TILTON FENWICK KICK IT UP WITH COLOR IN BROOKLYN

How excited was I to open up today's New York Times home section to see the work of the talented Tilton Fenwick gals featured on it's pages! The article showed Anne and Ryan Foster's newly renovated Brooklyn loft apartment. Filled with color, pattern, site-specific art, texture and the right amount of quirk, the project is a fantastic showcase of their ability to fuse the above so effectively. With a love for classic fabric patterns from Brunschwig and Pierre Frey, these best friends create spaces that bring those patterns forward in an unexpected modern way.  Named after their college dorms, Tilton Fenwick's Anne and Suysel learned the design ropes from working with chic classicists Brockshmidt and Coleman, Ashley Whittaker and Markham Roberts.  Kudos, TF ladies!

Photos by Trevor Tondo/NY Times courtesy of Tilton Fenwick

Ryan and Anne Foster with Suysel Cunningham shot in Anne and Ryan's Dumbo living room. Anne is due in April. I am sure she is thrilled the nursery is complete. That's one less thing to worry about, since the phone will be ringing off the hook with new client calls.

 They moved a coat closet to create a more gracious entry area.  Fuschia with a hit of yellow? I love it. The mod mirror lacquer wall by Agustin Hurtado, Mirror: “Abate Slate” from Anthropologie, Lamp: Christopher Spitzmiller, Console: “Edward” by Thomas O’Brien for Hickory Chair, stools from Etsy reupholstered in Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa “Bengal Bazaar – Magenta.”

The living room color palette is sophisticated while unusual. Showstopper “Blanket” feather painting from artist Cindy Kane: New York inquiries via Cynthia Reeves Gallery, Sofa: Kravet’s “Medley” reupholstered with contrast seat cushion and modified base (we removed legs to make it more Brooklyn loft-friendly).

Chair: Vintage 1970s Century from eBay with reupholstered seat in Oscar de la Renta for Lee Jofa fabric, “Kublai Khan – Sable-Amber“, Vintage footstool: Showplace Antiques on 25th Street, Rug: Barclay Butera for Merida Meridian “Dune – Black”.

Barn doors create a division of space adding a traditional twist. Boom! Fuschia fabric captivates and dominates the room.  The space, a converted master bedroom was turned into a larger living area, with exposed track barn doors and a Murphy bed for insta-guest room capabilities! Griffin chairs from Lawson-Fenning in custom Sequana “Donegal Tweed - Fuschia” fabric, rugs: Barclay Butera for Merida Meridian “Dune – Black” (a go-to! we also used a similar rug in the Hamptons Showhouse), S shaped tables: Mr. Brown, Mushroom shaped pouf: Scout Design’s online boutique Mercantile, throw: Missoni Home. The 6′x4′ photograph is “Wildwood 2009″ by photographer (a fellow Dumbo resident and friend of Suysel’s!) Reynaldo Banogon.

Black and white upholstered chairs inject a graphic sense of fun in the kitchen dining area. The table is a vintage outdoor zinc-top table found on One Kings Lane, the pendant light is the  Goodman Pendant by Thomas O’Brien for Visual Comfort with a hot pink cord cover (for $24!) from DesignerCords.com

 

Personal meaning should come across in the art selection, and this is a good example of that. Art and objects on the wall collected over time. The large black and white photograph was a gift from Anne's husband Ryan’s best friend, Jeff Martin. The photo depicts a football game between rival high school teams Northfield and Deerfield in 1965, where a fire of the building behind the field wasn’t enough to even pause play! Photo was taken by Robert S. Van Fleet, courtesy of Northfield Mount Herman School archives.

The sunny yellow headboard makes the bedroom happiness central. The coordinating Porthault linens with a hit of that same yellow are great with the headboard. Wallpaper: Farrow and Ball “Lotus,” Bedside Table: Ming Faux Finish Lacquer Table in Faux Shagreen, from Lamshop (furniture by decorator Lindsey Coral Harper), Lamp: Zebra by Beeline Home (furniture by decorator Bunny Williams), Bedding: “Mimosa” from D.Porthault and Les Indiennes, Art above bed: “Sea Blossoms” by artist Autumn Rose, via UGallery.com.

