EricaGail

Furniture I love: CR Currin

2012-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm unsure how I initially came across the CR Currin furniture line, but the owners aptly describe it as "jewelry for the home." The sinuous, curved lines give it a sensuous, refined feeling with real personality. Check out some of these unique pieces that would each make a room special without going over the top. As an added bonus, the line is produced in the US and every piece is custom.

Beds:

French King Bed shown in black linen

While I love their styling of this dramatic bed, I would equally love it upholstered in a pale wool sateen with whitewashed trim. Its bold yet simple lines would enhance countless fabrications.

Carved Post Bed shown in "chateau" finish

Their Carved Post Bed, with its Art Nouveau swirly carved posts, is a gem that would fit equally in a ski chalet or the most sophisticated urban highrise. Great lines and proportion, and I love the negative space created by the bowed in headboard against the bowed out posts.

Mirror:

Window Pane Mirror

I love the aqueous, shimmering quality of this mirror. It would be wonderful in a dining room or occasional space where you just wanted to create a mirrored effect without requiring the precision of true mirror for practical purposes. So unique.

Tables:

Oval Extension Table

This darling table keeps it light with an open pedestal base while the top is dressed up by a gilt rim. Love the rich finish and subtle sparkle of that gilding.

Oval Extension Table with Legs

Same top, different base - this table is gussied up with more pronounced silver leaf on the apron and legs. The leafing gives it more of a contemporary twist in my opinion, but it could work into transitional or traditional rooms if paired with the right components. Given the intense look of the tapered legs, I see this with very soft, perhaps upholstered and skirted, chairs whose legs wouldn't compete with the table's.

Design Blog Spotlight: Under Spanish Moss

2011-12-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

In researching trumeaus for a client with an especially large over-mantle area in her living room, I came across some stunning design blogs with luscious images. One of them is Under Spanish Moss.

She has a whole post about trumeaus, which are traditionally rectangular painted wood-framed mirrors with a larger panel above the mirror featuring a carved or painted motif of some sort. The carving could be floral, musical, or even food-related. As the original style was popular several hundred years ago (in the Regency period, roughly the first quarter of the 19th C.), antique and reproduction versions often feature peeling or distressed paint.

Here are a few of the photos she featured.

Source: Veranda via Under Spanish Moss

I also found some other posts with copious images of trumeaus, like this one. Here are a couple of their images.

Wow, Sweet Locker!

2011-10-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

A distinctive look that can be yours from LockerLookz.com

I really enjoyed this article in the New York Times about tween locker decor. This category did not even come close to existing when I was in high school, let alone middle school. In my day, we had magnetic mirrors (which wouldn't have stuck anyway to the quaint wooden lockers my middle school still used), and I suppose you could have gotten creative with contact paper. It would have taken a lot of work to add the type of pizazz in the image above.

I'm also not sure it would have seemed very cool to shellac your locker with cutesy designs your mom bought for you. It's hard to believe it does now, but evidently I'm not the master of tween psychology - these entrepreneurs who've cashed in on it are.

Now there are chandeliers, wallpaper, and other cutesy decorations from multiple outlets (like this one) just waiting to let tweens personalize their domain - as long as you're content to choose from a palette of pink or purple birds, flowers, or other tween cliches (at least that's how the accompanying images in the article seem to make it look.)

I do have to say that a functional light could certainly be useful in a dark, skinny locker. That's the one thing I do wish we had had. I'm going to bet that these take off, especially now that LEDs are getting more ubiquitous.

It's definitely worth a look for a quick giggle - and a "thank god I'm out of middle school" prayer.

Even More Cool Wall Designs: Toto, we're not talking "country kitchen" anymore.

2011-09-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

"Lisboa" Stencil - OMG, Love!!!!

I have to thank my client for turning me on to Cutting Edge Stencils, a shop with awesome wall stenciling options at Etsy. We had been searching high and low for a wallpaper to substitute for an unavailable original selection and just kept hitting a brick wall when it came to matching the overall colors and feel of the original.

Next thing I knew, she forwarded me this link and I was thrilled - what a perfect solution. The area to be papered was actually quite small, not even a whole wall, so the stenciling idea wasn't too overwhelming and it seems like stencils have come a long way in terms of ease of application and variety of designs. Toto, we're not talking "country kitchen" anymore.

Here are some of my favorites from various vendors at Etsy, but feel free to wander around and discover your own!

Warming up... pleasant geometrics...

"Shipibo" Stencil

"Eastern Lattice" Stencil

"Kagami" Stencil

Always love anything resembling caning...

"Camel Bone" Stencil

And love Moroccan influence...

"Large Moroccan Key" Stencil

Or you could go whimsical... If you know me, you know I'd love the next one. Perfect for the allergic cat lover!

"Cats" Stencil

Scrapwood Wallpaper - Does It Get Cooler Than This?

2011-08-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

I just got an email with the coolest product I've seen in a while - wallpaper made to look like scrap wood. It is actually printed heavy duty paper, which was clarified to me by a site selling the product after I was fooled by the images into thinking it was actually thinly veneered because of the life-like appearance of the wood pieces. The designer is Piet Hein Eek out of Holland (where it's manufactured.) The product won the ICFF Editors' Award this year.

It would be great in all kinds of rooms - entry, powder room, kitchen, bedroom - basically anywhere you want to bring a touch of organic, historical warmth. It's nice to get some muted color and illusion of texture into a room without requiring any special trades or DIY knowledge.

The papers can be purchased here at 2Modern.

More Cool Wall Designs

2011-08-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Somehow my last post about wall designs became my most-visited page ever, which inspired me to research more cool wall decals. This post will focus on some bedroom options I've discovered.

Blik has a fabulous selection including an assortment of pretty cool headboard-specific decals. This is probably the most cost-effective way to get a custom headboard that adds a lot of character to a bedroom. They're especially smart for small bedrooms where even a few extra inches of depth takes away from the area around the bed. These add flair without taking up valuable space (or money!)

This Gothic one is my favorite, although it's quite dramatic. But come on, live a little. I think doing it in two dimensions makes it much less intimidating:

Blik Mid-Century Gothic Headboard

These two are simple and classic:

Blik Nessa Headboard

Blik Wrought Iron Headboard

If you're in the strange predicament of having too much wall space and not enough furniture, why not try creating a sense of fullness by using these silhouettes of shapely antique furniture? I can't see putting much besides a glass console in front of these images. But in a wide open space, I love this playful look.

Blik Classical Must-Haves

Finally, I love this captivating city pattern for a kid's room. I've tried to research the designer, Boodalee, but keep hitting dead ends. Still, the cached images a simple google search turns up are super-fun. Here's hoping we see more from Boodalee in the future!

Blik Boodalee City

Have any of you successfully used wall decals yet? How did it go?

The Europeans Can Really Do a Library.

2011-07-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

I frequently get emails from this online art source, Zatista, and I'm always impressed by the diversity of their offerings.

Today the email featured, among other pieces, this striking image of a rococo library. I had to find out more.

Bibliotecha di Admont, by Massimo Listri, photograph, 40"H x 48"W

Thinking it must be Italian, I googled "Bibliotecha di Admont" and came up with the Itialian wikipedia page describing the history of this stunning library (and providing the images below.) It is actually located in Austria in a Benedictine abbey. (Evidently, I was misled by the Italian name of the photographer.) Located at the foot of the mountains in Gesause National Park, the name derives from the latin "ad montes", or "at the mountains."

Admont Abbey Exterior Building Shot

The library was completed in 1776, while the abbey itself was founded in 1074. Despite a massive fire which damaged most of the Abbey in 1865, the library remained untouched. It was somewhat neglected and fell into disrepair during WWII with a Nazi occupation of the monastery, but underwent a huge EU-funded restoration recently that restored it to its former glory. It now holds approximately 180,000 works including 1400 manuscripts and 530 incunabula.

The library's ceiling is comprised of seven domes with trompe l'oeil frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte depicting allegorical representations of art and science.

Low-res shot of library from the official site

Here is a less atmospheric daytime view of the library. You can see a little more detail, but it doesn't grab me the way the more darker, more moody photo did.

A Successful Sheffield Garden Walk 2011

2011-07-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Our garden is so tucked away we had to add an extra sign because people always miss it otherwise!

Thanks to everyone who came through our patio on the Sheffield Garden Walk. We enjoyed meeting what felt like hundreds of visitors over the past two days from all over the country and beyond. Many people complimented us on the serene, oasis-like environment we've created in a quite small space. Some visitors even said it was their favorite garden they saw!

A closeup of our water feature

Our corner water feature/fountain garnered a lot of attention. Many visitors took photos of our little stone fountain. While we can't claim credit for creating it, we enjoy the sound of the trickling brook and wish we could thank the prior owners for installing it. The upkeep is very minimal, merely requiring emptying the hose and storing the pump for winter. I think one reason people react to it so much is that it they think it is simple enough to accomplish themselves in their own backyard.

I posted a while ago about the furnishings we selected including an all-weather sofa and chair, two ceramic garden stools, and a dining table and four chairs. I'm glad to say they've all been holding up very well even though we keep them outdoors all winter (covered up.)

If you want help making the most of your small (or large!) garden or patio, contact me at erica@ericagail.com!

Make Your Boring Carpet Awesome!

2011-07-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

I found the coolest place today. I don't know why nobody thought of doing this before, unless it's just that nobody could come up with the correct formulation. It's called Vecco, and it will revolutionize boring wall-to-wall carpet! The company/product is owned by SC Johnson, and their first store/studio is right here in Chicago at 912 W. Armitage.

Here's a video view of the studio:

Basically, Vecco offers a DIY template system for spraying designs, ranging from whimsical to more mundane, onto your carpet in a huge range of colors and styles. And since you're doing it yourself, you choose the arrangement/placement of the designs and you pick the colors. There were tons of inspirational samples in the store and they even have a teaching area where they'll offer classes for kids and grownups to learn how it works and get the creative juices flowing.

The best parts: it's and economical way to add a lot of unique character to your boring carpet, and you can easily correct mistakes prior to spraying the sealant just by using a paper towel and/or vacuum. The more colors and templates you use, the higher the cost. But you can definitely keep it simple and still create a real wow factor. Look at the round rug with the "pie pieces" on the left below - it was only done with masking tape. It uses a lot of colors, but no templates.

The texture of the stained areas starts off a little crunchy immediately after it's applied, but after repeated vacuuming, it gets virtually undetectable.

Here are some samples hanging in the studio:

Here are some small rugs that a group of kids (right) and parents (left) made in the studio (this should be rotated 90 degrees cc but for whatever reason it refused to upload that way.):

Here is a piece that was in progress using the "gingko" template:

They sent me home with a sample kit and a couple templates. I can't wait to see what I end up creating!

Transformers: The Beds, not the Toys

2011-06-21T12:34:00.001-07:00

Clei is an Italian company specializing in ultra-hip convertible beds that put most people's concept of a Murphy bed or sleeper sofa to shame. I discovered the line while browsing in Jesse Chicago, a downtown furniture store with their own line of media and storage furniture/cabinetry that is equally cool. But the special section devoted to the Clei line, which I visited as an afterthought as I was about to leave the store, really blew me away.

And the salesperson explained that the Italian designs are actually sturdy enough to be used every day - like, if the piece functions as your child's desk or your home office, you could also use it as your child's or your primary bed and switch it back and forth every day without wearing it out. Not sure why, but it's hard to imagine an American company coming up with something that works this well.

