Shades of green

I've been running around like cray cray today with a three year old in tow trying to pull some last minute details together for a photo shoot tomorrow. You probably look at the styled glossy magazines and the pretty pinterest shots almost as much as I do. I can tell you first hand it takes a LOT of work to get those perfect pics!

One of the perks of my job is to scan and analyze images almost daily and I've been thinking about and dog earring green chairs for years now. I think I'd have to go with Emerald, do you have a favorite? I may be silent tomorrow.. but promise to return Thursday with this week's favorites post..

Second Image Left: By grantkgibson.com

Inspired: Street Style to dining

Happy Almost December. 'Tis the season for entertaining so I thought an inspired dining post would be appropriate. When working with client's I'm inspired by both their lifestyle and the world around me. I love this "street style" photo. Her entire look is fabulous as is the architecture, the color palette and the array of textures and light. The furniture boards below show two versions of dining room ideas based on this image. I've come up with two visions, when you switch a few items out, the room can take on a new life. In option one the light fixture and rug are the dramatic features, in option two it's the deep smokey wall color that's moody and eye catching. I LOVE emerald green and those leather covered chairs are to die for! I always try to incorporate one of a kind objects into my designs. It is the key to devising rooms with depth and interest. I've linked all the items below each design. Cheers, I'm excited to kick off the holiday season this year!

1= paint color match, Inspire Awe - 3058, by Clark+Kensington
2/3/4/5/6/7/8

1 = Paint color match, Colonial Shades - 5066 by Clark+Kensington

2/3/4/5/6/7/8

* 6 is the knock-off version of the Eero Saarinen table

Cottage Love 4

I guess I'm cheating a wee bit because architecturally speaking this isn't a cottage, but it still has a bit of chic cottage feel to me with it's mix of high and low - old and new vibe! Either way I like the graphic quality (I'm actually about to shoot a project where I used a similar Kelly Wearstler rug), color use and the overall look of this home by designer Maria Barros. It's featured in the October/November 12' issue of Adore Magazine. 

These dining chairs are killer.....I need to find the original designer but for a similar look: Milo Baughman originals pop up on 1st dibs now and then. You'd have to search for a correct dining height.

If I ever need them in my life, these bar stools are on my wish list. They also come in cream leather,  which would be my first choice! Find them here.

The ski house

Where are you spending the holidays this year?? I usually go to Vermont, but we're sticking close to home this year!!  Enjoy! {note: these images are not of the house in VT.}

Inspired!



By the fashion house Marchesa and their intricately designed evening wear.  Designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig were ultimately influenced by fashion muse Marchesa Casati. {1881-1957}. Marchesa Casati desired to be a "living work of art." The vintage inspired and highly detailed creations are elegant but edgy; pictured are designs from their Fall, Resort and Spring Collections. I especially adore their gorgeous handbags. As most of you know, I've slowly been designing and sharing my home with you. I love to use my house as a design laboratory of sorts. I'm currently focusing on completing my dining room and after seeing this crystal purse pictured above I am now completely convinced I need to add a bit more drama to the room with a crystal chandelier.. It may be modern or vintage, I'm not sure, what I do know is it needs to glamorous! I love to entertain, so i want to create a space that feels special but relaxed. It is going to be a mix of casual and refined elements. I can't wait to finish and share it...



Some crystal beauties...

I would even be open to a vintage murano look...not sure my wallet is ready for that though. We'll see what I find! I love the thrill of the hunt. I know most of you do too

images: Decor Pad, Coastal Living

On my radar..

Sculptural dining chairs..like this one above from Pieces Inc. { would also make a sweet dressing table chair}

image credit: Lonny Magazine, photography: Patrick Cline, designer: Laura Day, image 2: Elle Decor, photography: William Waldron, Image 3: Decor Pad.

Seriously, break out the china

{I have long loved this image and Kelly Wearstler's china patterns for Pickard (below) - am very into these colors right now!}

My husband and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary last night {not sure where the time goes}, we relaxed at home over dinner, wine and dessert with our three year old son. {Emerson our 7 month old daughter was sleeping - this is a rare occasion really}. After reading Amy Dragoo's quote via La Dolce Vita yesterday, I decided I had to break out our china! Here's Amy's motto: Life is too short, eat off the good china! I couldn't agree more Amy. It's the simple details, that make the difference! So tonight, I encourage you to "eat off the good china". It was really nice, I think I'll do it more often...

DINING III - Skirt it!

I Love this classic skirt, with the canvas band; it's featured in a spread of Nathan Turner's home, in this month's Domino. {Domino, Dec. 2008}

Do you need a quick + inexpensive fix for a drap dining table?? or maybe you are in search of a table all together... Simply cover a round {or square/rec. - with a corner kick pleat} table. The possiblities are endless...here are some ideas.........

{I have a dining top I purchased for $25.00 at a sample sale, that's in need of a skirt, I'll post the end result when it's finished!!}

Vincent Wolf - the king of clean lines, often uses tailored dining table skirts. Simple design details such as frog closures add a personal + creative touch.

{Image: Elle Decor}

Frog closures available here

Mix table and chair patterns

{Image: Domino April 2007}

Layered fabrics create depth + drama

{Image: Southern Accents}

Use contrasting banded panels for a graphic punch, this is an octagon, but a similar effect can be achieved on a round table

{Image: House Beautiful}

Dramatic Dining - Design Tip + Trick

William Yeoward - Entertaining

Photography: Paul Ryan

Yeoward's new book has been released just in time to creatively, devise your dining table.

"William Yeoward, charms, delights, and inspires in his latest paean to the art of tablescape" Veranda

I love this time of year, following Halloween I always begin to develop the holiday bug.. On Sunday afternoons you can often find me purchasing, devouring and tearing up every design magazine sold on the news stand (besides the 8 or so I already receive) for inspirational decorating and cooking ideas....So over the next few weeks you are likely to see a number of posts on the subject!!

I began my dining room discussion with a "Look Book" peek at chairs. Dining rooms (areas) can be transformed into wonderfully dramatic spaces. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Dining Design Tips:

1. Don't be afraid to manipulate scale!!

Oversized (being the key word) light fixtures + gorgeous floral arrangements are the perfect way to bring a space to life!! Clients often think I'm crazy when I present a large scale chandelier/pendant, but as soon as it's installed they thank me for taking the risk.

2. Display in mass or (en masse): don't just use a few of an item - Group a number of vases, plates, and candles, this creates a grand gesture; just ensure there is a unifying thread between them (the same or similar color family is the perfect example of a unifying thread)

3. Vary texture among your elements: Contrast is key, pair matte + shiny, rough + smooth, old + new, ornate + clean

Over the weekend, I was flipping through December's 2008 issue of Veranda - Very Dramatic (per usual) - Design diva, Mary McDonald's enormous foyer was featured (would love to see the rest of her 10,000 sq. foot home), Below are photographs of her elegant dining room.

Check back later this week for the rest of the shoot featuring M.M.'s home.

Mary McDonald
Veranda, Dec. 2008

Love her chosen color contrast, of deep blue/grey and white.



Love the oversized pendant + wire Eames chairs in this casual dining area

Photo: Source unknown


Photo: Architectural Digest


Note the oversized chandelier

This dining room is beautiful, the post doesn't do the photo justice.
Designer: Lisa Luby Ryan
Image: Veranda, Dec. 2008


I love these chairs covered in toffee leather,
again the use of a grand chandelier, and oversized greens

Designer: Charlotte Moss
Image: Veranda, Dec. 2008.