Where Would You Go for Your Dream Christmas

If you could magically transport your friends and family to the perfect Christmas destination where would it be? Personally I would love to have been a guest at the very first Christmas celebration held by George Vanderbilt at his new home, Biltmore , in 1895.


The magnificent estate located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC, took a city of craftsmen over six years to build and it is considered to be the largest and one of the finest private homes in our country. Still owned by the descendants of Vanderbilt, the estate is outfitted in splendid fashion for the holidays in keeping with the homes original Christmas tradition.



Stunning both inside and out the estate looks like the Disneyland light parade on steroids when lit up for the evening during the holidays.



The interior decoration is true to the spirit of historic preservation that is seen throughout the buildings and grounds.


I would curl up in the massive library with a pot of hot chocolate and try to make a dent in those books.


If this blog had smell-o-vision you could breath in the heavenly pine scented air spiced with a hint of orange and clove.


The grand dining room would be alive with well turned out family and friends sitting down to a holiday feast served by crisply dressed butlers.


Perhaps some Champagne, a bit of dancing and a late night sleigh ride and we would be ready for the long winters nap.

See more here.

Bedroom of the Week

photo: sorry - can't remember

I am head over heels for this beautiful bedroom! I admire how the designer has skillfully blended toiles of different patterns and scales and mixed in just enough white to give it a light handed touch. If I knew where this room was I would have to go over there and beg them to sell me the stunning mirror they have used as a headboard. It absolutely makes the room, although the beamed ceiling and the fabulous rug make quite an impact as well. I wish I had a view of the whole room to show you - or the entire house for that matter. But we'll have to settle for this lttle gem.

There's a New Material Girl

There's a new Material Girl in town, the town of Brooklyn, NY to be exact. Meet Abbey, she's armed and dangerous with a Masters degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute, one of our countries finest interior design schools. She is joining the dynamic duo of Emily and Lauren and their fellow cohorts in design Jill and Julie.

Thanks to the addition of Abbey they are now spanning the country with M Girls living in and running design businesses in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and now The Big Apple.

If you're not familiar with the Materials Girls blog (winner of my vote for cutest banner) check them out here. They're smart, savvy, passionate about design, and ridiculously young to be so successful.

They are getting ready to unveil a redesigned site soon and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us. Hey girls, if you need a designer in Vegas let me know - I'm available.

Architectural Digest + Brad Pitt = A Good Thing

I have not read an issue of Architectural Digest since their March 08' issue on the Bush decorated White House when I questioned their poor timing, here. I have been a fan on and off but over the last few years I just couldn't get excited about the interiors they were featuring. But when my husband brought home the January issue with Brad Pitt on the cover I felt obligated to give it a once over.

design: Peter Marino photography: Durston Saylor

To my surprise the issue was absolutely stunning, filled with a scintillating variety of diverse designs that, while certainly luxurious, offered inspiration that could be applied to any interior.

design: Chakib Richani Architects photography: Marina Faust

The locations of the homes featured are as exciting as the interiors. From this beautiful home in Beirut, which seems to be such a departure from the images we normally associate with the war torn city, to a collectors paradise designed by Samuel Botero in New York.

design: Samuel Botero photography: Phillip H. Ennis

Jennifer from The Peak of Chic, recently posted inquiring what had become of the decorative arts collector. Well Jennifer, I believe he's doing very well and living in this gorgeous apartment which is done to perfection and filled with a diverse collection of art, architectural elements, and antiques.

design: Hendrix Allardyce photograph: David Matheson

One of my favorite interiors in the issue is this eclectic but elegant home in Melbourne. The jubilant mix of furnishings in the great room is nothing short of perfection. It is a study in the superb use of scale, balance, and harmonious effect.

It takes a lot to overshadow the glorious Mr. Pitt but I was so entranced by the interiors in this issue that I almost forgot about him. The issue takes a look at the efforts of his Make It Right Foundation to help rebuild the devastated neighborhoods in New Orleans using safe, affordable, and sustainable homes. Learn more about the organization at www.makeitrightnola.org.

On another note: Hot on the heals of their New York auditions, Architecturl Digest is holding another series of try outs in California. Brooke Gianetti - get on over there !

In an age where shelter magazines and design book publishers are in serious trouble I plan to do my part and subscribe to AD. If this issue is any indication of things to come I know it will be well worth the price of admission!

