valentine's day Are You a Wallpaper Person?

Ecuador Wallpaper and Fabric, Carole Fabric at End of Bed

I must admit, I don't immediately gravitate to wallpaper when I am hatching out a design plan. But when I saw this newest collection from Thibaut, this tiger may just change her stripes. The collection is titled Avalon, the island of Arthurian lore which, as fable has it, was able to produce fruits and flora at it's own whim.

This collection seems to take up the banner of Avalon, showing us a garden of vibrant color and bold flowering pattern.

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Waterbury Fabric

Lucky for us, Thibaut also provides beautiful fabrics that I cannot wait to get my hands on. I especially like the Marathon fabric on the stool in this bathroom:

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Candice Wallpaper and Marathon Fabric

And the Carole Pattern on the hallway settee (also in the first photo in pink and orange), a bit reminiscent of of David Hicks:

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Hana Wallpaper and Carole Fabric

I don't think I would have thought to use this next wallpaper, but I really like it in this bathroom with the weathered wood vanity and Kelly green accents. (Not so sure about the pristine white wainscoting in this shot, but that is beside the point).

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Butterfly Garden Wallpaper

I love the combination of elements in this next room (driftwood, white wicker) and I especially like the wallpaper! The room would not be as interesting without it.

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Island Ikat Wallpaper and Marathon Fabric

There are so many more in the new Avalon collection. I hope you have a chance to check it out HERE.

There are a few other new collections as well. The Shangri-La collection is aptly named putting out such exotic patterns like these:

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Ivanka Wallpaper and Devon Fabric

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Kirkwood Wallpaper and Anafi Chair Fabric

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Kirkwood Wallpaper and Malay Ikat Fabric

From the new Damask collection:



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Antoine Trellis Wallpaper

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Positano Wallpaper

And from the new Texture Resource: 

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Greater Gator Wallpaper



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Banyan Basket Wallpaper

Thibaut has convinced me. Someone is doing their job there. Not only do they have great product, but their website is very easy to navigate, there are easily downloadable wallpaper images ( the easier to use for a client presentation), but best of all, the beautiful room vignettes give fantastic ideas about how to use the products.

I'm sold. What about you?

valentine's day Sticky Wicket

I apologize for my blog absence the last few days! I have been very busy with projects I hope to be able to show you all soon!

I the meantime, I came across this very fun website today and thought you might like to play around with it over the weekend. By now you have all seen the graphic wall stickers that can be used to jazz up a kid's room, or give a little lift to a blah living room. Perfect for rentals, they can be taken right down when you are ready to move.

Silviastickers takes the idea a step further. (Fun website music too). You can create your own ideas right online and see how it will look. Create art, wall murals, decorate furniture...your imagination is your only limit.

Thought it was fun....enjoy!

And have a brilliant weekend!

valentine's day San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, Part III

On the first floor of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, there is a jewel of a room created by the super talent Darin Giese of , what I call, San Francisco's answer to design heaven, Coup d'Etat. If you have never been there, it should be first thing to visit on your next trip to the City by the Bay.

As soon as you enter this "Hall of Wisdom and Enlightenment" you can just feel the wheels turning in the mind of Darin....a creative juggernaut. Just so you know....everything in the space is from Coup d'Etat....just in case something strikes your fancy.....from the fabulous terracotta finials, to the very chic dove grey leather sofa with the bullion fringe, to the custom light fixtures

made from vintage Amish cart wheel rims and grain cages.

Darin designed this brilliant canopied wing back chairs especially for the Showcase. Can inanimate objects send you into a swoon like they do me? I get the feeling we will be seeing more of this design in the next few years. What a perfect spot to curl up next to the fire and read the Arabian Knights.

The metal cage light fixture here used to be Great Plains grain cages according to Darin. It seems there is nothing that Darin and his Coup d'Etat cohorts cannot conjure into something unique and perfectly amazing.

