Lovely Mondays - Sculpture

I realize that antiques have a very strong place in design and, quite obviously, vintage is making itself more than heard these days.

As a change of pace I would like to shine my spotlight on new products.  As I am working away on my furniture line, I have a newfound admiration for craftsman that have built a name for themselves.  There is such extensive time involved in getting each piece just right...so many details to consider.  Personally, my inspiration is derived by shape and proportions because when I have evaluated pieces in the past that dictates my initial opinion.  Then of course finishes are a huge component but those details, although equally important, can be imagined later.

Below are some of my favorite "sculptural" pieces that have provided inspiration when working on interiors in the past.  There is a very fine line between a piece that is sculptural and one that is contrived but in my opinion the pieces below have found their voice without being obtrusive.

I used these dining chairs in a Lincoln Park dining room.  My trick was to upholster them in a luxurious Holly Hunt outdoor velvet to child proof them.  Wing chair from The Shop New York.

Beautiful coffee table that I have utilized twice, which is rare for me.  Madame X coffee table by the talented Douglas Levine for Bright Chair.

The Arica bench and table by Jiun Ho.  So elegant, as usual from this designer.

The Ava Lounge chair from Reagan Hayes, pictured in my foyer for Chicago's DreamHome.  I was so thrilled to include one of her pieces in my room.

Such an iconic piece: the Cherner Armchair.  Really stunning and perfect for a breakfast room.

I have always loved this chandelier designed by Schilsan, available at Property Furniture in NYC.

Lovely Mondays - Twitter

On the advice of my brother and my husband I have decided to embrace using Twitter.  I'm so enjoying the interactions I have had with you all as well as with a lot of my vendors and manufacturers.  One of the themes I have had the most fun with is the "pick of the day".  I am lucky to have a job where I am inundated with beautiful things and I thought that twitter, in addition to this blog, would be a great way to share said things...

Here are some of my picks so far:

A small and chic pendant from Room and Board.  

Stunning smoked mirror and hammered brass cocktail table from Quintus Studio.

Twig Chandelier by Apparatus Studio

My dream car

A gorgeous Diane Von Furstenberg Vase via One Kings Lane

Be sure to follow me on Twitter to see more picks like these!

Fabulous Fridays - Fancy

I am so excited for this weekend because my best friend from college is coming for a visit and wow do I need this break and camaraderie.  Saturday night I  am going to cook a big family dinner since my kids are as excited to see Aunt Nell as I am.

I thought that it would be a great opportunity to do a low key but fancy night.  That really is symbolic of my life in general and even of my work.  And one who knows my work sees that it is very calculated and "fancy" may be just the perfect word to describe it.  I love well edited spaces and want every piece I choose to be sculptural, beautiful and have meaning.  I do not see anything wrong in swapping the piece you owned in college for a quality design.  That action signifies the growth in your life.  Certainly if something has extra special meaning it is nice to keep it but perhaps repurposing the piece would serve you better.

I love living with luxury and it may be something as simple as using crystal stemware for your glass of wine as you cook dinner or having fresh peonies cut daily for your entry.  On the other hand the "low key" part of my life/design comes from having four children as well as wanting my spaces  to be approachable.  So on that note...  

below is my easy but delicious menu for Saturday, courtesy of my go-to site, Epicurious.  I am currently pressing the linens and baking the cheesecake and hoping she has a wonderful stay...

Cheese Plate with Figs

White Bean Ragout with Toast

Mascarpone Cheesecake with Balsamic Strawberries

2010 L'Aventure Optimus

Also planning on picking up these Ikat Cocktail napkins from Biscuit Home during our shopping excursion this weekend!  Perfect for thoughtful but relaxed entertaining.

Lovely Mondays - The Unexpected

This week I am very grateful for a mention in Luxe Interiors and Design's latest fall issue.  We are keeping busy with our projects in Chicago of course, but I am so looking forward to finding our niche here is Houston as well.  

Looking through this particular issue I was very drawn to the table setting by Eileen Kathryn Boyd.    

The orange and violet Manuel Canovas fabric that inspired Eileen's design.

Eileen uses color so successfully and this composition got me thinking about unexpected color combinations and how they can be so dynamic not only in a table setting, but in a room as well. So...below are some of my favorite "unexpected" color combinations.

Red and Aubergine look lovely in Matthew Williamson's new Empress fabric.

This gray and pink toile from Clarence House freshens up the traditional scenery with its bright color.

This chocolate and peacock Jim Thompson fabric is so luxurious.

Dedar used chartreuse and black in a striking stripe.

Thank you again to Luxe for this thoughtful write up!

Fabulous Fridays - Cold Mountain Getaway

Of course it's easy to talk about New York City and Paris all day.  I'm sure I will do just that too much over the life of this blog.  However, they’re not a secret, they belong to everyone who travels there that leaves a piece of themselves there. 

What I really love to share with people is the undiscovered little town of Waynesville, North Carolina.  I found this magical spot by accident, really, when my husband, good friends, and I were looking for a getaway.  I came across Cold Mountain and it sounded like heaven.  

Cold Mountain is located in Canton, North Carolina and is adjacent to Waynesville, which is close to Asheville.  Canton feels like it is perfectly in the middle of nowhere whereas Waynseville has just what you need:  An excellent restaurant (Chef’s Table), a nicely curated wine shop, unique shopping along Main Street and a quirky coffee shop called Panacea.  But the property itself is what makes this such a special trip.  It is comprised of two cabins on 200 private acres.  When you are a guest at Cold Mountain you have access to a river, swimming hole, berry patches and a gourmet kitchen.

The popular Asheville and the Biltmore Estate makes for a perfect day trip of course.  However for a really unique experience try dinner at The Swag Inn (assuming you aren't scared of heights).  My husband planned a fantastic family dinner here for his parents' wedding anniversary and it became such a wonderful memory for all of us.

INSPIRATIONAL COLOR

The color of the trees

Benjamin Moore Forest Hills Green

The color of the sky at dusk at The Swag

Behr Black Sapphire

Farrow and Ball Calluna

The various hydrangea colors were endless

Benjamin Moore Toasted Mauve

C2 Bella Donna

The bright sunflowers

Farrow and Ball Babouche

Lovely Mondays - Transition to Fall

I wasn't sure if would ever arrive here in Houston, but sure enough, fall is here.  A crisp 55 degrees this morning not only made me crave sweaters, boots and piles of leaves but cozier textiles for the interiors as well.  Rugs are very much a key component in warming a room.  I personally have let my hardwoods show this summer because of the heat, but I think now it's time to start shopping... 

This rug below is a stunner.  How fantastic would this look in an entry or living room?   You can find this piece at Carini Lang, one of my very favorite sources.

I think this rug (available here at Horchow) is very sophisticated and work well in a family room or a study.  The color is so rich and sophisticated.

Overdyed vintage rugs are really trending right now.  Not ready to make a huge financial commitment to obtain one of these?  Artisans like Apexcarpets are selling them via Etsy.

I just purchased this rug from Ballard Designs for my family room.  I love the texture and pattern and it is such a steal so I don't mind that the kids and puppy use it every day!

The Rug Company has long been known for its partnerships with artists.  This rug designed by Fiona Curran would make such a great statement in any room; I adore the colors.

Finally, I was really excited to have been introduced to this source in Houston, Madison Lily, by my friend Jennifer Cope at Modern Luxury.  They have so many beautiful rugs but I think my favorites are their neutrals.