Last year, I started having a thing for blue. Not the turquoise-y green blue that most of my friends know I love, but a different,deep, dark, inky, indigo blue. Slowly, I’ve started seeing this color creep into the wider consciousness. And just today, this was in my inbox.
Stampa featuring Britt Browne
Last week, I got this.
Dosa launches spring summer collection featuring indigo.
And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the introduction of indigo to the collection of you-know-who.
A variety of blues from Restoration Hardware
What do you think of all of this blue? Does it reflect the current mood of our nation? Is it part of the home gardening boom?
An early Saturday morning alarm, two kids and my mother in tow, we headed north to Santa Barbara for the Raoul Textiles Sale. Afterwards, a little worse for the wear, as if right out of a stampede at Filene’s, I was happy to discover the Carpinteria Growers Association hosting free behind-the-green(house)-door tours of some pretty fantastic flower nurseries. Most notably was Westland Floral, growers of cymbidium orchids and gerber daisies among other varieties of flowers that make up many of the bouquets offered at grocery stores nationwide.
Cymbidium as far as the eye can see.
These cymbidium blooms are getting ready for their Mothers’ Day harvest. Each plant is over 50 years old and sports its own shears, dangling from the elastic grow line overhead, to prevent cross-contamination.
Pink gerbera daisies.
Personally, I am usually pretty satisfied with myself when something even grows under my watch. But for these nurseries, farmers know exactly how many blossoms they will get out of each plant in its 5-year life span. Each of these Gerbera plants will have a new bloom approximately every two weeks. That’s about 130 flowers in its lifetime.
Rainbow of gerbers.
Hi J. Latter friends + fans! I’m Tracy, new Project Manager at J. Latter Design. I’m so excited to be working with Julie because I (finally get paid to) come across items like this pouf by Franco Albini, which we saw recently at Blend. Check this thing out!
It’s sculptural and refined but also very organic-feeling because of the material: woven cane. Albini was known for working with inexpensive, available materials but in a highly artisanal way. (I feel like if we were talking food, his designs would be akin to some blow-your-mind roasted cauliflower.) Because of the shape of this particular piece, I can’t help but think it’s an architectural, stylized tumbleweed. Which is pretty much the holy grail of design as far as I’m concerned. ~tc
Not usually one to toot my own horn, I’ve decided it’s time to show off some press that was featured a few months ago in Angeleno Interiors. Belonging to parents of young twin boys and two upholstery-loving pugs, this home was a particularly fun project because the homeowner was incredibly knowledgeable about design, easily referring to past issues of Domino Magazine. As a result, she had strong opinions about what she wanted in her reconceived home and was more than willing to take risks.
The homeowner’s courage allowed me to use this bold
Osborne and Little wallpaper in the entry. Though covered in flowers, this paper does not feel sweet in the slightest.
Glossy hall paint and two seating areas.
In the living room, I created two separate seating areas – one with a pair of custom orange sofas in a pug-proof fabric and the other with a vintage Italian settee and a stunning recovered Sergio Rodriguez chair and ottoman. The Moroccan rug, vintage lucite table, and collection of art make the area feel comfortable and complete. Wanna see more? Check it out
here.
April 18th , 2012 / filed under
news,
press /
Just when I feel like I’m sick of everything I’ve seen, along comes a whole new batch of great stuff. Check out these gorgeous textiles I’ve discovered over the last few weeks. I am particularly drawn to textiles with a handmade feel – embroidery, quilting, silk screen, block printing. I just love the slight imperfections that real human beings bring to the creative process.
Designer's Guild Havana Corales in Lime
Peter Dunham's quilted Lamu fabric in indigo
- Designer’s Guild Brera Mattone in Duck Egg
- A stunning selection of woven fabrics at Pat McGann
Beautiful earthy grouping of Vietnamese throws at Harbinger
Lately, people have been asking me to post about affordable stylish items. That said, I am here to point you in the direction of the new Serena and Lily catalog and their truly inspired lighting collection. The Marmont Pendant is a stellar example. Perfect for an entry or a small bathroom and priced right at $265, it definitely adds the right touch of sparkle without being garish. Here are just few more of my favorites.
