NEWS FLASH: JONATHAN ADLER DOES ANOTHER CHIC THING

Patterns, how do I love thee? Let me count the colorways....  An Adler-designed office mixes and matches.

Will Rogers once said he never met a man he didn't like, and I suspect the same is true of patterns for Jonathan Adler. This time, he's bringing his signature "happy chic" design into home offices, with a new line of paper products. The collaboration, with box store giant Books-A-Million (or "Books-A-Missing" if you've ever tried to find a particular volume there) is a color saturated, pattern-powered set of stationary and home office goods, including the notecards and pen below. The entire line is priced from $4.95 to $14.95 and is available through B.A.M. or Adler's website.

Rendered in four main patterns, Multi Chevron, Acapulco, Greek Key, and Diamond, the set includes pencils, pens, note cubes, and my favorite, reporter notebooks.

I particularly love the files - filing is such an onorous chore ("what comes after "J" again?"  "Did I accidentally put that in the round file?"). But if nothing else, you'll be entertained while trying to dig up last year's tax records.

Post-its with panache:  these are going on my desk ASAP. Imagine using them at work. Error-riddled report someone dumped on your desk? "Hate" post-it, definitely. 

Gift-wrapping is an office time activity too - although I'm much more tempted to use these papers as decoupage inspiration. Blog Bromeliad, always ready with DIY ideas, has a great tutorial on how covering bins in paper - perfect for creating charming storage for your spring cleaning. Organize with Adler!

And of course, if you don't have an office area, Adler can help with that too! (Chippendale Armchair and Channing Desk, both Jonathan Adler.)

All images, Jonathan Adler.

THE MANY MOODS OF MARY MCDONALD

I've adored designer Mary McDonald's work from the first clip I saw in Domino Magazine. She's bold, yet whimsical. Feminine, but stark. Colorful, and somehow subdued. Enjoy.

NEUTRALS

BOLD COLORS

WHIMSY

STARK CONTRASTS

MADAME MCDONALD

All images, Mary McDonald.

THE GREAT COVER UP

There's a curious concealment going on in the design world, a conspiracy that stretches from Architectural Digest to Country Home. Glance through the pages of any shelter magazine, closely examine the pictures of bathrooms, and you'll notice that something's missing. In water closets across the country, some Americans are apparently bathing in defiance of the laws of physics:  they never splash any water when showering. How do I know? Because all of these beautiful, glamorous bathrooms never have a shower curtain in sight - but the grouting is crisp and the floors are dry. Apparently, swags of vinyl are de trop in mag land. Of course, who can blame them? There are few things that scream "tacky" like "plastic shower curtain." But we can't all have marble dividing walls and crystal stalls. The rest of us - us non super-showerers - need a buffer between water and walls. And our bathrooms should look good doing it. So without further ado, some (very challenging to find) examples of proper shower curtain etiquette - and where you can get your own.

   The simplicity of a monogram brings elegance to a bathroom. No 

     ugly here! (For similar shopping options see below.)

Kate Spade's bathroom. Stripes? Check. Zebra stripes? Double check. Using a graphic

pattern to offset the color on the walls is a nice trick - the same one you might use for curtains

in any other room. Scalamandre zebras can cavort across the walls safely shielded from 

the dangers of errant spray.

In a rental and don't want to paint? A shower curtain can bring needed 

color to a bland bathroom. I love the orange and pink pattern - so Tory Burch!

Patterned elegance. Designer Krista Ewert goes luxe with a fabulous fabric 

shower curtain in a pop of pink. Don't hesitate to have your favorite fabrics made 

into bathroom decor. Ever heard of a plastic liner?

How beautiful is this bathroom? An exotic ikat gives it style and substance, 

photo courtesy of Cote de Texas.

Another great white bathroom gets the pattern treatment. 

SHOWER SHOPPING!

Above:  Beautiful chinoiserie examples: Avian shower curtain, from Anthropologie.

 Blue and white pagodas from West Lake at Inmod.

Below:  Patterns, Paisleys, and Monograms. Clockwise:  Green and white patterned Kew shower curtain, at Inmod. Paisley Pop shower curtain from PB Teen. Monogramed Catalina shower curtain, 

Ballard Designs.

Images:  Products, as attributed. Rooms:  Domino monogram, Kate Spade room at Habitually Chic, Orange bathroom, Pink bathroom, Black and white paisley bathroom.