Philippe Starck, Shine Home, & The S Bar

Shine Home has been everywhere since coming on the design scene in 2005. Their clean fresh take on classic design motifs adds a crisp, fun edge to any interior.


So it's no wonder they caught the ever talented eye of uber-desinger and trendsetter Philippe Starck. It seems he was so inspired with their lighting that he chose to feature it as the focal point of his new watering hole and chic celeb hang out, The S Bar, in Los Angeles.



Shine Home table lamps are hung dramatically, upside down from theatrical wire over the bar and tables creating an almost Alice in Wonderland sense of confusion. What's up is down, what's down is up......


My favorite element of the space is the fabulous canvases that are hung against all the walls depicting antique french wall paneling, wallpaper and a dramatic faux portrait gallery.




I think it is a very fun, eclectic cocktail of modern and classic styles thrown together in an irreverent and somewhat imbalanced mix that works in that special way that only Starck can pull off.

My only question - What kind of cocktail would you order in a bar like this?

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Window Treatment of The Week

Design By: Kayla Wyatt

This gorgeous window treatment makes this vintage iron bed look like it is floating in the clouds. Master workroom professional Mary Ann Plumlee, of Plumlee Place Ltd. is the artisan behind the construction of these luscious balloon shades and panels. Check out her site, Workroom Intelligence, one of my favorites.

Winter House in Russia

What do you do for fun in St. Petersburg Russia in the middle of winter? According to the locals you build an ice house - or in this case a giant ice palace.


Complete with ice landscaping, furnishings and accessories.


An ice dressing room. Are those boots Jimmy Choo on ice?


Every ice palace needs a throne room

And to my delight there is a draped bed in the Master Ice Bedroom!!! See the rest of the luxury igloo here.

Bedroom of the Week

via Charlotte Moss

Wouldn't you love to have a gorgeous bedroom like this to go home to for the holidays? Scrumptious!

Carlton Varney in Vegas

First Friday with Carleton Varney of Dorothy Draper
December 5, 2008, 10:00 am

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Located in Building C, 1st Floor, Suite C-184

Carleton Varney, one of America’s best known interior designers, is associated with the restoration and decoration of countless hotels and resorts all over the world, among them Dromoland and Ashford Castles in Ireland and The Waldorf Towers and Plaza Hotel in New York. His versatility in design can be seen in the wide array of products that bear his mark, ranging from furniture, lamps, dinnerware, crystal, and linen designs. His own line of fabric designs, launched under the name Carleton Varney by the yard, grace the private residences of his impressive roster of clients which include superstars from the worlds of entertainment, fashion and business.

Following his First Fridays presentation, attendees are invited to join Varney and his colleague, Brinsley Matthews of the European office of Dorothy Draper. Located in the Robert Allen | Beacon Hill Showroom (C-101), Varney will sign copies of his book Houses In My Heart, amidst the Dorothy Draper Collection of furniture by Kindel Furniture Company. Robert Allen | Beacon Hill offers a wide array of fabrics, furnishings and accessories for the home.

RSVP to events@LVDesignCenter.com

See you there!

Very Wet in Venice

If you've ever been to Venice you are familiar with St Marks square which is ussually filled with Japanese tourists entertaining themselves by feeding hundreds of pigeons. It's a marvelous place to sit and have a gellato at one of the sidewalk cafes where you can hear the battle of the bands just before they close for the night . Watching a two man skull paddle by is not something that you would expect to see.


Venice is experiencing unprecedented flooding this year with it's highest water levels in 22 years. Over five feet of water in some places is covering the winding streets and cobblestone pathways of this beautiful city.


It is heartbreaking to think of all of the damage that is being done to this historic marvel. Some say it is global warming - others just natures bad humor. Whatever the cause I hope there are no lasting effects.




Normally the banks of the canal at the Rialto bridge are home to large outdoor cafes at all four corners. In the picture above you can't even make out where the street ends and the canal begins.



On the outskirts of the lagoon you can really see the furry of the water.



I would love to be able to visit Venice again, I adore the city and it's architecture. I hope that this flooding is a once in a decade occurance and the city dries out without any damage. In the meantine I will have to settle for watching Casinova, the flick starring the late Heath Ledger. Believe it or not it has great views of the city and some marvelous interior sets and costumes.