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C R Currin
09/03/2008, 21:27 | Original Site: katiedid
So drop on in and check them out. There are more where these came from!
Enjoy.
Restoration Hardware: baby & child
08/24/2008, 19:50 | Original Site: katiedid
I don't know if you all noticed that Brocade Home, a subsidiary of Restoration Hardware, is no longer taking orders. Perhaps it is because of the launch of this site: Restoration Hardware Baby & Child.
I was looking for a Dining Table and noticed the new logo at the top of RH's website, so decided to check it out. There are quite a few nice things here (like the sweet personalized crown piece above).
The furniture, I would suspect, is the same high quality you would expect from the parent site. This four poster is a really timeless design I think. And the bedding hosts a hive of little bees fit for a little Josephine.
The lamps are great looking and quite a good price. This gourd lamp is $119, plus the shade at $25.
Cute lamp reminiscent of Jaime Young. Painted ceramic, comes in a bunch of colors (as does the gourd lamp), and different shade choices. $69! Plus a shade at $25. This is not a tiny little lamp either. It stands 22" high. (Sometimes with a price like this I double check the size to make sure it is not a mini lamp.)
And there are area rugs and window coverings as well. I thought this woven rug (comes in other colors also) was very nice!
I was very impressed overall. Restoration Hardware has great things that blend in with many different decors, so I was very pleased to discover this site. Hope you will be too. Worth a visit for sure.
Cool Stuff: Ferm Living Oilcloths
04/14/2008, 20:40 | Original Site: More Ways to Waste Tim
I don't know what the weather's been like in your neck of the woods, but here in Northern California it was blistering hot this weekend. (Is it global warming? Is the Bay Area the new Palm Springs? I'm busy plotting our move to Vancouver through the sweat over here ... )Anyway, all this unseasonal heat has me itching to move mealtimes outside, where we can take shelter under the shade of our towering birch tree while praying for a cooling breeze. And what better way to dress the patio table than with these brand-new oilcloths (such as Family Tree, above) from Denmark's Ferm Living, the maker of some of the coolest modern wallpapers around?
Even if it's still chilly in your area or you don't have an outdoor dining space, these are a fun way to dress up your kitchen or dining table -- and are particularly great if you have spill-prone kids.
Take a look:
Branch
Walldots
Bindweed
BerryFerm's oilcloth is about $28 per linear meter, which is roughly 39 inches; the oilcloth comes in 55-inch widths, so if you want a tablecloth that's about four and a half feet wide by six and a half feet long, order two meters. It's available through the Scandinavian Design Center -- which also carries beautiful oilcloths from Marimekko, Pappelina, and Susanne Schjerning.
Check them out right here.CHI Scavenger: Vintage Walnut Dining Set for $1,000
01/01/1970, 01:00 | Original Site: Apartment TherapyRainbow of room hues
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
"Theatrical color can distract from flaws. Confederate Red draws the eye from the unassuming laminate cabinets in this rental kitchen."Be sure to read the little description next to each picture- it's useful to read about the effect they were looking to achieve, or the specific challenges of a particular color.
Furniture: Ikea PS Ellan Rocker
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: RemodelistaFrom Sarah:
We’ve had our eye on the Ikea PS Ellan Rocker for a while now; we especially love the way it looks as a suite of outdoor dining chairs at Brooklyn designer David Weeks’ upstate New York farmhouse. Made of wood plastic composite, the rocker costs $39.99. Via Cookie Magazine.
The Legendary Sybil Connolly
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Peak of Chic
There is one design legend who I fear is slipping into obscurity, and it would be a dreadful shame if that happened. That person is the late Sybil Connolly. If some of you are not familiar with her name, I'm sure you would recognize her work.
