Sunday, May 31, 2009
What I'm Craving
As I've said before, some people crave food, I crave furniture. This past month I got my Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams catalog in the mail and I've been trying to find the perfect lamp to go on my nightstand with my new bedset. I decided I'm going to paint my walls this great gray-brown color called Sticks and Stones from Sherwin or a more gray-purple that is light and almost metallic. Haven't figured that color out yet. Either way, I have my heart set on this lamp, and I must find a cheaper version cause this one is $325 and that's out of my budget. We also might need to find a couch for my new apartment {?} so...I am contemplating Ikea or just taking my brother's old couch, which is just a white one and reupholstering it. Not sure yet.
What do you think of the lamp?
Any good couch suggestions? It's my first post-college apartment and I'd really like to NOT have a futon...
(Photo from Website)
Observing gardens
When I'm away (from our garden), I always enjoy looking at other people's gardens (front yard, back yard, vegetable gardens, raised beds, fruit trees, etc.) Fortunately, where we stay in the mountains, there are lots of observations to be had. This house is nearby, one of the lovely historic homes in the Montford Historic District of Asheville.
Some of the large historic houses have lovely gardens. This rose arbor caught my attention. The roses were small, but very striking on the arbor!
In a growing time of the year, I'm (VERY) easily encouraged into thinking and musing about plants and growing things, if something catches my attention.
I admired plants in a local community garden (Pearson Community Garden), said hello to the first person that I've seen tending things so far, but we didn't strike up a conversation, as that didn't seem like what he was interested in.
But I hope to find out w
hat the scheme is there, eventually!
Some of the large historic houses have lovely gardens. This rose arbor caught my attention. The roses were small, but very striking on the arbor!In a growing time of the year, I'm (VERY) easily encouraged into thinking and musing about plants and growing things, if something catches my attention.
I admired plants in a local community garden (Pearson Community Garden), said hello to the first person that I've seen tending things so far, but we didn't strike up a conversation, as that didn't seem like what he was interested in.
But I hope to find out w
hat the scheme is there, eventually!
More Sun, More Flowers.
Yet another glorious sunny day but with a warm breeze, just perfect. At last I've finished the reports and tomorrow I'll proof read them to see that it all makes sense. It's a good thing we had this holiday or I would be working till late at night. It has been very pleasant sitting by the scree garden even if it was school work and not a book in front of me. I have given myself some reading time this holiday and have read and enjoyed 2 of the No1 Detective Agency books. 
The first of the iris is flowering. They are the only plants in the garden where I put slug pellets as the slugs and snails just love to munch their way through the leaves and flowers. Even so something has put a hole in one of the petals.
The wisteria is holding its own. I think the hot dry weather is making it harder for the snails to crawl up the wall to the flowers.
The pretty peach coloured azalea has started to open. Azaleas don't last for very long but they do put on a spectacular display.
The big alliums are starting to loose their colour but will keep their sculptural shapes until the wind bashes them to bits.
When I walked up the garden to collect my camera from my work table by the scree garden the sun tempted me further up the hill to talk to the ponies.
They both look very glossy, I expect many little hands have been busy with the grooming brushes.
The first of the iris is flowering. They are the only plants in the garden where I put slug pellets as the slugs and snails just love to munch their way through the leaves and flowers. Even so something has put a hole in one of the petals.
The wisteria is holding its own. I think the hot dry weather is making it harder for the snails to crawl up the wall to the flowers.
The pretty peach coloured azalea has started to open. Azaleas don't last for very long but they do put on a spectacular display.
The big alliums are starting to loose their colour but will keep their sculptural shapes until the wind bashes them to bits.
When I walked up the garden to collect my camera from my work table by the scree garden the sun tempted me further up the hill to talk to the ponies.
They both look very glossy, I expect many little hands have been busy with the grooming brushes.I have been able to spend most of the day outside working, reading and going to the car boot sale and this evening Peter barbecued a selection of meat from the freezer. My men are such carnivores!
living room - interior design
nice living room, particularly the interplay between the pedestal table and woven leather chair. And that blue lamp in the background.
living room [via] interior design
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Butterflies Return.
