Nothing spells summer like a gorgeous, flowy dress and a majestic, handsome horse... two of my favourite things!
Together?... well, why not?
I love these stunning designs from the spring/summer collection of Vancouver clothing company DACE
(from top: Lucky, Rocket, Maisie... names of the clothing pieces not horses!)

The downside of design blogs and myriad decorating TV shows is that all the analysis (is there such a thing as a decorating pundit?) may lead us to over-think the whole thing. For example, one phenomenon we've discussed here before is the tendency to hyper-analyze accessories -- are they over-exposed, are they "last Tuesday," does it really matter?

It's no secret that I never seem to tire of beads on statuary (or other art objects) but I can't pretend this is revolutionary or unexpected. Radical or not, the issue doesn't seem to worry some of my favorite tastemakers and editors; they don't think the look is over. Beads are proudly displayed in the Lambertson-Truex residence (Elle Decor, October 2008) and Rubie Green founder, Michelle Adams, recently styled a graceful bust with a pretty necklace for ABT.


Below, of course, the image that started the obsession: a page from Kelly Wearstler's Domicilium Decoratus.

So go ahead. Play with your necklaces. It's a commitment-free, economical way to create a new vignette in your home.

Top image is the Dransfield Ross residence as seen in House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets.

According to Vogue's Book of Etiquette and Good Manners, 1969, "A guest room should, above all, look welcoming. It should have that indefinable quality of aliveness, rather than emptiness. It should somehow suggest that it is accustomed to making visitors happy and is not a seldom-used 'spare' room. A hospitable guest room is essentially gay, and completely comfortable."

"A tall order, you may say, but you can have a lot of fun filling it." Like many decorators today, the book says go with the mad wallpaper or print fabric you love but could not abide for more than a month. Your temporary guests will enjoy the change of pace and sense of adventure.



Vogue prefers two twin beds in a guest room with a generously scaled night table between the two. Each bed should have one very soft pillow and one firm.

The lamp should be very easy to reach, and easy to read by without strain. If the floor is not carpeted, provide plush bedside rugs.

Don't forget the filled cigarette box, ashtrays and matches.

A clock with a quiet tick, a pin cushion and sewing kit, a well-lighted mirror for makeup and a full length mirror too.

A good, "brisk" book of fairly new short stories, a carafe of ice water with two glasses, and always fresh flowers.


Also include:

A chest of drawers with at least the top two largest drawers left empty.
Half a closet pole
A closet shelf
A pretty luggage rack -- not Hotel-ish
A couple of chairs, "Guests should not have to sit on the bed to read or file their nails."
A variety of wooden hangers
Shades, shutters or lined curtains that block out light
Biscuits or fruit "can be appreciated."
Facial tissues

And, Vogue says, if you live near the water or have a pool, tuck some whimsical straw hats or Japanese paper parasols in the closet.

I think I have a lot of work a head of me.

Credits:
Bedroom one, Chloe Warner
Bedroom two, Kate Spade
Bedroom three, Kate Spade's guest room courtesy M. A. Belle, via Town & Country

Bedroom four, (images four through six) Peter Dunham

Bedroom five via Domino

Clock is from High Street Market
Carafe and glasses are from Park Avenue Gifts

via moocowhandknits.

Are you frustrated by the limited color options out there for kitchen appliances? Not into stainless steel, white or black? Join the club. Reader Denise wrote to me, asking for some advice:
To help tackle Denise's appliance quandary, I brought in the help of the very talented and knowledgeable kitchen designer, Susan Serra, author of the blog The Kitchen Designer.
Take it away Susan!

Colored Appliances, it's all the rage now. Color is in our lives as never before, and has entered our kitchens, often with gusto! And, why not? We are loving our strong, pro, appliances and often want to showcase them in an equally strong way, or, for that matter, in a whimsical way. The rules for blending and matching color have been continually redefined, and not by the "experts" but by you. Individual expression now trumps "safe!"
Appliance manufacturers have gone color-crazy! We have purples, we have bronzes, many colors of blue and on and on.
I consider Viking to be a leader of color appliances, going back quite a few years now. Viking has only expanded their colors for their appliances year after year.
Aga, always into color, brought in a soft purple, called heather.
note: AGA discontinued the yellow and royal blue and added pillar box red which does not appear on their site
And one sees lots of color in retro appliances, such as the very cool Big Chill line of appliances. I'm not a retro fan, but this line is awesome.

And, talk about color? What about Blue Star? Sit down for this one...190 colors!

It's all good. Or, is it?