Anne and Ryan are expecting their first child any day now. They created a colorful haven of a nursery with ethnic touches and pops of color that don't read cutesy time but stylish. Crib: Oeuf “Sparrow” in white, bumper and pillow in fabric by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, “Sultans Garden – Indigo Saffron”, Second pillow fabric: Brunschwig and Fils “Chan Paisley – Saffron” art: Screen print by James Rosenquist from 1stDibs@NYDC, Rug: Merida Meridian Tufted Wool “Interlace” in orange and white, mobile in custom fabric: Handmade by Lulu, via (Dumbo-based) Etsy.com.

Florentine dragged papers don the bathroom walls merging classic and modern. Mirror: Gordon Mirror from Arteriors, vanity: Hutton Washstand from Restoration Hardware, faucet: Henry (one of their go-to's) from Waterworks, flooring: Bolon from Studio Four NYC, wallpaper: Twigs “Pheasant”

The addition of bright cobalt Nemo tiles in the shower carries the color story from the walls to the stall shower.

THE KINDEST CUT: LOSTINE CUTTING BOARDS

Lostine has a way with wood.  The company, based out of Philadelphia, prides itself on it's US made, hand-hewn cutting boards of varying shapes and sizes. They have gained a following for their artisanal, nautical in feeling cutting boards, that you can find at stores like Anthropologie and ABC Carpet and Home. Whether stained a dark finish or accented with milk paint, their clever designs include self-hanging leather straps. I love functional pieces that looks great too. Bring one along as your next hostess or housewarming gift and be the hit of the party. The lucky recipient will never have a boring looking cheese presentation once this gorgeous piece in in their clutches.

 Photos courtesy of Lostine

Their Baguette Board with milk paint dipped edges with fresh crisp nautical appeal.

Dark stained Mahogany with inlaid wood, 2 tromp l'oeil knives sit askew. Charming and clever.

Tiny black minnows dart across a smaller, round cutting board.

Waves lap across the bottom of a rectangular piece of wood accented with milk paint.

1 WEEK TO GO: SUPPORT MY RIDE IN CYCLE FOR SURVIVAL

Cycle For Survival is almost here! 

My Dad, me and Amanda at Palm Beach Polo circa 1988

WHY I RIDE:

I am riding in honor of my Dad in my 2nd Cycle for Survival event March 3rd. My father was a patient of Dr. Posner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for brain cancer. What they do to help patients and their level of care is just incredible. Helping the hospital and supporting their research gives me such pride. So i ride this March 3rd for my Dad, so others are able to survive and thrive.
With a week to go, I am getting excited for my Cycle For Survival annual fundraising ride this Sunday, March 3rd. Last year was my first time participating on Team Gear up 2 Fight Cancer, and I have looked forward to this year's event for some time. The reason is, the day is just amazingly inspiring. To see over 200 people cycling together in one room to raise funds for rare cancer research is quite something. All the money raised goes to Memorial Sloan Kettering and 53 clinical trials have been funded by the $29 million raised since the event started in 2007. I want to thank all of you that have donated to my ride so far, and if you would like to give, click here. You can do so till April! I couldn't have done this without your support so THANK YOU for helping me rock the raising wheeling for healing.

 If you have a friend or member of your family whose life has been touched by cancer, I ride for them, too.

SCORE A HOT SEAT IN HOLLYWOOD: HOUSE BEAUTIFUL'S BLACK AND WHITE CHAIR SCAVENGER HUNT MARCH 5th

 Photo courtesy of House Beautiful 

Black and White is an eternally chic color combination that never goes out of style. Celebrating the allure and glamour of the pairing, on March 6th, House Beautiful is placing 20 black and white chairs of varying shapes and styles in iconic spots ALL OVER LOS ANGELES in their "Beautiful in Black and White" Scavenger Hunt. Working with the Color Combinations theme in the March,  Editor in Chief Newell Turner picked Hollywood as the ideal place to channel this sophisticated, winning combo. In it's fourth year, the hunt provides an unbelievable opportunity to score an amazing perch.

Follow this Hickory chair below for a chance to win it.