Here's a contemporary-style sofa setup that converts to a full or queen bed (can't tell for sure), without having to clear off shelves...

Clei "Atoll" Sofa/Bed

Look - it even has storage for bed linens, throw pillows, etc.

Here's a cool desk setup that transforms into a bed without even needing to clear off the desk.

Clei "Cabrio" Desk/Bed

This is a view of a room with the Cabrio bed/desk as well as another simpler Murphy-bed-style piece - imagine how much floor space this room would have with both beds folded up!

Now check this out - a cool, contemporary sofa that actually transforms into a BUNKBED! The company writes, "DOC is a comfortable sofa with fully removable covering that with a simple movement and no strain becomes a practical bunk bed, provided with a safe ladder integrated in the structure which is both a support and a protective barrier."

Clei "Doc" Sofa

If you're interested in any of these pieces, or anything else from their line for that matter, email me!

Highlights from the Old Town Art Fair

2011-06-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we attended the always inspiring Old Town Art Fair here in Chicago. I collected information from several artists and wanted to share with the world! I'll try to post again with more of the artists we saw later.

W. Michael Meyer - oil painter specializing in landscapes using large, intentional brushstrokes and bold colors

Leah Evans - textile artist focusing on quilted renderings of maps and biological subjects

Industry's River, 21"x25"

Symbiosis, 21.5"x25.5"

Pottery Boys Clay Studios - specializing in hand-thrown vessels with crystalline glazes resembling microbes or stone inclusions

Delicate, Unique Glass Pendant Lighting

2011-05-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while on a wonderful charity house tour, I saw some really inspirational things. One of them was the existence of a line of lighting by a favorite maker of tabletop items, Juliska. You may recognize them as a maker of whimsical glassware, dishes and serveware, but evidently they also have a line of lamps and light fixtures using the same handblown glass techniques.

The beauty of these pendants is in their delicate use of glass clearly fashioned by hand, yet their avoidance of fussiness with the use of clear, industrial style bulbs. They work wonderfully over a kitchen island by providing a softer, more feminine look without the use of fabric that can be impractical in a kitchen.

Here are a couple examples of the small pendants.

Harriet Globe Pendant

Isabella Column Pendant

Ella Small Column Pendant

The line also has a collection of striking table lamps. These would be wonderful in a living room, bedroom or office.

Florence Column Table Lamp

Victor Column Lamp

While we're on the topic of Juliska, let me just share some of my favorite tabletop pieces - I can't resist!

Set of 4 Dessert Plates

A Selection of Medium Glass Vases

Grande Charger/Serving Platter

Beehive Sugar/Creamer Set

Entertaining DIY Tile Post

2011-05-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Image of Tiled Backsplash courtesy http://www.kitchentilebacksplashes.com

Had to share this article I noticed today in the New York Times' Home and Garden section. It's a step-by-step guide to tiling for the absolute beginner. I felt thoroughly educated in basic tiling after reading. Fortunately for my family, my home isn't crying out for any newly tiled surfaces.

Joe Lekas: Gorgeous Composite HD Photos

2011-05-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Holy Name Cathedral Organ - Chicago

I recently discovered photographic artist Joe Lekas, who produces high definition fine art photos with a special focus on the city of Chicago. His website is excellent, showcasing all his work in very high resolution, easy-to-navigate galleries. The image above is a breathtaking view of Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago. Below are a few city shots. His work has an intensity that brings the images to life in a way unmatched by most other photographers I've seen.

Chicago's Lake Shore Drive 3 - Panorama

Chicago Aerial View from the Hancock Observatory - 12 Long Exposures

One great feature of the site is that Lekas describes his method of obtaining virtually every shot. Even for the photographic layperson, this can be quite interesting. For example, with the shot above, taken from the Hancock Building, he explains:

"This was a pain to take...got up to the Hancock observatory and was told...no tripods. So, I had to MacGuyver it and rest the camera on a tiny little ledge around the tower, prop it up in a shoe, on my bag, whatever I could - and used my remote cord to take the 12 long exposures used to make 4 vertical shots. Those 4 sets of 3 were then each fused together to make 4 hdr photos, which I then stitched together to make a monster. Whew!"

Lekas's portfolio boasts both macro shots of expansive city views as well as details of historic landmarks.

Here is his captivating take on the Rookery, built in 1888. This is a view looking up the stairway. Below that is a beautiful shot of the Chicago Cultural Center's Tiffany glass domed ceiling.

Looking Up the Rookery Building Spiraling Staircase - Chicago

Chicago Cultural Center - World's Largest Tiffany's Domed Ceiling

But Lekas' work is not limited to Chicago - here are a few of my favorites from the rest of his portfolio.

Red Rocks Park 02 - Morrison, Colorado (Near Denver)

Old Gas Station Along Route 66 - Illinois

Empire State Skies 01 - Manhattan

Recent Additions to the Chicago Furnishings Scene

2011-04-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

A Bradley Hughes Living Room Vignette

Two showrooms recently opened in Chicago with an updated/contemporary twist on natural materials.

The first one, Bradley Hughes, located in the Merchandise Mart, specializes in interesting applications of metal, mirror and concrete mixed with upholstery and lighting. Their line is expansive and completely designed and produced in the USA. Virtually everything can be customized in finish and size. Their pieces can be oversized or conventional in size and pair wonderfully with a wide range of other furnishings. For example, the living room above makes use of conventionally scaled sofa, rug and coffee table with a pair of especially high backed chairs for dramatic effect. Additionally, there is a very large framed mirror leaning against the rear wall.

The entry vignette below makes use of a number of the line's sculptural metal pieces including the table base, pendant light and lamps. While they work harmoniously together, many clients would choose to select one of these pieces to use as an accent to make it more noticeable rather than using all three in the same room.

A Bradley Hughes Entry Vignette

The next showroom is Baltus, located at 222 W. Erie in River North. Baltus also specializes in contemporary, high-end furniture but it is produced in southern Spain. The proportions are intentionally generous and lend themselves to large loft spaces or grand homes. The line blends sometimes unexpected materials (for example, leather-clad chair frames that would normally be finished wood) for an updated, luxe-industrial look.

Baltus Living Room featuring Beijing Coffee Table

Detail of Beijing Coffee Table

Baltus Ceilan Bed with Seven Headboard

Baltus Seven Headboard Detail

Baltus Living Room Featuring Madrid Sofa

Detail of Madrid Sofa

Baltus Louvre Chair

Baltus Oval Dining Table

Baltus Zen Dining Table

Detail of Zen Dining Table

Contemporary Outdoor Find

2011-04-07T05:47:00.000-07:00

I was impressed by the styling of some of the collections of outdoor furniture in the Thos. Baker catalog. In particular, I love the Palms and Abacos collections.

Thos. Baker Palms Collection

The Palms collection has square lines and a refreshing variegated cocoa all-weather weave frame with cushions in the color of your choice. I like the lounge items (sofa, chairs) but I also love the dining seating options. The bar stools in particular could look great indoors or out.

Palms Collection Bar Stool

The Abacos collection has a funky oversized basket weave that gives it a checkerboard effect in black on black.

Thos. Baker Abacos Collection

The lounge seating offers no sofa but rather sectional pieces that can be grouped together easily. I think the dining tables could be a great option for indoor use too - they have a bold impact for a relatively reasonable price, and come with glass overlays for ease of use and cleaning.

Thos. Baker Abacos Dining Table and Chairs

Outstanding Digital Art

2011-02-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

"Dead End", John Leben

"Summer Pier", John Leben

"The Long Climb", John Leben

I came across this wonderful artist, John Leben, at an art show in Chicago. His work is visually arresting - it has an unidentifiable, mysterious quality that jumps out at the viewer despite its mostly unintimidating subject matter of landscapes, beaches, and battered wood stairs. I find it has a retro poster feel I attribute to the stark outlining which makes it appear drawn in thick pen and ink with watercolor or marker adding color.

In actuality it is drawn completely on the computer using a digital pen. While anyone can upload a photo and use various programs to transform it into what appears to be a handdrawn work of art, John's pieces are meticulously created by hand without the aid of special programs or photography. They are created from scratch with the Mac's digital pen as his paintbrush and the screen as his canvas.

Here is John Leben on his technique:

My digital paintings are not created by the computer. They are created with the computer as a tool, by me. Each painting takes a month or more to create. For this series, the original images (the printing plates) are digital files residing in my Macintosh computer. Each line and each color are meticulously applied layer by layer with digital pen or mouse much like a traditional printmaker would scratch lines and textures with a stylus on copper for etching plates.

The most prolific series, Stairways, features Western Michigan stairways leading from seaside homes down to the beach. Other series feature dinghies, flowers, nautical subjects, or more abstract "techno" creations.

Ironically, the images of his work I've been able to find on the computer don't really do it justice. When printed in high quality, they are vibrant and have a real human touch.

"Tree House", John Leben

Young America to Launch New "Mix" Collection

2011-01-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

I was kind of wowed when I received this new catalog from Stanley Furniture's Young America line. The upcoming "Mix" collection combines some very sleek, timeless styling with a great color range and pretty detailing. The furniture is simple and attractive enough to last through adolescence and beyond if you're smart about the color selections. It's also gender-neutral - not too heavy, not too delicate. I particularly love the look of the crib (despite the lack of storage underneath.) And they've been smart about space-saving and/or kid-friendly features like convertible cribs, optional side rails for beds, a dresser with a pullout laptop tray, a sliding bed table/desk, and under-bed storage. Can't wait to see this in person! I get excellent pricing on Stanley, so as always - if you're interested in quoting, contact me.

I would have loved this sliding table since I insisted on doing all my homework in bed and didn't want a desk.

This bed has optional protective rails for those who are new to the "big kid bed" world.

Gorgeous crib and dresser with hutch

Here are some detail shots of the dresser with hutch and crib.

I like that this laptop tray can be stowed in order to access the drawers above, forcing your child to put away whatever is on it!

Gorgeous Digital Photo Art

2010-10-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Dawn on the Irrawaddy, Paul Elson

While strolling the Chicago Gold Coast Art Fair a few weeks ago, we were stopped in our tracks by the stunning photographic art of Paul Elson. Based in NJ, Paul has developed a unique approach to digital art that mixes photography with watercolor painting. By using several iterations of photographing, printing, manually manipulating (painting or drawing on the printouts), and scanning, he develops works that defy categorization yet strike the viewer with their subtlety and seeming authenticity.

Before pursuing this artistic avenue, Paul was a successful commercial photographer for Fortune 500 clients, traveling around the world for projects and winning industry awards. Since his shift in focus in 1999 to Photo Impressionism, he's attracted the attention of numerous photography publications and has successfully exhibited and sold his works both in the US and internationally. Here is his complete bio.

Go to his gallery to view more of his works. If you get the chance to see any of them in person, don't miss it!

Eight Boats, Paul Elson

Cassis, Paul Elson

New Client "Before and After" Pics

2010-09-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

Before

After

Many clients don't need to start from scratch on a room, but rather need assistance in organizing and editing their existing furnishings. I recently got to photograph some work I did to help a client rearrange and place a lot of her existing living room and dining room furniture. In addition, I helped her to fill in with drapery, lighting, accessories and rugs. I think the finished product looks great! (Unfortunately, the enlarged photos are mysteriously grainy, but hopefully I'll get to take some better shots another time!)

