ADD THIS TO YOUR READING LIST: DEFINING LUXURY BY JEFFREY BILHUBER

Finally! The long awaited second book by Jeffrey Bilhuber, a designer with a large celebrity clientele, is here. Displaying color saturated rooms shot in clear and bright photos, it is a treat to look at. Bilhuber, who started his firm in 1984, is a master at seating arrangements, creative applications of tape trims, applying nailheads in unexpected new ways, and wall colors that play off of upholstery fabrics. I prefer color saturated shots in coffee table books, so this follow up to his first book is a welcome one. The book is broken up into categories all relating to luxury. He defines it through the following areas: Discovery, Passion, History, Ornament, Grace, Comfort, and Delight.

Beautiful antiques mingle with clean silhouettes

This charming petal adorned mirror looks down at a comfortable nook--a Bilhuber signature. The pop of color from the pillow provides excitement for the eye

Bright yellow armless side chairs make the serious dark wood panelling less so

Don't hold back--let the pattern take hold! The curtains, sofa and bridgewater chair make the room fun and young. Never underestimate the charm of a well-placed slipper chair (one of my favorite things)

Bilhuber teaches some great lessons about how to display objects. This Chinoiserie piece is large but the books and accessories ground it in the space

Photographs by Trel Brock,courtesy of Rizzoli
It's all about the lines. A klismos and a campaign chair can be at home next to a french settee. See all 256 pages by ordering yours at Rizzoli
available in October

SHOPPING NEAR THE D AND D BUILDING IN NEW YORK: MYRTLE

Myrtle is a wonderful shop at 245 E 60th Street. Interior designer Michelle Prentice has gathered a great mix of French 19th and 20th century, mid-century modern antiques and accessories. She has an all-in-one routine, with an office upstairs where she designs interiors for her clients. Lucky!


A beautifully edited selection of antiques have clean lines upholstered in neutrals.


The shop's walls are covered in grasscloth, the perfect backdrop for Michelle's finds.



Michelle shops the world for great finds. She has just returned from Belgium, I cannot wait to see what good finds she returns with...


Pretty burled woods and water-gilt mirrors mix well


Lamps found from shopping far and wide.

Photos by Josh Gibson
The wall of great pillows from Pillow Inc.
Check out her website for more, at Myrtle

SHOPPING THE HAMPTONS: MAISON 24 YOU WILL ADORE

Allison Julius and her brother Louis Marra have changed the retail landscape in Bridgehampton. Their new concept store is an artful mix of home furnishings, men’s and women’s accessories, music, books, electronics, window treatments, wall coverings, children’s furnishings, branded home fragrance and collectibles. They have partnership in store boutiques with Bisazza italian tile and The Shade Store, and carry Fornasetti, Globe Trotter luggage and other worldly finds.


The poppy mix of graphic mod artwork, funky pillows and great furnishings up the ante for concept stores everywhere.


A Fornasetti moment

Photos Courtesy of Maison 24
These two went on shopping trips around the globe with their sense of humor in check, you will find quirky things to make you smile as well as covetable goodies. They want you to shop, sit down with a cappuccino and listen to cool music. Sounds too good to leave! Visit and shop Maison 24 2424 Main Street Bridgehampton, LI.

KELLY WEARSTLER COLLABORATES WITH GROUNDWORKS FOR A NEW FABRIC COLLECTION

LA interior designer Kelly Wearstler keeps on amazing the design world. After making her name with Hollywood regency style commercial interiors of the Viceroy hotels, the Avalon in Beverly Hills, and the Tides in Miami Beach, she turns a corner and comes up with something completely new and now.

Two books, a special Bergdorf Goodman collection of accessories, three rug collections and TV show host later, she has come out with a line for Goundworks of Lee Jofa. Groundworks, the contemporary brand of Lee Jofa, breaks new ground asking design talent to create something unique and unexpected as Ashley Hicks and Thomas O'Brien did. Her ability to mix gorgeous objects from different styles and areas define her interiors. Here, Kelly's collection shows Asian and vintage textile influences. The unique color range incorporates fifteen printed and woven fabrics and nine trims in a variety of colorways, each inspired by her travels and nature.

Take a look:
Photos Courtesy of Lee Jofa
Glam teal punches up the Edo Linen showing a scenic of Tokyo and Fuji Modern, a rich chevron motif.


The Edo linen above has a muted palette that can be used with a great variety of colors


Designed with scheme in mind, the coordinates are shown together for an instant room.


Swirly velvet Sora evokes a theme often seen in antique Japanese scenics--the stylized
cloud.


Katana linen channels a classic graphic Kimono in colors that are unexpected and rich


What is next for Kelly? KOR hotel resorts in Anguilla, Miami, Mexico's Riviera Maya and Vietman. Stay tuned....

