Friday, October 31, 2008

CELERIE KEMBLE LAUNCHES SCHUMACHER FABRIC COLLECTION AND NEW BOOK, TO YOUR TASTE

TO YOUR TASTE: CREATING MODERN ROOMS WITH A TRADITIONAL TWIST
Reprinted from the book Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste by Celerie Kemble with Karen Kelly. Copyright © 2008 by Celerie Kemble with Karen Kelly. Photographs copyright © 2008 by Zach Desart. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.

I first met Celerie when she was my 4th grade tour guide for a school I was considering. You do not forget a name like hers. Her boundless energy and creative way was so much fun. We reconnected a year later at sleep away camp, and then our paths crossed again when I was the Style editor at House Beautiful and she was chosen to be on the Top 100 List. Her career has skyrocketed, and for good reason. Celerie's new book is out November 4th! I eagerly awaited it's arrival, since I knew she would come up with a clever way to show her work. Chapters titled "The Search for Personal Style" and "The Narrative Room: Telling Stories with Arrangements" call for self -exploration and being involved. She chose to explore the design process and takes us to the source of her inspirations. In addition, readers will find she conquers design dilemmas that they can learn from. Having learned the basics from her mom of Kemble Interiors, Celerie absorbed the process from a young age, developing a style all her own.

Her interiors take traditional elements and punch them up a few notches. As a Palm Beach girl, her bamboo/high gloss lacquer and tropical brights will always be where she finds inspiration.


A sense of humor, color use, touch of irreverence and ultimately being livable are core elements of her work.


SCHUMACHER FABRIC COLLECTION

Photos Courtesy of Schumacher
Celerie, her new Schumacher fabric collection is young mod and fresh with a nod to the traditional. Her Hothouse Flowers print is the neo-preppy look.

Bleeker is a neutral geometric, good for when you need a bit of pattern.

Betwixt woven, a mod geometric has nice texture and pop.

Stay tuned for her new Dempsey & Carrol limited edition stationery....

Thursday, October 30, 2008

HIGH POINT REVEAL: THE SELECTED WORKS OF TONY DUQUETTE FROM BAKER

Photo by Tim Street-Porter, from "Tony Duquette," Abrams, New York
The Drawing Room

Photo Courtesy of Hutton Wilkinson/The Tony Duquette Estate

Glamour! Fantasy! These words come to mind when describing The Selected Works of Tony Duquette Collection Baker revealed at High Point last week. Hutton Wilkinson, protege and collaborator of Duquette's for over 30 years, owns the Dawnridge estate in Los Angeles, where the original pieces reside. To see the interiors, pick up Tony Duquette by Hutton and Wendy Goodman if you do not already own it. Duquette is known for creating elaborate costumes, stage settings and decorative items, winning a Tony for the original Broadway production of Camelot. For his furnishings he re purposed found materials, elevating them by using unique finishing techniques. He lived to 85, and his designs were so in demand that catalogs from a Christie's auction in the 80's sold out immediately. Thank goodness a book was done recently on his life's work. Hutton was kind enough to invite me to a Dawnridge dinner party a few years back. Not something I will ever forget.

The reproductions by Baker faithfully capture the whimsy and wonder of the originals, using unique materials and special finishes. The archives provided inspiration for designs spanning from 1947-1972. The selected pieces are works of art. Baker is known for sourcing the best materials and as seen below, they let this artisans vision come alive.

THE BIG REVEAL:



Photos Courtesy of Baker
The Abalone Chandelier of painted steel and abalone shells, Circa 1952. Eight were produced and they have already sold out!!!


The Palmer Chair, Circa 1965


The Marsan Chair, Circa 1951



The Macao Garden Seat of lacquered wood, Circa 1960



The Organic Baroque Chair of wrought iron , Circa 1965



The Sunburst Torchere of cast bronze, Circa 1949


The Biomorphic Mirror of cast resin and gold leaf, Circa 1965



One of the signature pieces is the Biomorphic Console of cast resin and gold leaf, Circa 1965


Talk to the animals--- an homage to Dr. Doolittle?! The Ghost Snail Lamp of cast resin and pin shell veneer, Circa 1970


The Abalone Mosaic Cocktail Table of brass and abalone shell, Circa 1959



The Paris Snowflake Screen of 14 karat gold leaf or silver leaf (shown) and cast alluminum, Circa 1951

The Regency Pagoda Lamp of painted cast resin, Circa 1970

The Jeweled Votive Table Lamp of silver or 24 karat gold plated (shown) cast bronze, Circa 1972


The Arrow of The Sea Swordfish Snout Lamp Sculpture of Murano glass and cast bronze, Circa 1972
The Gold Toad Decorative Piece of 24 karat gold plated cast bronze, Circa 1970

The Insect Man Sculpture of painted steel, Circa 1947. A precursor to Burning Man perhaps?

Visit a Baker retailer or the Baker site to purchase these fantastical objets (going fast).

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo Courtesy of Herend
Call it ghoul chic. Herend's Skull with 24-karat gold details is a sophisticated take on memento mori. It is 2 inches high so it wont be too scary to have around. Order yours from Herend.

