CHIC IN ALLERGY SEASON

Allergy season has left many sneezing and watery with a tissue in hand.  Are you asking what I'm asking?  Are there chic tissue box holders out there?  Ha!  I found some....

World's Away.  This hand-painted green cane design over a cream background is great for summer!  I love the large scale!

Williams-Sonoma Home.  What's not to love about a classic blue and white porcelin tissue box?

Mecox Gardens.  Here are two vintage hand-painted italian tissue boxes.  Wow!

Ballard Designs.  I love the linen and grosgrain ribbon!  Honestly, I could do without the monogram.. I think you can overdue it with monogram being on more than one thing in a space.  Pick and choose!

World's Away.  This white glass crosshatch tissue box is my fav!  It is so simple and stylish!

1st Dibs. This pair of mirrored 1960's Gucci tissue boxes from Italy are a collector's dream!

Have a great weekend!

FALL 2010 FASHION TRENDS

According to Harper's Bazaar, New York's Fall Fashion Week definitely made a big statement!  What's in store?  "Designers focused on easy elegance, soft pants, and cozy sportswear for this fall, emphasizing fur and shades of camel, gray and navy."  Overall, I saw neutrals with lots of fur, embellishments, embroidery and lace, presented in a layered, refined way.  It will be interesting to see how these will make their way into the interior design world since they tend to go hand in hand.  The interpertation of these trends will defintely make a big statement!

Here are fourteen looks that walked the runway:

Ralph Lauren-flowy top over black laced arms

Ralph Lauren-black sequins, chiffon and fur

Proenza Schouler-blue leggings paired with black and cream coat with fur

Michael Kors-used a lot of gray and camel

Michael Kors

Rodarte-unexpected splash of color over lace

Rodarte-layering different textures

Oscar de la Renta-neutral fur suit

Vera Wang- refined glitz

Diane von Furstenberg -flashy jackets in navy

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs

Derek Lam-camel and black

Thakoon-fur and gray

I am excited to see what's to come in home design!  I'll keep you posted!

*All pics and quote from Harper's Bazaar

CAROLINA IMPORTS ON SALE

Carolina Imports is sure to please!  They offer furniture, lighting, artwork, mirrors,  rugs and pottery.  Right now, all in-stock painted furniture, rugs and Wesley Allen Iron Beds are on sale.  The sale lasts now through June 30th.

I visited their store yesterday and brought along a camera to capture what caught my eye!  Enjoy!

I love these!  This pair of bamboo wingback arm chairs are stricking!  They are great because the cushions can be upholstered in any fabric of your choosing!  Love it!

 

Here it is in red!  Defintely the wow factor in a space!

I am sucker for settees!  It has so much french character...  It's all in the details!

This beautiful, large gold beveled mirror really stood out.  The best part was the price!

One day I want to get a farm table for our kitchen.  I stumbled across this farm table at their warehouse.  I wouldn't mind finding an actual farm door and converting it into a farm table.  We'll see!

Another great table!  As I have mentioned on previously blogs, mixing materials creates a more interesting look.  The wood table top and black iron scrool work are gorgeous together!

This island with a marble top is one of my favorites!  It has so much character!



Their address is 847 South Stadium Road, Warehouse 10 Columbia, SC.  The road you turn unto is by the new Condos next to Williams-Brice Stadium.  You will find them in a series of warehouses.  They are open Monday- Saturday 10:00-5:30 and Sunday 1:00-5:00.  Feel free to call their store with any questions-- 803-748-9889.


Thanks for stopping by!

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: MARTHA ANGUS

Around this time last year, Owen and I were riding over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.  It was pretty awesome!  We had so much fun roaming around the city and making our way down to Carmel.

In honor of our amazing trip last year, I thought I would put the spotlight on the San Francisco based designer, Martha Angus.

