via http://alovelyescape.blogspot.com/

We’re green with envy for Celerie’s own personal office awash in shades of turquoise. Most coveted? The painted pagoda hutch, (seemly) random art selections and one super-cool mirror askew midroom (probably en route to a client project).

Bravo for high-gloss grey. We’ll take a fireplace in a dressing room any day, what a luxury.

We’re seeing this rose color becoming one of our new neutrals, so fresh…  and one we’ve recently spec’d for a client. The mirror-trimmed tufted leather bed beckons.

Celerie mixes it up with artwork. A variety of styles and medium are held in perfect balance with a common color palette.

Love this mix: organic, rough-hewn built-in bar, a trio of industrial stools, and fresh white cabinetry.

Who knew? Another style incarnation from Celerie. The black and the gold for drama and sophistication.

 And, finally, the designer herself. We can’t wait to meet Celerie in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 25^th. She’s the guest speaker at the Mint Museum’s Room To Bloom annual Decorative Arts Symposium. Lisa Sherry Interieurs is a sponsor and we’ll be there en force to support the Charlotte design community and celebrate Celerie.

To learn more about the Mint Museum’s Room To Bloom event, click here.

Color, texture, layering, print- we were in need of a little inspiration for the weekend…

Here’s hoping you have equal amounts excitement and relaxation planned for the next couple of days.

We’ll be spending ours doing a little research for clients (always), a little vintage shopping (fun), a little rest (needed), and always with a little extra style. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Lacroix- this one in particular, we appreciate for the subject matter but also, the color!

 While his blog is maybe a more casual portfolio of his work, his website offers more of his professional work. Check that out here.

If nothing else, take this from us- a lavender range or bathtub can go a long way to add style & statement, and a yellow high gloss door can never be wrong!

Thanks to Julie @ Shelter for bringing those heels to our attention, and also for featuring our Rue piece last week!

Our live/work loft in Charlotte certainly fits the bill for small, but we made sure not to scrimp on style. 

Reference was made to our tiny terrace, but no photo to show… so we thought we’d let you see:

All photos were taken by Ron Royals. Big Thanks to the ladies at Rue for featuring us!

The beams, the light, a massive fireplace to sit by at night…. and perched up high like a grown-up tree house. A weekend away in a retreat like this would do a girl good.

Well it’s only Monday and we’re already thinking about vacation again. Oops.

Stay tuned for a fun little surprise!

We know that gay men DO get fat, as Simon apparently concedes in the book (they’re called bears, he says). The wisdom we expect from Doonan, as in Wacky Chicks, an earlier read that we ripped through in no time, is to stop worrying and just be your amazing self. A review on Style.com has Simon explaining the impetus behind the book: ““To liberate everybody, women especially, and show them how to live life with the stylish bravado of us homos. Being a girl has never been more complicated—women are expected to look like Gisele, work like Bill Gates, and have a million kids like the old woman in the shoe,” says Doonan. So, what’s his secret to life? Never feel bad, about eating macaroons or anything else. “

We’ll drink (and eat a macaroon) to that! Happy Weekend!

Another “trend” we’ve seen, and it’s really more than a trend but definitely there is a resurgence, is an appreciation for the classic pieces of mid century decorative arts… Italian, Czech, German glass and ceramics are making the pages of all the major publications. We think it must be in time with the move towards color, as we’re seeing it at Furniture Market- everyone seems to want more color in their lives and you’re really not going to find more beautiful saturated hues than the ones seen at The End of History in NYC.

Last week we popped by and had a chat with Daniel, who has been keeping this shop along with owner Stephen Saunders since 1997. If you haven’t been, we recommend you make it your mission. You will see ever rotating displays… here’s what we found ourselves drooling over:

Has blue, yellow, and green ever looked more fresh? Suddenly it was Spring in New York:

What about red and orange? This is just a snippet of their selection of warmer shades:

Beautiful color combos of greyed lavenders, pale blush pinks and apricot- pics can’t do it justice!

Textured ceramics also make many a fantastic tableau in this shop, most of which are displayed on MCM rosewood Danish pieces or sleek chrome shelves:

This Italian bird is by Aldo Londi, who has made many beautiful (and widely copied) pieces for Bitossi:

This collection of white could easily be Jonathan Adler, but it’s over 45 years old… Jonathan is a friend of the store and no doubt picks up many ideas for his collections here.

Especially fond of the gold and white showcased in the front window at the moment:

Next time you’re in the city we recommend a visit, but if you can’t, their blog is an excellent way to learn a little more about these pieces. Count us as newly minted regular readers, and super fans of the End of History!

This home by Eric Hughes shows how we would work the 70s into modern design sleek side pieces, mirrored surfaces, and a vintage Paco Rabanne gold Space Curtain have us wishing they’d gone ahead with that sequel to Barbarella.

The above home of Stila owner Jeanine Lobell illustrates how adding a chrome based table and what looks to be a vintage Murano chandlier (or a new chandelier in the style of…) to formal pieces (silk drapes, chinoiserie screens, deco style slipper chairs) ratchets up the “hip-factor”

Our Charlotte show house was our place to have free reign with our 70s obsession. The monochromatic palette of the walls & draperies might as well be a sleek jumpsuit. The mirrored screen could be our nod to the discoteque, and the chandelier, reflected above was the start of the “Halstonesque” discussion. Never mind Lisa’s python pants in this photo- hot.

And just to remind us of what was, let’s time travel courtesy of The Practical Encycolpedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement (that’s a mouthful).

It’s a little much for today, but then again, pluck out any of these pieces and pop them in a room of ours and we’d be happy.

Ditto this pic. We love the shag, we love the console, love the lucite…hand it over!

We want to know- do you agree? Is your closet reflecting this trend? How about your home?

This home is the 3rd we’ve completed for this repeat client; this family’s style is classic & clean, but we wanted to make sure this country get-away was a warm and inviting respite from their busy lives in the NYC. The focus was on layers of texture to bring warmth to this neutral though definitely not boring space. As you can see, the bones of the home were easy to work with- a truly beautiful place.

 The before was not bad…but we have to say we’re quite pleased with the after:

 The kitchen is open to this inviting seating area. A fireplace in the kitchen is our idea of casual luxe!

 This playroom has perhaps the best light in the home all day long. The Flor tiles are great for this space:

 We couldn’t bring ourselves to scribble over these images of the bunk room. When they’re grown and looking back on their childhood, we hope our client’s children have fond memories of snuggling up together in this playful space, telling stories before bedtime or making stories of their own in their little curtained stage nook .

 So there it is- though we kept some of the more private areas (bedrooms, etc) under wraps for our clients privacy, we’re happy to share this home with our readers. And special thanks to the family who resides in this space, they are a dream to work with!

We have several installs on the calendar for early this year, and we promise to share each one!

We’ve taken our break and we’re ready to go. Is everyone excited about 2012 or is it just us?

Here’s to all of you who stop by our little blog and keep up with the happenings at LSI- we appreciate you and are excited to share our latest install, coming this week, so stay tuned for that.

