You Go Grant!

Earlier this year, interior designer and blogger Grant K. Gibson was beyond excited to have his apartment shot for the April issue Domino magazine. Then, he was beyond devastated to learn that it would never be published when the magazine closed. So I am happy to announce that you can finally see his wonderful home in the New York Times! The best part that much of it was done on a budget not that you could ever tell! I especially love the bedroom which reminds me of a masculine version of Lanvin's blue bedroom. You go Grant! I'm so happy for you!

Lanvin: Part Deux

No trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to Lanvin. We are lucky in New York that Barneys and Kirna Zabete carry some pieces of clothing and jewelry but that's nothing like having entire store full of nothing but Lanvin! It was heaven!

Lanvin is known for their creative window displays and we were treated to the new autumn displays that feature mischievous black cats. They happen to correspond to the new print ads and also harken back to the old advertisements for My Sin perfume that also featured a black cat.

This window with the cat sticking out of the handbag was my favorite!

The September 2009 issue of British Vogue just ran an interview with the designer of Lanvin Elber Albaz. In it he states that "the people I chose to run the store are nice. I cannot work with bitches." I can attest that the salespeople couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming and not just to the celebrities. Photographer Gilles Bensimon and girlfriend Diana Picasso (daughter of Picasso!) in the store when were shopping.

I wish I could have taken photos of the interior but I didn't want to push my luck so you have to settle for just the store windows!

Everyone keeps asking me what I bought in Paris so here you go. Before I even left, I knew that I wanted to treat myself to something special and definitely something that I couldn't get in New York. I saw a pretty bracelet in Roger Vivier but the exchange rate made it much too expensive. Lucky for me, we stopped at Lanvin right after where I did find myself a little something.

This Lanvin Happy Sac couldn't be better named because it makes me happy every time I see it and it was definitely something I would have bought myself in a heartbeat but it too was much too expensive to even consider. Although, I did see it in Barneys and might have to make it mine at some point. It's so me!

Instead, I settled on a set of bracelets. They are in a taupe/blush color that perfectly compliment my Phillip Lim necklace. I wore them out to a few fashion parties when I returned and they were a big hit. Even Stefan fell in love with the men's store across the street as did my friend's husband when they were in Paris this summer so it's not just for the ladies! I wish Lanvin would open a store in New York but until they do, it just gives me one more reason to plan another trip to Paris!

Free ~ Ready To Cover ~ Storage Table

My friends at Ready To Cover are giving away one of their fabulous ready to cover, storage tables, here.


* must be a qualified designer to enter.

Jeanne Lanvin's Apartment in Paris

One of my favorite things from Paris was viewing the reconstructed apartment of fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. It consists of her boudoir, chambre de coucher and salle de bain that were designed for her by Armand Albert Rateau for her apartment at 16, rue Barbet-de-Jouy in Paris in . It's a little hard to see because it's protected by glass walls but it's beauty and wonderful details are worth making the trip. The blue of the bedroom is known as Lanvin Blue and is said to have been inspired by the blue sky in a Fra Angelico fresco seen by Jeanne Lanvin. Just another example of how art, fashion and interior design all converge to great effect!

Fernando Bengoechea's Photography Lives On

Last week, I was surprised to receive a message from Marcelo Bengoechea, the brother of the late photographer Fernado Bengoechea who was swept away by the tsunami of 2004. He is reviving his brother's art of weaving his photographs and is now offering them for sale for the first time since Fernando's death. I remember tearing out a page from a magazine many years ago that highlighted this unusual art form and thinking it was the most amazing and beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was a pleasure to hear more about the process from Marcelo and know that Fernando's photography will live on.

HC: Can you tell me how you decided to start this project?

MB: The revival is something totally new. I just could not let Fernando’s art share his tragic fate. He’s dead. I have no choice than to accept that. What I refuse is to accept the death of his beautiful work so I took it as a personal mission to revive it. As a designer myself, laid off a couple of months ago after 10 years as the Creative Director for the surf brand Reef, I realized that it is the perfect time to do something like this. I had been thinking about it for a couple of years and after a good conversation with Nate Berkus I just had to do it. The reception has been so positive that it keeps me motivated to continue the project. It is still too early to say if it is going to succeed or not (financially speaking) , but to tell you the truth, it doesn’t matter, it is a success to family and friends already.