Before

After

Before

After

Monster Bedding Find!

2010-08-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Garnet Hill "Monste Percale" Bedding

Just browsing through Garnet Hill, one of my favorite catalog sites for colorful bedding, and I came across this adorable monster bedding pattern. Had to share!

I am going to work on my sister to see if my nephew might want it for his first big boy bed. It might have to be an early birthday present for him...

Vintage Poster Fun

2010-05-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

In mid-March, my family visited the annual International Vintage Poster Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center. It was a remarkable show featuring 30 dealers of the highest-quality vintage posters from all over the world, and we will definitely be going back. The fair takes place in three cities annually - New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Here's a link to the fair's list of dealers with some images of the types of posters available.

Each year, the fair highlights a different sub-genre of vintage posters (but not to the exclusion of all the other categories.) It could be travel, gastronomy... This year's theme was military posters. You might immediately think of recruitment posters (some vendors had the original "Uncle Sam wants you" poster) or WWII propaganda campaigns with messages like "loose lips sink ships" or things to that effect, but there was actually a whole universe of military posters with messages we hadn't thought of - a key motif in the American posters was a plea to citizens to use cooking methods that conserved oil, so steam or roast your food.

Most of the dealers had stacks upon stacks of linen-backed posters that they would flip through for you (the posters are mostly very large and delicate, dating from the early part of the 20th century when printing and advertising became sophisticated enough for this genre to develop, so touching by customers is mostly frowned upon.) The posters are linen-backed to prevent the paper from tearing, although it is not absolutely crucial for framing unless the poster is so large that it is printed in multiple panels and needs to be secured together prior to framing.

One Swiss dealer had binders full of reduced postcard-sized representations of his inventory, and we flipped through to see if anything caught our eye. We fell in love with an advertisement for Knorr chicken soup and decided to buy it. It had to be shipped from Switzerland after the dealer arrived home from the show, and then it ended up arriving in multiple panels to our surprise (we thought the tube looked too small for the size that had been promised to us, and when we opened it at the frame shop to see the poster itself, we realized that it was indeed in two pieces.)

After having it backed and framed, we had it professionally hung in our tall atrium. The finished piece is 49"W x 69" tall - gigantic! It makes a great whimsical addition to what was a plain gray brick wall.

Check out Another Post on Rex Ray

2010-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

Rosathoria, Mixed Media, Rex Ray, 2005

Head on over to the Ritz Residences' "Simply Magnificent" Blog to check out my latest post about Rex Ray. After seeing more of his work at the Art Chicago show last weekend, I had to share.

Speedy Post: How Cool is This Outdoor Furniture?

2010-04-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Just stumbled across this "Cambridge Collection" woven plaid furniture at Grandin Road and I had to share. I can't believe how stylish it is for the price. I'm trying to figure out if there's anywhere inside or outside my house I could use it, but I'm not sure. I'll have to convince a client that it works for them!

Cambridge Bench, $249

Cambridge Side Tables, $199 Each

Everyone's Talking About: Stand-up Desks

2010-04-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

TrekDesk Treadmill Desk

There's been a lot of buzz recently about the benefits of standing up while you work - I've noticed it in NY Times articles, on TV, and various other media outlets. This article from the NY Times highlights some standing desk options on the market now.

And this third article from the NY Times about exercise in general and its effects on weight loss and appetite concludes with this paragraph:

In a completed but unpublished study conducted in his energy-metabolism lab, Braun and his colleagues had a group of volunteers spend an entire day sitting. If they needed to visit the bathroom or any other location, they spun over in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, in a second session, the same volunteers stood all day, “not doing anything in particular,” Braun says, “just standing.” The difference in energy expenditure was remarkable, representing “hundreds of calories,” Braun says, but with no increase among the upright in their blood levels of ghrelin or other appetite hormones. Standing, for both men and women, burned multiple calories but did not ignite hunger. One thing is going to become clear in the coming years, Braun says: if you want to lose weight, you don’t necessarily have to go for a long run. “Just get rid of your chair.”

The conclusion that standing - just standing, not even at a treadmill desk or something that otherwise causes you to continuously exercise - can help you burn hundreds more calories a day without increasing your appetite is the most convincing evidence I've seen yet for the benefits of standing up.

Other people note that standing allows them to fidget in a productive way that gets the excess nervous energy out of their system, allowing them to more keenly focus their mind on the task at hand. I remember another article I read last year about a school system who reported that students were able to focus better when given the option to stand or sit at adjustable height desks.

For several years, I've been interested in standing desks because my husband hates sitting at work all day and prefers standing. He will often stand at the kitchen counter with his laptop perched atop some makeshift solution like a pile of books or a basket to raise it to at least 48" off the floor so he can comfortably see the screen and type without hunching.

But the market is still catching up with the increased interest in this segment and all our searches for standing desks have led to very costly solutions (like this) that weren't perfect for the small spaces we've been trying to work with.

For example, he wanted a solution that would integrate with his furniture at the office last year. We were trying to source a podium that would sit on top of his existing desk or credenza, allowing him to stand when desired but also not eliminating the potential of sitting at his regular desk when meeting with others who would be seated at guest chairs in the office. I couldn't find a standard one that would have the option of tilting or laying flat (accommodating reading material or a laptop) and be the right height for him.

We looked into having one custom made, but the quotes we were getting sounded inordinately expensive and we gave up on it. His sister ended up offering us a small standing card catalog that her school was getting rid of, and we placed that on the one available wall in his office. He loves standing and working at it, but the card catalog drawers are virtually useless and it's stationary, not adjustable. It's a workable solution, and was free, but not perfect.

We recently needed to create a small workspace for him in our home. Again, we were working with a compact area and needed filing space in addition to the elevated desk surface for laptop use and reading/writing. The best solution I had come up with was to use a lateral file, standard at 42" high, and possibly add a top with an overhang to allow for him to stand closer. However, a desktop would make it difficult to access files in the top drawer and he wouldn't ever be able to sit and work there because there would be no room for his legs.

Surprisingly, we found a wonderful solution at a local used office furniture warehouse that we couldn't be more excited about. While looking at the lateral files, we spied what appeared to be an adjustable height standing work table that had a heavy steel base on wheels and shallow top (perfect depth for a laptop) that slid up and down on a sturdy single-leg system, but it was in very poor condition and the top was sloping due to heavy use.

Skeptically, we asked the owner if there was anything else like this piece that might be in better condition. To our shock, he described the piece as a hospital bed table and said he had about a hundred more in the basement. With his help, we located one in fine working order, got it cleaned up, and took it home for $25.

I had never run across this type of piece before because in all my searching, it had never occurred to me to search for a hospital bed table, but that is exactly what we needed for our purposes. The owner said that more and more people were buying them to use at their own beds with their laptops, or for standing desks. They adjust easily with a side handle located where the top attaches to the leg to go from standard sitting to standing height.

We were also able to fit a standard width filing cabinet next to it and a stool underneath, so now it can be used either sitting or standing and we met our filing needs as well.

I would be surprised if this type of table doesn't make it into mainstream catalogs and retailers within the next year, given the enthusiasm in the media for standing desks coupled with their general scarcity.

Cool Custom Baby Bedding Site

2010-03-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

"Robots" collection

"Way to Go" collection

Here goes - another post about nurseries, this time about bedding.

In searching for tasteful crib bedding for a friend, I came across this very fun site that allows you to create custom crib bedding designs at a very affordable price. The site is Javis Davis and they do custom children's bedding and doll bedding in addition to crib sets.

Their online too lets you choose fabrics from within a collection and apply them to several different styles of bedding to see what the finished product would look like. You go to the page with all the fabric collections listed and click the link next to your favorite to pull up the design wizard using that collection. You can email your creation to yourself or a friend when you're done. Shown here are a couple that I made up, each of which cost around $260 for the set including bumper, sheet and skirt.

"Java Pear" collection

Fishy Plans for Nursery

2010-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love it when inspiration strikes.

The other day I was skimming the Garnet Hill catalog when I came across this cheerful fish pattern. As I've been posting, I'm on the lookout for nursery inspiration of the sort that is gender-neutral, doesn't scream "baby", but is visually stimulating and appropriate for young children. I think I may have really scored here.

Right now, plans are to use the sheets to make drapery and pillows. My initial thought is to paint the walls in an imperfect, variegated stripe incorporating the fish colors plus white, and perhaps paint enlarged versions of the fish on one wall. Then I just need some type of solid colored bedding and voila, kids' room accomplished!

Quick Post: ABC Poster Cool Yet Adorable - The Holy Grail!

2010-02-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

In my search for nursery decor, I came across this ABC Animal Poster at BranchHome.com for $50.

It comes in three colorways - mainly pink, mainly blue, and this gender-neutral orange and green version (may coordinate well with the hippo bedding from Target...) I just wish it were bigger because I think it would make a great statement in our nursery. Still, maybe it would be good for a smaller wall somewhere.

Shrimp and Corn Chowder - Cozy Meal Alert!

2010-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I'm moved to post about a recipe when it's really good, really easy, or in this case, both. I found this one in Real Simple this month and it sounded straightforward enough for even me to follow (explanation a few paragraphs down.)

There were very few ingredients I had to venture beyond my scheduled trip to Aldi/Trader Joe's for, but nothing particularly obscure. Fortunately the one other supermarket I visited had good looking fennel as well as the clams and clam juice I needed. Aldi had the shrimp (frozen) for $3.50 and I think they may have paid me to take the package of frozen corn. (Normally I don't eat that much corn because it's not super-high on my list of nutritional veggies, but sometimes you have to make an exception.) The leeks I got at TJ's, pre-trimmed and cleaned, which was helpful because, having never cooked with leeks before, I wasn't sure how much or how little of them I was supposed to use.

Anyway, here is the recipe with a few minor adaptations. Each time I try to follow a recipe, I'm reminded of why I don't bake very often. With a recipe for cooking, if you screw up, it's usually still going to taste okay but just a little different than what might have been originally intended. With baking, if you mess up, it's just not going to work at all. And for some reason, I'm incapable of following a recipe precisely.

Last night I added 4 cups of milk instead of 3, for no reason - just because I read it wrong - and also chose not to buy potatoes at any of the three grocery stores I went to because they weren't in the recipe. I thought to myself, multiple times in each of the stores, "it's funny - it's a chowder and it looks like there are potatoes in the photo of the finished product, but there just aren't potatoes called for in the recipe, so I'm not buying them."

Well, when I went to make the soup, I realized that there were indeed potatoes listed right there on the ingredient list and the soup was going to be lacking some serious heartiness without them. Why hadn't I just bought a couple, just in case? I have no idea. I had to send my husband out for some on his way home because I was convinced the soup would just not be filling enough without them. Happy ending, but yet another demonstration of my inability to follow directions.

In any case, this recipe is obviously pretty foolproof and I highly recommend it!

Shrimp and Corn Chowder with Fennel

Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 leeks (white and light green parts), chopped
• 1 fennel bulb (and green stems**), chopped
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice
• 1 small can clams in clam juice **
• 4 cups whole milk **
• 1 pound potatoes (2 medium potatoes), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3/4 pound cooked peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 16-ounce package frozen corn**
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Juice of one lemon (at least 2 Tblsp)
• bread, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel, season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes; stir in the flour.

2. Add the clam juice, milk, and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and corn and cook until the potatoes are tender and the shrimp and corn are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice. Serve with the bread, if using.

