CAUGHT MY EYE

Isn't this a lovely piece? I stumbled across it in Home Goods recently, buried under a fake plant, some baskets, and a floor mirror. It's a rather average shabby chic style commode, dressed up with wonderful chinoise illustrations. I believe the price was around $500. Hope it went to a good home!

P.S. This made me start thinking about how easy it would be to decorate your own piece of furniture (OK, maybe not EASY, but easier than forking over $500 or more). Painting free style might be difficult, but stencils would do the trick.

P.P.S. This reminded me of a cheap 'n chic version of my all time FAVORITE piece:  this Oscar De La Renta parrot green drawer chest. I had the opportunity to see it in person at the Century showroom at the Washington Design Center, and I'm still weak in the knees.

/Images/my own/Oscar De La Renta/

THE POCKET DECORATOR (iPHONE EDITION)

The iPhone has many uniquely addictive properties, one of which is sticky fingers. Less than 24 hours after I purchased a white iPhone, it was stolen (really? I mean, REALLY?!). I went from tech-glee to trepidation:  had I just acquired an app-enabled Hope Diamond? But, with my new-new iPhone, I've stopped worrying and moved straight on to decorating. The phone, that is:

This is the chinoiserie iPhone cover from Rogue. Can I tell you how much I LOVE this??!! It's absolutely charming. I've ordered it in pagoda orange (see swatch below) with grass green monogram. But if swathing your phone in Blue Willow china patterns isn't for you, check out a few of their other great designs below (I spy some KWID inspired trellis...).

So many great options - switch them out?

On to the interior - here are some apps I've loaded and loved:

Photosynth

iPhone 4 has a great built in camera, but only a professional grade lens can fisheye enough to capture a full room. I hate stumbling across an exciting design in a shop/hotel lobby/friend's living room, and being unable to fit everything into the frame. With Photosynth, you take multiple photos around the space, and Photosynth weaves them all together into one large image or a panorama. Genius! You'll never again wonder what part of a space inspired you.

Code Reader

This app is a box store bonanza - unsure if you're getting a good price on paint? Wallpaper? Linens? Photograph the bar code, and Code Reader gives you a list of local locations selling the same item and their prices. If you're a bargain hunter like me, you may find that it's biggest value is time; I've stopped leaving things on the shelf wondering if there's a "better deal" - then having to return when another store was more expensive or out of stock. And you may decide that a few dollars more doesn't justify another journey across town.

Yard Sale Shopper

I'm afraid of this app. I'm afraid of what the power to know where EVERY estate and/or yard sale in the immediate vicinity may do to me. Yard Sale Shopper combs through local classifieds and creates pin-point maps with descriptions of each sale. Prediction? You may spend the money you save on shopoholics rehab. 

Color Change

This app is the electronic version of Benjamin Moore's sample paint cans. Photograph a space, select the wall (or furniture, lamp shades, etc.) you want to change, and choose from hundreds of colors. Color Change then "repaints" the space in your photograph, for infinite experimentation. Without the aching arms. 

TagReader

More and more stores and media outlets are "tagging" things, and with home decor mags jumping on that wagon, this is one app you shouldn't go without. Hover your camera phone over a tag, photograph it, and the corresponding video/photo/webpage/etc. will show up on your screen. Tags are a bit like easter eggs - they can provide some fun surprises. For instance, House Beautiful featured a tag on a story about Tobi Fairley's new home. I clicked a quick photo of it, and got to watch a fun video of Tobi giving a personal tour of the home. Tres tres tech!

Decomash

This app is a bit hit-or-miss, but it's free and harmless, so go for it. Decomash enables you to photograph a space in your home, and then it performs an art search online, pulling together thumbnails of suggested artworks for photographs. See something you like? Click the image, and you'll be transported to the website to buy. 

AroundMe

I really, really love this app. It's designed to easily point you to the nearest necessities - cafe, movie theater, parking, etc. But, grab the "nearby" feature, and you'll get a picture of all the shops around you, so if you're in the mall or visiting a new town, you won't have to wonder where the good stores are. Just click and stroll!

Color Capture

All the smart paint companies are doing it! This app lets you photog any color you like, then matches it up with a corresponding paint color (and, provides harmonious shades for accenting as well). "Ben" is easy to use, and Benjamin Moore paint is everywhere, so this remains one of the most popular options on the market. One tip:  make your sure you have good lighting when capturing that wayward leaf, fabric, or other inspiration. Shadowing reads darker for the Ben app than it does for your eyes, so light the item up to avoid a mis-match.

What did I miss? If you have a favorite iPhone app (or phone cover) be sure to share your find in the comments!
Images, companies as attributed.