Italian Prada Hearts English Morris

Years ago, while struggling through some moldy tome at the Union library at Oxford, I happened to glance heavenward. It was more of an eye-roll than a divine supplication for studying aide, but it ended as a delightful distraction. The timbered ceiling was ringed with paintings by the pre-Raphelites, and covered in a leafy vine pattern, courtesy of one William Morris. I'd never seen Morris' work in person before, and I wanted to find out more about him.

A terrible, tiny picture of the Morris ceiling at the Oxford Union.

Morris was a Renaissance man of sorts; an artist, poet, architect, and furniture and textile designer, he left a large body of work. But he is most remembered for his marvelous bontanical-inspired fabric and wallpaper patterns, like the one below. Morris was highly enamored with tales of England's mythic past (Morte d'Arthur and others), but equally interested in making hand-made, quality objects affordable and available. Most importantly to this blog, Morris wanted to elevate decorating to the level of the fine arts.

...and his influence is still apparent today. The moment I spotted Prada's carefree prints fluttering down the runway, I saw Morris inspiration! But Prada didn't copycat - in fact, this is a fun new blend of English library meets Palm Beach party.

Here, a few Prada heels plus scarves, Spring 2010 collection.

The scarf as handbag - even better, they still come with mini scarves!

This bag is Morris in the middle and modern at the ends.

A larger example of Morris-style pattern, beautifully draped.

Prada's collection is an inspiring mix of traditional fabrics and modern styling. I doubt Morris would have paired neon pink and red, but I also think he'd approve. The over all effect is vaguely African - and very lovely.

For more information about Morris work, and to see more samples of his botanical patterns, visit here. To purchase designs similar to those of Morris, click here.

Images: www.oxford-union.org/conferencing, designhistorylab.com/?m=200902, style.com.

Classic Italian Papers

This Florentine Tray, an Annie Modica decoupage design at Gracious Home, caught my eye. I love beautiful Italian papers, and thought, why not do something like this yourself?  There are so many wonderful patterns to chose from.

Italy is famous for her exquisite papers, a tradition that dates back to Arab introduction in 625 B.C. The earliest recorded paper document in Italy is a deed from King Roger of Sicily, in 1102. 

Beautiful papers like these by Paper Mojo are based on traditional Renaissance designs from Florence. The first paper mills were built in the 11th century in Italy (in the Fabriano area) and Spain. Linen and hemp rags were used to make the paper; wood pulp wouldn't come into use until sometime later. 

Tuscan Prints:  these are also inspired from traditional designs. Up until the 1950s papers such as these were hand printed, but now a days, they're done by machine. It's still a highly refined process, however, since offset printing techniques can use up to six colors.  These prints often have gold accents that give them a wonderful shimmer in the light, and no surprise:  real gold powder is added for its luster. 

Modern trends have changed the look of Florentine papers, but this new print carries the same tradition and quality as its ancestors.

A fun take on a traditional style.

Asian inspiration makes its way into a traditional Italian medium (fitting, considering the Chinese are generally credited with inventing paper).

These patterns would be fun done as Modica's decoupage trash can and tissue box too. 

For more inspiring ideas on how to use lovely papers, check out the Paper Mojo blog.

Image 1 and 9, gracioushome.com. Images 2-5, papermojo.com. Images 6-8, Hollanders.com.

Lauder Beauty

Design beauty, that is. I was so inspired when I saw the latest issue of Elle Decor featuring Aerin Lauder's East Coast homes. Often when paging through magazines I see bits here or there to take away, but every now and then a home really resonates with me. There's a lot here I wouldn't hesitate to do.

Blue and white is so common and yet so powerful.The mixture of brown/white and blue/white here brings a high society look back to nature. The wall vases are antique delft.

Does this remind anyone else of Sister Parish's White House bedroom design for Jackie Kennedy? I think it's the shade of blue, tall window treatments, and gilt - not identical by any means, but the feel is very similar.

A boy's room - and it's NOT in blue! This is a fresh, citrusy look, but it's still male. The subtle jungle elements in the wallpaper are well accented by the stuffed menagerie. My only hesitation? Such a lot of white on that bedspread - I feel sticky fingers in the future...

All images, Elle Decor Magazine. 

Pattern Paradise: Palm Beach Comes to Long Island

This Long Island home is a colorful but restful repose - and it's pattern heaven. The tropical feel warms New York winters, and the Palm Beach style hints at vacation. Below, owner Vernoica Beard, who idolizes Lilly Pulitzer. Don't you want to be her?

All images, pointclickhome.com, a website of Elle Decor Magazine.