Creating homes and nurturing havens for families is the most important part of what I am honored to do in my profession. As friends, families, and clients are sheltering at home right now, it has been incredibly meaningful to hear how much their homes comfort them during these crazy times. As people have been spending more time at home, they are feathering the “nest” a bit more and looking for unique items.
Chairish is one of my favorite resources to find vintage pieces for client projects. I am thrilled to have been selected to participate in their exclusive Designer Showhouse sale, a curated collection of pieces hand-picked by designers from some of the country’s most prestigious Showhouses from coast to coast. I have included items from my LCDQ Legends Window, the Southeastern Designer Showhouse presented by Atlanta Home and Lifestyles , the Charleston Symphony Designer Showhouse and the Traditional Home High Point Showhouse. There are some incredible finds in the sale that are marked well below the wholesale prices.
See all of the beautiful finds, available now on Chairish by clicking HERE for my shop and HERE for the rest of the sale.
Chairish is one of my favorite resources to find vintage pieces for client projects. This month, I am delighted to have been selected to participate in their exclusive Designer Showhouse sale, a curated collection of pieces hand-picked by designers from some of the country’s most prestigious Showhouses! See all of the beautiful finds, available now on Chairish by clicking HERE for my shop and HERE for the rest of the sale. The sale goes live TODAY (Saturday, March 2nd) at 12 noon EST.
I have included items from the Southeastern Designer Showhouse presented by Atlanta Home and Lifestyles and the Charleston Symphony Designer Showhouse. There are some incredible finds in the sale that are marked well below the wholesale prices. Happy hunting!
‘Tis the season when the design industry descends on High Point for Fall Market. There is an exceptional cast of characters that will be taking over the official Instagram feed over the next few days. Please follow along at the handle @hpmkt to discover the unique perspective of each of these designers to see what catches everyone’s eyes. I will be posting on Wednesday, October 17th and invite all design lovers to follow along!
It is always a treat to see one’s own work in print. We were thrilled to see the latest issue of Charlotte Home Design & Decor featuring us in one of my favorite columns where they showcase a different designer each month. Read below for our favorite finds s scouted from around the world…
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – October 25 – Cathy Austin, Danielle Rollins, Billy Ceglia, Amanda Reynal and Jenny Brown attend The San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show Opening Night Preview Gala on October 25th 2017 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Susana Bates for Drew Altizer Photography)
There is nothing I love more than an antiques show. Gone are the days of booth after booth of brown furniture. Today’s shows provide the catalyst for vendors and designers to showcase their creative brilliance and highlight the very best they have to offer including everything one can imagine. I was delighted to attend the San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Opening Gala last week. In honor of the 50th anniversary of San Francisco’s Summer of Love, the theme was FLOWER POWER: Floral Imagery in Art, Antiques & Design. Interior designer Suzanne Tucker chaired the brilliant show and Paris fashion designer Andrew Gn joined as honorary chair for the prestigious event that benefits Enterprise for Youth, a nonprofit organization supporting underprivileged students through educational programs.
High Point Market is a marathon and a sprint all at the same time…There is so much to see and so much ground to cover. It helps to be surrounded by a lovely group of creative minds that were part of the team for the 3rd Annual High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour organized by High Point Market, Esteem Media, and the Design Bloggers Conference. The program brings ten leading design bloggers to High Point Market for a 2-day tour of sponsoring showrooms. We had a ball getting to know one another, sharing favorite design sources, and experiencing market from everyone’s different perspectives.
Another whirlwind trip to AmericasMart Atlanta has passed and I am eager to share my favorite finds and trends in the design world. Looking for common threads through seven MILLION square feet of exhibition space can be somewhat daunting. We had an amazing group of #StyleYour Season designers and bloggers covering trends which will be shared in a comprehensive trend report through AmericasMart Atlanta coming soon.