Salt to taste while cooking

** Changed from or added to original recipe

By Kate Merker, February 2010

Gorgeous Handmade Mirrors

2010-01-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

Awesome vendor alert: Made Goods, a trade-only vendor (sorry, I know, but you can always order through me!) has some of the most beautiful and unique mirrors I've seen in a long time. You can peruse the collection of mirrors along with their collections of small occasional furniture and objects at MadeGoods.com. If you're interested in pricing anything out, let me know!

Here are a just a very few that jumped out at me... There are many more in the collection that are more subdued, but I especially liked these unique, textural examples of their work.

Giselle Reproduction Coral Mirror, Available in red or white, 24" Diameter

Grotta Baroque Shell Pattern Mirror, 30"W x 38"H

Killian Interlocking Capiz Mirror, 32"W x 42"H

Madena Matchstick Mirror (32" or 24" Diameter)

This is such a small selection of what's available on the website - it's definitely worth a look if for nothing besides inspiration and a glimpse at some beautiful things.

Rex Ray - Am I the Last Person to Know?

2010-01-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Lasallia, mixed media on linen, 2007

Rationaria, mixed media on linen, 2006

Amandinia, mixed media on canvas, 2007

I'm apparently pretty late to the game on this one, but I just discovered the work of Rex Ray, a San Francisco artist who works in collage and canvas.

He's been remarkably successful with his colorful collages and multimedia works. His work is available in the original and as prints at Turner Carroll Gallery and Gallery 16 online as well as in reproduction through major print sites like Allposters.com and Art.com (although neither of those two carry my favorites available through Turner Carroll or Gallery 16.)

Here is his bio from the Turner Carroll Gallery website:

"Rex Ray is a San Francisco based fine artist, whose collages, paintings and design work have been exhibited at galleries and museums, including the The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, University Art Museum in Berkeley, San Jose Museum of Modern Art, The Crocker Museum in Sacramento, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Michael Martin Galleries, Gallery 16, New Langton Arts, and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions.

"He is also a celebrated graphic designer. He has created work for Apple, Dreamworks, Sony Music, Warner Brothers, City Lights Publishers, Matador Records, Serpent's Tail, The New Museum of Contemporary Art, Rizzoli, Powerhouse, Mute Records and Crown Books. His package designs for David Bowie, as well as for Joe Satriani, Diamanda Galás, Matmos, and Deee-Lite, have earned him an international reputation for his innovation in type and with original photographs, drawings, and collage. He has designed over 100 historic Bill Graham Presents rock and roll tour posters, including ones for The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, REM, Bjork, U2, and Radiohead."

I actually came across his name while perusing Z Gallerie (as I shrink down into my chair) to see if they had any new furnishings worth commenting on. I saw one of his works on their site and decided to google and see what happened. I'm so glad I did! It just goes to show the mass exposure a serious artist can get by licensing a limited amount of his or her work to a major retail outlet, even if the overall aesthetic of that retailer isn't what the artist might adhere to normally.

Because they're colorful yet sophisticated and are so abstract, these can work in many different rooms and would appeal equally to all ages. I'm even thinking about something for the nursery. His work is so full of life and color - how did I not know about him already?

Parmotrema, 36" square, print on art block, at Z Gallerie

Some prints available at Gallery 16

Adirondack Style

2010-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

I've been on the hunt for some concepts for a boy's room that aren't too precious or expected. Something that kind of randomly occurred to me was the idea of adirondack or log-style furniture, which is very masculine and durable, yet all-American and somewhat eco-friendly given that it is mostly hand-made in America and thus avoids the off-gassing chemicals used in particle-board and veneer furniture as well as the transportation costs associated with cheaper imports.

I've always loved log furniture when we've vacationed out west, but wondered if it would look too theme-y and out of place in another part of the country (e.g. the Midwest.) I've concluded that since the most substantial piece of baby furniture I'll likely get will be a dresser (in lieu of a changing table) and it won't be a whole suite of matching pieces, the theme won't be too overwhelming. We can get a stained wood crib to begin with, and upgrade to a log-style headboard or canopy bed later if we decide we like this aesthetic. But rustic furniture can also blend well with other materials and metals like antique bronze or brass with all sorts of reclaimed or antiqued wood, so we don't have to feel confined to more pieces in this exact style in the future when adding to the room.

Here are some examples of dressers I've found so far as options.

ADK Design Birch and Hickory Dresser (located midway down page)

ADK Design Twig Design Pine and Hickory Dresser (midway down page)

Old Hickory Mule Chest by Old Hickory Furniture, available through Black Forest Decor

The Log Furniture Store Adirondack Twig 6-Drawer Dresser

I can't decide whether it will be an issue to have bark-veneered furniture in a child's room - while most pieces are coated to death with polyurethane to prevent peeling, it might be preferable still to go with a smoother-finished piece. In this case, here are a few options in that direction.

Log Furniture Store Big Woods 6-Drawer Dresser

Log Furniture Store Mountain Series Aspen 8-Drawer Dresser

There is so much more out there and this is just a small sampling of things I happened to like. Looking forward to doing more research, as this is a look I don't often get the chance to use here in Chicago!

Back with Baby Bedding!

2010-01-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, I checked out during holiday season. But I've been a little distracted because I'm expecting. May. A Boy. So basically everything I read or look at these days involves babies.

The first thing anyone researching baby products will find is that there's a lot of cheese-ola baby stuff out there, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum. I have zero interest in anything involving a merchandised character or an animal that's trying too hard to check those "cute" boxes (Oversized creepy cartoon eyes? Check!)

The good news is, it's not necessary to spend a fortune to get cool baby stuff when you can often get gently used things for much less, or find some great designers with lines at places like Target or other major retailers. Ikea is also a great choice, with a modern-looking crib that gets great ratings from Consumer Reports. I'll probably report on cribs later.

The first thing most people focus on for the nursery is color and pattern. Some people will want to go with standard blue or pink, while others want to go more neutral for practicality of use with future children. Whatever your preference, there are numerous options out there. I've always thought back to my yellow childhood room and decided that I would like my baby's room to feature yellow in the design rather than one of the other "baby" colors.

I've been totally in love with Dwell Studio since I first saw it carried in some upscale baby stores. They have a mid-century modern aesthetic that's so fetching and unlike anything else I've been able to find. It's cute and age-appropriate while avoiding that saccharine sweetness so many other baby lines have. And goodness me, they have a line at Target.

Shown above is their "Hippo" pattern that I love because of the gender-neutral coloration which makes it suitable down the road if we happen to have another child and it's a girl. Also, I love anything animal-related, especially when it's not just your typical run-of-the-mill baby-friendly animals. While I find their animal patterns particularly attractive, pretty much anything Dwell does is fine by me. They can practically do no wrong.

As a point of reference, the Owls Sky crib set below is from their standard line sold online and in baby boutiques for $360 (includes blanket, bumper, sheet, and bed skirt). The Hippo crib set at Target is only $80 (for blanket, bumper, and sheet - crib skirt is an additional $20.)

Are Pine Boughs Christian?

2009-11-10T06:26:00.001-08:00

I recently posted a query on my Facebook status regarding whether or not there is any holiday decor that doesn't give off a "Christmas" vibe. As a non-Christian, I've always felt a disconnect between the actual purpose of Christmas and the beautiful winter decorations that all the Christian people use to decorate their homes. Is there something that makes a pine wreath or garland inherently Christian? Answer: no.

As one friend helpfully pointed out, a lot of traditions that we now associate with Christmas actually grew out of Pagan rituals. Some quick googling led me to this informative site, eSsortment, which addresses this exact issue.

Let me summarize their excellent explanation detailing the origins of many "Christmas" rituals with origins in pre-Christian festivals.

Carolling began during the Romans' winter solstice celebebration with the Mummers, "costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house performing for their neighbors."

In northern Europe, the winter solstice celebration was called "Yule" (which literally meant "wheel", symbolizing the sun) and was celebrated to honor the birth of the pagan sun god on the shortest day of the year. The celebration included mistletoe, then considered a sacred plant, and kissing under it was a fertility ritual. Holly berries were considered "food of the gods."

Evergreens were common to virtually all European winter solstice celebrations, being brought into the home as a hopeful reminder that the growing season would return. Druids worshipped large trees in their religious ceremonies, often held in a circle around them.

While the date of Christ's actual birth is unknown, many historians place it in September, six months after the Jewish Passover. It is nearly universally agreed that it did not actually occur in December, as shepherds would be unlikely to have been tending their flocks outside at that time (as they did according to the bible on the night of Jesus' birth.)

When Pope Julius I declared in 350 AD that Christmas would be celebrated on December 25th, everyone gradually integrated their traditional seasonal celebrations with the Christian holiday. And this is why all of these winter rituals became intertwined with Christmas.

Next, stay tuned for some drool-worthy holiday decor that doesn't scream "Jesus" - for those of us who just want to celebrate the season...

Sweep it Under the Counter

2009-11-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my sister-in-law for sharing this one: A company called DrawerVac's come up with a very cool and unique new kitchen gadget. It's an under-counter dustpan that pulls out like a drawer or tray and allows you to sweep all kinds of debris off the counter into the tray - and that gets sucked straight into your central vac system.

Now granted, you have to have central vac for this to work, so it has a somewhat limited clientele, but good for them for developing this super-utilitarian feature that is bound to keep crumbs off your floor and save on overall clean-up time.

Jayson Home & Garden Warehouse Sale!

2009-11-06T08:39:00.001-08:00

Attention Chicago Shoppers: The Jayson Home & Garden Warehouse Sale is this weekend, and it opened about 45 minutes ago. I'd say I arrived about 3 minutes after it opened, and there were already approximately 500 people inside. Conservatively.

For those of you in Chicago, you probably know of Jayson as one of our city's coolest purveyors of home furnishings and accents. They have a wonderfully cultivated collection of new case goods, upholstered pieces, accessories, and lighting as well as an interesting assortment of "flea market find" type pieces that they get lord knows where. It all comes together into an ecclectic mix that manages to be sophisticated and exotic while still remaining accessible and warm.

Anyhow, the warehouse sale is this weekend at their warehouse on Webster just west of Elston by the Green Dolphin. In fact, you can park there or across the street at the kind of deserted looking warehouse (you'll probably see about 1000 other cars parked there - don't worry about finding it.) Even though the goods will likely be very picked over within the hour, I would still recommend going because I noticed that there were a number of items they have back stock in. For example, I bought a bed at the sale last year and was pleased to see that they delivered a newly wrapped one to me, not the floor model I had seen.

Tips (some echoed on Jayson's own site): Bring your measurements as well as a tape measure! Don't bring any large bags, carts, or strollers. Utilize your camera phone if you need to confirm with a significant other or roommate. Think about what you can spend in advance and be prepared to make a quick decision. And don't just buy a soap or candle because you feel like it's a waste to come all that way and not walk out with anything. Even though I was thrilled with what I got last year, I didn't find anything perfectly suited to my needs this year and I felt a real sense of pride when I walked away empty-handed rather than with an odd assortment of tabletop accessories.

Happy shopping!

Zucchini Muffins Make Your Home Smell Sweet!

2009-11-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Okay - well, I had to tie it into the home somehow, since that is the focus of my blog. But seriously, if you make these muffins, you can unplug the Glade for a day and enjoy the smell of major home-baked goodness.

