Friday, April 30, 2010

STYLISH SISTER ACT PART III: ELIZABETH DINKEL


Lizzie lower left, with her team

Lizzie Dinkel lives in LA and blends classic and mid- century modern design influences in her work. After attending The New York School if Interior Design and Parsons, she worked for her mom's firm and expanded westward, opening San Francisco and LA offices. Opening her own firm in 2004, she has quickly made her mark. She belongs to a group of hugely talented LA designers, who are influencing California design with fresh and beautifully executed projects. Her firm, Elizabeth Dinkel Design Associates, turns out work that incorporates bold patterns and mid century forms with classic results.

HER WORK:

A glamorous entry hall reveals a peek into the dining room with a painted scenic paper.


A young and relaxed Living Room in pale blue and grass green. Mixing bright stipes and a trad damask is a young-it-up trick.

A Dining Room with great pieces-- a pretty chandelier and classic shield-back chairs are made fresh with an Alan Campbell fabric.

In a Bedroom seating area she plays with scale, pattern and form.



A generous master bath with a classical motif of inlaid marble decorates the floor.


Photos Courtesy of Elizabeth Dinkel
A garden pavilion in LA.
With the great California weather, outdoor living rooms have become more popular and there are beautiful outdoor fabric and furniture options galore.

Who did you work for/study to learn the trade?

I've had the extraordinary good fortune of having a very stylish mother with impeccable taste and creativity as my first teacher so, of course, having started my career working for her, she has been a hugely important mentor to me. It was through my experience working with her and running the various offices of Leta Austin Foster & Associates (New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles) that I was even able to handle going out on my own and later open my company in West Hollywood. Still to this day, my mother gives me sound client and business advice when I’m in a bind. I have also strongly relied on the advice and styling of my good friend Michael Tedrick of Tedrick & Bennett who used to operate out of San Francisco. Michael has a very distinct sense of style and everything is a very clean interpretation of traditional, very refined and elegant. I absolutely love everything he does and because we have a very similar style aesthetic he’s proven to be a wonderful sounding board to bounce ideas off of.

What is your signature look? How would you define it?

In the simplest of terms, I would say my signature look is Fresh Classicism. I give traditional styling a twist…a reinterpretation that feels now and vibrant, down to even the smallest nuances. Having said this, I comfortably design in many settings, from contemporary to Hollywood Regency. I strive to create livable homes that are timeless, rich in style and inspire conversation. Uncovering a client’s sensibility, and making it chic while still inviting is a central theme in my work. From selecting glowing finishes and being finely tuned to the details of a project, my design palette is very tailored but at the same time, upbeat and urbane. The Modernist and Art Deco movements are very top of mind when I design spaces, but I liven and freshen them up a bit to create my own updated style. To this end and in a perfect world, I like to use furniture pieces from notable designers as statement pieces in houses with good traditional bones – just to make the rooms more interesting and relevant to today’s culture.

What is it like working as a mother/daughters team and how do your tastes influence one another?

Sadly, I don’t work with my sisters or mother on projects anymore, but I will say that my classical training is adopted from my mother.

Who gets the veto power on joint projects?

If you knew my mother, you would know the answer to that question…

When did you know this was your calling in life?

Though I have been exposed to interior design my whole life, via my mother’s company, my decision to follow the ‘family business’ – so to speak – did not come until my mid twenties. After graduating from Georgetown, it took a few years stint in television news production to convince me that I needed a change. So, I went back to school and took classes at Parsons and the New York School of Interior Design before I began my apprenticeship with my mother’s company out of New York. And that’s how it all began…

What other designer and or architect do you most admire (living or not) and why?

