IKEA - GREAT FINDS IN RATTAN CHAIRS

 Hi All,
     Some time ago I took a couple of Ikea Rattan chairs that maybe I paid $120 a piece for and decided to paint them.  They came out so adorable, bought pillows to match from Pottery Barn and I got a custom look that I loved.  Since then Ikea has added a few more Rattan chairs to their inventory that I think can be incorporated into many of our relaxed beachy designs.  Take a peek!!!

$119

My little project, stored for the winter

$100           

$229     

So Good Looking :)

With a great China Seas Fabric!

Red Delicious

Hey Everyone,

Hope all is well with anyone who takes the time to read my blog.  It has been a while and I apologize once again for that. 

So... I am in the middle of a large redesign and it got me to thinking of all of the influences that guide my likes and dislikes.  Obviously my time working for Meg Braff has been a huge influence on me, some of my designs styles I had developed way before ever hearing her name - which is what drew me to her.  I think the depth of exposure has been the largest benefit, she is amazing.  Along the way I have developed my style, which is a compilation of Meg, Miles Redd, Jamie Drake, Brian McCarthy and countless others.  I see myself in so many designs that I cannot tell if I thought of it or saw it and stored it in my head.  They are of course the masters.  I know you all know what I mean! LOL!!!

RED,RED,RED

Red is as bold a color as any, and I love it!  I love all versions of it, coral, pink, burgundy.....
Here are some of the design elements that are tried and true and will be relevant today, tomorrow, and for many tomorrows to come.

 Worlds Away - Helen Gred Console

Meg Braff Designs - Roxy - Red on White

Used this in my powder room in apple green

 - everyone comes out smiling - they love it!

 Meg Braff Designs - Brighton Your Pavilion - Sage on Persimmon

 Hwang Bishop - KOI Lamp -

 I always push these lamps because for the $ they are so worth it!!!

Hwang Bishop - Empress

 I had to include this one as well, just beautiful.

 Brunschwig & Fils - Bamboo Trellis - Red  (Once saw a complete set of draperies in this fabric and it was a show stopper)

 Quadrille - Les Indiennes Multi Colors - Red/Blue/Olive/Green

This fabric has been haunting me for years, you cannot find it in stock and can only be ordered in 5yds and more :-/

Here's a little Redd on red! Fabulous!!!

Mary McDonald shining bright!!!

  Hey Everyone,

         Hope all is well with anyone and everyone!   Busy, busy, busy....Which might I add is a good thing!  All is well with the family and I can honestly say I love my clients.  I have had the pleasure of working in some of the most beautiful homes in my area and I promise pictures will soon follow.  Working with clients as a new designer can sometimes be challenging.  You have to work especially hard to earn their trust and since you do not have a reputation to lean on you often have to compromise your aesthetic.  Many of the final results are probably not 100% my design - but I try my best to make sure that my client is happy and comfortable with the end result.  I will be doing a disservice to them if I create a space that they are not comfortable living in - regardless of how I would have liked to see it.  We as designers are a fearless lot and enjoy going the max every time.  It's the nature of what we do and why we do it.

         I recently took a beginners Interior Photography class at 200 Lexington Avenue which a fellow designer located on Editor at Large.  It was a two day overview of how your camera operates and how you can obtain a beautiful interior shot of your work.  ISO, F-Stop, Shutter Speed.... Whatever happened to point and go? Walla! a beautiful picture!  I long for the days when my flash bulb rotated with every shot or all I had to do was blow on the Polaroid every time I took a picture.  Well no sense longing for the past, the future is here and I had better get on board.  To be completely honest, I enjoy complaining, its fun to reminisce  and  - truth be told, I love learning new things and always had an interest in photography.  Great class, I highly recommend it. Here is some info on our wonderful instructor Emily Gilbert.

Emily Gilbert Photography

tel: 917-816-0690

emily@emilygilbertphotography.com

Carini Lang's Capri

  Hey Everyone,

        I am in search of a great timeless carpet and my eye keeps going to the same one!  A silk totally transitional carpet that has an ethereal feel and look to it.  The one I am presenting today is from Carini Lang, is 100% silk and I am sure is soooo out of my price range....but, Country Carpet sells a variation of them in silk and wool as do many other sell to the trade shops.  They can be custom colored and you can save by omitting the silk for an all wool version.  You may lose some of the lustre which I am not crazy about but I have a 110lb dog and a snarky cat so if your in my situation you might want to consider being cost effective.

Carini Lang

This is named Capri for obvious reasons and comes in 4 additional colors. 

 Beautiful to look at and to feel under your bare feet.  

Transitional to say the least, you can infuse this into any decorating style

 and it will be a show piece for years and years to come.

HWANG BISHOP

  Hey Everyone,

          Recently on a trip to the Schumacher showroom I was admiring a pair of lamps that were on the clearance table.  As usual, my "No Luck" policy prevailed and they were the only items that were not on sale....but as I was inquiring I came to learn that they were part of a collection from Hwang Bishop (aka Felicia Hwang Bishop).  Schumacher has decided to carry her line of lamps and they are beautiful.  They have a Spitzmiller look at a fraction of the cost.

