Friday, May 28, 2010

SPEND TIME IN THE GARDEN THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Summer will officially kick off this weekend, so make sure your garden and poolside is ready! Every year outdoor furniture gets better and better, and this year is no exception. Spend a lot, spend a little, you get style by the mile.


Photo Courtesy of William Sonoma Home
If Turkey is in your sights, bring a little bit of it to your garden with Iznik Melamine Plates from William Sonoma Home. This is fantastic looking, so glad someone finally did this pattern that is usually seen on tiles and ceramic tabletop.



Photo Courtesy of William Sonoma Home
Mixing Iznik and Greek key patterns in bold red white and blue-- I have to have these Iznik Floral Napkins! From William Sonoma Home.





Photo Courtesy of Pottery Barn
If you have a hankering for Mexican, check out the Talavera Pottery influenced melamine plates from Pottery Barn. The rich colors and texture will make you feel as though you are sitting under a palapa in Cabo.




Chop Chop! Cut those lemons and limes and keep the cocktail flow. From LA Plates



Oscar de la Renta for Century invented a Pagoda slipcover that mounts on the wall for shade.


Santa Barbara Designs is always leading the way in style and swagger. Their new Double Decker with oversized rick rack is too cute.


Pier I adds a great shape to a garden landscape.


Your own nest Outdoor Swingasan Chair from Pier 1


Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie
A little bit hippie a little bit bohemian. The Knotted Melati Hanging Chair of macrame from Anthropologie makes for some flashback fun



Ceylon Outdoor Arm Chair in Whitewash from Ballard is an Anglo Indian take.

Veneman Collections did an outdoor furniture line with Wynn hotel designer Roger Thomas. I am impressed with it, check out the whole selection.


Photo Courtesy of World Market
Metal Garden Bench from World Market


Photo Courtesy of World Market
Chic and cheerful, these Henri Floral outdoor pillows can jazz up solid outdoor upholstery. From World Market




Photo Courtesy of William Sonoma Home
William Sonoma's 100% polyester Printed Outdoor Pillows in weather resistant fabrics are great looking


The Casteleated outdoor pillow from Dransfield and Ross has a graphic tape border that stands out. It's summer go for the blue and white!


Their framed diamond outdoor pillow with quilting and inset ribbon trim adds interior upholstery details outside.


Photo Courtesy of Z Gallerie
Teardrop lanterns hold pillar candles from Z Gallerie

Photo Courtesy of Crate and Barrel
If you are looking for a classic lantern, here it is! Crate and Barrel never fails to have a goodie

Thursday, May 27, 2010

RESORT WEAR WITH FLAIR FROM JULES REID

If you are getting your weekend bag packed and ready for the Memorial Day weekend, here are some clothes you will want to scoop up in time for fun in the sun. Jumping in on the clothing - made - from - interior design - fabric trends, designer Jules Reid uses graphic geometric and ikat fabrics to create fun, party clothing. “Designing interiors developed my sense of color and texture, but I have always been excited by fashion. Now I am creating my own patterns and fabrics that are incorporated into clothing that I love." In keeping with resort inspiration, she is influenced by preppy vacation destinations and captures the lifestyle of places where the sun always shines.
Several designers have worked with interior fabrics with success, Steven Stollman, Lee Anderson and Oscar de la Renta among them. This line is a fresh new entrant, carried at Calypso and small boutiques around the country, such as Jacqueline Chorney at 1034A Lexington Avenue. Her bold prints and wearable silhouettes are what I like to call Neo vintage.

The Oscar Dress is flirty with flair. Made of silk ikat, it has a pouf at the waist making for a great fit.

The India Housecoat is ideal for lounging on low cushions with a gin and tonic recalling the 60's. With French Solstiss lace detailing and flared sleeves, this dress can party anytime.

The Teddy Tunic of silk cotton voile with embroidery down the front is a floor grazing gown great for the beach or cocktail tent in the evening.

The Montauk shell is easy to wear with anything. My pick for the ikat would be white jeans.

An easy shift dress makes getting dressed on hot summer days a snap. The Harrison comes in geo's and ikats.

The sleeveless ruffle front blouse has become every girl's staple thanks to J. Crew. Here, The Harold offers a new variation in a subtle geo print.

If you need party pants in your closet to match what the guys are wearing, these are for you! They Wyatt Pants have a flared leg and enough pattern to go the distance.



Wednesday, May 26, 2010

SPI DESIGN: CALIFORNIA COOL


Designers Sarah Shetter and Alison Palevsky of Santa Monica- based Shetter Palevsky Design.

SPI was started in 2004 by designers Sarah Shetter and Alison Palevsky. Their firm was started and is based on the idea that modernism can be successfully combined with comfort and livability. Their clean spaces are filled with furnishings that complement with soft and hard lines. From a house in Cabo to an apartment in LA, their fresh well-edited rooms are often white, letting the furnishings and accessories be the star.

