OFF TO LA!

Photo courtesy of Luxe Magazine

I am headed to LA tomorrow to attend the Maison de Luxe Showhouse courtesy of Luxe Magazine. I cannot wait to attend the gala opening and to see the showhouse at Greystone mansion with sumptuous rooms designed by:

Holly Hunt,Honorary Chair Holly Hunt
Ron Woodson, and Gala Co-Chair Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design Jaime Rummerfield, Gala Co-Chair Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design
Barclay Butera
Harte Brownlee & Associates Interior Design
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Designs
Jiun Ho, Inc.
Timothy Corrigan, Inc.
Mary McDonald, Inc.
Kendall Wilkinson Design & Home
Lori Dennis, Inc.
Kate McIntyre for Ironies
Grace Design Associates
Barry Dixon, Inc.
Michelle Nussbaumer of Ceylon et Cie
Kathryn Ireland Textiles & Design
Drake Design Associates
David Phoenix Interior Design, Inc.
Wendy Schwartz Design
Suzanne Rheinstein Hollyhock
Dragonette Ltd.
Oliver M. Furth Design and Decoration
Raymond Goins Studio
Alissa Sutton Interiors
Philip Gorrivan Design
Nathan Turner

Watch this space to see the house in full soon!

THE NEW HARBINGER ARRIVES

This...

led to this!

Nantucket Red doors painted in a custom Lucas Studio color for Portola Paints look sharp! A custom sized zinc Cosy pendant in a red powder coat finish was designed by Michael Amato for Urban Electric (it launches early January 2012) hangs above the front doors.

Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat are design partners in Lucas Studio and Harbinger, their home furnishings and accessories store. They outgrew their charming Almont Yard digs and have migrated nearby to a new home, at 752 N. La Cienega Blvd. in West Hollywood. Here is peek at their shop, a true destination for interior designers, gift seekers and stylish and savvy. A well-edited mix of antique and vintage finds, small batch imports and an array of the best boutique wallpaper and fabric vendors set Harbinger apart. They carry top notch special lines from Katie Ridder fabrics and wallpapers, Italian Idarica Gazzoni's exotic prints, John Stefanidis prints charming, Pintura Studio, Prints Etc, Sister Parrish, to Holland and Sherry and more.

Welcome!

A Colleen and Company Blue Tortoise Coffee Table anchors a seating area with their neo-wing chair, Swedish and floral four panel folding screen.

The eclectic mix of styles makes the thrill of discovery a shopping adventure. Their Plaisir Relax Chair with a white frame sits to the left in a Prints Etc. fabric.

The custom Vreeland Settee in a small geo for big style. The small rolled arm is a classic yet contemporary touch.

A pair of Oslo painted armchairs in front of the Walnut bed made up in Hillary Thomas bedding.

The armchair is upholstered coordinated pale green fabric and green frame can be done in COM like most of their custom pieces.

A work table where samples can be mixed and matched with a plaster chandelier hanging above. A fancy silhouette is taken to a casual place with the finish treatment- chic!

Fine thin walled porcelain tabletop with color-lined teacups adds an artisanal, handmade allure.

Get to work! The work table in a dark wood doubles as a desk for display and productivity. The Large Oak Bamboo Chair in a bright pomegranate fabric adds some zing. Low bowls with a wash of color inside provide an unexpected color surprise.

The Harbinger-designed Oyster Bay Console Table in the window with plaster and ceramic watering cans from Italy and a swirled Brushstoke Lamp from Beeline Home. A Katie Ridder on the wall ties the lamp to the palette.

Their Antwerp Sofa with channel tufted back and tight seat done in a deep apricot velvet.

A super chic four poster bed dons bed custom embroidered hangings of Holland and Sherry fabrics.

Striking and graphic, these black and white bowls are handmade in Italy.

Beeline Home has a new home in Harbinger. Their wood-framed armchair is covered in a geometric fabric from Idarica Gazzoni.

A Beeline Home Chair flanks a seating arrangement.

Boldly hued fabrics from Amanda Nisbet light up the fabric area. Displayed on easy access hangers, full widths make viewing a snap.

GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE

Photo courtesy of Norman Rockwell Archive

Thanksgiving. The very word conjures up different meanings and memories for everyone. A time for reflection, giving thanks, spending time with family and counting our blessings, it is a holiday that has been a tough one for me. My father passed away on this holiday, eighteen years ago. He was suffering with a brain tumor and cancer, and spent his final days at Greenwich Hospice. The nurses and staff there are phenomenal. It is awe inspiring, really, what they do everyday. They provided him with comfort and the best care. My mom, sister and tried to have some semblance of normalcy and went to a close friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. That's when we got the call. That very same couple introduced my mom to the wonderful man she married this past weekend. Now my sadness is overcome by joy as I think of them on their honeymoon, their first Thanksgiving together. This year, I have so much to be thankful for. I give thanks for these wonderful blessings a new beginning! I will miss my mom's stellar turkey and cranberry relish along with orange cranberry sauce, but hey, there's always next year to enjoy that. Wishing you a joyous gobble gobble and scrumptiously creative leftovers.