So, here is how you can win:

1. Follow House Beautiful @House_Beautiful on Twitter for clues about where in LA to find and win this Hickory chair between March 6th - 7th
2. Follow @stylebeat on Twitter and on March 5th I will share clues on where to find this chair using hashtag #hbchairs
3. But wait there's more! Not going to be in LA for to scavenge? House Beautiful will be launching a Beautiful in Black and White Pinterest Contest providing a chance to win a chair there.  Follow House Beautiful's Pinterest boards, Pin at least 3 images from housebeautiful.com and Pin at least 3 images from their favorite blogs, which we they announce March 7th. House Beautiful will select their 5 favorite pinners who will win one of 5 chairs from Room and Board, Room Service, Target, Grandin Road, and Frontgate.

 

Photo courtesy of Hickory Chair

House Beautiful asked me to select a memorable cinematic moment that best captured the allure of the black and white film heyday. The film that best captures the glamour of the day for me is Top Hat. This 1935 movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers oozes Old Hollywood regency style and dapperness. Hickory Chair's Suzanne Kasler-designed deco-inspired Laurent black lacquer side chair with white linen upholstery would be right at home on a film set.

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Photos courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

 Fred Astaire doing his thing in his black and white finery.

 Deco divine sets complete the dramatic allure.

The scale of these pieces is perfect- so well sized for the space.

 Glamour!

THE CHARLOTTE MOSS COLLECTION AT DOYLE NEW YORK MARCH 7th

 Photos by Pieter Estersohn

Many interior designers like to change up their interiors every now and again.  Like a painter with a new canvas, it is a chance to have a clean slate to start anew. Designer's homes are often their laboratories, so it makes sense that they would want change things around from time to time. Having designed homes for the past twenty-five years, New York interior designer Charlotte Moss, a lover of pretty French and English antiques and living with style, is in the "freshening" process. Offering antiques, decorative accessories and artwork at auction with Doyle New York, she is sharing her prized finds accumulated from three homes, stunning retail stores, and years of design projects.  The auction takes place on March 7th at 10am, with a book signing of her eighth book, A Visual Life, March 5th at 6pm (rsvp to events@DoyleNewYork.com).  Access the online catalog to see the collection in it's entirety here: Charlotte Moss Collection.
Wide-ranging collections such as this can provide an inspirational glimpse into the world of a designer, for it tells the story of their collecting preferences while giving a sense of how they live.  With over 400 lots to choose from,  if pretty pieces with classical influences are what you are after, this is the sale for you. Even if you do not intend to raise a paddle,  go to the preview to see and learn about great antiques. It's one of the best ways to train your design eye that provides a real, teachable moment.

 

 A custom console, part of a pair, provided an elegant way to hide a radiator in her 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse bedroom.

  Lot 5044 Pair of Rococo Style Gray Painted Consoles Each with a lattice front, raised on a plinth. Height 37 inches, width 38 inches, depth 17 inches.

Lot 5127 Neoclassical Style Polished Wrought Steel Center Table Therien The circular marble top raised on curved supports. Height 30 1/2 inches, diameter 60 inches.

 Seeing a piece in a room setting brings it to life. Here, robust pink peonies provide a pop of color against the painter wallpaper surface of a low ming coffee table.

Lot 5107 Chinese Style Cream Painted Low Table Inset with a Chinese hand painted wallpaper panel. Height 14 inches, width 24 inches, depth 47 inches.

Lot 5298 William and Mary Style Black Japanned Cabinet on Stand 19th Century Decorated with, figures, trees, etc., the interior with six drawers. Height 50 1/2 inches, width 42 1/2 inches, depth 13 inches.  Estimate $700-1,000

 Photo by Simon Upton

The Pagoda in action on a demilune table in her living room.

Lot 5011 Japanese Style Gilt-Metal Pagoda With a multi-tier roof, on a plinth. Height 16 inches. Provenance: The Estate of Tony Duquette

Lot 5097 Set of Atelier du Vieil APT Green Marble Glazed Faience Table Articles Comprising eighteen teacups and saucers, three large cups, four small plates and eight knife rests.