Born in Wales to Irish/British parents, Connolly began her career as a clothing designer, first in London and later setting up shop in Dublin. Proud of her Irish heritage, Connolly worked tirelessly to promote the native crafts of Ireland. Many of Connolly's clothing designs incorporated tweeds, woolens, and most notably Irish linen. In fact, Connolly garnered praise and notoriety for her pleated linen dresses. The handkerchief linen was so fine that it took nine yards of linen to make 1 yard of pleated material. Much adored in Ireland, Connolly also developed a devoted fan base here in the States with Jacqueline Kennedy, Rockefellers, and Duponts becoming clients. (You might recognize the official portrait of Kennedy below in which she is wearing a Sybil Connolly design.)
As the swinging Sixties and early 1970s rolled around, Connolly's designs fell out of favor with the liberated woman. Refusing to capitulate to the latest trends, Connolly once said "There comes a time in everyone's life as a designer when you have to decide whether you want to create the beautiful or the merely fashionable. Sadly, there can be a conflict between the two." With her glory days of fashion design waning, Connolly ventured into designs for the home. And this, to me, is the work that is most striking.
Connolly designed collections of textiles for Brunschwig & Fils and F. Schumacher as well as tabletop items for Tiffany & Co. Ever the champion of Irish handiwork, Connolly incorporated Irish motifs- flowers, basketweave, and the like- into most of her creations. In fact, I'm sure many of you recognize Tiffany's classic Tiffany Weave China which was designed by Miss Connolly.
But her greatest work of all had to have been her beautiful home on Merrion Square in Dublin (in my opinion, one of the most charming areas in all of Dublin). With the ground floor dedicated to her design business, Connolly's private quarters were comprised of the upper floors as well as a mews house. Her home reflected her style, her elegance, and her passion for the best that Ireland had to offer. Connolly once remarked: "Perfection is not human and we shouldn't pretend that it is. The ideal house should look lived in, as if somebody reads the books on the shelves." This sentiment is one with which I agree wholeheartedly and one which I have tried to convey on this blog, although not as eloquently as Miss Connolly.
Back in the mid-1990s, I had the opportunity to hear Sybil Connolly speak while I was employed with Tiffany & Co. Unfortunately, a fellow employee fainted and Connolly's talk was cut short. It was something that I always regretted, especially as Connolly died a few years later. But, I suppose I can take consolation with photos of her work. As you can see, she had a varied, productive, and fruitful career, and it is one which deserves some posthumous attention.
(An aside: when I was researching this post, I came across a New York Times article from October 1980 announcing a buffet dance at the downtown Rich's department store here in Atlanta. The dance was a benefit cook-off for the March of Dimes. And...Sybil Connolly cooked a marinated lamb, Robin Roberts of Clarence House made deviled chicken breasts, and Mary Jane Pool prepared an avocado salad called riboon. Now that was a stellar event! Had I been older and known who these people were at the time, I would have paid my $100 to attend.)
The Mews House's cheery yellow Living Room. The plaster shells on the cornice were duplicated from some real shells that she purchased in California with Tony Duquette.
The Living Room in the main house. The curtains were made of an Irish floral fabric.
Connolly's bedroom which was inspired by her antique Angoulême porcelain. Connolly found the Angoulême patterned wallpaper in London, and she then had the Irish textile industry copy the same print onto linen. Nancy Lancaster was so taken with the charming green and white bedroom that she asked Connolly if she could copy it.
A table set for tea in Connolly's garden
The dining room of the Mews House. Connolly's collection of blue and white Irish delftware grace the walls. It also looks as though the panelling on the walls was actually painted on in shades of blue.
The dining room of the main house. The wallpaper's floral print is fuschia, which grows wild in Ireland.
A blue and white toile that Connolly designed for Brunschwig & Fils (Image courtesy of The Hunt Museum)
"Tipperary" wallpaper designed by Connolly for Brunschwig. Do you think this looks like the Angoulême print in her bedroom?
A glazed chintz pattern, "Lily of Galtee", designed for Brunschwig (image from The Hunt Museum)
Tiffany Weave china, designed by Sybil Connolly
The late, great, and discontinued china pattern known as "Mrs. Delany's Flowers". Designed for Tiffany & Co. by Connolly, the floral pattern was inspired by amazing collages created by Mary Delany in the 18th century. Delany was admired throughout England and Ireland for her charm, intellect, and artistic skills. She used thousands of pieces of colored paper to create collages of flowers.