This sconce would be great in an entrance, a library or a powder room.
Hammered Brass Sconce
Or how about this pendant in a breakfast room?
Gumdrop Pendants from Serena and Lily
This cut opaque glass lamp works in many rooms – from a den to a bedroom.
Honeycomb Lamp from Serena and Lily
Several months ago I started experimenting with an idea that had been brewing for some time. I am super pleased with the results and so was Harbinger since they featured two of the pillows in their window for the Traditional Home Bunny Williams event on Tuesday night.
J. Latter hand painted pillow in the window of Harbinger.
More J. Latter hand painted pillows at Harbinger.
I’m a sucker for anything multi-colored. It’s part of being a Libra, but it’s more a part of the interplay between multiple things. I think Proust said something about this in his “questionnaire” about not having a favorite color, rather the favorite being the harmony between two colors. I completely agree. Sure, I have my go-to answer for favorite color (aqua), but I really like aqua in conjunction with other colors – electric green, orange, fluourescent pink. When more than one color collide, something magical happens – like adding hot fudge to ice cream.
In their purest forms, Damien Hirst’s Spot paintings are simple glossy circles neatly organized on white grounds. But watch what happens when each color is viewed with it’s neighbor. Pink isn’t just pink anymore. Neither is blue.
The Spot painintgs have been wildly successful on the art market, raking in millions of bucks for Mr. Hirst and causing quite a stir amongst art conoscienti, the latest a slick marketing tool called The Complete Spot Challenge. With a nod to Willy Wonka, anyone who visits the Spot Paintings at all eleven locations of Gagosian Galleries will receive a special limited edition Hirst print. The prints will be made after the race is complete and only issued to registered challengers who complete the worldwide task. The paintings are located in Geneva, Rome, Athens, Paris, London x2, New York x3, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. According to a variety of sources, the trip would range anywhere from $13,000 to well over $100,000. Or, like Charlie, you can just fire up your Great Glass Elevator.
8-Bromoguanine, 2005 Damien Hirst (Hong Kong)
Zirconyl Chloride, 2008 Damien Hirst (New York)
Installation view. The Spot Paintings. Damien Hirst.
People always ask me what it was like to grow up in New Orleans, and I usually remember MY childhood. The places we frequented, the faces, the normalcies of everyday life are what come to mind – not much different from anyone else’s upbringing. I don’t think about Mardi Gras or Bourbon Street. But I also don’t think that having red beans and rice for dinner on Monday is out of the ordinary or that grabbing a “go cup” on the way out of a bar at night is not a universal experience. This was how I grew up, and the sights, sounds and tastes are what I EXPECT whenever I am home. What I forget is how spectacularly rich New Orleans is. And though I am never surprised or shocked by what I see, I do forget. How delicious it tastes, how soulful it sounds and how stunningly beautiful it is time and again.
Plaster Work on the Exterior of the Hotel Moteleone
Earthy and Decadent Oysters Mosca
Perfectly Vintage Barber Shop at Night
Sugary Coated Doorway
Best Breakfast Around
I love the holidays for all the time I can spend delving into etsy or pinterest. For that matter, I love any extra time I can dig around on those sites. Last week, I came across this gorgeous “candy” goodness by an artist named Elyse Graham. She calls these pieces Geodes and I totally get why. I also instantly related to her description of the wonder of “rocks being filled with magical surprises.” Like Elyse, I loved playing with rocks as a child, though was never lucky enough to have my very own geode. Perhaps one of these will join my bookshelves instead.
My kind of Jawbreaker.
Statement-making New Yorkers find a way to keep their garbage cans safe. What a clever way to identify your goods. See the full article in last week’s NY Times here.
