Thankful

I am thankful everyday for my family, friends, clients, colleagues, and you.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

My Design Gets a Nod

My Delos rep emailed me a while back. He asked for some pictures of the rugs I recently designed for a client. I had no idea why he wanted them but I sent them along. Sure enough ~ here is one of my designs (top left). You may recognize it for one of my blog posts (it actually looks better on the blog post :-)

Here's the thing ~ I snapped these photos with my little camera. Had I known they were being considered for publication, I would have had Bob in for a photo shoot.

Either way ~ there it is!

Thank you Delos for selecting one of my designs to feature.

Sophisticated Funky ~ Brocade Home

I was just perusing Brocade Home for a specific funky item and couldn't help but take all the wonderful pieces. Here is sophisticated funkiness at a reasonable price. They have everything from ceiling to floor...


I found what I was looking for. Did you?

Console Whispers

I don't know about you but I have placed more consoles than I can recall. Sometimes one just wants a console to play a supporting role versus standing out. I'm going to share my console secrets with you. Here are the two most versatile consoles I have found. This is the Milo Made to Measure (Milo M2M) Console by Hickory Chair. That is exactly what it is ~ made to measure. Plus Hickory Chair has so many finish selections, one is bound to work well.

These are the Skinny Consoles from Worlds Away. I have placed these so many times. They are truly thin ~ 10" max. These are wonderful when space is at a premium. They come in hammered gold and silver and gold and silver leaf so literally they can accommodate any decor. The shelves make them easy to personalize.

Both of the them are slender, have sleek lines thus adding little mass to the design. I have placed two of each side by side behind long sofas and sectionals. It looks fabulous and does not over power the space.

There you have it. Consoles I am truly in love with!

Paul Montgonery Studio

Paul Montgomery Studio is a collection of artists all striving for perfection and beauty. They do custom murals or panels. They create handpainted wallpaper. This is luxury at its finest. They work with the trade or public directly. Here is a sampling of his collections. Check out is website for beautiful inspirations. Take a look at these...

Salon Collection

Decorative Panneaux

Imperivm Collection

Renaissance Collection

Chinoiserie Collection

Antiquity Collection

European Panoramic Collection

I love the diversity of the work. Each truly captivating. The Imperivm and Renaissance Collections stole my heart. Do you have a favorite?

Living Legend ~ Quincy Jones

You know I am a big fan of the Washington Post. I look forward to their Arts & Style section every Sunday. Today I was riveted. Why? You know music and I are one ~ well there is a story about living legend Quincy Jones written by DeNeen Brown. Mr. Jones, in my opinion, is the single most important person in American music thus far. In the article, he stresses the importance of knowing and understanding the history of American music; of learning, listening, and growing as an artist. He notes such greats as Coltrane, Davis, and Charles. He seems to completely get that the present and future are built on the past. Not that one imitates the past but internalizes what jives within you and making it your own and leaving out the parts that are incongruent with one's self. I couldn't agree more. Here is a link to the article. It's a great read and I learned a couple new things and that is a treasure.

I Love This Time of the Year...

I grew up in up.. up... upstate New York. By this time of the year, we were all inside feeling the cold. Now I'm in northern Virginia where the warm weather lasts a bit longer. I adore the foliage, the crisp, clean air, frizzy hair a thing of the past (the past year that is ~ it will sadly return). But this time of the year is the best for outdoors lunches. While perusing one of my favorite magazines, Architectural Digest, I came across places to enjoy a wonderful lunch...

Bon appetit ~ enjoy your weekend!

Wouldn't these be wonderful in.....

The other day I posted about Elizabeth Lyons. When I was reviewing photos that I have saved for inspiration I couldn't help but place her glass art in the rooms. You know when something is fresh in your mind and you think about how it would relate to what you're currently doing? It was like that. I found two rooms compliments of Architectural Digest where the glass art above can easily be placed.

Some of the pieces would be a lovely addition to these rooms. What about these chic ones?!
Can you see them in this sophisticated space?!
I have to admit ~ my favorite colorways by Elizabeth in her latest and greatest are what I had on my mind when I was looking through pictures. It's funny how these things stick with you. I suppose that is how fabulous pieces usually get placed. The piece lays in the subconscious of the designer and a room can be designed just for it. That happens often to me after Market or after perusing one of my favorite hautes for antiques. And now it just happened with Elizabeth's work. I wonder where they'll end up??!!

In the Real World...

There are times when an apothecary jar or large glass vase with fruit is a nice display item. In an ideal world real fruit or vegetables wouldn't spoil. In the real world filling a jar with real fruit can be costly and icky after a while. What does one do?? Well I have used manufactured fruit replicas on occasion. Some replicas are better than others. Take these for example...

Are they real or are they manufactured?!!

They are manufactured. I recall my mom and hubby having a heated discussion over whether the fruit in a bowl were real or not. They were not but my mom didn't believe him. That's what I'm talkin' about...

These are made by a leader in the 'fake food' industry ~ Humphrey Farms.

Moral of the story ~ sometimes manufactured do just fine and stand the test of time and believability. Just look for the ones that will start an argument about whether they are real or not. Those are the keepers.