BOLD FLORALS ARE BIG FOR SPRING

When it comes to floral patterns, I am drawn to particular designs that capture the spirit of my 1970's childhood. The sweet, naif and brightly colored prints of Paule Marrot, D. Porthault, Marimekko and Dek Tillet take me to a happy place. This is the very reason I was so pleased to come across Florence, this new spring design from Pomegranate, Inc. a company that makes great block printed tabletop designs. The multi-colored floral sprigs are spring personified, and grace items for tablesettings, the chef, a cozy chair and a beach tote. This way, you can keep spring alive well after the real blooms have receded into the backgound.

 Photos courtesy of Pomegranate, Inc

Francesca as napkins, come in a set of 4

Francesca as a placemat, sold in a set of 4

 Francesca as a tablecloth comes in 3 sizes

 Francesca hand towels

Francesca for the chef

Francesca for the sofa

Francesca as a boat tote for the beach

A PREVIEW OF AERIN'S SPRING 2013 HOME COLLECTION: THE ART OF PRESENTATION

Photo by Jason Bell for British Vogue courtesy of Aerin

Aerin in the lush garden of her family's Palm Beach home.

 Photos courtesy of Aerin

This spring brings some pretty exciting design launches, including Aerin Lauder's home line. Creating home accessories inspired by pieces in her personal collection and from traveling the New York to Palm Beach axis for years,  the Aerin Collection's new spring additions include special updated - for - today pieces.  They are made for entertaining and gift giving in a traditional, refined style. Her decorative accessories, featuring brass and gold with pale tones of blue, green ivory and grey (her logo color), are mixed with shagreen, shells, and woven materials. The inclusion of a heart motif and little animal objects inject a bit of fun and endearment into the mix. 

 Capturing the eye of the savvy and design-obsessed, with her launch last fall,  her objects and accessories will be followed up by the coming addition of Lee Jofa fabrics and furniture with EJ Victor. in April.  Table and bar are sure to benefit from the cosmopolitan and beachy influence these pretty pieces bring. I'm looking forward to seeing the assortment rounded out for a full-on Aerin-enhanced vision soon.

 Art Deco inspired candlesticks of cream shagreen and brass have a pared-down simplicity that elevates the setting they are used in.

I love the thought of pairing the tall and short versions where symmetrical applications look great, like on a fireplace mantel.

 

Simple cream shagreen coasters with a subtle brass rim come in a boxed set of 6. Ready to go as a gift, it is a nice gesture as it protects furniture from damaging water rings.

Tweet tweet won't you put me on your bar to look sweet? A birdy bottle opener is a charmer.

Stage a bar on this large sized cream shagreen tray with tubular handles and brass trim.

Utilizing talented craftspeople around the globe, these glass and hand-applied 24 K gold-flecked crystal bowls were made in Italy. Hence the steeper price tag.

The same chunky bowl with a matte 24 K gold finish.

Her beautifully styled shots reinforce the beauty of objects, as well as the importance of presentation. Here, fall and spring decorative accessories together.

Little birds out of terra cotta  add a sweet, informal element to the table. Small statements can add personality and make giving gifts easy if someone loves birds.

A tiny terra cotta turtle can enliven a tabletop or side table. I mean, who doesn't love a little tortoise?

 A green shagreen heart box is sophisticated and sweet. Heartfelt.

A heart paperweight out of blueish apetite also comes in clear and blue quartz.

 A blue-tinged shagreen picture frame trimmed in brass adds a bit of pop to photo collections. Displaying an array of photos in the same frame adds a consistency that looks great.

The showstopper! A blue shagreen encased jewelry box with brass edge is fitted for jewels. It's streamlined simple design makes it an instant classic.

Gold dipped shells elevate the everyday to luxurious.

Strategically placed shells  lend a seaside air to a table. Below, the deep-dive into shells.

