Nov. 7th - really?

This morning I woke up in the dark and googled when daylight savings time would start. I was really hoping it would be soon as I'm not one of those people who does well waking up in the dark & having it stay dark for a while (Although I don't like having it get dark early either. Shortened daylight is a huge downside to fall and winter for me.) Anyway, we don't get to set our clocks back until Nov. 7th. Last year it was Nov. 1st. Sorry for the whining on a Monday morning. Hope these images from Maison Interiors make up for it.



All images from here.



Speaking of sleep, here are some of the fun designers and bloggers I got to catch up with at Ronda Carmen of All the Best's SFERRA event at Timothy Paul Bedding. From left to right, designer Barbara Franceski, Stefan Hurray of Architect Design, designers Heather Safferstone and Sally Steponkus of Sally Steponkus Interiors and Daniela Shuffler of Aesthetic Oiseau.

SFERRA has launched a campaign called Lose Count to increase awareness that there are other important elements to high quality bedding in addition to thread count. Check it out here as there's also great info on putting together a beautiful bed.

Gwen Driscoll: Break-Out Design Star

I've been a fan of Gwen Driscoll and her blog, Ragland Hill Social, since coming across it last December. It was always a treat when she showed snippets of her home and work for clients - often leaving me wanting more!

Well, Gwen just launched her website and to say her work is incredible is not descriptive enough. Warm, elegant, layered and unique, I think her work is harbinger of an increased emphasis on homes that personally reflect the homeowner and the artistic side of interior design. As she mentions on her site, "Spaces are lived in but become living spaces." In addition to the website launch, Gwen's work with Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens, is in the November issue of Elle Decor, which Teresa of Splendid Sass recently blogged about here. It's so exciting to see Gwen get the national attention her work deserves. Brava!








all images via Gwen Driscoll Designs.

Distinguished Eye Candy

In a recent blog post about her love for white, Canadian House & Home Design Editor Kathryn Bala posted a picture of her loft that appeared in House & Home's January 2010 issue. I'm noticing how a few elements, such as the leather bound books, worn wing back chair, period portrait and ticking stripe pillows take this space in a formal, distinguished direction. Also love how she paired the round, modern bulbs with the zinc finish chandelier. Photography by Donna Griffith.

Margaret Russell Leaves Elle Decor!

Per a press release yesterday: "Margaret Russell has been named Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, it was announced today by Thomas J. Wallace, Editorial Director of Condé Nast. Her appointment is effective September 7, 2010. The editorial headquarters of Architectural Digest, currently in California, will move to New York City."

Congratulations Margaret! From my point of view this means - Architectural Digest is now going to be a must-buy magazine!

Reporter Steve Cohn of minonline reports her debut issue will be January 2011. More details here.

Now I wonder who will replace Margaret at Elle Decor? She leaves behind huge shoes to fill.

Margaret Russell Leaves Elle Decor!

Per a press release yesterday: "Margaret Russell has been named Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, it was announced today by Thomas J. Wallace, Editorial Director of Condé Nast. Her appointment is effective September 7, 2010. The editorial headquarters of Architectural Digest, currently in California, will move to New York City."

Congratulations Margaret! From my point of view this means - Architectural Digest is now going to be a must-buy magazine!

Reporter Steve Cohn of minonline reports her debut issue will be January 2011. More details here.

Now I wonder who will replace Margaret at Elle Decor? She leaves behind huge shoes to fill.

Nestor Santa-Cruz & Casa Claudia

You may recognize parts of this luxe Washington, DC home, designed by the very talented Nestor Santa-Cruz, from its appearance in Elle Decor Dec. 09. Nestor recently mentioned the home was also featured in the May issue of Lisbon based magazine, Casa Claudia. It's exciting to see whole rooms and elements in this spread that weren't part of the Elle Decor story. The green walls above are a faux-leather treatment. Nestor is known for his talent in seamlessly integrating art and accessories and the placement of the Italian vase and the client's oil painting above the console is perfection to me. Nestor found this piece while in Argentina; it's from the legendary Paris-based firm, Maison Jansen.

The room on the right never appeared in Elle Decor - love the bright contrasts of color against the white walls. Fab coffee table too!
The large pink ball is a great addition to this version of the study; the powder room with its patterned marble floors, inspired by the bathroom of French fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin, also makes a first appearance. (images of Lanvin's bathroom via Musee des Arts Decoratifs here)
To see more of Nestor's work in person, you can visit his study at the DC Design Center Hall of Fame 2010 Showhouse through Dec. 11. Images provided by Nestor Santa-Cruz, all photography by Angie Seckinger.

