'Tis the Season

Since everyone seems to be doing Christmas posts, I thought I would post the beginnings of the Christmas decorating in my new home. I have started on the tree but it is still unfinished. I don't know why but I just really love, love, love the white trees. I know they aren't for everyone but I think they have the ability to be fun and hip, but beautiful and elegant as well. I suppose it just depends on what you are going for. This year I am decorating in blues, reds and blacks.
For wrapping I chose red on red stripes, silver faux bois, and a black and white scroll like pattern. In the midst of boxes and moving debris this is the one sane part of my new home. I love that I can come into this room and just enjoy the season.

Getting Started...

So here are some pictures from some of the things I have moved into the house. I wanted to have had the house painted before I moved in but I am already expecting guest next weekend! The first guest bed arrived yesterday and the second guest bed arrives on Saturday... whew. anyways, some progress is being made... I still have tons to do obviously as it is only my second night staying in this house, my friends keep reminding me I don't have to have everything done immediately and to take my time. That being said, I know the longer you wait the less likely you are to do something, even it is as simple as taking out the trash or doing laundry. So here's to doing things in a timely manner.

Moving Day!

This is the scene of my first couple hours inside my new home. Champagne and cleaning products ya'll. I cleaned everything and prepped the space for all of my things. Furniture has begun to arrive already. When I got to the house this morning with another car full of stuff there was a big happy Kartell box on my doorstep (yay!). Very exciting stuff. My dog, Ghillie, isn't sure how he feels about the space yet. I took him on the tour, he followed me around, then went downstairs, put his quail doll in his mouth and marched right out to the garage and back into the car (where he stayed until I was finished unpacking). I'm sure it will grow on him, after all any dog would be excited to gain a yard right? My goal is to have everything moved by the weekend, and start painting by next week. I promise you guys will get the first look at the paint colors!

Maison Crane

So by Friday I should have the keys to my very first house, at which point I will busily set forth making it a home, and subjecting all of you to the details (mwa ha ha). I am so excited to end apartment life and all that it entails. It will be really rewarding to be putting our money into something that is actually ours. One of the things I am most excited about is having an outdoor space to grow things in. Also I get to add a new charm to my charm bracelet :)

Swatch This

OK it took me awhile to get into World of Interiors. I dunno their format just didn't really call to me. However, the more and more I get to know the publication the more I enjoy it for their particular artistic value. One of their greatest features are their fabric swatch displays. They are always creatively constructed and make it interesting instead of seeing the usual squares of textile. This month they have blown me away with their swatch portraits. Amazing! I don't know if you can tell that these are constructed from fabrics, from the photos, but that is what is kind of brilliant about them. I thought it was an article on paintings at first. So beautiful, I wish I could make fabric boards like this for class.

A space for a man...

I have been putting a lot of thought into what I would like to do for my Husband's study area. Yesterday when I walked into our new Carolina Herrera I was struck by how masculine and modern feeling the shop was. As you can tell from my photos (sorry...i took them on my mobile) the lighting was very dim, it was only 1 pm. The shop had a modern gentleman's club feel to it with warm wooden paneling and recessed television screens flashing images of C.H. Jr in beautiful C.H. clothing. I was struck by how different the interior of the shop is compared to both Carolina Herrera and her daughter's private residences. I suppose you have to design with your clients in mind.
On a more feminine note,if you are a girl who loves presentation when it comes to your purchases like I do, I have to say they have beautiful packaging. I am a big believer in packages that look as though they are gifts... all this was missing was black satin ribbon. Anywho, if any of you happen to be in the San Diego area around say next weekend, you may want to stop into the store and see the the Mother-Daughter style duo in person as they celebrate the Grand Opening of the stores San Diego location.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Here is a beautiful dark setting styled by Douglas Little, modern alchemist at large, from House and Garden. I love this image because as the caption states it doesn't matter if things are in or out, use them with wit and it will look good. I love the idea of a Victorian Miss Havisham type subtely dark Halloween rather than the cutesy stuff. Carolyne Roehm mentions in her book "Passion for Parties" that she went for a Miss Havisham look also.
So hope ya'll had a Happy Halloween and it was spooky enough nad sweet enough too!

