God is in the Details

If you were a fan of Domino magazine, then you remember Lili Diallo's amazing styling skills.  I'm very excited that her new book Details: A Stylist's Secrets to Creating Inspired Interiors has just been released so we can all learn from the master.  Also seemed like a good time to revisit her Brooklyn loft.  It's like the American version of Loulou de la Falaise's Paris apartment.  Enjoy!

Meeting Darryl Carter

First off, a huge thank you to Lauren of Pure Style Home for letting me tag along with her to meet Darryl Carter and have our well-worn copies of The New Traditional signed. Here's a pic of her w/Darryl. (I would show you mine but will you understand if I said I was having a bad hair day...) Darryl couldn't have been more generous with his time or more enjoyable to talk to. It was really a highlight to meet him!

He recently joined Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza of The Washington Post for their Home Front Q & A. Two things that impressed me so much: his willingness to give specific paint color suggestions and local design sources. Be sure to check out the complete discussion here. Here's just a bit of the advice from this talented designer:

- In response to a question about what to paint a repro Duncan Phyfe dining table: "Try Benjamin Moore Pashmina… Gesso the table white and then apply – probably will need a protective coat of matte finish to preserve for use. Ask the paint specialist how best to execute. Try a few colors in this family to execute to your taste."

- Request for a blue for a front door: "Benjamin Moore Wolf Gray or Gravel Gray - high gloss or satin finish."

- "My go to paint color is Benjamin Moore’s Moonlight White. It’s a white tone that is very rich with a good deal of depth. Being in an attached dwelling with limited natural light, Moonlight White will open the spaces and allow light to move with ease from the front of the home to the back and vice versa… The other unique aspect of this color is that it takes on different color tonality at different times of the day."

- Local Sources: Strasburg Emporium in Strasburg, VA; Deleplane Store & Antique Center, Deleplane, VA; Red Schoolhouse/Scottish Connection Antiques in Millwood, VA; US Marble & Granite in Beltsville, MD; Timothy Paul on 14th St. DC

If you're interested in more, Sonu Mathew, Sr. Interior Designer with Benjamin Moore & Co. has some great video interviews with Darryl posted on her blog, Living in Color with Sonu. The above paint picks are some of his favorite go-to colors via her blog.

I hope you have a great long weekend. I'll leave you with these beautiful, serene images of Darryl Carter's work.

Swoon-worthy Eye Candy

While making my dream list of new design books to purchase, I came across Scandinavian Design by Lars Bolander with Heather Smith MacIsaac. This is one of the most stunning book covers I've ever seen. Love the:

- vibrant green wall color

- juxtaposition of modern paintings and antique portraits

- the shared blue of the foot stool and lamp

- and of course, the furniture and the striped rug.

For more beautiful interiors, you can visit the designer's website here. (book photography by Ake Eson Lindman, Staffan Johanson, Lars Ranek)

Hope you had a great weekend. Back with a longer post tomorrow.

Has Anyone Read This?

Has anyone read this book from Margaret Bach? This is one of the best book covers I've seen in a long time. Of course, love the shock of fuschia color in those flowers. Are they bougainvillea?
(photography by Melba Lewick)

Has Anyone Read This?

Has anyone read this book from Margaret Bach? This is one of the best book covers I've seen in a long time. Of course, love the shock of fuschia color in those flowers. Are they bougainvillea?
(photography by Melba Lewick)

22 Years Later - An Interior I Couldn't Forget

22 years ago I fell in love with this apartment interior - it was on the cover of Conran's Living in Small Spaces. Very apropos at the time as my husband and I lived in a one bedroom 1930's 4th floor apartment in Cambridge, MA and Conran's had just opened up a US store down the street on Mass Ave. The store was short lived but I've held on to this book ever since.
Just this past weekend I was google searching Bruce Budd, a designer featured in April's The World of Interiors, and came across pictures of the apartment via a post by The Blue Remembered Hills. It was a thrilling find as the post included the rest of the apartment - images I had never seen!
I learned that this was the Greenwich apartment of architect Lee Mindel of Shelton, Mindel & Associates, and was featured in The World of Interiors, July/Aug 1987, among other magazines. It was considered "fresh and new at the time." 22 years later it still is.
Thank you to the blogger, The Blue Remembered Hills - your post felt like finding a little present. Now I'm off to track down a copy of the July/Aug 1987 World of Interiors...
Do you have any interiors you still think about after many years?
(photography by Dan Cornish)

