Million Dollar Decorators

This season, I got hooked on Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators.  They are talented, likable and funny! It's great to see them interact with clients, friends and deal with all the issues that come up in a design project.  Each has a very different design aesthetic and it's so interesting to see what they come up with~I'm sorry the season is over.

Mary McDonald's grand hallway in a show house.

Jeffrey Alan Marks pantry (what a dream!)

Martyn Bullard's closet

Kathryn Ireland's kitchen

Nathan Turner's shop

The Grand Hotel

Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places and this year The Grand Hotel celebrates its 125th birthday.  Aptly named, it is one of the grandest hotels in America.  The long front porch, amazing views and beautiful geraniums make it breathtakingly beautiful.  The interior is colorful, classic American design.  The whole island gives the feeling of a vacation from yesteryear.  There are no cars allowed and you can only get there by ferry.  Taxis are horse drawn, there are bicycles everywhere and lovely boats in the harbor.  

The hotel's interior was designed by Carlton Varney (Mr. Color) of Dorothy Draper & Company.  Not one room in the hotel is alike and there is a series of First Lady Suites designed by Varney in consultation with Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush.  An additional suite is named after Jacqueline Kennedy.

Jacqueline Kennedy Suite

The Hotel interior

Visitors can enjoy simple pleasures in a grand setting.  Relaxing in a rocking chair on the longest porch in America, afternoon tea in the parlor, a horse and carriage tour of the island, croquet or bocci on the grand lawn, golf, tennis or a five course dinner in the dining room (jacket and tie required.)

 The birthday cake

 The celebration

Now and then . . . Happy 125th!

(all photos from The Grand Hotel)

In Defense of the Decorator

There is a very interesting article in the New York Times.  As the daughter of small business owners and a lifelong supporter of "mom and pop" shops, the fact that individual artisans, carpenters, upholsterers, painters and other creative types are supported by decorators who utilize their talents is a great point to remember.

West Hollywood rental

 On a recent visit to L.A., my husband found this great house to rent.  The neighborhood is full of wonderful eateries and shops, we loved being able to walk out the door and go get a meal and enjoy the sunny weather.

Because I'm studying interior design and I love houses, it was very interesting to read how this house was decorated and learn about tini. (this is not ikea,) a vintage furniture store that does interior design.  But the funny thing was, after a long day of touring and still being on east coast time, we were watching HGTV and a new show called Pop Shop came on . . . it's all about tini. and their projects!  Very fun and we are hoping "our" house will be on a future episode.  Check out more photos here and here. 

If I could . . .

I would switch up our living room to look more like this :D  The chair fabric, salon wall, striped rug and neutral sofa are all favorites of mine, not to mention the Hermes blanket.

Tommy Smythe's house

Leah Ball Steen

Leah Ball Steen lives in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood and owns Revival Home + Garden.  Her home was featured in the latest issue of Rue Magazine.  She uses lots of bold color but what I love most is her fearless mix of pattern!  Though I'm not a fan of the artwork she chose in her entry hall, I love the table, chairs, books, mix of Chinese porcelain and those lampshades!

The details in this room that caught my eye are the ceiling color, gallery wall, beautiful back splash tile and my favorite--the print fabric on the back of the sofa + the mix of pillows.  It's so warm and inviting.  Makes me want to go back to Seattle so I can visit her shop. :D

The Perfectly Imperfect Home

For those of you who enjoyed Domino Magazine, you'll be happy to know the founding editor, Deborah Needleman, has written a book detailing the items essential for a comfortable, stylish home.  Virginia Johnson illustrates.  She is a very talented Toronto based textile designer and also illustrated the Kate Spade books.  It is due out in November, available for pre-sale on

Amazon.

Charlotte Moss collages

Recently, I came upon this article on Charlotte Moss and what inspires her.  She is so elegant and a beautiful designer, I found them fascinating.  There's nothing like a great inspiration board or collage to get the creative juices flowing.  Some of these can be seen in her new book, Charlotte Moss Decorates.

Sarah's Cottage

Has finally come to the U.S. but why did they change it to Sarah's Summer House?  Regardless, what an amazing escape . . . gorgeous views from a small island.  Her husband purchased the cottage while he was single.  The first episode showed the living room addition with windows on three sides and a new gorgeous cedar shingle roof.  I dream of having a cottage on a lake, she certainly lives the life! and I'm glad she shares it :D

 original cottage with floor of the addition partially finished

ahhhh . . .

10 secrets to a charmed life by Miles Redd

love this list from designer Miles Redd which appeared in Matchbook Magazine~think I'll try some chia seeds, I'd love a screen for my living room and I might even iron my pillowcases!  have to admit #10 is my favorite ;D

Sarah 101

So excited for the new Sarah Richardson show premiering January 4th on HGTV Canada and sometime in February for the U.S.  This is being described as a design class for viewers.  Sarah and Tommy share how to balance the splurge/save quotient for design projects while achieving great style. Can't wait!

Ruth's Pigsty

Okay, who ever dreamed a pigsty could be made into such a cute little guest house?  Leave it to Sarah Richardson to make it adorable.  Design Inc. is an older show of hers and I love every episode!  She and her team show all the hard work that goes into problem solving a space and designing to make their clients' vision a reality.  On a side note, is everyone in Toronto good-looking? I find her clients as attractive as Sarah and her team. ;D  My sister.in.law is from there, so it must be true!

