My Next House

This is one of my all-time favorite houses....a small, sweet classic. I love the greenery over the pediment entry, the columns, the perfect green shutters and the beautiful roof line. Then there's the broad walk leading to the front door, floor-to-ceiling windows and the expanse of a lush green lawn. I'd take this over some grand manse any day. Source: Traditional Home

The Long & Winding Road to Design Project Publication

I received another email recently from Jacqueline Terrebonne, the design projects editor at Architectural Digest. She advised that a design project by my client Joy Tribout is still being considered for publication and reminded me that it is a very, very long process. Don't we know it! At the end of the day (or year!) when they finally look at Joy's work alongside the competition, I believe she will have a better than average chance of making it in the magazine. Just look at this beautiful example of Joy's talent for creating a mood. Does it get any better?

A Grand Entrance

There's no more important room in a home than the entry hall. After all, this is where you make your first impression on guests. These days I'm gravitating to traditional statements  in my own foyer, like these new pieces from Jonathan Charles for spring market. Talk about some great basics. What more do you need?

An Interview with Darryl Carter

I recently had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Darryl Carter, the Washington lawyer turned designer. Carter is a classicist, whose inspiration includes the likes of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Bill Blass' Litchfield, Conn. country house, which likely will go down in history as one of the most compelling interiors ever. Not for Carter the current eclecticism, which often results in confused interior settings. Rather, his hallmarks are: Simplicity of vocabulary. Continuity of scale and color. A thoughtful integration of classic with modern forms rather than gratuitous eclecticism, which he believes can often give too much license to the marriage of disparate objects. The challenge, Carter says, is refinement. The entire interview will be published in the near future on HomeFurnishings.com.
In the meantime, you can become a fan of Darryl Carter's The New Traditional by linking to:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Darryl-Carter-The-New-Traditional/259364634315?ref=ts

Photo credit: Gordon Beall

Curator for a Day

Nine Muses Media Creative Director Julie Smith Vincenti and I recently had the opportunity to work like museum curators for a day at the Las Vegas Market. http://www.lasvegasmarket.com/. The purpose: to draw home furnishings buyers' attention to the remarkable array of quality products at the World Market Center. More specifically, we were charged with the task of selecting merchandise that reflected current market trends. Among our hands-down favorites were Phillips Collection's http://www.phillipscollection.com faux log stools with a sublime neutral finish. It wouldn't be overstating matters to say they looked absolutely stunning juxtaposed with Lexington's http://www.lexington.com/ classic French-inspired Opal side chair upholstered in a turquoise faux croc leather. Four Hands http://www.fourhands.com/ further elevated the mix with the new Reese dresser from the Bina Collection.

What Inspires Me?

Anything beautiful, but especially……

People who live beautifully and well.

Easy elegance---in manners, dress and interiors.

A beautifully set table.

A good meal, lovingly made and served.

Fresh cut flowers

Beautifully scented candles

Good lighting

“An Affair with a House” by Bunny Williams

Paris

Like Living in the Clouds

Los Angeles, CA---Mogul's new Royalty Collection caught my eye straight away. Yours too? I love the super tall, snow-white, tufted-leather headboard paired with the white linen canopy. Feels a bit like living in the clouds. Another favorite and a perfect compliment to the bed: the Crown chair, a flamboyant dome chair in Italian white glove leather with black accents.