Posts Tagged: Christmas
JOYEUX NOËL
Wishing you and your families a magical holiday season filled with joy, peace, love and laughter!
Heartfelt thanks to our clients that allow us to do what we love, our vendors and workrooms that bring our ideas to life, and to our friends, family, and followers that allow us to share our design adventures along the way.
May your new year be merry and designs be bright!!!
PEACHY HOLIDAY ISSUE
With just 24 days left until Christmas, I need all the help I can get! The Holiday Issue of Peachy is now live filled with an abundance of inspiration including decorating ideas, recipes, favorite traditions, and gift guides from our talented editors. Be sure to read the issue by clicking here.
Please contact the studio if you are interested in any of our design services.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter.…Thanks for reading!
A PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT: BABY J ORNAMENTS BY SLANE
The countdown is on…26 days until Christmas!
I am always searching for meaningful tokens to give to godchildren and loved ones. Each year, I love seeing the creations of Slane sisters commemorating Baby J Ladley. This year’s ornament is a heart, symbolizing love, kindness, compassion and concern for one another. The ornament is a tribute to his life and a symbol of the love and hope for the brave children fighting pediatric cancer every day.
Honoring the memory of John Francis Ladley, III, the Baby J Ladley Pediatric Brain Tumor Fund at Levine Children’s Hospital was established in 2009 by Beverly and Mark Ladley. “Baby J” died at the age of 15 months after a courageous battle with a malignant brain tumor. When Beverly and Mark were seeking treatment for their sons’ illness, promising protocols for his condition didn’t exist in Charlotte. They had to travel out of state, and the distance added to the strain of the already overwhelming situation. Beverly’s goal is to ease the burden for other families facing similar circumstances and keep them home. Sadly. brain tumors are the number one cancer related cause of death in children.
This fund supports and advances the research efforts of the Neuro-Oncology Program at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Under the leadership of Chad Jacobsen, MD, the program is focused on understanding the long term effects of brain related cancer and the development of corresponding strategies to meet the needs of young patients and their families. The Baby J Fund assists in offering children access to the latest and most promising new cancer therapies. Thus far, the fund has raised over $700,000.
Landon and Heath Slane
Beverly teamed up with her friend Landon Slane to design an ornament that could be sold to raise funds for pediatric cancer. Landon is originally from High Point and now lives in New York designing with her sister Heath for their fine jewelry company SLANE.
A love of nature, architecture, history and the arts inspired sisters Heath and Landon Slane to begin designing jewelry in 1997. The early pieces in the SLANE collection were forged of silver, mirroring the designers’ love for sterling and their belief that sterling silver jewelry should be passed from generation to generation, just as family heirlooms are handed down from mother to daughter.
With impeccable attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, SLANE designs are inspired by historical references, architecture and the beauty found in everyday objects. SLA NE designs are hand-cast, hand-assembled and hand-finished. Each piece features varied and unusual textures. Pearls, earthstones, precious gems and diamonds compliment the rich foundation of the metal designs. With a commitment to sustainability, recycled sterling silver and recycled 18kt gold are used in all SLANE production.
15 Years after founding SLANE Fine Jewelry, Heath and Landon continue to design a palette of shapes and textures that can be built upon year after year, allowing each SLANE collector to create her own look and story. Each piece, each collection, is designed with this in mind, knowing that today’s designs will become tomorrow’s heirlooms.
Please consider giving a gift of love and hope this holiday season by investing in this year’s Baby J Fund ornament and help carry on Baby J’s memory. All ornaments from previous years are also for sale. 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of the ornaments are used to advance brain tumor related research, education, training, and awareness. Please click here to see the full collection.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading!