A paper collage by Mary Delany, c. 1777. Delany's collages inspired "Mrs. Delany's Flowers". (Collection of the British Museum)
One of Connolly's famed pleated linen dresses (photo courtesy of The Hunt Museum).
Jacqueline Kennedy's White House portrait, painted by Aaron Shickler, features Kennedy wearing a Sybil Connolly gown. (Image courtesy of The White House Historical Association)
Reader Design Dilemma-Penny's Kitchen
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
Here's her kitchen, ready for some sprucing up.
"The cupboards are a pale pinky beige that I intend to paint white and install new handles (chrome), as well as install a new shelf (white) somewhere above the cupboards.
My laminate benchtop is a swirly, "natural rock inspired" pink/violet/blue monstrosity, but we're stuck with it, and I'd like to make the best of it.
Here's the room on the other side of the kitchen which we don't actually use as a dining area."And for the most important part- what colors does Penny like?
"My eye tends to be drawn to soft colours, like icey pink and blue, even soft lavendar. I just don't know what will go best with the benchtops we have, although it does incorporate a mixture of these tones."I think Penny is on the right track with her inspirational photos showing soft pastels with a retro feel. The counter-tops are unfortunate, for sure, but not a lost cause. With the focus drawn away from the counters, and onto the walls, they won't stand out quite so distinctly.
So, the first question I would ask would be about lighting. Is the kitchen dark during the day, or does it get lots of bright natural lighting?
In this mock-up, I pulled a pastel blue from one of Penny's inspiration photos for the walls, and a light pink for the ceiling.A nice solution to give the illusion of sunlight is using buttery yellow, like this photo Penny submitted. Love the copper pots against the yellow and white-lovely!In taking a closer look at the second kitchen picture, I see other areas where color can be incorporated. Notice I pulled the yellow up onto the ceiling to de-emphasize it's low height. The curtain leading into a back room (pantry?) could be replaced by colorful upholstery fabric quite easily. Our designer-readers might have some good suggestions for what might work there.
To draw attention away from the mauve tones in the counter-top, you could try pulling out one of the other colors you like better, like light blue or lilac (as long as it isn't too gray which can quickly translate to dingy )
Also, by swapping out the back splash tiles (if this is an option) for something more updated in color, it would draw attention away from the mauve theme going on.
You might even be able to paint over it. (but -only- if it doesn't get wet frequently) A crisp bright white for the trim would also liven up the space. Perhaps a fun light fixture with some full-spectrum bulbs to brighten the kitchen? Play around with the colors of the items displayed on the shelves-you can incorporate the pastel palette more completely.Since the kitchen is so small, several more shelves stacked above would offer more storage space, and more design opportunities. Granted, this kitchen example has lilac cabinets instead of white, but feel how refreshing and alive this space feels! Besides, who says cabinets have to be white or wood?
So, that's my initial take on Penny's kitchen make-over. What would you suggest for her space? Please share your ideas!
House Proud: Nineteenth Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Peak of Chic
Oh, to be in New York right now attending the House Proud exhibit at Cooper-Hewitt. Hopefully I'll get the chance. But in the meantime, I did find some images on the web.
The exhibit celebrates the impressive collection of nineteenth century watercolor interiors assembled by Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw- one of the largest of its kind in the States. The rendered interiors include rooms at Carlton House, Buckingham Palace, and Schloss Fischbach (the paintings put my small collection of anonymous watercolor interiors to shame!) On display through January 25, 2009, the show is sure to be of interest to you collectors or those interested in design history.
(For additional reading, you may want to consider House Proud
The Dressing Room of King Ludwig I at the Munich Residenz; Franz Xaver Nachtmann, Germany, 1836.
The Japanese Salon, Villa Hügel; Rudolf von Alt, Austria, 1855.
The Chinese Room in the Royal Palace, Berlin; Eduard Gaertner, Germany, 1850.
The Blue Room, Schloss Fischbach; Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Klose, Germany, 1846.