Happy New Year, everyone. Let’s make it the best year yet!

Never mind that it’s 60F and raining…we’re getting ready to sink into the nostalgia and magic of the holiday season.

And unicorns. We’re going to say it now, unicorns are the new stag heads. Spec’ing them for all future clients…

Any colorway, any style. Just drop them off early, please- we need them for our December parties!

A little bit of flat does the rest of your shiny good. We’ve painted a few rooms matte black in our time, and it never feels better than at this time of year with the warm holiday glow of candles & Christmas lights.

images via pinterest

We’ll be taking a moment to relax & prepare for next week; BIG install up north scheduled & we’re really excited to get this one under our belts.

Today we walk by the sea, & in a few days we hit the Connecticut country! Of course, pics to come…

The European designers really know how to transport the viewer, communicating through video takes it a step further. We’re kind of itching to do a LSI video…what do you think? It’s going to have to be on our New Year’s to do list.

First of all, their site is darling (can we say that without sounding ridiculous? It is the definition of.).

Their products are fun, and available in any color, which is perfect for designers & their clients. And they specialize in all the little things you find yourself looking for- especially bar carts, in every style you would want.

 The product photography is really nice as well, and they cleverly accessorize in a way that makes you want to buy.

From a small upholstery offering, to faux python (hello!), they have those girly, youthful pieces that were missing from the market.

And it seems they are on fire lately, as we noticed this morning they are a sponsor over at Coco + Kelley.

Now one request, SS: While the cocktail is cute, we need this set in a dining size:

“That looks just like Michel’s place!”

Michel’s:

Well maybe not exactly. But the feeling, sans birthday explosion, is still there…

see more of Aaron’s (otherwise known as Kip from Napolean Dynamite) quirky work here.

See more of Michel’s colorful home here.

 Some images from Kismet’s website:

The possibilities and potential applications are endless, as well as the colors and patterns:

 We love that they can go retro, feminine, graphic modern… it’s all about the color combinations and where you choose to place them. We’re thinking of using them on the backside of the kitchen island for a pop of color.

 A peek into the process of how they tiles are made, and a selection of the tiles they sell:

 For more options and images, click here.

“Impromptu” is our middle name, but we’re not vagabonds. One piece of pre-planned luck – terrific accommodations at Number 16 in South Kensington (a fab Firmdale hotel). Wonderful traditional interiors with a kick and a wink.

First stop, the V&A to see the Post Modern exhibit. We wondered if the charming and iconic fire-engine red phone booths might be an anachronism with ever-present cell phones.

Our next stop was non-stop. We walked and talked and shopped along the Brompton Road and Kings Road thoroughfares. Dusk falls early and for the first time this year it felt like Christmas – so many wonderful small shops subtly aglow. And, of course, Harrods was ablaze.

 We were in London so of course we had to eat Indian! Kudos to the Star of India. Delish food and drink. Near the end of our trip, we finally started to master the mysterious coinage – quids, farthings, pence and half-pences  — just in time to liquidate at the restaurant.

 There really no place like home. The “rub” (how can we not include a Shakespeare reference?) is to feel at home in faraway places. It’s a mindset and a skillset. We’re eager for the next adventure!

Time for a road trip. An excursion to Lyme-Regis came highly recommended. First by Jane Austen who set a crucial scene in Persuasion in this seaside retreat (we shudder at the consequences of Louisa Musgrove not taking a spill on the Cobb) and by local advisors, like Martin, our taxi driver.

Alas, Martin was not at our disposal to pilot the trip. No worries. Have Hyundai, will travel. The day was clear and bright. We were caffeinated and emboldened. We set out for the 40-mile drive to Lyme-Regis with Lisa at the right-hand helm. Joyce and Kathy navigated (after a fashion). The “cling to the left” mantra served us well, while the roundabouts challenged. The reward was a missed turn or two and a wonderful afternoon in Lyme-Regis. Our immediate goals were grand and modest: immerse ourselves in the town and get out by dark.

Our favorite Lyme-Regis experiences? The stunning beach, daunting cliffs,and sometimes-precarious Cobb.

Next, the landscape of the town itself with a maze of narrow streets, mini Venice-like waterways, and charming cottages. We now love thatched roofs, a special deeper-than-usual shade of cerulean blue, and Cath Kidson (albeit in small doses).

Our biggest success: we drove, we conquered, we returned to our Beach Haus to tell the tale.

The Beach Haus is a thoroughly modern glass house paradoxically situated in the countryside of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, with seductive and relaxing views of the sea.

And, this combination of opposites – the modern and the bucolic – gave our trip special charm and personality. Cool, uncluttered, and angular the Beach Haus wowed us in three fabulous stories. The scenery is out of this world.

  From the deck, you can see the stretches of pasture, leading to the water.

More photos of the house, which we quickly referred to as “home”… Sunday morning, we awoke to this:

Outside our perfectly modern cocoon, we wandered through pastures with grazing sheep and cows down to the sea.

At Martin’s behest, we made our way to the Hive Beach Cafe, where the food and drink were delish and resplendent as he had promised. This Sunday we’ll endeavor to duplicate Eggs Benedict and Bubble & Squeak in our own kitchens (probably to no avail).

On our journey, we met wonderful people – dozens of locals (all seemingly with well-behaved hounds) who made us feel welcome and at home — away from home.

 To see more great Beach Haus photos, just go to the Unique Home Stays website (uniquehomestays.com) and search Beach Haus.

Again we’d like to thank Claire at UHS for giving us the opportunity to explore the southern end of England. To contact Claire regarding this or any other Unique Home Stays property, dial  +44 (0) 1637 882014 or email her at claire@uniquehomestays.com.

 For our next post- a tour of seaside situated Lyme Regis!

While we absolutely believe there is no place like home, we love, love, love to travel. So when Unique Homes Stays offered us a chance to experience one of their private residences we packed our bags, snatched the keys and hopped a plane. Our Wanderlust destination? The UK, specifically Burton Bradstock in Dorset and then onto London. Lisa Sherry and compatriots Joyce Black (graphic designer extraordinaire) and Kathy Devereux (word-girl and marketer) have just returned from their latest adventure.

Now that we’ve returned to the States, we want to share with you the things we learned & inspiration gathered while abroad, along with pics of the beautiful scenery of rural England, and the design-y , “brilliant” bits from our brief London stay. Anglophiles take note! The next week of posts are for you!

But first, our rules for the road:

We love juxtapositions. And, what better study in opposites than a thoroughly modern glass house set amongst the sheep, the cows and the rolling hills of Dorset?

Defying authority is in our DNA, but rebelliousness has its limits. The TSA is serious about “no scissors.”Many thanks to the kind agents who confiscated Lisa’s sharp objects.

We loved Martin, our taxi driver, who offered a crash course on local eateries, animal and vegetation life, and the dicey future of the EU.

Imagine, a little sherbet-colored corrugated cabin by the beach. Oooops, we meant “sea.” We plan to duplicate this idea at home.