ATLANTA HOLIDAY HOUSE: MOONLIGHT & MISTLETOE (PART 2)
The reviews for the 2014 Atlanta Holiday House have been outstanding…I was thrilled to mix a bit of pleasure with work on this Atlanta trip to see this spectacular showhouse! Please click here to read about the background of the house and the first floor tour featured in my last post. Today, I am going to provide a glimpse of the second floor along with some spaces I wanted to highlight like this gorgeous lady’s retreat by Barbara Heath of The Mercantile…
The room felt like a cashmere cocoon where the lady of the house could escape the madness of the holiday season. The pink, cream and gray palette was sophisticated and chic with luxurious finishes including mongolian fur, shagreen, and lucite. The pink touches found in the art, lamps, glass accessories and fabrics provided a feminine touch.
A landing by Liz Williams Interiors showcases this majestic painting by Atlanta artist Carrie Penley. The dark background of the painting connects the eye to the unique railing with its dark finish.
A hallway by Michel Boyd lined with stunning marbleized paper is a perfect prelude for the magic that lies ahead. The designer’s suite of rooms included a bedroom, bathroom, sitting area, gallery and hallway. Each space had a distinctive feel, yet they all blended beautifully under his artistic touch.
The bedroom is a study is the nuances of neutrals and the mix of patterns and materials is soothing and modern. The brass touches seen in the vintage desk, wall sculpture, and accent tables add a bit of glitz to the space.
The graphic wallpaper and dark ceiling in the sitting room provided a great backdrop for modern art and black and white photography. Books line the fireplace.
The cobalt blue high gloss walls of Margaret Kirtkland’s charming bedroom were one of the few doses of color in this year’s showhouse. Traditionally appointed in floral fabrics and embroidered Leontine Linens, it was a lovely reminder to never underestimate the power of pretty.
Brian Patrick Flynn did not just one, but THREE spaces this year. Not surprisingly, his charisma shined through in all of his spaces. My favorite was his eclectically curated gallery hall filled with images of supermodels, super heroes and a delightful assortment of random works that work together beautifully. This is just a detail seen here, but so much better in person, so get the showhouse if you can!
A charming powder room by Brian Patrick Flynn upholstered in Tilton Fenwick’s iconic peacock from Duralee.
Brian’s laundry room features an overscaled light fixture, graphic wallpaper and tailored window treatment.
via Cloth & Kind
And now for the grand finale….I was so excited to see our friends Tami Ramsay and Krista Nye Schwartz of Cloth & Kind participate in their first holiday house. These design darlings never disappoint and they worked their magic once again! An irregularly shaped bonus room with eaves galore became a modern day “speak-easy.”
via Style Blueprint Atlanta
via Zak & Fox
Known for their curated interiors with story and substance, Tami and Krista vetted every fabric, accessory, artwork, and surface for this space. The result was a take your breath away moment when guests entered the last space in the house. Upholstered walls by Zak & Fox, ceramics and art by Sally King Benedict, custom banquettes to fill the eaves, and a showstopping chandelier resembling illuminated quills hovered in the dramatic space.
Do not miss out on this beloved Atlanta tradition!
HOURS
Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11am-5pm
Sundays – 1pm-5pm
DATES
November 19 – December 7
Wednesdays through Sundays.
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Thanksgiving Day.
ADDRESS
2865 Habersham Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305
PARKING
Please park at ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center)
351 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Parking has been generously donated by ADAC and complimentary Santa’s Shuttles will run continuously from the main entrance of ADAC during showhouse hours. On many days, Santa’s Shuttles will be staffed with volunteer elves, who will be on hand to give guests an overview of the house and ensure that check-in is as smooth as possible.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online or at the door
FEATURING THE FOLLOWING DESIGNERS:
Liz Williams Interiors; McAlpine Booth & Ferrier; Amy Morris Interiors; Parker Kennedy Living; Mark Williams Design Associates; Flynnsideout; Beth Webb Interiors; Bill Ingram and Danielle Rollins; SmithBoyd Interiors; B.D. Jeffries; Carter Kay Interiors; Margaret Kirkland Interiors; Barbara Heath; Cloth & Kind; Boxwoods Garden & Gifts
Please contact the studio if you are interested in any of our design services.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading!