There are so many, so, it’s hard to limit this response to just one.
For starters, there is Mies van der Rohe, Syrie Maugham, Billy Baldwin and Eero Saarinen. Each of these designers used clean lines and really pushed the openness of a home to the outdoors and I try and incorporate these same ideas into my own work – just with more of an unexpected twist. Additionally, there is Dorothy Draper, Frances Elkins, Stephane Boudin, Billy Haines and Albert Hadley. I have always loved how these designers took classic elements and interpreted them in their own unique style…making it very personal, never derivative. They were or are all iconic for their time. In terms of architects, Phillip Johnson is a favorite of mine. His architectural work is a balancing act between Minimalism and Modernism. His best work has aspects of both design movements.

What is your favorite go to fabric house/collection or singular fabric?

Raoul Textiles is one of my favorite fabric lines/independent showrooms here in Los Angeles. It’s my refuge at times. It forces me to take a deep breath whenever I go there. It is such a jewel in the bustling Pacific Design Center. The hand printed fabrics, which are made locally (a big plus), are timeless but actually have a modern feel. They are always top of mind when I begin a new project because fresh colors abound, have a timeless feel and there is so much to enjoy from this fabric line. It’s a joy to find ways to incorporate more of their textiles.

What material do you love?

Right now, I really love using GLANT Liquid leather. It upholsters beautifully. Looks so chic and a big plus is its easy maintenance. They offer an extraordinary level of choice and sophistication for any environment or decorating style…from rich to understated…classic to modern…refined to relaxed. You really you can’t go wrong with this material.

What is your favorite antique you own and reproduction collection you constantly use as a resource?

My favorite antique would have to be the Indian Taboret Table in my living room that I got from Colefax & Fowler in London. Updated iterations of classic furniture pieces are available from Baker, specifically the Laura Kirar, Lexicon and Bill Sofield collections. These pieces invariably prove a great resource for my firm. Another favorite would be Remains Lighting which recently introduced a line of lighting inspired by the inimitable and always magical Tony Duquette. Like much of his work, the pieces are environmental works or art with names like "Splashing Water Chandelier", "Magic Forest Sconce" and "Dusk Phoenix Candlestick". My personal best is the "California Sunburst Corona Chandelier" which is so adaptable, I could envision using it in anywhere from a Paul Williams style house to a post & beam ranch house. The entire collection is exuberant and fresh and oh-so Californian! Everything you'd expect from such an iconic design legend and more! We also turn to the Madeline Stuart Collection and Soane from London. Two wonderful furniture lines that provide a classic range of best quality furniture options.

What is your favorite project and why?

Swallow Drive is probably my favorite project. I love the clean mix of mid-century and antique pieces that are very complementary to the architecture of the house. I have worked with these clients two subsequent times since then.

What trade or retail store inspires you most?

I find great inspiration from Jasper Conran in London. They have a great mix of everything. Certainly, Paul Marra here in West Hollywood is a favorite of mine to find mid-century antiques, reproduction lighting and mirror collections. Paul has the most beautiful and eclectic mix of interesting and well-made objects, and he is so keenly aware of what designers need. Other notable mentions here in Los Angeles include CB2, Jonathan Adler and Lawson-Fenning. And of course, I could not forget Coup d’Etat and Epoca in San Francisco, which have been great resources to me for many years.

What is your favorite new and old interior book?

Though it’s not really a ‘design book’ I’ve found a great amount of inspiration and influence from “The Remains of the Day” (by Kazuo Ishigoru for Knopf, 1989). Set in the 1930s (like seemingly everything I am inspired by and love) the novel is really a period piece that gives a sense of the traditional, formal, aesthetic and lifestyle of the era - an era with strong influence on my own style. The ideas of proper social etiquette and traditional design and how these influence a home are really important when considering the detailing of a project and how to make a space ‘livable’.

