I told you I couldn't wait....

Our New Friend "Manny"



A house just isn't home without a dog. We couldn't stand the quiet and we needed someone to take care of.... Manny got here a month ago. We're sure he's a gift from Harley. Yeah!! Above is his picture before he came home. Below is his first day home. Happy Weekend!

Wing Chairs

Wing Chairs
If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time you know that I love wing chairs with a bit of a contemporary twist. Add nail heads or a chic fabric and before you know it, tradition feels fresh again. Here are a few of my favorite wing chairs and a few settings showing them in up-to-date form. Above: A chic, smooth version from Pearson.




Above: A slightly detailed and modified wing chair from Oly. This is just the right size and proportion to use around a dining table.




Above: My absolute favorite. Mrs. Wing from Brunschwig & Fils.


Above: Celerie Kemble uses Brunschwig's Mrs. Wing chair elegantly in front of this desk.



Using wing chairs around a dining table is a great idea. Consider size and proportion when selecting them.



Another great spot for a wing chair: the bedroom. A perfect accent piece and just the right shape to envelop you after a long day.

Pendant Lighting

Pendant Lighting

I’m currently looking for lighting to replace the really bad fluorescents in our new office space. I can’t do too much to the space yet, but I must get the lighting changed post haste. I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but the light quality and the fixtures are beyond bad. I might be able to throw off a few of the other offending issues by putting in some cool bold lighting over our new work spaces. The idea is sort of like this image of Windsor Smith's home, only it will be over a work space, not a kitchen table.


Check out a few that I’m looking at:


These are old and amazing. I love them!





A square version.



Above: Old mercury glass pendants. I don't think the picture does them justice.





A new version slightly smaller than the ones in the photo above.

Venetian Glass Mirrors

Venetian Glass Mirrors



Venetian glass mirrors can add a beautiful feminine touch to a bathroom, dressing area or as in the example below, a dining room. A pair is even better. The antique versions that I've shown below can be a bit pricey, but you can find good quality reproductions. They don't have to look too traditional- depending upon what you pair these mirrors with they can look very current and contemporary. Be careful though... they can very easily steal the show, so make them a focal point.

A few suggestions

A Few Suggestions


After posting about the benefit of a little bit of black in a room, I decided to search out a few fun pieces to share with you. I love the piece above. I would line it (without ruining the antique value of it) with a colored fabric or paper to add a little zip. All images are courtesy of 1st Dibs.

A Touch of Black

A Touch of BlackMy Mom has always told me (well before I was old enough to figure it out on my own) that a touch of black in every room grounds it and helps to make it “complete”. I’m not just talking about contemporary spaces either. My experience to-date has proven my Mom’s theory, which I’m sure should actually be attributed to a world-renowned designer, I’m just not sure which one. Here are a few examples of how black can anchor a space… even with just a little touch. Above is a perfect example of how a nice little black night stand absolutely makes the setting.




Above: check out how the black coffee table grounds this otherwise light and colorful room in Florida. Notice the fireplace surround is also black.... Image courtesy of Traditional Home Oct 05



Above: Again, a black fireplace in one of Aerin Lauder's rooms adds just the right touch.




Above: This image is from a feature in House Beautiful about a guest house designed by Marshall Watson. The entire space feels like a jewel box. While it is mostly light and warm, there are a few touches of black to bring it all together.




Here is proof that it doesn't take much. Two candlesticks in the midst of a sea of blue and cool tones. A touch of black can make a room.

Entry Hall Tables

Entry Hall Tables



I’m still in search of a console table for my own front hallway that can hold up to the bold wallpaper I’ve chosen. I think it needs to make a bit of a statement, but it can’t be too formal. I’ve found some 17th, 18th, and 19th Century pieces on 1st Dibs. They have a presence but they’re not too overpowering. Wish me luck finding the right one in the right size and price range… but then again, the searching is most of the fun. If you haven’t been to 1st Dibs recently, check it out again and just peruse. You can really learn a lot in a short amount of time.




Above: A detail shot of the 1780's Italian table shown at the top. Amazingly, this is all original.




Above: An 18th Century Italian table with unusual legs and beautiful detail.


Above: Another 18th C Italian table. I love all those legs.




Above: An 18th Century French table. This one had just enough detail for me, but I'm afraid it is beyond the budget.



Above: A 1760's Swedish console table. I love the simplicity of this one.

A Closet You Can't Miss

A Closet You Can't Miss



I wrote about closets a while back and I felt that I couldn’t put my hands on all of the great examples of closets taking on the idea of real rooms, not just storage spaces. I’ve been searching for something more to show you, and the editors at InStyle have put it right in the palm of my hand. The March cover features Eva Longoria Parker and inside is a feature on her closet, of all things. I love how it’s arranged. It evokes the feeling of a kid in a candy store.... you want one of everything. Imagine opening a drawer to all those beautiful clutches? While we can’t all have a drawer bursting with stunning Judith Leiber creations, we can take some inspiration from these images and apply the ideas to our own closets. Think of the beauty of multiples arranged by color. Or making a beautiful display of a few special things. Even the smallest spaces will sing. For more images, see the latest InStyle.

Inadvertent Post

Sorry for the brief inadvertent post. I was working on a few things and the "upload image" button & "publish post" button are both bright orange. I've had my fair share of cold/flu medicine this last week... I pushed the wrong one. Look for the real edited version of the post later this week. Sorry for the confusion.