And what would a Hall of Wisdom be without lots of leather bound books looked after by a flock of crows...very Edgar Allen I'd say. The light fixture was made from 20th century buggie wheel rims.

The painting is entitled Taiho Rock and is by artist Topher Delaney. It hangs above a custom English Baroque style bench upholstered in jet black hide....(can be custom ordered as well).

Here is the genius in his natural habitat, Darin Geise....hugely down to Earth and so very nice. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Darin!

We could have stayed much longer.....but it was back out to the Foyer where we met Shirley Robinson owner of Robinson Finishes. She is standing in front of her hand-painted silk panels, which are a part of her beautiful new line of custom hand-painted wall coverings collection, now available at Michael Taylor Designs showrooms.

Here are just a couple of my favorites designs from Shirley's collection. Coral reimagined....

And the gracefully original and unexpected jelly fish...

valentine's day So much fun to see this new collection!

Next up.....the Bedrooms!!!! And they are fantastic!

valentine's day Kelly! HUE are Back!

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Photo by Grey Crawford

OK....a little bad on the pun, I know. But I have a little more info on Kelly Wearstler's new book HUE for you (which I talked about here)! I opened the latest issue of C Magazine and was flipping through when I stopped at this article on Kelly's new home in Hollywood. A little more reading, and I realized the photos are from the new book. If this is a taste of what else is inside, I'm all in.

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Photo by Grey Crawford

C Magazine has many more stunning photos of the Hollywood home and a great interview with Ms. Wearstler by C Magazine's Andrea Stanford: all about the book, Kelly's life right now and plans for the future. You might just want to pick up a copy of C.......or HUE.....or both!

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Photo by Grey Crawford

It looks like Kelly is at her best in this colorful home: exotic, fun, sophisticated, unexpected and a bit over-the-top. That stairwell is brilliant with it's vibrant art and Greek key railing. The wall covering is by Cannon/Bullock. The Living Room sports a rug by Kelly Wearstler for The Rug Company, and the sphere tables are also by Ms. Kelly for Bergdorf Goodman.

Just a little taste of the fun to come!

valentine's day Designers Guild, Autumn 2008

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As we go into the weekend, I wanted to leave you with the dreamy images of The Royal Collection, Fabrics and Wallpaper, the newest from Designers Guild.

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Inspired by the interiors of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and by the art in the Royal Collection, this collection is a creation of luxurious fantasy.

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Designers Guild was given access to the archive of historic fabrics and wallcoverings and has come up with their own interpretation of sumptuous embroidered silks, velvet jacquard velvets and flocked wallpapers.

The Arabella Autumn Winter Collection also makes it's appearance with a fairytail-like collection:

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Dream a little dream this weekend!

Additional Note: I received an email from Sophie Trinder with a reminder that the whole collection can be viewed here. And in answer to Aesthete's Lament comment, the collection was indeed photographed at Buckingham Palace. A link to the Royal Collection with more information about the Palace can be reached here.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

valentine's day Black and White: Done Right!

Thankyou to the Washington Post for including this post in your Blog Watch, March 6, 2008!

There is a lot of black and white being strewn about in the name of new and trendy design. It's fun, it's fresh. But I have been seeing some really classic interiors that have some real staying power and sophistication, while also being very modern and unique. I wanted to draw a little more attention to these.

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Metropolitan Home March 2008, Photo by Colleen Duffley

This entry hall by designer Jill Van Tosh combines traditional architecture with contemporary art: painting by Todd Murphy through Lowe Gallery. By combining the modern and traditional elements in this space, the designer has really made it so much more interesting. "Stunning" is word that comes to mind.

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Metropolitan Home March 2008, Photo by Colleen Duffley

Ms. Van Tosh continues with the black and white scheme in the Living Room. Ebonized oak floors contrast with white walls and furniture showing off the architectural details. I love how she uses the flea market-find porcelain dogs in contrast with the Xavier Lust white lacquered bench ((MDF Italia). The dogs would seem trite in an interior that was too Hollywood Regency, but here mixed with the other high style furnishings, she really pulls it off. Sofas are by Christian Liagre for Holly Hunt.