ATLANTA HOLIDAY HOUSE: MOONLIGHT & MISTLETOE (PART 1)
The 2014 Atlanta Holiday House opened this week with great fanfare. Sponsored by Atlanta Home and Lifestyles, the Moonlight & Mistletoe preview party had admirers swooning over the glorious spaces created by the area’s top interior designers. I always love going back to my hometown to not only see what Atlanta’s finest are creating, but also see design colleagues that gather to support one another. Participating in a show house is a tremendous investment for the designers of their time, talent and resources. It allows them to fully realize their creative vision and be their own “dream” client. In many cases for this showhouse, each room felt like an organic extension of the personality who designed it.
Located on Habersham Road,the showhouse is inspired by the 1890s-1920s English Arts and Crafts style of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Harrison Design Associates designed the 7,000 square foot house and it was built by Sheehan Built Homes. The residence conveys a strong connection to its heavily canopied landscape—fitting for the Home for the Holidays beneficiary, the Southeastern Horticultural Society.
Elegant, sophisticated and striking…Beth Webb’s dining room seemed to be an extension of this lovely designer. It is a symphony of black and white set under a stunning ceiling resembling the tracery in stained glass. The dark walls provide a perfect backdrop for graphic art and plaster works from the recently debuted Arete Collection. The dapper Bradley Clifford is seen below next to their sculptural console table with the interior lined in shattered gold leaf.
The table setting echoes the contrasting palette.
The kitchen is just as glamorous as the rest of the house. Designed by Mark Williams and Niki Papadoplos, the kitchen posessed an understated luxe in its materials and finishes…from the nickel strapping on the hood to the etched globes hanging above the island. The cabinetry is by Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios.
Warm, glamorous and original defined Susan Ferrier’s space. Every single detail from the cocktail tablescape (seen below) to the mink muff the designer carried that evening was perfectly selected and executed. The custom designed furniture including an a white hide upholstered table and the curvy silhouettes on the upholstery were beyond brilliant.
The gentleman’s study designed by Danielle Rollins and Bill Ingram is inviting, chic and festive…perfectly a propos for this dashing design duo. There are many spaces in the home where I could have lingered all night and this was certainly one of them! Again, dark walls provided a glamorous backdrop for colorful abstract art, rich Ralph Lauren tartans, tiger silk velvet, and gilded and polished wood accents.
via Danielle D. Rollins
I was delighted to see the artwork of talented artist Matthew Moore featured in the space. Known for his incredible flowers and botanicals, this abstract painting by him showed another side of his range as an artist.
via From the Right Bank
Whimsical, creative and fun-loving come to mind when describing the covered outdoor terrace by Parker Kennedy Living. Their study of blue and white accented with pops of color made a space typically used during the spring and summer like the perfect place for holiday entertaining.
Check back tomorrow for a preview of the second floor which is just as an amazing as the first. If you are in the Atlanta area, the showhouse is a must-see…Pictures do not do it justice and this is just a small selection of all of the incredible details!
HOURS
Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11am-5pm
Sundays – 1pm-5pm
DATES
November 19 – December 7
Wednesdays through Sundays.
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Thanksgiving Day.
ADDRESS
2865 Habersham Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305
PARKING
Please park at ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center)
351 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Parking has been generously donated by ADAC and complimentary Santa’s Shuttles will run continuously from the main entrance of ADAC during showhouse hours. On many days, Santa’s Shuttles will be staffed with volunteer elves, who will be on hand to give guests an overview of the house and ensure that check-in is as smooth as possible.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online or at the door
FEATURING THE FOLLOWING DESIGNERS:
Liz Williams Interiors; McAlpine Booth & Ferrier; Amy Morris Interiors; Parker Kennedy Living; Mark Williams Design Associates; Flynnsideout; Beth Webb Interiors; Bill Ingram and Danielle Rollins; SmithBoyd Interiors; B.D. Jeffries; Carter Kay Interiors; Margaret Kirkland Interiors; Barbara Heath; Cloth & Kind; Boxwoods Garden & Gifts
Please contact the studio if you are interested in any of our design services.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading!
