Decorating Small Spaces
There is nothing I love more than receiving my copy of Domino Mag each month...I can’t lie..it gives me a high and I have to sit by myself for at least 2 hours to process all of the information. This Month’s issue is no exception! I am at the beach on vacation with my family, so I cheated and went to the local bookstore to “buy” a copy even though I am a subscriber (but I could not possibly wait until Saturday). The cover alone is a visual feast of color (titled “A Color Revolution) and the content is full of helpful information, and inspiration galore. They feature a small section on page 140 on the Domino decoration Editor Tori Mellott’s 450 square foot apartment...it is DIVINE. Tori is able to take a tiny apartment and create both an elegant yet edgy, not too over the top space! She infuses her brilliant use of color with classic wallpapers and kelly green paint. Her furniture seems more muted and sophisticated and the overall feeling is that of a glamorous and grand apartment. We have always talked about doing a special section in Paperdoll House on decorating small spaces..Tori gets an A+! http://www.dominomag.com
Posted by on 08/27/08 at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)Christopher Spitzmiller
Over the past 4 or so years I have pined away for a Christopher Spitzmiller lamp. He is the young gorgeous designer of the most beautiful ceramic lamps on the market. The rich hues of sea blues, greens, baby pink, chinese red, lilac etc...look practically translucent because the ceramic reflects so much light. But lately, many have copied his style of ceramic gourd with gold base lamps, and it almost seemed pointless to fork out $2-3,000 per lamp, when one can buy a similar lamp at William Sonoma Home for 1/4 the price. I had almost given up on my obsession with Chris until this past week. My sister-in-law was in town at one of her client’s homes...I happened to tag along and when I saw the robin’s egg blue delicious lamp sitting on a cream colored Alexa Hampton side table, placed next to some beautiful Leontine Linens, I fell in love all over again. There is no substitute...no one could possibly duplicate that color. It was so rich and deep, yet watery and ethereal at the same time. I had better start saving again!! http://www.christopherspitzmiller.com
Posted by on 08/18/08 at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)Boo Hoo LuLu
Lulu DK (Lulu de Kwiatkowski) happens to be one of my favorite textile designers...she is kind of an icon and her fabric has become a cult favorite amongst high end designers all over the world. Lulu visited India upon graduating from Brown in the early 90’s and got inspired to create her genius fabics, bedding, rugs, wallpaper and leather furniture. My very favorite thing in my house is my husband’s grandfather’s wing chair and ottoman upholstered in Lulu chocolate brown “chant”. It is both very Indian and very modern...it’s perfect!! Everyone has been waiting for Lulu’s book to be released...published by AMMO (American Modern Books) Lulu “is a sumptuous first monograph of artist Lulu de Kwiatkowski’s colorful and dreamlike handmade collages.” I went to the Ivy bookstore to buy a birthday present for a 10 year old, and up behind the register was a big beautiful book covered in bright colored circles...titled “Lulu”. I immediately asked to see the book and of course ended up going home with it. I must admit, while some of the images are quite beautiful, and I can certainly can she where she was inspired and by what....I was thoroughly disappointed. The collages are filled with naked pictures of Lulu and her family (some quite disturbing) and the whole thing seems incredibly narcissistic. She will paint a gorgeous flower and then paste a creepy childhood picture of herself right in the middle. She is obviously talented and really she is a beautiful artist...I just was disappointed to see so much of her naked family album. She should stick to her beautiful drawings of bamboo, birds and shells, and leave the topless pictures out the the equation. The beginning of the book has about 8 handwritten pages of her thoughts and inspirations....all a little self serving as well. I love Lulu, but I cannot recommend her book. Sorry Lulu.
Posted by on 08/03/08 at 10:19 PM | Comments (1)Chair Love!
I have come across Suzanne Kasler’s new line of furniture for Hickory Chair, but never spent much time really paying attention, because to be honest, when I am looking at the Hickory Chair website I am usually looking (or should I say drooling) over the Alexa Hampton line. But my sister-in-law sent me this little gem today, and it lead me back to the website to check out the rest. Let me just say that I am obsessed!!!! Not only do I need to have this chair, or maybe a pair of them, but I want practically her entire line. If you look at the website, be sure to check out not only all of the delicious chairs, but the beautiful chests of drawers as well. Well done Suzanne...and thanks Palmer for sending me this beauty! http://www.hickorychair.com
Steven Gambrel
Two of my favorite blogs, Pink Wallpaper (from Charleston, SC) and Absolutely Beautiful Things (from Brisbane, Australia) have both recently mentioned the great Steven Gambrel and noticed how he has added to his website. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Steven Gambrel, he has been one of the great decorators out of New York for the past 10 or so years. He graduated from UVa Architechiture School in 1992 and since 1995 his career has been legendary...he has done homes in NYC, Long Island, San Francisco, Los Angeles, South Beach...I could go on. Gambrel’s work is impeccable. Perhaps because of his architecture background, Gambrel’s sense of symmetry and color is equal to that of any of the greats (Mark Hampton, David Hicks, Albert Hadley, Sister Parrish). He is wonderful at designing custom furniture and architectural details such as moldings, panels and stairways. Do yourself a favor and look at his website...it won’t disappoint. http://www.srgambrel.com
Photos courtesy of Pink Wallpaper
Is it too much???
