Wednesday, April 30, 2008

MOTHER KNOWS BEST AND DESERVES IT

Giving the gift of flowers is a great idea for Mother's Day. Gorgeous blooms, saturated color and a reusable container are reasons to go with an arrangement from 1-800 Flowers.com. Their assortments are not the mail order flowers of yore.

Photo Courtesy of 1-800 Flowers.com
Martha Stewart for 1-800 Flowers.com offers the Vibrant Ranunculus Bouquet . What a show stopper.


Photo Courtesy of 1-800 Flowers.com
There is nothing as wonderful as fresh flowers. But getting them by mail and having them look this good--that is really a treat. This elegant, leaf wrapped Sprbet arrangement designed by 1800 Flowers is waiting for you to order it. Get yours now and get a discount!!!!

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1-800 Flowers

Sunday, April 20, 2008

SHOPPING: THE PINK DOOR IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

Just back....
FINALLY, I had time to journey away from the epicenter of High Point Furniture Market to hit something off the beaten path. The market was good to attend, but it is nice to break away from the showrooms.
It was well worth it. Interior designer Joe Nye took me to this mecca of antiques and home furnishings. This charmer is graciously filled to the rafters with great hostess gifts, pillows, lamps and marvelous antiques, culled from buying trips to Palm Beach and southern plantations.



The entrance to The Pink Door oozes southern hospitality, as does the owner, Glenn Lavinder.








Color, color and more color, the secret to happiness!





The interior is composed of winding rooms, filled with tole flowers, blue and white china, Porthault towels, good design books and furniture covered in Brunshwig, Scalamandre and Colefax fabrics. Seeing a home shop this well edited and merchandised to the hilt in NC was a treat. You might just want to move in.
Down the hall, Glenn runs a bustling design business, where his works with clients all over the country. He frequently travels to New York and Florida to see what is in the air, and then taps into that wanderlust with his cache for display.

Check this gem out when you are in North Carolina, it will be worth it! Right off the highway in Greensboro, look for the awnings and pink door at 1705 Battleground Avenue, and call ahead for directions, 336-273-3700.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

CHINOISERIES: PAVILIONS AND GARDEN FOLLIES

The long awaited gently- priced version of Bernd Dams and Andrew Zega's Chinoiseries book is finally here! Highly detailed paintings of 42 pavilions and garden follies are captured in exquisite detail from 17th and 18th Century French fancies. These structures are no longer standing and many were never built, making them that much more exciting to study on the printed page. I am thinking about getting a series framed to hang in a quadrant an the wall.

Photo Courtesy of Rizzoli
The highly decorated surfaces of the chinoiserie-inspired structures harken back to a gilded world, where an outbuilding could serve the sole purpose of delighting the owner's eye. Intricate frettework, climbing floral vines and curving roof lines are captured down to the smallest detail. Available now from Rizzoli

Photo Courtesy of Velum
Blanc de chine with lattice texture and figural relief capture the essence of chinoiserie. Place these on your mantel or as a decorative element on shelves. Make them stand out by placing them against a bright background. Find out where you can purchase from Vellum New York


This charming Quadrille print captures the idylic chinoiserie landscape, palm fronds and a folly. The soothing tropical melon color would look right on a sun porch wicker chair.