Friday, January 30, 2009
Young Designers and Collectors
The day ended with the Young Collector's Night at the Winter Antiques Show where I ran into everyone's favorite Top Design Contestant and Blogger, Eddie Ross with his partner Jaithan Kochar (I can't stop humming the Green Acres theme song whenever I think of them moving to the country!); Emily Eerdmans, the fabulous author of Regency Redux (along with Kelly Wearstler who wrote the forward) who also works for Hyde Park Antiques and was manning their booth; and Natalie Obradovich, a former design assistant to Kelly Wearstler who is currently looking for a design job in NYC.
One of the other topics of the panel discussion earlier in the day was where to find inspiration in this tough economy if you can't afford to travel the world and Stephanie Odegard suggested museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art where you can visit the art of the world. I also think that The Winter Antiques Show is another great place to be inspired and to also learn something new. I studied art history so I have a little knowledge of decorative arts and antiques but when I look at all the wonderful booths, I realize that there is so much more to learn. Even if your decorating style isn't traditional, you can still be inspired by the paintings or a pattern on a vase. The Winter Antiques Show benefits the East Side Settlement House so your patronage would be greatly appreciated in these tough times. I'm going to stop by again on Saturday to see what I missed the other night so maybe I will see you there! Bon Weekend!
Thanks House Beautiful!
Technical Difficulties
Bedroom of The Week - Carolyne Roehm
This is the view that became so popular in the blogoshphere of the spectacular upholstered bed which was modeled after a late 19th century antique. Apparently Miss Roehm was so smitten with this Cowtan & Tout floral that she set out to cover everything in it. I would love to have seen her upholsterers face when she told him to cover the entire bed! It certainly must have been a challenge fit for only a true artisan but the finished product is spectacular.
The view from the end of the bed shows matching nooks fitted with glazed doors flanking the beautiful period fireplace.
Another view of that wall, again showing off a few of the many antiques used in the space. The entire home is filled with museum quality pieces and yet it has an overriding sense of comfort and hospitality.
This view of the bed gives a sense of the true size of the space, a rarity in the city.
More antiques and a lovely painting. Vignettes are placed throughout the space consisting of personal photos, small collections, and tiny flower pots.
A skirted vanity does not look like it gets much use but it is a pretty addition to the room.
Look at the exquisite detailing and the free scroll work on the pair of Rococo guilt mirrors that flank the bed.
Technology, aka, the dreaded TV, is cleverly hidden behind the glass doors on the fireplace wall. I am dying to know what is in the green and white covered books. Are they covered magazines, they look too large to be DVDs or videos? I suppose they could be albums of DVDs but that would be quite a collection! They are all the same size. What could they be - photo albums - why are they in the bedroom? A mystery!
Check out the entire post at the New York Social Diary to get a look at the rest of her spectacular home.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"I feel like I'm going to cry!"
I just don't get what is wrong with American magazine publishing. Why does it seem like European magazines are doing fine while American magazines continue to fold. I would paid more per issue to keep Domino alive. It spoke to my demographic. I could relate to the designers and people profiled. I could afford the items they featured. As much as I love Elle Decor, which I picked up on my way home, it's very aspirational. That's not the way any of my friends or I live right now. Maybe someday but not today.
The worst part is that many people had just had their homes photographed for the designers to watch series for the April issue. I've already told them that I would be happy to post them on my blog. I already mentioned that I want to feature more original interiors and young designers on my blog this year so this news just makes me more determined to support, encourage and champion them and anyone else who is talented, creative and inspiring.
So if there is anyone out there who dreamed of having their home or designs published in Domino, feel free to email me. Since there aren't many shelter magazines left, I'd be more than happy to start posting them on my blog. But right now, I think I'm going to go take a look through all my old issues of Domino and mourn the loss of my favorite magazine. I might also have a good cry while I'm at it. It's a very sad day.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Clandeboye
The entry hall above is decorated with souvenirs and treasures from East Asia that were collected by the First Marquess of Dufferin and Ava who was an ambassador.
