Designer Bedrooms: Four Poster and Canopy Beds

I just can't seem to get the image out of my head. Designer Charlotte Moss showcased a gorgeous four poster canopy bed in her Aspen home that made quite a dramatic statement.

According to Wikipedia, a four poster bed is a bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper (usually rectangular) panel. A canopy bed is similar to a four poster bed but with ornate or decorative fabric that is often draped across the upper space between the posts and a solid swath of cloth may create a canopy directly over the bed. Here are some of my favorite designer bedrooms featuring four poster and canopy beds.

This guest room in an Ojai Valley, California estate was designed and briefly owned by interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland. Actress Reese Witherspoon now owns 6+ acre ranch style compound designed by Wallace Neff. While in residence, Ireland used her own colorful suzani inspired fabrics to cover the chunky four poster bed. The stunning long pillow is made of antique suzani fabric.

Designer Nancy Price created a formal, yet tranquil retreat in her master bedroom. The dark wooden Planter's Bed by Hickory Chair contrasts beautifully with the soft, white bed linens.

In this nautical bedroom, designer Tom Stringer placed a traditional four poster bed between two matching 3-drawer sidetables. The sunny yellow sidetables coordinate beautifully with the bed's headboard in Ralph Lauren's Coastal Stripe. Keeping the room simple and serene, Stringer paints the walls, ceiling and antique chandelier white.

The antique barley-twist four poster bed makes quite a statement in this traditional master bedroom by designer Meg Braff. The room's red, white and lime green color palette is beautifully balanced.

In this soft pink, white and brown bedroom designer Gary McBournie centers a Loire iron canopy bed by Niermann Weeks perfectly between two windows. The sweet bedside chest of drawers with monogram is a lovely touch.

The black anodized aluminum four poster bed by Ralph Lauren takes center stage in this modern bedroom designed by Kerry Delrose. The sleek carbon fiber CF1 chair in black leather also by Ralph Lauren gives this white, tan and black room a punch of color.

This tranquil bedroom was designed by Albert Hadley. The 18th-century folding bed in a soft shade of blue is covered in white linens to keep a simple look.

Wow. This stunning mirrored four poster canopy bed in this room designed by Jonathan Berger was based on a 1940s Serge Roche bed. I particularly like how Berger mixes the patterns - the geometric rug and stripes are brilliant together!

Are you sold on four poster canopy beds? For more information on manufacturers, interior designer Patricia Gray has compiled an excellent list of 10 Top Four Poster Canopy Beds.

*images from House Beautiful and Elle Decor

O is for... Organization

As a Capricorn, I'm obsessed with organization. I makes lists. I arrange things my color, size, any system I can find. Here are some of my favorite organizing goodies:

I'd love for my office to look like this - both adorable and everything-in-its-place.
image from Russell+Hazel

My ideal desk would look like this - gorgeous lucite accessories and ALWAYS fresh flowers:
image from Russell+Hazel


Getting these Russell+Hazel binders might help control the madness of paperwork that I seem to generate.


And while I'm waiting to have the time to neatly file things away, I can always throw them into these adorable boxes:
from the Container Store



It's always tough to find a cute wastepaper basket - I'm liking this brocade motif one from the Container Store

I'd organize all my design books on the Sapien bookcases


I'd love everything in my house to look so organized that even Martha Stewart would blush - here's what my dream linen closet would look like:


images from Domino Mag


I am in LOVE with these laundry sorting baskets.

From House Beautiful


I talk a lot about lucite - these shoes organizers would be perfect! From West Elm



I am also a hardware junkie - these hooks made from old doorknobs available at Pottery Barn. Too cute. Perfect place to hang your wet rain coat


If I ever get enough free time on my hands I'd love to get myself uber-organized with a wrapping paper center - like this one from Ballard DesignsNow I think I need an extra hour added to each day to have time to get organized!

Christmas Decorating with Nutcrackers

As early as 1800, standing wooden nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings were found in Germany and in 1830, the term “Nussknacker” appeared in the dictionary of the Brothers Grim. In 1872 Wilhelm Füchtner, also known as the “father of the nutcracker,” created the first commercial nutcrackers.