The Right Frame of Mind - Eddie Ross in Atlanta

On my calendar of fun new things in the new year? Designer Eddie Ross' visit next week to Atlanta. Eddie is becoming an Atlanta regular, popping in every now and then to soak up some Southern hospitality and, in exchange, leave us all with wonderful design ideas. I enjoyed shopping with him at the famous Scott's flea market last June, and Eddie will be doing a similar shopping event this trip (Sunday the 10th). And, to add fun to the mix, Eddie is joining Steve McKenzie of Larson-Juhl Frames for an exciting framing workshop (Saturday the 9th, $10 - and free for bloggers!). I'm really excited about the workshop because I have almost as many questions about framing as I do prints and art languishing in drawers and cabinets awaiting a frame. So don't miss out! Details here.

Eddie shopping at Scott's, and later, the product of his creativity:

a whimsical framed set of silver spoons.

Image, EddieRoss.com.

Great Things Come in Small Packages

There's always some excuse for not having a room just the way you like it - too small, too dark, and on and on. Well, the grass is always greener. Home design aficionado and plucky restaurant worker Anu decided to make the most of what she had (a teeny tiny studio with a couch and a bed in the same room). "When Anu Suebsawangkul painted her 408-square-foot apartment all white she had no idea that her quick fix to conceal hideous blue walls would be the start of a design obsession. After that it was all white all the time: painting white furniture, purchasing white accessories, and fabricating white curtains. Soon, however, the monochromatic room wasn’t enough and, says Suebsawangkul, 'I decided to give my room some pizzazz. I discovered the Hollywood Regency style and I fell in love with it. Kelly Wearstler and Dorothy Draper are my style icons.'" - Metropolitan Home. Lesson learned? Your vision should always surpass your square footage.

Images, Metropolitan Home.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Decorator's Show House at the St. Regis

The ASO Designer's Show House is less than a month away! I can't wait to go and see what these fabulous Atlanta designers have pulled together this year. It's a top-notch crowd. Below, a few of my favorites (from the portfolios - you'll have to wait to see the real deal until April!).

Mallory Mathison had me at hello. I am NUTS about coral. I am batty about coral. I have coral craze so bad it may be a disorder.


















Robert Brown Interior Design. This equistrian look is so chic. Love the extra little touch with the boots. Love the pillow even more. Is that Hermès?


















Essary and Murphy. Look at those stairs. The room is wonderfully staged, but the stairs are the star. Wish I could get my hands on that wallpaper.














Harmonious Living by Trish Mills. We're all used to seeing tufting on bedroom headboards or booths in restaurants, but it's a lovely touch as a wall in a home. And the soothing colors keep this space feeling private and not mass-produced.

























Images from the designers.

P.S.

Be sure to check out recent link additions to Shop Hop and Designers You Want To Meet! I've pulled together lists of great places to shop (or dream of shopping) around the world, as well as some of the most inspirational names in the design biz. All of these folks have excellent online portfolios, so browse to your hearts content. And, if you're going to be in the Atlanta area, check out Atlanta Is On Fire, bottom of the page, for some local flair.

Happy Thursday!

Now featuring:








































Sources, in order of appearance: Spinna, Viva Terra, Treillage, eluxury, Lilly Pulitzer, Design Within Reach, David Hicks, Wisteria, Kate Spade.

Color Story: Aqua

I'm noticing aqua a lot lately - Bunny Williams' new chairs, all those summer vacation ads...   Remember?  Aqua is the bottom of the swimming pool on a hot day, butterfly wings, an antique Ford truck, your aquamarine vintage bracelet, and Palm Beach sitting rooms.  Here's a little bit of ocean blue for your day.

Vogue Index style. The Almidi star table is exquisite! Also featured: 1950's prom dress, Nottinghill Python bag, Michael Miller Fabrics Garden Trellis in aqua, Pacific Connections boxes, Design Within Reach Libre couch. Full details on Polyvore.

Aqua Fever - by Sanity Fair on Polyvore.com

Thanks to lovely blog, All The Best, for featuring PB Teen. Very cute stuff - and a lot of aqua! The bed is fantastic.
































Aqua and pink make fine friends.















Images: Polyvore; PB Teen; Met Home of the Year, Metropolitan Magazine.

The Bright Side Project

It's been hard to be really cheerful lately - there's so much turmoil.  What we need, I've found myself thinking, is a really deliberate effort to be cheery.  A group effort, not an individual one (because group happy think would be good, and because we might all convince ourselves we're not crazy).  Enter: The Bright Side Project.   This blog, designed by Miss B., is a daily dose of joy. Happy pictures, happy thoughts, happy gift give-aways... There's a little bit of sunshine in every post. Check it out!

Image: The Bright Side Project.

