HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

By now your garden is growing strong with great big blooms and greenery. If you want to make your garden even better and bring the garden flair inside, look at the picks below to stay inspired!

Photo Courtesy of John Derian
If your flowers look something like this consider yourself blessed. John Derian, the master of decoupage, always finds the sweetest prints to use in his designs. Wall mounted plates are a great alternative to wallpaper....Check out the vast selection of plates of every shape and size at John Derian

Photo Courtesy of New York Botanical Shop in the Garden
Add a touch of whimsy to your hydrangeas with Dragonfly Plant Stakes from The New York Botanical Shop in the Garden. Their buyers manage to come up with delightful finds like this.

Photo Courtesy of The Elegant Earth
English garden ornaments evoke a gentler more gentrified time. Statuary, orbs and urns were all present in the gardening oasis known for moist air and the perfect rose. Find this majestic Large Garden Finial plus many other classic ornamentation at The Elegant Earth

Photo Courtesy of Pablo Mekis
Embroidery has the ability to show incredibly realistic details. The best pillows around are handmade in Chile from Pablo Mekis. The array of sea life, critters and flora is sublime. Available through Pablo Mekis Creative Pillow Covers

Photo Courtesy of Inner Gardens
L.A.'s best garden resource Inner Gardens carries an incredible array of antique and new planters and furniture. These 1920's concrete planters are easy to covet. Check out the choices at Inner Gardens and do not miss their warehouse.


Photo Courtesy of Nantucketinc.com
The Arbor Gardener Basket from Nantucket Inc has storage space in the center for gloves and seed packets.

Photo Courtesy of Napa Home and Garden
Take the freshly cut stems and place them in a bright tulipiere. Yellow is the color now and for fall. Find it at stores that carry Napa Home and Garden.

Photo Courtesy of Pierre Frey
Espalier wallpaper from Pierre Frey is just the thing to liven up a sun room. The leaves and orderly pattern created by the vines is free flowing and symmetrical. Or you can use it because it is totally charming!

Photo Courtesy of Campo de Fiori
Buying new aged and seasoned looking planters is great because the worn patina is already there. These Aged Woven Planters come from Campo de Fiori, the best terra cotta source.


Photo Courtesy of Rice
Low maintenance plastic goes a long way in the summer. These great plastic planters come in a rainbow of colors from Rice add a touch of whimsy to the garden. Find them at Rice

GET YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Photo courtesy of Penkridge Ceramics
These fruits and veggies look so real you will want to show them in your living room not in the kitchen where they will be mistaken for the real thing. Stunning color and intricate detail come together to create a beautiful masterpiece. Even the leaves on the stem have realistic tiny holes from where the caterpillar got to them.
Look at the incredible assortment online.
Photo Courtesy of Penkridge Ceramics
Monochromatic fruits and vegetables have a striking appearance. The starkness of their color allows the intricate detail of each piece to show. These life like porcelain pieces are available through Penkridge Ceramics

Photo Courtesy of Asiaphile
A pineapple is the sign of welcoming, so I cannot think of a better instant greeting then this on your evening bag! Light and summery from Asiaphile

Photo Courtesy of Pablo Mekis
Welcome one and all to your home when you have these throw pillows gracing your sofa. Available through Pablo Mekis

Photo Courtesy of Homart
A geometric pattern with fruit are fresh traditional. These porcelain vessels are great for the garden room and friends that love style. From Areo Home


Photo Courtesy of Charleston Gardens
Enamelware is great for inside and outside entertaining. Add some freshness to the table with these Cabbage and Radish place settings from Charleston Gardens


Porcelain flowers by Vladimir are painstakingly detailed to resemble the real thing. Available through Vladimir Collection

WOVEN TOGETHER

Photo Courtesy of R.K Alliston
These storage baskets can be used in the office, mud room or playroom. The lids make them easy to stack. These are worth importing from London's best garden shop, R.K. Allison

Photo Courtesy of Flamant Home
Homestores that have it all in Paris are unusual. This is one of the many reasons Flamant is terrific. They bring a chic, cool, easy lifestyle to the Parisian home. Now available stateside through Rene by Flamant in Tennessee, you can check their website for their stock of old and new items. This classic cane seat Luis Side Chair is a great dinner party chair when seating is a crunch.

