"Fresh New Peeps . . . "

Greetings,

A big part of my aggressively lazy weekend in bed is taking part in some very active online shopping . . . lol . . . and I think I've found my new sunglasses . . . assuming that the sun will shine once again on our dreary summer San Francisco!

At the very least - it's brought a shy grin to my lazy weekend . . . Elijah Wood and Shirley Manson's most excellent video for Oliver Peoples . . . .

*sporting swanky new glasses,*

tartanscot

"A Weekend in Bed . . . "

Greetings,

It seems to me like a very natural progression . . . begin with a crazy, busy week at the office - and follow it with an aggressively lazy weekend in bed.

A perfect place to curl up and let the worries of the week fade away . . .

And what could ever be more relaxing than these marvelous rooms by Kathryn Ireland. If you've never had a chance to peruse through her textile collection - please have a look.

“I’m so conscious of not wanting a room to look ‘decorated,' I don’t start with a lead fabric and then say, ‘This has to go with this.’ It’s all in the mix.” - Kathryn Ireland

Nestled in the bed,

tartanscot

To Mr. Drucker, a love letter

Dear Stephen:

When I heard last spring that you were leaving House Beautiful to take over (and make over) Town & Country, I'll admit I was a bit surprised -- and even more skeptical. Wasn't that just a step down? House Beautiful has long been my favorite interiors magazine. I anxiously await its arrival each month and, when it does finally arrive on my doorstep, I read it slowly, savoring every image, every word. Town & Country, on the other hand,...well, it started showing up at my house unannounced a few years ago and every now and then I'll flip through it, but I never would have paid for it.

T&C seemed to target a wealthy, high society, New York-centric audience that struck me as ridiculously dated. The magazine seemed more like an extended advertisement for this narrow lifestyle and rarely included any articles of substance. To be crass, I thought T&C sucked.

But then you came along and breathed new life it. You gave it a clearer voice and more substance. Who would have thought my favorite home of the year would be featured in T&C? I nearly gasped when I saw the feature on Miles Redd's Atlanta chateau. Not only was the home beautiful (and beautifully photographed), but the copy was entertaining and well written as well (yes, I always read the stories!).

So thanks for giving me another magazine to look forward to every month. And keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Averill at Odi et Amo

* * *

Okay, enough of the mushy, sycophantic stuff. Let's get on with the house ogling, shall we? The reason I love this house so much is because it's so quintessentially Miles (colorful, traditional with lots of chinoiserie touches, plenty of animal print, lots of lacquer), but with a good dose of Southern style and architecture thrown in for good measure.

Check out the gorgeousness that is this atrium. I love the classical architecture paired with the chinoiserie wallpaper and cheeky cheetah slipper chairs. There's something grand and yet playful and even cozy about this room that seems perfectly suited to the young family that lives here.

The living room's slate blue and orange rug really blows me away. What a wonderful color combination! It's bold and current, but also very livable, and I love it paired with the camel-colored furniture in particular. I also love the modern art paired with the more traditional furnishings and architecture.

Another shot of the living room. Isn't that dental molding incredible? I also like that they went for a softer, yellower white for the trim. It creates less of a contrast against the blue than a strong white would and it works beautifully with all the natural light flooding in from the large windows.

The Butler's pantry. Like a powder room, these small, infrequently used spaces are a great opportunity to really experiment and go all out. The ceiling of this space was inspired by the zodiac ceiling of Grand Central Station (my favorite spot in all of NYC, after the NYPL). The bold turquoise continues onto the cabinetry and even the marble. The hits of brass in the fixtures brings a warmth and contrast to all the blue that nickel fixtures never could.

For me the oxblood study very, very Miles. It actually reminds me of a room in my grandmother's house, which was painted out in a similar shade of red and with plenty of gilt (my grandmother loved gilt). The brass trim on the built-ins adds such a sense of luxury -- and lightness to the room.

When you're working with a strong color like this, I think it's best to follow Miles' lead and keep everything as monochromatic as possible. It keeps the room feeling more calm, despite the brilliant red walls. The real interest here comes in the plays of texture and subtle patterns. I'm particularly fond of the pairing of the paisley print sofa, with the ikat pillows. Because the scale of the sofa's print is so much smaller (and more subtle) than the bolder, larger ikat print, it really works beautifully.