Many of the motifs I incorporate into my own aesthetic kept popping up not only in the design showrooms, but also in the fashion, jewelry and tabletop showrooms as well. Here is a peak of the trends and items that caught my eye…
I adore any shade of pink….from Blush to Coral to Schiaparelli. With Rose Quartz being one of PANTONE’s Colors of the Year, the soft shade was showcased throughout every building. Starting clockwise from the top left….A gorgeous vignette by Kristin Alber featured the “Lily” Chandelier by Ro Sham Beaux, a rose Mongolian lamp pillow by SARO, a “Pretty in Pink” lamp by Regina Andrew all set against a Serenity blue backdrop (PANTONE’s other Color of the Year, “Everett” Studs in Rose Quartz by Addison Weeks, and “Paris” vases from Oly Studio.
Evocative of the paintings of Jackson Pollack and Helen Frankenthaler, abstract expressionism was also well represented throughout several showrooms. The lamps of Liz Marsh Designs were one of my most unique finds. The reverse painted glass lamps can be done in any color, background and brushstroke style from drippy to splattered. New introductions from The Blush Label are inspired by the colorful decor of Puerto Rico. At Design Legacy, the works of Kelly O’Neal mixed metallics with a modern sensibility and old world techniques. A detail of his original “Personality Traits Magenta” is seen here.
Feathers were also abundant everywhere whether they were painted, gilded, or naturally shed. An ingenious layout of prints from Mitchell Black would provide an incredible focal point for any large blank space. A white feather chandelier from Grace & Blake adds a touch of whimsy to any interior. The ostrich handbags from MooMoo would do the same for any outfit.
The variety of large statement mirrors in Atlanta was incredible. The sculptural works in gold, rock crystal, oyster shell, vellum, barnacles, and other materials were amazing. Any of these works could hold their own in an interior with other large scale works of art. From top left, the “Acquarius” mirror by Emporium Home, “Round Crystal” mirror by Modern History and “Venus” mirror in champagne oyster shell by Made Goods.
Gold accents continued to shine and were bolder than ever. From top left, artisan crafted lamps and accessories made exclusively for Couture Lamps in Vietnam, Gilt metal chandelier from Currey & Company available in a variety of sizes, and contemporary “Kopara” pillow by Pyar & Company.
For more design inspiration, please be sure to follow along in Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and subscribe to Bespoke Banter. Thanks for reading!
When a client brings a spark of inspiration to the design process, it makes my job as a designer much more rewarding. My primary role as an interior designer is an interpreter…being able to translate my client’s tastes into successful spaces. In doing so, the rooms become like the individuals and no two turn out alike. I recently had the privilege to work on a project that was inspired by a client’s favorite Hermès scarf. It embodied everything she desired…the colors, the pattern and the luxurious feeling she wanted for the space.
The last time I was in Paris, I saw the Hermès textile and wallpaper collection for the first time…The spell that this line always casts had me completely enchanted.
I was thrilled to see the latest collection which has several fabrics that will work beautifully for the scheme above…
Zébrures takes its inspiration from a zebra’s coat. The stripes form a wave, like palm leaves in the wind. The motif appears in the cotton weft over a silk chevron background which gives this jacquard fabric texture and contrast.
The Hs fit together like links in a chain to form undulating lines. This brocatelle jacquard, made of cotton and linen is sturdy and matt. It is available in neutral or high-contrast two-tone colour schemes.
Croquis de tigre, taken from one of painter Robert Dallet’s sketches, depicts the profile and portrait of a majestic tiger. The elegant cotton-silk jacquard perfectly complements the animal’s natural beauty. The satin weave background is available in three rich, deep hues to offer the perfect contrast for the tiger’s powerful presence. These sketches, placed across the width of the fabric, could be used for upholstery so as for cushions.
Fermoir H evokes the subtle and close-fitting clasp. In this jacquard interpretation, the outlines of the links elegantly adorn a twill background. This classic geometrical pattern in cotton and viscose reconciles durability and sophistication in a range of seven colour schemes.
Jungle Life’s repeating pattern depicts the jungle surrounding the big cats in love from the now iconic Jungle Love silk scarf designed by Robert Dallet in 2000. The design brings to life an imaginary world of luxuriant vegetation. Jungle Life is printed on a graceful heavy silk twill that is new to the collection. It perfectly symbolises Hermès’s creative approach and renders the print even more stunning in three variations, each with 21 colours.