Image at top: The Circular Dining Room at Carlton House; Charles Wild, England, 1819.
Time For Outdoor Furniture
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)Heather at The Inside Store-y has some tips on cleaning the furniture that you will lie on to get that suntan and sit on to chat or eat that BBQ:
5 piece teak set in Bali design by Faraway Furniture.
Cleaning Methods
It's as simple as soap and water. It's all you need for most outdoor furniture. You may want to ...pick up a power washer.She covers cleaning
- Acrylic Cushions
- Resin Furniture - Resin furniture is easy to clean. Spray off dirt and grime and let dry. If there are scuff marks, use a gentle abrasive to remove. To remove mildew, follow the instructions above.
- Wicker -You can use a hose or pressure washer.
- Wrought Iron, Steel Frames & Aluminum -Use mild soap and water to clean.
- Fabric
- Umbrellas
- Wooden Furniture
The only maintenance we recommend for your teak furniture is occasional cleaning. This should be done with a mild soap (such as gentle hand cleaning soap) and warm water to preserve its natural elements.There are some new ideas in outdoor furniture from The Modesto Bee, for example:
Chat tables are new this year, says Jan Booth of Patioworld in Fresno. These tabletops are higher than coffee tables but lower than dining tables. "It's high enough that you can put a cup there, but it's not like sitting at a dining table," she says.Bev & Mike
Mesh on metal or wood pieces: Patio pieces that have mesh-type material over metal or wood frames also are popular.
"You can lay a towel on it or go without a towel, and you can lie on it. You don't stick to (the mesh), and it's very comfortable. You don't lie there and get sweat on your back and tush."
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery
Wendy Blount
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: desire to inspire
“We create a commissioned piece of art for our clients. Art in which they live or work.” That's how Wendy Blount describes her designs. Style arbiter and rising star on the Atlanta design scene she brings a fresh perspective to classic and contemporary interiors. Her European background shows in her elegant and relaxed portfolio.
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First Ingredient: Personal Warmth
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: style court
It will probably be a week or so before my Cecil Beaton book arrives. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some more enduring advice from Vogue's Book of Etiquette, 1969. The tips are universal and relate mainly to the concept of home, rather than to decorating. And they apply whether you have endless resources or a tiny budget, so I think the guidance is timely.
Vogue says houses that are well-mannered and harmonious tend to put people at ease and evoke attractive behavior. Four essential ingredients contribute to this type of home: personal warmth, sincerity, understatement, and consideration. "None of these has to do with formality or lack of it. And none is a matter or money."
According to the book, "Personal warmth is the most appealing element in any room and nothing -- elegance, drama, enormous expenditure -- can take its place...it is the sum total of many things, all of which indicate that people really live in a room, and do not merely pass through it."
Vogue stresses the presence of truly meaningful objects over a contrived arrangement. The wildly different homes of Aerin Lauder and artist Konstantin Kakanias contain layers of meaning, and both exude warmth. Kakanias' bohemian digs are in the hills of Hollywood, carved out of part of actress Barbara Stanwyck's former playground. Lauder's inherited weekend home, in contrast, is stately. But each house is filled with mementos, not trendy accessories.
Signs of the artist's fascinating globe-trotting life are clear throughout his home, and Lauder keeps her grandmother's spirit completely alive rather than worry about being hip.
"Warmth is an inviting, disarming quality that must originate in a person's or family's sentiments and way of life." Examples include:A collection of mediocre drawings by a long-dead relative grouped without apology over a pedigreed antique.
A worn Oriental rug that children and dogs cannot really harm.
Paperbacks on the shelves alongside the better-bound books.
Lamps in the best spot for reading as well as for decoration.
A pile-up of magazines rather than a careful arrangement of this month's issues.
A lovingly arranged vase of inexpensive flowers.
"Warmth can begin with sunny colors or big hospitable sofas and chairs, but in themselves these are not enough. A warm room suggests in all its parts that comfort, affection -- even personal whim -- are more important than effect." It makes people feel contented, "just as they do in the presence of a warm individual, and they tend to be their best selves because of it. "
Images two through seven show Kakanias' home, as seen in House & Garden
The exterior of the Lauder home is from Vogue Living
The many colors of house-hunting
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
Nondescript white-walled room. Totally forgettable.