For specific detailing and space planning inspiration I refer daily to Dorothy Draper’s “In the Pink” (by Carlton Varney for Pointed Leaf Press, 2006), Class Act: Billy Haines (by Peter Schifando for Pointed Leaf Press, 2005), The Jansen Book (byJames Archer Abbott for Acanthus Press, 2006) and Frances Elkins: Interior Design (by Stephen M. Salny and Albert Hadley for W.W. Norton & Company, 2005). All have their bindings bent open at least once a week by someone on my design team. Billy Baldwin Decorates (by Billy Baldwin for Book Sales, 1976) is an older interior book that I still refer to for inspiration. His look is timeless and so fresh. This is something I strive to achieve in my finished spaces.

What country house in England and America do you most love?

Although it's hard to call it a "house" by any normal standards, I think Blenheim Palace is one of the most awe inspiring houses ever. To my mind, it's located in one of the prettiest parts of England in Oxfordshire with sweeping views of the English countryside. The palace remains a perfect monument of English Baroque architecture and the grounds are a breathtaking example of landscaper Capability Brown's amazing vision - it's well worth the visit if you haven't been. On this side of the Atlantic, Phillip Johnson Glass House remains my dream house in America. I am surrounded with so much stuff ever day in this business that it makes me crave less in my own life and the clean, almost spartan-like aesthetic of this house just calls to me on every level.

Are there charities you all support and work with that is design related?

I support the Institute for Classical Architecture (http://www.classicist.org/about-us/), the Decorative Arts Council at LACMA (http://www.lacma.org/membership/ACDecArts.aspx) and P. S. Arts (http://www.psarts.org/whatwedo.html).

If you were not doing this what would you do?

That's easy. I'd be running a wildlife sanctuary somewhere in the wilds of Africa, surrounded by all my favorite animals!

What city besides NYC/LA/PB do you visit to inspire you?

London is a constant source of inspiration for me…from the museums, food (great vegetarian restaurants) and architecture. It’s also a wonderful family city. Additionally, Istanbul inspires me because of the ancient antiquities, patterns and color combinations that you find there in the furnishings and textiles.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

QUEST MAGAZINE FEATURES EDITOR AT LARGE PICKS IN DESIGN ISSUE

If you are in New York, pick up a copy of Quest Magazine's April Design Issue. If you are on the internet, read their digital magazine at questmag. For the design-themed issue, they did a story with the contributing editors of Editor at Large. We were asked to select our favorite new products from the Gift Show. We had all walked the show and brought different perspectives, with varied things catching our eye. I instantly knew what my picks were going to be.



Two of my favorite companies--the newer Made Goods introduced exciting new mirrors and Chris Wilcox's Natural Curiosities revived floral studies from design history's past. Both companies always amaze me.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

STYLISH SISTER ACT PART II: SALLIE GIORDANO

Sallie and her girls soaking in culture in London

Sallie Giordano lives in New York City, and as a busy mom and decorator, she shuttles between the D and D Building and school pick ups. She collaborates with her mother Leta Austin Foster on projects in Palm Beach and the city. After studying at the New York School of Interior Design, she continued working at LAF. There is something really special about mothers and daughters that work together, from the shorthand communicating to knowing what the other one will like without even having to show them.

HER WORK:

A Swedish- inflected Dining Room with a pair of birds on gilded brackets and a Chinoiserie chest on an elaborate base.


A neutral Living Room with comfortable upholstery and clean window treatments to better appreciate the view and let the light in.

Living Room built-in's house a large book collection and pretty objects.


A sharp Library with walls upholstered in Michael Devine fabric, matching upholstered slipper chairs and red millwork detailing.

A Library with a recessed display area for a Chinese Horse Lamp adds a creative focal point.


A Master Bedroom with beautiful panelling in a pale blue and cream palette.

Photos Courtesy of Sallie Giordano
A charming Bedroom with twin canopy beds and pale pink and white prints. An ever present comfortable reading chair is the finishing touch she adds to her bedrooms.

Who did you work for/study to learn the trade?

New York School of Interior Design as well as my mother of course!

What is your signature look? How would you define it?

Livable glamour

What is it like working as a mother/daughters team and how do your
tastes influence one another?


