24 November, 2009

Best New Yorker Blog Ever

Here's something a little off the beaten path, but this morning I found a blog that almost meets all my criteria for best blog ever! If only Jeremiah posted something design related, architectural or interior, it would be perfect. Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, A.K.A The Book Of Lamentations: A Bitterly Nostalgic Look at a City Going Extinct is my perfect wake up blog when I need a good New Yorker laugh or gasp in amazement that he actually posted that! Not only does he post "Everyday Chatter" as it relates to NY, but his "Random Quote from Overheard in New York" is usually priceless. And, for anyone who has watched the charm that is so uniquely New York being sucked out of certain areas that should be left alone, look to Jeremiah's "Vanishing Glossary" to help you define exactly that feeling in your gut when you see another condo going up or a city becoming 'vongerichtified' by a swarm of 'yunnies.' Jeremiah is also a talented photographer who has captured some truly uniques images of New York and its equally unique inhabitants! Note: I've posted his more milder images. Enjoy!



19 November, 2009

Love "Pure Style Home" and Grisaille!

I was getting ready to do a post on grisaille, or monochromatic paintings, when I came across a new blog that I have fallen in love with! Lauren Liess, the author, is based out of my hometown, the Washington, DC/NOVA area and I love her style! Her blog is full of fun, beautiful things and her style, which she summarizes, is one I totally agree with as well. Lauren says; "My design philosphy, "pure style," is based on keeping things simple, beautiful & fun. Everyone has his or her own personal style & I believe our homes should embody us. The best way to do this is to clear out all the unnecessaries. Keep & seek only what you love, and your home will truly be yours." I totally agree. Lauren, as do so many designers now a days, also offers online design consultations through her firm Pure Style Interiors! Check it out! http://purestylehome.blogspot.com/. And, last but not least, if you want to know who did Martha Stewart's grisaille mural in the entryway of her former home (Turkey Hill in CT.), I did a little digging and found Eric Beare; http://www.ebeare.com/murals.php?img=0&ti=0. Oh, yes, to have Eric come out from Brooklyn and create one of his masterpieces in my entryway would be a dream! A few images from Eric's website highlighting his immense and varied talents. Enjoy!



11 November, 2009

To Murano or Not To Murano...



That is the question. I love Murano styled chandeliers, but wonder just how large a space you really need to incorporate one of the oversized pieces that I really love and not have it look ridiculous. When I say 'oversized,' I mean the really big pieces such as the image above with 18 lights and magnificence galore! This murano styled chandelier is H70" x D51" from Mediterraneo Lighting. While I do have the much smaller 5-light version of this exact chandelier in my library and love it, and my entryway is a 2-story foyer, I have a hard time imagining how this would look in my space. Cleaning this bad boy, motor or no motor, has got to be killer as well! Another beautiful website featuring Murano styled light fixtures is muranochandeliers.com and these craftsman advertise getting rid of the middleman by selling direct from Venice and have amazing pieces of art on display with their images. I love this one below and what a bargain for the amount of workmanship that goes into something like this! Also, regarding my earlier question about size and scale, Giuseppe from Murano Chandeliers is kind enough to offer this advice, "A venetian glass chandelier has to be the most decorative element in your room; it will be noticed, appreciated and admired by your guests, so please do not put a small chandelier in a big room or a long one on a low ceiling, 80 inches from the floor to the end of the chandelier will be ok, but if the chandelier is placed over a table, this space can be reduced. About width, to have an idea of how large your chandelier has to be, this formula is the right one: In a square room: One wall (cm.) : 6 = Width of the chandelier(cm.) or In a square room: One wall(feet) x 2.2 = Width of the chandelier(inches). If the place is rectangular, consider these formulas for the shorter wall, but if one wall is the double size of the other wall, we suggest to use two identical chandeliers. About the number of lights, let's consider first the fact that on our chandeliers you can fit bulbs from 15 to 60 watts of power, so also with 5 or 6 lights you can have a very bright place, on bigger chandeliers a good idea will be to install a double switch or a dimmer. If you are still not sure, please contact Giuseppe at :giuseppe.ber@virgilio.it." Perfect, now let's see if I can find space for my ideal Murano chandelier! Enjoy the many images below from Murano Chandeliers.com. While your looking, and some of you laughing aloud, just think 'Cinderella's castle' or better yet; an uber-chic condo in Dubai!









Love those Silk Flowers?!


We've all heard of Diane James, NDI and scores of other wonderful faux floral designers, but one that is new to me (courtesy of Verdigrisvie.blogspot.com) is Sophie Dahy Designs. Yes, I know the words 'silk flowers' conjures up images of older ladies and an overabundance of chintz to some people, or dust to people like myself, but these designs are making me rethink my whole dust phobia issue. What immediately strikes me about Jeanne Hyatt's and Linda Raulston's designs are their unique vases. They have found some beautiful crystal, china and whimsical vases that make their arrangements truly stand out. They have also specialized in finding "classic blue and white china containers."
As their website states, "our search for the perfect container soon became a passion. We think we've been very successful in finding wonderful containers for our faux flowers, since our clients love the various types of pottery and other containers we provide." I love this holiday roses design using a William Yeoward inspired cut crystal vase. The roses are so creamy, I just want to rub the petals to feel the soft texture! How perfect would this be on a sideboard or foyer table with tons of mercury glass and other colored crystal? Lucious! Visit Sophie Dahy's website and enjoy!

07 November, 2009

School is Cool, but Wow!


I had no idea how hard it would be to return to the classroom as a student of interior design. Reading, vocabulary, mid-terms, projects! The mere technicalities of color that I had no idea existed! Whew, to say the least. While our class numbers have dropped from roughly 24, down to 10, the payoff has been tremendous. To say that I have learned an enormous amount in 9 weeks is putting it lightly. We are lucky to have an amazing professor from FIT in NYC, Susan Slotkis (her book image at top) who is on the board of the ASID, IDEC and other interior design organizations and brings with her other life experiences invaluable in the classroom. I am already looking foward to next semester and cultivating all the many friendships and acquaintances that I have made on my trips to Stark, Duralee and other fun places I've been this semester! Seven more weeks left and then part II next semester. :)
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