I just love it when the first job of the day is to go around the house opening all the windows to let the fresh air in. Today has been another summer's day with lots of sunshine and a warm breeze. That's 4 good days so far. I managed to move a table into the dappled shade where I could see the screen of my lap top and I worked on e-profiles until the battery ran down.
This was where I spent most of the day being distracted by the numerous butterflies visiting the flowers in the scree garden.
The osteospermums love all this sunshine.
The aliums are attracting bees as well as butterflies.
Of course no sunny day can go by without one of Peter's barbecues- steak, new potatoes and salad today. Afterwards I held the bottom of the ladder while Romas painted the 2 upstairs windows above the porch. Just a couple of windows on the other side of the house left to do. It would be really good if the next 2 days are sunny before I have to go back to work again.
What's Big In Wall Decor?
Mike has just posted an article about Fathead Wall Graphics at Home Accents Today's The Landfair Retail Focus titled Fathead Wall Graphics Are Big!
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Chic Weekend Retreats
I considered not attending signing party for Susanna Salk's new book Weekend Retreats at David Duncan Antiques Thursday night because I was still feeling a little under the weather but I'm glad I went because it was a great event that brought out the big guns of the design world. Interior designer Harry Heissmann (above) was excited to get his copy signed as were Charlotte Moss, Christopher Spitzmiller, and even Gloria Vanderbilt! Michael Bruno was also on hand to toast Susanna who regularly contributes to his 1stdibs website.
Former Domino editor Chase Booth not only made it to the party but also into the book! The weekend retreat his shares with his architect partner Gray Davis in the Berkshires has white washed walls and dark floors that are the perfect backdrop to an ever changing mix of furniture and vintage finds as seen in the photo below. Chase was the doorman at the Domino tag sale this weekend and it was fun dishing about what a crazy day it turned out to be, especially after the police showed up! There have been discussions of another tag sale to benefit a charity and I will definitely keep you posted as when that happens!
Many of the twenty five homes in Weekend Retreats also look like they have owners who love a good tag sale but the best part is that they are all unique and interesting and most of all, deeply personal. There is something for everyone from traditional and country to minimal and modern all of which look like a great place to get away from it all, including Susanna's lake house that was also featured in Connecticut Cottages & Gardens last summer. I think I'm going to have to find my own retreat soon! Bon Weekend!
Former Domino editor Chase Booth not only made it to the party but also into the book! The weekend retreat his shares with his architect partner Gray Davis in the Berkshires has white washed walls and dark floors that are the perfect backdrop to an ever changing mix of furniture and vintage finds as seen in the photo below. Chase was the doorman at the Domino tag sale this weekend and it was fun dishing about what a crazy day it turned out to be, especially after the police showed up! There have been discussions of another tag sale to benefit a charity and I will definitely keep you posted as when that happens!
Many of the twenty five homes in Weekend Retreats also look like they have owners who love a good tag sale but the best part is that they are all unique and interesting and most of all, deeply personal. There is something for everyone from traditional and country to minimal and modern all of which look like a great place to get away from it all, including Susanna's lake house that was also featured in Connecticut Cottages & Gardens last summer. I think I'm going to have to find my own retreat soon! Bon Weekend!
Stalking Nate Berkus
I regularly stalk, I mean check out, Nate Berkus's website hoping for new photos of his work and this morning I was rewarded with not only photos but I little back story. Seems everyone is on a budget these days including his clients, one of whom asked Nate and his team to outfit "two properties with beautiful, timeless, and affordable finds." He also thinks that although these type of projects are a challenge, they push him to be more creative and I agree. It's easy to go out and decorate if you have an unlimited budget but it takes a little more work and thought to find things that look more expensive than they really are and it helps to start with "furniture with clean lines and classic fabrics."Nate says, "we found some great deals in our favorite catalogs and ordered up one-of-each from my line at hsn.com. A layer of paint added warmth. A few trips to our favorite antique stores and flea markets for objects and accessories added just the right personality to the each space. The end result was amazing!" And I have to agree! If that's not enough Nate for you, you can watch him give a tour of his Chicago apartment at People.com. I just have to say that it's a good thing that Nate lives in Chicago because I might really start stalking him! Just kidding...sort of!