A contemporary interpretation of the iconic Chaine d’Ancre. The striated rings evoke motor racing tracks
Pierre Marie Agin plays with ribbons which uncoil and escape from their coils. They find their way into the complex interplay of concentric circles and geometric games in the ribbon factory. Mixes of warps and wefts, and yarn crossing reveal a palette of precious colors in subtle shades of changing effects.
This original drawing from Jeff Fischer recalls coastal flora in a medallion composition. The vegetal patterns with colors patinated by the fresh air reflect pallets of grass, algae and sea water. The quality of the linen support and the regularity of the threads allow a perfect gouache effect and provide a particular smooth feel to the fabric.
The world of fantasy and travel, very important in the Hermès tradition, presented in a cotton print by Philippe Dumas
Inspired by the eponymous silk scarf created by Christine Henry in 2010, Arbre de vie is printed using the rare and exacting technique of warp printing before weaving. This exceptional 100% silk version transcends history with a radical change of scale. Emerald green dominates, plunging into a monsoon of lush, exaggerated greenery.
The iconic sailor motif revisited by Anamorphée plays out in a two-tone checked pattern developped in a contempory spirit. Reversible, this fabric with bright or marine colors is matched with Rayures Rocabar material. Water-repellent treated.
1) The famous fashion house was founded in 1837 by German-born French-raised Thierry Hermès.
2) Hermès began as a small harness workshop in Paris, which was dedicated to serving European noblemen, creating luxury harnesses and bridles for horse-drawn carriages. The Hermès logo is a royal carriage and a horse.
3) Thierry Hermès’ son, Charles-Émile Hermès, took over the management of the business and moved the shop in 1880 to 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré – where its flagship boutique still remains today.
4) Under new leadership and with fresh premises, Hermès introduced saddle manufacturing for the first time and began retail sales.
5) With the help of his sons Adolphe and Émile-Maurice, Charles-Émile grew the business’ global reach catering to Europe’s elite, with customers as far afield as North Africa, Russia, Asia and America, then in 1900 the firm introduced the Haut à Courroies handbag, which was specially designed for riders to carry their saddles with them.
6) Once Charles-Émile retired, the two sons renamed the business Hermès Frères and by 1914 had employed 80 saddle craftsmen due to huge demand, particularly from officials in Russia. The duo began using zips on their leather goods and were the first to introduce the device in France.
7) In the 1920s Émile-Maurice launched the firm’s first accessories collection and in 1922 the brand’s debut leather handbag was produced after his wife complained that she could not find a suitable one to her liking.
8) A decade later, the luxury label launched its Sac à dépêches bag (later renamed the Kelly) and in 1937 introduced its signature headscarves for the first time. The Queen is a firm favourite of the colourful silk designs.
9) In 1949, the same year as the launch of the Hermès silk tie, the first perfume, Eau d’Hermès, was produced.
10) Jean-Louis Dumas (great-great-grandson of Thierry Hermès) took over as the new head of the company in 1951.
11) After a commercial lull in the ‘70s, Dumas then concentrated on silk and leather goods, as well as revamped ready-to-wear, and the company’s fortunes began to turn after he modernised the business.
12) Dumas had nerve and put faith in new designers, hiring the unconventional Martin Margiela as creative director in 1997, and Jean-Paul Gaultier to replace him in 2003. The company was valued at £9.2billion at the time of his death in 2010.
13) Hermès kicked off the craze for naming handbag styles after celebrities. In 1956 a picture of Grace Kelly showed the silver screen icon using her Hermès Sac à dépêches bag to shield herself from a scrum of paparazzi photographers and so the style was renamed the Kelly. Each Kelly bag, like most Hermès designs, takes from 12 up to 18 hours to make.
14) But by far the most famous, and most collected design, is the Birkin, named after British sex kitten Jane. After a chance encounter on a plane with Dumas in the early ‘80s, the actress told him how her Kelly bag wasn’t big enough for everyday use, so they dreamt up a new design together and the Birkin was born.
