CECIL BEATON FABRICS--WHAT COULD BE BETTER!!!

To suit your fancy, these Cecil Beaton fabrics designs have been reworked by Beaudesert Fabrics. They make their worldwide debut this month at Decorex, the great fabric showcase in London. Let's hope they make it stateside...www.beaudesert.co.uk. The painterly naive florals and stripes capture Beaton's love of roses. They were originally designed in 1948 and are so today in their youthful exuberance. To think that one can own a part of Cecil's legacy!!!






Photos Courtesy of Beaudesert Fabrics

Sir Cecil set the tone in stage and screen with My Fair Lady and Gigi, wrote numerous books about the demi monde, and had a creative influence over portraiture, drawing and costume and set design for over 60 years.

SCENT MEMORY

Keep summer memories top of mind when the fall winds start to blow. These fragrance lines look great and smell even better. A candle is no longer just a candle. The wick width, container, labelling and outside package better be attention grabbing. But companies are going above and beyond the traditional wax in a jar, coming up with inventive versions of air fare. Wear a scent that you love and scent your home with it. I like the sweetness of white flowers, but for those that like something richer for winter, bois scents are huge.


The tropics of Hawaii inspired Malibu resident Gaye Straza Rappaport to create a white flower fragrance. Initially, the oil came in small roller ball bottle was the only way to enjoy the fragrance, but soon the brand grew to include candles, a spray and bath sponge. The store Dovecote in Connecticut understands that most Kai devotees like to buy in bulk. The plethora they carry is good for people like me that cannot get enough. Visit Dovecote to get your fix.


Photo Courtesy of Hei Poa
White flowers smell so clean and crisp. Tiare, a special Tahitian white flower oil bottled from Hei Poa is one of my favorites. Visit the island without the jet lag at Hei Poa


Photo Courtesy of Belle Fleur
Elegant script on matte chocolate glass, faux shagreen box and matches are all part of the details that make this candle so lovely. Belle Fleur candles complement their gorgeous flower arrangements. Check out the Index section of October Vogue to see one of Meredith's lush arrangements. The Mayan Tuberose is flying off the shelves at Barneys nationwide. The array of scents can be viewed at Belle Fleur. Look to them for diffusers and room sprays soon.


Mor Cosmetics found their inspiration in Edwardian chic this season with Flower and Narcissus. The hobnail glass vessel and slightly goth fabulous art on the packaging in black and yellow, a color palette to watch for more of, is new and fresh. Other packaging colors include red or kelly green paired with black. Be enticed at Mor Cosmetics


Edwardian informs and inspires Douglas Little on a daily basis. Modern Alchemy, his collection of candles, is growing to include, yes, chocolates! A little candlelight and chocolates--life's great pleasure. Using etched positive and negative glass, his art nouveau candles add a bit of art through their illumination. Each decoration is the leaf or flower of the scent. The bay laurel shown here is so delicate and sweet. The assortment is at DL and Company


Photo Courtesy of Anthousa
Anthousa, a home and personal fragrance company, means the perfect bloom. This brand defined itself with beautiful vessels for diffusers, then added candles and fragrance spray. Oil-filled glass decanters with a little silk tassel hanging from the neck look at home on the bathroom vanity and on the living room side table. Reuse the glass as a bud vase. Look at their delux 3 diffuser sets so you can have them everywhere, at Anthousa


Photo Courtesy of Seda France
Seda France wowed with their packaging when they began a few years back. A toile mini house box with tassle was a chic option for gift giving and made other brands realize how essential good packaging is. They have branched out into glass diffusers, like this Classic Toile Diffuser Set in Hyacinth from Seda France


NEW TAKES ON SCENTING THE AIR
Photo Courtesy of Dayna Decker
Dayna Decker Essence Couture Diffuser in White Tuberose is like having a modern sculpture that smells nice. This shiny bauble is a perfect for the Zaha Hadid followers homes. Observe other ultra glam home fragrances at Dayna Decker

Photo Courtesy of Slatkin and Co.
Cheap and cheerful choices come from Harry Slatkin, the fragrance man. Scentport™, their newest home fragrance system plugs into a wall outlet and offers continuous air beautifying. Modern and sleek, the device looks as good as your ibook. The Fresh Linen is nice fragrance to have around. Check out the next frontier at Bath and Body Works

ROCK SOLID

PRECIOUS GEMS
Tony Duquette did it. Marc Jacobs did it. Using malachite, precious stone, and rich looking geological gems is au courant. Marc did fine jewels inspired by Art Deco creations and Banana Republic named their new fragrance after it. Malachite is marvelous.

