Posted by Kendra

If you're needing some visual inspiration, an excellent place to go are photographer or stylists' websites. Here are some of my favorites:

MARTYN THOMPSON

ROBYN GLASER

GENTL & HYERS

ROLAND BELLO (Sadly under construction, but be sure to check back. you won't regret it.)

From Julie:

A trio of new chalkboard-paint application ideas.

Below: Featured recently on the base of a kitchen island (so toddlers can scribble while you cook) in Brussels, via the New York Times.

Below: A DIY wall calendar.

Below: A background for kitchen shelving, via Gourmet.

On to another book review...

I have posted a few articles about my anticipation of the release of Regency Redux by Emily Eerdmans. And now that I've received my advance copy, all I can say is "instant classic". I'm actually suffering a bit of those post-reading doldrums- you know, that down feeling you get when you've finished a book that was pure joy to read. No matter because I might just read it again this week!

Eerdmans begins her book by giving the reader a brief history of the English Regency and French Empire styles- an important starting point as the 20th century interpretations of Regency are based on these two similar styles. Then, it's on to explore all of the different sub-genres of 20th century Regency. There's Neoclassical Moderne, Vogue Regency, Hollywood Regency, and Decorator Regency. I'm being a bit vague here as I don't want to spoil it for you, but let me just say that each distinct style is explored in great detail- and with copious amounts of scrumptious photographs (meaning... I want the furniture and interiors featured in this book.)

Also, the gang's all here, with Draper, Fowler, McMillen, Maugham, Arbus, Leleu, and others being prominently featured. And as the Regency look played such an important role in Hollywood cinema of the 1930s and 40s, there are scores and scores of movie stills that are a delight to see.

Now, I must say that I was prone to like this book as 1930s and 40s design suits my aesthetic. But no matter what your style is, if you're interested in classical, modern, traditional, stylized, theatrical or sophisticated interiors, then you too just might find this book to be as captivating as I did. Regency Redux is a must-have for any design library.


A still from the 1932 movie Transatlantic, which won an Oscar for art direction. The look here is referred to as "Deco Greco".


Another still, this time from the 1935 movie No More Ladies (appropriately named as Joan Crawford starred in it!). Eerdmans makes note of the Regency swags and the Neo-Grec furniture in this room.


Can you tell I'm a sucker for old movies??? Here is an image from the 1945 movie Week-end at the Waldorf. Wouldn't you have liked to attend this staged cocktail party??


The Palm Beach resident of Mrs. Hugh Walker Mercer, designed by Ruby Ross Wood. Wood is one of my all-time favorite decorators (and she was a Georgia girl too!).


A room designed by McMillen for Millicent Rogers... a match made in heaven. Note the Neoclassical details in the room.

Hookaboo is a discreet wall hanger that you can have in the hallway, bathroom, bedroom or anywhere you wish. This wall hanger has 4 pieces of metal hanger that fold up when are not used. Designed by Matt Carr, this wall hook is made from bamboo and is 34 cm wide, 8,5 cm hight and about 2 cm deep. For those of you interested in this product, you can purchase it from Bluebox ( Sweedish shop ).

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Hookaboo Wall Hanger by Matt Carr

Posted by Bluelines

It comes as no surprise to us that our talented blogger Scott Horne would have an equally creative and gifted sibling.

Ken Horne, brother to Scott, studied drawing, painting, and photography in Los Angeles, London, Burlington, and Denver, where he now maintains a studio.

Because his day job as a child welfare social worker often brings him face-to-face with dark scenarios, Ken infuses his art with light and color.

The artist is inspired by nature, society, and modern design. Ken constantly explores and experiments with line, form, balance, and color.

But, enough from us. Let his stunning work tell the story.

What's your favorite?

James Michael Howard

I am very fond of placing small pieces of Antique furniture in bathrooms. I think it adds an element of coziness. It also adds interest and personality to a room which we usually don't think about furnishing.

Posted by Kerstin

This year I am determined to conquer the very thing I attempt each time the weather starts to heat up.

Find that one dress that is stylish, classic, and won't wrinkle or wilt in the sweltering city heat.

It's a tall order, finding one garment that can go from the office (add cardigan) to a dinner out (add dangly earrings), to the beach (add flip-flops), or wear errand-running around town (add shopping bags).

So every time Memorial Day hits, I scour catalogs, web sites, and newly-stocked stores hoping it will be there saying, "Look, over here."

Unfortunately, every Labor Day, I discover the same thing. I have bought way too many throwaway dresses that fit no more than one of the above requirements. And most I never want to see again.

This year, I have come up with a few candidates. Tell me what you think.
And be sure to tell me of any you think could be "the one."

