One of the most special opportunities we have worked on this year was designing a window at the Janet Yonaty showroom for the LCDQ’s Legends event that took place this past week. Every May, the design community descends on Los Angeles for three days of inspiration. Forty interior designers are invited to design showroom windows inspired by this year’s theme: Legendary: Icons of Design presenting their homages to legendary interior designers of the past. We were VERY pleasantly surprised to WIN the contest for “Favorite Window!” Heartfelt thanks to everyone who voted for us and to all of the amazing vendors, artists, and craftsmen (listed below) that brought our vision to life. A special thank you to Tamar Mashigian for inviting us to participate in this incredible event!
It is hard to believe this is the closing weekend of the Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens presented by Atlanta Home and Lifestyles Magazine. Many thanks to all who have come to see the showhouse filled with so much amazing talent. I will be at the house tomorrow from 1-4 for the final day for anyone who wants to pop in to say hello!
I have had many inquiries about items available in our space. Showhouses provide an amazing source to get incredible high end pieces, custom furniture, art and antiques…many of which are priced well below what they would sell for on the showroom floor. So, if you see something that catches your eye, make sure to look at the price list in each room to see what is still available. You might find the perfect Mother’s Day gift!
We are delighted to be participating in the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens which opens this week! Not only am I glad to have a reason to spend more time in my hometown, but I am also beyond excited to spend time with so many other favorite design friends that are also designing spaces in this year’s showhouse. Atlanta is at her finest during April and May. When I first began contemplating the design scheme for our rooms, I wanted to incorporate the glorious spring shades that reveal themselves each week a new flower or tree begins to bloom. For the past several weeks, we have been feverishly working to pull together our bedroom, bathroom, and hallway that all began with this spring palette…
I wanted to create a fantasy bedroom where I would look forward to waking up each morning surrounded by everything I love. I am a colorist at heart…color energizes me, comforts me, and evokes joy for me. The palette was inspired by some of my fondest travel memories of the past year. I kept coming back to certain images I had taken where the indescribable colors stayed with me. I was continually drawn to the combination of spring green with shades of lilac and orchid.
Every spring and fall, the design industry makes its bi-annual pilgrimage to High Point Furniture Market. This year marked my 25th trip to the furniture mecca and this market certainly did not disappoint! My first stop is always 214 Modern Vintage, a collection of great dealers with incredible eyes for everything from fine art and lighting to mid century furnishings and accessories. I could linger here for hours and it is always inspiring to see the authentic pieces in person before heading out into the world of furniture market interpreting these designs.
Natural Curiosities blew my mind at this market! All of their introductions looked incredible in the new exhibition space complete with its own “ArtBar” where you could watch the artists at work on site. These silkscreens from the Planetary are created by mixing colors during the screening process, resulting in abstract, blended forms. The simple shape and coloration evoke the image of distant planets and no two are alike allowing the viewer to create their own unique universe.
Natural Curiosities also introduced a gorgeous furniture line consisting of luxe shapes in stunning colors to complement their art collection. Specimen art has always been a specialty for this company. The past few collections have been exploring the power and journey of flight with various compilations of feathers. This work entitled “Daedelus” is made of 3000 hand painted feathers that are gathered into a unified form, creating maximum impact. They describe the shape as “a shield and channels the intrinsic magic and awe of nature.” According to Greek mythology, Daedelus built the labyrinth for King Minos and then was imprisoned in a tower to prevent his knowledge of the labyrinth from spreading to the public. His only way to escape was in the air so he fabricated his own set of wings. He also created a pair for his son Icarus, but warned him not to fly too high because the heat of the son would melt the wax on their wings, nor too low because the sea would soak their feathers.
This beautiful specimen circle is made of naturally colored magnificent pink shells…
Taken from French textile designs, the Pignier series is a mix of botanicals, patterns and handwritten details.
Athens based artist Carol John’s work brilliantly adorned the new Hickory Chair showroom. Her work expresses her love of color, language and pop graphics. It was a such a pleasant surprise to meet the artist in person…she is just as delightful as her paintings!
Trowbridge Gallery featured a gorgeous collection of vintage Gudri jackets using 1930s Parisian designs. Each handmade work is one of a kind and floated in a shadow box frame.
Alexis Walter’s space sang with all of her ethereal new paintings. Her pastel palette of abstract works and smaller watercolors possess her distinctive look layered, tactile, and beyond extraordinary.
A new find this market was the handmade works by Crystal Brooke McCann. Known as a “creative visonary extraordinaire,” her collection includes hand painted silks and leathers, hides, as well as hand made paper and furnishings. This paper mural is 11 feet long and the delicate detail is divine.
Hunt Slonem debuted his wallpaper and fabric collection at the new Kravet showroom. Using multiplicity as a motif, Slonem has created an iconic body of work that is sought after around the globe. The much anitcipated collection will allow everyone to have a little piece of the world of this enigmatic artist.
