I have to admit that a lot of contemporary art leaves me a little cold. It seems that in the rush for intellectualism we have a lost a true sense of beauty, that can be so uplifting. So, it was a sense of skepticism that I attended this art happening. Some friends of mine had commissioned a Dutch artist to create a sculpture for their back yard. The premise is that this piece is delivered, then the air is sucked out, creating the art in front of you, simple enough huh?
I have to say it was an incredible moment as this huge metal box started to collapse, and after about 30 min the process was over, and what was left was this beautiful piece that seemed so organic and soft. Really amazing!!!
I am famous for being hot onto yesterdays bandwagon, so for those of you who are totally tech savvy, you are probably going to be bored by this post, but for the rest of you, I have something you are going to love.
I am forever shopping, whether it be antique stores, swap meets , whatever, and I am constantly coming across books that I want to add to my library, but by the time I get to a pad and pencil, the title is long forgotten. I have tried lots of things, mental notes, cyber notes, but I think I have finally stumbled across an application that really works for me.
Snap Tell, lets you photograph the cover of the book, then using i-Phone magic, directs you straight to a link where you can buy it, or save the search, no typing in titles etc etc, it does it all from the photograph!!! I have tried it on a few books here at home and it's been perfect every time, so if you are like me and love to collect books, its an ideal application.
From That to This!! The Pasadena Showcase House finally opens tomorrow and awe are done!!
It was a lot of work as it always is, but boy was it worth it.The room looks great with some fun, unusual aspects that really make it pop. Here are a few things to look for:
Cow hide on the ceiling (for acoustic qualities)
Antique rug thrown casually over the sofa for a splash of color
Layering two rugs on the floor for added visual depth
A simple color palette that allows for seasonal change
There are other elements too but you will have to go and check it out for yourself. The showcase is open for a month starting this Sunday. Here is the link for more information: Pasadena Showcase
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this new (sorta-traditional/sorta-funky) Wessex wingback chair by Darryl Carter for Thomasville! Maybe it is the way it seems to reach out and hug you, or maybe it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland fairy tale furniture... i'm not sure, but either way I LOVE IT! The rest of the collection isn't half bad either (think filler pieces)... check it out.
Finally GE has come out with a CFL which looks like a traditional bulb look. I really hate to see those "old fashioned"CFLs in fixtures where you can see the bulb and this is the perfect solution. Save the Planet, Save your Chic Decor!
This is total self congratulations, but I am totally excited to see HGTV's Top 10 today. The episode on Outdoor Rooms has two of my rooms featured, and Margaret Russell called me "CHIC"!
Recently I saw Kathryn M Ireland speak at Dan Marty Design during the PDC West Week and was really enthralled by her use of color and "found items". I also loved her room at the Greystone Mansion this past year, images of which you can see in Veranda Magazines dedicated issue from this past winter. Not only is she incredibly personable and very funny, as you can see her personal sense of beauty and design has a signature all her own! Here is an interview that I did recently with her:
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started as a designer?
I started designing by chance when years ago Steve Martin came to my house, loved it and asked me to help him find and design a house for him. Other people did the same and offered me to help them with their houses.
I am basically untrained except I took a course in college on textile and design, which btw, the only thing I really learned was which way the warp and weft went. I was the only one to sign up for the class and honestly did so because I was sure the teacher wasn’t going to show up… No such luck!
What is the most unique room you’ve ever designed?
I did a project for director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forest Gump etc.) He asked me for a ‘screening crypt.’ For it, among other things, I made a coffin coffee table and when you opened it up it had bright pink satin lining. You can just image Dracula popping out… he would have been very comfortable in there!
What is the most popular decorating style you are asked to design?
Comfortable and casual. My style is English manor meets French country meets Malibu beach.
Do you use a sketchbook, idea notebook, or inspiration board to explore new ideas?
Yes all of those, and also endless amount of photographs from my camera.
Have you ever been stuck in a “creativity rut”? How did you break out of it?
Every now and again, and I go to France and chill. Always works.
Where do you find inspiration for your incredible rooms?
All over the world. Also, where I’ve lived. I was lucky enough as a teenager to live in a Palladium Villa in the Veneto region of Italy. In fact, I’ve lived in everything from a Palladium Villa to a fisherman’s cottage to a cow barn; all inspirational.
What are the most popular colors or palettes you’re seeing this year?
I just concentrate on what I’m doing. I see what I want to see and I want to see color. My life is always full of colors.
What styles do you prefer in your own rooms?
Mixture, eclectic; a mixture of items that I love and have to have. It could be something Gustavian, French Rococo, Chippendale…or a piece of driftwood that I’ve picked up on a beach. If something has an innate quality, a beautiful quality, they all work together.
What room is giving you the biggest decorating challenge right now?
I’ve just been working on a project where we had a garage that we converted into a room. It went through many design planning incarnations; a disco, a gift shop—and now its a meditation room. It evolved after many ideas were considered.