This recipe evolved from a basic zucchini bread recipe my sister and I found online this summer. First, we realized we didn't have any oil after we had already shredded all the zucchini and begun making the recipe, so I suggested we substitute mayo. I recalled reading somewhere that some cake mixes work well with mayo and I thought, hey, why not give it a try? It worked wonderfully, adding a springiness to the texture and also, probably due to the egg protein in mayo, making the resulting bread extra-filling.

Every time I make this recipe, I seem to push the limit of the called-for amount of zucchini. If the recipe calls for 2 cups, I end up with 3 or 4. This last time, I shredded 4 small zucchinis, making about 4.5 cups. But again, the recipe never fails to amaze me. It worked beautifully with all that zucchini, and the more zucchini I use, the better I feel about eating these muffins.

The bread morphed into muffins during my first attempt to do this in my own home. I realized after making the mixture, which is enough to make two loaves of bread, that I only had one loaf pan in my house. But I did have a jumbo muffin tin. So I poured the mixture meant for the second loaf into a few of the jumbo muffins holes and bingo - the perfect take-along breakfast was born. Now I don't even bother with loaves - I make the jumbo muffins plus some extra mini-muffins. Aren't muffins just inherently more fun than bread?

Recipe: Hearty Spiced Zucchini Muffins

3 cups white whole wheat flour (or all purpose flour, or a blend of regular and whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Tblsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tblsp Ground Ginger
3 Eggs
1 cup Hellmans Mayo
1 2/3 cups Sugar
1 Tblsp Vanilla Extract
2.5-4.5 cups Grated Zucchini (NOT drained like other recipes call for)
(1 cup chopped walnuts - OPTIONAL)

1. Butter and flour 2 8"x4" loaf pans or a combination of two muffin tins (I have one 6-hole jumbo muffin tin and 1 12-hole small muffin tin)

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

3. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger together in a large bowl and whisk thoroughly. (This bowl needs to be big enough for the whole mixture later.)

4. Beat eggs, mayo, vanilla, and sugar together in a smaller bowl.

5. Add wet mixture into dry ingredients and fold together until well combined. It will be very sticky and dry. Add zucchini into this mixture and mix thoroughly. (The moisture of the zucchini will aid in mixing.) Add nuts if desired.

6. Pour into prepared pans.

7. Bake until tester or knife comes out clean.

Loaves: 60-70 minutes at least

Muffins: 45 minutes

Another Beautiful Mural Artist

2009-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

I was contacted recently by Allison Cosmos, an experienced mural artist whose portfolio is rich in beautiful residential work (her bio says she also works in commercial settings.) With 14 years of experience, Allison brings a wonderful sense of color, taste, and refinement to her projects. I love how she draws inspiration from playful fabric motifs and expands them by adding original animals, scenes, or other ornament where appropriate. Here are just a couple of my favorite images from her portfolio.

This toile-inspired imagery is based on the style of a Scalamandre pattern used elsewhere in the room. How wonderful for a child's room, or even a powder room or dining room!

This elegant scrollwork would look equally suitable in a dressing room or a dining room. (Click any of the photos for enlarged images.)

I absolutely love the stained pattern on this floor. This is something I've always wanted to do for a client but haven't found the right project yet. Now I know who can help when it comes up! I even love the variety of cross forms occupying the centers of the octagons.

Believe it or not, this is an entry door. Damask patterns seem to be everywhere these days, but this is actually one application I haven't come across until now. The contrast of the raspberry and white are so striking against the gray wall and the green daybed. Love!

Shabby Chic - It' Still Here

2009-10-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

The NY Times today posted this article about the return of Shabby Chic. After some ups and downs including bankruptcy, it has gotten a new life and is reopening three flagship stores (New York, Santa Monica, and London.)

The company is 20 years old and was born during the last recession, in 1989. It grew in popularity as people reacted against the strong, geometric design of the '80s and began to crave more comforting surroundings at home. I can see how that would be the case now as well, but I think the overscaled, purposefully sloppy slipcover look is a bit outdated.

Also, the article points out that Shabby Chic as a concept became so pervasive that the flea market look is now routinely mixed in throughout a whole host of retailers' lines, no longer being exclusive to this brand. By its very nature, this weathered, antique-y aesthetic doesn't lend itself to exclusive ownership by one retailer as it is supposed to approximate a collected, eclectic look. I hope Shabby Chic has some more design tricks up its sleeve. I look forward to seeing how they perform in this market.

Up in the (Faux) Trees

2009-09-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Here's another item I came across an ad for recently and which sufficiently intrigued me to check out their website: faux trees. Really nice faux trees. No, not an oxymoron. The company that makes them is called NatureMaker.

Turns out the guys who make the trees you would see inside Caesar's Palace or the Paris Casino (shown above) also make them for residential applications as well. I can't say I love every image in their gallery - let's face it, sometimes a tree inside a house is just strange and contrived - but I find them thought-provoking. I like to look at an item like this and think, "how could I make this cool? What could surround this item to make it look authentic and not just theme-y or like a stage set?"

My favorite image from their residential portfolio is shown both at the top of this post and here in another photo. The bleak, twisty Bristlecone Pine is 15' high by 15' in diameter, so you can imagine that the overall room is huge. I think the designer did a really good job. The tree looks like it blends well into this stark interior.

This image is of an exterior residential application - the beautiful faux Cypress columns are 32' high (!) and support the carriageway of a luxury home. The idea of the faux trees here makes sense to me - from an engineering standpoint, you can be sure they're made out of a strong enough material to bear this much weight, and you don't have to figure out where to source two matching real timbers to do the job.

NatureMaker seems to do quite a brisk business in restaurants. This one I found particularly pretty. It's an olive tree at Via Delizia Bistro in Portland, OR. The canopy is 27' wide and the height is 14'.

I had a lot of fun scrolling through NatureMaker's portfolio. What do you think?

Playful Wallcoverings

2009-09-24T19:45:00.001-07:00

I came across two fun things in this month's Interior Design magazine.

One is this new wallpaper pattern fom Wolf Gordon. WG is a favorite of mine. They make a lot of contemporary, graphic or textured wallcoverings that are more durable and suited for commercial applications (but of course also work for residential.) Contract/commercial settings have higher performance requirements - think about it - you want to be able to wipe the walls down if stuff gets splashed on them, and you wouldn't want someone in your restaurant damaging the walls by just brushing against them with their studded belt or scratchy jewelry - so you can usually use a commercially intended product in the home, but not all items intended for residential use are durable enough for commercial applications.

Anyway, this new pattern from Wolf Gordon called Irene's Damask is really fun because at first glance, it looks like a traditional damask, but when you look closer, you can see that it is made up of animals. The pattern was just introduced and I couldn't find it on WG's website yet, but I found the image I had seen in the magazine. I hope it is part of a whole collection with a similar feel.

There is another company I've seen do a similar thing with damask. Studio Printworks carries a design by Paul Loebach called "Yee-Ha." It is a composition of cowboys on horseback, oil rigs, football helmets, and more Texas-style imagery, but at a glance, it looks like a perfectly traditional damask pattern. It's available in a whole range of colors.

I've also seen the Scottish company Timorous Beasties create toile patterns with somewhat disturbing contemporary urban street scenes and images of large iguanas Have you come across any other companies that play with traditional concepts of pattern like this?

Renegade Craft Fair coming up again!

2009-08-27T18:33:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post about the upcoming Chicago Renegade Craft Fair. I went to this wonderful street fair for the first time last year and despite the torrential, driving rain, loved it. It's coming up again in a couple weeks and I have my fingers crossed for decent weather this time!

The fair consists of booth after booth of artisans and craftspeople selling a huge assortment of clothing, jewelry, prints, posters, and any other type of handcrafted or handprinted item you could imagine. Check it out!

My favorite purchase from last year's fair: a tee shirt with this design on it from Seibei

Parasol Mag - A Fantastic Discovery!

2009-08-27T14:32:00.001-07:00

I came across this very cool online magazine focusing on art, design, lifestyle, and crafting called Parasol. The best part (aside from the original content and lack of advertising): the issues are free to download. The first issue can be viewed as a pdf here and you can find the rest at the magazine's homepage.

In the magazine are profiles of all sorts of cutting edge artists, designers, and crafters, including Alexandra Romano, a photographer and digital print artist. I was really taken with her collection that was inspired by Carneval in Venice. They are available for purchase on Etsy and you can see her full print portfolio here, on her website.

She is just one of the many inspirational talents profiled in Parasol. I am excited to delve further into Parasol to discover more new talent!

New York Times on Interior Design

2009-08-20T07:36:00.001-07:00

In today's Home and Garden section, the New York Times has a couple articles about the changing interior design industry. Many high-end designers are taking on smaller or different types of projects than they typically would, and it's leading to a redefinition of the designer-client interaction.

As an experienced high-end designer, I can identify. With the economy, you have to be flexible in how you offer your services. Instead of my standard full-on design services where I work within the client's budget to select all sorts of furnishings and finishes from trade resources, I've found more clients interested in my consultation services with recommendations on where to purchase products at retail, or a furniture plan service where I help determine layout and let the clients shop for their own furniture, or paint and architectural finish consultations.

I am always on the lookout for new projects, so if you or anyone you know needs some help but have been intimidated by using a designer for something you thought might be too small of a request, drop me a line! I love providing whatever help I can, whether it be a large-scale renovation, selecting window treatments, or even reupholstery of a few chairs.

White Attic - Vintage Chic Bookcases

2009-08-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

Just saw over on Chicago Home & Garden's Domestica Blog that local shop White Attic is now making custom glass-front bookcases.

White Attic's stock in trade is refinished vintage modern case goods that they bring new life to by repainting in luxe, muted colors or revarnishing to bring out the beauty of the natural wood. We have a chest from them that works perfectly in our entry and I visit the shop periodically to get inspired for other projects.

We've been in the market for a pair of vintage barrister bookcases with glass fronts, but maybe these could be a suitable alternative - given we've had no luck combing antique shops and sales for a matching pair of vintage ones in good condition. Hmm.

Marimekko Fabulosity

2009-08-17T09:45:00.001-07:00

After my sister sent me a link to Marimekko's website (to look at an adorable dress), I found their online library of fabric patterns. Listed by designer, Marimekko fabrics are always crisp and refreshingly creative. Here are some of my favorites:

Taikamylly by Sanna Annukka

Ihmemaa by Sanna Annukka

Kevätjuhla by Miina Äkkijyrkkä (not sure how to pronounce that one!)

Jääkarhu by Klaus Haapaniemi

The site shows numerous fabrics made into duvet sets for the bedroom. It's funny - the way they're all styled and photographed from an aerial perspective, I thought they were all hot water bottles until I enlarged one and realized it was a bed shot from above.

Here are a couple of the patterns I really liked:

Lumimarja

Onnen Helmet

Unikko

The signature Marimekko style lends itself naturally to kids' products.

Check out this adorable bib.

And this twist on the classic game, "Memory." Wouldn't it be more fun with Marimekko patterns involved?

Newsflash: Non-Cheesy Mural Artist!

2009-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

I met with the coolest mural artist yesterday to review her portfolio for future use in my projects. Her name is Augustina Droze and she's been working since she was 15 on paid commissions for murals. Clearly she was born to do this.

I am normally not the hugest fan of murals - let's face it, we've all seen murals that just look tacky and don't give off that upscale vibe, rather looking amateurish and too folksy.

