Happy Holloween!

 

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with treats!  

All of our best wishes and thoughts go to those affected by Sandy.

 

 

ROOMS WITH A VIEW WILL CONTINUE!

My designer friends are hard at work on their vignettes for Rooms With A View, the wonderful annual display of design at the Southport Congregational Church in Southport, CT. My hometown! Thom Filicia is the Honorary Chairman, and this year's theme is Design on A Shoestring, honoring the creation of the late, great Albert Hadley. In its 18th year, is always a display of enormous creativity, as 5x8 booths are transformed into designed spaces. The Gala event has been moved to Friday, November 2, at 6:30pm and the show goes on.

Come and visit the installations open to the public 10:00 am until 5:00pm November 2-3, and from 11:00-5:00 November 4th created by:

Bachman Brown 

Allison Caccoma 

Topher Carnes with Rebecca Soskin 

Lynde Easterlin 

Lynn Ehrlich 

Jack Franzen, Ann Franzen, Katrina Franzen, Jody Foote - J.P. Franzen Architects 

Jennifer Gresinger

 Ryan Humphrey 

John Murphy 

Paola Salinas 

Kelley Schutte 

Sean Michael Waters

{shop design} Joe's Jeans South Coast

 

I was working earlier this week (honestly working) and stopped for lunch in South Coast Plaza.  I was so excited to see that they had finally opened the Joe's Jeans shop.  From my lunching vantage point I was able to see there fun window display of hanging vintage items.  Loved that!

I was lucky enough to be able to chat with the sales people in the shop about design and the great look they had going on.  I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the holiday displays.  

They did a great job of mixing vintage and new and the texture in the space was so well used.  I completely loved the rainbow colored jean wall.

 

Their room within the space was created from vintage windows and doors painted in a heavy white.

 

JOE'S South Coast Plaza Boutique // 3333 Bear Street, Suite #147 // Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | Phone : 714.979.0221
Hours:  Mon - Fri 10-9p | Saturday 10-8p | Sunday 11-6:30p

images by christina for greige

 

SANDY STORMS MANHATTAN

Photo courtesy of Best Made

Nature Abhors A Vacuum Brush with horse hair bristles from Best Made Company won't be enough to clean up this mess. If only.

I am having a hard time writing about anything but the storm today, as I am concerned for fellow New Yorkers and the state of the state, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Eastern Seaboard. Hurricane Sandy wreaked such havoc on lower Manhattan that it is hard to believe until you see it. This New York Magazine article pretty much sums it up. The subway will be down for several days, trees have been uprooted all over the place, sidewalks have buckled, basements and first floors flooded and the electronic inner-workings of the city have come grinding to a halt. So, instead of writing about design, I have decided to see what I can do to help my downtown neighbors deal with the after effects of the roiling turmoil Sandy has left in her wake. Recovery will not be swift, but rather a slow crawl, so we have to have patience for the Big Apple and know it will take time to hit its stride again. Halloween? Why yes, it is scary.

Making Neon pink dip-dyed Bunting

120 metres later...
Photos of the actual event to follow.

botanicals..

 

These pieces are so fantastic.  It is always interesting to me how I can like so very many things.  I like some more than others but generally I like a lot of things a lot.  Does that even make sense?  I am not sure but I don't find many things in design that I just don't like at all.  

Sorry rambling here! Point is I really like these.. what about you?  I don't often see the vintage botanicals with a black matting, what a wonderful discovery these must have been.

image via

 

HURRICANE SANDY STYLE: LANTERNS TO LIGHT THE WAY

The East Coast is hunkering down thanks to Hurricane Sandy.  If you lose your power and need a way to illuminate in style, consider glass hurricanes to light the way. You can always use them for dinner parties to come.

Photo courtesy of Crate and Barrel

The Crate and Barrel London Hurricane is the glass vessel against which all others are judged. It's classic silhouette, clean pedestal base and high sides make The London the perfect hurricane.