Photo Courtesy of Fornasetti
If you happen to be walking the hallowed halls of the 7th floor at Begdorf Goodman this September, you will pass this Piero Fornasetti stunner, a re edition of the 1950's original. This venerable Italian brand has become better known recently in the US with their black and white face plates for Rosenthal china. Their furniture, umbrella stands and magazine racks have whimsical lacquered decoupage surfaces. Glamorous!



Cole and Son, the British wall covering company, amazing us again, this time with a Fornasetti collection. The malachite papers add instant sophistication. If you are feeling extra inspired, use it to line a bookshelf!
From Cole and Son


Photo Courtesy of Ruzzetti and Gow
Malachite looks nice mixed into tablescapes in small doses. A box from Ruzzetti and Gow is just the thing. Christopher Gow made semi precious stones, coral, silver coated shells, blanc de chine porcelain flowers and special objets hot again when he began carrying them in his chic 72nd Street space years ago. His passion for natural curiosities shows in the peacock, ostrich egg and feather wreaths on hand.


Salt cellar, jewerly holder for your nightstand, or display piece, these little gems look best against glass where their subtleties stand out.



Veneer surfaces provide the look, weigh less and give the same bang. This mirror was done by Furniture Masters for a small collection with Jonathan Adler a few years back. Inspiration!


Photo Courtesy of Ruzzetti and Gow
Selenite logs are pretty much the chicest things ever. Use them in the off season to fill your fireplace. Birch logs, we have seen that before! Add some glimmer to your flame.

Photo Courtesy of Bernardaud
Jacques Garcia designed Albâtre Oriental, a trompe-l’œil pattern made to look like striated stone, after a stone that was popular in the 18th Century. Faux is beautiful in the hands of Mr. Garcia. Browse at Bernardaud


Photo Courtesy of Michael C Fina
Alain Saint-Joanis does the most drop dead chic flatware out there. They use semi precious materials, inlay and ornate settings to create place settings. If cobalt blue lapis is what you are looking for, look no further. From Michael C Fina


Photo Courtesy of Carl Martinez
Drawer pulls and knobs are jewelry for your furniture. These handmade pieces are the perfect way to add that jewel to your furnishings. Carl Martinez sculpts pieces with personality.



Photo Courtesy of Alexis Bittar
Alexis took lucite to new places with his jewelry, making it look fine and trendsetting by carving it to catch the light. His newer collections incorporate his unique material combinations with gold and stones. Be dazzled by malachite at Alexis Bittar

NATURAL SELECTION

Belgian chic interiors a la Axel Vervoort are now easier to create. Creamy neutral interiors accented by natural woods like cerused oak, bubbled glass cloches, comfortable deep sofas and linen fabrics define the look.

Photo Courtesy of Flammarion
Just released: The newest Axel book! His soothing style comes through in his exhibitions of antiques at prominent antique fairs as well as homes he decorates around the world. His talent lies in his ability to mix English Antiques, rough hewn pieces, large scale artwork and relics with the spaces. It comes together to create a treasure trove of special finds only a curators eye could produce. Buy it asap from Flammarion

Photo Courtesy of Rizzoli
These floorboards are incredible!!! Find reclaimed wood from the Old Grain


This daybed with bolsters is such a great small scale and will look great in so many settings. Through retailers found at Palecek


Photo Courtesy of Williams Sonoma Home
Zinc and porcelain urns make nice accent pieces for flowers and on the mantle. These European made pieces are well designed. Pick up some the perfectly patinated at Williams Sonoma Home


Oly Studio makes light wood modern with this slatted sideboard. An ideal storage piece for your Bose ipod dock and large serving platters. Oly Studio



Atticus Home, a great new resource, makes porcelain china with fine thin edges giving it a handmade look. Get it for your table in time for Turkey dinner at Neiman Marcus in the fall.