Angus began designing residential and commercial interiors in New York City.  She has built a loyal following over twenty years, with clients including some familiar names:  Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani.  Her projects have been all over the United States and have reached France, Asia and Australia.  Augus' style is a combination of fresh, comfortable and classic.  She enjoys combining contemporary art with a mix of modern and timeless furniture.  I find her style refreshing and inspiring...pushing me to think outside the box.  It's always fun to discover designers that invite you to dream!

Here are some tips from Angus:

1.  Design rooms with neutral envelopes of color and make strong, colorful blasts with artwork and accessories.
2.  Create your own artwork!  Take your favorite image and blow it up.  Send it to a canvas print shop to be stretched and framed.
3.  Have fun with paint.  Paint bold stripes horizontaly on the wall or paint an accent wall in a strong color to make a statement.
4.  Hang real art in children's rooms.  You'll be happy you started their collection early.
5.  Use bright colors in unexpected places--such as taxicab yellow in a broom closet, hot pink in a laundry room, or jade green in a powder room.


Have a wonderful Monday!

*Images found on her website and tips found on One Kings Lane

One of My Favorite Things...A Magnifying Glass

Finishing touches in a room are key.  They are the chic belt, beautiful bag, amazing necklace or bracelet in a space.  One of my favorite things is a functional, finishing touch that can be found on the top of books.  What is it?  A magnifying glass. 


The earliest magnifying glass is believed to be reading stones.  These were used by farsighted monks as early as the eleventh century.  Most of the magnifying glasses that are sought after by today's collectors date from the 1700s through the mid 1950s.  The handles and casings of magnifying glasses have been made from many different materials throughout the years. 


Examples include:
-Gold, pink enamel and rock crystal, circa 1900
-Sterling silver, 1910
-Brass, circa 1900
-Ivory and sterling silver, 1887
-Bone and sterling silver, circa 1885
-Tortoise Shell and sterling silver, 1912
-Horn, 1700s
-Jade, circa 1900
-Wood and brass, late 1800s
-Bakelite, 1930s

They can have much character and be the conversation piece in a space.  These treasures are fun to discover in places such as an antique shop or flee market.  I found mine at Marshalls on the Clearance Shelf!  It has a gold dog head on the end of an ivory, ribbed handle and is quite heavy (sounds creepy...but trust me it's not!)  As I have previously mentioned, every room should have at least one thing that makes you smile.  This is mine.

1st Dibs, 19th century, $550.

Malleries, $395.

Rufkahrs, $34.95.

Ponte Vecchio, $125.

1st Dibs, 1970s, $1800.

Nelson & Nelson Antiques, $450.

Rufkahrs, $28.95.

Thanks for stopping by!

Image 1:  1st Dibs

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS...

I love how this chair is upholstered in linen and outlined with nail heads on a pink grosgrain ribbon.  It's all in the details!  So yummy!


Have a wonderful day!!!

GLASS TABLE INJURIES IN CHILDREN

My beautiful sister-in-law, Michelle, recently shared with me an alarming article she read in a publication by Children's Hospital Boston. 

Children's Hospital Boston's Division of Emergency Medicine published a study in Pediatric Emergency Care that examined glass table injuries in children.  They conducted a review along with Consumers Union which found that "glass-table injuries to children were alarmingly higher than previously thought, and that there is a consensus among ED physicans that many of these injuries would have been avoided if a safer type of glass was used."

As a result, industry leaders published new standards that recommend the use of tempered glass when producing glass tables (such as coffee tables).  Tempered glass is four to five times strong than standard glass.  It breaks into small fragments with dull edges, which is "far less harmful than the large, sharp shards that come from standard glass-tables."   "To have industry standards to be changed so soon after we published the study is a blessing and a testament to the importance of research," says Amir Kimia, MD, of the Children's Division of Emergency Medicine, who led the study.  She claims, "It's my hope that the next glass-table injury I see in the ED will be my last."

Michelle was smart and decided to take action!  She simply replaced the standard glass on her coffee table with the recommeded tempered glass.  She now feels much better about the safety of her children!  With a glass top coffee table myself, I will be taking action soon!

Note:  You can get beveled tempered glass

*To learn more about the study, visit Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston's health and science blog