And no, it's not the spatter pattern that is discussed so frequently in episodes of "CSI". It's "Spatter", and it's one of my favorite Hinson prints. Designed by Harry Hinson in 1974, the print was inspired by the spatter motif found often in Colonial ceramicware (this according to a 2001 New York Times article). The article also mentioned that it's a print that counts Albert Hadley and Jeffrey Bilhuber amongst its fans. I've also read that Billy Baldwin used it in his Nantucket home, but I can't find a photo.

So, just where can you use a print like "Spatter"? Well, Harry Hinson used it in his East Hampton home (shown above), and I was thrilled to see it in another Hamptons house designed by Tom Scheerer (and featured in the August '08 issue of House Beautiful). But I do think you can use it in a city home too. How about in a powder room? Or a kitchen? Just think of "Spatter" as a modern take on early Americana.

And speaking of Americana, I was curious about Hinson's supposed inspiration for this print. Just what was spatter and how was it used during Colonial times? Well, one of the prime examples is spatterware. According to a ceramic curator at Winterthur, spatterware was originally manufactured in England where it was known as spongeware. As spongeware was not particularly popular in England, most of it was shipped to the American colonies where it became known as spatterware. And it was here in America where spatterware became extremely popular, especially amongst the Pennsylvania Germans. Sponge and spatter painting was also used on furniture, walls, and floors during this era.

So although I can't corroborate whether Hinson was actually inspired by spatterware or not, it's something to ponder. If you would like to learn more about spatterware, you should visit Winterthur. Henry Francis du Pont was a major collector of it, and there is a magnificent display of his collection in Spatterware Hall at Winterthur. Or you can read more about his collection here in an interview with du Pont's daughter, the lucky recipient of some of her father's collection.


(Many thanks to everyone at Winterthur for assisting me in my research of spatterware.)



Two images of Scheerer's fabulous wallpaper selection for an East Hampton cottage (image from House Beautiful, Aug 08; Simon Upton photographer).


A Spatterware platter, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Does this not look modern to you? Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont; image courtesy of Winterthur.


Spatterware pitcher, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Image courtesy of Winterthur.


Four examples of Spatterware jugs, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Photo courtesy of Winterthur.

Image at top: "Spatter" in blue and white on the walls and curtains of Harry Hinson's East Hampton dining room.

What a great pillow by Nate Williams. Check out more of his art here.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

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If you don’t know about The Poster List, now is the time!! Adam sent over this awesome new take on the “Keep Calm” poster. Sweet. I also included a few others I really like below:

All posters are printed with 100% vegetable ink on organic acid free paper. This week and next they are having a 2 for $20 sale: 2 posters for $20. Go poster crazy!

http://www.theposterlist.com

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Look at these cute miniature buttoned ottoman boxes by Kimberly Applegate {yes the same Kimberley Applegate who paints those gorgeous chair paintings}. They are available for purchase on her website Live a Plush Life. Wouldn't they look gorgeous on a desk or even in a coffee table vignette filled with little treasures! Love the styling of these photos too!!

Attention all Marie Antoinette fans! (Oh yes, and you Francophiles, gardeners, and historians too!) There is an upcoming book release that you must not miss. Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles (Christian Duvernois author, François Halard photographer, Rizzoli New York, October 2008) is an enthralling look at the doomed Queen and her gardens at Petit Trianon, the royal retreat at Versailles. Now, I'm familiar with certain aspects of Marie Antoinette's life, but I knew little about her involvement in the creation of the glorious gardens at this chateau. Marie Antoinette had a keen interest in gardens and the pastoral life (albeit a luxurious one), and she was determined to create a landscape like no other.