They both went to University of Southern California, and their design aesthetic mixes the California lifestyle with both ancient and modern traditions. Alison studied at UCLA's interior design/architecture program, while Sarah holds a Master of Science degree in interior design from the Pratt Institute in New York, making them a perfectly matched design duo.
Together, they oversee all phases of a design project, including demolition/remodel plans, color choices, custom furnishings and light fixtures, and art selection and installation. There is a wonderful aspect to design duos, they get to bounce ideas off one another and bring their varied strengths to the table.


Casa Tortuga, built in 1994, has dramatic one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, a view that takes in Cabo's famed stone arches marking the confluence of the Sea of Cortez. SPI made the additions to the white stucco, labyrinth style house feel as if they were originally there. Wood and stucco work together to create a total escape.

An outdoor bar and BBQ as well as a stone fire pit make for entertaining California style. SPI designed large concrete planters to blend with the style of the house, while the landscape architect chose native plants to fill the planters and disguise any unwanted views.

The cool open air dining room for casual entertaining.

A relaxing bedroom with platform bed and built in nightstands.

A rustic looking staircase leads to the master suite and bath.

A casual sitting area with glass doors takes advantage of the views.

A glass enclosed shower make the master bath an escape.

A spectacular home, Tortuga, overlooking the ocean in Cabo San Lucas. This house is their piece de resistance--- it is such a luxurious escape and I was curious about their design process. They shared, "In the summer before we started the project, we took a three week boat trip around Greece and Turkey. We stopped at many of the islands and were incredibly inspired by the crisp white buildings and the bright blue ocean. We found that the same colors worked when we got to Mexico, so we used many of the photos from the trip on our concept boards for Casa Tortuga. There is definitely a Grecian feeling about the house.

We wanted to use local vendors and workshops, and not import everything from Los Angeles. We went on a shopping trip to Guadalajara where we found many of the pieces. Antigua de Mexico is a great store in Guadalajara where we found many pieces from the lounge chairs to the lighting. We also trekked through many stone yards in Cabo, and met with local craftsmen in order to create the custom bath tub in the Master Bath and all of the custom sinks in the bathroom.

The Lucite Sconce that hangs in all of the bathrooms was created by SPI and the base is filled with shells and sand from the nearby beach- we loved the idea of bringing the outdoors inside. The sconce then became the inspiration for the Lucite Hurricane which is one of the accessories in our furniture line. The Tortuga dining table and the Spanish Settee were also designed for this project and are now part of SPI line.

We felt very lucky to be working with such talented craftsman and artisans in Mexico. Every day, we were amazed and impressed with their knowledge of the materials and how to best use them, particularly the stone workers. Unfortunately, we finished up the project during the summer months and the heat was intense. We often found ourselves having our afternoon meetings in the swimming pool as we attempted to cool down!"

A city living room with lots of seating options and a cozy hearth at the corner.

A New York living room with sophisticated ebony floors, dark furniture and cool white walls.

A dining room with gleaming circular pendant lights and striking high backed dining chairs.

A neutral library highlighted by dark woods.

SPI LINE:

They began a furniture line to fit the needs of their clients and bring what they like to a broader market. All of the pieces are manufactured locally in Los Angeles by vendors that they have been collaborating with since the beginning. They have been working on the pieces for 6 years, and are now carried at Mecox Gardens.


The Blanco Coffee Table adds sleek and modern lines and has a white CeasarStone top and polished nickel frame.


The Beckett Glider from their new SPI Baby line is a trad piece with tufting. It swivels and glides, better for baby.


Their Happy Hamper acts as a changing table, hamper and dresser. It is constructed of solid wood and upholstered in vinyl-laminated fabric for easy cleaning.


The lacquer Beckett Dresser for a child's room comes in blue, green, yellow, black, white, and red, and is also from their SPI Baby line, giving baby some mid-century style.


The Plaza Ottoman has clean lines and an x-base, making for extra seating in an arrangement.


The Moroccan- inspired Palmerai Coffee Table of Walnut has secret storage and a great shape.


Constructed of salvaged black walnut wood, The Live Edge Dining Table is environmentally consciousness high design.

The girls also write for the Huffington Post so check it out and get their party planning advice!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

SUMMER CARRYALLS: THE BASICS

Whether toting gear or fabric samples, you want to have a bag that fits everything and looks good doing it. In the summer months, canvas has a rugged appeal that gets better with age.


Twelve NYC has made their Pocket Tote for years and it is a steady staple.



The Ragtop Snap Tote by a new division for the basics company called Canvas Land's End.


Angela Adams for J. Crew Pocket Sail Bag is a perfect summer carryall from beach to town. Made of durable recycled dacron sailcloth with hemp handles, the bag comes from the coast of Maine where lobster traps and rocky coasts are part of summer memories.
The rest...

The preppy stripe to match your car.


Shop the design center with this bright Canvas Classic Tote from Barneys. You won't leave it behind since it will blind you to remind you.


You can't forget LL Bean, the first and still the best deal. This season, get the Signal Flag Tote to lug your kid's sailing gear.