What I L-O-V-E right now.

Without keeping you in suspense: Nail-head trim on upholstered anything! Maybe it has something to do with Fall. Fall makes me think of deep upholstered furniture and masculine studies. I love to see it used unexecpetedly, like M. Redd's zebra upholstered doors (I keep trying to find an area of my own home to do this in but I don't think I'm as terribly glamorous as Mr. Redd), and this home in the current issue of Cottage Living.
Interior designer Fran Keenan used upholstery with nailhead trim on her entrance to great effect. But then again if you are like me and don't know if you could pull off anything so chic without professional assistance you could always opt for these ridiculously neat croc-embossed nailhead stacking cubes from Dransfield and Ross. I think I may get them for my bathroom instead of an etagere.

Evacuation Destination

UPDATE: we are safe and sound, and were allowed back into our neighborhood. Luckily nothing to worry about although some of our friends didn't have quite the same luck. So please continue to keep Southern California in your thoughts and send positive thoughts this way.

So me and my new chair along with various sundry valuables that we could pack in the cars(wedding photos and dress, out of print books, paintings, dog and last but not least my Husband) followed a mandatory evacuation from our neighborhood to avoid the fires. Hopefully this will get cleared up as soon as possible, they say at most three days (damned Santa Ana's). But I guess the good news is I guess I won't be taking that History of Interiors exam tomorrow.
Anyways just wanted to say that I hope all of you in Southern California are staying safe and remember that things can be replaced but you and your loved ones cannot.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-1224-bn22fire4.html

Domino's Design Contest

I really love checking out the places featured in Domino's little contest. They get increasingly better everytime the gallery is updated. I am interested to see who will win, and also would love to know how many of the people who entered are actually in the design field themselves. Likewise it would be interesting to know which ones had used a designer in the process. I would be really impressed and excited to know if none of them were designers/had help and that there was just a bunch of people out there with great taste. That being said there are a couple on there that, there are some that are ummm not my favorites. For some of them I find it hard to believe they read Domino at all. Anyways hope everyone is having a great beginning to Fall.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Or at least let's hope so, even though I'm not having "fun." Today I signed the contract for my first house. Totally nerve-wracking. Mainly because I was at work and I had to have the contract faxed to me, at a Kinko's, because we do not have a fax where I work. So 80$ and a lunch hour melt-down later, the contract was signed and faxed back from whence it came. Inspection is on Friday so now it is just waiting till close I hope ( hopefully no issues at the inspection). Thankfully my Mother makes it on Thursday and will be able to go with me. Hopefully this will go by very quickly and I can begin to make my living place an actual home, and not have to worry about roommates. I cannot wait. I am very excited and can't wait to share pictures with ya'll once I get started.
As an informal Q&A drop me a line about your favorite washer and dryer and why they make your life amazing as I am in the market for a set.
OK and originally I was going to write about how I am seeing hourglasses all over and how they are the new Foo Dog/mounted Horn for this year, but I got sidetracked. So anyway, pictures of the new house forth-coming, I hope ya'll will like it.

Look What I Got...

In my first entry back, I thought I would share my new purchase. Try to disregard the apartment carpet and blinds. This early 19th century teak Dutch colonial chair is not only beautiful but useful as well. As you can see it unhinges and becomes a four foot high ladder. Ingenious no? It was a little expensive (or at least my husband will think it was) but totally worth it. I found it while on a "self-guided field trip" to Solana Beach for my intro to interiors class. Even though the program is pretty intense you gotta love any school that requires you to spend a saturday shopping.

In other news, glad to finally be back! I missed you guys.

Great news, new macbook! So soon this blog will be back in action can't wait to get back into action and see what I've been missing!

Just in case anyone out there was paying attention I have been out of comission for awhile, something is up with my ethernet in my Mac (could it be that I spilled a mineral water on it???). Trying to get the problem fixed though.