It is almost like working with a mirror image of each other. We bounce ideas off of each other endlessly, and we rein each other when our ideas go over the top. My mother adds the perspective of several decades longer in the business and an impeccable sense of what works and what is appropriate and I add the perspective of what is fashionable now. For example, my mother hates anything that has to do with the sixties and seventies because, as she puts it, who would want to live through that ugliness again. But I counter that the elements that have come back into vogue add a dose of retro glamour; just one can jazz up a room instantly.

Who gets the veto power on joint projects?

We both do; it depends who is more passionate about the particular issue we disagree on.

When did you know this was your calling in life?

I did design my own bedroom with a Clarence House documentary fabric when I was 10. I remember my mother said it was the most expensive fabric in the house at the time, and it is the only one that hasn't been changed. It still looks amazing! And I still adore documentaries.
After I had been decorating for about 5 years, I realized it was my calling. At first, it just seemed the logical thing to do. I had been working as a free-lance writer, which can be a pretty lonely job, and my mother and sister seemed to have so much fun together. At first, I wasn't sure if I could creatively produce in a visual manner since all my experience had been aural, so to speak. But the longer you do something, the more it comes naturally, and now I feel like I was meant to be a designer. Of course, my writing skills have suffered miserably.

What other designer and or architect do you most admire (living or not)and why ?

Jed Johnson. Because he constantly evolved and was constantly trying new ideas, even if those ideas were taken straight out of the history books.

What is your favorite go to fabric house/collection or singular fabric?

Lee Jofa and John Rosselli because they have the most wide-ranging collections of fabrics.

What material do you love?

Printed linen.

What is your favorite antique you own and reproduction collection you constantly use as a resource?

The pair of antique mirrors in my living room. Even though they are from the early 19th century, the mosaic mirrored frame has a wonderful kind of 1940s glamour, although even more interesting for being authentic.

What is your favorite project and why?

A pre-war duplex apartment that had only had one owner so all the old detailing was pristine and untouched, though buried under about 20 layers of crusty paint. We were able to update the space for contemporary living while keeping all the classic, almost unreproducible details, like the original plasterwork and the old windows, which cost just as much to completely dismantle and renovate but which were gorgeous with their tiny mullions and warped glass, elegantly dressed up in new paint.

What trade or retail store inspires you most?

Mecox Gardens which does an amazing job expanding its franchise while still keeping its sense of the inspired and unusual finds.

What is your favorite new and old interior book?

Still love the classic Colefax and Fowler book profiling John Fowler who was such a visionary and I adore the new book on David Hicks, by his son, Ashley.

What country house in England and America do you most love?

The Hunting Lodge, John Fowler's country house in Odiham, England

Are there charities you all support and work with that are design related?

I am an active supporter of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the International Refugee Committee. Though they are not design-related, they are amazing organizations that constantly remind me how lucky I am.

If you were not doing this what would you do?

Teaching and writing.

What city besides NYC/LA/PB do you visit to inspire you?

Paris, of course!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

STYLISH SISTER ACT: THE FOSTER CLAN

Lizzie, Sallie and India, relaxing in the summertime

Three sisters, in three cities, designing in three distinctive styles. Leta Austin Foster raised her girls with an eye towards classic design and with an appreciation for the world around them. She started her full service design firm in Palm beach and New York City, and stays busy with her well- stocked shop of monogrammed goodies and beautiful china in Palm Beach at 64 Via Mizner. Raised in Palm Beach and New York, these designing women spend their time between those places as well as in Maine and LA. Phew! Lizzie is based in LA, Sallie here in NY, and India is in Florida. Their styles converge and diverge based on the style they grew up with, yet each follow their own path.


Starting off with Florida- based India Foster, we chat about her design favorites and growing up with style. As her mother taught her, it is all in the details when it comes to creating a beautiful a room.

HER WORK:


A light-filled living room in blue and cream has plenty of comfy upholstered chairs and a Florida feel.