Photo Courtesy of Ralph Lauren Home
Finding a summery chair with a nice scale and comfortable seat is challenging. This new classic, the Joshua Tree Dining Chair from Ralph Lauren Home is just the thing.

Photo Courtesy of Artesia Collection
The scale, modern slant of the arm and cushions on this woven sofa make is great for a living room, pool house or loggia. Check out the summery outdoor fabrics from Seacloth, Brunschwig and Schumacher to add the necessary punch of color.
Photo Courtesy of Artesia Collection
Light and easy, this woven table looks great in a blue and white room. Add some chinese porcelain lamps on the side tables, a textured throw on the sofa and you have instant elegance.


A Nantucket Lightship Lamp from Shades of Light provides a constant reminder of The Gray Lady, as the island is known. These baskets are not as pricey as the antique originals but a great way to get the look. Available from Shades of Light

Photo Courtesy of Ballard Designs
Keep food cool in style with the insulated basket from Ballard Designs. The great thing about this is the section for wine and the super sturdy handle. Now get 15% off!

BLACK AND WHITE PACKS A PUNCH

Black and white is the evergreen of decorating schemes--the combination that always works in a sophisticated, graphic way. Inspiration comes from Dorothy Draper, Billy Baldwin and classic black and white marble floors in grand entry foyers. Here are some new sources to create the look:

Photo Courtesy of Kor Hotel Group
If you crave Kelly Wearstler's style sense and jump at the chance to stay in a Kor Group Wearstler-designed hotel, then you are in luck. You can bring it home by purchasing key signature pieces on the Kor Group site, Kor Group under shop, then signatures. For those of you that wanted the black and white positive/negative floral wallpaper that lined the inside cover of her first book, Modern Glamour, and is in the Viceroy, you can now use it in YOUR powder room. Hot tip: This fall be on the lookout for Kelly on the cover of A Fashionable Life, a special issue from Harper's Bazaar.

Photo Courtesy of Oly Studio
The Oliver Ottoman from Oly Studio is great looking, roomy and graphic. Use an ottoman as a cocktail table and pile it with design books. Hamish Bowles of Vogue is coming out with a new edition of the highly coveted Vogue Book of People Houses, Gardens, People, called Vogue Living. Get ready to pounce on it late October!

Photo Courtesy of Cole and Son
Piero Fornasetti's vest pocket store in Milan is divine. One of the most recognized patterns is the face motif. Done on plates for Rosenthal and printed fabrics it is now available in a wallpaper from Cole and Son, the venerable British house that is largely responsible for the return of wallpaper a few years ago.

Photo Courtesy of Arteriors
Conical shapes lead the eye up. The black and white marble cone lamp from Arteriors would look sleek shown as a pair on a sofa table.


Photo Courtesy of Chairloom
The terrific artist Virginia Johnson does fabric by the yard, airy dresses, and wool scarves with her eclectic, graphic and colorful prints. Check out her youthful and exuberant creations at Virginia Johnson


Varenne Opera metal frame chair from Casamidy takes a traditional form of a chair and reinvents it, creating a light and airy piece of sculpture. From Casamidy


Photo Courtesy of Artesia Collections
For those looking for classics reborn, here is one of the ultimates: The Frances Elkins Loop Chair in black! So de la mode! It looks great upholstered in a colorful fabric or in a black and white scheme. Check out the side and arm chair from Jayson Home


Photo Courtesy of Artesia Collections
Storage options are hard to find. Circular patterned detailing add a deco twist to a great piece. Store your electronics in style in this find from Artesia Collections, where they will direct you to a retailer.


Image Courtesy of Two's Company
Great looking flatware is hard to find, especially when you want something really unique. This well priced faux bone and ebony pattern from Two's Company is British West Indies chic, and would have also felt at home on the table in Out of Africa. Barley Twist handles have the design detail to make these unique, from Two's Company


Photo Courtesy of Two's Company
Mirrors add pattern to a room. This black and white inlaid stunner from Two's Company adds a bit of old world import appeal to your casa. From Two's Company

Photo Courtesy of Bungalow 5
Bamboo detailing is something I never tire of. This sophisticated Chloe mirror from Luca Rensi's terrific furniture line, Bungalow 5, is an instant classic. Stay tuned for their elegant lamps...

