Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Favorite Room Feature: Peonies & Brass

Who is in the mood for a bright, cheerful and eclectic aesthetic? I would expect nothing less on a Wednesday. Today, Elyse from Peonies & Brass is sharing her bedroom with us. Let me just tell you, the lyrics to the cheesy 80's song "Take My Breath Away," come to mind when I see this room. And although cheese, the room honestly takes it right out of me. If you do not read Elyse's blog, you need to get on board.  Let's just say it. Design genius. 

Hey there Sadie & Stella readers! I’m Elyse, Montreal native and blogger over at Peonies & Brass, the little corner of the web where I share my love of all things design, d.i.y and small space living. Like all of you, I'm a huge fan of all things S+S & Lindsay, so to say I'm excited to be visiting today . . . well, it would be a bit of an understatement.

To be honest, picking a favourite room in my place was an almost impossible task. In the end I decided to go with my bedroom, because it's where I go to unwind after a long day and where - laying in the morning sun that streams in my window - I feel most at peace.

It's also the most "me" centered space I've ever had. With marble, pinks, golds and an entire side of the room devoted to nothing but getting dressed, it's an unadulterated celebration of the fact that for the first time I'm living alone, and there is no one's needs to meet but mine. It's surprisingly freeing. At 500 sq ft my apartment is admittedly pretty small, but to me this room feels borderline luxurious.
If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I just can't leave well enough alone. For as long as I can remember I've had an incessant, borderline obsessive need for a project, and it's why I've created, hacked or modified almost every thing in my home (at least once). The headboard in this room was one of the first big d.i.y projects I took on, and while I'd love to cut a few grooves into her à la Moroccan style, it has a strange sentimental value for me I can't explain. It was the beginning, and there's no end in sight.
I don't know what it is, but to me a story like that - no matter how big or small - has the power to make anything so much more special. Take my bedside lamp for example. It used to belong to my grandparents (big ups Grandma), and I discovered it one day while rummaging through my parents attic. With a new shade and some gold-leafing, it quickly became my favourite result of what my best friend refers to as my "lighting problem".
The little marble desk that I use as a nightstand made the trip all the way from Paris when it's previous owner immigrated, and found it's way to me when she had her first baby and desperately needed to free up space. It meant so much to her that I truly appreciated it. Even my La Fiorentina pillows are made all the more awesome by the fact that they used to belong to Christine of Bijou and Boheme - she mentioned she was making a change and I pounced!
The Plateau - my neighbourhood in Montreal - is full of apartments featuring what they call "double rooms", which are essentially just one big room divided by an arch. This design feature is what allowed me to create my distinct little "dressing room", complete with uber-feminine dresser, gold hardware and a plush vintage persian (my best ebay find to date).
Can you have too many ways to store and display jewelry? I think not.


The gold branches on top of my wardrobe are remnants of a styled shoot I did, and were surprisingly just what that space needed. Isn't it funny how you often find the perfect solution in the most unexpected places?
Finally, my favourite accessory of all: this guy. At the end of the day, the best room in my home will always be the one he's in. And given the pillow top mattress, I think you can guess which one that usually is . . .
Thanks so much again for having me Lindsay! I had so much fun participating in this awesome series! If you have any questions about sources, or just wanna say hello, you know where to find me! xoxo

28 comments:

  1. I want to make a change in my bar area, which is where my la forentina pillows currently live. this is giving me a grand new idea for using them in the bedroom! i love these features. Now. If i had the guts to take a saw to my giant headboard and then upholster it?

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  2. I LOVE the gold twig necklace hangers on the wall. Can you find and share the source?

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    1. Hi Amy! The twigs were from a local store called Zone Maison (www.zonemaison.com), but they're only gold because I have a gold spray can permanently attached to my hand ;)

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  3. This room is insane......love it! Now off to stalk her blog!

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  4. ooohhh.....in love!!! Love it all!! Thanks for the intro will be visiting her blog now!

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  5. Love that bedroom! So girly! Also have a crush on her artwork! xo Kristin

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  6. Amazing! I love that lamp! Elyse is such a sweetie.

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  7. Ohhh I love her bedroom! The mix of patterns is so fun. Love her bedspread too.

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  8. I'm obsessed with this room! That lamp! The marble table! GIMME!

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  9. everything is so beautiful! the styling is fantastic :)

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  10. OK I am so jealous of her dressing area! Def a space I'd call luxurious!

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  11. I envy people who can style like this!!! IT's just gorgeous. Love all the color. And that bedside table and lamp!??! Argh!

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  12. Can she come style my room please? Such gorgeous taste. I really love that lamp...I have tons of those pieces from my Oma (bowls, plates, etc) but would love a lamp! :)

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  13. wow. this room (and her writing) is seriously amazing. another perfect example of exactly what I am incapable of doing - styling! such a gorgeous bedroom

    http://itsthelittlethingsblog.blogspot.com

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  14. Having had the honour of seeing Elyse's apartment in person, I can attest to its utter gorgeousness. Her bedroom is only the tip of the pretty iceberg. Beautiful post :)

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  15. What a stunnin room! Really digging the pillows and lamps in this space!

    xx
    Holly Foxen Wells
    GlamourMash

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  16. Love your grandmother's lamp. And of course, your pooch!!! I had my Boston Terrier for almost 15 years. Enjoy!!!

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  17. Love that rug and the pink bed pillows. So much good stuff!

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  18. What a beautiful room. I need a rug like that one. Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to Ebay I go!

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  19. This room is absolutely gorgeous! I love the marble + black side table...so fabulous! And all of the color & print mixing!!

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  20. This room is amazing! Great mix of patterns and styles!

    Checking out Elyse's blog now.

    Corbin
    decor-eat

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  21. You guys are the absolute sweetest! Thank you so much for all the ridiculously kind words!

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  22. It looks amazing Elyse!!! I'm obsessed with your bedside lamp and that rug. Obsessed.

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  23. love love love. such a perfect pattern combo on that bed, Elyse! the lamp is TDF and we probably aren't shocked that i want to steal your rug. beautiful!

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You are the best, the most, the everything.