According to the book, there was great debate in mid to late 18th century France about formal gardens versus more naturalistic ones. Louis XIV's Versailles was of course noted for its rigid gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. But by the time Louis XVI ascended to the throne, there was a growing group of aesthetes who championed gardens and landscapes that were more loose and natural. And Marie Antoinette fell into this camp. When she became chatelaine of Petit Trianon, she set out to create a Franco-Anglo-Chinese garden complete with man-made lakes, ridges, and vistas. To me, the most interesting parts of the gardens are the structures that were built, including the Dairy House, the Tower of Marlborough, the Hamlet, and the Rock- a folly meant to resemble the mountains of her Austrian homeland.

The text of the book, written by Christian Duvernois, provides us with an engrossing account of how these magnificent gardens came to be. I think the author does an excellent job in helping to correct the misconception that Marie Antoinette was simply a vacuous and supercilious woman. And for those who can't get enough of beautiful photographs, there are plenty of those too. François Halard's haunting images capture the awesome splendor of this thoroughly unique place.




A bust of Marie Antoinette by Louis-Simon Boizot (c. 1775)


A view of the French Pavilion at Petit Trianon. The pavilion, designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel for Louix XV, anchors the main axis of the French Garden.


The ornate interior of the Queen's Theater. The plain exterior of the Theater belies the sumptuousness of the interior.


A marble fountain inside of the Dairy House. The walls were painted in trompe l'oeil to resemble real marble.


Vibrant pink roses in the Queen's gardens.


A view of the Dairy House (right) and the Tower of Marlborough.

(Photo credits: François Halard from Marie Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles, Rizzoli New York, 2008.)

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“Plum says calm; plum says clean; plum says health,� said a rep at Penta Water in Carlsbad, Calif. “Other products in the water category are blue, clear, red,� he added. “This color came out as a consistent representation of vitality, a pure product.� source

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The Plum Card from American Express for business owners.

“When we were looking at the color of the plastic (during the planning stages), we wanted something classy and sophisticated, and the choice was a shade we called 'burgundy.' " But the company did not want to call it burgundy when marketing it, he added, for fear of confusion with wine brands.

i think all of my blogging colleagues received this email today so i’m assuming we all jumped at this story about new works from allan the gallant, formerly known as itte studio. based in barcelona, allan the gallant is a pattern studio that is now producing some fantastic textiles, patterns and wallpaper. all of the images jumped right off the screen for me and just begged to be posted so i’m going to let the images to do the talking. all i know is i want my house covered head to toe in that wallpaper above. how fantastic is that? click here for more information on allan the gallant.

Going Global over at sfgirlbybay

Genius idea: The Family Seat, seen over at shelteriffic

I am LOVING Nicole’s new feature, Making it Yours, over at Making it Lovely.

Pritzker Prize winner Sverre Fehn’s first commission via Dwell.com

Cool stuff (who knew batteries and pencil shavings could be so beautiful?) at swissmiss, who else?

iphone cupcakes, via blackwhitebliss via notcot

“digitally montaged imaginary walls by Laura Kicey” as seen over at Oh Joy!

Anna Weiss House via The Mid-Century Modernist

Jennifer tipped me off to the book 50 Sad Chairs over at Design Hole. Thanks Jennifer! I first heard about this project in ‘05, and I think of the site every time I see a sad chair. There are so many around once you start to notice them!

image from girlhula via sfgirlbybay

image via shelterrific

collage by Nicole Balch via Making it Lovely

image via dwell.com

images via swissmiss; click on images to link to posts with more information

images via blackwhitebliss via notcot

image by Laura Kicey via Oh Joy!

images from Anna Weiss via The Mid-Century Modernist

image by Bill Keaggy, via Design Hole

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.

Magnetic Induction Cook Tops uses technology that transfers heat to the pan through magnetism. Even when the cook top is on, it is cool to the touch because the energy transfer only affects magnetic objects. This is of great value for homes that have kids with curious hands!

The GE units have a whole lot of smarts added in, especially when it comes to safety. If you remove the pot or pan while cooking, the surface detects its absence and cuts off. If you place something with less mass on the surface such as your ring or a spoon, it won't heat up. Only pots and pans will be allowed to generate the cooking heat. There's even a setting that lets you lock the cooktop's controls.