A friend of mine has asked me to help her decorate her new home. She has great taste, however she brings the term edgy to new heights. I went to LA (as I have discussed) and she sent me on the hunt for something with a skull!!! Well I realize the whole skull and crossbones motif has been done and redone, so it’s not hard to find that particular theme for the home. But I happened to stumble into this great store in West Hollywood full of amazing mid-century lamps and furniture...and up on a large chest of drawers was a pair of skulls??? There were two human(?) skulls mounted on lacquered wood. They were definitely not the cutesy skull and crossbones we have been seeing on ties and childrens bathing suits. This work of art seems more like my friend. One of them would be perfect on her mantel in her living room. I knew she said she wanted to push the envelope, but is this too scary???
LA Chic
I just had a birthday...ughhh! To celebrate, 2 of my friends coaxed me into flying 3000 miles across the country to LA for the weekend. As unappealing as that long trek sounds for such a short time, it was the perfect remedy to my birthday anxiety. I was in LA last November with my interior designer sister-in-law and was completely in awe of all the the interior design home stores...this time I had to brave the stores without her...and guess what??? I had the time of my life. Everyone was warm and helpful...and the inventory and storefronts were SPECTACULAR!!! I was of course not buying, just looking, but wow was that tempting. Everywhere up and down La Cienaga in Hollywood, I was lured into stores packed with mid-century gems, contemporary masterpieces and beautiful antiques. One store in particular had a most inviting store front, Nany Corzine. The hues of sea greens and blues mixed with mirrors and velvets...It was breathtaking. She has a wonderful website http://www.nancycorzine.com Get a little taste of Hollywood home shopping, or better yet take a weekend trip there...it’s totally worth the effort! Maybe someone will be inspired to open a similar store in Baltimore...wouldn’t that be great!!!
Where is my copy of “The LA House”?
Ruthie Sommers is probably one of my top three very favorite interior designers...right behind Miles Redd and of course Kelly Wearstler. Sommers (like Wearstler as she is originally from the south--North Carolina) has a remarkable ability to join the old with the new and do it effortlessly. Chapman Radcliff is her BEYOND incredible store in LA...I had to tear myself out of there 2 years ago...I might have even been in tears. She is famous for taking a not too expensive mid-century chair and dressing it up in many coats of lacquer and some $300 a yard fabric...voila! She has created a masterpeice.
Finally Sommers has agreed to write a book, titled “The LA House”, and it was set to be released in March....Well??? I have spoken to many in the design field and EVERYONE is becoming impatient! There will be a collective sigh of relief when we get the knock on the door from Amazon. This book is apparently going to become a coffee table legend as is Sommers. She will be remembered in the design world in the same group of talents such as Sister Parish, Dorothy Draper, Tony Duquette, Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss...I could go on. Yes, she is that good. When my interior designer sister-in-law had her 2nd baby girl, she named her after my father’s mother, Ruth. Well, secretly I think little Ruthie may actually be the namesake of the design goddess! I want my book!!!
Photo courtesy of Style Court Blog
I can’t get enough Greek Key!!
The ancient motif is by far my greatest obsession right now...in fact I think I could add a greek key symbol to almost any room in my house...including the rooms of my 7 and 5 year old daughters! This pale pink ottoman (with storage) from Madeline Stuart might be the absolute cutest, chicest addtion to my daughter Olivia’s room. It is feminine and stylish (and functional)...the nailhead greek key covers 2 trends...yet doesn’t look contrived. Olivia is one lucky 7 year old!! Check out Madeline Stuart http://www.madelinestuart.com
Ruth & Ollie
This past Memorial weekend, while visiting my sister-in-law in Richmond, I stumbled upon an incredible find...a store filled with interior design gems. It gets even better....EVERYTHING was marked 25% off because they are moving to a bigger space! The owners, couple Mike and Kat Liebschwager, opened the store in 2003, with the intention to add some sophistication to the Richmond market. They have succedded wildly...so much so that they have to move. I was drooling over the black lacquer cocktail table by Shine, the “Holly Hunt” square in square lantern ,the turquoise and white leather settee, the Designer’s Guild pillow collection...I could go on and on and on....I was a quite literally a kid in a candy store. Mike and Kat possess the rare combination of being both very passionate about what they do and being very welcoming. My sister-in-law ended up purchasing a fabulous camel ultra-suede sofa with hot pink and orange suzani pillows (amazing). Kat is an interior designer as well. I had my eye on a chair from Bugalow 5...still thinking about it (often). Check out their website http://www.ruthandollie.com or just get in your car and drive a mere three hours into the heart of Richmond’s West End and find your treasure (for 25%off until June 30)!!
p.s. The store is named Ruth & Ollie after their grandmothers...how cute is that??
If you are using Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer 7.0:
Subscribe to this blogOtherwise, copy and paste this url into your reader or aggregator:
www.paperdollmag.com/index.php/paperdoll/obsessions_rss