Life of Style

Saturday, April 17, 2010

A Romantic Vision

I am in High Point this weekend at Market and have seen lots of fun things but one of my goals for this trip was unique wall art....so far so good! Along with all the beautiful tabletop linens, pillows and accessories in the Dransfield & Ross space were beautiful prints by legendary artist Jeremiah Goodman. Jeremiah illustrates in watercolor the interiors of some of the most influential people of the past 54 years including the late President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, the Duchess of Windsor, screen legend Greta Garbo and style icon Diana Vreeland. Most of Jeremiah's illustrations until the 1960's were done on "spot" in the rooms that were being portrayed...which is amazing! He says that eventually he had to do them from a picture because of the amount of time it would take him to complete the work. All the prints that are available for purchase are signed and approved by Jeremiah. They would be a gorgeous addition to any room. Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision the book, available on Amazon, is a reflection of his life and work.

Carolina Herrera Sitting Room

2007

Rose Cumming Bedroom

2004

Jeremiah Goodman Goya Inspired Bedroom

1967

Leonard Stanley Bedroom

1967

Photos courtesy of Dransfield and Ross

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Moody Blues

Louisa Settee

Anthropologie

The world we live in is a funny place and when the universe speaks to us it seems sometimes to speak in volumes. I received a message from a friend yesterday requesting my opinion on a navy blue paint color for bunk beds...I won't mention any names, you know who you are! I was on a mission and have been in a mood ever since, not one of those moods but a colorful blue mood!

The fabric for the beautiful Louisa Settee from Anthropologie above is designed by a company (TheVera Company) of the late legendary textile designer from the 60's and 70's Vera Neumann. Style Court wrote a piece about Vera and her work if you would like to know more http://www.stylecourt.blogspot.com/. The fabric is a cotton and linen upholstery that is so fresh and likes itself more to a watercolor print than a piece of furniture.

One of my all time favorite designers used one of the best blues in Instyle Living 2005, yes I have the issue but I wouldn't be able to write this piece if I had thrown it away, now would I?

Instyle Home

Los Angeles, CA designer Betsy Burnham used Sherwin Williams, Needle Point Navy in her foyer. The color is so striking with the snakeskin chairs, chinoiserie prints and shell lamps. Such a lovely eclectic mix.

House Beautiful

Designer Windsor Smith used Benjamin Moore's Polo Blue in her gorgeous kitchen on the cover of House Beautiful. The kitchen and color is out of sight!

House Beautiful

Aerin Lauder

I believe another lover of blue is Senior Vice President and Creative Director for Estee Lauder, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer. Between her Manhattan apartment and East Hampton home she diplays the most beautiful blue hues throughout her homes with fabrics, paints and exquisite pieces of blue porcelain.

Elle Decor

House Beautiful

Elle Decor

Burleigh

I loved all the blue porcelain Aerin had in her homes and in the House Beautiful Holiday issue she suggested entertaining with Burleigh Ware from http://www.burleigh.co.uk/. I have purchased several bowls and have loved them, you can also find them discounted on ebay!

Burleigh Bluebird Etruscan Jug

F Schumacher

While the universe was talking to me, I stopped by the showroom to look for non blue fabrics and the F Schumacher rep was there and wanted to show me their latest fabric collections. There were prints, silks, linens, you name it but lo and behold blue was the stand out color of the collection.... Here a couple of my favorite and these do come in other equally amazing colorways!

F Schumacher

Najing cotton weave

F Schumacher

Claremont Crewel

F Schumacher's new linen weave in color Wisteria

Tory Burch

Next on my list is maybe wrapping up in this silk tie dye scarf by Tory Burch

or throwing on this cotton striped navy and white Magnus jacket with it...so chic!

Tory Burch

I will leave you today with a few other blue rooms for your inspiration...

Angie Hranowsky

Emma Jane Pilkington

Mary Mcdonald

Elle Decor

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sunday Fun Day

A beautiful Spring Sunday in North Carolina today, so much to do, now what?

I think I am going to hit the flea market today, I bet it will be full to the brim with goodies and since it is lunch, there will be deals to be had!

