Friday, June 28, 2013

A SUMMER MUST TO CHILL AFTER YOU GRILL

Photo courtesy of Terrain
Check out this genius post-BBQ accessory, the Twig Marshmallow Roaster. With room to fit upwards of 8 marshmallows at one time, this clever roasting tool one-ups the basic snapped off tree branch. Take your backyard BBQ's and campfires to the next level with this gourmet goody found at Terrain. Roast marshmallows to the perfect burnt hue, all while avoiding scalded and sticky fingertips.

Photo courtesy of Little Flower Candy Co
If you really want to take it to the next level, scoop up some tasty artisanal gourmet marshmallows like these from The Little Flower Candy Company. They come in flavors like coffee and cinnamon sugar.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

ROUND AND ROUND: CONTEMPORARY POTTERY FROM SOUTH AFRICA'S POTTER'S WORKSHOP

Wonderful, textural dots don the surfaces of the artistic South African pottery made by Potter's Workshop. Utilizing the talents of skilled artisans, the Cape Town-based pottery studio was started in 1991, by Chris Silverston. What began as a craft done by women she expanded, as she began teaching Xsoha men the art of glazing pottery in a fresh new way.  It is a touching story, how she taught a group of people to embrace art that may never have been exposed to it before. They are now true artisans. Brightly saturated glazes and precise, detailed patterns decorate serving pieces in light-hearted, joyous way. The studio now employs 23 people that create the beautiful,  elaborately detailed glazed bowls and dishes for which they have gained a devoted following.  You can find Potter's Workshop designs at Aero Studio in New York City,  Design Solutions in New Canaan, CT, and more stores found on their website. A modern take on age - old medium has reinvigorated the art form, making it part of the contemporary South African design scene today.

The Large Bowl with concentric blue and orange rings and complex graphic patterns.

An Oval Fruit Bowl makes a great display and serving piece, it is so intricate and detailed.

The Tulip Dinner and Salad Plate in rich blue and red glazes

Intricately painted Nut Bowls with a linear dot pattern.

Poppy Pudding Bowls in psychedelic prints

Poppy Bowls with dots and intricate patterns

Ramekins painted to resemble individual blooms

A tiny flower vessel, the Inca Bowl

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

CATCH OF THE DAY: NAUTICAL HOME ACCESSORIES FROM ORTOLAN ORGANIC

Nautical decor can be subtly integrated into your home in the summer months. Set the table with lobster napkins for enjoying the catch of the day, or toss a pillow on a cozy chair to perk up a living room in a summer rental. Ortolan Organic, started by New York-based sisters Bethany and Jenna Mallett, share their graphic, realistic take on the natural world through eco-conscious pillows, napkins and tea towels, made of hemp organic cotton canvas. With a retro sensibility and beautiful details, their clean designs are perfect for summer getaways and gifts, or going somewhere breezy in your mind.

I love the weight of printed cotton canvas.  The Lobster Pillow shows the shell in great detail.

A simple Anchor is such a graphic iconic image.

OK, so sailors don't really say this,  but it's cute nonetheless.

Much nicer than Fudgy The Whale.

The reverse on white takes on a different look.

Have some of these on hand after a messy meal of clams and steamers.

Hello easy-to-give gifts.

The Lobster Tea Towel would add a striking touch of red hanging in a galley kitchen.

Crabs can be friendly, just look at this guy.

He is making his way from the corner of the napkin.

If you go to Nantucket, bring him along.

Monday, June 24, 2013

WITH FOND MEMORIES: YOU WILL BE MISSED JOE NYE

Joe Nye at one of his favorite places to shop, the LA Flower Market

Joe Nye did everything wholeheartedly. His endless talent, attention to detail, ability to charm and inspire and sense of style knew no bounds. He could elevate a space with color and pattern, and with a few quick changes of accessories, stylishly transform a room.  Spending hours laboring over the perfect tape trim for a leading edge of a beautifully executed window treatment were par for the course, because he knew the big picture depended on the special details. A big as day personality, warmth, quick laugh and big grin will be sorely missed. Not to mention his snappy dressing, filled with pastel hues, round tortoise glasses and many, many pairs of Vans and Belgian Loafers.
We recently lost Joe, one of the bright lights of the Los Angeles  interior design community.  His strong, color-filled interiors (he never met a chintz he didn't love), mixed the right amount of old-world elegant antiques and graphic artwork, providing an unexpected beauty that will will stand the test of time. Influenced by the "Dean of American Decorating", Albert Hadley,  Frances Elkins and his mentor and great friend, Hollyhock's Suzanne Rheinstein, Joe adored seeking out beautiful antiques and fresh color combinations. From Suzanne, he learned the business, sharing in the pursuit of excellence, and the value of hard work. He just had a passion for great design and it was infectious. He loved and was driven by things of beauty, whether it was the curve of a chair arm or a well-styled bookshelf. When all is said and done, clients become close friends after the shared design journey. This was certainly the case with Joe.
His 2010 book Flair: Exquisite Invitations, Lush Flowers, and Gorgeous Table Settings by Rizzoli, which I was fortunate to work on with him, explored infinite ways to entertain at home, with a relaxed, festive, color-driven elan. His love of masses of Baby's Breath and Carnations  was well-known, as was his preference for linen napkins over paper.  The Nebraska native believed in elevating everyday experiences.
His support for the LA design community was constant --  he was always in attendance at book launches, new collections, and design store openings.
It is rare to lose an enormous talent so young-- Joe brought so many wonderful ideas across through his work, and I believe we have lost one of the great American voices of design today.