Pull Up A Bench

I was ambling through a rainy and cold outdoor garden section in Lowe's early this week and came upon this bench.  My heart lurched, my fingers tingled - it was love at first sight.  The bench just seats two people, or one person and a lot of books, comfortably. Obviously it's for the outdoors, but with a different fabric on the cushion (and removal of that ghastly and inexplicably included throw pillow) it could be a stunning addition in a living room or hall.  How wonderful is the branch work along the back, and the graceful turn of the legs?  It's worth reconsidering the bench - we tend to relegate them to the patio, but really, a bench is a nice fit anywhere you need compact seating for several and a couch is too large (or formal).   Below, a few more "ambi-use" benches.  

Be still, my heart.  From Lowe's.  $277.00.

A beautiful trellis bench (outdoors design used indoors) in the White House Palm Room - a lovely passage between the formality of the residence and the ease of the South Lawn. The graceful portrait hanging above is by Constantini Brumidi, originally hung in the East Room.  Not available at any price, but there are similar designs on the market (or get your DIY in gear and build your own).

This aluminum botanist bench could go in a kid's room or around the pool. Or anywhere. Eco-friendly, durable material, and it comes in five colors and several sizes.  Available at gibraltarfurniture.com.  $1,200.00.

Images: branch bench by Lowe's; bamboo bench by Pearlriver.com, photo by Domino; Palm Room bench, Architectural Digest through the White House Historical Association; botanist bench, inhabitat.com.

Gett'n On A Jet Plane...

It's SPRING. The time of the year when young hearts turn to love, extra cleaning happens, and the travel bug begins biting. You can almost smell the salty air, taste the exotic food, feel the warm breeze blowing... but what's this? You shop and shop (hats, suntan lotion, cute swimsuits - ok, swimsuits that looked cute on the hanger - and new sunglasses and summer dresses) and shove it all into some hideous nylon number with lotion-stained lining and the remnants of 5-year-old beach shells in the bottom. How un-chic is that? You need a pretty bag you'll be proud to throw into the overhead compartment and drag up three flights of stairs in the caribbean hotel that promised a working elevator. Look no further! Here are some pieces you'll want to show off like handbags.

COACH. Check out the stripes!















Kate Spade. Heavy on the logo, easy on the eye.











Streamline Luggage (Editor Series). So CUTE! They'd double as decor too.












Tory Burch Chrissy Tote (for all your nautical carry-on needs).












Now go forth and relax.

Designer Spotlight: Barbara Heath

Gifted Atlanta designer and shop owner Barbara Heath has an interview and photo spread in the latest Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.

An excerpt from her interview:

"My design philosophy is… be true to your vision, and keep it personal. Your home should be your respite, the one place where you can be yourself. If it’s not an expression of who you are, then it won’t feel like home at all.

My greatest inspiration is… my family. My parents wanted to instill an appreciation of art, design, literature and music in my brother and me. They sent me to The Conservatory at the College of Performing Arts, where I earned a teaching degree in piano, so I was able to instruct friends throughout my college career at Benedictine University.

My look is… about combining traditional styling with contemporary things. Traditional and modern details can coexist, and together they create more value and depth."

Her store, The Mercantile, is located in Atlanta's stately Buck Head neighborhood. Check out the CHAIRS!

Natural Makeover

Imagine, if you will, this design challenge: a bed and bath with pink wall-to-wall carpeting (official color: Alabama Clay), mat white walls and trim, and a blue and white stripe bedspread... . Who would DO such a thing? Me, actually. Age 6. File this mentally in the "do not do's" section of your brain, which should now include a tab forbidding 6-year olds to make their own design decisions.

Here's the Alabama Clay carpet. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Nooooo!









So, anyway, here's my design penance. Turn this shrine to shabby into a nice guest bedroom for my parents. In keeping with the rest of the house, it needs to be modern with a rustic edge.

First things first, THE FLOOR. The floor must go. Far, far away. The room is small, but flooded with light (windows run the entire length of the room), and it can handle a dark floor, as long as the rest of the decor is clean. I've picked out Virginia Mill Works hand scraped birch flooring. The uneven surface catches light, and the birch grain on some boards resembles tiger's eye.

The walls are going to go very forest natural, picking up on the shades of the woods outside. Walls in Boston Fern (Behr).





Since it's a guest room, the bed is going to take central stage. The frame is a brass four-poster with a great deal of character, and it dominates the room. The frame stays (for now), anchoring the space. Bedspread will likely be a rich cream, and these pillows will bring nature inside without adding heft to the bed (Fern Pillows, Pottery Barn).













To pick up some of the creams from the bed, some objects de decor from West Elm for the bath.














Side tables for the bed are family antiques (tall, dark glaze with spindle legs). To balance their slender shapes, these lamps, also from Pottery Barn, perhaps half-filled with brown and gray river stones from the nearby creek.













Add a great mirror and some pen and ink prints of trees (sans the shelves), all from Ballard Designs.

A natural seagrass rug on the floor defines the space and breaks up the color palette a bit.














And because a room isn't a room without books...










Other suggestions? Share!