I had to write because I was so excited that the latest issue of Lonny magazine has hit the web with lots of great articles, interiors and products. Yay for Sunday! I will give you a peek but see for yourself, it is a great one www..lonnymag.com

Designer and Editor Laura Day on the April/May cover...her NY apartment is amazing!

Cute Katie Lee cooking up some Organic Minted Pea Soup.

Graphic Designer Ashley Putman's crisp white and blue southern dining room.

All Images Courtesy of Lonny Magazine

Nick Olsen's vibrant Chinese inspired Nolita apartment. Nick's blog desire was none other than Raleigh I Suwanee blogger turned home furnishings store owner Jamie of Furbish Studio 1020 Glenwood Avenue. Congrats, great stuff!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Guess Who's Back

Carrie Bradshaw

What Wear

So, you love her...not so much? Love to hate her...Carrie Bradshaw, aka Sarah Jessica Parker? I personally love Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker and that Halston Heritage white dress she is wearing on the set for the new Sex and the City II movie which is set to debut Memorial Day weekend!

I Said after the last movie when they were in talks for another one, what more could they do? They were going to ruin the Sex in City legacy but I saw the sneak peek trailer for the movie this morning on Yahoo and it looks out of sight! Gals get your sitters in line, it is going to be girls night! Of course Sarah Jessica Parker has been all over town and had some fabulous outfits along the way as always....I wonder what her real closet looks like, maybe like Carrie's swanky new one?

SJP Fan Page

Lanvin

SJP Fan Page

Stella McCartney

Sarah Jessica Parker has such great style I would really love a peek inside of her Manhattan home but until then I will have to be satisfied with these pics taken a few years ago for Elle Decor of her home in the Hamptons.

Photos courtesy of Flickr from Decorology

Stationery

I am due for a new order of stationary for myself and need a few gifts as well. There are so many great companies and products, it is difficult to decide on the right one but there are a few that I am loving these days!

Gadabout

Inspiration DC Blog

Honestly I am mad about Hannah Brooks Nation Gadabout Stationery!

http://www.agadabout.com/

The website says...

Gadabout " An aimless pleasure seeker; A traveler in search of enjoyment and amusment; One who roams or roves for social activity."

Sounds good to me and the stationery is beautiful with 65 creative cards to choose from in vivid colors and unique motifs and monograms that can be customized. There are even some styles to choose from with deer, fishing lures and ducks for the men in your life....father's day is around the corner.

Pagoda

Custom Sitting Pretty

Thissur Pooram

All images courtesy of Inspiration DC Blog

Dempsey & Carroll

F Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon

Another excellent option for beautiful stationery, well maybe just a fantastic envelope, is F Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon in color aquamarine for Dempsey and Carroll. This fabric is so beautiful, it would look good as anything so of course why not as stationery?

F Schumacher also turned there beloved Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis into a stationery available in 5 different colorways as well as Chenonceau.

Imperial Trellis

Chenonceau

Photos courtesy of Dempsey and Carroll

Borghese

Kate's Paperie

The most traditional, beautiful and well packaged stationary is Borghese. A friend gave me a set of this a few years back in the most beautiful green color with my beautiful monogram and I have been savoring every sheet! Kate's paperie http://www.katespaperie.com/ has a beautiful ivory and rose. I must say the rose with gray print turned out beautiful as a Christmas present for my mother-n-law.

Now decisions....

In honor of the 2 hour wallcoverings lecture I attended yesterday at The Studio in Greensboro, NC yesterday I tried to find images of rooms using the F Schumacher Wallcoverings that Dempsey and Carroll is using for their stationery. I am a lover of wallpaper and the lecture titled "Wallcoverings Then and Now" was very interesting and enlightening to see how far the wallpaper industry has come to make wallpaper much better engineered and environmentally friendly.

Before I had children I always thought it a silly question about lead paint and children eating lead but oh yeah a few paints chips on the ground in the mouth they go...Hence the questions at the peds office for lead poisoning! Like the lead we use to put in our paints, wallcovering manufacturers used to put mercury, cadmium and heavy metals in wallcoverings....and you wonder?

Enjoy........