Bobo Intriguing Objects takes materials with the patina of age and turns them into something great. Not found objects per se, but wood, stone and metal are taken someplace unexpected in their designs. These delicate lamps with stone bases remind me of French 1920's lighting, the curved shades are such a terrific detail. Through Bobo Intriguing Objects


This piece I spotted at Anthropologie. Aged to perfection.


Vagabond Vintage also gets that particular patina--their home items look as though they have lived other lives and are available at the peak of perfection. Rough hewn elegance comes across in this wooden octagon mirror. Find out where to buy it at Vagabond Vintage Furnishings

Photo Courtesy of Arteriors
Rustic and substantial, the Goldberg Tall Lamp from Arteriors Home
is a new take on wood. The gilt finish adds a touch of glamour.

DOROTHY DRAPER FURNITURE AUCTION FROM THE GREENBRIER: OWN A PIECE OF DESIGN HISTORY

Photos Courtesy of Potomack Company

Potomack Company Auction House in Alexandria Virginia is unloading a cache of Dorothy Draper pieces that were used in the Greenbrier Resort she decorated. Dorothy loved thick awning stripes and used them often. She is a legendary American decorator, wouldn't it be fun to have nightstands she designed?
Bid online at Potomack Company The auction is September 29th, @ 10:00am!

GET THE LOOK, NEW: DOROTHY DRAPER COLLECTION BY CARLETON VARNEY FOR KINDEL FURNITURE
Varney and Sons design firm continues the Draper legacy.

These pieces capture the flavor:
Photo Courtesy of Kindel Furniture
Dorothy Draper's Console and Curio from Kindel would look great with blue and white vases on the shelves.

Photo Courtesy of Kindel Furniture
This adorable slipper chair was originally designed for the Fairmont Hotel.

Photo Courtesy of Kindel Furniture
Frettework adds a clean geometrical look, consider the Square Trellis Lamp Table.
These furniture pieces are spanking new from Kindel Furniture, in case the bidding thing does not work out!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER LOOKING PRETTIER THAN EVER

Birds are no longer the stylized, paired- down silhouettes of days recently past. The new bird revival is all about natural, fully realized renditions. Pretty and sweet, this bird will adorn your walls in prints, and cover your sofas.

Photo Courtesy of Gracie
I have been seeing a return to the classics for awhile now. Pretty rooms with traditional elements are where things are headed. What an elegant statement a hand- painted scenic wallpaper is in a gracious dining room. Gracie, a classic house for hand painted Chinoiserie papers and antiques, is where decorators turn when they want the best. With a material such as this too much is never enough. If you want to make a statement without the commitment, frame the panels and hang them. Browse the stunning artistry on their easy to use site, Gracie Studio


Photo Courtesy of Loise Body Wallprint
This bird could not wait to escape the confines of his cage. Printed on silk, it can be purchased from the shop at Louise Body Wallprint

Photo Courtesy of Mecox Gardens
The scale of this bird painting creates a strong presence in an interior. The majestic pelican shown in great detail adds a bit of fun and whimsy. From Mecox Gardens



Against a painted wall or simple background, a large scale Heron print hung in a pair makes a terrific statement. By keeping the surroundings clean and without too much pattern, these birds have a striking effect. From Hedstom & Judd

Bird paintings from Groundwork look great when hung salon style.

Photo Courtesy of 1st Dibs.com
Check out this stunning 1920's birdcage from Pamela Lerner Antiques, it would be great in a sunroom or entrance foyer. It just oozes charm.

Photo Courtesy of Two's Company
The bird in a cage motif continues. Bamboo accents make this a charming piece to put over a console or in a small powder room. Find this along with other gilt bamboo pieces through Two's Company


Photo Courtesy of Mottahedeh
Virginia Blue, a new pattern from Colonial Williamsburg takes the ever popular blue and white color scheme and adds a shot of pretty. Known for their Chelsea Birds pattern also from Williamsburg, Mottahedeh has created another stunning print based on archived patterns.


Areaware, known for their injection of high design into functional and decorative items is up to their usual whimsical tricks. This pattern, Seconds, is meant to look like the imperfect pieces that get cast off in the porcelain factory. With the bird placements at random and upside down, their imperfection is what makes these pieces fun.


This sweet little settee from Design Legacy gets straight to the point. But do we want to sit on birds, or just look at them? Discuss.