Monday, April 29, 2013

NAUTICAL NECESSITIES FOR A SUMMER BY THE SEA

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn
Sometimes I come across something that is just so adorable I instantly want it and am transported to the environment in which it would work perfectly. Such is the case with this useful two-tiered Anchor Stand from Pottery Barn. Available online, it is well-suited to ocean settings to use as a bar station or to place in a bathroom to hold extra hand towels and accessories. I love it. I guess I will have to buy it to give as a house guest present this summer, because I need someone to benefit from its perfect form and function in the proper locale. I suggest you do the same, cause it is pretty darn cute.

Photos courtesy of Kim Seybert
While I was hunting for nautical themed entertaining ideas, I discovered this new pattern, All Aboard, from Kim Seybert. Her embroidered theme napkins never disappoint, and this could not be any cuter for boat-bound parties.
If it's just cocktails, set a stack of these bar side next to the Dark and Stormy Ginger Beer. Available at Kim Seybert. Very swank. But you may need a real one if someone falls overboard.

Photos courtesy of Pomegranate 
Elevate BBQ and Lobster dinners with Pomegranate's hand-blocked Ahoy placemats, festooned with mini anchors.
 Ahoy napkins mix well with solid navy or stripes, have fun mixing it up for a more varied pattern play.



Friday, April 26, 2013

SPOTTING STYLE AT 2013 SPRING HIGH POINT MARKET: VOTE FOR STYLEBEAT STYLESPOTTER PICKS

I spotted many great finds while Stylespotting at this year's spring High Point Market. As I scanned each company's booth examining what was new, I was on the lookout for interesting introductions that I felt were worth noting. Here, I highlight those selections that I tagged with my Stylespotter cards. I hope you will follow my Pinterest board here, and vote for my picks to help me garner enough votes to win a trip back to market next season. You can vote for my pins/board until 5pm (EST) on May 3rd.
 I encourage you to do the following: 
Voting: 
“Likes” equal 1 point 
 “Repins” equal 2 points
Repin to your heart's content and I thank you for your time well-spent!

Low and loungey, the Bedford Slipper Chair from Thibault is a nice bedroom or living room addition with mid century lines.  I love the coral print on it.

The right scale is everything. Hickory Chair introduced the Maud Chair, an armchair that sits well in small spaces and larger seating arrangements that requires pieces with sleek lines.

Diminutive and darling, CR Laine's Slipper Chair upholstered in a summery printed fish cotton is just right used in pairs.

Well-scaled, the Caldwell Tub Chair from Van Collier covered in linen grain sack fabric lends a casual air to a country setting.

With a swooping curved back and diminutive scale, this two seater from Kim Salmela is adorable for apartment living.

Lounge around on Lee Industries supremely comfortable, right-sized sectional sofa. In chocolate velvet with a pale wood leg, it can fit into a tight space easier than you think.

Fret no more.. Kelly green and bamboo on Bungalow 5's Jardin Chair gets Palm Beach right.

Swirly pale blue upholstery and a clear Lucite leg on Century Furniture's Signature Collection Ottoman adds deco glam.

Fuzzy with vintage flair, Wesley Hall debuted a Mongolian Ottoman on spindly tapered legs that is fuzzy and FUN.

Designer Marjorie Skouras knows how to create a statement. Here, she encrusts the Silvio Console with shells at Currey and Company, covering every inch in sea treasures.

Graphic and geometric, Bernhardt created a bone-inlay dresser in black and white zig zags called The Herringbone Dresser. Very chic.

Available in a wide array of juicy lacquer colors, I have an Orange crush on the Gabrielle Commode from Tritter Feefer. Choose from over 200 high gloss finish colors.

:A-based designers Woodson and Rummerfield styled up the Stanley Furniture showroom where this coral painted Beaufain Bachelorette Chest with brass swag pulls caught my eye. It also looks great in crisp pure white.

Chelsea Textiles added to their mid-century modern assortment with a new two-drawer Bedside Table in a streamlined silhouette with clean linear brass loop pulls.

A cut-corner mirrored Backgammon Table with eglomise surface was just part of the great debut from Celerie Kemble for Maitland-Smith. Upholstery was with Henredon, and the whole collection and showroom styling  blew everyone away at market. Even the Fig tree planters were beautiful, with bone inlay.

Give this swirl a whirl in grey with white from A Lacquer Piece. The Graffiti reinterprets a modern classic in an artsy way.

Special finishes are the details that count.  Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture had this new Paris Cocktail Table with dragged paint finish luxe treatment. 

Faux Bois is refined in Mr. Brown's new painted metal coffee table in aged white with a burnished mirror top. 

Books will be happy in Noir Furniture's Regence Bookcase in a washed gray finish. The Dutch architectural pediment is an unusual and beautiful detail. 

Tall, tailored and triangular, the new Etagere from Arteriors is well-suited for storage in small spaces and looks great flanking upholstery. 

Sometimes bigger is better. The brand new XL Moravian Star lantern at Visual Comfort makes the case well.

Bunny Williams for Mirror Image debuted several new designs. The Garbo, an ebony and brass hexagon mirror is a gem with deco glamour. 