Really dated kitchen in desperate need of a make-over.
Love, love, loved the colors in this house. We were ready to move in, and I didn't even have the desire to change their paint choices. This house wasn't staged, but really tastefully done by the owners. After peeking in an office cabinet, I discovered someone living there works as a color consultant.
Testing the authenticity of a staged "bed" that turns out was just cardboard boxes draped in fabric. Aren't these walls just screaming for chromatic assistance? A distinctly unsuccessful staging, I hate to say.Sometimes, stagers will go further, advising refinishing floors or painting walls. I've got to tell you, it made a huge difference as we were strolling through our 15th house of the day.
Soft yellow walls and muted sophisticated accent colors (check out the throw pillows, rug, even the golden bowl on the table) really made this room appealing. The touch of green helped round out the palette. This was another favorite house, but alas, an offer was already in on it.
Those properties with unique, rich or even just understated colors on the walls certainly made the place feel more homey and more personal. Loved the pumpkin.
There's something so sterile about an empty, white walled house. This fireplace wall would have looked much better with an accent color to ground it in the space.
I'm not big on black counter-tops, as they are hard on the eyes, ergonomically. Not enough contrast between the work surface and items on top. But I loved how the stager took cues from the existing palette to bring in black and white plates in the empty cabinets and pulled in touches of bright blue here and there. I couldn't get enough of the sunshine streaming through the window-just like a cat, I suppose...I noticed it in new apartment complexes, as well. They advertised "designer colors" and would point out accent walls in the model unit that were either standard, or not included. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera when we toured the complex, so I can't show you the cool hall and unit colors. In any case, evidently, the general public has become much more color and design savvy, for the salespeople to emphasize color so much.
So, that's just a little taste of our adventure out west. For the time being, I think we will settle for a rental while we continue the quest for our house. I'd like to hear from those of you who have gone house-hunting in the past: how important were the wall colors in your impression of a property? Did it make a difference in the end when you bought something?
show & tell time ~ cpw apartment
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: studio wellspring
i'm so excited to share this with you! a large apartment remodel & redesign project that i was fortunate enough to work on has come to completion, and the project manager has sent over some nice site photos. this is the icing on the cake of a lot of hard work from a lot of talented people. there's really nothing like the satisfaction of seeing a project complete and the clients happily moving in. 
{the game table with the piano in the background}
{the yoga room has cherry wood paneled walls with a dark red/brown stain and a gorgeous antique lotus mandala panel from thailand}
{the design detailing that went into this apartment is staggering ~ these two photos show a nice example: the ceiling coffers in the dining room echo the skylight pattern in the stairwell}
{a lovely view from the deck on a gorgeous new york afternoon}Food Tour
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Bluelines
Posted by LenaI just got back from a quick trip to Portland, Maine. I was there to work, but spent a big portion of the time eating!
Dining in, dining out... both simple food and sophisticated... it was all so delicious.
Here are some snapshots of my meals in Portland, and a list of restaurants I highly recommend.
FORE STREET
Fantastic local, seasonal food in a beautiful old building.
288 Fore Street
BRESCA
A sweet, intimate restaurant with great Italian dishes, also made with fresh, local ingredients.
111 Middle Street
BLUE SPOON
The perfect place to get a really delicious soup and salad for lunch.
89 Congress St
FLAT BREAD COMPANY
Wood fired pizza with toppings like organic vegetables, homemade maple fennel sausage, and goat cheese.
72 Commercial Street
SARA'S TEA SHOP
This sweet little tea shop doesn't have a website, but the loose teas are wonderful and the homemade scones are to die for.
195 Congress street
Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 31.10.2007
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
Happy Diwali!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
Wishing all you lovely blogger friends a very happy and bright Diwali! The 'Festival of Light' where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.
Sorry for the late post, have just about found some quiet time to sit down and assimilate all the festivity around me:-) Today I am going to share the festivities in our home....Welcome!