 No, it’s not a political statement. It’s about Yankee drivers in the UK. We white-knuckled onto a simple “bear left” principle to navigate narrow roads and multi-lane highways alike.

Simply put, there are no mistakes. It’s the wrong turn that can lead you to the right thing. Like a great meal.

 We are mesmerized and charmed by the patina of time and the easy use of natural materials in the UK – from thatched roofs to grouse walls.

 Dogs have status in the UK. Four paws up for a US movement to permit dogs in restaurants.

A travel strategy built on spontaneity takes planning! Unique Homes Stays careful attention to all detail made our trip a pleasure and whimsical delight. Props to the team, from our booking agent to our driver, Martin, for their attentiveness. We could not have envisioned a better trip.

SO. Want to see additional pics of the beautiful Beach Haus? Wednesday brings more, including breathtaking views of the prairie-meets-sea location and the charming streets of Burton Bradstock. Stay tuned!

Bottoms Up!

 Have a great weekend everyone!

images via Matchbook Mag, and unknown via tumblr

But what about foregoing the island all together?

It feels a little more intimate; we’d like to be invited to a casual dinner in a space like this:

Maybe there’s room for both?

Preferences, readers?

The pretty cover was almost enough to have us on Amazon stat. But we started reading the reviews and they aren’t so favorable… enter our new blog obsession, Crush of the Month: Maxminimus.

Let’s just say he hated it. His style of writing, a little pompous preppy mixed with self-deprecating dad kept us reading past the bad review. “ADG” as he calls himself is a stylehound, a part-time sartorial historian living “inside the VA beltway”. His specialties: mens fashion, Whistler, & all things preppy-trad. He’s opinionated on his subjects of choice (see his rule regarding patch madras after August), knowledgeable on classic American brands like Bass (Steph just learned what a Weejun is…) and particularly particular about most of his concerns- “Square toed shoes are cheap and butt-ugly. Myles Standish Pilgrim shoe looking absurdities.”  Ha. All this while still maintaining a strong appreciation of “girl-bootie” (“more than Peter loved the Lord”  he says, though he drives a Mini??).

“Go-to-Hell” pants:

aforementioned Weejuns:

ADG’s bespoke Cleverley’s:

So we’re signing up for his take on all things Maxminimus- we’re all women here in the studio but who amongst us doesn’t need a primer is classic mens fashion? He’s already got us on the hunt for some vintage bleeding madras. He reads, too. On our way to the local vintage shop we’ll hit the B&N for some Tom Wolfe, but only “the real old stuff…Tangerine…Mau Mauing…Pump House…that far back.” We like a male point of view once in a while, and he is kind of like reading the masculine, only slightly juvenile, version of Mrs. Blandings.

The full verdict: We think we like him (having read his touching & honest take on divorce) but we might also hate him (we suspect he’d correct our grammar &/or the cuff of our pants). Isn’t that the best kind of blog out there? We can’t think of a better argument for you to check him out HERE. Why buy the book when you can get the style for free?

ADG, if you need a decorator (we suspect you do, bachelor pad disguised with kilims?), we travel…

images via amazon & maxminimus

See these tears, from the latest Elle Decoration- nothing here not to love:

Also noting a new tendency to hang gallery walls in a more controlled way, with a plum line at the top, bottom, or both:

The buzz in interiors for the last year around lucite is a trend we can support. Until this fall, you could get a little here or there, and most often our best finds have been vintage…enter Nancy Price. Her collection for Design Legacy is a full-blown lucite attack. So many great pieces, from chairs to sofas, but we also loved this secretary; thoroughly modern, it would fit into any of our client’s homes. Here’s Lisa with Nancy:

The color of the moment in the DL showroom was this teal green in-between color. It looked very fresh with the white. Our girl Steph, who stepped away from LSI for the week to man her space at the Antique & Design Center, calls this color “aegean green”. She used it on her silk taffeta chair that was “style spotted” by famed blogger designer Tobi Fairley:

Other colors that made their debut last market and still remain strong are orange and blue. We fell hard for these rugs, and were charmed by oomph’s addition of this lacquered game table. Backgammon anyone?

Small side tables and stools are something we put on every floor plan we do- they just come in handy in so many ways, we always spec a few for our clients. Happy to see that x-benches are still going strong, and we loved this little pierced white number. Jonathan Adler’s Ulu stools are to die for.

Lighting with metallic accents really stood out for us this October. Scale was also important. Bigger is better, as with this pendant, top left. Brass has also been a key element, and all of us were in love with this Arteriors sconce, bottom right, which had scale, metallic, and natural elements on it’s side. Dying to use this one:

Break time! If furniture isn’t your thing, then we would recommend High Point Market for the free alcohol… Lisa & Michel took full advantage:

 Back to the shopping. Oly’s showroom never disappoints. The mural in the front was a frosty tundra of fuzzy animals. Again we’re seeing how great playing with scale can be. The large art wall was the perfect backdrop for the white-on-white scheme:

Ok SO on to the superlatives. We each had our fave piece. First up, Kathryn chooses her “best of market”, these mineral prints from Natural Curiosities:

Lisa’s medal of honor goes to this super luxe velvet tufted mirror:

Steph, the vegetarian of the group, surprised us all when she picked this sculpture by an unknown French artist featured in the Halo showroom as her fave of market. It’s a little macabre but we have to admit it makes a statement:

Halo also had this tea party thing happening. We were trying to figure out which one of us was going to stash this Diana & Charles piece in her purse:

And last but not least, we’re back where we started, with Michel’s Market pick, Nancy Price’s lucite collection for Design Legacy:

For those in High Point, the countdown to the spring show has begun. Until then we’ll be placing these pieces in our client’s homes. Which would you choose?

It highlights a number of trends, namely the current appreciation of all things marbled.  We’re sure Nicholas, the head of Bergdorf’s home decor floor, is all about timeliness as any merchant has to be… but this setup could be duplicated with the most humble dinnerware.

The idea that a table can “become animated” is charming, isn’t it? It’s all about the guests after all, but there’s no shame in putting real effort into providing a beautiful backdrop. So we’ll take a set of the handmade plates by Sylvie Saint-Andre Perrin! On a recent visit to NYC, we made our way to the 7th floor and were surprised to see this table laid out just as it was in House Beautiful. Sylvie’s pottery has perfect weight and feel, we’d just as soon hold them as eat off of them, they’re that fantastic.

Walking into Hickory Chair’s High Point Furniture Market show room, we got a blast of unexpected color in the form of this kelly green piece:

The green grey & black was fresh, with a hint of the styling genius to come- but we have to admit we were really taken by the golden yellow, grey, & white as we made our way further into the showroom:

The italian velvet upholstery gave us something to swoon over. You know from previous posts that we are all over this Sofia mirror:

Greek key doesn’t seem to be going anywhere:

This little corner in the front of the showroom screams LSI aesthetic. We like any space where you can lounge & read or gather comfortably with friends. You could start a lazy morning here with coffee and the paper, and end with wine and gossip. In other words, just stay here all day. Every home should have a spot this welcoming.