Nestor Santa-Cruz & Casa Claudia

You may recognize parts of this luxe Washington, DC home, designed by the very talented Nestor Santa-Cruz, from its appearance in Elle Decor Dec. 09. Nestor recently mentioned the home was also featured in the May issue of Lisbon based magazine, Casa Claudia. It's exciting to see whole rooms and elements in this spread that weren't part of the Elle Decor story. The green walls above are a faux-leather treatment. Nestor is known for his talent in seamlessly integrating art and accessories and the placement of the Italian vase and the client's oil painting above the console is perfection to me. Nestor found this piece while in Argentina; it's from the legendary Paris-based firm, Maison Jansen.

The room on the right never appeared in Elle Decor - love the bright contrasts of color against the white walls. Fab coffee table too!
The large pink ball is a great addition to this version of the study; the powder room with its patterned marble floors, inspired by the bathroom of French fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin, also makes a first appearance. (images of Lanvin's bathroom via Musee des Arts Decoratifs here)
To see more of Nestor's work in person, you can visit his study at the DC Design Center Hall of Fame 2010 Showhouse through Dec. 11. Images provided by Nestor Santa-Cruz, all photography by Angie Seckinger.

Room Envy: Fuchsia

Love the repetition of fuchsia throughout this living room. Just noticed how the fuchsia stripes on the chairs are repeated in a fuchsia tone-on-tone stripe on the pillows. Beautiful and vibrant - caffeine not necessary in this room.

Home of Raquel Oliva, From Nuevo Estilo here.

Room Envy: Fuchsia

Love the repetition of fuchsia throughout this living room. Just noticed how the fuchsia stripes on the chairs are repeated in a fuchsia tone-on-tone stripe on the pillows. Beautiful and vibrant - caffeine not necessary in this room.

Home of Raquel Oliva, From Nuevo Estilo here.

Amanda Nisbet's 1 Day Bedroom Makeover in the New House Beautiful

It was great to see the 1 Day Makeover series return in the first issue of House Beautiful with new Editor in Chief, Newell Turner, at the lead. I hope this becomes a regular feature. Amanda Nisbet's makeover of this bedroom is inspiring for both the final result and the tutorial it provides. My absolute favorite parts of the design are the two lanterns flanking the window and the demilune console. Oh, and the striking headboard too! (original photography by Francesco Lagnese, interview by Christine Pittel)
My issue came yesterday - I love it when it arrives before it hits the newstands. Hope you've got your copy handy for beach - pool reading this weekend. Happy 4th!

Amanda Nisbet's 1 Day Bedroom Makeover in the New House Beautiful

It was great to see the 1 Day Makeover series return in the first issue of House Beautiful with new Editor in Chief, Newell Turner, at the lead. I hope this becomes a regular feature. Amanda Nisbet's makeover of this bedroom is inspiring for both the final result and the tutorial it provides. My absolute favorite parts of the design are the two lanterns flanking the window and the demilune console. Oh, and the striking headboard too! (original photography by Francesco Lagnese, interview by Christine Pittel)
My issue came yesterday - I love it when it arrives before it hits the newstands. Hope you've got your copy handy for beach - pool reading this weekend. Happy 4th!

TGIF: Summer Cottage Eye Candy

Woke up this morning to find the humidity had broken and there was a summer breeze blowing; I thought these images captured the mood. Just realized that since June 21st was the official start of summer, this is the first summer weekend of 2010. Hope you have a great one!

(first two images - interior design by Michelle Lloyd Bermann, photography by Stacey Brandford, Canadian House and Home July 07)

(designer not known, photography by Stacey Brandford, Canadian House and Home July 09)

TGIF: Summer Cottage Eye Candy

Woke up this morning to find the humidity had broken and there was a summer breeze blowing; I thought these images captured the mood. Just realized that since June 21st was the official start of summer, this is the first summer weekend of 2010. Hope you have a great one!

(first two images - interior design by Michelle Lloyd Bermann, photography by Stacey Brandford, Canadian House and Home July 07)

(designer not known, photography by Stacey Brandford, Canadian House and Home July 09)

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)

Michael Angus's Apartment on H & H Online TV

There is serious eye candy on this week's episode of House & Home Online TV. Designer and store owner Michael Angus gives a tour of his fresh and tailored home, highlighting the use of space expanding mirrors, beautiful moldings and antiques.