Image Courtesy of Shades of Light
A valance like this deserves the spotlight--it takes toile to a whole new, tailored place. From a great catalog, I never expected to see such savvy window treatments--this is a real find! Chinoiserie detailing add tailoring to an otherwise traditional motif, how refreshing this is! Check it out at Shades of Light

Image Courtesy of Shades of Light
If you have a bungalow that you would like to give the L.A. treatment, these curtains on a bamboo rod are just the thing! Also from Shades of Light Shades of Light

FRESH FROM THE FARMSTAND

Spend some quality time in the kitchen, preparing meals from the freshest ingredients. Below are a few retro fabulous items to help you savor the flavor.

Photo Courtesy of Jessie Steele
Shuck your corn with a bit of pizazz wearing this vintage inspired apron. Available at Jessie Steele.

Photo Courtesy of Sur La Table
Keep fresh lemonade cold in this Italian porcelain pitcher. It will remind you of the lemonade stand of your youth or, Limoncello drinking on Capri, from Sur La Table

Photo Courtesy of Red and White Kitchen
Dry your fresh locally grown produce with a themed kitchen towel. Who knew veggies could be so happy! From CS Post, a terrific Kansas City country store with an incredible web site. They even offer floral arrangements for local delivery!

Photo Courtesy of Rosanna Inc
Need a great mixing bowl for the blueberry pancakes? Use the American Bungalow Bowls from Rosanna Inc


Photo Courtesy of Linda and Harriett
A thank you note for a great lunch, road trip or clambake deserves a great card. This charmingly rustic block print note card is from Linda and Harriett

INITIAL OFFERING

Photo Courtesy of Snapdragon Collection
Personalized needlepoint slides are a chic statement. The black color looks great against green grass. Perfect for the Croquet tournament. Check out the color options at The Snapdragon Collection


Photo Courtesy of Iomoi
Clean lines of lucite and graphic geometrics of the pattern converge so well in this tray from Iomoi. Check out the other offerings--all totally inovative, fun motifs that look great with your monogram!

Fall fashion is just hitting the stores now (every year it seems to get earlier). You will need a place to put all those new frocks, so stock up on these:
Photo Courtesy of hangers.com
Monogram hangers! Choose your color--chocolate brown, pink or blue are nice--- and your style---the triple letter monogram chicest---and then expect a 14 day delivery time. By then you will have plenty to hang! Place your order by phone from Hangers.com

NAUTICAL BY NATURE

Fresh nautical blue and white calls to mind crisp sails and polished teak. Celebrate summer with a red white and blue color palette. Whether in city or country it works. No port hole windows or Top Siders necessary!

Photo Courtesy of Thistle and Broom
Every living room should have a sheltering chair to weather summer thundershowers while reading a good book. This modern take on a classic Orkney Chair from Thistle and Broom


Photo Courtesy of Cottage and Bungalow
Red, white and blue, along with an anchor or two create a beach side look. The lighthouse, flags and sailboat make you want to be outside, even on a rainy day. From Cottage and Bungalow


Comfy large linen pillows are available in an incredible array of colors and patterns, embroidery provides depth and detail in the designs. Find a nice assortment from Lars Bolander



Photo Courtesy of Authentic Models
Keep the theme going with red and white stripes. Tripod floor lamp available from dealers shown on Authentic Models



Photo Courtesy of Lunt
Making silver stylish and chic again, Lunt has a smash hit on their hands with the Oscar de la Renta Collection. By dividing the collection into evocative destinations--city, country and island collections have something for everyone done in beautiful mixed materials--resin, bone wood and enamel inlay make silver look ever glamorous. Available through Lunt Silver

Photo Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma Home
I had seen these boxes last year in the LA store and they were not yet available for purchase. Well, I am pleased they are now offered from Williams-Sonoma Home because they are perfect for keeping things organized--magazines, kids toys, fabric samples. From Williams-Sonoma Home


Set the table in the same fresh color scheme. Embroidered napkins from Lady Clare


Phot Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma Home
Normally one would search musty antique shops in Massachussets to score a monkey's fist knot door stop--the search ends here. Williams-Sonoma Home