15) A Hermès Birkin bag will set you back anything from £5,400 to a cool £100,000 in exotic skins such as saltwater crocodile, and its allure is further enhanced since the style isn’t available to buy instantly. Instead, you have to join an elite waiting list that can allegedly last years.
16) Hermès celebrated its 178th birthday this year
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter. Thanks for reading and please come back again!
A creative tsunami is the best way to describe the La Cinega Design Quarter’s LEGENDS event. Imagine having your entire design tribe in one spot…all of your favorite designers, vendors, artists and editors combined with the perfect mix of educational, inspirational and social events in sunny Los Angeles. Often referred to as the “Coachella” or “Fashion Week” of design, LEGENDS broke records this year with over 10,000 RSVPS coming from design aficionados representing 6 countries and 24 states in the US. The 3 day affair brings together VIPS and tastemakers from the worlds of interior design, decor, art, fashion, and architecture for receptions, keynote panels, cocktail parties exhibitions, book signings, personal appearances and special events. This year I was honored to be an ambassador covering the events for social media and mixing and mingling with all of the attendees.
Design fans are constantly seeking beauty and Los Angeles is the perfect backdrop to find inspiration with its stunning scenery, gorgeous showrooms and interiors, and insanely attractive Angelenos. I arrived a day early with my “blonde” (using that term loosely!) brigade/ travelling partners in crime: Tami Ramsay of Cloth & Kind, Julia Buckingham of Buckingham Interiors and Holly Phillips of The English Room who found us our amazing, yet dangerous house in the Hollywood Hills for our west coast adventure. While it may seem that it is “all play / no work,” it is quite the opposite. The ongoing conversation is a design think tank…linked to what inspires us, how to manage our respective practices, and how to troubleshoot different aspects of our businesses. I could not be more grateful to have this trusted group of confidantes. From Paris to High Point to LA, these girls provide constant entertainment and creative energy wherever we go.
Of course, we like to hit all of the LA hot spots to absorb everything LA has to offer. The Ivy is always the first stop with its bold colorful setting, amazing food, and hopes of always seeing a celebrity. Sighting #1: Lisa Vanderpump / Fedora Sightings : 2
Our spectacular view from our house nestled up in the Hollywood Hills.
Next stop…Palihouse in West Hollywood for a Viyet LA launch party sponsored by Traditional Home and Benjamin Moore. Viyet is a luxury consignment site for designer furniture and accessories.
Last year for LEGENDS we stayed in the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel.What amazed me about the setting was how the hotel transformed from day to night. The terrace and views are spectacular during the day, but the atmosphere at night above the twinkling lights of Los Angeles and the dramatic lighting is something to behold.
“Designed in 1929 by architect Leland A. Bryant, the Sunset Tower was a trendsetter from the moment it opened. Its dramatic setting on the Sunset Strip and elegant Art Deco styling, together with its proximity to famous restaurants and nightclubs of the 1930s & ’40s, contributed to its landmark status. West Hollywood has always catered to celebrities wishing to draw attention to their star power. The Sunset Tower embodied these aspirations, counting among its former residents Howard Hughes, John Wayne, Billie Burke, Marilyn Monroe, Errol Flynn, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Paulette Goddard, Zasu Pitts, and even gangster Bugsy Siegel. The Sunset Tower is a Hollywood landmark. Up to the 1950s it was as much a tourist attraction as the Hollywood sign itself. It has appeared in a number of films, including The Italian Job, Get Shorty, The Player and Strange Days. Its first literary mention was in Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely (1940). The film version of that novel, Murder, My Sweet, released four years later, was its first screen reference.” – Sunset Tower Historian
Star Sightings: Supermodel Janice Dickinson and General Hospital’s Jack Wagner and of course Hollywood’s most famous Maître D’ Dimitri Dimitrov. Fedora Sightings: 0 (thank goodness)
Presiding over the Tower Bar six, sometimes seven nights a week, Dimitri makes everyone who walks into the bar feel like they are important. With his signature move of palms in front of his chest and a slight bow, he graciously took care of us during cocktails and dinner and even gave us a fabulous table next to his favorite spot, the curved banquette in the corner with the best view of the Hollywood Hills. Hotel owner Jeff Klein hired Dimitri 11 years ago after Tom Ford slipped him Dimitri’s name on a coaster during dinner. A special treat during LEGENDS was to hear an interview with Jeff Klein by Becky Birdwell for the Design Leadership Network hearing the history and legacy of the hotel.
