HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo Courtesy of Herend
Call it ghoul chic. Herend's Skull with 24-karat gold details is a sophisticated take on memento mori. It is 2 inches high so it wont be too scary to have around. Order yours from Herend.

FLOORED: LOOKING AT ELSON AND COMPANY'S NEWEST RUGS

NEW AND EXPANDED DESIGNER COLLECTIONS FROM ELSON AND CO:
Elson and Co. keeps adding to their designer selections. Vivid color and great craftsmanship come together in their rugs, they are easy to use and bring vibrancy to a room. See old and new at Elson and Company

THE KATHRYN M. IRELAND TIBETAN COLLECTION

For The Kathryn M. Ireland Tibetan Collection her fabric designs were magnified and intensified with rich color. Foral Ikat Red shown above



Abu Red Slate by Kathryn M. Ireland is modern in its enlarged pattern and poppy contrasting colors


Diamond Batik Blue by Kathryn M. Ireland has subtle color gradations


Diamond Batik Red by Kathryn M. Ireland is a great small repeat and would work with patterned prints in the upholstery--it blends well


Greta Tobacco by Kathryn M. Ireland provides a bold background in a go-with-everything brown

AN OSCAR ADDITION

Santiago by Oscar de la Renta is a great addition that I had to include


CARLETON VARNEY COLLECTION

Carleton Varney worked with Dorothy Draper and continues to keep her design legacy alive. His Boca Grande Red from The Carleton Varney Collection is fun and bright. It would be at home in any beach side haven


Draper Stripe Chocolate Navy of Himalayan wool


Port St. Lucie Indigo from The Carleton Varney Collection adds a geometric to an interior

HABLE CONSTRUCTION COLLECTION

Blue Mum Dhurrie by Hable Construction matches their fabric-- adorable
All Photos Courtesy of Elson and Company

NEW TALENT FROM HIGH POINT: LAMSHOP FURNITURE AND JAY C. LOHMANN TEXTILES

NEW TALENT WATCH:

Photo's Courtesy of Lamshop/Jay C.Lohmann
This chic trio launched new items at High Point this past week. Lindsey Harper (L) and Maggie Currey (R) recently formed Lamshop, a line of Charlotte, NC -made custom furniture. The name is based on their initials. They met while working for Richard Keith Langham in New York, a haven for southern transplants like them. In addition to doing upholstery and tables, and buying vintage pieces for their Charlotte Lamshop showroom, Lindsey started Lindsey Coral Harper Interior Design this year. They did a booth with Jay C. Lohmann, a decorative painter and textile designer also out if NYC. He spent years honing his craft in Florence, and has started a line of fine fabrics and pillows seen here. Visit Lamshop to order and also view an assortment vintage finds.
They had a blast at market and I am so happy to know them. You heard it here first! Stay tuned for Lindsey Harper's interiors coming soon....



The Queen Elizabeth Loveseat


The Consort Chair covered in a Lohmann fabric

Their booth had personality, mixing upholstery, tables and textiles

The Ming Lacquer Cocktail table

The Ming Lacquer Bedside Table with drawer

The Ming Lacquer End Table with shelf

Below is a selection of colors, there are 8 standard colors to choose from:

UPDATE ON DECORATI PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE DESIGN BLOGGER

What fun I had participating on Shane Reilly's Decorati sponsored panel at the Jerry Pair showroom in the D and D Building. Each blogger came from a different vantage point and added their perspective to the talk. We are all inspired by different things. Some of us are on the computer all day fielding submissions while others are out and about. It really comes down to covering what you are passionate about and your distinct point of view. We all agreed we write our blogs out of love--- not for money! The room was filled with great guests, from editors at House Beautiful to the leading home PR gurus. Thank you Shane for asking me to be a part of this dialog on a brave new world--blogging.