BERGDORF GOODMAN’S HOLIDAY WINDOWS : THE ARTS
“Stylistically, Bergdorf’s windows hover in a time warp, We juxtapose the opulent with the madcap, the scholarly with the trippy. We are fascinated with raw materials and often develop these materials to a degree bordering on obsession. Each window was designed independently from the others, but together they constitute a sort of tongue-in-cheek course in art appreciation. ”- David Hoey, Senior Director for Visual Presentation
THEATER created in neon
I was over the moon to learn of this year’s theme for the Holiday Windows at Bergdorf Goodman. Focusing on the nature of inspiration, the windows depict the performance, applied and fine arts focusing on Literature, Architecture, Theater, Painting, Music, Dance, Sculpture and Film. I became obsessed with their windows when I lived in New York, anxiously awaiting every new season to see what artistic brilliance would be cleverly displayed in what I thought was the absolute center of the universe. As Amy Fine Collins said, “[there’s] such mystery when they are wrapped and dismantled to make way for new ones, under the cover of the night. Every few weeks it’s another opening, another show.”
In quintessential Bergdorf fashion, the windows celebrate the institution’s mastery of bold storytelling, dazzling attention to detail and legendary craftsmanship. “We specialize in old-world craftsmanship, often creating permanent objects and props that are re-used for future displays. We frequently use antiques and unusual collections and curiosities as the foundation of individual windows,” Mr. Hoey said in an interview.
Tonight at 6pm, the windows were unveiled to the public alongside the lighting of the Unicef Snowflake. The Wall Street Journal revealed a sneak peak today as seen in the images here. All images are by Ken Hamm via The Wall Street Journal. To read more about last year’s windows “Holidays on Ice” click here.
The fantastical window wonderlands created by Linda Fargo, David Hoey, and their visual team take the spark of an idea and elevate it to the ultimate and sublime. Every vantage point is considered when designing these masterpieces…viewing from across 5th Avenue, passing by in a cab, or walking by as a pedestrian.
LITERATURE created in thread
Yarn painted bust of William Shakespere.
MUSIC created in metal
The over the top visual delights are the hard work of a talented crew of artisans, collaborators and dreamers. The windows frequently showcase art and photographs from the city’s best talent at The New Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, American Visionary Art Museum and the New York City Ballet. Each window build upon the fashion it presents, inviting the viewer into a theatrical fantasy land. “We’re drawn to extremes here,” says Mr. Hoey. “Minimalism is great. Maximalism is too. What we avoid is medium-ism.”
ARCHITECTURE created in paper
ARCHITECTURE inspiration board
ARCHITECTURE model of New York
ARCHITECTURE
LITERATURE, SCULPTURE, PAINTING AND THEATRE (CLOCKWISE) via Robert Zur
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FILM & DANCE
The mind boggling effort and detail to create these windows entails…
- 3,500 Hours to create the windows
- 365 Days spent preparing, brainstorming and creating
- 100 Craftsmen that collaborate in producing props and set
- 48 Days on view (November 17-January 2)
- 34 Windows total, including Fifth Avenue (10), 58th Street (4), 57th Street (9), Men’s Fifth Avenue (4) and Men’s 58th Street (7)
- 30 Staff members needed to install the windows
- 15 Days spent installing the mannequins, props and pieces into the actual Fifth Avenue windows
- 12 Professional artists that assist in creating the windows
- 8 Artistic disciplines re-imagined including Literature, Architecture, Theater, Painting, Music, Dance, Sculpture and Film
- 3 Boroughs in which artisans hand-create the holiday windows props (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens)
- 1 Singular Artistic Vision
Assouline’s Windows at Bergdorf Goodman makes a perfect Christmas present for any fashionista, native or past New Yorker, or BG aficionado! Featuring photographs from Ricky Zehavi, this limited-edition tome revisits the legendary windows of the Women’s and Men’s Stores — from the labyrinthine Holiday Staircase window (otherwise known as the most complex window in the history of window displays) and a New York City homage to Charles Ebbet’s iconic photograph Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper to the legendary mannequin with the 15-foot, accessories-obsessed arm. The book can be ordered by clicking here.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading!
