Some Unique Decorative Items From the New York Gift Show January 2011

So Many Beautiful Things to Look at...Too Little Time:  I always try to make it to the New York Gift Show in January and August at the Javits Center and the Piers.  I missed the show last August because I was in the throes of creating a room for the Designer Showhouse at Caumsett State Park - and so...I couldn't make it.

But I made it this January - despite the frigid temperatures and snow.  I have to say that the show was pretty good - a few of my favorite companies were noticeably absent.  But, there were a few new ones that made up for it.  Here are some of my finds.

Jonathan Adler had some beautiful products - beautiful porcelain boxes and, of course, some bug pillows - which were everywhere.  First image: Elle Decor

Wholesale heaven! These velvet bunny banks were so much fun - I bought 3 @ $14.50 a piece. The multicolor votive holders came as a set of 18 - for $69!  From Barreveld DK Living

 Same company had these gorgeous iridescent bunnies also.  Was I attracted to all the signs of spring?  You better believe it!

 

Barbara Cosgrove was there of course.  I love all of her lamps.

 

More bugs!  From Two's Company. Image: Elle Decor

 

And butterflies. From La Maisonette.  Image: Elle Decor

This was my favorite find - a new company from Highland Park, IL that makes these beautiful storage ottomans called Couefs (and that's the name of the company). It stands for Chair Ottoman  Upholstered End Table Furniture because you can use them as seats, end tables etc. They had am array of fabrics - even tile and wallpapered ones and you can customize your own with COM.

You can even have a pull out surface for a drink!

 

Here's a view of one of their tiled coeufs - with a shiny metallic fabric top.  Beautiful!

Vintage Print Gallery made me think of spring also! Image: Elle Decor

 

 

 

Images above, of course, from perennial Gift Show favorite - Luna Bella.  I have several of their lamps and pendants and I always get so many compliments on them

Modern lighting was also represented, as in this felt (yes, felt) pendant 

 

Of course, some beautiful distressed items like these columns from JM Piers

 

Antiqued urns from Go Home

And beautiful Tuscan vases, urns and planters from Abigail's

A Step-By-Step Recipe for a Romantic Bedroom: Part II

Part II of creating a romantic bedroom for Valentine's Day & Beyond...

Pillow from Alexandra Ferguson on Etsy, details below

You might not want to be that obvious (or would you?), but in this post, I continue to give some ideas to build up the romantic qualities of the bedroom - layer by layer. I call it “Layers of Love.” Maybe you can bring out the "Let's Make Out Pillow" once you've created your Love Retreat!

After re-doing my own bedroom when I was single, I told my soon-to-be-husband that I was creating layers of love for Valentine's Day.  I did all the things that I am telling you in this post (well - almost all of them!) - and six months later, we were engaged.  I think that it all really helped to set a mood for us.  Designing for all of the senses is important every day - but for Valentine's Day...it's extra important!

 Drape Fabric: If possible, add draped curtains or gauzy fabric to the bed. This gives your bed a cocoon-like aura that’s so romantic. Here’s a great (and inexpensive) idea that we did for a beautiful home that we staged in Muttontown NY.

Romantically draping gauzy fabric on this bedding helped sell this $3.5 million home

This is an easy and simple way to add fabric when you don't have a canopy bed:  From Redbook

Click here for directions on how to do this

Area Rugs: You want a tactile experience for your feet as well, so why not bring in something luxurious – such as a soft rug.

A luxurious Flotaki rug; Image from Apartment Therapy

Accessories that Set the Stage for Romance: If your budget allows, bring in opulent silks, velvets, tapestries and textured fabrics for the bedding, pillows and throws.

 Lighting: Besides candles, bringing in beautiful lighting can help set the mood. Chandeliers not only look beautiful but they can also cast a lovely glow in the bedroom. Remember to install a dimmer switch as you don’t want harsh lighting overhead. I’ve also seen two small chandeliers over each nightstand – and the look is so beautiful and romantic.

The bedroom from "It's Complicated" had a small chandelier over a night table - not over the bed.

And you don't necessarily have to have a traditional chandelier. Modern lighting works beautifully as well, as seen in this bedroom designed by Lee Ann Thornton 

Lamps with beautiful silhouettes or gorgeous damask fabric and beaded lampshades on the nightstands (also on dimmers) add another soft dimension. You might want to have an uplight in a corner to cast a beautiful shadow. Think about how a beautifully lit plant in a corner can look with an uplight gently delineating its curves on the walls.

A beautiful lamp, mirrored night tables, tufted headboard

and a picture of you and your love is a recipe for romance

Art for the Bedroom: Think about adding a scene that both of you love – a landscape or perhaps a place that you vacationed together (Paris, Rome…Hawaii). You don’t want to be overtly sexual with your art – just a suggestion of the love and togetherness that you both share.