Blue and white tiles complement the Spanish architecture.


For a home on the water, the view is the star. A Living Room with tray ceiling brings additional height to the room with an easy to live in neutral palette.

A sitting room mixing light and dark woods.


A calm sanctuary with Swedish furniture from Chelsea Textiles with blue, gray and white for a color palette.

An Alan Campbell Zig Zag paper in chocolate works well in a crisp all white bathroom.


A chocolate chinoiserie toile grounds the space in a rich color.


Photos Courtesy of India Foster
India Foster's house

Who did you work for/study to learn the trade?

I began my design studies at UC Berkeley and simultaneously started my design career working with Michael Tedrick at the firm, Tedrick & Bennett. After a few years working in California, I returned to Palm Beach to take a design position with my mother’s renowned interior design business, Leta Austin Foster & Associates, at its Palm Beach headquarters.

What is your signature look and how would you define it?

My personal style includes using organic, green resources to create a space in which the client feels comfortable and at home. I love traditional interiors and classic shapes but I like to keep the space uncluttered and add modern touches with vibrant fabrics and new materials.

What is it like working as a mother/daughter team and how do your
tastes influence one another? Who gets the veto power on joint projects?

Strangely enough, I have never worked with any of my sisters; we do go antiquing together and give each other advice on sources, styles etc. Nonetheless, as the youngest, I have certainly been extremely influenced by my sisters and my mother. Leta always gets the veto on my projects, but I don’t back down easily.

When did you know this was your calling in life?

I can’t remember any singular moment. I was always immersed in the history, techniques and designs of the decorative arts, but it took me a very long time to actually realize it was calling for me.

What other designer and or architect do you most admire (living or not) and why ?

John Stefanidis is one of my favorite designers. His projects are so balanced and serene. I most admire his ability to highlight so many forms of beautiful architecture – Japanese, French, American, Carribean, Greek and English, avant-garde and traditional – with a well- balanced interior scheme that fits perfectly to the building and the landscape.

What is your favorite go to fabric house/collection or singular fabric?

Raoul Textiles for fabrics and Niba for rugs: They have an array of hand made fabrics and rugs that are incredibly versatile for both modern and old-fashioned design schemes.

What material do you love?

Hemp and bamboo!

What is your favorite antique you own and reproduction collection you constantly use as a resource?

A beautiful T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings cocktail table I just bought at Objects in the Loft. I love Therien Studio in San Francisco for gorgeous reproductions.

What is your favorite project and why?

Well, I just bought my first house: built in the Spanish style, circa 1924. I just finished designing it on a small budget and it looks so beautiful! I couldn’t be happier.

What trade or retail store inspires you most?

Moss, John Derian, and Merci in Paris.

What is your favorite new and old interior book?

New: Mlinaric on Decorating

Old: Jean-Michel Frank: The Strange and Subtle Luxury of the Parisian Haute-Monde in the Art Deco Period

What country house in England and America do you most love?

Knole House in Kent, England is, to me, by far the most inspirational English country house, and, of course, I love its illustrious inhabitant Vita Sackville West.

Are there charities you all support and work with that are design related?

Of course…Actually, at my most recent design related charity, Designers for Dogs, which sponsored the Miami-Dade Humane Society, I was quite surprised to find they were actually volunteers touting puppies for adoption around. A little brindle mutt caught my eye and now my little Bansky is sleeping by me in my office.

If you were not doing this what would you do?

I have always kept the Peace Corps on a back burner, as it’s a dream of mine to participate in such a great American institution.

What city besides NYC/LA/PB do you visit to inspire you?

I really did leave my heart in San Francisco, so that’s my number one destination in the States.