Chambered Nautilus Shell

Ram's Murex Shell

Enode Cockle Shell 

Stafish

Land Snail Shell 

 Lamp Shell

Tiger Cowry Shell 

Lettered Cone Spotted Shell

Spotted Tun Shell

Atlantic Distorsio Shell

THE TABLE IS SET: OSCAR DE LA RENTA DEBUTS HIS TABLETOP COLLECTION

Oscar de la Renta has teamed up with New York-based interior designer Miles Redd for his latest foray into home.  The inimitable couture designer debuts his home accessories range this week online. Redd, who channels the age of elegance from a bygone era so well, has worked with de la Renta as a creative director for home, overseeing his furniture with Century, fabrics for Lee Jofa, and now tabletop and home accessories.  

I have eagerly awaited the tabletop and decorative accents, and it has exceeded my high expectations, in the design influences, materials and creative execution. The collection, filled with casual everyday plates and great gifts, is inspired by de la Renta's Punta Cana home in the  Dominican Republic. Water-inspired blue hues are presented though dip dyed accessories and blue brushstroke details on dinnerware, while the colorful printed tray patterns are taken from archival designs. The classic meets traditional, with a bit of the unexpected thrown in.  These are elegant pieces you have not seen before, but they have a nice familiarity to them without being precious, that make them instantly comforting. 

You may recall ODLR did a flatware and decorative home collection with Lunt several years back. If you had favorite pieces in that collection that you miss, there are some reincarnated designs with similar casual island style appeal. The collection has just gone live on the Oscar de la Renta website, and can also be found on Bloomingdale's website and NeimanMarcus.com.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest, David Prince

The January 2013 Architectural Digest revealed the prominently blue and white collection with beautifully set table that mixed the pieces, as seen above.

On the ODLR website, the dash and dot stoneware patterned plates in blue and white are paired with teak wood with silver accents and etched glassware. Showing a serving bowl can double as a centerpiece, they filled the bowl with a monochromatic arrangement of white carnations. Nice touch.

Photo David Prince

AD showed the Dot and Dash indigo pattern octagonal plates stacked against a red and white floral woven damask ODLR fabric for Lee Jofa.

 

Dot and Dash Dinner Plate

Dot and Dash Cocktail Plate Set

 

Brushstroke Dinner Plate

Brushstroke Cocktail Plate Set

Pavilion Stoneware on the indigo Cadiz Marbleized Resin and Laquer trays.

Pavilon Serving Bowl in a vibrant canary yellow.

Photo by David Prince

Pavilion Stoneware in White.

 

Teak Serving Bowl with silver base in a familiar Revere-bowl silhouette.

Teak Cheese Board with turned handles that match the flatware.

Teak Salt Cellars with Horn Spoons can also serve as nut bowls.

Teak turned handle Kent Cheese Service.

Kent Silverplate Flatware in Teak.

Photo by David Prince

Tortuga Flatware of Stainless Steel and Natural Horn that resembles ivory.

As salad servers.

Photo by David Prince

A mix of indigo hemstitch napkins in Ikat Dot and Woodblock patterns on linen.

Photo by David Prince

One of the most impressive aspects of the new collection is this faceted hand-blown glassware with blue rims. They look like crystal.

With an etched heart and branches on bubbled glass, hand-blown Heart Etched Glasses have a charm to them.

Transforming the Julep Cup, a strong geometric Basketweave Silverplate Julep Cup has great style.

Adorable tiny hearts cover the surface of the Heart Julep Cup.

The fish water pitcher has been around for ages, here it has been reinterpreted in a divided blue and white version with a dip dyed striation.

A jumping fish in the same fresh dip dyed coloration on a serving piece.

The cream glazed lidded Shell Crab Server can double as a display piece.

A gorgeous high luster Silver plate Nautilus Shell, Fish Salt Cellars, Scarab object and Tortoise Bottle Opener comprise his assortment of animal-centric silvered accessories.

 An ombre fabric in blues and green is lacquered into a serving tray.

It is refreshing to see a sweet floral since ODLR has always done them so well. The Isabela Tray of lacquered fabric.

 The colorful floral Isabela as a frame.

A jaunty navy blue and white polka dot Ikat Frame comes in the reverse as well.

Fire engine red enamel encases the Sargasso Frame, available in a rectangle design as well.