EVERYBODY LOVES A SALE- LULU DK FABRIC SAMPLE SALE STARTS TODAY

Visit 675 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, from Tuesday till Friday!!! Get thee to see!

NEW YORK SHOPPING: GOTTA HAVE FLAIR

Flair Home Collection recently opened a New York outpost after establishing a presence in Florence, Milan and Capri. Bellissimo!


In addition to going on buying trips 4 times a year to Italy and France, they
have their own collection designed and manufactured exclusively in Italy.


With it's black lacquer floor and walls, Flair is the tall dark and handsome of home shops.


French 1940's pieces mingle with Italian mid-century modern.

Photos Courtesy of Flair
Their website is super chic, check it out, Flair and visit their Soho location at 88 Grande Street. Pick up some Flair.

NEW FOR FALL: THOMAS JAYNE DESIGNS ACCESSORIES COLLECTION FOR CHELSEA HOUSE

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House
Thomas Jayne has had his own design firm in New York City since 1990. He is incredibly knowledgeable on decorative arts, having been a graduate fellow of Winterthur Museum's Architecture and Decorative Arts program, among other academic accomplishments. He is also incredibly funny and warm. I have many friends who have worked for him and they all have great friendships with him, years later.

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea House

The aesthete and academic has done a charming collection of needlepoint pillows, lighting, mirrors and waste bins for Chelsea House. The designs are really clean and pared down--so easy to use. His color palette is pure Americana: bottle green, terra cotta red, chocolate brown and gray blue. Call 704 867-5926 to get your nearest retailer. The goods should be available in October. Enjoy!

DESIGN NEWS: CHARLOTTE MOSS TOWNHOUSE CLOSING

Photo Courtesy of Charlotte Moss
Charlotte Moss's newest retail venture The Townhouse is closing.  Three dazzling floors of "luxury curated environments"  filled to the rafters with imported french porcelain, silver, antiques and tons of rare design books opened just a short while ago, in April 2007.  What fun it was to escape to the jewel box-- no surface was without a candle, tip towel or stack of notepads.  Every detail, down to the staff Carolina Herrera uniforms was taken into account.  It's all in the details! Moss will continue with her signature products and her vision of rarified living.  The website is full of informative content and accessories so you can still get a fix when you need it....the eight couples with bridal registries might not be as lucky.

FOR ALL YOU NEW YAWKERS: SHOP TARGET POP UP STORES SEPTEMBER 17th

Shop the Bullseye Bodegas

Target brings great design at pay-less prices to New York with four limited-time Bullseye Bodegas staged throughout Manhattan.

Shop the Bodegas for chic deals in home, fashion, accessories and beauty from our acclaimed roster of design partners.

Locations:
Midtown:
101 57th Street at 6th

Union Square:
813 Broadway between 11th and 12th

SoHo:
489 Broome Street between Wooster
and West Broadway

West Broadway East Village:
325 Bowery at 2nd

CHIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

Model Helena Christensen has teamed with Danish company Vipp to announce new high design waste baskets to be auctioned off for charity. Thee Food Bank New York City and Chernobyl Children's Project International will benefit from the silent auction for the classic pedal bins that have been jazzed up by international designers. These custom versions can be viewed at The Conran Shop from now till September 17th. They will be auctioned off on the 18th, with all proceeds going to charity.

Below is a selection of the specially designed cans:

Photo Courtesy of Vipp
Bill Sofield's have the horn legs that are on his signature Baker side table

Photo Courtesy of Vipp
Celerie Kemble's hot pink creation

Photo Courtesy of Vipp
Vertical stripes from Colin Cowie

JUST RELEASED: THE NEW TRADITIONAL BY DARRYL CARTER

INTERIOR DESIGNS PHENOM FROM WASHINGTON LAUNCHES A NEW BOOK AND FURNITURE LINE

Photo Courtesy of Clarkson Potter

Photo Courtesy of Clarkson Potter
The New Traditional by Darryl Carter shows serene, neutral rooms with knock-out gorgeous antiques. The simple background lets the forms and burled woods of the antiques really stand out. His look is distinctly American.

Photo Courtesy of Clarkson Potter
Carter teaches the importance and impact good editing has--each piece he uses, from a pitcher to a stack of wood, becomes sculptural. Get your copy now at Potter

THOMASVILLE FURNITURE COLLECTION DEBUTS IN OCTOBER:

Photo Courtesy of Thomasville Furniture
Darryl Carter rocked High Point Furniture Market this spring with his incredible collection for Thomasville Furniture. Two years in the making, Darryl introduced Thomasville to proportion, scale and special finishes. His impact was so profound they made a video about the process. These pieces are livable and make a statement all their own. Ebony and grey painted finishes have the feel of custom furniture, something he offered his interior design clients. Statement pieces like these bring the look of antiques into American homes. The fact that this collection is so large and so well priced is really a landmark event! Available in October through Thomasville stores.