Candidate 1:

Candidate 2:

Candidate 3:

Late Entry: Candidate 4 (I forgot about this one)

I'm a sucker for wire mesh. So I'm trying to find a right place for these pieces in my home to justify their purchase. (I'm sure I'll figure something out.) But first, I would also like to check them out in the store to see if they look and feel just as good in person. The chair is the De la tour chair from Urban Outfitters and the table is the Link side table from CB2. I'm glad they're finally opening a store in San Francisco this summer.

Whoa, Nelly. The other day I got to work to find a package on my desk. I immediately ripped through the packaging (actually, I opened it tactfully) to find two treasures…I can’t wait to share!

1.) The printed version of the blog, A Year of Mornings. I have followed this blog from the beginning and thought: a.) Man alive! The images are amazing and b.) Why don’t more people do this? If you are not familiar with 3191.visualblogging.com, the premise is simple: two gals live 3191 miles apart (Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon) and document their mornings by posting one photo to a shared blog every weekday for a year. The women have only met in person once thus their friendship is solely maintained online. The book is visual eye candy and from a design perspective, very inspiring. Take a look!

And the second book:

2.) To Each His Home. Compared to A Year of Mornings this book is a bit quirkier. You won’t see as much of an emphasis on the little details of each day but more how a home has evolved into its own entity over time. The homes in this book are not the product of magazine influences or professional interior designers. Instead, they are expressions of how a marionette maker, a retired union steamfitter, a painter, an inventor, a former Golden Gloves welterweight champion, a visual merchandiser, and a retired stay-at-home mother of seven have made their homes their own. The photography is awesome! A sneak peek:

Now to the goods! Thanks to the Princeton Architectural Press we have two sets of each book to give to you! Tell us what makes your home an extension of you? Is it a collection, a color, a favorite chair, the kitchen, the bathroom, a trinket, an art piece etc? Submit a comment to this posting and we will announce the two randomly selected winners next Tuesday, Nov 18th. If you have a photo, even better (but not required)… post it to our Fresh New Spaces Flickr group and include a link with your comment.

P.S The Princeton Architectural Press publishes so many amazing design/art/architecture-centric books…I would highly suggest picking up a copy of Catalog: The Illustrated History of Mail Order Shopping (my new favorite book). I have to share an image, this book is so good:

For years now, we've read about internet entrepreneurs, young Wall Street tycoons, and the like who have set out to become serious art collectors, and the high prices that this art (usually Contemporary) commands just proves what a hot market it is. But what about decorative arts collectors? How many young or middle-aged people do you know who collect porcelain, silver, or antique furniture? I'm not really talking about someone who dabbles in a few objects here and there. I mean those people who have a serious and abiding passion for a particular field of collecting.

I think this is one reason why I so admire the late Philip Shutze, the dean of Atlanta architecture. Shutze's architecture, rooted in the Beaux Arts tradition, has an elegance that is both classic and erudite. But did you know that he was also a passionate collector of 18th and 19th century decorative arts? Shutze had a marvelous collection that ranged from Meissen porcelain to Chinese Export. In fact, he purchased many of his pieces from Northeast dealers who also supplied Henry Francis du Pont with much of his collection.

What struck me was not just the breadth of his collection, but the way in which he displayed it. Living in a small apartment on Peachtree St. in Atlanta, Shutze's home was chock full of antiques, objects and books. The man actually lived with and used these precious objects. One look at the photographs and you can tell that this was someone who was a passionate and curious collector. It's evident that an interesting person lived there- someone you might like to know.

Shutze once wrote "It may well be that another generation will see collecting, as we have known it, by the individual come to a grinding halt." Shutze believed this might be due to economic reasons, but I believe it also has to do with the fact that collecting decorative arts is just not sexy. But Shutze did go on to say that "it is the duty of the present generation to preserve what we have of value for the level of taste has sunk to an unprecedented state and our production is blue denim and ersatz." To think that this was written in 1973-74! Now, I'm not going give up my dark blue denim nor some of the pastiche that I have in my home, but Mr. Shutze has inspired me to become a serious collector too. But before I pull my money from under my mattress, I think I'll do my homework first!


A view of Shutze's Dining Room.


The other end of his Dining Room with his "Mandarin" and "Fitzhugh" Chinese Export porcelain displayed on a sideboard.


The living room with a Shutze "tablescape".


Shutze's kitchen and his collection of blue and white Chinese Export which he used on a daily basis.

Image at top: Philip Shutze

A house with a heavy mid-century vibe to it, where spaces interact with each other instead of delimiting areas. I love the play of modern designer furniture combined with the ultra classics. The black Saarinen and white Panton chairs are a plus.

The minimal use of colors for the canvas makes the accent pieces pop even more.

http://www.damilanostudio.com