But Augustina really gets it - her work is sophisticated and extremely well-rendered. She is not only a gifted artist in her own right, but is capable of replicating the styles of various artists upon request. I've chosen to post some of her residential work, but if you visit her gallery, you'll also see some of her work in restaurants, malls, and civic projects.

Here is one of my favorite pieces she's done - it's in a home in Aspen and depicts the local landscape.

Here is one of a kitchen ceiling - what a great treatment to add interest up above!

A mural is a classic way to enliven a child's room. I love these!

Here, a transporting landscape with some adorable, realistic criters sprinkled throughout.

And in this room, vignettes in the style of Norman Rockwell add old-time appeal.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

2009-07-25T20:23:00.001-07:00

Having had a little success with our new garden this summer, I have developed a deeper interest in plants recently. And on one of my frequent running routes, I enter Lincoln Park right by the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

A mysterious, hulking behemoth of a greenhouse, this building has intrigued me for the past several months since I first noticed it during a run. It also has a prominently posted marquee stating that it is open every day of the year for free to the public from 9-5. The problem is that it lies about a third of the way through my run, so it never seems just the right moment to peek in and take a stroll through some exotic plant exhibits.

Today, with my sister in town, we were walking through the park to visit the green market and it struck me that this was the perfect opportunity to check out the Conservatory. It was worth the wait and far exceeded my expectations. The building is divided into several rooms with a logical path running through. First there was the palm room, then the fern room, then the orchid room, and then a seasonal exhibit room, leading back in a loop to the palm room and then out again. Almost every plant is labeled and there are some giant ones that make you feel like you're in Jurassic Park or some prehistoric rainforest.

Here is some history about the building from the Chicago Park District's official website:

The Lincoln Park Commission constructed the Lincoln Park Conservatory in phases between 1890 and 1895, replacing a small greenhouse that dated from the 1870s. Nationally renowned architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee designed the Conservatory in collaboration with architect M.E. Bell. The park includes a second example of the work of each architect. Silsbee designed the Carlson Cottage, a ladies comfort station southeast of Café Brauer, and Bell designed the Rustic Shelter, located west of the North Pond, near Stockton Drive.

During the early nineteenth century developments in iron and glass building technology led to the construction of conservatories in cities throughout Europe and the United States. Later in the century, as people were increasingly concerned about the ill effects of industrialization, they became fascinated with nature and interested in collecting and classifying plants. Large conservatories with display and exhibit rooms gained popularity, and Lincoln Park's small greenhouse no longer seemed sufficient. Architects Silsbee and Bell were commissioned to design a much more substantial building. Rendered in an exotic style, the new structure included palm, fernery, orchid, and show houses. A "paradise under glass," the Conservatory supported "a luxuriant tropical growth, blending the whole into a natural grouping of Nature’s loveliest forms." Historically, aquatic plants propagated in tanks in the Conservatory were planted outside, in artificially-heated lily ponds. The exotic plants were so popular that in 1897 the Egyptian government requested seeds from Lincoln Park's water lilies. The rocky-edged ponds once meandered along what is now the fence line of the Lincoln Park Zoo

It is such a wonderfully pleasant environment to explore the beauty of plants and to learn about various species. I wouldn't say there was an overwhelming amount of information - in fact, there were very few explanatory placards - but just enough to provide some background without overly slowing down your progress through the exhibits. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking this out - it's a breathtaking facility, it's free, and you just may get some inspiration for your home garden.

Some Updated Portfolio Pics

2009-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

After adding new chairs, pillows, and drapery in the living room, I have taken some new pics.

The sofa pillows I've posted about before - I used a Ralph Lauren houndstooth check, alpaca herringbone woven, and red moss fringe to create deliciously lush down throw pillows for two sofas.

The drapery is of an ivory linen with a tan pinstripe, lined and interlined, to draw for complete privacy. The panels have a French pleated header and are mounted on an antique brass rod with small, traditional finials.

The dining chairs were a '70s find from a Pennsylvania antiques dealer. I had them recovered in a pop-y, yet muted, stripe that is actually an outdoor fabric, which should make it particularly stain-resistant and durable. The back cushions are buttoned through the caned backs of the chairs and have a contrasting flange in the seam rather than the more traditionally used cord welt (which was used on the seats.) I love how they turned out!

If you need advice or help with recovering any of your furniture or you want to transform your sofas with some new throw pillows, drop me a line!

Groovy Missoni Prints

2009-07-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

Had some fun checking things out at the Merchandise Mart today - I was researching outdoor furniture, but had to peek in at Stark to see what was new. I loved these wild Missoni prints that I don't remember seeing before. They've carried Missoni for a long time, but I think this collection is new.

With the large scale of these fabrics, they lend themselves to use as drapery, on large floor cushions, or even on large upholstered pieces. The large repeat would make a sofa or chair look very modern. And with the crazy colors, they wouldn't show stains.

Another great application would be to paperback them and use them as wallpaper. Wouldn't these make a teenage girl's room or a family room look fab?

Garden Party Success

2009-07-21T16:03:00.001-07:00

A selection of the delectable edibles on offer - homemade dark- and white-chocolate covered cheesecake bites, Farm brownies (Elaine's recipe), cheese bites with peach and raspberry jam, and mock chopped liver

Thanks to all who came through our garden this weekend during the Sheffield Garden Walk. We had prepared an assortment of hors d'oeuvres and drinks and loved having all the visitors to the neighborhood come through on the tour.

A big attraction was our working fountain, which I was thrilled to have gotten up and running earlier in the week. It makes for such a peaceful setting to sit and read a book or enjoy dinner with friends.

We hope to see all of you again next year!

A Different Woodcut Artist

2009-06-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Rubber Ducky in the Last Frontier"

Here's another artist we seriously contemplated buying something from at the Old Town Art Fair this weekend - her name is Jenny Pope and she also does woodcuts. Hers are compositions of animals she's presumably come across in her travels. There isn't any bio on her website, but there are plenty of images of her work. We met her at the fair and she was really nice.

"Sleeted Chicklets"

I love her color sense with the muted, retro feel she gives to all her work. I also love that these would look great in more contemporary or traditional homes. The colors make them feel really modern but the richness of the compositions and the variety of color within each one make them compatible with traditional spaces as well to some extent.

"Australian Spotted Jellyfish"

Applique Genius Chris Roberts-Antieau

2009-06-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

"Dog Day Care"

Another artist we LOVED at the Old Town Art Fair this weekend was Chris Roberts-Antieau of Manchester, MI, whose work is sold by Red Truck Gallery in New Orleans. She works completely in fabric - all the pieces are appliqued in fabric and thread, not painted (except for the frames, which she hand-paints herself.)

According to the gallery's write-up, this artist is not only prolific but extremely accomplished, having works displayed in the White House (portrait of George Washington), the Boxing Hall of Fame (tribute piece to Sugar Ray Robinson), and the homes of Oprah and various other celebrities. She has shown in over 100 galleries nationwide and many museums as well.

"King Kong"

Her pieces are very whimsical and lend themselves to being displayed in any number of types of room, but would obviously fit especially well in a casual, family environment. The subject matter is diverse, ranging from blues singers and somewhat more adult themes to more kid-friendly fare like pets and food. Even the less kid-oriented stuff is still rendered "cute", i.e. King Kong above, by the primitive style though.

The work wreaks of originality and exhuberance, and just on the website, there are a huge number of pieces displayed (only a few of which we saw at the fair - most of the ones that they had there aren't even on the website) This woman must never sleep!

"Bad Habits"

I love that lot of her works are not just focused on one central image, but rather feature lists of some kind (whether it be a list of types of sandwiches or of bad habits to avoid). These lists seem like they would take quite a while to compile, edit, determine appropriate imagery for, and then arrange into a pleasing composition.

You can scroll through a lot of her works at redtruckgallery.com by selecting her name under the "artists" menu. Of course, being fabric, they are even tougher to do justice to online, but they're absolutely still worth a look. You can enlarge them all to see more of the detail and read the words on the works and frames (all of which she hand-paints herself.) She is a wonderful artist whose work I hope I come across again!

Gorgeous Woodblock Prints

2009-06-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the Old Town Art Fair. It was the most gorgeous day and seeing all the artists' works, whether we liked them or not, was just awesome visual stimulation.

We ultimately ended up purchasing the print above, titled "Full Moon", by Nick Wroblewski. He is based in Madison, WI and has an amazing selection of woodblock prints. Check out his gallery here.

Oh, and we got this one too, of a Red Bellied Woodpecker. It's smaller but the color and design really grabbed me.

There's just something so energizing about seeing original art, and witnessing such a large crowd of other people enjoying it, no matter what your taste.

I'll post about some of the other artists we saw in some future posts.

New Portfolio Pics

2009-06-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

I got to accessorize with my western-suburb client yesterday, and it was super-fun! We bought a bunch of things with the expectation that she would return whatever didn't work, but it turns out that nearly everything was useful. And we really nailed the aqua color we were shopping for, finding candles, potpourri and vases that matched the chairs exactly. Usually I don't care if the shades are a little off, but we were lucky to find several retailers that carried collections with this exact color.

Anyway, go to my gallery at EricaGail.com and check out the first five photos there for some more pics. And see my previous post on this project to view some before and during pics of the same rooms.

Beautiful Bedding

2009-06-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

I was shopping with a client this week and saw some gorgeous bed linens at Crate and Barrel and Z Gallerie. I know, what?

Here is the Crate and Barrel Tamburiini pattern by Marimekko. It's actually somehow silvery and reflective but not stiff. I love intricate prints like this. This could work in a very sparse, mod, white lacquer-y space or a more decorated, pretty, traditional room.

I also saw this bed done up in Z Gallerie's Plaza bedding, which was displayed under a wonderful white tent (inside the store) with a crenellated flap outlined in black. Not sure if the tent is for sale, but knowing them, probably. Z Gallerie is the king of random when it comes to retailers. Anyway, these linens had very nice embroidery. The quality isn't Pratesi, but at these prices, I thought the overall effect was very upscale. I am not wild about the Euro shams with the enlarged pattern. Dig the parrot though.

And they offer some matching drapery panels, but they are on sale so it looks like they may be discontinued - I'm not sure. I would use them to frame a shower or bed since they are fairly thin but the design is so pretty.

A Feast for the Eyes and Mouth!

2009-05-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

It was love at first sight when I laid eyes on these absolutely gorgeous dessert creations by Amy Atlas. She is an event planner specializing in dessert tables that she designs and makes. Her expertise is in combining her own specialty dessert cakes, petits fours, truffles, and homemade candy with store-bought candies in subtle color combinations to create striking tablescapes worthy of the grandest parties and events. Go to her website to see many more gorgeous photos.

I love the color schemes, delicate details and creative/innovative designs. I love that she puts effort into allowing the handmade details to shine rather than trying to make everything look cookie cutter (pun intended!)

When you see the desserts close-up, the attention to detail blows you away. (I am speaking of the photo close-ups - I haven't been fortunate enough yet to actually attend any of her events, plus she's based in NY. But here's hoping.) Everything looks absolutely mouth-watering.

I'm very inspired by what I'll call her candyscapes. My husband's office holiday party had a simple candy bar at the end where everyone could scoop their favorite into a bag to take away. It's a simple concept, but such a crowd-pleaser. You could totally do it yourself at home. But when someone puts the effort into the sophisticated color combinations of the candies like Amy seems to, it elevates the concept to another level that can compete with or sit along next to more sophisticated desserts without looking gimmicky.