Photos from Nate Berkus
At Home and Work with Kimberly Ayres
Kimberly Ayres could have been another casualty of the demise of Domino magazine but since the photos of her home and office were taken by my friend Eric Cahan, I get to introduce you to this Designer to Watch for 2009 instead! Kimberly, like many designers, started out renovating and decorating her own houses while she was practicing law as a way to relax. Luckily for the design world, law was not her calling and as she told me, "friends began to ask for decorating advice and I realized I might have a chance to do something I loved and I couldn't be happier with my career switch!"
"After completing studies at International Fine Arts in Miami and at UCLA in Los Angeles, Kimberly jumped head first into an apprenticeship with internationally renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, and continued her development with designer Michael Lee in Malibu. In 2000, Kimberly launched Kimberly Ayres Interior Design in Los Angeles where she quickly established a notable clientele and reputation for deftly mixing eras and cultures. In 2006, she opened her much admired Kimberly Ayres Home furnishings and accessories store in San Francisco."In the breakfast room, the parterre and curtain fabric is from Raoul Textiles in Santa Barbara. The table is vintage from Blackman Cruz. The chairs are vintage from Kimberly's friend and boutique owner Gabriella Sarlo. The chandelier is vintage. "For parties, we clear out the chairs and this table becomes the bar," says Kimberly.
The room above is the dining room in Kimberly's apartment. Her description cracks me up! "This apartment was loaded with mirrored walls when I found it. Really scary on a bad hair day. Most were removed, but I kept this one. The artwork is a collage created by Lulu de Kwiatkowski from an Eric Cahan photograph. My all-time favorite ebay purchase is the blue pigskin/suede sideboard. The parson's table and the chairs are vintage. The chandelier is Moth Design from my store."
In Kimberly's bedroom, the bed is from Oly and the lamp is from Christopher Spitzmiller. The wallpaper is the Montague print from Twenty2. The curtain fabric is from Nina Campbell and the table is the Bungalow 5 Jacqui Side Table from Eboniste. The painting is vintage.
A beautiful bedroom vignette close up.
In the guest room, the headboard is custom and the pillow fabric is Christopher Farr - Cloth. Kimberly says, "I love this quilt. It's designed and made by hand by my friend, Michael Pechenski." Moroccan lantern is an ebay find. I think the best thing about Kimberly's apartment is all the new sources and vendors that she has introduced to us all!
Kimberly's desk in her office is by Jonathan Adler but the cabinets and chair are vintage. The wallpaper is grasscloth from Twenty2 and looks like a great alternative to Phillip Jeffries, my usual source. "The french plaster sconce is by Moth Design, one of the lines we sell in the showroom," says Kimberly.
I posted this photo once before and it received a very positive response and now I can tell you that the vintage desk, lacquered in Farrow and Ball Dix Blue, is where Kimberly's lucky assistant, Angel Tasso, sits. The wallpaper is grasscloth in Neptune from Twenty2 while the lamp and chandelier are Moth Design in silver leaf finish. The chair is vintage and the drawing was found at Blackman Cruz.
"This room is in my office in San Francisco. The building is a tiny 1890's cottage in the Design District, serving as both my design studio and a showroom for the furnishings I sell. We carry new lines of lighting, accessories, wallpaper and fabric, as well as all sorts of vintage furnishings."I think we can all agree that interior designer Kimberly Ayres made a great career switch and the design world had better look out! She's definitely one to watch and I can't wait to see what she does next!
Photos by Eric Cahan
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