HC: Do you feel that there is a sense of therapy to the work that you are doing?

MB: For sure there is some kind of therapy in the weaving process, but mostly I feel honored, loved and a sense of continuing our friendship and good times after his death. We had the kind of relationship where just by looking at each other we knew what we were thinking and most of the time those instances were during mischief or adventures. I know a lot of the stories behind the images and that brings me closer to them and to him. His death was my first close up experience with loosing somebody important in life and I do not think I’ll ever get over it. Weaving definitely helps.

HC: Do you do all the weaving yourself?

MB: At this point I am doing limited editions, hand weaving each one of them. I watched my brother weave those images and thought he was somehow insane, now I feel his energy pass through my hands as I weave and think this is crazy. Crazy in a good way, a proud way. Vivre.com just started offering them last week and it is the only place to find them for now other than through myself. One of this days I will have a new website and make them available there as well. I am following Fernando’s original concepts, including the framing style of his latest works (the Karma Trees series that was shown at Ralph Pucci Gallery), framing them in rich Peruvian Walnut and “floating” them the same way he did. I am even using a knitting needle as a weaving tool that once belonged to our grandma and he used to weave the smaller pieces. I am also adding my touch (please see Cabeza de Vaca I and II concept) to evolve and add some design as well.

"It is a collaboration between brothers. It just happens that one of them is dead. We were able to work together in several shoots for Reef that he shot and I directed and it is great to continue our team work this way. Since the beginning of our professional careers that was a goal of ours and I am proud to say that it is still going on." - Marcelo Bengoechea

The Evolution of Design Panel

There are so many exciting design events coming up at the D&D Building next week for Fall Market including one that involves me! I was very honored to be asked by The Editor at Large to take part in the October 7th 9:00am Keynote panel discussion, Evolution of Design, along with Michael Bruno of 1stdibs, and interior designers and bloggers, Jonathan Adler, James Andrew and Brad Ford. I hope all my friends and readers will come out for what I know will be a fun and lively morning! Definitely check out the schedule for other wonderful showroom events and book signings too! All events are open to the public not just the trade!

Maison & Objet ~ Paris in January - Let's Go!!

I've been dreaming for years of taking a trip to the ultimate design show, Maison & Objet, held twice yearly in Paris but I never wanted to go alone so I put it off. I always thought it would be more fun to go with someone else who would be as excited about attending as I was. My friends Deb Barret and Susan Shultz attended every year and come back with such great inspiration, new products, and suppliers that they share with the attendees of the Window Fashions Expo and other WFCP events. I've been living vicariously through them for years but this year will be different. These fabulous ladies are putting together a small group of 12 lucky travelers to attend the Mason & Objet show with them!




I can't think of a better way to attend this show than with these two knowledgable ladies who have been every year for over ten years. They attend as trendspotters and industry insiders who have expanded access to the event and know the show inside and out. They have it wired and are now willing to share this priceless knowledge with newbies like myself!!!

They are offering a package deal that includes:

7 days /7 nights, January 18 - January 26, 2010, in the City of Lights

Airfiare from New York or Chicago, all airport transfers, luxury hotel accomodations (Double occupancy including breakfast)

All zone metro passes/carnets for 7 days.

Admission to Maison&Objet and Planet Mueble trade shows.

Welcome reception at M&O from show management

Exclusive M&O trend presentation with Q&A opportunity Priceless!

As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc. ( This of course will be my favorite part!)

Pre-travel web session(s) with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more

Cruise on the river Seine.

Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay.

High Tea one afternoon in the Aubusson’s Grand Salon.

All taxes and service included.

And Deb & Susan's expansive knowledge of the city of Paris.

Visit Deb's website for more details and pricing.




We'll be staying at the Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy Superior room in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and they've stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops.



I'm looking for a roomie so sign up quick. They have limited the group to twelve so we can still enjoy Paris without having to follow one of them holding a flag and yelling into a bullhorn everwhere we go! It should be a great intimate experience and a once in a lifetime chance to attend the show like you're a seasoned pro and gleen some great knowledge from these wonderful women.

I can't stress enough how great an opportunity this is. I hope you'll join me Deb & Susan for a cocktail as we cruise down the Siene.

