Friday, April 18, 2008

Can Designers Cook?


The Lovely Linda Merill of Surroundings always seems to have the inside track on competition in the design world. Visit her blog to find out the details of this interesting head to head challenge that will pitt culinarily gifted designers against real life chefs.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Bedroom of the Week


Cozy .........................................................................................................................


image - Blueprint

Friday, April 11, 2008

Modern Master - Phillip Kiluk


My friend, Philip Kiluk, master of modern adornment is having a showing of his most recent works at Steven Frank Garden & Home in Laguna Beach, CA on Saturday, April 26, from 5 - 9pm.
New to his extensive collection, jeweled crowns - you know how I love crowns. After all I am sure I must have been royalty in another life (since I certainly am not in this one!)


Stunning crosses - I love this one with the pink bird at the center.


His frames are almost too beautiful to put mere photographs in.


I hope to have some more pictures after the show. I can't wait to see every piece! A portion of all of the proceeds of the evening will go to benefit the Friendship Shelter.


The Magical World of Philip Kiluk
Saturday April 26 5 - 9 pm
Stephen Frank Garden & Home
477 Forest Avenue @ Third
Laguna Beach, CA
949-494-2014

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Veranda In Venice


I have a very serious problem --- How do I convince my husband that I need to spend a week basking in luxury in Venice without him? Better yet - where do I get the serious cash that I will have to shell out for this luxurious week in Italy? Maybe I can convince someone to go with me and we can split the room charge. Joni - Patricia, are you reading this???? I only snore occasionally.......

Attendees of the event will be staying at The Hotel Danieli, a classically beautiful, five star hotel located about 10 steps from the Doge's Palace right around the corner from the Piazza San Marco. My handsome husband and I sat in the bar at the Danieli sipping champagne just about 4 years ago and ogling the richie riches who had the good fortune to be staying there.




There will be a private tour of Palladio's Villas which is sure to be fascinating.



Also promised are "intimate gatherings " hosted in private Venetian Palaces. This is my dream come true! When I travel I spend most of my time dreaming about what fantastic treasures beautiful historic buildings hold inside. I become a serious peeping Tom looking to catch a glimpse of anything. Oh how I long for x-ray vision!


Then there are the wine tasting cruises along the Great Canal. Can you say Chianti?

I have to go now so I can look around my house and see what I can sell off to raise some dough. Ebay here I come.........

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Bedroom of the Week


Just when you think you never want to see another chandelier print again .... someone does it right! Suzanne Kasler the up and coming designer extraordinaire from Atlanta, GA.

image - www.suzannekasler.com

Saturday, April 5, 2008

The Scottsdale Mondrian - Yummy


Since it's opening in January of last year I have been yearning to visit this gem of a hotel designed by one of my all time fav's Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz. It has all of his signature touches, draperies galore, natural sinuous shapes, lots of white and clean crisp lines.





For now I'll have to settle for a virtual visit! Happy Weekend.

pics courtesy of The Morgan Group

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Back From the IWCE in Atlanta


I just got back from Atlanta after giving seminars at The International Window Coverings Expo. I had no idea the extent of the damage caused by the tornado that struck there two weeks age. It was amazing that they were able to go ahead with the show as most of the glass had been blown out of the buildings. All of the high rises in the downtown area had many of their windows covered with plywood. It was all very surreal.



The Expo was a great success with the high point for me being the party I co-hosted with Debbie and Casey Green of Minutes Matter to announce our new partnership. Thanks to everyone who attended - I hope you had a great time.


Cheryl Bray of The Custom Home Furnishings Academy did a live demonstration on the show floor on how to construct one of the treatments in my book. She and some of her fellow CHFA teachers did a fantastic job. Thanks to everyone who participated.

I'm not scheduled to go out of town now until May - HOOOORRRAYYYYYY
Traveling can really suck the energy out of you. I am just going to relax and work on my bedding book for the net few months. Hopefully I'll have more time to post.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Michael S. Smith for Ann Sacks


I'm loving the new tile collection by Michael S. Smith for Ann Sacks. It is true to his signature look, classic, clean, and based on tried and true motifs with a modern twist.



The range is small but complete with colors ranging from Butter to Bark.

It reminds me of 1930's - 40's bungalows in Southern California.


Yummy!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Architectural Digest - March Edition in Poor Taste?


Does anyone else find this months issue of Architectural Digest showing a newly redecorated White House on the cover and comprising some 16 glossy pages of Laura Bush's decorating talents, to be offensive, in very bad taste, and an incredible case of bad judgment on behalf of the AD editors?

With hundreds of thousands of Americans losing their homes to foreclosure due to corporate greed and incompetent money management and a blind eye turned to the whole mortgage market by this administration until it was too late, is this really a good time to show off the extensive overhaul of the White House's interiors?


The economy is in the toilet - we are stuck in a war of ego's in Iraq, major banks are going belly up. Should a publication as influential and established as AD take these things into account when planning their content?


I wonder what the young men and women coming home from Iraq think when they see an article featured like this? Are they happy that the home of their commander in chief is finely decorated to his personal liking? Is it important to them that the families personal movie theater be updated to provide more seating? Do they stay up at night worrying that some of the furnishings and accessories in the Lincoln bedroom are not historically accurate for the period. For Shame!


Ok, I realize that virtually every administration that has taken possession of the White House has been tasked with maintaining its historic interiors and some have taken it upon themselves to revamp much of the space during their tenure. However, for an administration that has been waging a questionable war practically since inauguration day, was interior decoration such a pressing need?

To me, a lifelong Republican (not so sure anymore) it is just another glaring example of this presidents total ineptitude and inability to see the facts right in front of his ( and hers - the first lady) face. I am embarrassed to have even read the article.

What do you think?

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By the way in other breaking Architectural Digest news:

Architectural Digest is conducting open auditions for new residential designs and interior decorators. The Los Angeles audition will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 26-27 at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

Courtesy - San Francisco Chronicle

Friday, March 14, 2008

Miss Pedigrew Lives in a Really Bitchin Apartment

After a long day at the San Francisco Mart last week my daughter and I went to see the new movie Miss Pedigrew Lives For A Day. I was expecting a very funny movie - but it was just so so with some weird pseudo lesbian undertones and bad casting.

Normally this would irritate me but I was too busy being blown away by the great set design - it was awesome!!!!


Satin upholstery, fur rugs, gold leafed walls, Art Deco and Art Nuevo accessories galore. The sets - particularly the apartment - were fascinating stylized snapshots of that era - prewar Brittan 1939. It reminded me fondly of all the vintage films I loved as a kid and still tune in to see on TCM.


If you 're looking for a flick to see this weekend - give it a try. The movie might disappointed but the eye candy won't.