What are you most thankful for this year?

CRAVING SUMMER: NANTUCKET LANDSCAPES

With the weather turning brisk, I often get to thinking of my favorite summer locales. These are the times when I yearn for longer days with sunlight, green leaves on the trees, flowers in bloom, and one of my favorite spots, Nantucket. It may be just 30 miles out to sea, but it is a destination like no other. The Grey Lady has a special place in many peoples heart's, for it's remote setting and tranquil beauty. It has a place in my heart, since going there as a child I have fond memories of driving our hunter green Wagoneer to Great Point, preparing picnic lunches with Portugese Bread from The Nantucket Bake Shop, making pottery at the Artist's Association, and eating Bluefish Pate at Straight Warf.
I love Nantucket just as much today, and am happy to say one of the great living landmarks still exists. The Nantucket Looms, an extremely special shop with artwork and items for home, is owned and run by the amazing Liz Winship. It was started in 1968, and is best known for divine loomed, handwoven brushed Mohair throws. I remember would go in there from time to time when in town, and I would wander around and look at the now iconic oil paintings of boats with red sails. My sister worked there summers in college. To this day, I still cover one of those Robert Stark Herrishoff paintings, with the magical play of light and shadow, expanse of sea and sky. I know I can go to see Liz if I feel like having a peek, or checking out the work of any of the 50 artisans she carries at The Looms. A few years back they moved to a new location, and can be found at 51 Main Street. Stop in and visit if you are there, and marvel at the world Liz has created.

Known for her ability to capture houses, landscapes and seascapes in a bold, realistic way, Nantucket Islander Joan Albaugh captures the magic hour at dusk.

A red barn contrasts with the dramatic blue sky in a Joan Albaugh from her starkly beautiful Houses series.

A desolate yet beautiful view of a marsh pond in a painting by Jill Coolidge.

A lone Herreshoff sails off in a painting by Robert Stark, Jr.

NEED A SECURITY BLANKET?

Photo courtesy of Best Made Company
It has been getting chilly here in NYC, so I got to thinking about classic winter must-haves that stand the test of time. A great canvas tote, sturdy parka, LL Bean Boots, that sort of thing. Perhaps this is more of a country-camp fave, but camp blankets are back in a big way, and many have pushed aside their classic duvets for their woolen warmth. Best Made Company, in their quest for the perfect red wool blanket, has teamed up with Pendelton Woolen Mills, one of the oldest wool purveyors/blanket makers in America. They have created a fire engine red wool blanky with a tonal striped border and the words Famous on the corner. Perhaps just sleeping under it will do the trick, and you will wake up more famous than the day before. Hey, you never know. This makes a great gift, by the way.

SEEING RED: CONNOR CHANNELS DIANA VREELAND STYLE

Photos courtesy of Diana Vreeland archives
Fashion icon Diana Vreeland's famous living room created by Billy Baldwin swathed in crimson red. Her dictate, to furnish her home like "a garden in hell," was interpreted by Mr. Baldwin with yards of Fleurs de Mal Scarlet chintz. It covered everything in the living room, the sofa and the draperies.

The jolt of scarlet red provides endless fascination for designers working today. Vreeland's lure and stylish appeal is still mesmerizing.

Photo courtesy of Connor
To celebrate her indomitable style, Connor has launched writing papers emblazoned with DV's signature necklace, an engraved horn pendant on a gold chain. They called on her grandson, Alexander Vreeland, to create a special boxed set of 12 notecards, complete with a glazed lacquer red linings. If you have visited Barney's Chelsea Passage recently, you may have seen Connor's new in - store boutique, where they offer extraordinary uber-customized writing papers, monograms, invitations, and announcements, as well as their Write Again stationery line. Stop in!

THE ARTIST'S WAY: PORTER TELEO

Photos courtesy of Porter Teleo
If you have not noticed, a proliferation of stellar boutique wallpaper companies is taking root, changing the way we live within four walls. Artist Kelly Porter and interior designer Bridgett Cochran teamed up to create Porter Teleo in 2004, one such company that led the creative resurgence. Artisanal wallpaper that is fine art for walls, it becomes an oversized artist's canvas, transforming spaces. By incorporating old world fine art techniques, from highly pigmented inks to using handmade Japanese and cotton papers, their materials and artistic influences dovetail for a completely unique result. Their work is admired by Kelly Wearstler, who used their papers in numerous projects featured in her latest book, Hue. The graphic abstractions of their handmade and hand painted wallpapers pack a punch, and can be found at Dessin Fournir, Travis and Company in Atlanta, Holly Hunt in Miami and Hudson Home in Kansas City.

The artists at work applying color to a screen.

Rolling out the papers to get started!

A rainbow of pure vibrant pigments at the ready.