 Just look at the brass detail on this table. So much to love in this one vignette. These Tobi Fairley fabrics, by the way, are exclusive to Hickory Chair this Fall.

Not to mention this gigantic lantern, also Tobi’s, which we are sure caught the eye of many of the bloggers in attendance this market… and there’s our man, Ron Fiore. Looking dapper as always.

Entering into the “designer portion” of the showroom, we were greeted by all things Kasler. We love the knobs on the Tuxedo Armoire. 

This Frederica Settee has been everywhere, and seeing it again this market we know why. This is a piece that could go in any room; an entry, a kitchen, an office, a bedroom. Anywhere.

This blue wall in Suzanne’s area was the only wall HC painted for market. That console!

Natural Curiosities art with a petite bench…

Perfect styling entering into Mariette Himes Gomez section. That desk is killer. Do you see why HC is a Market Must See? Love the desk at the foot of the bed; the side tables are actually very generously proportioned consoles with stools tucked underneath them.

Thomas O’brien. The go-to guy for all things manly yet feminine-approved.

Back on the other side of the showroom, the girls from Hable Construction showcased their new line of fabrics. Another perfect vignette. So fun:

The fabrics laid out:

Fantastic custom watercolored books as props:

A detail from the bookcase’s profile:

Excuse the dark photo, but we had to show you this chair; we love the detail of the petite wings with the nailhead, and of course the lion’s paw feet:

Study this vignette. This is how you tablescape!

Another new level of customization at HC; send them an idea, a color palette, an image, and their staff of custom finishers will create a one-of-a-kind piece for you or a client:

 Another great chair. Campaign influences were still very huge this market. Brass accents everywhere…

And we’ll end with this bed, which, as we write this post, looks extra inviting.

 Stay tuned for more market pics in the coming week. But we will tell you, though we saw a lot of beautiful things, very few of them will measure of to the quality we witnessed at Hickory Chair.

We’re not sure you’ve noticed, but LSI has been out of pocket for the last week or so, blog-world wise. We had a client install that went amazingly, and a show room design for our dear friends at Red Egg for Market week which went so well that we were awarded best showroom design by none other than Margaret Russel & David Easton, who judged this year’s competition- talk about something to smile about! Here’s the photo that got us “the cup”:

Shopping market, meeting up with friends new and old… we’ve been distracted. We’ll be back in full force next week with all of our pics from High Point Market.

 We had been looking for a great piece of art for the show house, and owner Kristin Darnell graciously to loaned us this painting for the duration of the show. It will be hard to give this one back, and may have to come home with one of the team or a client…

Back in the gallery, new artworks and objects appear every time we visit. If you are looking for that rare “something” that makes a room stand out or feel unique & luxe, we recommend you visit their collection.

The pic below does not show just how large this quartz specimen is. We wanted to snap this up, too…

Decade is a place to seek out the unusual object…

and a beautiful array of inlay boxes, marble trays and collectible pottery.

 Stay up on their finds here.

 This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are our own.

First and foremost- the fabu papered ceiling, which Beth said was the starting place for the entire room.

“I always wanted to do a black and white room. It was nice to have the chance to actually do it and filter in all of the things that some of my clients are too nervous  about…especially the black ceiling. I wanted to show that you can, if it’s not too dark it can be amazing. We began with that paper. I also wanted a punch and I just love kelly green.

“We really didn’t want to do another bedroom. The two closets were screaming “put a desk in me” when I walked in the room, so we went with that. It’s totally a room for a “fun loving” adult, but perfect for a teen with style!”

 The killer bookcase is a design by Jaren Goh from Singapore that Beth had her carpenter make.

Goh’s original had too long of a lead time for the show house, but Keim is quick to give him full credit for the design & concept.

 The Lucy and Company showroom, located on East Blvd in Charlotte, NC is in the midst of it’s own little facelift.

Be sure and stop by and check out their updated digs, and when you do, be sure to say hello to Beth for us!

And then the Smitten Kitchen comes up with this: Apple. Pie. Cookies.

A couple of these with coffee in the morning feels a little safer then digging into a pie tin at 6:30am.

for the full recipe, click here. They are cute, too, aren’t they?

Maybe it’s not that we’re unpracticed or undisciplined writers? Maybe it’s just that the words don’t exist for us?

Via Avanza Press, a little lesson in what we’re missing here in the USA, we thought we’d share some of these lovely notions:

 And because we’re all about the visual, too, a pretty little picture for your weekend-

vintage Kate, looking like a school girl herself:

Have a great one!

We love the whimsy of it but in the end it’s the uniqueness of this idea, part art installation, part decoration, that has us considering our options for wall coverings.

Our friend Joel, a fantastic showroom stylist, has applied all manner of paper to walls for his work, from photocopied textiles to old book pages. Wallpaper paste & a few hours & this is the effect:

Sure it’s a showroom but we see no reason this idea couldn’t be used in a home with whatever imagery you like…

 And taking a different tack, Michel recently wallpapered her mudroom in this Lagom Design “Pixel” wrapping paper.

We love how bold it is in this smaller space. Here’s a close-up:

Have you seen any original images for wall treatments you want to share? We love new ideas!

And just because we love to jump around, while researching modern chinoiserie wallpapers we found these paintings by  Kathe Fraga. Drawing from hand painted walls in French mansions, Kathe modernizes old motifs in such a beautiful and saturated way. Love:

 images via Elle Decor, Lisa Sherry Interieurs, & Suska

When we saw it, we thought- YES. That’s how it’s done. The perfect melding of old & new in a way that shows off the best of the new construction and enhances the original street architecture.

It’s striking enough to be a standout, yet completely respectful of the location in it’s scale, bringing out the beauty of the old in a way that only contrast can. Contrast. Think happy opposition!

 The interior is modest, and all white. The homeowners are in the art business and needed a space that could pull double duty as a home & art gallery. The open air rooftop courtyard is incorporated into the living space.

 For more photos, go here.

Here’s to the chill in the air & a the new color story the change of seasons brings.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

 Stay in bed 30 minutes longer than we should. We have an excuse- wait until the sun comes up!

Take more time to sit down for dinner with friends & family. Summer was about being everywhere all at once, but never home.

More (hot) coffee! This is an easy one…

 We’re refocusing on our own spaces, it’s time to change things up … half of our team bought new homes this August, and we’re raring to get together and share ideas. It’s the interior designers version of the buddy system!

Speaking of…Pile it on, in your interiors as well as your closet.

You can tidy up next spring, fall is all about hibernating with the things & people you love.

Last but not least: More wraps!

images via fave Crush Cul de Sac, save for 3rd from top, from Anna Noguera, Architect, and 5th from top is Betsy Burnham.

Class, carriage, and joie de vivre come with age and experience, and these women are living proof.

We’ll be looking for the Advanced Style book, due out soon!