Lady Dufferin doesn't mind getting dirty in her garden!
Al the bedrooms are named after places that the First Marquess was sent as an ambassador and the beautiful room above is "Paris."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Big News in My Little World
My transition from practicing Interior Designer and Showroom owner to writer, illustrator and product designer has not been long by industry standards ( I've been working on it for a little over three years now) but it sometimes seems like a eternity to me.
The financial payoff is still a ways off in the future and I have had to considerably scale back my lifestyle. There have been many days and late nights spent drawing when I have questioned my decision to switch gears and work at my new goals full time.
On the other hand, my new career has brought me friendships and associations that I would never have developed if I had not made the decisions that I did. It has also brought me fantastic opportunities that I never dreamed would be available to me.
As I was drawing the treatments for my first book it quickly became apparent to me that it would require me to design unique patterns and color schemes for each drawing.
This was no easy task and was probably the most time consuming step of the process but one that I also found very gratifying.
For each design I drew a fabric pattern and chose a color palette that I would have used if I where specifying the treatment in real life. I did not want to use plain colors or repeat motifs. I wanted the selections for each design to reflect its personality.
In my original designs I tend to use varying scales of pattern with large motifs highlighted by the shape of the treatment.
It is not uncommon for me to use five or six different fabric in one treatment if it is appropriate for the design.
Anyway, apparently my hard work and attention to detail did not go unnoticed! ( take this as a lesson kids - always do your absolute best and good things will come of it).
DRUMROLL PLEASE !!!!!! I have been given a fabulous opportunity to design a signature line of fabrics for a leading manufacturer of custom, print to order fabrics, Adaptive Textiles.
Adaptive Textiles was started by the talented husband & wife team of Larry and Jeanelle Dech. Jeanelle, herself an interior designer, master workroom technician, slip cover magician, industry innovator and educator, saw the substantial benefits of print on demand fabric production and was among the first to invest in the state of the art technology.
This method of printing is eco-friendly and is being embraced by "green" designers around the world because of it's no-water process and zero ink waste. ( honestly I don't know that much about fabric production but I plan to give myself a crash course - I'll share the highlights with you later.)
Designs can be printed on a wide number of different ground cloths giving you flexibility in fiber content, weave, durability, hand of the fabric, drapability, and finish. Their services are available to anyone who wants custom printed fabric in small runs. You can create your own designs or a complete private label collection.
My signature fabric designs ( that sounds so cool!!! ) will be available for use with the Jackie Von Tobel modules of Minutes Matter Studio which is anticipated for release beginning in March! I will be documenting the entire process here and how the fabrics will be integrated into the Studio modules.
To say that I am excited is a vast understatement. I am over the moon and I can't wait to get going. The plan is to introduce the first patterns of the collection at The International Window Fashions Expo in Atlanta in May so if you're in the area come on over - the drinks will be on me!
The success of my book and all of the subsequent opportunities that have come my way are all the result of a few very important people who have taken time from their busy lives and businesses to look at my work, give me advise and encouragement and welcome me into their worlds. Words cannot express my gratitude to: Christopher Robbins, Suzanne Taylor, my editor Madge, and everyone else at Gibbs-Smith, Debbie & Casey Green and everyone at Minutes Matter & Studio, Beth Hodges, Jeanelle Dech at Adaptive Textiles, Deb Barrett, Margie Nance, Susan Schurz, Joan Willis, Lavelle Pindler, M'Fay, Grace McNamara, Bruce Knott, Shannon Flaherty, Nika Stewart, Pate-Meadows, and the rest of the design and blogging community that I have come to know and love. (Sorry I'm getting sappy!)
Also, I can't forget the fam-dam-ily, My awesome and very handsome man of the house Arnie, my two sons - JT & Geordie, and the resident princess, Angelica. Oh yeah - the two most spoiled dogs in the world Peaunt & Marty.
I hope that the process will make for some interesting posts! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.