"National Tartan Day, 2011 . . . "

Me, in all my tartan glory.

Greetings,

For those of y'all who are regular readers - you'll know that we do things big and plaid here each year on April 6th.  The date was chosen as "National Tartan Day" for those of us of Scottish descent to celebrate our highland heritage.  If you hear bagpipes in the distance, it might just be me!

And as usual, I've decided to embrace the day and post a flurry of my favourite plaid images - enjoy . . .

Polo/Ralph Lauren

Barrie Benson, from Domino Magazine
(photo credit - Laura Resin)

SMW Design, Holiday 2008

"Plaid is the New Black" featuring my home and some good friends

Rue Magazine, Nov-Dec 2010.

My Own Bedroom.  
(photo credit - Nicolas Smith)

The Draper's Kitchen, from Mad Men.

The late Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Summer Thornton, Chicago 

SMW Design, San Francisco
(photo credit - Nicolas Smith)

Hackett of London.

My own home - dressed for dinner,  Holiday 2009

From Country Living
(photo credit - Keith Scott Morton)

Michael Bastian, one of my favourite Menswear designers

Charlotte Moss, for Elle Decor
(photo credit - Pieter Estersohn)

SMW Design, San Francisco.  Holiday 2010
(photo credit - Nicolas Smith)

And the now, ubiquitous image of tartan sheep.

You might also enjoy "National Tartan Day" posts from previous years.  Here's 2010 and 2009.

Cheers,
Scot

"I Love 'U' . . . "

Miles Redd

Greetings,

Well, this was always going to be a somewhat unenviable task.  How does one follow-up the flurry of tartan from this past weekend . . . How does one keep ones readers inspired and engaged . . . How does one love anything more than plaid?

Hopefully, this will fit the bill perfectly.

Because "U" stands for . . .

Denton/Gardner

"Upholstered Walls"

Jeffery Bilhuber

There is little that is more luxurious than a room swathed in textile.  

Either adding great aplomb - like this sitting room from Jeffrey Bilhuber  . . . 

Mary McDonald

Or dark drama - like this bedroom from Mary McDonald.
Yards of chalk stripe flannel . . . trimmed with gleaming nailhead.

Roger Banks-Pye

Though technically 'draped' and not 'upholstered' - I've always loved this room from Roger Banks-Pye.

Some well-edited cutter . . . and a leopard printed banquette.  What more could one ask for?

Charlotte Moss

And, how can you go wrong with the gracious style of Charlotte Moss?

So there.  Chic.  Stylish.  And lightly padded.  

Cheers,

Scot

"Casting a Quiet Glow . . . "

Greetings,

We've made it through yet another work week - and our newest "Love Letter" brings us to the "g." I've always felt that one of the most important aspects of a beautiful home is your ability to layer lighting throughout the space. A good balance of overhead fixtures and table lighting can bring a beautiful glow to your home. Oh, that and some candlelight.

But, there's another layer of lighting that you can always add to your home . . .

"G" is for . . .

David Easton

"Gallery Lights"

Scot Meacham Wood Design

Now, I love gallery lighting. I love their ability to highlight specific pieces - bringing one's focus directly onto the artwork. But, outside of this more obvious use, there is little more glamorous than a room in the evening - aglow with only the gallery lights illumined. - and maybe a little candlelight as well. Lighting perfection.

Jamie Drake

And don't think that they can only be used in more traditional spaces. Jamie Drake easily adds gallery lights to the artwork in this remarkable, much more contemporary bedroom.

Scot Meacham Wood Design

From one of the projects here in San Francisco - in our own portfolio.

David Easton

Not only are they great for artwork - I also love seeing (and using) them for lighting a library as well. Casting a quiet, beautiful glow over the collection of books and artifacts.

Alessandra Branca

A perfect library. Just bathed in glorious lighting.

Scot Meacham Wood Design

And one of the images of the study in my own home. I think it's wise to keep all the gallery lights (as well as all of your lighting) on dimmer switches. It's important to be able to 'manage' the lighting at the house.

It's great fun - just before a dinner party here at the house - to adjust the lighting. Gallery lights a little higher. Table lamps lower. Turning the overhead lighting down to almost nothing. Lighting some candles. Making sure that everyone is presented in their best 'light.'

Cheers,

tartanscot

"Perchance to Dream . . . "

Greetings,

Well, I'm assuming we're all exhausted from yesterday's post about early morning workouts on the beach - so I thought we'd take things kinda easy today in our "Love Letters" series. Maybe something relaxing. A place of retreat. A place of dreams . . .

"C" is for . . .

Michael Smith

"Canopy Beds"

Miles Redd

I've always had a fascination with canopy beds. I think a lot of it has to do with the 'safely' that they infer through the creation of the boundary that surrounds and protects you whilst sleeping. So many of our childhood fears seem to leap from the corners of a darkened bedroom. And for me, these beds provide a fortress against all that would harm your slumber - and the perfect place for a long night's dream.

Ralph Lauren

from the "Heiress Collection" for Fall 2010.

Vicente Wolf

One of my favourite all-time images.

Charlotte Moss

Michael Smith

I wish you all a pleasant night's slumber tonight . . . and a productive weekend - even if your only plans are to curl up in bed and read blogs and design magazines . . . lol.

And if you awake hungry - we'll most likely have a little something on Monday to nibble on . . .

Zzzzzzzzzzz,

tartanscot