I get really super excited when I find talented people reinterpreting old art forms. Meg Callahan is a perfect example. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design where she discovered her interest in the value of the handmade, as is evident in the beautiful quilts she's designing and producing. They are timeless and still manage to look totally fresh and modern in spirit. So, so good, don't you agree?
Stacy Waggoner
I've got another Show & Tell double feature today! Stacy Waggoner & Kate Reynolds from Studio Four are sharing each of their favorite fabric-based design elements in their own homes with us. With their extraordinary taste in textiles (just look at the incredible collection of lines they rep at their studio) you know this is gonna to be good.
"At Studio Four we represent a fantastic variety of fabric and wallpaper lines, so we are surrounded every day by the most amazing designs. It makes it hard to pick a fabric to use at home, but sometimes it hits you and you say 'that's it - it's perfect!' - like I did with the Tiepolo fabric from Pintura Studio that I used for my bedroom curtains."
"Pintura Studio is run by Christine Isles and Ed Rollins - I've known them for years and they have a crazy amount of talent. They started their career hand-stenciling projects for interior designers and then turned their amazing stencils into a collection of the most gorgeous hand-screened fabrics and wallpapers. And they are made right here in New York. To me, the Pintura designs feel very old world and luxuriously modern at the same time. I am in love with their fabric Tiepolo - this cool exotic design combines Venetian and Ottoman details that also has this Chinese Deco vibe. Very worldly. I love the murky aubergine color that shades from a bright purple to charcoal to almost black - I've used it on curtains in my bedroom, where I also have this great channel-backed slipper chair that belonged to my grandmother. When I was a child, she had it in a peacock blue that was super glamorous - I've just re-upholstered it in a luxe charcoal velvet from Dominique Picquier with a chartreuse detail that matches my walls."
Fab Five: Celerie Kemble
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Celerie Kemble's new line of wallcoverings for Schumacher is so lovely. I can't even begin to choose a favorite. What about you?
Role Models: Yumiko Higuchi
To say I'm obsessed would be an understatement. I can not get over how insanely gorgeous the embroidery work of Yumiko Higuchi is! It is sweet and traditional, as all embroidery is, but with an edge that feels totally and completely current. Don't you think? Stunning patterns... ...and the cutest bows I've ever seen. Tell me please, what woman on your holiday list wouldn't love one of these clutches or bows (for the younger crowd)?
When I image the time, love and sheer passion that goes into creating each of these pieces, my heart soars.
Hue: Smoke Grey
Hue: Cork
Fabric | Art | Pillow | Living Room | Bangles
Hue: Guinness
Fabric | Wallpaper | Pillow | Bedroom | Sculpture Neisha Crosland's Zebra print in Guinness is sublime. Dark & rich, just like its namesake, it has inspired this earthy brown mood board. Brown tends to a color that many people want to avoid in interiors but I never quite understood that. It is inherently neutral and yet tends to have much more dimension than black. I'll always say "cheers" to shades of brown, especially when they are named after a beer. What about you?
Fab Five: Daybeds
The Bed at Hotel San Jose
Austin, TX is such a happening town. I had the pleasure of staying at the Hotel San Jose last night. It's in the midst of the uber-hip SoCo (South Congress) district, and in and of itself this hotel is brimming with coolness. It has a kind of secret-garden-meets-bo-ho-chic vibe. There's a laid back outdoor patio which was the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine at 5 o'clock. It even has old school bikes available to take out for a cruise. But the best part for me, hands down, was the bed. It was made up with super crisp white sheets and a block printed duvet cover that was just gorgeous in its simplicity. And it was oh-so-comfortable. I just love a hotel with a good bed. So, do tell - where is your favorite hotel bed?
Design Duel
I was so honored to be asked to participate in today's Design Duel over at Hello, Splendor, the blog that belongs to Beth & Carolina of the esteemed Pulp Design Studios. Hilary Walker, who you know from yesterday's Show & Tell, freelances over at Pulp and put the post together. I think it turned out just beautifully, so thank you to Beth, Carolina & Hilary! Ironically, Mimi Thorisson, from the delicious food blog Manager, and I chose very similar items - we must be kindred spirits. I adore her selections and would be honored to sit at her table any day of the week... especially if she's cooking. When I was searching for the items that I wanted to include in the Design Duel post, I found so many amazing table linens and napkin rings that I was inspired to put this together to share a few more ideas for your holiday tables. And, might I add that Barneys New York was the source for all of these beautiful pieces... I'm really loving their home selections lately.
ONE napkin + ring | TWO napkin + ring | THREE napkin + ring | FOUR napkin + ring | FIVE napkin + ring
So which pair do you like best? I can't decide myself. But come to think of it, how beautiful would a table be that was set with one of each of these? Paired with simple white plates to unify everything... Hmmmm.
P.S. Be sure to check out the Pinterest board I created for the Design Duel post.