Of course, the appliance manufacturers would just love for you to buy a whole suite of appliances in the color of your choice. And, so, one will see this concept in manufacturer's advertising. But, wait, what happens if, down the road, one appliance needs to be replaced and that color is no longer available? Something to think about, to plan for.

Or, another elegant way to incorporate color, short of an entire suite of color, is to choose one appliance, perhaps the range, which may be situated as a focal point, and select a color that will be picked up elsewhere in the kitchen. Thus, the color is isolated, yet, significant. Yet, another idea is to have an appliance painted locally, via a special process just for appliances.
As the color story for 2008 moves toward nature, such as greens and blues, even elegant shades such as our old friends, black and white, take care not to follow trends solely because the colors look fresh and new. Appliances are not pillows...they may last you decades!

Here's my advice...follow your heart, keeping one foot solidly on the ground.

Added thanks to Danielle from Canton Kitchens for additional picture links

I've been a huge flickr fan of I Can't Live Without a Poni (aka Brooklyn artist, Parsons grad, and blogger Niki Kelce) for awhile now. So I was thrilled to discover that she recently opened an Etsy shop to sell her mindblowingly intricate and beautiful original drawings. Above: The Seeds Are Thinking, $300

My Frustration, $250

From the Capsules Came a Garden, $400

Floating, framed drawing, $400

Family Portrait 1, $300

Visit Niki Kelce's new Etsy shop right here -- and see more of her amazing work here.

(P.S. For those of us on a tight budget, Kelce promises to add prints to her shop soon. I'll let you know when she does.)

I got a very sweet note from Sylvie of the So Sylvie blog the other day announcing that her beautiful shop Blossom Home is sadly going to close. If you were unaware of Sylvie's talent, take a look:

Not only is her shop beautiful, but so is she. She has had a bit of hardship lately, which you can read about here. I hope you will join me in your support and well wishes by visiting her blog.

Sylvie is letting some of her very special pieces go on Craig's List so you might want to check things out here.

This etagere is one of the beauties being sold.

I wish I had gotten a chance to visit her shop in person, but I hope Sylvie will be starting a new chapter where her talents will flourish!

Wishing all good things for Sylvie and her family!

this sequined Ked's shoe but I detest that ridiculous bow. Is there anything we can do about this?

Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the five day Diwali celebrations. This day Goddess Lakshmi- who is the Goddess of Wealth is worshipped for wealth & prosperity.
It is extremely auspicious to buy gold & jewellery today as it is believed to bring happiness, wealth and good luck:-)Here is a simple Dhanteras arrangement with faux gold coins obviously:-)


(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail)

When I spotted these skeleton serving forks over on boing boing I couldn’t decide if they were really cool or just morbid. I know they’d be great for a Halloween party, but at $50 for the set I’d need them to be good all year round. What do you think — creative or creepy? –Erica P.

: : I love graphics like this! [and I think it has inspired me to do a new motif.]
even better, it's been applied to .aygo., the car. my friend .louise. owns an .aygo., they're so cute, and so tiny. maybe she'll let me apply my graphics to her car?

via .print&pattern. graphics work by .studiokanna.

: : found these wonderful and warm kitchen pieces by architect .knud kapper. for .hansen living. when I was browsing .inhabitat. today. beautiful pieces in oak, maple and teak. the first image is called an instant kitchen meant for studios and small apartments, just hook it up to water and electricity and you have a kitchen ready.

and I fell in love with the yellow on the walls in the last photo. I like the contrast between the yellow and white, and the yellow is so warm, reminds me of spring......or maybe I'm just in easter mode.

"You need $4.1 million for the keys, but only $20 for a tour of the Regents Park home..." The posh development in Atlanta was chosen by Southern Accents magazine

...to establish an elegant alternative for urban dwellers. Made up of 23 luxurious town homes and flats, the development has the familiar feeling of tradition with modern-day conveniences.

(The) magazine called on renowned Atlanta interior designer Dan Carithers to oversee the home's interiors. A walk through the home is a visual feast of design finery, with everything from floors to ceiling provided by vendors like Stone Age Designs and Hickory Chair. Carithers' own furniture line by Sherrill Furniture is on display throughout the home

Several things stand out in the tour and the photo tour here:

• Fabric, fabric, fabric: Carithers uses repetition of fabrics on linens, upholstery and walls.
• Seats for all sizes: Little ones like luxury, too. Throughout the home, child-size chairs were sprinkled among traditionally sized pieces.
• Button-tuft this: Carithers' use of button-tufted pieces gives the home an instant dose of comfort and glamour.