What Southern bedroom is complete without monogrammed linens? And what Miles Redd bedroom is complete without wall-to-wall cheetah carpet? [Hint: the answer to both questions is "none".] Of course I love all the soft blues here, the coolness of which are cut by the tans and browns of the walls and carpet. But what I love most is how sumptuously this bed is dressed. The thick duvet, the velvet coronet and bedskirt (all trimmed out in satin). Yummy.

What I wouldn't give some days for my own closet -- let alone my own dressing room! And how soft underfoot must that patchwork pony-skin be. Sure, it's probably not especially practicable, but on a cool morning, fresh out of the shower, how luxurious it must feel on your bare feet. Another great detail here is the tray ceiling, which is wallpapered in a beautiful de Gournay print of trees and birds. I'd take this idea and put it in a bedroom: it'd be like looking up int a forest canopy every night before bed. Very peaceful.

The lady of house enjoys not only her own dressing room, but her own bath, luxuriously appointed in Carrera marble (naturally). Note how Redd painted the bathroom door to mimic the veining of the marble. Isn't that fun? The wallpaper and the fashion drawings are both so wonderfully feminine but the color palette of soft blue and tan ties it all in with the adjoining master bedroom.

If this is the kind of aspirational living that the "new" Town & Country is intent on giving its readers, then I say "yes, please, and more!". After all, who couldn't use a little more fantasy material?

All images courtesy of Town & Country and via The Love List.

Spanish Gorgeousness

In LA (and in all of Southern California) we have TONS of Spanish style homes and a huge Mexican influence on our architecture, design and style. Love this very modern, clean, updated Mexican style design. And that chair (from Casamidy) is on my top ten list of favorite chairs.
from Canadian House and Home

"Breathe . . . "

Greetings,

Hey everyone. Just needed to take a second out of a busy day for a breath of air. And when in doubt, flipping through Matthew White's wondrous book, "Italy of my Dreams," always provides me with simple moments of calm and reflection.

*fill the lungs*

*empty the lungs*

*fill the lungs*

*empty the lungs*

onward,

tartanscot

- image from "Italy of my Dreams" by Matthew White, photography by Art Gray

Favorite Resources for Designing a Baby's Nursery

Today I am guest blogging at Averill's Odi et Amo as part of a “Shop Like a Design Blogger” series. For over a year, I have enjoyed  reading her thoughtful, inspiring blog and I am sure you will too. 

 

As many of you know, I love designing baby nursery rooms and the post {here} shares  some my favorite resources for crib bedding, nursery furnishings, lighting, rugs, wall art and of course storage. So if you are decorating a nursery or heading to a baby shower soon, you may find it helpful.

Wishing you a fabulous day!

 

*images courtesy of Rikshaw Design {top} and Rosenberry Rooms {bottom}

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Simplified Bee

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Cristin of Simplified Bee, organizer extraordinaire and the final world in baby chic. True to form, Cristin will be sharing with us some of her best tips for pulling together an amazing nursery (or, if you aren't exactly at that phase in your life just yet, then finding the perfect gift for the new mom or mom-to-be in your life).

* * *

Hi everyone! This is Cristin the editor of Simplified Bee and it’s exciting to be part of Averill’s “Shop Like a Design Blogger” series. Thanks, Averill!

Because this is one of the last posts in the series and so many of my resources have already mentioned, I’m sharing resources for what I love designing most: the baby’s nursery room. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of working with several women expecting their first child. Some have been here in the San Francisco Bay Area, while others are virtual design clients located throughout the United States. When working with virtual clients, typically the home décor furnishings and accessories selected can be easily purchased online. Here are some of my favorite nursery room décor resources.

For Crib Bedding

My favorite resource for classic nursery bedding is Serena & Lily. Their crisp, fresh prints are fun, yet sophisticated and several are organic. Serena & Lily sell fabric by the yard which is nice if you’d like to have some custom upholstery or window treatments. They also offer low VOC paint and accessories that coordinate beautifully with their bedding collections.

One design trend making its way into the nursery is Eastern-inspired block prints. The Rikshaw Design offers a romantic and whimsical collection of crib sets, pillows and accessories, all hand block-printed on soft Indian cotton voile. The line is easy to mix-and-match with coordinating prints, florals, stripes and motifs.

For Nursery Furnishings

When selecting a crib, expecting parents have a lot of terrific styles and options today. Classic cribs are always in style, but many are now designed to grow with your child and transition from crib, to toddler bed, to full-sized headboard. When shopping for cribs and changing tables, I search Pottery Barn Kids, Rosenberry Rooms, and All Modern Baby.

