Runway to Room

Good Morning. I'll admit, I'm fried. I've been packing for my move all weekend and don't have much time or brain power for a post today. I've definitely decided after tossing and donating a boat load of stuff that living simply is the way to go from now on. Don't get me wrong, I'm in the business of making things look beautiful and I love living in and love helping others live in gorgeously furnished and designed homes but be sure to just make smart, long term purchases that are both gorgeous and functional. It all goes back to the William Morris quote for me: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." and that goes for your wardrobe choices too loves. 

I'm loving all the colors of Fall right now as pictured below. 

These shoes (on Bee's feet above) are popping up everywhere. Aren't they gorge? Find them here.

image top left: Atlantic-Pacific blog

Shelter Loves: 10.5.12

Here's what I have on my mind stylistically speaking this week!! It's nice to finally see the sun it feels like it's been raining for three weeks. Oh wait, it has been raining for three weeks! Have a fab weekend!! xx

1. Beautifully layered place table settings like this one from the queen of cool Tory Burch. I'm looking forward to the opening of her Boston store.
2. Bunny William's BeeLine lamp collection. Bunny's coming to Lee Jofa at the BDC in a couple of weeks, I may have to sit in on that one!
3. Gilded pumpkins! Image via Lulu Dk facebook page. I like the pink and white ones too:

4. A bar set up with drawers. Love this concept for the look and functionality.

5. Green leather jacket. If I can find one in my price range, it's mine!! GORGE!

I HEART

I've long been an admirer of Milo Baughman's sculptural metal and wood furniture. He's  most notably known for his chairs, desks and credenzas. I'm still kicking myself on being out bid on a pair of chairs on ebay about ten years ago. I think they were $200 for the pair. Clearly, now that would NEVER happen! They easily sell for $2,000 plus a pair. Here's a little back ground on the iconic mid century designer. You can purchase his designs through Thayer Coggin.

Milo Baughman (1923-2003), was a pioneer in modern design and one of the leading modern furniture designers of the second half of the 20th century. Baughman was brought east from his native California by Thayer Coggin in the 1950s to design the first lines for his collection of related upholstered groups. Baughman's uniquely American designs were forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious. The relaxed and timeless quality of his furniture created a ready and consistent response and his highly influential work continues to be collected and reinvented and revived by designers around the world. Paramount to Baughman's design philosophy was that good design is enduring design. Baughman's characteristic restraint does not permit the look of mere novelty to enter in. Rather, he achieved a look that is uncompromisingly modern, but which never violates the timeless standards of classic good taste. Baughman's work was included in "High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design" at the Whitnery Museum of American Art. In 1987, he was inducted in the the Furniture Hall of Fame.

I love a Milo chair with a tufted velvet seat!!

And current furniture makers inspired by Milo:

Jonathan Adler clearly was influenced by Milo with this credenza.

And this chair is available from Crate and Barrel. It's aptly named: Milo.

Simple ideas for your Thanksgiving table

Fall and Thanksgiving were heralded for the past month on various blogs and Pinterest. How much effort and expense are involved in your seasonal decorations?  My holiday tables always  give a gentle nod to  the season rather than a yell.  Usually I find things to combine from  my garden or my accessory  shelf in my storage room.  It is so much more fun to be thrifty and it stretches you to be creative with less.  In that vein, perhaps these ideas will get you thinking about how  to use what you already have.

 A few twigs from the garden and several small pumpkins in a large vase.  Simple and beautiful.  No pumpkins?  A trip to the Dollar store is in order for fake fall leaves (or the real thing) or spray paint assorted nuts gold and use those to anchor the twigs.

 Scoop  out a pumpkin just deep enough to place a candle in it and decorate the edges with faux leaves, twigs and berries.

 Collect all t he large clear vases you have, place a white pillar candle in each and decorate with nuts or leaves. Change to red berries for christmas. 

 Use the flowers of the season and bottles to rest one bloom in each .  Line them up along the table.

 Sunflowers, an old brass pan, berries and a green pumpkin.  While real sunflowers are beautiful you can substitute with fake ones. 

 Small vases with nuts, water and a flower on the top.  What else could you use to replace nuts?  A plaid tablecloth is always so cozy.

 Love this idea of stringing small pumpkins/gourds along the table with ribbon and a garland of berries.

 Use small potted plants, wrap them in a vivid croton leaf and place in square vases. Keep it until Christmas.

 I love kale but I've never thought of cutting it and using it inside as a bouquet.  Don't you love the purple ones?

I've been admiring these long wooden boxes for dining tables.  Each season what you put in them changes.  They would look just as inviting along a mantle.  Christmas idea for sure... any bits of wood in your basement?

Which is your favourite?

  All links to these photos can be found on my Pinterest  board.  

sneak peek

Between packing for my move (The truck arrives bright and early next Thursday -eek) my little ones and my business I'm running like crazy right now. In fact I'm heading out the door for a meeting right now but before I left I wanted to share a little peek at a wonderful project I just finished up. The clients were an absolute pleasure! Sorry I can't show more of this job, I had it photographed on Monday! You'll see the entire room soon enough! Have a great day, rain and all!

Book of the month - October

Wait how is it October already?? This was such an easy choice! It doesn't get much chicer then a Miles Redd interior!  I'd be over the moon if a new client asked to use his work as an inspirational starting point! Lacquer - check, Color - check, Graphics - check, Layered - Check, Glamorous - double check!! I could keep going but I won't. His book aptly titled "The Big Book of Chic" goes on sale in November. I'm getting on this pre-order list asap. You can do the same right here.

This shot is so fabulous!!

Amy Maas

I stopped into Jules Place, a local art gallery yesterday. She represents some amazing artists from around the country. I find it's sometimes tough to post photos of artist's work because they lack the depth that the pieces have in person. Amy's pieces are full of texture and have a high gloss finish. They're gorgeous. I especially love some of her purple pieces, they're unexpected and over sized. Here's a bit about Amy's process. I love the idea of painting to different types of music. 

Amy Maas:

"The new series is called "soundtracks". Painting to music has always been integral to my work. I need the music to clear my mind - to make room for my thoughts and emotions to express themselves. by combining my two great loves of music and painting, I am able to concentrate and lose myself in the moment. I decided to paint to music I listen to this time, instead of using it as a background. Therefore each painting is a direct result of an actual soundtrack I listened to while painting."