To offset the late nights and nonstop cocktailing, Runyon Canyon is a necessity on our visits.
Star Sightings: 1…We think this little guy may have made a cameo in Caddyshack. Fedoras: 0
Of course we hat to hit the Chateau Marmont which has been described as “touched with scandal, commemorated in literature.” This was my virgin voyage to the Chateau and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see it under nightfall on my next trip.
“Hotels are the stuff of stories, of mini dramas, a world unto themselves – we leave our lives behind and become who we want to be. Arriving at Chateau Marmont you surrender yourself to a grandi-loquent environment, an infamous hideaway and the perfect getaway in the center of one of the world’s most exciting cities.Modeled after an infamous royal residence in France’s Loire Valley, Chateau Marmont is a fantastical folly in the land of make believe. While in residence you become part of a highly discriminating, international clientele desiring an experience at once luxurious and unique.
Chateau is the perfect co-conspirator; as Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures said in 1939, “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” You can be yourself or, better yet, be whomever you want to be; don’t be surprised if your visit brings out your inner Howard Hughes, your Greta Garbo, your Jim Morrison. As public or private as you wish – there are those in residence who are desperate to be seen and others who choose to remain anonymous.The eccentric and highly personal history of the place, its luscious rich past, its tarnished patina are all part of the charm. This great castle on the hill is the set of a film waiting for someone to call action – this is the place where things happen. Checking in is like turning up in the middle of an ongoing party at a European country estate – there is always someone you know staying here. Mindful of its history – but always in the moment – it is contemporary as tomorrow morning – there is great comfort here. Sit in a wicker chair on the veranda writing post-cards imagining you are in an exotic outpost-far far away.
And when the dusk of evening settles, put on some smoky jazz and get lost – sink into the aphrodisiac of the deep couches, take your paramour on an elevator ride – at night everyone comes to Chateau Marmont – this is the pageant and parade that evening brings, they come for the martini, for the sex appeal, to make the deal–naughty or nice, everyone is your darling. And after hours – there is the Bar Marmont – an outpost for the foreign correspondent you’ve become – all hotel guests are insiders – there is no velvet rope here. You are on liberty, sabbatical, furlough from your familiar life, you feel the heat, the sweat, the late night lust that is LA. This is the place you can most be yourself and it is the only grand hotel you can call home.”- A.M Homes
Star Sightings: 0 Fedora Sightings: 5
Next stop…a visit to Julia’s fabulous Slim Aarons-inspired window for The Rug Company. Aaron’s iconic “Poolside Gossip” at the Kaufmann House was reinterpreted 45 years after with the original models Helen Dzo Dzo and Nelda Linsk as “Poolside Reunion” by Palm Springs based photographer Fred Moser. Wife Kelly Lee of esteemed Kelly Golightly makes a cameo in the shot
Amanda Reynal. Marisa Marcontonio and Joe Lucas
Chad Graci, Fab photographer Sarah D’Orio, Danielle Rollins, and Bill Ingram
Julia Carr Baylor and John Bossard
Lindsay Fleege and Ellen Toler of Urban Electric
Young Huh, Shaun Smith. Mercedes Desio, Alberto Villalobos
Where is Julia? With Holly Phillips and Tami Ramsay
Final stop….Soho House with gal pal Lizzie Wibbelsman of Holland & Sherry. A perfect end to a perfect day with all of my favorite people!
Star/ Fedora Sightings: Boy George wearing a Fedora!
15 minutes of fame…attaching our mug shot to the photo wall!
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*Gala Photographs from JL Photography