Mixing it up

Adding contemporary or modern art to a traditional space is one of the best ways to keep it interesting.   Bringing diverse elements into a space enhances the design.  Too much of a good thing can come across as theme-y instead of emphasis on a certain style.  One of the great examples of this being well done is the Upper East Side apartment of Kate and Andy Spade.  Additional examples of this collected look follow.

photo from The Selby

by Bunny Williams

Courtney Giles

from Chinoiserie Chic

from French Design on the Texas Coast

The Met

Although a recent visit to The Met was certainly inspiring, I am still feeling overwhelmed by my Visual Concepts research and project.  Onward!

Dorothy Henrietta Anderson

Today would have been my maternal Grandmother's 99th birthday.  She died eleven years ago and I still think about her often. To have her all my growing up years and into adulthood was such a gift.  She was an important supporter of milestones in my life--college graduation, a career in Washington, DC, my wedding and the birth of my first child (who is named after her.)  She was coiffed, manicured, dressed stylishly and could play the piano until the day she died.  She never left the house without her lipstick.  She also made the best chocolate cake, which is a birthday tradition in our family and I still miss her amazing fudge at Christmastime. It is from her I inherited a sweet tooth, a certain outspokenness and a taste for the better things in life.  Currently, I am working on a Chinoiserie inspired project and my Mother reminded me of my Grandmother's beautiful antique house in Michigan with the red Chinoiserie foyer and the jade green tile floor.  It was dramatic and beautiful just like Grandma Anderson.  She is with me in spirit every day.

My grandparents on their wedding day~my Grandfather was dapper, charming and old school. :)

Wallcoverings

Lately, I've been obsessed with grasscloth wallpaper.  It's such an elegant look (but not fancy) and adds so much interest to a space.  We have a powder room that really needs a facelift.  Grasscloth wallpaper, a Chippendale mirror and sconces would do wonders for the space.

 The seams add to the charm of this wallcovering.

 About ten years ago, I purchased this exact Chippendale mirror at an antique store and it's been in my closet ever since.  It would be perfect in the powder room.

Sconces are a beautiful addition on either side of a mirror and actually provide better lighting than a fixture hung above.  This is a favorite Scalamandre wallpaper too.  Celerie Kemble has a new line of beautiful wallcoverings for Schumacher, check them out here.

dream kitchen

Someday I'd like to have an Ina Garten inspired black and white kitchen with open shelving, hardwood floors and gas Viking range . . .

My final project in design school is a kitchen, so I have them on the brain right now :)

favorite fall color

mustard :)