Photo courtesy of Canvas

The Bell Hurricane from Canvas Home Store with a wide opening, curved sides and detailed edge is another nice glass version.

Photo courtesy of World Market

Capturing the same bell shape, World Market has their Silver Mercury Glass Hurricanes for a bit of sparkle.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

For the minimalists, Pottery Barn keeps it simple. The Linden Hurricane Lantern has a glass column that lifts off with a graceful handle that sits in a nickel base.

 

Photo courtesy of Target

Combining stainless steel and glass, Target's Candle Lantern has streamlined, shiny metal detailing.

Photo courtesy of Arteriors

Capturing the essence of San Miguel de Allende, Arteriors Kennedy Lantern has a  leather strap handle and simple glass sleeve. I would get rid of the metal base for a cleaner look.

 

Photo courtesy of Serena and Lily

Mouth blown glass  Storm Lanterns from Serena and Lily on a round base are practical and good looking.

Photo courtesy of The Source Collection

Cut glass circles and a dramatic stepped-up pedestal base on Honeycomb Hurricanes from The Source Collection have the flair of Irish cut crystal.

Photo courtesy of Global Views

Turned glass gives the Global Views 1961 Glamour Hurricane traditional appeal.

I read this now...

and it resonated

When you are the engine of your business growth, busyness seems like the answer. 

It comes from this blog post by Tara Gentile.  There is a lot of stuff in here that makes more sense to me but for some reason this particular sentence made me think.  

falling...

 

I am wishing for a real feeling of fall here in California, it has been so warm.  I love the beautiful colors that even that creates, but it is not quite like cool mornings and snuggling up.  I am ready to wear boots and scarves and snuggly things!

 

 

IT HAS ARRIVED! THE NATE BERKUS FOR TARGET COLLECTION

Consisting of favorite finds translated into a diverse range of earthy to outstanding colors, The Nate Berkus for Target Collection has arrived. Design watchers have been waiting for months with anticipation, and it was worth the wait. Filled with hundreds of decorative accessories, bath items and bedding inspired by Berkus's travels and  his own vintage collection, designs will be replenished often so there are always new surprises on the shelves. Cutting a wide-ranging stylistic swath, metallic touches, textural fabrics, patterned surfaces and unique materials were used to create highly stylish design stories. The Target timing is in sync with the launch of his latest book, The Things That Matter, a personal account that shares twelve homes and profiles friends and clients that shows how to live with what you love in stylish, meaningful ways. Shoppers will find the book displayed alongside his designs on the shelves, providing a total immersion into Nate Berkus's creative world.

Small Chevron Urn with black and white pattern and lots of punch.

 A curved rectangular Gold Vase for a bit of metallic gleam.

A Yellow Lacquered Wood Box with cut corners and stud closure is the ideal jewel box.

Mixed materials of bone inlay and wood on this Lidded Box have a masculine edge.

Like a marble patterned floor, the partner Picture Frame has graphic appeal.

A hunter green Round Lacquer Tray with studded surround for a tough chic look.

An ikat batiky Fabric Tray great for using on a bedroom dresser for storage.

Green Tortoise Shell for hanging on the wall.

In yellow

This Silver Shell would look super chic on a bookcase.

 A pointy Urchin in brass finish.

 Ram's Horns in polyresin channels Maison Jansen's classic Ibex in brass.

Scoop up this Glass Hurricane with rope detailing to use in pairs on a mantel or coffee table.

A six-sided Column Lamp in black faux shagreen could go in a library on end tables.

Monterrey Decorative Pillow with black and white pin dot chevron weave.

Hammered brass Decorative Bowl adds a nice textural element to a tablescape.

Nepal Chevron Bedding in a teal blue with touches of ikat in the pattern.

Urban Trellis Bedding with a large scale chain pattern.

A Braided Jute Rug is as classic as it gets and a great deal.

Diamond Jute Rug with a jaunty fringe edge.