces that can NURTURE us
My Family Room Coffee Table…I always feel safe in this room…a glass of wine with friends in the evening doesn’t hurt!
even as grown ups
A Couture Chateau corner in a Client’s home…a place to sit and relax…get ready for the world…
Here’s to a Sunday of Stewarding our SELVES
I love reading books on Sunday afternoon…rain or shine…it calms me for the week…
So WE (You and I) can make our contribution to the world from a place of Safety, Order & Beauty!
Let’s build YOUR Couture Chateau…some of our fabric bolts beautifully piled together on a Couture Chateau settee…like our lives…pieces piled together to make us who we are!
xo Ann
Friday Frugal Finds…Confession of an Ikea Hacker!
Ikea Hackers!
Yes, we are Couture Chateau
This is the Feature Image on our Website…not exactly Ikea…;)!
Layered, Intentional Living…Custom all the way…Private Labels for YOU…
Seriously, we private label & custom make almost everything! Including the FABRIC!
However, I still love IKEA.
This is an Ikea Kitchen!
OK, I’ve lost some of you…but…look!…
THIS is actually the “hack” that stole my heart…I was so happy when it won “Hack of the Year”!
Beauty and Style are not the strongholds of the wealthy…they are strongholds of the soul
Look at this! It’s beautiful! Even if it’s not your style…you must give props to the eye that created it!
CONFIDENCE in our Design Eye is what makes it possible for us to say it’s OK to shop at Ikea
Very cool…wish the pic was better quality, but still…you get the jist!
Seriously…do YOU have enough confidence to buck the “prevailing thought” and TRUST your eye?
Fun. Real life living for a family…
We are here to help! CALL us…the Holiday’s are just around the corner and your VIP Day is waiting!!
Click here to schedule a VIP Couture Chat! 1 Day, 1 Designer, 1 Designer’s Team, 2 Days Studio Work, 1 12-16 Page Write up, 1 Really Cool Box, 1 Happy Client !!
xo Ann
Wednesday Style Points: Behind the (Computer) Scenes on a Sale Set Up!
Our Clearance Sale is less than 3 weeks away
Style and Design aren’t limited to spaces & places
Fabulous Stage Designs by Richard Finkelstein
Some of those Style Points are “behind the scenes”
Shopify. The System that runs our on line store.
As we work to roll our sale out on line for Friday, September 14th,
Setting up our “shopping carts” and “tag sale” for a limited time on Clearance Items
Colorful Shopping Carts!
We are spending MUCH time trying to make sure all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed
Inventory and Locations List
Style…it’s as much BEHIND the computer as it is in the FRONT office!
Wish us favor ;)!…
xo Ann
Tuesday Tidbit: My Gold (Brass) Habit!
Sneak Peek…A Gold Panel from the Plaza Hotel in one of our Projects (not yet completed)
So I’ve shared my Herringbone Habit, My Yellow Habit and now, my Gold Habit!
Gold Bracelet
Even when Silver, Oil Rubbed Bronze and Copper were “in – out – all the rage – etc”
Finish Samples
I always looked for ways to incorporate Gold or Brass into my projects
Aged Brass Mirror
Timeless – Truly
Love using these simple Brass single Faucets in unexpected places!
Ages – Naturally
Look at this – Beautiful! I found it on Etsy…click on link below to see if it’s still available!
Love it!
Brass Antique Vase from Benton County Museum Site
xo Ann
Saturday Sneak Peek: A 30 Second Video of Photo Shoot for Tag Sale!
Click on the PHOTO BELOW!
You’ll catch glimpses of us working…See if you can spot Ann (behind the computer of course) and our Assistant Daniel (playing with the Tassel)
Have a GREAT SATURDAY!
xo Ann
Click on this picture to view video!
Friday Frugal Finds: Couture Chateau’s can have Frugal Finds
Grab your Kate Spade and plan to join us online!
It’s the Mid-West in my blood!
Yes I am from the literal middle of nowhere! Where cows roam and if someone says they do “diversified farming” it means “wheat, cattle & oil”…never underestimate The Middle! 😉
We have been photographing for our 2012 Designer Clearance Sale on September 14th, 2012 which runs for FOUR DAYS ONLY
Just a few of the items! There are SO MANY MORE!
Access to the Sale on Friday is for our E-Mail Mailing List & Blog Followers ONLY, it opens to all on Saturday thru Monday
Original Framed Saturday Evening Post Covers with Mailing Labels Still Attached!
If you are not a Blog Follower – Make Sure and Opt In!
Everything from Quirky to Conservative! There are two of these Gothic Candlesticks in a Very Fun Color as well…
More fun photos & information this weekend…stay tuned!
xo Ann
Thursday: Spotlight on Custom
Couture Chateau Custom Sofa with Bolt of Versace Fabric
What is a Couture Chateau Life?
Do You Recognize This Piece? It was made for a client’s entry hall from Antique Columns re-purposed and hand worked for a perfect fit!
It’s a life intentionally designed & layered
There are actually three (3) colors of paint, not two! Even subtle differences MATTER in YOUR custom life!! This Couture Chateau Project is still a favorite!
Which equips you to be the best you can be
Like each floor, each layer in our Couture Chateau lives brings a different PERSPECTIVE! And don’t forget to “paint your window frames” meaning – don’t neglect the details! They really do matter – like this bright blue!
Live Your Life Custom. There is Only One You!
xo Ann