 Before
+
After

Gemini Awards

Sarah Richardson, host of Sarah's House, recently won a Gemini award for Best Host of a Lifestyle/Practical Information Series.  Congratulations to her!  The work she and Tommy Smythe do is inspiring and creative, I also don't know of anyone who works harder. Bravo!

design inc.

Okay, I love Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe but Design Inc. is the best.  The Sarah's House television series is really good, but this is great.  For me, it is fascinating to watch Sarah and her team interact with real clients, source items, come up with design concepts and experience the reality of mistakes made, things gone wrong, etc.  This is an older show of hers and HGTV is airing it again once a week. l.o.v.e. :D

Williams-Sonoma Designer Series

 Last week in my Materials, Finishes + Sources class, the lecture and discussion was on selection criteria for interior materials.  There is much to consider.  Budget, design concept, existing conditions and client's habits are just some of the things that need to be analyzed.  This interview with Heather Clawson sums up many of these issues perfectly. 

In addition to owning her own interior design and consulting business, Heather Clawson is the author of the popular design blog Habitually Chic.

Listen before you leap. I start by talking to my clients to get a better feel for their aesthetic and how they envision using the space. Knowing if they plan to entertain, need child-friendly fabrics, or have pieces that can be moved from another room or taken out of storage is key. It's also crucial to figure out the budget so that I can make the right choices and get the most for a client's money. Paint and wallpaper can make a huge impact, so I try to pinpoint what's happening on the walls early on in the process.
Think practically. Designers have to avoid forcing their will on clients or choosing the most expensive options instead of thinking about how a room will actually be used. I was at a beach house in the Hamptons recently, and was shocked that the designer had chosen silk fabric for the sofas in the living room across from the pool. In a family with four boys, it seems inevitable that one or all of them might run in from the pool and sit on the sofa with wet hair or bathing suits! I always try to think of all possible problems that might occur before the design is executed.
Have a seat. When I'm selecting a sofa, comfort comes first. I have a client now who is 6'5" so though I made suggestions, he really needed to go to showrooms and try out different styles to sort out what felt best for someone of his height. Another important thing to do when picking a sofa for a New York City apartment is to make sure it will fit in the freight elevator and through the doorway!
Be consistent. It's easiest to stick with neutrals for larger upholstered pieces, and work in brighter colors with throw pillows, which are less of a hassle and cheaper to swap out if you get sick of them. Make sure that the palette of each room works within the context of the entire house. This is especially important in smaller city apartments where one room tends to bleed into another.
Pay attention to detail. Without accessories, a room reminds me of a woman who got dressed and forgot to put on jewelry. Small accents create another layer and keep a space from looking cold or boring. I avoid buying everything from the same store or period. The most interesting spaces offer a mix of modern and antique from a bunch of different sources. Flowers or potted plants help create a warm and inviting environment. Placing favorite books on a table and a cashmere throw blanket on the arm of a chair also sets a nice mood.
Make it your own. A house should feel personal to a client. I love incorporating family heirlooms or anything that has a lot of sentimental value. If we're starting totally from scratch, I try to choose pieces like marble Buddha heads or old art books that look like the client could have picked them up along their travels or inherited them. I don't want anything to look too done—a space should never look like a designer came in and did it all.
from Williams-Sonoma designer series

Kevin Sharkey

Kevin Sharkey is a favorite of mine, I was excited to see him share the cover with Martha Stewart on Living this month. 

He has been designing his apartment and sharing the journey over many months on his blog.  As a talented designer, he inspires others with his ideas and experiences.  Martha has stated he is the son she never had . . . I love his impeccable manners!

He hosted a housewarming cocktail party to celebrate his new space.

So glamorous and fun--ping pong was played on his dining room table with monogrammed paddles and scores kept on the mirrored wall with Chanel lipstick.

What a view! Looking out on the Hudson River and New Jersey.

all photos from Martha Stewart Living

Great "ice chest" in the bathroom for all the champagne, that's Kevin's Hermès box collection stacked in the shower for a pop of color in the background.

Martha Stewart Kitchens at Home Depot

Recently, Martha posted on her blog a new line of kitchens available at Home Depot later this fall.  From the few photos I could find, they look beautiful.  This makes me want to completely redo my own kitchen!  Can't wait to take a peek at my own Home Depot.

Love this island and the stainless steel stools.

Great space for cookbooks.

I want my spices and oils organized like this--what easy access.

The simplicity and color of these light fixtures make them a great accent in the room.

Scott Sanders luncheon

Scott Sanders is an interior designer based in New York City.  Yesterday I attended a luncheon where he spoke about his early years in Ohio and the path that led him to where he is today.  He began the interior design department at Ralph Lauren and that influence can be seen in his work.  I really like his fresh, comfortable American style.  The rooms are created to be used and lived in and are very welcoming.  His book, Picture Perfect: Designing the New American Family Home, "documents Sanders’ inspired youth, his accomplished career, and a project that represents the culmination of a four year adventure in interior design and catalogs in detail-from tile samples to bed linens- the myriad of choices that transform an empty house into a wonderfully functional family home."

 Sanders was very personable as he shared about himself and some of his design projects.

 the book is available at amazon

 Two of my favorite rooms from the book--the yellow toile is beautiful and looks so cheerful in that room.  And how amazing to mix zebra and plaid--this really reminds me of Ralph Lauren.