A good nursing chair is also an important piece and investment in a newborn nursery. I advise my clients to think long-term with this purchase. Will it look okay in a big boy or big girl room? Can we move it to a family or another sitting room? Serena & Lily and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child {above} carry gliders with great lines and customizable fabric options.

For Lighting

Lighting is an important part of the overall design of a nursery. It can set the overall mood and provide needed task lighting. My favorite resource for lighting a nursery is Posh Tots. They have a wide variety and styles to choose from. Recently, I also found some great and economical lighting options at Target.

For Storage

Compartmentalized storage pieces are essential to keeping a nursery organized and efficient. The MacBeth Collection {above left} offers tons of stylish storage tins that are easily tailored to the room’s color palette and best of all can be personalized with your child’s name, monogram or name of item it may be storing. Pottery Barn Kids {above right}, Ikea and Target also have fun storage options for nursery rooms.

For Rugs

An area rug might be necessary if the nursery room has wooden or tile flooring. I always visit Overstock.com first to see if they have any rugs on clearance that might work in the design. Another great resource is Rosenberry Rooms {sampling above}.

For Wall Art

There are so many great options for decorating the walls of a nursery. One trend is the use of wall decals. They are wonderful to use in nursery rooms because the can be easily removed or changed out as your child outgrows the space. I am also a huge fan of original artwork. Etsy has loads of talented artists that will personalize pieces for your little ones. Another favorite spot for art is Polka Dot Peacock where I found the artwork above.

It was a pleasure guest blogging here today. Many thanks Averill!

xo,
Cristin, Simplified Bee

Girlie Streak

Sometimes my tastes go very modern and masculine, but recently I seem to be on a more girlie streak. I'm in love with this shop in Vancouver (too bad it's a 3 1/2 hour flight for me.) I would love to go all pink and white in my home!

The Cross, in Vancouver. Image from Canadian House and Home.

"Meanwhile, back at Camp Tobi . . . "

Greetings,

Just pleased and delighted to be included as one of Tobi Fairley's virtual camp counselors. Hop over here and have a look . . . and, yes - just to confirm those rumors - I do love sleeping out under the stars . . .

S'mores,

tartanscot

Fabric-Gasm

One of my fav fabrics is this Kelly Wearstler one for Schumacher.

I love it so much I blogged about it last November. Here it is in all its splendid glory...
On a slipper chair...


And as a pillow...From Traditional Home.

Oh, gorgeous fabric, I love you in all forms!

Guest Post at Journey Chic.... Candlelight Entertaining Ideas

Yes, I still have summer on my mind. And today I am thrilled to be guest blogging at the darling Journey Chic where I am talking about Candlelight Entertaining Ideas.

 

*image from Martha Stewart

"Fearless . . . "

Greetings,

Still slogging through a busy week here at the office - with the constant threat of Jury duty hanging over me everyday. And I'll be calling this afternoon again, after 4:30, to see if I have to report tomorrow. I'm always happy to serve . . . but it's thrown my work schedule into somewhat of a free-fall, as I can't make clients plans due to my possible need for civic duty . . .

But, this post isn't about duty - it's about fear.

The fear that keeps you from trying something new.

The fear of making a mistake.

The fear of being wrong.

But, embracing that fear can keep you from experiencing a wonderful life.

So . . . .

Miles Redd

Be bold.

Brian McCarthy, for Elle Decor

Be daring.

Miles Redd

Paint your rooms amazing colours.

Suzanne Tucker Home

Use dramatic beautiful fabrics.

John Jacob Interiors

Eat on the good china.

Michael Smith, for Elle Decor

Use your dining room.

Tobi Fairley, for House Beautiful

Live with grace and style.

And, if the mood strikes you, eat ice cream after 10pm at night.

"Whatever you do in your decorating philosophy, be brave....never

wish you hadn't taken your vision right to the end. Make a bold statement."

Roger Banks-Pye,

Colefax and Fowler Interior Inspirations

Just in a very good mood,

tartanscot

Mellow Yellow Bedroom

The other day I was wondering what color scheme to go with for my bedroom. This picture has me wanting to go yellow and neutral grey. But not Kelly Wearstler Hollywood Regency type yellow and grey, more a patterned, rich, layered look like the image below.

from Traditional Home

So I know this isn't a food blog...

But this image of a cheese and charcuterie platter (from Canadian House and Home) has me a) hungry and b) hunkering to hostess a party!

More Happy Monday Flowers

More gorgeous flowers in more vintage glass bottles.

From Traditional Home