A spot for a drink courtesy of Baker Furniture. The Soren Spot Table in a nice muted brass is an elegant end table. 

Ostrich eggs have never looked so chic. The lucite stands turn them into modern art.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

JUST BACK: 2013 HIGH POINT MARKET

I moved with lightning speed to get through as much of the Spring High Point Market, which is where I have been for the past four days. With thanks to CR Laine, my sponsor, I was able to to enjoy their beautifully styled showroom that was filled with color and pattern, alongside vintage case goods and the new pillow collection, Madcap Cottage, from my friends Jason Oliver- Nixon and John Loecke.
As I sort through my pictures, I am so happy to be able to cool my heels. After a whirlwind of meetings with great companies, seeing fellow bloggers like Quintessence and A Stylist's Life to name a few, hearing Aerin Lauder speak about her new lifestyle vision, and attending launch events to ring in new collections at every end of the style spectrum, it is good to be home. That said, it is so nice to be at Market, seeing all the familiar faces every six months, and how companies are innovating in materials and design.
Watch this space for more in-depth coverage soon...

A seating area filled with pieces Celerie Kemble's brand new collection of furniture and accessories for Henredon and Maitland Smith

 A colorful red and blue vignette at CR Laine

Chevron fabric at the windows in a  green and yellow moment at CR Laine

 A living room at Baker showcasing the new Michael Smith Collection

An impeccably styled living room at Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture, where Phoebe Howard mixed antiques alongside pieces from her collection




Monday, April 22, 2013

LADIES WHO LAUNCH: LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING CELERIE AND AERIN AT HIGH POINT MARKET


 Photo courtesy Celerie Kemble

Photo courtesy of Aerin

Two of the launch collections I am most looking forward to at Market are those from Celerie Kemble for Henredon with accessories by Maitland Smith and then AERIN from E.J Victor with lighting at Visual Comfort. It looks like its going to be a great market so watch this space for updates soon. These ladies have style by the mile so I cannot wait to see the environments they have created to launch their designs.

Friday, April 19, 2013

MAKE YOUR GARDEN GORGEOUS AT THE NYBG GARDEN SCULPTURE AND ANTIQUES FAIR 1750-2013

Photo courtesy of NYBG
To kick off the New York Botanical Garden's weekend-long Garden Sculpture and Antiques Fair, join a great group of garden swells on April 25th for the preview party.  The worlds of philanthropy and interior/garden design will come together to support the great New York institution and partake in cocktails and a silent auction. In addition to perusing antique garden furniture, urns, statuary, garden-related accessories and botanical prints from the esteemed 30 vendors below, you can pick up a beautiful rare plant from the array in the evening's silent auction.  To purchase tickets to the 1st Dibs-sponsored event, click here
 If your dance card is full that evening, visit The Garden from April 26th to April 28th, from 10-5 daily to shop for antique Belgian, English, American and Italian garden ornaments and more. Your garden deserves it.

Every dealer is the terrific, so you are sure to find beautiful things--

Antique American Wicker
Arader Galleries
Balsamo Antiques
 Joan Bogart Antiques
 Brennan and Mouilleseaux Antiques
Dawn Hill Antiques
Scott Estepp Gallery
Finnegan Gallery
Fleur
French Country Living Antiques Ltd.
Jeffrey Henkel
 Barbara Israel Garden Antiques
 Anthony Kavanaugh Period Garden Ornaments
Judith and James Milne At Home Antiques
 Aileen Minor Antiques
Susan Frei Nathan Fine Works on Paper, LLC
Pagoda Red
Francis J. Purcell,Inc.
R.T. Facts Antiques The Red Horse Antiques
Rose Garden Antiques and Design
 Schorr and Dobinsky
 Shop in the Garden
Linda  Howard Stein
The Sugarplum
Telescopes of Vermont
 Village Braider Antiques 
Bob and Debbie Withington Antiques

Thursday, April 18, 2013

BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND BLOOMS ON MELAMINE FROM THE MAD PLATTERS

You can hang them on the wall or use them for a picnic,  either way, the Oregon-based  Mad Platters highly detailed melamine designs are a wonderful addition. Highly - detailed, hyper-realistic fish, fowl, flowers and other archival document designs don these decorative plastic plates, the result of a recent Pinterest discovery. Available through Etsy, these well-priced pieces are sure to become summer beach and hostess gift basics.

Photos courtesy of The Mad Platters
Fish II with a yellow and blue fish swimming in opposite directions

A school of 6 blue fish cruising along

A Spotted Fish against a tiny pink pin dot background

A Pink Fish set against a geometric pink and beige design

A tropical Yellow Fish against a soft neutral graphic diamond pattern

A Blue Big Scaled Fish against a spiral design

Octopus tentacles spiraling toward the center of a white plate

The bloom is on the rose against a spotted rose and beige multi-colored ground

An archival Dandelion botanical print makes its way onto melamine

A field of detailed blue, beige and bold butterflies flutter on every inch of the plate

Who knew moths could looks so good?

An Antshrike with amazing coloring

A green bird perching on a branch

A Stilt on one delicate looking leg
A Heron midstep

A Madagascar Rail, posing

A Roseate Spoonbill framed by an ornate pink border