Monday, April 26, 2010

CLUTCH PLAY: ARTISAN BAGS FROM RONNIE KIRSCH

Carry a conversation piece. Ronnie Kirsch makes her dynamite clutches from Polymer Clay and the effects are amazing. The handmade bags of colorful layers of pattern and textures of clay are one-of-a-kind explosions of bright colors and designs. The bags look like a fireworks display captured on a surface filled with flowers and graphic shapes. They are available at Bergdorf Goodman and can be special ordered through Ronnie's website.









Friday, April 23, 2010

THE WRIGHTSMAN SALE AT SOTHEBYS: MUSEUM MARVELS ON THE BLOCK

In the world of collecting antiques at the very top end of the market, few names are as recognizable for their love of the arts as The Wrightsman's. With their own wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they know a thing or two about collecting on a grand scale. On April 28th, Sotheby's New York will have a sale includes the contents of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman's apartment at 21 St. James Place in London. As consummate collectors, they have amassed one of the world's best museum-quality collections of French 18th Century furniture and decorative accessories. With homes in New York and Palm Beach decorated in a similar French style, with unbelievable collections of the best French furniture, rugs, porcelain and historically significant objects, they are closing the doors on their London home. Over the years they have worked with several interior decorators, including Henri Samuel, Stephane Boudin and Daniel Hamel. They decided to de-accession their Palm Beach possessions in 1984, and the opportunity to live with a piece of history and beauty from their collection is once again here. If you are shopping for a client or just to educate yourself and train your eye with museum specimens, visit Sotheby's for a walk through. For details, visit Sotheby's website. Post script: The sale ended up bringing in $8,457,967, far surpassing the pre-sale high estimate of $3.7 million.


The Drawing Room

Another shot of the living room fireplace



The Bedroom done in a French blue and white floral.


A 19th Century 5 panel Victorian Needlepoint Screen


Regency Mahogany Titchmarch and Goodwin Round Bookshelf


A Pair of 19th Century Chinese Hexagonal Cloisonne Lamps


Orange Moire Slipcovered Slipper Chairs with a pleated skirt and bows running down the back sides.


Louis XVI Banquette


A statuesque George III Urn


Mid 19th Century Bessarabian Kilim

Thursday, April 22, 2010

WHO ARE THE GREAT LADIES OF DECORATING PAST?

Photos Courtesy of Rizzoli
Babe Paley's taxi cab yellow living room by Sister Parish

Adam Lewis does his research. The design writer spent ten years on the drilling down process, going through design archives for his newest book, The Great Lady Decorators by Rizzoli. On Tuesday night, he gave a captivating talk at the Grolier Club and a signing with Potterton Books. Not only is he a dynamic speaker, he was an Episcopal priest AND an interior designer! Much of his research involved Albert Hadley-- Lewis penned Hadley's book, and since he had worked with these ladies he shared great stories. Mr. Hadley sat in front of me that night, and it was great to hear him chuckle at the funny tales. One such tale involved a French designer who lived and worked in her shop, Madeleine Castaing. The great French decorator never liked things to look too neat. So when she vacuumed, she would reverse the flow to release dust into the air because she felt it gave the space more character! These women were nothing if not independent thinkers. He has selected the dames of design, featuring the works of Elsie de Wolfe, Ruby Ross Wood, Elsie Cobb Wilson, Dorothy Draper, Frances Elkins, Thedlow and Marian Hall, Syrie Maugham, Nancy Lancaster, Madeleine Castaing, Eleanor Brown and Sister Parish. Through a mix of period photographs and color interiors painted by Jeremiah Goodman, the book tells the design stories of these twelve legendary and influential women, sharing their decorating maxims and theories. Even if you are not familiar with everyone on the list, there is a great deal that can be learned from looking at the work of women who helped shape modern day interior design as an industry and as an art form from 1870-1955.


These designers were all ladies. Most either married someone of great wealth or had to find ways to support themselves after the war. Above, a Dorothy Draper room with coordinating floral elements and shapely chairs. Draper did mostly commercial work in the dramatic Baroque style, starting off with the Carlisle here in New York. If you walk through the elegant lobby today, few things have changed.