Inspiring London Interior

Since I returned from Paris, I've been busy and so I just realized that I haven't posted any interiors. I been focusing on a lot of other things that I have going on right now but decided to go back through my files where I found one of my all time favorite inspiring interiors. I was going to say that the London flat was designed by interior designer Alex Papachristidis but after I looked again at the article from the November 2006 issue of Elle Decor where it appeared, I was reminded that it was really a collaborative effort between Papachristidis and the owner, Fruzsina Keehn, a fabulous jewelry designer. The result is that great mix of styles, periods and pieces that is right up my alley. I especially love the modern 1960's Italian round table surrounded by 18th-century Swedish side chairs that sits under a 19th-century Venetian chandelier in the entry. It's full of interesting details that make it look more collected not decorated...my favorite type of design. Enjoy!

Photos by Simon Upton

Coco Avant Chanel

Just a reminder that the film Coco Avant Chanel opens today in New York and Los Angeles. I can't think of a better place to see it than the Paris Theatre too! Bon Weekend!

J.Crew's Artistic Genius

I am loving the new J.Crew catalog that features seven New York artists photographed wearing J.Crew clothing in their studios! The online version, Open Studio, has interviews with all the artists and more shots artwork and studios. My favorite question of course is "How do you think art and fashion influence one another?" Their answers are all perfect. I have two questions of my own though, 1. Why didn't they shoot any women artists? and 2. Is artist Chris Dorland (above) single?

Artist Ryan McGinness

Studio of Ryan McGinness

Artist Glenn Ligon

Studio of Glenn Ligon

Artist Billy Sullivan

Studio of Billy Sullivan

Artist Lucien Smith

Las Vegas World Market &Traditional Home Magazine

Charlotte Moss & Me at the Traditional Home Magazine, Icons of Design Dinner

Does this first picture give you any indication of what a great time I had at the Fall market event here in Las Vegas?

The Opening Night Party & Concert

This Fall’s event was so impressive and larger than life it was hard to believe I was in my own backyard. The owners and organizers have worked tirelessly to set this market apart in every possible category. It is a very different market than High Point and I believe there is plenty of room for both. The Las Vegas market seems to be focusing on cutting edge design, technology and a foundation of quality education. Being an interior designer nothing could make me happier.

Tony Baratta, Candice Manroe , Margaret McCurry, Dan Carithers

Partnering with Traditional Home Magazine to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Design Center hosted what I believe was a once in a lifetime series of seminars , live webcasts, and networking events, that brought the elite of the design world face to face with market attendees.

Timothy Corrigan, Laura Kirar, Vicente Wolf, Susan Salk

I’ve attended many design events all over the country and I have never had the opportunity to meet and interact so intimately with such a large group of A list talent anywhere else. It was a truly inspirational series of events. Randy Wells and Margaret Casey of the Las Vegas World Market Design Center did a fabulous job.

Nina Campbell & Me

Overall, the market seemed well attended with serious buyers. The mood was much improved over the last event in January when the full impact of the countries economic woes had just become clear. It felt as if the industry is on the verge of a comeback and in an environment where attitude is everything I think we’ve come a long way to turning a corner back to positivity.

The Effervescent Diamond & Baratta

Chinoiserie is still going strong - I die for these! Tozai Home

The usual hunt for new product was fun as always although there was a lot of merchandise that has been there for a few seasons. Manufacturers seem slow to turn over new designs in this slow economy and who can blame them? There were a few strong trends that came shining through.

Global Views

Strong Contrasts of color and black & white were everywhere as were mirrors of every shape, size and combination. The mosaic walls of mirrors at Global views were a stand out.

Global Views

Loved the wall mounted lanterns oin either side of this mirror collection. The bar cart is fab as well.

Global Views

Fantastic take on the sunburst mirror. It had a decidedly undersea creature vibe.









The same mirror in a gold finish, love it. Orange was everywhere, it was the color of choice for many vendors.

Global Views

Asparagus green was another color used in abundance inaccesories and furnishings. I loved these pinapple lamps and finials.





Of course for me the highlight of the show was seeing my new book for sale at the Potterton Books booth!



If you get the chance to make out here to market you will not be dissapointed! Hope to see you at the next show.....