     Hwang Bishop has been designing lamps and other furnishings since 1994, all pieces are made to order and can be customized.  Here are some pics I pulled for you. I chose some staple pieces that we can use anywhere and a couple of what I consider more specialized.

Felicia Hwang Bishop

 Lotus

 Portico

 Leila

 Abacus

 Sumo

Linen Fold Side Table

LuLu Side Table

Mandarine Side Table-Hobnail

Spring has Sprung! Time to get Gardening!!!

  Hey Everyone,

      This months Coastal Living is in, and of course we are all looking forward to a warm spring breeze, especially if your living in the NY area.   Planting flowers and bushes around the house is a must.  This winter was brutal and some of my more delicate grasses and softer leafed bushes do not look like they are going to make a come back.  It is so much easier to garden when there is a place for everything and a nice tall bench to work on.  I have yet to get a true dedicated bench, but I do have a really pretty shed for storage.  A girl can dream.....

I love Garden Sheds and Potting Stations 

and this month's issue of Coastal Living focuses 

a bit on that.

Here are some of the fun items they are featuring

 for your personal garden! Enjoy!!!

T
T

Take a moment and click on my Pintrest button. 

 I have two dedicated boards for Gardening Stations and Boxed Boxwood's 

which happen to be another big favorite of mine.

Tickle Me Tillett Textiles!!!

  Hey Everyone,

        I am Exhausted!!!  Exhausted, but excited as well.  Took the entire day and spent it at the
D & D.  As you know it can take that long to find just the right fabrics for a job, or at least it should.

       Along my journey today I stopped in at Fortuny and met the lovely Catherine Vergara (forgot to ask if there was any relation to Sophia...next time. Lol!)  Catherine walked me through their products and we discussed at length the Tillett  and t4design line of fabrics and possibilities.  How exciting!!!  For a very nice price point you can basically create your own fabric, choose from 55 colors, 12 grounds, ccustomize the design - choose between linen, velvet, cotton.  Need I go on?  All of these choices can be made using their ColorPad option on their website.  CFA's ordered right there!   I was in love, the Chrysanthemum pattern of course tickled my girly desires immediately but they have quite a nice selection to choose from, 180 different patterns to be exact.

     The Tillett family represents 4 generations of designers and this latest venture is spearheaded by Kathleen Tillett and her son Patrick.  Past generations of the Tillett family have worked with Jackie Kennedy Onasis and Aristotle Onasis himself.

     Here are some pictures because we all love the visual, but log on and see for yourself.

Leslie and Patrick Tillett

 Think of the endless possibilities, when you can take any design

 and change it to suit your needs.  

It's like being given a 20 yard head start in a race!

    I can see this as draperies in a pre-teen girls room.  

I have two boys so I desperately need a client with a little girl who loves pink chrysanthemums.

This Is Just Wrong!!!!

  Hey Everyone,

        I know I am in no position to start picking at any one's work but in my search today to bring you beautiful designs, I came across this!  I am going out on a limb and just saying NOOOOO!!!!

My Apologies to whomever.  It was priced in the 30K range. Going, going, still not gone....

Take A Seat!!!

Hey Everyone,

      Seating.  Armchairs, Chaises, Accent Chairs, Lounges, - all of these seating choices can make a room look simply furnished or beautifly decorated.  I say we go for Beautifully Decorated!  Here are some of my favorite choices that I want to share with you today.  I am not going to touch on fully upholstered pieces - we have all seen them a million times - these are a little heavy but make a statement in a room.

 Alexa Hampton is doing some great work over at Hickory Chair - Take a peak!

Grant Chair by Hickory - Alexa Hampton Collection

Samantha Chair by Hickory - Alexa Hampton Collection

Regan Klismos Chair by Hickory - Alexa Hampton Collection 

I know we've seen it a thousand times! There is a reason for that - It's Fabulous!!!

 Check out the detailing on this piece - that's what makes it special.

 Bevel Lounge Chair by Baker

Can't tell you why this chair speaks to me - Soho Loftish - just love it!

 Beauford Chair by Hickory

Timeless - Caning to die for!

Robert Chair by Century

(not loving the fabric choice  - your choice in fabric will make

 or break this chair - but I love the clean lines)

 

 Baker

Love the clean lines, yet they splayed the legs to give it some flare.

I barely made it past the first two pages on 1stdbs and was assaulted by so many beautiful lounge chairs.  These obviously feed my contemporary side - all very important pieces.  Danish style seating is hitting big.   These are original pieces but Worlds Away and Bungalow 5 are reproducing at a much better price point.

  Love the lines, very Regency style -  I am a sucker for caning!

 I love the tiger fabric, maybe not so much on this piece though.

  Only my opinion.

I really feel the Spool Chair deserves a shout out as well.  

Such a fun piece - right now its being a bit over used

 but that's just because it's fabulous.

I love that they chose to welt in a contrasting color. Fun.