Syrie Maugham's entry hall in her King's Road home has richly painted walls and white accents. She is best known for her short period of designing all white rooms. Not practical but visually stunning.

A Frances Elkins room painted by Jeremiah Goodman with red upholstery. He uses bold colors in his work that come from his imagination and are not necessarily an accurate recreation. To him, nothing is more boring than realism. Elkins was one of the first designers to bring back Jean Michel Frank pieces from Paris.

Eleanor Brown's Sutton Place apartment with a round dining room. It is considered one of the finest rooms she designed. Brown was one of the only ladies that studied design, she took classes at Parson's after her divorce.

But there is more to come!
Never one to rest on his laurels, Adam Lewis is working on his next tome about Billy Baldwin due out in the fall.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

STYLISH TRAVELS: INTERIOR DESIGNER CHAD GRACI SHOPS NEW ORLEANS

The dapper Chad Graci, my friend that I met while working at David Easton, recently returned home to New Orleans. After working at David Easton, he went on to join Bill Sofield, and from there, returned to the civilized lifestyle he grew up in. I have not been to the amazing city, but knew Chad could report back with some insider NE finds. Alas, he reveals his trade secrets here:

Kevin Gillentine Gallery/Custom Framing
I love Kevin’s paintings. They are soft, surreal and intelligent. Always done with a masterful hand and eye for beauty. Kevin and his partner Vincent share the chic, simple straightforward gallery. Kevin displays his art, while Vincent provides New Orleans with the best selection and quality of hand-carved frames I’ve seen since the House of Hydenryck in New York City.

3917-3919 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
504 891 0509
www.kevingillentine.com

A modern print with beautiful matting

Kevin Stone Antiques
Kevin Stone is my go to guy for the statement piece. Big, bold, eye catching pieces from the 17th-19th centuries make this shop a treasure trove of inspiration. So many diverse objects have found their way into Kevin’s lair.
3420 Magazine Street
New Orleans, la 70115
504 891 8282
www.kevinstoneantiques.com

My favorite thing right now is this 19TH C FRENCH LOUIS XVI EXTENTION DINING TABLE with a painted and parcel gilt base. The perfect dining table for any sized dinner party!


NOLA Rugs
When I first moved to New Orleans from New York City I was worried that I wouldn’t find a vendor for both custom and antique rugs that had a similar selection as those from New York. Luckily, Nola Rugs has just the select inventory that I needed to bring a little NYC style to NOLA. I’m crazy about their antiques. The selections are always the right on and the colors are just the ones you want-Think washed out orangey peaches, with hints of gray green and rust. The owner, Sharon, travels the world searching for these spectacular rugs. Luckily, they’re now just around the corner!
3944 Magazine Street
New Orleans, La 70115
504.891.3304
www.nolarugs.com



Leonel’s Fine upholstery
Ah Leonel’s…what can I say? Finally, there is a place in New Orleans that can satisfy my obsession with upholstery details. I love working with Leonel Jr. and his father. They can help you out of a time crunch and turn around a well done custom sofa in a week’s time if need be. A good upholsterer listens and is always open to trying something new. These guys fit the bill.

2843 Piedmont St. Kenner, LA 70062
Phone: (504) 469-0889
www.leonels.com




Chad out shopping, looking ever so dapper, natch.




MAC Maison
Mac Maison (Michael Carbine’s chic enclave) is the one stop shop on Magazine Street for the most unique continental furniture and accessories with that special rich patina that everyone wants. Interesting, important paintings mixed with one of a kind finds and rare architectural elements make Mac Maison my favorite shop. I can always find something here.

3963 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
www.macmaisonltd.1stdibs.com/
504.891.2863


Antique sconces

Stone Urns that would look good in a small city garden.

Thank you for your picks Chad!

Do you live in a town with great design shopping? From amazing finds, fashion and home shops to cafes email me and let me know!