Time for Drinks

When summer rolls around I always think of spending days out in the sun with a couple of cool drinks. With that in mind I have recently been on the search for the perfect bar cart... here are the ones I have found so far that I think could be winners.
First up a lovely lacquered goatskin in a really beautiful and summery aqua color from Belvair at $2200 (available through 1stDibs). Second another lovely find at 1st Dibs through Susane R. This one I particularly like becuase of it's chinoiserie detail as well as the detachable tray top making it a really multi-functional piece. At $1400 this possible Maison Jansen piece would make a beautiful addition to any home. The last two are both available from Restoration Hardware, the Hanover and Campaign respectively are both under $800 and have classic features that make them beautiful and great for any interior.

Living Room Story Board

I have two things to compete with, my roommates couch and scary tv stand... my plan is to just deal with and/or downplay the sofa but to convince them to move the tv stand to the garage and use one that I buy. Let me know what ya'll think.

Strong Socialite Showing this Spring

Gotta love alliteration... anywho... I am only, like, ten pages into the May Domino and I am loving it. First off in the editor's cravings section is a page on Babe Paley, who some may consider the queen of all socialites ever, and then a piece on chinoiserie. A piece on Babe Paley hot on the heels of Alex V.F. maybe next month they will do an editor's craving on C.Z.

Cute Book

While I was in Las Vegas over the weekend the Anthropologie in the Forum Shops at Caesar's had the cutest display set for a new book, Lauren Child and Polly Borland's version of "The Princess and The Pea." To the left you can see a bed made with heaping piles of Anthro bed linens, wedged mid-way between the many layers are serveral cans of peas. I saw the display before I actually saw the book, but immediately knew the reference and it made me smile. I'm not sure if the other stores have a similar display set up so I thought I would share it with you because I thought it was adorable. The book is equally adorable and would make a cute gift for any little girl.
Whilst on the subject just a reminder that Anthropologie is having a sale on their upholstered furniture.

Out and About: La Jolla

Today I went shopping in La Jolla and to one of my favourite shops there, Seaside Home. Seaside Home has first and foremost an excellent selection of design and art books to choose from. They carry Baker furniture, Janus et Cie, William Yeoward crystal and more. This is a truly beautiful store with very polite and helpful staff. Before you drop by start you day off right with breakfast at Nine-Ten within the Colonial Hotel. I recommend the Nine-Ten omelet, yummy.
The shop is two floors of goodness. I am personally in love with the needlepoint leopard throw pillows seen in the photo to the left, they are absolutely brill.

Von Fabulous

In the nineties the Miller sisters were "it" girls of the New York and international social scene. Two out of three married princes (technically), the third marrying an oil heir. Fast forward to now, two out of three are amicably divorced, one retains the title of princess, and all three seem to have begun to lead more of a private and/or quiet lifestyle. That being said, my favorite of the three, Alexandra Miller von Furstenberg is featured in this May's Vogue. In the article they take a look at Alexandra's home in L.A., that she shares with her two children. It seems like a clean, bright, laid-back Californian space, which by the tone of the article is what Alexandra was seeking after leaving both a gossip laden New York and "dark" London. What caught my attention most was the interesting fireplace treatment that Alexandra had schemed up. She placed huge glass diamonds on black boxes within each fireplace. This is so random but I think it looks really pretty, and I'm thinking of stealing her idea as I came across some big glass diamonds the exact same day I read the article ...design destiny I tell you!

Inspiring Architecture

Last week my friend and I went to have an early supper at the restaurant Prado in Balboa Park, in San Diego. The beautiful buildings and surrounding gardens and ponds are a great place to picnic or sketch the surround architecture. On a side note funny story, my friend went here on a date and was remarking about how beautiful the old stone buildings were and her date knocked on them to prove her point about their age and enduring quality. To her surprise and his amusement they were hollow plastic. "Yeah really old huh?" said he.
In any case still worth a visit and a look.

Crate & Barrel wants you to have Modern Glamour

The Crate and Barrel Living came in the post today and whilst thumbing through I felt like I had seen some images before. Well not exactly but just in time for spring Crate and Barrel has some lovely pieces that could make your space feel like a posh room at the Viceroy. Seen here is the Atrium collection which would look good by any pool or perhaps in a courtyard, with crisp white, black, yellows, and just the slightest gray.


Also the lovely Laurel side chair, which calls to mind a graphic wallcovering featured in Modern Glamour. Also the beautiful bombe Francesca chest sits in the background, wouldn't that just be sexy in an entry hall with new hardware?