As we go into the weekend, I wanted to leave you with the dreamy images of The Royal Collection, Fabrics and Wallpaper, the newest from Designers Guild.

Inspired by the interiors of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and by the art in the Royal Collection, this collection is a creation of luxurious fantasy.

Designers Guild was given access to the archive of historic fabrics and wallcoverings and has come up with their own interpretation of sumptuous embroidered silks, velvet jacquard velvets and flocked wallpapers.

The Arabella Autumn Winter Collection also makes it's appearance with a fairytail-like collection:

Dream a little dream this weekend!

Additional Note: I received an email from Sophie Trinder with a reminder that the whole collection can be viewed here. And in answer to Aesthete's Lament comment, the collection was indeed photographed at Buckingham Palace. A link to the Royal Collection with more information about the Palace can be reached here.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Marrakech's two most charming hosts (one French, one German) ushered them to....
 

the coziest nook...

 
They couldn't wait to see what culinary delights the Japanese chef might prepare.....

Why, like this fresh fish salad..........

And this delicious leek soup.........

Followed by Marrakech's finest sushi....

And the tenderest tenderloin .......

Topped off with a little scrumptious cheese cake....

Or a desert so pretty that one might only reluctantly share....

And after dinner, a seat in the garden....

for a spot of tea from a ridiculously good looking teapot..........

Oh, the paper lanterns dancing above......

Sigh....

Bon Appetit.

*************************

Tatchibana

38 Bab Ksiba,  Kasbah, Marrakech

Tel : 024 38 71 71

A la carte or three fabulous menus:  $25, $35 or $45. 

If you have been reading Katiedid for awhile, you know I have been working on my younger daughter's bedroom, theoretically for her birthday. Well, her birthday has come and gone, and we are still not quite done. I can manage to get client's work done and meet a deadline at work, but at home.....the cobbler's shoe syndrome takes over. We have drapery panels to hang, a mirror to find, and art to hang. But the furniture is all in and the room is painted! Progress!

In the meantime, my older daughter had a party for Halloween. Which prompted a room cleaning. I thought I would take the very infrequent opportunity of a clean room to snap some photos. Just so I can remember what it looks like.

Hannah and I did her room a few years ago starting with the Marimekko "Unikko" Duvet Cover and shams as the jump off point. We chose a matlisse bedspread from Crate and Barrel with matching Euro shams for the "background". You probably recognize the Seagrass headboard from Pottery Barn. The nightstand is an antique Swedish pine table. Nate Berkus lamps from Linens and Things. Red drapery panels from IKEA. We chose things that a teenage girl could grow with that were affordable, and therefore changeable if tastes changed.

Above her antique pine dresser, I placed a flea market mirror that I painted red which made it pop off the walls, which are painted Dunn Edwards Whisper White.

The room is divided by French doors into two parts, the main bedroom (very small) and a sun room. It is a very charming space and one of the selling points when we were first looking to buy the house. As soon as Hannah saw this space she claimed first dibs.

The sun room is covered with bead board on the walls and ceiling and has windows on three walls. We made it into a cozy library using West Elm book shelves, which fit perfectly under the windows. There is an old pine armoire for storage....and Heaven knows a teenage girl has got to have storage. We used West Elm red lacquer nesting tables, a white slip covered chair from IKEA and a lambskin rug on the floor.

And that's it! A fun bright space for my teenage girl.

Speaking of Nate Berkus.......now that Linens and Things is closing, I was wondering where he might be selling his retail products. It turns out he is offering his line on the HSN website. He is also writing a blog for the website as well, which you can check out here. I went and did a little looking around and found THE mirror for my other daughter's bedroom! The Nate Berkus Moroccan Mirror:

Perfect size and price! I am determined to get this room done before.......Christmas!

(RSS users, click here to see my latest eBay picks.)

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.

I've been trying to get a hold of this magazine all week! Lauren and Derek (of The Curiosity Shoppe) are featured in it--and they're on the cover! Their home looks so cute, colorful, and ultra DIY--exactly the way I imagined it would be. Until I get a copy, you can see more of the magazine here on their blog.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

Due to a mashed potato overload and an internet crisis at the beach, I was unable to get all my holiday finds up for this week. But, next week I’ll share some links. For anyone who has holiday posts from this week that they would like to share, here is that amazing Mr. Linky! Still a lot of great posts (68!) up from last week so feel free to roam around and catch up on the best of the best holiday posts from around blogland!

Big hugs to all!

Don’t forget about Moms Unite! See the side bar for details!

photo: Martha Stewart

Mr. Linky Instructions:

1) Select a specific holiday post from your blog and add the link! Please do not link to your blog home page or people will not be able to find your post in a week or two! And please only link to holiday related posts.

2) It is a nice courtesy to add a link back to The Inspired Room so that other people can be included in our fun too.

While I’m lovin’ the name of this “HUG bowl,” I’m not actually sold on the design. According to their website, “DESU DESIGN strives to make innovative products that blur the boundary between art and design.” This bottomless “bowl” simply holds items in place by surrounding them, rather than cupping them. Do you like the way the DESU designers are thinking outside the box …err, bowl? I think for $118, I’d want my bowl to have a bottom. –Erica P.

Inspiration Explosion: 14 Resources For Creativity!