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
“If we all shop small, it will be huge!”
I ran this post two years ago on the second annual Small Business Saturday and have added a few more to the list….Here of my favorite Charlotte design and fashion haunts that are all run by small business owners that are incredibly talented, chic and stylish. Shop away!
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| Courtesy of Abode |
ABODE– 201 West Worthington Avenue
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| Ornaments at B.D. Jeffries |
B.D. JEFFRIES– 720 Governor Morrison Street Suite E110
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| Tony Duquette Jewels Oscar de la Renta Skirt |
CAPITOL– 4010 Sharon Road
For the true fashionista, this is THE place to shop. Tastemaker Laura Vinroot Poole curates an extraordinary collection of the finest fashions, shoes and jewelry from urban chic to haute couture.
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| Courtesy of Circa |
CIRCA– 2321 Crescent Avenue
CHEZ ELLE– 532 Governor Morrison Street
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THE ENGLISH ROOM-519 Fenton Place
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| Artist Windy O’Connor Hifell Brooks Gallery |
HIDELL BROOKS GALLERY–1910 South Boulevard
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| Holiday Gifts at Isabella |
ISABELLA–715 Providence Road
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| Mrs. Howard |
MRS. HOWARD– 1001 East Morehead Street
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| Ornaments Galore at Paper Skyscraper
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For the cheeky and those with a sense of humor, this is THE place. Voted “Charlotte’s Best Gift Store,” “Best Place to Buy a Present ,” and “Best Place to Buy a Stylish Gift” by several local publications. This is hands down the best place in town to purchase everything thing from hilarious cards and design books to gift wrapping and an amazing selection of Christmas ornaments.
SLOAN– 1419 East Boulevard
For the past 13 years, Courtney Sloan and Jill Sloan Pleune have been delighting Charlotteans with their fun fashions from denim to formal attire. This one stop shop can outfit you in everything from head to toe-earrings, dress, accessories, shoes-DONE!
Support a variety of small business owners at any of these boutiques:
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Courtesy of Alexander Scott
ALEXANDER SCOTT– 208 East Boulevard
David Newcombe and Rusty Griffith’s mission is to “Provide the extraordinary” The owners have a created a beautiful home for 70 vendors in the old McColl Center for Fine Art. The two story open setting is the perfect showcase for vendors to display their goods including everything from jewelry and small accessories to antiques, artwork, and upholstery.
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| Courtesy of Post and Gray |
POST AND GRAY- 2139 South Tryon Street
SLATE INTERIORS– 1401 Central Avenue Suite 102
HAPPY SHOPPING!
BERGDORF GOODMAN: HOLIDAYS ON ICE
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Bergdorf’s Holiday windows were revealed last night to delight and inspire all of Manhattan. This year’s theme, “Holidays on Ice,” features not only Christmas windows, but several holidays envisioned in snow and ice with a focus on fashion. From Valentine’s Day to the 4th of July, the creative team has been furiously working to create a wonderland for every holiday displayed which will be uniquely displayed in a separate window.
To achieve these miraculous feats, David Hoey, Senior Director of Presentation, and Shane Ruth, Visual Manager, hired artisans to work in poly-resin to create the winter wonderland for each window. Their goal is to create a visual masterpiece that is interesting from every vantage point…viewing from across 5th Avenue, passing by in a cab, or walking by as a pedestrian. Here are a few more fun facts from the BG blog…
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| via Marie Claire |
Before the windows were unveiled, a dance troupe scaled down the facade of the building sprinkling snow on the spectators.
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| Valentine’s Day Window via The Examiner |
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| Valentine’s Day Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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| April Fool’s Day Window via Design Life Network |
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| Fourth of July Window via Marie Claire |
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| Fourth of July Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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| Arbor Day Window via Design Life Network |
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| Arbor Day Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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| Halloween Window via The Examiner |
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| Halloween Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
Be sure to watch Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs for a highly entertaining account of what goes into making the windows year after year.