Just got an email about a new Alexander Girard book and it looks just stunning. Perfect for gifting this Holiday season and brought to us by the ever-stylish designer, Todd Oldham, and former Cookie Mag editor Kiera Coffee. The book chronicles almost every aspect of Girard’s career from graphic design to textiles. You may remember Todd’s previous book on Charley Harper which graces many a bookshelf and coffee table. At at hefty 672 pages, this one promises to not disappoint.
image from Alexander Girard by Todd Oldham and Kiera Coffee from Ammo books
image from Alexander Girard by Todd Oldham and Kiera Coffee from Ammo books
Over the past two weeks, via my friend Parrish, I received a couple of emails from The Old Girls’ Network, aka the OGN. Each time one dinged into my mailbox, I thought it was a notification from my obstetrician’s office. Happily, the OGN has nothing to do with my lady parts, rather it is a group of creative women organized by my new friend (and fellow Tufts grad), Amelia Dalgaard. Feeling isolated so often in my creative bubble, I thought I’d give the OGN a whirl.
This month, the women gathered for a talk given by Susan Feldman, co-founder of One King’s Lane. Other attendees included Parrish Chilcoat of Lucas Studio and Harbinger, Hillary Thomas of Hillary Thomas Designs, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Shannon Timms of Shannon Timms Art Advisory. These were my kind of people.
With a prior career in the apparel industry working for Ralph Lauren, Ms. Feldman spoke very candidly about her success in birthing One King’s Lane. A few things stood out for me during her talk:
1. At OKL, ideas and decisions are executed quickly. Not only was OKL (one of) the first to market, they have grown exponentially in a few short years. When they started they had approximately 5,000 members. Now membership has grown to over 3,000,000. Sales are now over $100,000,000.
2. Fail fast. Try something. If it doesn’t work or it doesn’t feel right, get rid of it and move on. How true – whether it’s boyfriends or business.
3. OKL is unwaveringly committed to their brand. Keeping the aesthetic through-line of your brand is a cornerstone of success. If something does not fit aesthetically within your vision of your brand, then it’s out. Maintaining consistency and knowing your customer are key.
4. Keep it simple. (Sure can’t add anything to that notion).
5. There is no difference between Susan and me, or you. Any one of us could achieve what she has (though she does require far less sleep than most – maxing out at about 5-6 hours a night). Sure, we can point to multiple things Susan and her partner have done “right,” (a great idea, financial flexibility, tirelessness) but when you listen to her speak, you realize that they just had a vision and saw it through. They didn’t make excuses, or buy into the roadblocks along the way. They ignored some pieces of advice and embraced others. Certainly, something this Old Girl needs to be reminded of now and again.
Ever wandered the aisles of an art supply store? Felt the bristles of the brushes, smelled the linseed oil or tested the rainbow of specialty markers? I could be there for hours. It’s such a source of inspiration for me, filled with potential and lots of choices. Whenever I see painterly pieces like these I immediately want to run to the nearest Blick and load up on new brushes and paints. I want to get messy and pronto.
Today the trend for these kinds of goods is in full swing, and I can’t get enough. Perhaps a maturation of the Renegade culture, they bring a handmade quality to our interior spaces that I think is an essential part of any eclectic space, trendy or not.
I’ve also been experimenting with creating some of my own designs. The freedom that I feel when dripping paint on drapery panels along with the unpredictable results of experimentation is just plain ‘ol fun. If you decide to tackle some of your own projects, look for future posts revealing some of my successes and failures. Don’t be afraid to take risks with garish colors and unusual fabrics. You never know what may result. And if you are still unhappy with the outcome, head on back to the art supply store and look for me trawling the aisles.
*sources: anthropologie, jarlath mellett, abc carpet, isaac mizrahi for s. harris.
When I was growing up, there were few things my grandmother revered as much as Elizabeth Taylor – not for her acting prowess, her stunning violet eyes or even her philanthropy. Alas, Ms. Taylor was held in the highest regard because of her collection of jewelry. Elizabeth’s jewels only paled in comparison to those of the Queen. I kid you not.
So when I heard that a portion of her trove would be on view at the MOCA at the PDC, I leapt at the chance and pulled every string I could to pay my respects to such an esteemed collection. Tickets sold out immediately.
