valentine's day What I've Been Up To

valentine's day

Often a project can start with a single inspiration. A "fleur-de-lis" for example. It can start with a wonderful antique sconce that a client was lucky enough to find and keep for her long planned kitchen remodel.

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It can carry over into other things. Like the little fleur-de-lis edge on a chandelier.

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Or a carefully placed accent tile.

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The accent tile can lead to more tile. A color palette and tile design may follow.

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That little bit of black and that little bit of French may lead to a black French range.

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It may lead to carefully selected hardware.

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And special clocks.

It may lead to many hours of memories in a new long planned kitchen.

You never know what a single inspiration can lead to.

Just a little taste with more to come later!

valentine's day Swarovski in Capri

When I was little one of my favorite movies was Dr. Doolittle, and my favorite part was the scene where they are rescued off the moving island by a great Sea Snail.
I remember the characters were to travel back home inside of this enormous snail shell where the walls were fluid and opalescent pink. When I see the home of Fiona Swarovski on the island of Capri, I get the same feeling of being cocooned inside a beautiful seashell, with the azure sea under my feet.

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The curving lines and pink walls conjure the image of a giant shell and the beautiful turquoise Vietri floor tile echo the sea.

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In the Dining Room Murano glassware lines the top of the fireplace. But one of the things I love here is that any of us could put a collection of seashells in the firebox. A manzanita branch, a can of red spray paint, and viola! A beautiful DIY summer transformation for you fireplace.

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Fiona Swarovski designed the Dining Room chairs and table herself. I love the coral on the draperies. They look painted on, so this could be another DIY for those talented artists out there!

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She brings the coral red color into the Bedroom using Fortuny fabrics for the bedding.

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Fiona Swarovski also designed these sofas. I love the blue Ikat fabrics! There was not a source listed for these, but similiar ikat fabrics can be found through Quadrille and Madeline Weinrib Atelier.

All photos: House and Garden, August 2004

Photos: Matthias Petrus Schaller