Handmade hand cut papers to be applied to wallpaper grounds.

The painting begins...

Creating Tangled, one of the most popular patterns.

Tangled comes as a wallpaper or printed on Belgian linen.

No matter how you see this Rorschach test - like wallpaper, Ink Blots, there is no doubt the color combination and random pattern are highly compelling.

Ink Blots large scale repeat adds a stunning presence to this modern interior.

A soft blue grey watercolor-like wash of vertical stripes on Conte in the NYC Dessin Fournir showroom.

Capturing the random beauty of tie dye, the eclectic Painter's Palette on Belgian linen evokes a fiery sunset. Their fabric foray has recently joined their wallpaper assortment.

Refracted, a new wallpaper pattern with strong forms and sharp angles as seen in the Dessin Fournir Chicago showroom.

En Plein Air incorporates paper cut outs much in the same way as an applique on fabric.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Wearstler
A gold zig zag patterned wallpaper in a Kelly Wearstler designed interior.

Signs and Signifiers paper in Saffron has a mystical, heirpglyphic quality.

GETTING A BIT OF LOULOU DE LA FALAISE'S PARISIAN CHIC

Photo courtesy of Two's Company

With the passing of Parisian style setter Loulou de la Falaise, many mourn the loss of a creative dynamo. Often seen donning a signature safari jacket, fantastically bright blouse or Le Smoking tuxedo, she and her Bohemian chic mother Maxime had the French je ne sais quoi elegance that was the stuff of legend. Long Yves Saint-Laurent's ageless muse, de la Falaise recently got into product design stateside, with jewelry and accessories for HSN and a tiny collection of decorative porcelain pieces for Two's Company. The dish, pictured above, has a chic malachite and lapis patterned ground with a tromp l'oeil coral necklace draped on it. The vivid red, green and blue combination is eye candy your coffee table will love. It is a perfect catchall spot for change, keys, you name it. Find it at The Zhush, a design fellow blogger's great e-commerce store.

KEEP IT COLORFUL: BRIGHT AND BOLD HIGH POINT FINDS

I'm back with more! After being back from High Point for a week, I can honestly say I am still processing everything I saw. Due to the state of the economy and things slowing down a bit, there were quiet trends, not giant, in your face, seismic shift trends. This tends to happen when companies want to play it safe, and let their existing collections catch on. What I did manage to capture was optimistic color, like orange, turquoise kelly green, yellow and red, so I can safely say we are not destined to see only greige Belgian linen and nailheads forever!

Photo courtesy of Currey and Company

LA-based artisan and interior designer Marjorie Skouras launched her new collection with Currey and Company this season. You are in for a treat! Pink and turquoise color, interesting shell inlay and eglomise with gleaming metals await. Her Lana Wall Sconce with strings of turquoise beads is festive and fun.

To show how truly customized they can get, Hickory Chair added jaunty racing stripes on a timeless three drawer chest. A neo Wing Chair in a turquoise, green and white ikat has a painted white leg for a fresh take. The venerable furniture company celebrated it's 100th year this market.

A classic side chair was taken to a fun place with a cheery chartreuse and white over sized ikat print at Hickory.

Color can make a traditional shape fresh.This great tufted chair from Lee Industries has a completely different look in a vivid orange Belgian linen. Love.

A classically comfy roll arm chair with lose seat and back makes a perfect reading chair. Again, Lee injects color with a lemon yellow linen. More to love.

I can always count on seeing bright color and creative ideas at the Duralee Showroom. Eileen Katherine Boyd transformed the showroom with her bold fabrics in moments of orange, lavender and hot pink. Her fabrics and applications have a joie de vivre that make you smile when you see how color really can transform.

A mood-elevating chartreuse high back tufted chair with white frame was such fun.

Who doesn't love a little high gloss finish? At Lief Petersen's 220 Elm showroom, I found Jesse Furniture's sexy low round coffee table with clean leg is easy to like.

Aubergine, icy blue and lemon yellow glazes on new lamps and vases from Bungalow 5 were lush and elegant.

Overdyed Indian rugs have been around for some time. I love the patchwork versions where you have a rainbow at you feet. Rug from Mat The Basics at 220 Elm.

To easily transform a sofa or end of a bed, add Jonathan Adler's cozy mohair throws in electric colors.

Like a shiny new Ferrari, this chic mod Arteriors desk adds some excitement.

There was a lot of orange at High Point, especially at Global Views, where they did this series of bulbous lidded jars in a crazed finish called Happy Temple Jars.

TV designer Genevieve Gorder designed a strong collection of bright wool dhurries for Capel Rugs. Their ethnic global flair and easy to use repeats make them a standout.

A moorish archway inspired pattern also from Capel.

Soicher Marin's Pop Icon series of bold black brushstrokes against a pop of playful color.

When I showed my friend this dresser, she said she had one like it when I was little she wished she had saved it. Ditto! HFI Brands kelly green dresser with campaign details is perfect for those that love Lilly like me.