Lot 5019 Set of Four Louis XVI Style Painted Fauteuils en Cabriolet Each oval padded back and seat raised on circular tapering fluted legs.

Lot 5121 Upholstered Club Chair Upholstery designed by Charlotte Moss With a barrel back.

Photo by Erik Striffler
Digby's Tent fabric covers a chaise and curtain panels in her East Hampton home. The panels are available in the auction.

Lot 5056 Pair of Charlotte Moss for Brunschwig and Fils Curtain Panels In the Digby's Tent pattern, named after English aristocrat Jane Digby, who lived a scandalous life of romantic adventure from 1807-1881

NEON NIRVANA: NICOLE PORTER DESIGN'S

 Photos courtesy of Nicole Porter

When I discovered Nicole Porter's captivating designs at the gift show, they caught my attention from 12 paces away.  With their bright and linear patterns, the beautiful light Beech Wood bowls and plates she creates are showstoppers. What a modern way to re-invent the classic wood bowl.  Porter applies zero VOC acrylic paints to the dried blond woods and the resulting made in the USA designs are striking in a mod surfer way.  Just don't put them in the dishwasher or microwave, they are allergic.  The strong graphic designs, stripes and color play make her eye catching designs worth noting.

A large salad bowl with the NeOn Stripes in in pink and seafoam paints.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Porter

Modern Neon Hardwood bowls, sold in a set of 4.

A closer look at two of the set of 4.

 A 7 inch hardwood plate with with Electric Orange stripes

 A 10 inch wood plate with neon hot Neon Pink stripe details.

Another version, with neon Electric yellow stripes.

A serving tray dipped in white like Black and White Cookies, a New York deli staple.

MORE STYLISH SHOPPING IN HOUSTON: THOMPSON AND HANSON

Manager and buyer Kathy Frietsch 

Bringing the best of the French countryside to River Oaks, Houston, Thompson and Hanson have created something special, an escapist enclave like no other. Their creative vision combines the best of four worlds.  A beautiful complex incorporates a landscape architecture firm, garden center, retail shop and chic cafe, Tiny Boxwoods. You see this sort of set up in England and France, but the concept is not as widespread here. They have created a true destination that is worth seeking out when you are next in Houston. The owners take world-wide shopping jaunts and bring back the best Belgian and French antiques, unique terra cotta planters, Provencal urns, garden ornaments, linens and more. The ever changing assortment, housed in their long space with grey wood rafters, includes hard to find scented candles, Italian leather trays, tole, Italian printed paper goods, and decorative accessories to make you swoon.  The mix of materials, shapes and surfaces paired with greenery makes the array a feast for the eyes. If you visit, go hungry, and head across the pebbled path to Tiny Boxwoods for yummy elevated comfort food in a beautiful setting.

 Rough hewn wooden dining tables mingle with woven wicker chairs and metal side tables. As you can see, the space includes many chic discoveries.

 The dramatic ceiling height adds to the sun dappled space's magic.

 This whole set-up is ready for a sunroom.

Italian paper accessories, notecards, and porcelain vases have gift giving covered.

Painted tole flowers and potted agave in a pretty moment.

These French photophores illuminated by led candles had me at hello. I am obsessed with them. I have never seen anything like them and probably never will. The trefoil cut out, leaf detail on the lid and simple base make them ideal around a pool.

This antique mirror has loads of character with it's chipped paint finish. Next to a stark wooden plank planter, each piece really comes alive.

Entertaining-ready linen napkins, beautiful cutting boards and storage baskets.

This pair of antique Louis chairs of a medium-hued wood were so simple and so good.

Their global shopping trips mean they score wonderful finds like these Italian leather trays and candles encased in bright leathers.

The oval leather tray in the brightest orange and taupe colored leather accessories were beyond.

The nursery, where you can have arrangements and container gardens made up on the spot.

A container garden mixing hearty green plants and flowering plants. Behind is the landscape architecture office.

A heavenly arrangement of a reddish cabbage. So elegant and spare.

The assortment.

A stroll across the courtyard takes you to best brunch at Tiny Boxwoods. They also happen to have the best chocolate chip cookie in town.