For the neutralists, the work of Carol Benson-Cobb was breathtaking. According to the artist, her work “reflects a feeling created within a color palette with an emphasis on the way the colors touch, layer and affect one another…My intentions are never to fully define a scene but to lead viewers in the use of their imagination and own life experiences to fill in the gaps.” In the work below, she has taken a detail from one of her original paintings and book matched and repeated the pattern.
Trowbridge Gallery used the power of scale to take a fingerprint, an everyday yet unique image, and elevated it to a work of abstract art in metallic inks.
This series from Thom Felicia’s collection for Soicher Marin perfectly illustrates his design aesthetic…”classic simplicity with an unexpected, modern flair.” 12 different abstract sketches would make a great graphic punch on any gallery wall.
Please contact the design studio if you are interested in design services or any of the works seen here…Please check back this week for more High Point Highlights on trends, lighting, accessories and furnishings.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading!
The A-Ha moment is one of clarity. It is a defining moment when you gain real wisdom that can be used to change your life. This moment can be inspiring, surprising, original, deeply personal and worth sharing. It often arises when there is an obstacle that needs to be turned into an opportunity.
Last week at Blogfest 2012, the editors from House Beautiful encouraged us to share an A-Ha moment from our design work. Up and coming designers Michael Herold, Jill Goldberg, and John Call shared their A-Ha moments with the group and challenged us to do the same.
My A-Ha moment came while working on the Pink House, a unique respite for breast cancer survivors and the Carolina Breast Friends organization. The Pink House serves breast cancer survivors in numerous ways: Wellness Education, Library and Computer Research Center, Fitness and Nutrition Centers, Self-Image Services, Arts & Crafts Workshops, and Counseling Services.
When I first saw the house, it was a beautiful historic home that had recently been renovated, but there were no funds to furnish the interior. What seemed like an insurmountable obstacle at the time turned into the most wonderful and fulfilling opportunity.
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The Living Room Upholstery from Charles Stewart |
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The Living Room Accessories donated by Circa Interiors and Antiques |
The organization wanted us to create a sophisticated, calming and feminine atmosphere. This was a haven where women would come together for fellowship, support and inspiration.
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The Living Room Re-upholstery donated by Design Services, Inc. |
Albert Hadley said, “Decorating is not about making stage sets,…it’s really about creating a quality of life, a beauty that nourishes the soul.” We wanted the survivors that entered this space to feel like their spirits had been lifted and their souls nourished.
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Painting donated by Kate Long Stevenson in honor of her friend Neil Maddux Miller |
We found several pieces at local flea markets and tag sales. With some refinishing, new paint and re- upholstery, we were able to turn others people’s cast off furnishings into beautiful pieces for the Pink House.
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The Library Window Treatments donated by Custom Window Treatments |
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The Sun Room Carpet donated by Stark |
When we first began this project, I honestly did not know if we would be able to pull it together. We had several different rooms that needed to flow together along with random assortment of found items and upholstery that needed some unifying element. I finally understood the expression “making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!” Fortunately, we ended up with our A-Ha moment and we were all thrilled with the final product.
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The Exterior Renovations donated by J.E. Dunn Construction |
Yours truly with Newell Turner, Editor in Chief of House Beautiful and Beth Greene, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Branding for Kravet, Lee Jofa and Brusnchwig & Fils |
Our second day of Blogfest begins with breakfast at the stunning Hearst Tower…
High up the the 44th floor, we will hear Veranda‘s elegant Editor in Chief Dara Caponigro discuss the evolution of the May/June issue.
We then get another dose of extraordinary talent from House Beautiful. The charismatic Editor in Chief Newell Turner will share his insights onto what it takes to get published. House Beautiful’s Next Wave Designers, Jon Call, Jill Goldberg and Michael Harold will reveal their secrets on how to take an interior design career to the next level.
After our inspirational morning, we will head to the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House to meet with the dashing Editor in Chief Michael Boodroo.
The show house is being held at the Dillon in one of their nine townhouses. Eight international designers have created original contemporary spaces in conjunction with modern furniture, fabric and accessory lines.
Next we are off to the D&D building to the Lee Jofa showroom for lunch with Macrae furniture designer Robert Brown and Keith Granet, author of Business of Design. After lunch, we will join Traditional Home Editor in Chief Anne Maine at the Kravet showroom for an interview with the charming and talented Alexa Hampton.
The ladies will define and discuss what the term “traditional” means today and how the design industry has acclimated to keep up with the new “traditional.”
If that were not enough for one day of design, we then head to see a sneak preview of the new Baccarat showroom to meet designer extraordinaire Vincent Wolf.
The topic of Mr. Wolf’s lecture is “Finding New Direction: How People Want to Live in the Contemporary World.”