22 Years Later - An Interior I Couldn't Forget

22 years ago I fell in love with this apartment interior - it was on the cover of Conran's Living in Small Spaces. Very apropos at the time as my husband and I lived in a one bedroom 1930's 4th floor apartment in Cambridge, MA and Conran's had just opened up a US store down the street on Mass Ave. The store was short lived but I've held on to this book ever since.
Just this past weekend I was google searching Bruce Budd, a designer featured in April's The World of Interiors, and came across pictures of the apartment via a post by The Blue Remembered Hills. It was a thrilling find as the post included the rest of the apartment - images I had never seen!
I learned that this was the Greenwich apartment of architect Lee Mindel of Shelton, Mindel & Associates, and was featured in The World of Interiors, July/Aug 1987, among other magazines. It was considered "fresh and new at the time." 22 years later it still is.
Thank you to the blogger, The Blue Remembered Hills - your post felt like finding a little present. Now I'm off to track down a copy of the July/Aug 1987 World of Interiors...
Do you have any interiors you still think about after many years?
(photography by Dan Cornish)

Room(s) Envy

Love everything about this living room. My snapshot doesn't quite represent the pretty, bleached palette of this room. (Original photography by Lisa Romerein, designer not known)
More room envy. A reproduction dining table was refinished to look much older. One of my favorite parts of this open dining area is the large urn in front of the window, off to the right. (Original photography by Simon Upton, designer not known)
The pics above are from House Beautiful 500 Makeovers - a book that I really enjoy referring back to often. The only thing is that the designers aren't listed; not sure why that is.
You probably already know this, but just in case, Katie Denham of KatieDid is posting wonderful pictures from her visit to the very impressive San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010. This dining room was created by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker and Marks Design. Go here to see more -so far it's a five part series!

Room(s) Envy

Love everything about this living room. My snapshot doesn't quite represent the pretty, bleached palette of this room. (Original photography by Lisa Romerein, designer not known)
More room envy. A reproduction dining table was refinished to look much older. One of my favorite parts of this open dining area is the large urn in front of the window, off to the right. (Original photography by Simon Upton, designer not known)
The pics above are from House Beautiful 500 Makeovers - a book that I really enjoy referring back to often. The only thing is that the designers aren't listed; not sure why that is.
You probably already know this, but just in case, Katie Denham of KatieDid is posting wonderful pictures from her visit to the very impressive San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010. This dining room was created by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker and Marks Design. Go here to see more -so far it's a five part series!

film director & vanity fair contributor matt tyrnauer

Politics and fashion seem a funny mix. But not really when you think about it. They're both about egos and image, and often great stories are embedded within the drama.  Matt Tyrnauer spent much of the early years of his career writing about politics - in 1992 he edited a special edition of the New York Observer on the Democratic Convention in NYC - and went on to write regularly for Vanity Fair magazine, where he is currently a special correspondent. His features for the magazine include the post prison cover story on Martha Stewart and features on Valentino Garavani and Bret Easton Ellis.

Most recently he made the film Valentino: The Last Emperor - one of last year's highest grossing documentaries, which was also shortlisted for an Oscar. I wrote about the brilliance of it here.

Matt was also the author behind the breathtaking book: Una Grande Storia Italiana: Valentino Garavani (Taschen, 2007). And, interestingly, his dad was one of the scriptwriters behind my favourite childhood TV show Colombo, as well as Murder She Wrote.