And now it’s your turn… Come out and support this wonderful cause while viewing the work of Charlotte’s best of the best. If you’ve entertained the idea of hiring an interior designer, you need some inspiration, or you’re looking for the perfect piece to add to your home, this is a great venue to get your design fix. Here’s a little sneak peek at our bedroom in this beautiful Eastover home:

Want to see more?

**UPDATE**

A complete list of the designers supporting the March of Dimes Show House is as follows:

We’re thrilled to be in such great company. Just a reminder to come out to support this great cause- doors open tomorrow!

You may remember seeing her home here, or recall the post chronicaling the photo shoot for Charlotte Home and Garden Magazine, which will be on stands Oct. 10th. We’ll be sure to blog about that as soon as we get it.

 Here’s the living area with that iconic David Hicks upholstered sofa:

For more info on the tour, which features 8 homes and 3 spectacular & unique gardens, check out the Elizabeth Community’s website.

The voyeur in you wants to go, admit it! We’re no different, and we’re beyond curious to see what’s beyond these walls:

Tickets are on sale at Red Sky Gallery and in the Mercy Hospital Library on tour days, and available now at Red Sky & Royal Gardens

2011 Elizabeth Home and Garden Tour October 1st and 2nd

We took a quick trip up to NYC last week and brought back some window inspiration.

Take a look at some of our favorites- first up, Club Monaco:

We still love a gallery wall:

ABC Carpet & Home is seeing red:

And White:

And a little bit deconstructed?

They make old colors look new- next up? Mauve:

In SOHO, a perfectly parked scooter sets off Cole Haan:

More pattern:

Bergdorf is taking a page from us designers- floor plans as backdrop:

Crazy fun with doll clothes:

Need we say more than “just beautiful”?

Feathers:

And reptiles:

And taxidermy. Oh. My.

The March of Dimes 2011 Designer Show House, in Charlotte, NC.

Of course we’re talking about our room, but our esteemed fellow designers will be sure to give us a run for our money. And we mean it. It’s going to be good, with Mrs. Howard, Aida Interiors & Luxe Home Couture, Max & Co, Isabella (will our friend Bryn be there?), and Barrie Benson of Domino fame in attendence, to name a few.

We’ve been working on this space non-stop this week, gearing up for the opening Oct.7th. Paint is done.

Ben Moore Chelsea Gray on the walls:

chevron in the dressing room:

..and that’s about it. But Monday, MONDAY starts the install.

We can only share a few images to give you an idea of where this is headed.

Indigo velvet (deeper color than pictured below) custom headboard a la:

this great “Halston-esque” chandelier & ochre accents:

And we’re crossing our fingers that our friends at Decade will loan this beautiful painting, which will sit opposite the black commodes that will flank the bed, and the rams head chair which will perch in the dressing area- all available for purchase through LSI when the Show House concludes:

There is so much more, we can’t wait to show you how it comes together. Watch for it on FB & Twitter, and make sure you come out to the show house when it opens! Tickets are $15 each and proceeds go to the March of Dimes. Get all of your design obsessed friends together and make a day of supporting this great cause!

image via the site of Raymond Goins

A Zuber wallpaper, “Views of North America” in the home of David Netto, from a 2005 Elle Decor still looks current. Dramatic yet cozy.

From 2007, a bedroom by Glickman & Henley is layered in a way that we love.

images via Elle Decor’s lookbook, eclectic bedrooms

So. Newell going bold in this one. The article written by stylist Craig Schumacher in the Oct. issue is unlike any we’ve read in the interiors world. It’s unusual, and frankly we think it’s brilliantly brave to address the ideas of living beyond your means in a world where image is often everything.

No one relishes the idea of scaling back their living space due to necessity. What we love about this article is the idea that you can still live with what you love, sacrificing nothing, as the title suggests, and with great style to boot.

Craig’s style, as he admits, is majorly Anglophilian (possibly not an actual word, but you get the point). It’s not what we do usually, but we love that he loves it and he’s become a master of layering in his downscaled space. Even if this isn’t to your taste, the images paired with the article made a great piece. Seriously, you should all read it.

Layer layer layer. It’s what we always say to ourselves when we discuss designs for client’s spaces. It’s inspirational that Craig refuses to lose his “things” even though his home is now a smaller rental. The effect is so cozy.

Thank You, HB, for such an interesting, honest, and different kind of article. We enjoyed it.

Also, if someone can explain this whole digital watermarking thing… how DOES this work? Crazy!

We love him. Just. Love.

We missed Brimfield this time around so vicarious shopping will have to do!

We did. We always do. And now we’ve done it again. LSI on page 134 !

This time Michelle and Patrick came to Lisa’s home, having scouted it months ago, it felt like the right time to shoot this pre-fall story. A total turnaround from the last time we were featured, Lisa’s house is more monochromatic. Here we showcase our strongest suit, our predilection for neutrals and tons of texture.

Inside scoop, you say? OK!

The morning of, Steph shot lots of pics pre-Patrick. The light was just right:

Completely gorgeous outside, if a little toasty. The grass in the courtyard was still green:

Kathryn was working hard in the sunroom:

And the table was set for a little pre-shoot nosh:

Patrick and Michelle arrived and got to work with the first shot in the dining room:

We moved the studio office into Lisa’s home office during the shoot so as to be on-hand, yet able to talk “work”.

…believe this was an in-depth discussion on bathroom tile for a Bald Head client, as captured by Steph:

Meanwhile in the living room…

It’s always interesting for us to see how “other businesses” work. Lonny is a power-team of two hands on-people, taking turns styling, moving, adjusting, and standing behind the camera.

A little break:

Henry got his close-up, which he was totally posing for:

…and so did Lisa…

And, then, just a few hours later- it was a wrap!

We thought it would be fun to contrast some of our pics of Lisa’s house with some of the shots that ended up in Lonny.

They made mention of, but didn’t detail our pencil art-”No Boredom”- although we have to admit there’s been so much going on around here lately that a little boredom might be nice…

Some more of our snaps the morning of:

Many thanks to Patrick, Michelle, and everyone on their team for featuring us again for their anniversary issue.

They revolutionized our business, and we’re proud to be a part of what they are doing!

While clicking through the web we re-acquainted ourselves with these little stories over at “French Essence“.

They just capture the imagination. This is one of the things that Lonny Magazine does so well. The little close-up bits that Patrick shoots seem to grab the reader’s eye- us included. The latest issue drops Sept. 10th, we believe…which is TOMORROW.  Stay tuned for a little LSI action…

images via Vicki Archer, photos by Carla Coulson

A plaid tile mosaic! Where oh where can we implement this idea?

In our own studio, photog Ron Royals/Lisa’s hubby did  a little updating in his office. He brought in plaid chairs from our Mixology store, layered two hides, and added in an Oly horn side table. The effect is cozy fall man den. We approve:

We’ve also noticed that many of our new fabric books have been coming in with large scale versions of the stuff. These from Chivasso:

This Schumacher and this Ralph Lauren:

Seen any good plaids lately?