Photo Courtesy of Decorati
Panelists were: interior designer and Shane's Studio blogger Shane Reilly also founder of Decorati; Michael Devine who covers design parties on The Devine Life; Ronda Carmen of Allthebestblog; me for Stylebeat; and Grace Bonney of design*sponge

Create your own blog on Decorati and sign on to use this great design resource. Offering over 400 trade-only manufacturers and showrooms in one place, Decorati is a shopping site offering a vast selection of new and antique furniture and decorative arts, and the private collections of interior designers. Designers can email their clients pieces they have preselected, get tear sheets and print them. Consumers can browse, find an interior designer, and send their designer pieces they like. In addition, designers can add their rooms and featured Decorati pieces will be listed. A great new feature shows most viewed and requested products of the week.

MODERN NEEDLEPOINT FROM AMH DESIGN LLC

I had initially seen monogrammed notepads at Liz Bauer's new home shop, Elizabeth Bauer Design. The other day I found them online, and sent an email to an adorable new resource, AMH Design. I thought, hmmm...I did not see these sweet things at the gift show, I need to see more! Lo and behold, I grew up in Connecticut with Amy Holbrook, the smart and savvy founder of AMH. Last I had heard she was living in Rome, a great place to get ideas and creative inspiration. What a treat to know that someone behind a young creative company is so incredibly nice and has a great eye. Columbia Business School isn't bad either! I am really excited to see this company grow. Buy your stocking stuffers now!

Enjoy her fun needlepoint creations and see more kits at AMH Design

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
This selection of journals is DIY. You stitch the monogrammed area yourself. The kit comes with needle and threader, color coordinated yarns, and an initial chart. Or, if you are short on time or just not crafty, you can have one of their professional stitchers do it for you (there is an upcharge and delivery time)My favorite grouping is called this one called Rome

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
After the confidence building this provides, you will be ready to tackle a bigger canvas--2 initials! The Monte Carlo is like a Goyard bag in a notepad--small and more affordable

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
The stitching should take an hour to complete on the single initial. Marrakesh has a great global geometric design

Photo Courtesy of AMH Design
A little Op art with The Rio design

PATTERN MAKERS: LULU DK FOR MATOUK BEDDING- ADD SOME COLOR

I like to show collections in their entirety to give a sense of the depth and breadth in the designs. Lulu DK for Matouk looks best when seen all together--the impact is so great. Although these are not all brand new designs, seeing them together makes it easier to pick a favorite. The colors, patterns and whimsy are so full of life and look great in a modern to traditional setting. Take a better look:

Photo Courtesy of Matouk
Tulah in honeydew

Photo Courtesy of Matouk
Tango in coral

Photo Courtesy of Matouk
River in ocean

Photo Courtesy of Matouk
My favorite yummy pattern--Poppy in Ocean,the red is even better!

Photo Courtesy of Matouk
Madison linens in chocolate

High thread count and a great hand set these linens apart. Get some euros or a new duvet cover for fall at Lulu DK Matouk

FALL READING LIST: MICHAEL S. SMITH: HOUSES

A nice follow-up to Elements of Style, Michael S. Smith's second book, Houses, delves into the five year process of doing his home and over 20 projects. The work shown tends to look more Old World, lived- in and relaxed. There is an ease and a less "done" look that provides inspiration and awe. This foray showcase's and the range of design styles he works in, from minimalist to arts and crafts and beyond. Get your copy now from Rizzoli. Smith has done home furnishings collections and fabrics under his Jasper line, and lines with Kallista for bath and kitchen, Ann Sacks for tiles, Mansour for rugs, Visual Comfort for lighting and home fragrance with Agraria.
Photo Courtesy of Rizzoli
Textiles, auction catalogs, books and travel provide endless ideas for Smith. His amazing visual recall is a virtual mental encyclopedia. He can remember coveting auction pieces in catalogs from years ago and when they are on the block again, he pounces. When you see a good thing, it is worth going after.

Photo Courtesy of Rizzoli
The book is organized in three parts, the first one focuses on his Bel Air home shown here. His dogs are so adorable! The black dog is the mascot for his Jasper fabric line. Part II focuses on the process, with insight on how he collaborates with clients and where he gets his inspiration. Then, a variety of residences from a Malibu villa to a Martha's Vineyard clapboard house are explored.


Photo Courtesy of Rizzoli
Gorgeous photos take you into each home, and the elegant writing of House Beautiful's Christine Pittel creates a dialog between the reader and designer. You feel as though you are sitting with him, and he is telling you these stories.