What was your first career job and what path have you taken since? I worked in politics as a kid, then journalism, which has led to this stage, making movies. I studied film in college.
What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? A wise political hack once told me "Stay away from the hysteria." He meant in political campaigns, but I think it applies to every field in which I have worked.
What's your proudest career achievement? This is where you say, "my children, Zoe and Sam," but, as I don't have any, I will say getting getting a movie made.
What's been your best decision? To attend Crossroads School - a high school in Santa Monica, California.
Who inspires you? Gore Vidal, Graydon Carter, Wayne Lawson, Rachel Maddow. Also: anyone who approaches a heavy challenge like an illness or a big set back and keeps going. Best of all: Barack Obama. I still can't believe he's president. It's too good to be true.
What are you passionate about? Progressive politics and the liberal agenda, which, in a nation less dysfunctional than the U.S. should lead to a greater level of social justice. In the material category, I am obsessed with Modern furniture; and design, all aspects from architecture, to furniture to graphics. Also: Italy, particularly Rome and Naples.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Quite a few: John Ford, Robert Aldrich, Caravaggio, Bernini, Borromini, Lincoln, Jefferson, Samuel Hahnemann, the inventor of homeopathy.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? More of the same dreams. I am a big fan of repetition.
What are you reading? "The Secret Diaries of Sir. William Hamilton." I am reading them in Italian, and it's taking me a very long time.

images courtesy of matt trynauer

cook book queen michele cranston

I went to the bookshop yesterday and was blown away by just how much shelf space is taken up by cookbooks. Everyone is obssessed with the idea of cooking - but, let's face it, how many of us make those tantalising recipes? Well, there's probably a couple of exceptions - for me, at least. Bill Granger's cookbooks and those by Michele Cranston. She was the pioneer, though, with all those beautiful - and, importantly, easy - recipes for Marie Claire. Michele is definitely the quiet achiever of all those "look at me" cooks and chefs. But that endears her to me even more.


Which five words best describe you? Smiley, chubby, busy, chatty and of course hungry!
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? Cleaning a café - fortunately it was small and I soon started working as a waitress and then a cook. From there I paid my way through university and art school by working in many kitchens.
What’s your proudest career achievement? The marie claire cookbooks. Each one has been a labour of love and there is something wonderfully substantial and enduring about a book. I still get a kick when I see them lined up in bookshops.
What’s been your best decision? Agreeing to help Bill Granger set up bills. The early days of bills was lots of fun and I still miss the buzz of making simple yummy food and all the great people who either worked with me or became regulars and friends.
Who inspires you? People who care about the planet and go out of their way to do something about the bad decisions which we seem to keep making.
What are you passionate about? Good food. It’s a simple statement but encompasses complex issues... nutrition, sustainability, ethics.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Either simplicity or leave your ego at the door. In a funny way it’s the same answer!
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? After seeing ‘Julie and Julia’ it would have to be Julia Child.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Having a vegetable garden like my grandfather’s. I’m great at the salad end but not so good at the seed, sow and slug beginning.
What are you reading? I’m re-reading Much depends on dinner by Margaret Visser but looking forward to the growing pile of ‘holiday reads’ next to my bed.

images courtesy of michele cranston and murdoch books; portrait by leslye coates

megan morton's home love book

If you're a book and interiors junkie like me then you probably know that Australia's busiest stylist (even with a newborn baby in her life) has just released her first book. Megan Morton, who was interviewed on Daily Imprint here, is doing a great little Q&A on her new blog Home Love on Tuesday 30 March between 10am and 11am where she will answer all your decorating questions. She's a hoot, so the hour will no doubt be a lot of fun too. Congrats, Megan!

images courtesy of megan morton and penguin and via hello sandwich

Thomas O'Brien's New Book

Has anyone had a chance to read Thomas O'Brien's new book, American Modern? I just ordered a copy and am hoping it arrives by Saturday's mail. Canadian House and Home featured O'Brien's apartment in their April 2010 issue and some of those images are available on their web site. Go here for more.

Hope you have a great weekend!



(Images from American Modern via Canadian House and Home)