For our friend Janie’s birthday we got a little crafty. That’s Kathryn’s “Happy Birthday Handiwork” in the studio.

And here it is in action this past weekend:

The regular group of running buddies decided to do something different- we took the birthday  girl on a surprise 7 mile scavenger-hunt-style party run. Stops along the way met the ladies with coffee, muffins & gifts, ending with a cocktail cruise to a picnic on a secluded beach. The winding creek that leads to the beach could only accomodate a little fishing boat, so we decked it out in festive garland, comfy pillows and blankets and our banner and “set sail”.

Mother nature played along. The weather was gorgeous! Here’s a shot (above and below) of one of the stops on the run:

And the after-run reward & picnic view… complete with our favorite and oh-so-appropriate for Bald Head gator glassware:

This might be one of the last weekends we’ll be able to get away to the beach house. We’ve met so many new people this summer, it’s been a blast. We just want to let our readers, clients, and friends know how thankful we are. We hope you’ll all stick around as we go into our busy season. This fall has several installs on the schedule and we’re excited to finally show you more of our work at that “wow moment”. We’re building up to a big reveal this coming weekend- stay tuned!

It appears that the folks over at Fashionista had a little fun with Photoshop & kitty pics.

We guess when it’s your job to scour the Fall ad campaigns, they can all start to run together.

We know what it’s like to get a little silly working long hours, but they’ve taken it to the next level. 

It really is hard to pick a favorite.

Fashionista via The Terrier & Lobster

It’s strange to be sitting on one side of the globe, trying to hold on to the last bits of Summer while reading of her plans to start her garden. She’s calling for Spring, with dahlias and daisies in her future. Meanwhile, here, the leaves on the poplars are already starting to turn.

For those of us in this hemisphere, here’s to the waning days of summer. Ours was perfection. Hope you had your fun!

bye bye, pool. Hello football.

…after Labor Day.

Already planning to pair black leggings and tights with white dresses, white denim tucked into boots we’ve had since high school, and if you’re lucky we’ll break out the vest like RR in the Great Gatsby!

images via Fashion Gone Rogue, House and Home, unknown, pinterest, Mr. Redford via Esquire article on men wearing white after LD.

We’re reminding ourselves as we head into the weekend to think differently, to challenge preconceived notions, and to get out there and create something beautiful. Have a great one, everybody!

Nothing says “I love my little girl” like a wall of vaguely hostile poodles.

We kid, we kid. This is a showroom. But. Still.

Anyone who is familiar with the “LSI aesthetic” will tell you that one of our top tenents is the use of mirrors. We like them EVERYWHERE. In Lisa’s own home, they’re used every which way including the kitchen backsplash- you’ll see more of that in September.

In our Mixology store, we covered an entire wall in the front room with them. And then layered more mirrors on top:

And we’ve just suggested to a client that his butler’s pantry be completely mirrored, which will add a sense of generosity & glamour to what would normally be a pass-thru space.

We are highly in favor of liberal mirror distribution. Can we get a candidate to run on that platform?

Recent mirrored wall inspiration from Martyn Lawrence Bullard in this bath:

Another bath with antiqued mirror wall:

Also in a bath, or on any mirrored wall, we approve of more mirror layering. This is a great way to take a “builder basic” bathroom mirror & make it more to your taste. We especially appreciate the addition of the sconce:

Moving to the kitchen:

And another room where the addition of a mirror wall is a natural:

While much of the looks we have seen above skew traditional or girly glam, this image from Lonny makes the case for mirrors with modern:

Remember the rule- If you need a window where there is only a wall- use a mirror.

Barcelona, Marrakesh, India, Venice.

Embellishment, Adornment, Color. We’ve heard whispers on the Twitter Machine that we’re sure to see a lot more of a global influence at High Point Market this year. We love to watch the trends in interiors, though we night not necessarily follow them, it should be interesting to see which side of the globe we end up on come October.

We hadn’t been by the JR site in a while so we did a little investigating. His blog is a really interesting read, as he is always back from some fantastic place. And so to add to this little “travel theme” we’ve developed this week, we suggest you check out his photos and tales of his trip to Istanbul. These pics, in particular, look like they could have inspired some of the lighter palette for Fall. Beautiful!!

 John Says:

“The Fall collection is the soft blue pink stones of the Hagia Sophia mosque, the deep indigos and corals of Iznik tiles, piles of pomegranate inspire me to add in saturated reds, massive calligraphic roundels become new patterns. Calls to prayers are my backdrop as I sip sweet black tea and a bus pulls up to unload tourists.”

The cover of his online catalog (which looks like it runs similarly to the online interiors mags) is darling-

and the product inside is to-die-for. Click here to link to his site, and here to see the catalog.

If you’re interested in purchasing John Robshaw bedding and textiles, we have the connection! Just shoot us an email.

See their full video here & additional product shots here.

We thought it might be fun, however, to show you a little more about how we work. For this particular job, we’re straddling the lines of our Luxe/Mini Luxe services. We jokingly call these tear sheets our “Lisa Sherry Playing Cards”.  Conveniently grouped by room, we’ve gathered inspiration & mood images along with paint swatches, wall & window treatments, accessories & specified product ideas.

 The cards come with detailed floor plans that relate back to the items we’ve selected for our client. What makes this kind of project plan great is that it’s so versatile. From here we can do the leg work, or our client can shop at his leisure, taking it room by room as he pleases. And we mean that literally- the cards are so much more portable than a large scale design board, you can take them with you as a guide when you shop.

If you are at a point where you need that little bit of guidance in your home, our MiniLuxe service might be perfect for you. Read more about it here.

Though this might be the type of look to end up on The Man Repeller (and, it has, but so has everything fun in fashion)… we can’t think of a better excuse for rolling out of bed and driving straight to the studio. Celine, Michael Kors- even Tommy is doing it.

In particular we’d like to get our hands on these Charles Philip slippers. A nice update to the ballet flat, we think.

The stripes are his best sellers, but these new tassel numbers are right on point:

The color combinations are great, aren’t they?

We love process pics- check out these sketches on the wall of his Shanghai studio:

So if you see us around town in our pajamas, we’re not being lazy- just fashion forward…

CPP photos via Shanghai Style File

Speaking of, did you catch those Villy beach cruisers on One Kings Lane last week? Built to your specifications, we have to admit we spent a little time on their site designing our own LSI edition. White frame,white tires, white chain, dove gray fenders, mint rims, etc etc… Customization is key these days. Here are a couple of the sold out custom bikes off of the OKL site:

The work of Hannah Louise Buswell is that fresh feeling we’re looking for. Her knitwear collection takes a classic graphic pattern & breathes new life into it.

We’re wondering what you’re seeing out there that feels “now”. Care to share?

via Pattern Observer & Hannah’s site,  HERE.

by Gray Concrete, out of the UK.

Those smarties cast a Chesterfield out of concrete, made to plunk (that’s a big plunk…) out in the yard. So what do we think? In a better setting could we see this making sense? Maybe here:

or down a garden path, stashed amidst the iris:

or here, on the lawn of the Lime Wood, tucked under one of their huge evergreens:

So what do we think? Are we taking it or leaving it?