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Metropolitan Home March 2008, Photo by Colleen Duffley

This image is from the guest room. You can catch a glimpse of the Eames chaise, and when mixed with the red Swedish style clock and a photograph of Audrey Hepburn, this clever combo really works!

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O at Home, Spring 2008, photo by Roger Davies

This Dining Room is the handy work of Mindy Weiss, event planner to the stars (Gwen Stefani, Quincy Jones, Heidi Klum and Brooke Shields to name a few!) A Flea Market collector, she has a knack for putting it all together with alot of style. I love her black and white scheme with punches of blue from her collection of Chinese blueware. She inherited the Dining table from her mother, as well as the sideboard. Again, mixing old and new is what it is all about for me! Thomas Paul rug and wall color is Field Gray # 32-19 from Pratt and Lambert. Elkins Dining Chairs from Grace Home Collection.

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Southern Accents March April 2008, Photo by William Waldron

Designer Betty Burgess, who previously worked with Dan Carithers, creates a soothing retreat in this guest bedroom. The black and white is warmed up with a seagrass rug. I am a white linen girl, so this room would make me feel right at home. The wool blanket at the end of the bed adds that tiny bit of the unexpected, which is something I always appreciate.

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In Style Magazine, March 2008, Photo by Oberto Gili

Don't you always want to catch a glimpse of the private spaces of trend setters? This Black and White Dining Room belongs to the creative director of Gucci, Frida Giannini. Don't you just adore the Murano Glass Chandelier? The table and chairs are Parisian Art Deco. The embodiment of style...and one would expect no less from this style maker.

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In Style Magazine, March 2008, Photo by Oberto Gilli

This is Frida's Black and White Master Bathroom. Again, a style victory with it's custom Boffi tub out of Corian with a backdrop of black marble. Brilliant!

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I first saw this table in the March issue of Elle Decor Magazine on the Insider Trading page. So I scurried on over to the Ralph Pucci website and found this stunning photo of the Mondrian Cocktail Table by Herve Van der Straeten. (Find out more about the fascinating Mr. Herve Van der Straeten in a great post by Habitually Chic here). Not only is this table a piece of art, but it is shown in a black and white space that does it justice. The table is made with a parchment top inlaid with bronze. Beautiful!

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I originally saw this black and white lacquer chest on Turquoise Chic blog. It is from 1st dibs and going for $5200. I had to go check out the details on 1st dibs because I just thought maybe there is some way I can get my hands on it. And because you just never know when $5200 might just fall into your lap. With just a little nosing around, I found this picture of the chest in a room (showroom?). It does start to give one ideas!

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Here is a close-up. I may have to pillage the kids' college fund.

So, one might wonder how to get started creating a little black and white heaven of one's own. I'm here to help. A little shopping perhaps? Some fun finds that may help you on your way:

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Designer's Guild now has a webshop where you can find these beautiful black and white bed linens: theTullgarn Queen Duvet Cover runs around $225.00. valentine's day

Everyone has probably heard of Seacloth fabrics, but did you know they also sell a wonderful line of accessories online? These black and white bangles go for $70.00 and $150.00

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I found these on the Toast and Tables blog, and if you have not visited, by all means do! She is the "It" girl if you need anything for entertaining. These black and white babies are from Neiman Marcus. (Catch them through Toast and Tables. A twenty piece set for $120.00! Unbelievable!)

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These Mark Cutler Table Skirts are really just so much fun! Seen on Black White Bliss blog, I added these for you Joni!

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Also as seen on Black White Bliss blog, I leave you with the latest Jonathan Adler Wallpaper collection. Please do go have a look-see at all of the colors and patterns available.

For more Black and White design and inspiration, please don't miss Black White Bliss! She is the expert on this classic color combo. She has many more ideas to get you going.