Today many wooden toy soldier nutcrackers are still manufactured in Germany. Each year interest is renewed by the productions of the Nutcracker Ballet. By the way, there are still tickets available to the San Francisco Ballet's version - it's excellent!

Here are some examples of classic wooden nutcrackers dressed in their holiday finest. From left to right: Williams Sonoma Home, Gump's and D. Blümchen & Company.

Today, collectors can now find hundreds of designs. Here are some of my favorite non-traditional nutcracker dolls. From left to right - White Rabbit, Beekeeper and Hamlet from The Nutcracker Christmas Shop and the Salty and Santa with Sleigh from Gump's.

Crate & Barrel's set of silver and gold nutcracker ornaments would look terrific on any Christmas tree.

How about a gingerbread nutcracker covered in holiday confections? yum.

These festive nutcracker place mats from Gump's would make any table setting magical.

Holiday desserts would be served in style on these handsome set of nutcracker bone-china plates.

Nutcracker salt & pepper shakers from Lillian Vernon would make a great addition to any nutcracker collection.

Do you collect nutcrackers?

* images courtesy of Gump's, Martha Stewart, Lillian Vernon, Crate & Barrel, SF Ballet, Williams Sonoma Home, The Nutcracker Christmas Shop and D. Blümchen & Company

"On Entertaining . . . "

SMW Design, Holiday 2008

Greetings all,

Well, I hope everyone has greatly enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday. And that the turkey was moist and delicious. And that the pumpkin pie was yummy. And that everyone gobbled up all of the stuffing. Because now, the serious entertaining season is upon us.

I usually host several parties here at the house over the holiday season . . . and thought I'd share some of my favourite ideas for the makings of a great party.

1. The plan. And this is where one almost always goes astray. The best idea is to keep it simple. One of the most important aspects of any successful party is a calm host - and overshooting your 'skill set' is a sure-fire path to disaster.

The one thing that I always think about - I truly want my guests to enjoy the experience of being in my home. I think one of the disadvantages of being an interior designer is that the bar is set kind of high when I'm entertaining . . . and although I love that challenge, I also keep my limitations in mind. Though I'm a good cook - I'm not a great one - so, I hire a caterer for most of my events. I'm fairly fastidious but, I always schedule the cleaning service for the day of (or the day before) a party. I also like to have a few 'staff' people on hand as well. Just someone to help answer the door. Or re-stock the bar. Or help with the food or the caterer. But - basically, an extra person or two will help free up my time to spend with my guests and to enjoy my own party.

2. The invitations. I love printed invitations. Stop. the end. I love the way they feel. The way they look. The ritual of hand-addressing envelopes.

3. The decorations. Now THIS is part of my 'skill-set.' I'm a big fan of the 'multiple.' If I'm going to use votive candles - I'm going to use 100's of them. If there's an arrangement of white roses on the table - I try to use several dozen roses. Several - like maybe 10 dozen. Last year, when I was *especially* crazy, I used almost a dozen Christmas trees in the house (this is used only as an example - it was lovely - but, it was tons of work!)

4. The menu. One of the annual events at the house is a large cocktail party for around 50 to 75 guests . . . and I love experimenting with the menu.

I often start by planning out a menu as if it were a more formal sit-down dinner - and then adapt everything so that can be passed as hors d' oeuvres . If the dinner was to start with a lobster bisque - I've used the same bisque, but passed on trays - in antique shot glasses - maybe with a little crustini balanced across the top. Maybe there's a miniature bread pudding. Or a tiny bit-sized shepherds pie. But, make sure you don't have too many items that require last-minute attention. A few things that need to be warmed . . . but the bulk of the menu should be room-temperature.

5. The prep. I'd much rather run around like a madman for the three days prior to a party - and spend the afternoon OF the party getting a manicure. I take an inventory of the bar a week in advance - fill in any voids - and get the whole thing set up at least three days in advance. I try to have all the decorations in place (other than the fresh flowers) at least a week before. And flower arrangements the morning before.

And there's nothing like a long, warm bath prior to your guest's arrival. I always keep in mind that I'll need to be at my most charming for several hours - and I need to be up to the task. Relaxed. Confident. Prepared.

6. The doorbell. I'm standing in my doorway. In my favourite shoes. With a big smile - and a fresh manicure. Greeting special friends. Putting coats in the hall closet. Great music streaming from the stereo. Appetizers in the oven.