Some may thing I’m nuts, but as my grandmother would say, “A chacun son gout.”
Antique Opera Tokens
If you’d like to see the collection for yourself or perhaps even bid on any of Ms. Taylor’s treasures including her film memorabilia, artwork and haute couture, they will be up for auction at Christie’s in New York City this winter.
I casually wandered in to Target around 10:30 yesterday morning to peruse the Missoni launch and to see if lived up to all it had been hyped to be, pre-launch. The image above shows what I saw. Throughout the store were about 100 stylish women and a dozen very stylish men wandering the aisles with their empty red carts. What was going on? Did they not stock the shelves yet? Uh, hello, people of Target. Did you not know Missoni is supposed to launch today? Where’s all the loot? Slowly but surely, we could hear the chatter from the employees. Lines around the block, hair pulling, women stripping bare in the aisles to try things on. Silly me. Alas, what I was witnessing was the aftermath of a storm, not the preparation for one.
What was left of the accessories.
Kaareva Ottoman
Yeah, yeah. We all know Crate and Barrel carries Marimekko. So when I wandered into C&B the other day I wasn’t surprised to see the smattering of modern textiles. But I’m telling you, they’ve never carried Marimekko like this before. Even if you’re not a huge fan of their Scandanavian patterns, I guarantee they have something that will make you smile. Plus, for those crafty types (like myself) they offer a nice selection of insanely priced fabrics by the yard. Take a gander.
Lappuliisa Kitchen Towels
Ruuturouva Basket
Siirtolapuutarha Rasymatto Mugs without Handles
Lots of folks were talking about Exit Through the Giftshop last year. Many even gushed that it should win an Oscar. I’m not sure I agree with that assessment, but I do agree with the interest it has sparked in graffiti art and the debate between defacing property and self-expression. Obviously, the exhibit was in the works long before the release of the film, so I was curious to see the “real art world’s” view of street art. Without delving into the controversy of graffiti, I thought I’d show you just a small sampling of what the MOCA had on display. We visited on the final day of the show and I was not only impressed with the caliber of the work but with the exhibit itself. The spaces offered opportunities to be immersed in the street art with back alleys and mock bodegas along with other areas of standard gallery viewing. Also of note was the crowd – huge and enthusiastic. In fact, overall attendance was a record high of over 200,000 visitors. No matter which side of the controversy you’re on, looks like street art is here to stay.
* All images were taken on site at the MOCA exhibit
While vacationing in Colorado, we spent some time with an old friend of my husband’s, photographer, Karl Wolfgang. After a delicious lunch at Taqueria Nopal and a couple of hours fishing with the kids in a local pond, we had the great fortune to be invited back to Karl’s cabin. Maxing out at around 300 square feet, Karl has completely outfitted his home with everything you’d need. With a black chimney and two sided fireplace as the center of the cabin, the perimeter of the room contains separate zones for living, working, bathing and cooking. Karl has built or re-built almost every square inch of the cabin himself from the lush shade garden to the kitchen. You can see the pride and clever aesthetic choices he’s made at every turn. A homemade ladder provides access to a charming sleeping loft complete with flatscreen. A man (or woman, for that matter) could want for nothing more.
Karl at his front door.
The living area. The mix of furnishings and cheerful rug make this space feel homey.
Looking up from floor of the living space.
The view from the living space, beyond the open front door to the work area. Note the fireplace on the right side of the frame. The ladder of the loft is behind to the right.
The desk area.
The view of the kitchen from atop the ladder.
A detail of the kitchen sill. Can't beat the view.
The teenie bathroom is just to the right of the work area. The small tub and shower is to the right. It's given privacy by a beaded curtain.
A detail of the bathroom mirror - a circular mirror collaged w/ a selection of personal mementos. See the reflection of the beaded curtain in the mirror.
The view from the bathroom toward the back of the front door. I love the way he's displayed the art on the sloped ceiling.
The right side of the porch. No styling required.
The left side of the porch.