A simple rangoli made with white poster colours greet you at our doorstep. My favourite Frangipani flowers in terracotta bowl.
Traditional brass peacock lamps at the entrance.
Tealight candles in 'Chai' glasses add light and festivity to our dining table which is dressed in it's colourful best;-) Also seen here are some traditional Indian Sweets.
Flowers & candles...what more can you ask for:-)
Waiting to burst some sparkly fire crackers with my family:-)
Happy Diwali and thanks for all the encouragement, suggestions, appreciations and love that all of you have shown me during the last couple of days.
Thanks Everyone!!! Have a great Diwali!
Pitch your tent...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
Soak in the local flavour sitting by the bonfire and listening to the folk songs or wake up to call of peacocks just outside your tents...
The concept of Manvar Desert Camp dates back to the 17th century when Mughal Emperor Jehangir known for his luxurious lifestyle used to set up royal tents with all the amenities during their hunting trips. 
Manvar Desert Camp has 30 tents arranged in a semi circle around a central 'durbar' hall. 
The central dining area from where stunning sunrises & sunsets can be seen.
The interiors of the tents are extremely luxurious with custom designed block print motifs & large teak wood beds. Huge windows with pull up flaps allow the fresh desert breeze to come in and nets to keep insects out:-)Live like royalty from the bygone era. Spend some amazing time under the starlit skies of Rajasthan in Manvar Desert Camp.
( images from manvar.com)
Auroville, Pondicherry
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
My door obssession in Pondicherry, when I didn't have a digital camera, scanned from old photographs:-) 
The history of Pondicherry can be traced back to 1672 when the French bought this port town from an India King. The French connection grew when Sri Aurobindo an Indian scholar & mystic set up an ashram here in 1926. Mira Alfassa his French-born spiritual companion, also known as 'The Mother' established Auroville in the sixties.
Image of Matrimandir in Auroville.Auroville is a series of self-supporting communities in villages which are very close to Pondicherry. Auroville's New Age ideal drew many Indians & Westerners including French architect Roger Anger who was the chief architect of the township of Auroville.
Featured here are a couple of homes from Auroville.
A fusion of natural & modern home of Frenchman Jean Legrand & wife Joy.
Natural light streaming in through the circular shapes on the ceiling and that is echoed by the natural rocks & granite slabs in Legrand's bathroom.
Love the angular and circular shapes of the kitchen & dining area, which has been designed keeping the light in mind.Home of designer William Netter, an American Spiritualist and Sri Aurobindo follower.
The white-tiled kitchen with simple modern lines and ample natural light.
The design here is Minimalist with areas designated for different purposes. Here is the space for praying with 'The Mother's' and Sri Aurobindo's photographs with a votive candle burning in the centre and his work space.
A house designed by French architect Roger Anger for Christine Devin & her husband in 1976 in a design resembling toadstool shapes.
Beautifully designed circular bedroom with movable slats to adjust light & air flow. Love the red-oxide smooth flooring and a simple portrait of the Mother on the wall.
Locally made paper lantern and couple of floor cushions & wooden chest adorn the dining area. I absolutely love the shape of the windows ( reminds me of railway train windows:-)The township at Auroville is heaven for architects from India & abroad trying to create something different, something new. You can read more about the various styles of architecture in Auroville here.
(images from Indian Interiors- Taschen & Auroville.org)
Jivi Sethi
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
A colonial daybed with vibrant cushions by Jivi, Sadr, Iris & Soleh. Glass paintings of Lord Hanuman & Ganesha on a Kashmiri screen. 
The terrace dining table has black stone platter with patterned jasmine inlay work, sculpture by M J Enas & block print poppy table cloth by Brigitte Singh
Painting by Haku Shah in the dining room, with doors salvaged from an old mansion. ( I love restorations:-)
The dining table all set with black marble inlay side plates, granite & bidri work tea-light holders and old brass oil lamps from Kerala on the consoles & Italian lamp overhead provide lovely light.
Seen here are Chinese Inlay