One thing we are definitely into- their custom stamped concrete walls for this Manolo outpost in Dublin:

Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into this weekend.

What does everyone have planned? Hope it’s on the decadent end of the spectrum!

image via the life of Polarn Per

Thanks to Joyce, of JBlack Design, for the tip off!

Prior to Suzanne’s line for HC, there weren’t many furniture lines rep’d by large companies that had great feminine appeal. Ron and Jay had been talking about the future of HC, and how they needed to tap into the female buyer- what did she want, what did she need, what was she looking for? Women still spend 85% of a household’s income, and while we personally see more husband-involvement in client purchasing now than ever before, it’s true that women hold the purse strings.

One night Ron had a dream, and woke up thinking “POWDER BLUE”. Powder blue, powder blue- it was just stuck in his head, this color, some kind of significance was attached to it in the dream -but he didn’t know it’s meaning.

The next day he was standing in the reception area at Hickory Chair. The door opened, and in walked this woman- precisely dressed in powder blue Prada drivers, a powder blue Prada bag, wrapped in a powder blue pashmina.

POWDER BLUE! It was Suzanne Kasler.

Suzanne had come to Hickory Chair to present a line based on her personal collection of antiques and a few custom designs she had completed for clients. Ron told us that they were so impressed with her vision, which tapped right into the need they were seeing in the marketplace at that time. Since then the Kasler line has been a complete success, starting the move toward designer lines produced and sold by Hickory Chair. We have to admit, there’s hardly a piece of her line that we couldn’t use in any of our current projects.

Here’s a pic we shot that day of Lisa & Ron (who, we’ve heard, is rarely seen sans Yankees cap). Thanks, Ron, for sharing that little bit of serendipity with us. Even in the world of design it seems there are sometimes greater forces at work!

Repetition meets practicality in a graphic display. Love it when necessity turns into something beautiful!

Happy Weekend, everyone.

image source unknown

When we started digging for peridot used in interiors, we came up empty handed. So- what do you think? A trend worth starting or a color best left on the Valentino runway?

As an aside, Kathryn’s eyes went right from the dress to the pattern under the model’s hemline. More details on this, please!

images via terrier & lobster, Maisons Cote’ Sud via Aesthetically thinking (RIP, sweet Charlie), & NYmag

We’re curious to see what out of the way places she’s found, as well as her view of the old stand-bys.

images via the striped tee & this is luster

If you aren’t following her blog let us tempt you into heading over there:

Just as stylish as they are delicious, her recipes keep us coming back for more.

We try not to be Negative Nellies (is that a thing?) but sometimes we have to put a poor unsuspecting pic on the Wall of Shame. We’re not going to point fingers or name names; Let’s just say you should NEVER Swarovski your bidet.

DO NOT get us started on the shag in the bathroom.

This Greek Revival style mansion is over 150 years old, and has been both private residence as well as a tannery & then eventually an inn. In 2008 it was purchased by Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg. The current incarnation boasts 19 suites which have been decorated to reflect the Scandanavian heritage of its owner.

 Leo, our bartender, one of the highlights of our stay- the staff here was lovely:

…and a fantastically thick slab of carrara on the bar. The rose wine was from a local vineyard, a component of the “slow food” model they use for “the Livingroom”, the restaurant at the hotel. Most of the produce is organic and comes from local sources when possible. The entire property is moving towards eco-friendly options, and considers itself the Hamptons greenest hotel.

The hotel interiors and grounds are an interesting mix of classic Hamptons architecture and detail with modern color combinations & artwork, eclectic furnishings and a healthy dose of Josef Frank. The feel is overall very unique and homey.

A few more pics of the grounds, and the Kronan bikes – complimentary for guests:

Another benefit of the Maidstone is that it is extremely dog friendly. We’ll remember that next time we need to pack up our pooches! After we met with our client (who, by the way, we love – we say this all the time but we are SO LUCKY with our clients!) we took a quick swing down to Southampton’s Mecox Gardens outpost. Let’s round out our account of this trip with some more shopping shots, shall we?

We could have and would have sat here all day. But, once again, it’s back to the daily grind! Let’s squeeze in a weekend first… Have a great one, everybody!

Here’s what they had in store:

 Chrome is the word of the day here…

 Moroccan rugs- especially love the vintage number below with the dark brown field:

 So glad we popped in. That screen alone was worth the visit.

Our East Hampton client recommended the most charming hotel while we were up for a visit, and we have plenty of shots to share with you. Trust us, you will want to see this property! More pics Friday…

More is More:

Simple & Straightforward:

And our favorite, Genre & Boarder Bending:

images Libertine via Domino Sept. 2007, What Katie Ate ,& Lisa Sherry Interieurs in Lonny

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

graphic by LSI, using painting by Nicole Cohen of sketch42

Men. Prada. Patterned pants. We love it.

If ever there were a time we’d be tempted to dig into his side of the closet, this would be it. We love printed pants ourselves but it takes a special guy to pull these off:

Very “Lilly goes to Italy”.

Let’s not stop there. Tommy Ton was shooting in Milan last week, too. One more detail, for the boys, love the contrast of the glacier colored laces & sky blue with chocolate:

And if you’re going to do the neon trend, maybe you spin it like this?:

images via Sartorialist, Cool e Chic, & Style.com

A little last minute style & prep, and then the team from Charlotte Home & Garden arrived!

First things first- coffee! Then the ladies headed to the living room to talk story while Chris scouted out his shots:

This shoot was really a dream. So easy-going! Here Michel tells the story of how she went from licensed therapist to interior decorator for LSI. Lisa helped Michel take her home (which houses 3 rambunctious boys + husband) to that next level, pulling everything together- & in the process saw Michel’s innate talent firsthand.

Want to see just how the day went? We took a little video- this is basically Million Dollar Decorators… or not. But you get the idea. For those who haven’t been through a photo shoot, it kinda goes like this.all.day.long. You’ll have to click the link to watch our little peek behind the curtain, so to speak:

almost Bravo worthy

Don’t want to spoil the surprise and show you too much of the interior- you can see this home on our portfolio page but we know Chris will put his own photographer’s take on it- we can barely wait to see what shot he got while squeezed into this corner.

Blake & Lisa have a chat on a vintage yellow suzani:

Getting a look at the shot:

And then we moved upstairs to shoot the bedrooms, where we had a little extra entertainement…

Sadly we’ll all have to wait until October to see this issue hit the stands. Thanks to Lindsay, Blake & Chris, from Charlotte Home & Garden for making this such a great experience!

We had a hard time picking our favorites, so go to his blog “the blue hour” & see more of his work- there are eight installments of Italy alone! Happy Travels!

We wanted to share some of our summer finds. All tried & tested by the ladies of LSI!

