Monday, March 19, 2012

VERANDA AT 25

Photos courtesy of Veranda
Veranda Magazine recently turned 25. To celebrate the occasion, they threw a fantastic cocktail party at The Four Seasons Restaurant. Designers flew in from far and wide for the festivities, and it was great to see such a strong turn out to support two class acts, founder Lisa Newsom and Editor in Chief, Dara Caponigro. From the graceful photography to thick paper stock, you can count on Veranda to provide an endless cache of elegant, aspirational and worldly interiors. The current issue of the magazine takes a look at 25 inspired interiors that have filled the pages over the past twenty-odd years, and here are some perennial favorites.

Axel Vervoordt's old world elegance
"A curatorial eye brings together objects of rare beauty—a Guatemalan silver chandelier, French faience, Ming china, a Louis XV corner cabinet—in a cultured, cultivated display."

Miles Redd to the max
"How does something so spare seem so full of life? A minimum of elements delivers a maximum of theatricality with the use of lipstick-worthy shades and buoyant, snappy graphics."

Mary McDonald's color creative
"An expansive room with Anglo-Indian undertones achieves cohesion with the repetition of a single fabric, embellished with different trim treatments for variation and hints of sparkle."

A blissful blue and white Kelli Ford and Kirsten Fitzgibbons interior
"Ikats, arabesques, chevrons, and stripes—this paean to pattern matches grand architecture with a bold scale and unifies it all through tint and tone."

A transporting David Easton Interior
"An exotic moment from a known authority on English and American decoration. The space dramatically comes together from an unerring sense for pattern, color, and light."

Carolyne Roehm's blue and white escape
"A collection of blue-and-white porcelain becomes the inspiration for an entire room—and a lesson in how basic components can create stylish interiors with a personalized point of view."

Written by Mario Lopez-Cordero

Thursday, March 15, 2012

BRIGHT NOW

Right now we are being wowed with wonderful bright hues, from punchy primaries to electric fluoro brights. The array of loud color is amazing-- a rainbow is peeking through for an early spring. Be it color blocking, stripes, or just saturated and unabashed, bright is so right now.

A wall of color at West Elm separating red, yellow, green and blue.

Photo courtesy of Kate Spade
Paint the town any color you want, as long as you pick a color. Say thanks for a colorful night with Paint The Town Notes from Kate Spade. Mais oui.

Photo courtesy of Stampa
Artist Sirichai's #17 Tongue is a nod to the great graphic 1960's pop art. He worked for fashion minimalist Geoffrey Beene, can you tell? Check out Stampa for their stable of fresh artists prints available with or without a frame.

Photo courtesy of DVF
An all-over red and white confetti pattern makes this DVF Square Dot tray a party-must.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Adler
Throws always do the trick on the back of a sofa. This mohair number from Jonathan Adler in spring green is smile worthy.

Photo courtesy of Currey and Company
Better off red with Currey and Company's racing red Lombard Chest.

Photo courtesy of Pantone
A world of color is at your fingertips with Pantone Universe. Their espresso cups in reds and pinks will surely brighten your day.


Photo courtesy of West Elm
The lemon yellow of the Martini Table from West Elm is a tart treat.

Photo courtesy of CB2
For your favorite knit wit, a knitted pouf in electric pool blue from CB2.

Photo courtesy of Dwell
Stripe it rich with Dwell's chic cotton and wool Draper Stripe Rug in persimmon.

Photos courtesy of Anya Hindmarch
The Mini Grace bag in a color grid

I am endlessly inspired by British handbag designer, Anya Hindmarch. Every season she finds cultural, architectural and artistic influences that act as her muse. These color - based vignettes she has created for her newest saturated collection incorporate found, everyday objects to tell the color tale beautifully, in a cabinet of curiosities way I just love.

Show your love for the big apple with a glittering green minaudiere.

With a pop of white to accent all the crazy color, the Huxley Tote tones things down.

The classic Nevis Tote in playful multi-hued rubber is beachy keen.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

FACE TIME

Taking famous faces and memorializing them in portraits is one thing. Putting them on a melamine plate? Well, that's just irreverent and witty. British company Whitbread Wilkinson worked with their fine English heritage and put historically significant portraits from the National Portrait Gallery onto plastic picnic ware. Try pulling these out the next time you picnic in the park. You will seem so cultured!
Detail from Antonello da Messina's Portrait of a Man

Bordone's Portrait of a Young Woman

Swabian's Portrait of a Woman of the Hofer Family
c 1470

The Emperor Napoleon I by Vernet

A detail from Italian Andrea Solario's Giovanni Cristoforo Longoni

Detail from The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger

Monday, March 12, 2012

STYLISH SHOPPING IN THE SUN: LETA AUSTIN FOSTER BOUTIQUE


With a well-edited selection of home accessories from far and wide, you will find the best of everything in Leta Austin Foster, the heaven-on-earth Palm Beach boutique tucked into Worth Avenue's special enclave, 64 Via Mizner. You are in for a real treat from the moment you step inside this Palm Beach-based interior designer's shop. Culling especially stylish wares for chic entertaining, loads of sumptuous bedding, unique gifts, hard to find home fragrance, elegant old world children's clothing, and more, the shop is a one stop hop. Organized in rooms, you will be so caught up in the wonderful mix you will find it hard to leave. Every classic design carried has a design story, rich history, and craftsmanship, the hallmarks Foster is known for. I take you through the highlights as best I can, but nothing can substitute being there, with Foster leading the way, sharing her finds.

A wall of shelves hold boudoir pillows of every design and embroidery style.

Incorporating monograms, matelasse and fabric, Foster can create special monograms with fabric detailing for one of a kind bedding.

Terry towels of every design

Beautiful refined monograms done by hand in France

A bed made up in custom linens set for breakfast in bed. You will find Julia B. custom bedding as well as many other stunning options.

My mom, designer Nancy Marcantonio, and Leta Austin Foster reviewing the design books at a recent trunk show with The Printery.

Printery papers make thank you's quick and easy.

An extremely well edited assortment of writing papers and place cards with resort-chic motifs.

Charming and special, these bright Italian hand-printed papers on waste baskets, desk blotters and picture frames are imported from Italy.

Walls lined with every classic and new china pattern imaginable.

Shoppable vignettes pair table elements that Foster likes; placemats, napkins, flatware and china are inventively coordinated.

Imported Italian Palio flags china.

Porcelain for the coral affecionado.

Monogrammed tea service and china in a soft green

A crisp nautical arrangement.

Palm Trees in pink and green.

Pierced plates with green accents.

Handmade porcelain from France.

Custom painted porcelain trays with monogrammed laminated pastel zebra mats in the background.

Embroidered tip towels for every mood.

Cocktail napkins in small prints and bright colors are easy to give for hostess gifts.

more!

Porcelain works of art, these potted flowers and lettuces in aged terra cotta pots add an element of surprise.