 Photo courtesy of Rizzoli
The cover of Joe's book, Flair. One of his all-time favorite Brunschwig fabrics made it onto the cover, as the table skirt that provided a perfect backdrop to the scenic pink and white Isis ceramics plate and black bamboo flatware.

Photos by Roger Davies
Joe's Beverly Hills apartment was featured in House Beautiful. The charm of his spaces came from a mix of ladylike prints and cozy upholstery and pretty accessories with a presence emphasized his more-is-more credo.

Graphic abstract art mingled with French crystal sconces and gilded chairs with a black console all set against  subtle greige striped walls.

Pink and green too girly? Not in how Joe color combined.

Joe Nye designed a Sister Parish influenced window at Navona Antiques for the 2009 Legends of La Cienega design event in Los Angeles.

Participating in the 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse was a career highlight for Joe. His room, filled with many mid century pieces from the then NY-based Downtown/Claremont Showroom made him tremendously proud.

An abundance of cheery pink carnations on a pink table in an interior created for a condo in Florida. The mix of casual wicker and formal prints was a Joe Nye touch.





Friday, June 21, 2013

SUNNY DISPOSITION: SETTING THE TABLE WITH A TOUCH OF CORAL

A touch of bright color on a summer table can raise the style quotient as the temperature does the same. A robust orangey coral color has been on the radar for some time, and it is showing up in wonderfully patterned tabletop designs. I love the color so much that I decided to upholster my chairs in it. The color's sunny disposition will go to your head, and these plates will encourage festive all fresco dinners all year long.

Photos courtesy of Roberta Roller Rabbit
My favorite classic Roberta Roller Rabbit print has made its way onto china. Crafted from Limoges porcelain, the Amanda printed scalloped plate in an all-over orange and fuchsia floral print comes in a set of 4, in either dinner or dessert size.

Have some fun an mix in the solid orange plate with fuchsia border to add dimension to the printed plate. Available through Roberta Roller Rabbit.


Photos courtesy of Barneys 
The French know how to design beautiful china, natch, so Site Corot's geometric glazed porcelain plates from Barneys provide a playful spin on the medium.  The Florida patterned dessert or salad plate will make any sweet the star.

A zig zag hand-created border on the Florida Dinner Plate from Site Corot at Barneys  has a white center as to not compete with the main event.

A low soup or cereal bowl completes the  "touch of whimsy" look. From Barneys.

Photos courtesy of Terrain
Like a glowing sun, these South African- made, hand-crafted ceramic plates from Terrain are punchy and strong.

A circle pattern and linear rays echo the rays of the sun, the Petals Plate, also from the same collective at Terrain.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

NURSERY MUST - HAVE: BEYOND ADORABLE BABY ANIMAL PRINTS FROM THE ANIMAL PRINT SHOP


 Photos courtesy of Sharon Montrose

Few things are as divine as animals in the prime of their youth. When I came across photographer Sharon Montrose and her online Animal Print Shop, I was immediately smitten with the way she captures baby animals at their best--  giving them personality and swagger. Often showing them head on, she creates a sense of immediacy, drawing you in to the cute stares from those sweet little innocent eyes. As a great photographer knows, getting to know your subject and connecting with them is key, so I imagine there is a lot of frolicking on the set.  Montrose's Little Darlings series has become beloved, and you can see why. Printed on archival stock paper, and available in simple white frames, her prints go from 7"x9" all the way up to 40"x50", which are limited additions. They have the ability to transform a space with their presence.
What baby nursery wouldn't benefit from the addition of a  little adorable animal series?

I am the star of my own show.

I will grow into my ears.

Hey that looks fun, I'm on my way up to join you.

Is it ok if I snooze on set?

I need this petite Zebra in my life!


How much longer?

The knobby knees!

Who, me?

Yes, I'm going places.

You don't fool me-  I see you there.

If these eyes could talk.

Wait, can I move now?

I see my friends over there.