FLOORED: LOOKING AT ELSON AND COMPANY'S NEWEST RUGS

NEW AND EXPANDED DESIGNER COLLECTIONS FROM ELSON AND CO:
Elson and Co. keeps adding to their designer selections. Vivid color and great craftsmanship come together in their rugs, they are easy to use and bring vibrancy to a room. See old and new at Elson and Company

THE KATHRYN M. IRELAND TIBETAN COLLECTION

For The Kathryn M. Ireland Tibetan Collection her fabric designs were magnified and intensified with rich color. Foral Ikat Red shown above



Abu Red Slate by Kathryn M. Ireland is modern in its enlarged pattern and poppy contrasting colors


Diamond Batik Blue by Kathryn M. Ireland has subtle color gradations


Diamond Batik Red by Kathryn M. Ireland is a great small repeat and would work with patterned prints in the upholstery--it blends well


Greta Tobacco by Kathryn M. Ireland provides a bold background in a go-with-everything brown

AN OSCAR ADDITION

Santiago by Oscar de la Renta is a great addition that I had to include


CARLETON VARNEY COLLECTION

Carleton Varney worked with Dorothy Draper and continues to keep her design legacy alive. His Boca Grande Red from The Carleton Varney Collection is fun and bright. It would be at home in any beach side haven


Draper Stripe Chocolate Navy of Himalayan wool


Port St. Lucie Indigo from The Carleton Varney Collection adds a geometric to an interior

HABLE CONSTRUCTION COLLECTION

Blue Mum Dhurrie by Hable Construction matches their fabric-- adorable
All Photos Courtesy of Elson and Company

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

NEW TALENT FROM HIGH POINT: LAMSHOP FURNITURE AND JAY C. LOHMANN TEXTILES

NEW TALENT WATCH:

Photo's Courtesy of Lamshop/Jay C.Lohmann
This chic trio launched new items at High Point this past week. Lindsey Harper (L) and Maggie Currey (R) recently formed Lamshop, a line of Charlotte, NC -made custom furniture. The name is based on their initials. They met while working for Richard Keith Langham in New York, a haven for southern transplants like them. In addition to doing upholstery and tables, and buying vintage pieces for their Charlotte Lamshop showroom, Lindsey started Lindsey Coral Harper Interior Design this year. They did a booth with Jay C. Lohmann, a decorative painter and textile designer also out if NYC. He spent years honing his craft in Florence, and has started a line of fine fabrics and pillows seen here. Visit Lamshop to order and also view an assortment vintage finds.
They had a blast at market and I am so happy to know them. You heard it here first! Stay tuned for Lindsey Harper's interiors coming soon....



The Queen Elizabeth Loveseat


The Consort Chair covered in a Lohmann fabric

Their booth had personality, mixing upholstery, tables and textiles

The Ming Lacquer Cocktail table

The Ming Lacquer Bedside Table with drawer

The Ming Lacquer End Table with shelf

Below is a selection of colors, there are 8 standard colors to choose from:





Monday, October 27, 2008

UPDATE ON DECORATI PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE DESIGN BLOGGER

What fun I had participating on Shane Reilly's Decorati sponsored panel at the Jerry Pair showroom in the D and D Building. Each blogger came from a different vantage point and added their perspective to the talk. We are all inspired by different things. Some of us are on the computer all day fielding submissions while others are out and about. It really comes down to covering what you are passionate about and your distinct point of view. We all agreed we write our blogs out of love--- not for money! The room was filled with great guests, from editors at House Beautiful to the leading home PR gurus. Thank you Shane for asking me to be a part of this dialog on a brave new world--blogging.

Photo Courtesy of Decorati
Panelists were: interior designer and Shane's Studio blogger Shane Reilly also founder of Decorati; Michael Devine who covers design parties on The Devine Life; Ronda Carmen of Allthebestblog; me for Stylebeat; and Grace Bonney of design*sponge

Create your own blog on Decorati and sign on to use this great design resource. Offering over 400 trade-only manufacturers and showrooms in one place, Decorati is a shopping site offering a vast selection of new and antique furniture and decorative arts, and the private collections of interior designers. Designers can email their clients pieces they have preselected, get tear sheets and print them. Consumers can browse, find an interior designer, and send their designer pieces they like. In addition, designers can add their rooms and featured Decorati pieces will be listed. A great new feature shows most viewed and requested products of the week.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

MODERN NEEDLEPOINT FROM AMH DESIGN LLC

I had initially seen monogrammed notepads at Liz Bauer's new home shop, Elizabeth Bauer Design. The other day I found them online, and sent an email to an adorable new resource, AMH Design. I thought, hmmm...I did not see these sweet things at the gift show, I need to see more! Lo and behold, I grew up in Connecticut with Amy Holbrook, the smart and savvy founder of AMH. Last I had heard she was living in Rome, a great place to get ideas and creative inspiration. What a treat to know that someone behind a young creative company is so incredibly nice and has a great eye. Columbia Business School isn't bad either! I am really excited to see this company grow. Buy your stocking stuffers now!

Enjoy her fun needlepoint creations and see more kits at AMH Design

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
This selection of journals is DIY. You stitch the monogrammed area yourself. The kit comes with needle and threader, color coordinated yarns, and an initial chart. Or, if you are short on time or just not crafty, you can have one of their professional stitchers do it for you (there is an upcharge and delivery time)My favorite grouping is called this one called Rome

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
After the confidence building this provides, you will be ready to tackle a bigger canvas--2 initials! The Monte Carlo is like a Goyard bag in a notepad--small and more affordable

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
The stitching should take an hour to complete on the single initial. Marrakesh has a great global geometric design

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
A little Op art with The Rio design