Garden Stools - So Useful, and Now Extremely Affordable!

2009-05-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our new Garden Stool - See last paragraph for info

In the last couple years, there has been a proliferation of vendors selling garden stools. These are small, drum-shaped ceramic stools that are useful in almost any room as either a small occasional table to set drinks or food on, or as additional occasional seating that can be easily moved around the room as needed.

Normally, the pricing on these is anywhere from $129-$250. I have seen many of the exact same style offered for vastly different prices (as shown below), and I always suspect they are coming out of the same Chinese factory. Granted, some of the glazing on the more expensive ones might look a little more layered, but that's not always the case and still, I felt that the vendors were most likely making a huge margin on them at $129.

Wisteria - $129

Williams Sonoma Home Simple Garden Seat - $250

Gumps White Garden Stool - $275

Yesterday I was in Costco and saw these exact stools for $34 each. $34. Each.

They offered four colors, each of which I found tasteful - ivory, pale yellow, pale turquoise, and reddish brown. I snapped up two ivory ones for our patio and felt like I got the steal of the century.

It's Patio Time!

2009-04-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

It came to my attention this year that there's a whole world of patio furniture out there. I never had a reason to look into it for myself, never having had any outdoor space of my own to furnish (not counting the 20 square foot balcony in our last apartment.) Suddenly now that we need some, I realized it's in every store and catalog. I just never noticed it before!

I've shopped at certain very high-end vendors for clients in the past, but for my first foray into my own patio furniture, I wanted to keep it simple. Plus, Chicago winters aren't kind to the stuff and we don't have room to store a lot of cushions. So whatever we have has to either be replaceable or super-sturdy.

After checking out a whole slew of options from Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Home Decorators, Frontgate, Bellacor, CB2, West Elm, and several others I can't even recall right now, I happened upon Grandin Road. They have a pretty tasteful selection overall, and I think the Paxton Collection, which we ended up with for our lounge seating, looks way pricier than it actually is.

We went with both the sofa and chair. The sofa comes with the seat cushion and three throw pillows (already a big advantage over other retailers who charge separately for the frame and the cushions/pillows) in a perfect pale maize color, and delivery is included in their pricing. The chair comes with the seat cushion and one throw pillow. It all comes via UPS and requires some simple assembly with a screwdriver.

I ordered it Monday. It got here today, which kind of caught me off-guard. I got the shipping confirmation email saying it had shipped yesterday a few minutes after it actually got here.

We also ordered a dining set (table and four chairs) from Home Decorators, which is affiliated with Home Depot. However, I later discovered a different set from Frontgate that I think I might get instead because it has a round table and would be easier to pull an additional chair up to (the set I originally ordered has a slightly higher than average table, so you couldn't use standard chairs with it. I guess some people think that a table being high makes it cooler somehow. Not sure why.)

Home Decorators only has like 5 locations nationwide, but one of them happens to be in the Home Depot in our neighborhood. They have a program that allows you to order something to be shipped to the store and only pay $15 shipping, rather than the approximately $145 freight and shipping it would have cost to ship directly to our house. It's a great deal if it works for you. I plan on going to the store to see the set in person before deciding whether to bring it home or return it and get the Frontgate set instead.

Preview - Before and After Pics!

2009-04-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

I am working with a client locally who recently purchased a Craftsman style bungalow in the Western Suburbs. These homes typically have a front living room, but their home also has a large family room in back that they use for everyday lounging and informal entertaining.

This left them with a large front room that they weren't sure what to do with. It encompasses an entry area, staircase, and living area. We have worked so far on defining the living area into a semi-formal space suitable for a young family by changing the wall color, adding new furnishings and drapery, and anchoring the living space with an area rug. Previously the room was painted a jarring yellow with puny drapery panels hung bizarrely across the window transoms. Now the walls are a calming beige with striped drapery panels hung to heighten the space and show off the refined furnishings.

This area flows into the dining room, which also needed a pick-me-up. Starting off with a dreary dark blue, the space was drab and depressing. Working with the existing furniture, we lightened the walls, added drapery, artwork, and a mirror, recovered the chair seats, and restyled the interior of the china cabinet. Now the dining room is inviting and refined.

Both areas are still WORKS IN PROGRESS - still missing things like a new chandelier, side tables, a coffee table, lamps, and matching pillows - but the difference so far has nonetheless been dramatic. Take a look at these IN PROGRESS before and after pics!

Living Area BEFORE

Living Area AFTER

Dining Room BEFORE

Dining Room AFTER

Dining to Living BEFORE

Dining to Living AFTER

Dining Room Window Wall BEFORE

Dining Room Window Wall AFTER

Dining Room AFTER

Dining Room Mirror Area BEFORE

Dining Room Mirror Area AFTER

Pillow Chapter Closed

2009-04-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

My handiwork in the back, with a cashmere-covered pillow in front (cashmere cover from The Company Store)

I finished sewing all the pillow covers, finally! It is so nice not having white uncovered down inserts all over the house mocking my procrastination.

For the living room, I used a woven camel hair/wool blend that is super-soft for the backs and a Ralph Lauren houndstooth wool for the fronts with a red brush fringe in the seams. Since wool is a natural fiber (my favorite!), it breathes year-round and I don't feel it's inappropriate even with summer coming up.

For all the pillow covers I made, I went two inches smaller than the inserts (for a 20" insert, I sewed an 18" square cover) so that they would be comfortably plump. I went with 50/50 down fill, but I would advise going up even to 70/30 (70% feathers/30% down) for added firmness. The more down, the more loft but that also means they collapse more easily when you lean on them. The 50/50 works well but since the price also goes down as you decrease the down percentage, I'd consider using 70/30 next time possibly.

Check out the concealed zipper - a perfect color match with the trim!

Euro Chic in Atlanta

2009-04-28T08:59:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across this website for an Atlanta-based design boutique called Bobo Intriguing Objects. The website is very limited in description of the history of the business or its curators, but bottom line - I love pretty much everything they have, ranging from lighting to outdoor planters to case goods to upholstery. If I had to shop at one store ever again, they might be in the running. It all has a rough-hewn, old-world European look. Nothing is too glossy or fussy, and they really have a wonderful eye for proportion and interesting shapes/lines. I encourage you to go look at the full collection on their site for more eye candy. Additional note: they do COM upholstery (Client's Own Material) for no additional charge.

Elkins Arm Chairs - love the historically-inspired lines of this chair. The revised shield shape of the backs lend these an almost anthropomorphic quality. Don't they look like women with their hands on their hips, like they could almost get up and walk away on those cabriole legs?

Loveseat - this would be perfect against a wall in an entry or living room. Love the overscaled back and the shape of the arms a well as the cabriole legs.

Iron/Oak Lantern - love the proportion and mix of light and dark. Also, the detailing of the studs along the stringers and the juxtaposition of the vintage-style bulb with the refined style of the piece overall add it layers of interest.

Brugges Planter - love the angled sides, scalloped top edges and ball finials

Alexandre Table - Love the delicately shaped base in sturdy iron.

Agadir Mirror - Love the unexpected angled sides and the overall proportions of this shape.

Oliver Bookshelf - love the matte, raw white-washed finish and the turned spindle supports.

Pillow Power!

2009-04-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

I took on the project of sewing pillow covers for our new daybed. Having basic sewing knowledge, I figured this would be a good challenge for me given I had decided to buy some pretty pricey fabrics and I wanted to make the covers with concealed zippers.

If you want to make a pillow cover without a zip closure, it's about the easiest sewing project you could do. It's sewing a straight line in a square.

If you do want to add a zipper, it's just a little bit harder. But the final step of stuffing the pillow, which is a pain if you are not using a zipper because you have to sew the pillow closed by hand once the pillow fill is inside, is way way easier with a zip closure.

I found the whole thing pretty intimidating, to be honest. I was planning on sewing nine pillows in all. The thought paralized me for a few weeeks while I hemmed and hawed about buying the fabric. I knew once I had the fabric, I would have no excuse not to start on the fabrication since my husband would be eager to have the large rolls of fabric gone.

Once I read some advice online and visualized all the steps in my head, I felt I was ready to jump in. Here is the most useful site I used to wrap my mind around the process: tutorial on pillows with concealed/invisible zippers.

Going into this, I knew I might hit some snags (no pun intended!). I could just anticipate that with a project of this size, and not having sewn in several years, I might encounter some tricky situation that would trip me up and possibly lead me to seek professional upholstery help. In this case, it ended up being the difficulty of working with velvet, specifically mohair velvet. It turns out that velvet tends to "run away from" the needle.

I was sewing a pillow that had one panel of mohair velvet and one panel of wool plaid (a two-sided pillow.) Despite cutting the plaid and velvet to exactly the same size, on the first two pillows I made, I would end up with an extra inch to two inches of plaid after sewing all the way down one side of the pillow. It was driving me crazy.

On the third pillow, I thought, "why don't I try cutting the velvet bigger since the sewing machine seems to eat it?" This time, I ended up with like two inches extra of velvet. I would have gone insane, had I not already witnessed the beauty of inside-out sewing on the first two of these pillows that I had already sewn and stuffed: even if your pillow cover looks embarassingly crappy on the inside, when you turn it rightside-out and stuff a pillow into it, nobody will ever know! I imagine there are some limitations to this rule, but I really put it to the test and my pillows turned out looking fine.

Check out how well they turned out (if I do say so myself!) I made the plaid ones and the chain link ones. (The red velvet ones I bought since I happened to find them at a sample sale and they were the perfect color.) This is totally our new hangout spot in the house!

Next project: sewing four more pillows for our living room sofas, this time with zippers and in-seam brush fringe. Cross your fingers!

Very Cool Wall Designs

2009-04-17T07:36:00.001-07:00

I am starting to think about stenciling a room or ceiling in our house as an alternative to wallpaper, which can peel and/or be a deterrent to future buyers. Stencils can just be painted over, so you avoid that pitfall. Plus, it can look very modern and you can do funky things like use asymmetry or specific bold colors you may not find in a wallpaper.

This site, Modello Designs, sells stencils (they call them "masking patterns") of all sizes (from inches to many feet wide/tall) for use in a huge variety of applications. In interiors, they can be used on walls, ceilings, or furniture. You choose your pattern from their library, or submit your own custom design, and order it in whatever size/scale you need. I wish I could show one of their designs here but I am intimidated by their copyright protection and unlike just a standard photo, someone could actually download the pattern from my site and reproduce it.

Here is a link to a really fun lantern mural project that they profile step-by-step on their site.

Here is a link to the blog post on Real Simple where I initially saw Modello's work. Please go look - it is SO cool the way they stenciled graphic pattterns all over walls and ceilings.

An alternative to stenciling, here is another company I am also intrigued by. It's called WallTat. Their product is actually a removeable sticker for your wall, but the designs are very modern and you can choose from their whole range of colors. Unlike stenciling, the only work is sticking it up on your wall. Peel and stick - done!

What I love about these is that they work in public spaces, bedrooms, and especially kids' rooms. A lot of the patterns that aren't specificaly for kids could still work in kids' rooms really easily, especially the nature patterns. Imagine a child's room with pale yellow wals and a white dandelion like the one shown over the bed here.

If you're thinking about buying one of these and want some advice on sizing or color, let me know!