Soft tones call for gentle art as in this room designed by Gerri Bremmerman

Art and pillows can be very holiday specific

It can be more masculine-oriented (with a mix of feminine decor),

as in this room designed by LuLu Powers

Or, it could be artwork depicting a favorite topic or pastime.  Room designed by LuLu Powers

Make it personal: Perhaps you made (or received from your love) something that was special. Make sure that that is prominent in the room. My husband made me a small framed photo of our initials that we carved on a bridge in Paris. He added the words “On a bridge in Paris.” I love this present every time I see it and it reminds me of how much in love we were then and are still today. You might even consider making something special for your love for this day. Some decorative cupcakes, a heart made out of construction paper (remember doing that in gradeschool?). It doesn’t matter how beautiful – it’s the thought that counts.

Easy to make (easier to buy) sachets made from Toile de Jouy fabric and lavender from Provence Available at www.fabulouslyfrench.com

Mood Music and Sounds: Continuing the sensory experience, you may want to add some soft music to your love recipe. Pick your beloved’s favorite music and add it to your ipod for that special night. Be it classical or contemporary, music played so softly in the room will add to the romantic mood. You can also think about a sound machine to add forest sounds or some gently moving waves.

Lastly, Add Something Sweet:  Whether it's chocolate or some simple Sweethearts from your childhood, adding something for the palette finishes the layers of love.  Don't forget some champagne (or red wine, if you are eating chocolate!). Forget your diet today - it's allowed!

Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net

So start doing some of these things and I know that you will have a beautiful Valentine’s Day. Give yourself permission to just linger and cuddle and enjoy some special time together.


Happy Valentine’s Day to All! 

Link to purchase Alexandra Ferguson's pillows

A Step By Step Recipe for a Romantic Bedroom for Valentine's Day & Forever

A beautiful, romantic bed by Tricia Guild

Setting the Stage for Romance: How does your bedroom rate romantically? Does it put you and your partner "in the mood" or "to sleep?" Well, if you haven't revamped your bedroom in a while - it's time to spruce it, spice it and sex it up for Valentine's Day. A romantic bedroom will make you want to stay in on that night - and forego an expensive night out at a restaurant. Those costly Valentines' nights at restaurants are never what they promise anyway - they are usually devoid of the variety of food the restaurant usually has...the place is always over-crowded...and the wait time is always longer than normal. So - spend some time with these tips and give your bedroom a loving make-over. I'll be doing it step-by-step, so reserve a few weekends from now until the big day to make your Valentine's night a memorable one.

Beautiful, sumptuous fabrics elegantly draped help create a romantic mood;

Image from Material Girls blog

 

Clear the Clutter First: Before you can do anything to your room – you have to get rid of all the extra stuff that doesn’t belong. Do you pay your bills in your bedroom? Does it function as a part time office? Most people’s rooms these days do double duty, but if your bedroom’s function has been taken over by too many file folders, receipts and other office paraphernalia – you have to think about another space for this stuff. At least, create a way to corral these things beautifully and unobtrusively with a beautiful box or basket.

Once you've cleared the clutter, you may even have some room left to create a quiet retreat within your bedroom, as in this seating area from HGTV

If your bedroom is also the repository of toys and children’s items – these things really should be in the playroom or your children’s bedrooms. Is your treadmill in the bedroom? If you have space in your basement or spare room – that’s where it should go.


Do you have a TV in your bedroom? That should go as well. I know that many people love their bedroom TVs – but we are talking about romance here. If you must have a TV in your room, use a beautiful armoire or cabinet that you can close and put away from sight. We want all the focus on you and your beloved. Not Oprah and American Idol. Once the excess distractions and clutter are gone - the fun can begin.

Wouldn't your TV look better hidden behind a beautiful armoire such as this? This armoire from Wildflower Organics retails for $4000, but you could spend as little as $400-500 for an armoire that will hide the TV away.  Our studio can also replicate the above armoire (or any other design) for a fraction of the $4000 pricetag 

 

 

A much better way to hide the TV!

Think About a More Sensual Wall Color: Real estate beige doesn’t say romance to me. So think about deep pink reds, honey golds, a rich dark brown, deep blue, plum or eggplant for your romantic backdrop. If you are timid about going bold and dark – consider painting just the focal point wall where your bed is. If you just have to have a neutral wall color – then considering bring in more colorful fabrics and pillows.

A soft, neutral background is relaxing and romantic. We softened and lightened all the furnishings in this bedroom in Bridgehampton NY to give it a more relaxed and serene feeling

A richly colored backdrop and hand painted Chinoiserie on the focal point wall is romantic also. Design by Kendall Wilkenson

Gorgeous metallic, patterened wallpaper from Designer's Guild, a tufted, decorative bed from La Maison and mirrored night tables create a romantic scene

The Sheets and Bedding: If you haven’t bought new sheets in awhile, you might want to consider buying some new ones – preferably 400 thread count and above. Wash the linens first, of course – then spritz with some linen spray. Another great idea is to add a down feather bed over your mattress. It will feel like you are resting on a cloud.