Thank goodness there is no After Party tonight! Stay tuned for Day 3 tomorrow…
Next week design blogs will be blowing up with editorial commentary from Blogfest 2012. The event has been organized specifically for interior design bloggers by host sponsors Kravet, Lee Jofa, and Brunschwig and Fils. The fabric houses have partnered with the industry’s top design magazines to plan 3 days of programs in stunning settings with today’s interior design icons.
Architectural Digest’s Editor in Chief Margaret Russell welcomes the designers to Blogfest at the Kips Bay Decorator Show house. I do not know if I am more excited to see the show house or to meet the charming Ms. Russell! I became a huge fan of hers during her early days at Elle Decor and more so watching her as a judge on Bravo’s Top Design with Kelly Wearstler and Johnathan Adler.
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the show house which benefits the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. Typically the show house takes place in a townhouse or brownstone. The 2011 show house will be in two 6000 plus square foot penthouse units above the Penn Station rail yards at the Aldyn overlooking the Hudson. The designers have been faced with the monumental task to turn these empty rooms with little architectural detailing and massive windows into aesthetically pleasing and breathtaking spaces. In today’s New York Times, Bunny Williams, the show house chair and design guru, comments that visitors come to see the show house, “for the fantasy, the playfulness, and the flair of artistry.” Guests can escape the reality of everyday life and appreciate the time and talent these designers have donated all to raise money for a wonderful cause.
After the kick off event at the Aldyn, we will then head to SoHo to Savant to have cocktails with the dashing Thom Filicia. Thom designed their massive showroom which integrates Apple based technology into beautiful room settings as seen below. As a self diagnosed I-Phone and I-Pad junkie, I cannot wait to see how this technology can streamline everything in the home from the lights and thermostat to becoming a personal media player and sound system.
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Renovations donated by J.E. Dunn Construction |
Last September, a dear friend invited me to visit the Pink House, a unique respite for breast cancer survivors and the Carolina Breast Friends organization. Inspired by CBF founder Kristy Adams-Ebel, this vision became the passion of more than 200 Charlotte women who are breast cancer survivors and members. The Pink House serves breast cancer survivors in numerous ways by providing Wellness Education, a Library and Computer Research Center, Fitness Center, Nutrition Center, Self-Image Services, Arts & Crafts Workshops, and Counseling Services. When I saw the Pink House for the first time, they were in the midst of the renovation that had been donated by J.E. Dunn Construction. They had done a magnificent job renovating this beautiful historic home, but had no funds to furnish the interior. We held a ladies only “Pink Party” in November to raise money for the interior. The generosity of the Charlotte community was incredible. In one evening, we raised enough to furnish the first floor of the house. From there, we approached several vendors and workrooms to see if they would donate their time and talent to help with the cause. Thanks to the donations of the design community, we were able to complete the entire house which opened its doors in May of the this year. We held another “Pink Party” this spring to celebrate the opening and raise funds to help CBF hire an executive director. We were completely humbled by everyone’s kindness and generosity. Not a single person we asked declined to help.
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Painting donated by Kate Long Stevenson |
We approached Kate Long Stevenson to see if she would be willing to do a painting in memory of a friend she had lost to breast cancer. Kate created the most beautiful abstract work and dedicated it to “memory of my extraordinary friend, Neil Maddux Miller. May her vibrancy, grace, and incredible resilience continue to inspire us all. “ The painting resides above the mantel that is now the focal point of the living room where Carolina Breast Friends will hold their monthly meetings. Neil’s law firm donated her office furniture for use in the Executive Office which was designed by local designer Lee Cooney. To see more of Kate’s work go to www.studiokate.net.
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Upholstery donated by Design Services, Inc. Discounted fabrics provided by Cowtan and Tout, Schumacher, Lee Jofa, Kravet and Karen Saks. |
Mike and Sabrina Polly of Design Services of Charlotte agreed to donate all of the labor for re-upholstery. We found several pieces at local flea markets and tag sales (such as the Mint to be Yours Tag Sale last fall). I had worked with Mike for years, but did not know that his wife was also a breast cancer survivor. It was incredible to see how his workshop turned other people’s cast off furniture into beautiful pieces for the Pink House.
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Drapery donated by Custom Window Treatments New upholstery from Charles Stewart through Darnell and Company |
Sharon Coppede of Custom Window Treatments is a breast cancer survivor herself. She agreed to donate all of the labor, lining, and inner lining for all of the window treatments in the house. The ladies that work in her design studio all donated their time to make the beautiful drapery in the above image. Sharon has joined Carolina Breast Friends and has started mentoring ladies who have recently been diagnosed.
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Lampshades donated by Lux Lampshades Accessories donated by Circa Interiors and Antiques |
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Needlepoint Rug donated by Stark Carpet Blinds through Fine Designs, Inc. |
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Orchids donated by Pamela Lovett |
For more information on the Pink House and Carolina Breast Friends, please go to www.carolinabreastfriends.org.