Mixing it Up

For the immediate future, high end furniture manufacturers will follow a shift in American culture by moving away from complete room “collections.” Extensive lifestyle research supports the fact that we don’t live within the “matched set” theory any longer. Unlike my parents’ generation which did purchase entire rooms of matching collections (bed/nightstands/chests/lamps/mirrors), we now travel the globe or watch programs which bring the most remote corners of our world right into our “great rooms”. This means we are very aware of our global society and want exotic or different pieces which may include exotic woods, eclectic conversation items and personality pieces.

In this quick sketch I made of a room interior, my clients were interested in an eclectic mix of comfortable. I recommended non-matching end tables, as well as a combination of tapestry, leather, chenille and nailhead trims to reflect their global tastes and lifestyle.

HOLIDAY FUN

HAPPY CHANUKAH, MERRY XMAS and A VERY PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

Make a resolution, even if it's a repeat. Enjoy your family tradition or start a new one. Count your blessings! Here's a quick sketch I made last week in anticipation of the holidays. If you could only invite 3 people to join you at this table, who would they be? Enjoy!

PLEASE PASS THE BREAD!

"ANTIQUES: EDUCATED EYE"

Forget the French sticks we call baguettes! One of these things could be a circus wagon, a baby crib or something you might see an organ grinder stuff a monkey into. But, it's none of those things: this is an 18th century example of a distinctive box known as a "panetiere" from Arles, France. It originally sat on the table or workspace, but was eventually hung on the wall, away from little creatures. These old boxes are very hard to find because the French themselves love them. Wendell Patterson of The Whimsey Shoppe in Dallas says that if you find one this old, expect to see a repair or two. "You just want to ensure that whatever was done to it was done with care and is in keeping with the character and quality of the piece."

The other item is the 1950's version of the breadbox, from my husband's family kitchen when he was a boy. It's made of metal, and has small ventilation holes on the back. I guess if your bread is wrapped in plastic it's already protected, but it's a nice way to neaten up the counter. What a dramatic difference!

The third item is what I call the best compromise because I love natural materials: The wicker basket! There is no end to the uses of the wicker basket- dirty clothes, clean bread, whatever you need!

My holiday wish for you is a basket of whatever you most enjoy! P.S. Ironically, I'm gluten and bread free! ;

Xmas tree decor

Now that we are all stuffed with turkey and mashed potatoes, its time to get some exercise and what better way than breaking out the Xmas decorations. I find there are two personality types when it comes to tree decorating. Those that favor the Homemade Ornament type:                                                                              

Versus the Color coordinated/matching ornament type:

For those that know me, I am definitely the second type. The biggest compliment someone can give me is to say "Wow! It looks like it came out of a magazine!"

Here are a few trees that I personally designed and decorated. Enjoy!

How to Have a Happy Holiday Table

1. Don't take yourself too seriously. Seriously.

2. Remember that there's no such thing as "perfection."

3. Relax. Don't be afraid to try something new and use unusual items as centerpieces- keep it clean and make sure it doesn't crawl.

4. For my "tablescape" and dining room design, the most important theme of this holiday is....LOVE! Christmas in particular is all about the gift of love. Share it with your family and friends. Keep it simple and Lighten up!

Design and Fashion

I am constantly thinking about all of the components of a room to make sure the scale, textures and colors are all cohesive. With my recent engagement, all I can think about is bridesmaid dresses, flowers, suits and table arrangements! How do I make all of these individual components work as a whole? And look great, of course!

Some people are choosing the vibrant bridesmaid dresses...others pale colors...

www.brideorama.com

www.weddingbee.com




Or the famous 'rainbow' bridesmaid dresses...

Once the dresses are selected then it is on to determining should the bouquet's contrast in color or be similar to the coloring of the dresses?

No matter what your preference is, it all comes back to claiming your personal style! Whether you are designing a room or planning a wedding, you want to make sure your decisions reflect your personality.

THE GREATEST GIFT of FALL

Fall is fleeting- some days are very warm and we call those "Indian Summer". I'm not sure whether or not this term is politically correct- but the warmest days in fall usually find me pining away for summer.

I find it difficult to say goodbye to the sunshine, the heat and the colors of summer plantings- psychedelic greens, shocking pinks and purples, obnoxious yellows and sizzling oranges. I love these colors.

But then again I love all colors and have taken a few shots of fall in my own yard in order to better appreciate the display of nature as the plantings fade away. I believe that mother nature is the ultimate artist- the landscape is always changing- if I slow down enough to really LOOK, I can fall in love... with FALL. By the way, supposedly LAVENDER is one of this season's IN colors. As an artist, I believe all colors are IN. If you look closely, you can see that these FALL shadows are a play on LAVENDER. By the time WINTER is in full swing, the shadows will change to BLUE . More on that later...