1,2,3,4,5,6

Pair these gorgeous Louis Soleil chairs with a beautiful textured neutral from Perennials, or go a little wild with their Crazy Cat:

Perennials also has very “of the moment” hand-painted looks. Swizzle, Swish & Swoop:

Osborne & Little’s Zancudo Line could work nicely with this Cloud Lounge Chair from our friends at Snug Furniture. The textures give it that slightly global vibe:

And of course if bohemian modern is your thing, look no further than Trina Turk for Schumacher which has captured everyone’s attention since its launch:

The bright colors are hard to resist, much like our other outdoor furniture fave, designer Patricia Urquiola, who’s W Vieques  was the destination of choice for this year’s post holiday getaway. Who wouldn’t want these in any color?

Hope your Saturday & Sunday are equally as colorful!

images via Jenny Bowers & Kate Spade

Any of these references could get worked into an interior. Our eyes are always open for that new idea or a reminder to think in unexpected ways.

Kathryn found this image via Olivet; her birthday dinner in the sand is our kind of casual.

Have a great weekend!

Clean, simple, add flowers and candles. Get out the sea fan, your collection of sea glass, or gather veggies from the farmers market on the table. We are inspired by subtle summer style.

image 1, 2, 4 & 7 via aesthetically thinking, 3 from design darling, 5 via Trad Home, 6&7 via From the Right Bank

The lamp on the table is one of a kind creation by British artist & designer Oriel Harwood. How great would it be to have a merman in your home? It’s this kind of unexpected, and dare we say the word, “whimsical” touch that got us curious.

Unfortunately there is not a lot of Oriel Harwood on the internet. Bits & pieces here and there. Her own South London home/studio is called “Castle House”. Here’s Harwood surrounded by her ornate creations (she’s kind of fabulous):

Deemed Rococo, Baroque, Fantastical, & Mythical (much of her inspiration is drawn from Greek mythology), the organic forms of her work are romantic but also, in the right setting, perfectly modern. I mean really, how much faux bois can we handle? Her pieces, on the other hand, feel special because each piece is it’s own work- she is not, at this point, mass producing.

a sketch, and then the finished sconce, like something out of a Tim Burton movie.

the mirror at right is in Thomas Jayne’s bedroom

The following images illustrate how a one-of-a-kind work makes a home unique. The references to coral, oak leaves, branches, icicles & scalloped shells are feminine yet each creation has a strength & presence- each is truly a sculpture.

mirror & side tables by Harwood via AtticMag blog

If Oriel’s accessories don’t quite suit your style, think of this as inspiration to look for uncommon objects to incorporate into your home. 

Hope everyone finds a shady spot this weekend!

image via May 2011 Veranda, via MFAMB

We’ve noticed something.

Are you seeing it?

There’s this color story that’s so prevalent right now. Maybe it’s Summer approaching, but everything is white walls with lots of blue, red, greens & a little bit of yellow. We’re not criticizing. It’s this global/rattan/beach/suzani/ginger jar/fiddle leaf fig thing. Ok, so we’re a little tired of the figs (yes, we have one in the studio). And we have that Ralph Lauren woven coffee table, too. So see, it’s not that we don’t like the look. Let’s look at Sig’s place again- what’s not to love? The styling of that gate leg table alone is worth a good study.

There’s nothing wrong with blue & white. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again- it’s classic. But right now we’re fixated on pastels. Maybe it was this home that sparked the change. Or maybe it was this Paris apartment, designed by Baroness Bruno de Pampelonne, seen in Vogue Living Australia:

Lavender, citron, icy blues, black & mousey neutrals… these colors suggest a different kind of glamour, a different “feel” for a space.

We are also digging this more accessible palette in the recent Serena & Lily catalogue. Sherbet style tones meet khaki, camel, linen & “off-metallics” (ie, not silver & gold). Their new rugs are really cute, too.

Another color on our radar? Opal-Mint-Jade. LOVE these loungey sofas from Elle Decoration:

and this Jay Jeffers room from the Elle Decor Showhouse that we snagged here:

So where are you all falling in the color spectrum these days? We’d love links to your recent favorites!

First and foremost, you have to see this exhibit. If you care at all for what McQueen did, for his ideas and his creative courage… you should go. They extended the exhibit until August 7th, it’s been such a huge success.

Of course, the success of this show is also our biggest frustration: the lines were long, and the place was packed. It was very difficult to enjoy the pieces to the hilt with the throngs. Expect to be shoved and pushed through the galleries. It was a surprise to us that there was such an overwhelming response. Be prepared.

Another aspect of the show that would have been easier to appreciate with less of a crowd was the way it was assembled and curated. Andrew Bolton and his team did a bang up job. With less people in the way we’re sure we could have appreciated the total environment that he created to house the various pieces- each gallery was dedicated to different time periods, shows, & methods of showing off the work. The music that accompanied the clothes created an atmosphere and other worldliness that we would love the opportunity to really sit with and take in… but, alas, that crowd issue again…

Dresses from Plato’s Atlantis, Spring/Summer 2010. As the years went on, it felt as though color and print technique became more a part of McQueen’s storytelling.

image from the show via metro.co.uk

Aside from being completely inspired by the clothes, headpieces, and shoes, a lasting impression was made by the video clips of various runway shows throughout McQueen’s time as a designer (including that hologram of Kate Moss from 2006).

Images of the exhibit via this is a yes. The McQueen tartan plaid

What is so striking is what he asked of his models- he made them perform. They were actors, they were modern dancers, they were more than pretty faces, or clothes hangers. They were asked to embody his inspiration- to BE the stories that he was trying to tell.

the Cabinet of Curiosities Gallery housed accessories and showcased videos of past runway shows

human chess pieces, from Its Only A Game- Spring/Summer 2005

Does that sound corny? It’s what we took with us from this show; Alexander McQueen believed in his vision & he brought it into being. He was an artist whose medium was fashion- in his own words. In the words of the curator: “His fashions were an outlet for his emotions, an expression of the deepest, often darkest, aspects of his imagination. He was a true romantic in the Byronic sense of the word- he channeled the sublime.”

We wonder if he ever took “no” for an answer? We like to think not.

There is no picture, no sentence we can really write to explain this exhibit. Just go.

For more videos and McQueen, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s blog.

The pool is officially open! Of course we’re all wishing we were a little more Slim at the moment…

You are coming here for a steady stream of bad puns, right?

photos by Slim Aarons

Great mix:

Rugs with big borders:

Big art:

photos via belle

The addition of custom painting by various artists on each piece add to the uniqueness and chicness.Here is a pic we took where you can clearly see the addition of blue palm fronds:

And a close-up of the big bear, with added geometric bits:

Isn’t this giving you ideas for what you could print and put on your walls? How about what you can do with a few nailheads. This piece is right in the entry, & the color is still giving us chills. Note the tapestry that hangs behind- a long English country road:

Oh, yes, and the rugs in these pics… there is not one we would not find use for. Agreed?

Check out the Rug Co. blog here, where you can see pics of their recently opened Beirut location, and of course more fabulous rugs.

image 1 Habitually Chic, 2& 3 LSI, image 4 the Rug Co.