Bev & Mike
Proud to carry Sherrill at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Erin Loechner of design for mankind has done a commendable job of compiling a monthly e-zine full of inspiration.
Yes, inspiration in various forms and this month's inspiration e-zine is titled "Nook and Crannies: Inspirations in the Home."
Erin was very kind to ask me to participate in the 'Inspiration E-zine' for this month.
Thanks Erin!
Everyone needs inspiration from time to time and a monthly Inspiration e-zine sounds perfect:-) So do visit design for mankind and download 33 pages of inspiration:-)

Park Hotel, bigger here. And so we reached Barcelona, the final long stop of our journey (as the train journey back to Sweden included several short stops in many places). We stayed in an area called El Born, it was very atmospheric and truly lovely. Our tiny flat was at the ...

Rare-book dealer Kinsey Marable assisted Oprah with her vast library of classic editions. Her cozy reading room (details shown above) happens to be featured in a special literary-inspired issue of O at Home, and I won't spoil the surprise for those who haven't seen it, but I thought it would be interesting to re-post an image of Marable's Virginia home (House Beautiful circa 1990s, below).

The book dealer and Oprah must be kindred spirits because soft greens combined with rich reds and that sink-in comfort look dominate both rooms. Although the mogul's personal library is a bit more formal. Have to love her malachite boxes and numerous volumes bound in red.

Click here to see Marable's townhouse as featured in the April 2008 issue of Southern Accents. (Atlanta's own Clinton Smith wrote the piece.) And beyond aesthetics, be sure to explore Marable's site. It's fascinating to learn about his consulting work with book collecting clients.
Above, books recommended by Marable; image via his business site.

Photographer David Christensen's luxuriant image of this velvet chair with hand-painted leafy pillow is just one of the many gorgeous pictures that appear in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles' October issue. (Editorial Director Clint Smith and his team really hit a home run.) The vignette, by the way, is part of a story involving some bloggers you may have heard of before. When I saw the fabrics published for the first time, I immediately thought of the mossy, woodsy mood Coleen Rider discussed on Friday.
And that, in turn, reminded me of this 18th century English crewelwork described by Hali as the most voluptuous item at the 2006 HALI Fair. It was compared to needlework found at Hardwick Hall, home of the ultimate Elizabethan celebrity, Bess of Hardwick.


Atlanta-based designer Keith Arnold lives in a Buckhead high-rise, not a sprawling English estate, but the tapestry that hangs in his dining room looks as if it might have come from the latter. Arnold's home is filled with impeccably tasteful contemporary furniture, and his striking art and accessories set it apart from just another good looking residence. I think you will be inspired by his mix of the precious with the lowbrow. Look for it on the October AH & L cover.

If you plan to be hunting for your own treasures in Atlanta during the next week, you might want to stop by Acquisitions, 631 Miami Circle (404-261-2478). Through Saturday, September 20, Italian imports are on sale.

For details on the chair or pillow shown at the top of this post, visit or contact Interiors Market, 55 Bennett Street (404-352-0055). Or contact Bob Garner at Fabulous Things LTD.

From Sarah:

Our favorite San Francisco store, Rose and Radish, is outfitted with these hand-blown Murano glass Perseo 44 Suspension Lights from Produzione Privata, which are reminiscent of Noguchi’s paper lanterns. Designed by Michele De Lucchi, the Perseo 44 is available in satin or transparent white glass for $1,080 from Lumens. YLighting carries the full line of Perseo fixtures as well: The Perseo 44 is on offer for $1,188; the medium-size Perseo 28 is $792, and the small-size Perseo 15 is $638. Finally, the Perseo Wall Sconce is $704 (N.B.: YLighting offers a 110 percent price match).

my summer hiatus is officially over ...
what a crazy roller coaster ride of a summer i had this year. from having to attend 8 weddings, shooting 1, being in 2 and attending all the other 5 (and i have 2 more in september) i had a hard time balancing work with my design with weekend excursions to weddings and on top of all that, i just found out i'll be having to go in for surgery thanksgiving weekend (in canada that's in october for all you americans). needless to say, i've been busy.

did i mention, we're looking to purchase our first home??? well, we are!
this is an exceptionally exciting time for me, being that i've never been a home owner - but as a designer, it's an opportunity for me to really sink my teeth in my own space from start to finish. color me giddy with excitement!



i'm so excited to catch up on all your fantastic blogs!
thanks for all of you who dropped by to share your thoughts and greetings during my absence. it was very much appreciated!