 

Be all roses on Valentines Day with  lacy bedskirt and beautiful bedding by LuLu Guinness

The Persian Collection bedding from John Robshaw can set an exotic mood

 Scents and Flowers are Sensual: We need to excite all the senses – not just sight and touch. Ever since doing design work in the beautiful Bridgehampton home of Jennifer Balbier, a Senior VP at Estee Lauder, I have been a Jo Malone candle lover. Spread the candlelight around the room – one on each night table and perhaps one or two in the bathroom – just in case the romance begins there! But don’t overload the room with candles – it can be a fire hazard. Think about add some fragrant massage oils at bedside.

Stay tuned for more advice in my next post!



A Beautiful, Well-Designed, Staged Home in Muttontown NY That Sold Quickly

Our sister company, Beautiful Staged Homes, created a wonderful, well-designed $3.5 million staged home in Muttontown NY.  Staging a home for sale is a bit different than designing a home for very personal use...but this newly constructed home showed a potential buyer how beautiful their life could be, if they purchased the home. 

That's what I think the purpose of home staging really is - it shows the buyer "how to live" beautifully, serenely - to live their "Best Lives."  It is a beautiful property - and it "sold" within 3 weeks of being on the market!  So - in the higher-end market, staging can really make a property "a HOT commodity." 

We created some beautiful decorative finishes in this home...

• A gilded ceiling medallion in the dining room
• A soft metallic sage green plaster in the powder room
• A pearl stried finish on the dining room walls
• Several aged finishes on the furnishings throughout the house

Here's a link to more of the beautiful rooms in this home

Photo Album of Muttontown Home

For more information about beautiful home staging contact Linda Leyble at 631 793-1315.

Some Beautiful French Antiques...At Reasonable Prices!

From a blog by a fellow blogger, Jamaica Byles I learned about many beautiful stores, artists and antique dealers that I would never had heard about. One such is Tongue in Cheek Antiques


Tongue in Cheek Antiques' owner – the poor dear, Corey Amaro, lives in the South of France (so jealous!) and her job is visiting various French Flea markets (that’s something I would do for fun!), and then she posts her finds on her site – for very reasonable prices. She collects beautiful remnants of how life used to be lived, such as calepins (see first image on the left - small decorative notebooks used by a woman at a ball to reserve her dance partners). People used to be so civilized! Plus ex votos (see last image in center - these were small decorative charms that would be placed in a church if a prayer had been answered.  On her site you'll also find antique French stencils, love potion glasses, small pocket frames, antique measuring tape, French clock faces, French marriage vases, French stamp holders, communion wreaths and so many other beautiful things. Here's a sampling -

 I purchased some antique music cards (left) – small cards that were used by French marching bands. Admittedly – I am weak when it comes to anything French and anything dealing with music – so I had to purchase these. I will frame them and use them in my home office – and, of course, by my baby grand piano in the living room.






Tonight, Jan 31st, Corey will be posting new finds. You do have to act fast - items get scooped up very quickly!  Good luck.

Please visit Jamaica’s other blog Pattern Lovely  - it’s her online journal where she experiments with beautiful surface and textile designs. She is so creative – and designs just flow from her. I took a silk screening class with Lucretia Moroni of Fatto a mano a few years ago – and I learned to draw my own fabric designs and wallpaper patterns (without the help of a computer). This was not an easy thing to do – so I am very envious of Jamaica’s natural talent.

Take the "What's Your Style" Quiz:

Is your style "Rustic Contemporary" or something else?  Find out!

Knowing Your Style and what you love should always be at the forefront whenever you start a design or re-design project. Identifying what you absolutely love and what you can't stand will help you to make the right design choices.


Go to Sproost and take their quick assessment quiz to find out your style.  Is it 100% accurate - not really.  But they were pretty darn close in assessing mine. I was deemed a combination Nantucket Style/French Eclectic/Traditional.  I think the French Eclectic is pretty accurate - not so much the Nantucket Style.


But - it's fun and you'll begin to know your likes, loves and absolutely nots!  They also will show you sites where you can find the types of furniture that suits your style best.


Let me know what styles describes you the best!

Image: Apartment Therapy; Sophie Robinson

A New Magazine to Inspire You



A new magazine celebrates green living, revamping old to new...in a beautiful way!

 2009 saw many design magazines come and go - Domino, O at Home, Cottage Living, Southern Accents and many others bit the dust this past year. But yet there are some intrepid publishers that still want to enter these treacherous waters!


One magazine is called Flea Market Style. I love the magazine because it helps us stay "green" by using our own or others' castoffs in new and beautiful ways. I pick up many "found on the side of the road" items and I repaint, stencil and handpaint them back into loveable objects - but this magazine really does a beautiful job of it. Read more about the magazine at

About Flea Market Style

A layout from Flea Market Style

The magazine helps us to see our old discarded things with new, creative eyes



A revamped dustpan! Making it into a flower box is highly imaginative as well as beautiful

Another idea is the creative reuse of an old lantern that is no longer functional. It combines using some things that you would otherwise toss out - old wallpaper and lighting.

I always encourage my clients to ferret out things that have been banished to the basement, attic or garage - because there's "gold" lurking there! So - reuse, save money - and have beautiful "green" homes!