Ready.

Set.

Party.

Cheers,

tartanscot

ps. it's also great if one of your friends is a professional photographer. The images are from a small cocktail party at the house last year.

"Tis the Season . . . "

Holiday 2008, SMW Design

Good evening,

Greetings from the front lines of the Christmas 2009 installation here at the house. I'm curious how many of you out there are spending a goodly portion of your Thanksgiving holiday weekend getting your homes ready for the next holiday?

For me, it means a certain amount of planning . . . and time . . . and trips to the flower market. I love being here at the house and playing with ideas . . . making the house celebratory . . . and different from previous years . . .

Including early morning trips to the SF Flower Market.

Masses of bright, waxy magnolia branches. Kumquat branches, fresh rosemary and silver eucalyptus.

And my favourite roses, lilies, and hypernicum berries.

So, tonight was all about getting the canopy installed over the dining table (complete with fresh greenery and pheasant feathers (my perennial favourite!)) which involved moving the dining table into the other room. Lol - it's been a long day . . .

The plan is to make the dining room magical - and show off my recently acquired antique china.

But, here's the progress thus far. All the trees are up - and lit - in the dining room. And the fresh garlands are placed in the chandelier.

Getting ready to some serious slumber . . . with visions of wreaths and garlands in my dreams.

Cheers,

tartanscot

Holiday Round-Up: Christmas & Hanukkah Cards

{Last Year's Christmas Card}

Even in just the past few years, I've seen a noticeable down tick in the number of cards I receive during the holiday season. Perhaps holiday cards have simply become old fashioned (and, let's be honest, way too much effort) in a world of instant connectivity. After all, why waste the money on a card and a stamp when a simple text message will convey the same message instantly? In the corporate world, more and more businesses are switching to e-holiday cards (yuck!) under the guise of environmentalism, but I suspect it's more to do with cost savings than saving trees.

There's a world of difference between a thoughtful card and a text message or e-mail and I think there are some good arguments for keeping the tradition around (even in this digital, eco-conscious world). For one, the effort of sending a card is always noticed and appreciated by the recipient. For another, best wishes are just about the only gifts we exchange with most of our extended network of friends and family -- why not make those wishes a bit more thoughtful and sincere? And besides, who doesn't love getting mail?

The past three years I've had my holiday cards made for me by a friend (who also happens to own her own stationery store here in Houston). This year though, I'm woefully behind and will likely have to resort to pre-made cards. So just in case any of you are as behind as I am, I've rounded up a {Christmas} dozen of my favorite ready-made holiday cards.

Source List: 1. Fa La La La La cards from Kate Spade ($30/set of 10). 2. Hanukkah Candles cards from MOMA Store ($18.95/set of 8). 3. Reindeer Roll Call cards from Ink Spot Workshop ($30.50/ set of 18). 4. Merry Christmas Cards from Annechovie ($18.50/set of 8). 5. Printable Holiday Cards from Up Up Creative ($6/3 downloadable styles). 6. Holiday Welcome Cards from Vera Wang ($31/set of 10).

Source List: 1. Dog Silhouette Personalized Christmas cards from Fire Hydrant Press ($42/set of 25). 2. Scroll Ornament cards from Vera Wang ($37/set of 10). 3. Red Tree holiday cards from Kate's Paperie ($17/set of 10). 4. Cherry Blossom holiday letterpress cards from Snow & Graham ($14/set of 6). 5. Dreidel Dreidel letterpress cards from Albertine Press ($15/set of 6). 6. Merry and Bright holiday cards from Stationery Boutique ($25/set of 16).

Giving Thanks

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings.

*images from Simplified Bee and Veranda, Wikimedia Commons

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a wonderful day full of good food and good fellowship. Dave and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving here in Houston with both our families, but I'll be back later this holiday weekend with a great roundup of holiday cards and gift wrap to kick start the season.

Photograph courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

"Happy Thanksgiving . . . "

Good Morning,

I'm up early here for a quick trail run with friends before heading back into the kitchen for a bit more cooking before this afternoon's celebration.

I hope that everyone has friends and family in great abundance today. And that we are each truly grateful for all that we have this year.

Cheers,

tartanscot