Immortalized in Dots

2009-04-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

At the Architectural Digest Home Show, they had a juried exhibition of artisans who create artwork and furniture for the home.

I met Kristine Baerlin of Figment Studio, who paints portraits in a pop-art style that is very distinctive, yet accessible and not too abstract to really capture the likeness of your child or other portrait subject.

You give her a photo you want replicated in portrait form, and she mixes her own acrylics and uses museum-quality canvas to replicate it in her style, with an overlay of dots or circles.

Kristine had a selection of portraits on site at the show and they were really eye-catching. And the price point is pretty reasonable for a custom piece of artwork.

Here is a beautiful example of one of her portraits of a non-child subject, using the "dot" style rather than the open circles. This color palette is more monochromatic, but her website displays a wide assortment of other standard color palettes you can choose from or customize to your own liking.

I think one of the best things about these portraits is that you can get them as a surprise gift for someone since they are done from a photograph. How cool!

And on the Subject of Blankets... More Awesomeness!

2009-04-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

Pendleton "Eye Dazzler" Blanket

In writing about the Swans Island Blankets in my earlier post, I was reminded of some other blankets I recently came across while researching linens for my new daybed. Some of you may not be that familiar with Pendleton or might never have heard of them, but they are still around making blankets from historic designs in addition to their contemporary apparel.

Pendleton is a family company founded in 1863. Until 1895, the company dealt in wool but did not do the weaving. Beginning in 1895, the company opened its own mill to produce blankets and robes for Native Americans, later branching out into menswear and womenswear. It still produces historic Native American designs (like the one above) from its archives in addition to modern apparel and bedding.

I love their authentic national park blankets in heavy wool - perfect for a mountain home or really any room that works with these bold colors.

Glacier National Park Blanket, 100% pure virgin wool

Grand Teton National Park Blanket, 100% pure virgin wool

I also love their selection of throws. The ones I've shown here are both plaid, but they have an assortment of beautiful solids as well in numerous types of wool. They've got me dreaming of curling up on the couch enveloped in one of their super-thick wool throws.

Plaid 5th Avenue Throw, 100% merino wool

"Motor Robe" in Indigo Plaid, 100% pure virgin wool

Lust-worthy Blankets

2009-04-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

My favorite booth at the Architectural Digest Home Show (that I attended a week ago in NYC) was the Swans Island Blankets booth. The company is based in Maine and makes the most beautiful blankets from wool from local sheep, dyed using local dyestuffs. They are an authentic New England product in every way and I can't stop thinking about them.

Their line includes winter- and summer-weight blankets and throws as well as baby blankets from the softest merino wool.

Here is an excerpt from their catalog:

Because the wool is so clean on teh backs of the sheep, it only needsmild organic detergents for final washng, preserving the fiber's natural oils. It is then carded and spun into skeins or onto cones. The natural blacks and browns, the "rare wools", are ready to use. Other batches are dyed naturally, using madder root for orange, indigo for blue, cochineal for red and pink, kamala root for yellows.

Does this take you back to medieval times or what? I am reading a historical novel now in which one of the central families develops a dying practice using madder that changes the economy of the town. It is so neat to know that these roots are still used today.

Here is more about the process:

Setting up each loom takes four days. Between the warp and weft, up to 3456 knots are tied by hand. Yarn is spun onto bobbins; the bobbins are installed in shuttles. It takes nine hours to weave a queen-sized blanket and as many as five more to pick out the last of the chaff by hand. Its edges are finished in silk and it is folded into its linen slipcase, comple with moth-deterring cedar boards.

I love a wool throw because even in summer, wool allows your skin to breath while still providing warmth. These blankets are heirloom quality and will provide your family with comfort for years.

Pillow Mania

2009-04-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

I just found the coolest site, Fabricadabra. They have awesome pillow covers in silk/cotton suzani and ikat prints, among other patterns, at prices that are super-reasonable. On her "About Us" page, the site's curator, Donna, describes her goals and concludes with this:

I have chosen to work with artisans from all around the world who still utilize pure and ancient techniques for dyeing and weaving fabrics. All decorative covers use natural dyes and are woven on handlooms. All embroidery is hand embroidered. All artisans are paid fair wages. The carbon footprint isn't low, but where in the States can I find such products and skills?

Here are a couple pretty pillow covers:

Silk/Cotton Ikat print

Embroidered Suzani Pillow Cover

Pink Ikat Print Pillow Cover

And here is one of several adorable childrens' pillows she offers:

Professor Acorn Children's Pillow

International Vintage Poster Fair This Weekend!

2009-03-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Left: vintage PKZ poster we have in our dining room, circa 1929. PKZ is a Swiss department store dating back to the late 1800's. (And in looking at their website, I see that they are the clothing sponser for the "Mister Schweiz [Schweiz = Switzerland]" competition. How funny is that?)

Chicago people: listen up! There is a super-cool vintage poster fair going on this weekend at the Chicago Cultural Center at 77 W. Randolph. I am so sad we are not going to be able to make it!

Vintage posters are a wonderful art source because they are pieces which were intended to be ephemeral sales tools which ads to their charm. They can impart color, history and personality.

Of course, I imagine most of the posters at the fair will be at the high end of the price range for vintage posters, but you can find reprints at tons of online dealers and local framing shops for very reasonable prices.

Posters are also a great way to get a very large piece of art economically. We have one that is probably about 36"W x 60"H in our dining room that my family purchased through Swann Gallery in NY, a fun place to visit when they're having a pre-sale exhibition.

My one piece of advice is to seek out the less-often reprinted posters and stay away from the ones you see at every framing shop and street fair. Who needs to see another Taittinger ad, really?

These two: incredibly striking, but that is why I consider them a "don't" - they are so popular that now they're totally cliche'd!

Keeping Cool (But Not Frozen)

2009-03-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

A Q&A in the NY Times today answered a pressing issue we've had to deal with countless times: how do you keep your produce from freezing in the refrigerator? Once lettuce and other fruits and veggies freeze, there's no way to undo the damage, which can be really annoying. Finally, here are some clear answers to which areas of the fridge are coldest, and what tips really work for maintaining the integrity of your produce.

Some highlights:

If you must use a shelf instead of the crisper drawer, avoid the rear, bottom, and left side of the refrigerator if you have a side-by-side (I added this last one from personal experience), as many fridges pipe in cold air from the freezer to cool and this typically comes in at the top rear of the fridge compartment.

Optimal fridge temperature is 36-38 degrees, which you can monitor with a specialty thermometer. Best time to check is first thing in the morning or after any long period of not being opened.

This has less to do with temperature, but oxygen is also a major factor in deterioration of produce quality, so wrapping tightly in plastic can help maintain its freshness. Guess there really is something to those Debbie Meyer Greenbags you see on the infomercials!

Portfolio Update - Again!

2009-03-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Uploaded a few more portfolio pics to my website. Today is so gorgeous, I had to take advantage of this light!

A Tangled Web

2009-03-17T06:02:00.001-07:00

I have posted before about the jumble of wires behind our entertainment center in the living room. This weekend we attacked that as well as the wires from two other TV's in order to bring some semblance of organization to these areas. I say "semblance" because it's a "what you can't see won't hurt you" kind of thing - we used some creativity in hiding some jumbles we just couldn't completely tame. But nobody really has to know that.

Imagine my pleasure in coming across this playful take on cable/wire management in the NY Times today.

Here is some info about the artist from the NY Times:

About the Artist

Christoph Niemann's illustrations have appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine and American Illustration. His work has won numerous awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Art Directors Club and American Illustration. He is the author of two children's books, "The Pet Dragon," which teaches Chinese characters to young readers, and "The Police Cloud." After 11 years in New York, he moved to Berlin with his wife, Lisa, and their sons, Arthur, Gustav and Fritz. His Web site is christophniemann.com.

Some New Portfolio Pics

2009-03-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

I worked on some new portfolio images recently and have posted them to my website (you can see larger images there if you go to the gallery page and keep clicking on each image until it pulls up in its own window at a larger size.)

Some of you may recognize this residence!

The Story Behind the Innaugural Aretha Hat

2009-03-16T08:56:00.001-07:00

Okay, it's not home decor-related, but I think this story deserves a shout. It's about the hat designer behind the audaciously gorgeous had Aretha Franklin wore to the Innauguration, which is going to be going into the Smithsonian. It turns out it was designed by a Detroit-based, second-generation milliner (hatmaker) who followed a twisted educational path involving biochemistry and fine arts. Needing to pay off his accumulated educational debt, he turned to his parents' business for steady income and never left. He has a real gift for construction, material, and design.

Check out the article here, and make sure to look at the slide show too!

Just for Fun: Creepy Animal Head Gallery.

2009-03-12T09:42:00.001-07:00

DO:

Z Gallerie White Resin Deer Head

DON'T:

TheInteriorGallery.com T-Rex Head

Okay, had to share this. With the popularity of imitation mounted animal heads these days, it feels like I see white resin mounted antlers or various animal heads in every other catalog I pick up. I am thinking it might be cool to use some variation on this above our bed, as we don't have a huge amount of height but we need something to decorate that wall.

A quick search led me to this gallery. If you are willing to overlook the annoying music, you will be rewarded with what must certainly be the widest variety of "animals" gathered in one place online, ranging from baby T-Rex to wild boar. And don't worry, none of them are real. I would never support that.

LET ME BE CLEAR: I do not advocate the use of a faux dinosaur head in your home decor. I just think it is funny that there is a market for all of the heads shown on the Interior Gallery website. The only place I could conceive of most of these making sense is in a theme restaurant, store, or amusement park.

Refined Rustic - Cool New Chicago Find

2009-03-12T07:38:00.001-07:00

Refined Rustic is a cool boutique/gallery/studio located at 3924 N. Milwaulkee. They carry vintage and new items that all share a rustic vibe but would blend nicely into more upscale interiors too. Their furniture and accessories are the perfect pieces to add character to blah spaces that need a little oomph.

The pieces below are all reproduction, which is good and bad. While you won't have a one-of-a-kind piece, you will have something handmade and solidly built, and scaled to work with today's interiors and media. And unlike with antiques, you don't have the pressure of never knowing where you can find it again if someone else buys it first - you can take your time making a decision. For me, the hardest decision with a lot of these pieces is where to start since I like so many of them.

I show mainly case goods below, but they do have a wide selection of accessories (like the wash bucket at the bottom of this post), lighting, and even upholstery too. I was just most taken by the lines of the case pieces and tables. I could do a whole separate post on their lighting, actually. It's industrial-inspired but not too cold or impractical, and it's super-chic.

Open Front Bookcase

Octagonal Hall Table

Pair of Nightstands

Antwerp Cabinet

Bourbon Pine Sideboard

Primitive Wash Bucket

Lighten Up!

2009-03-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Obelisk Floor Lamp

I discovered a wonderful lamp resource called Barbara Cosgrove Lamps. They have such a wide range of styles, mainly table lamps with a few standing lamps and sconces thrown in. There's not a single "what were they thinking?" lamp in the bunch, which is unusual when I look at lamp collections. Seriously, I am picky when it comes to lamps.

Here is a sampling of my faves from the collection. This group has some of the more of the unique designs they offer, so I wouldn't call it representative, but rather just a peek to get you interested enough to go visit the site and find more.

Horn Lamp

Celadon Crackle Lamp

Turned White Table Lamp

Quail Lamps