Still Trending: Honeycomb

If you've checking out the latest issue of Lonny Magazine, you might have stopped in your tracks at these stunning honeycomb chairs, featured in the Paris hotel La Maison Champs Elysees, designed by Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela.  Just love these!

Kartel is in on the honeycomb chair game too, on a much smaller scale...

Z Gallerie has some fun and affordable honeycomb pieces, including this candle sconce...

Kronus Sconce, $69.95

and this striking disc vase...

Kronus Vase, $129.95

In terms of affordability and design, nothing can beat this hand-painted glassware set from West Elm!  I think these are stunning - too bad my dining room's done in silvers, not golds.

While Z Gallerie does offer a similar set in silver, somehow they're just not as elegant...

Chisel Glassware Set, $30

Lastly, Horchow features these distinct ceramic vases, modeled on the honeycomb pattern...

"NoCal" Honeycomb Vases, starting at $28.90

We'll be spending time with our families next week for the kids' school break, but will be back the next week with more fun design inspiration!

Deb

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Cubist Self Portraits

A couple of days ago, strolling around my twins' elementary school, I happened upon a bulletin board showcasing their "Cubist Self-Portraits".  Apparently, from what I could squeeze out of them, the assignment involved painting themselves twice - each time portraying a different emotion (happy, surprised, excited), cutting them up, and pasting the various pieces together.  What a brilliant assignment, and I just love the results... so much that I could picture a room designed around the final products...

Here's Ellie's... it's very her, especially the heart on her chest that apparently made its way into both self-portaits (as it should have!).  I love the dark lashes and eyebrow; ironic as hers are so blonde they're invisible (a couple of years ago she lamented, "I'm the only girl in kindergarten with no eyebrows!").

I could picture her self-portait in a room like this, girly but not too trite, with a nod to some of the animals she loves so much....

Headboard from John Robshaw

Lamp and bookends from Jonathan Adler

Quilt and storage baskets from Serena and Lily

Rug from Land of Nod

Dresser from Bungalow 5

And here's my sharp Emma.  She looks about this disheveled on an average day, no joke!  I always try to let her be herself, and kind of despise admire that she is so headstrong!  

She'd sooner die than appear in any shade of pink, and her room would need to reflect that...

Rug and chair from Land of Nod
Storage baskets and bedding from Serena and Lily
Owl bank from Jonathan Adler
Pouf from Overstock
Lamp from Robert Abbey
Bunting from Etsy

Have a great day,
Deb

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Lily...

Last week, I lamented that I couldn't find the perfect fabric that incorporated the colors represented in the inspiration board below...

Then last night, after I heard of socialite turned designer Lily Pulitzer's passing, I logged on to take another look at her collection at Lee Jofa and found this....  It's called Lily Lace, and it's perfect...

Lee Jofa launched the collection a couple of springs ago, and it's full of quintessentially Lily fabric - perfect for a beach house!

The fabrics in the collection can be used as unexpected pop of color in an otherwise serene room...

... or as the main attraction in a room saturated with bright tones...

This Lily dressing room shows us exactly what Lily will be best remembered for...

To read more of Lily Pulitzer's contributions to the worlds of fashion and design, click here...

Deb
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Blues and Greens in the Kitchen

My ebay kitchen chairs have finally gotten the boot.  The kids' fighting over who has to sit in the "surprise" chair (the surprise being falling through the seat bottom on to your arse) has gotten too much.  Enter the set of six Lillian August chairs my mom procured from her church rummage sale, perfect save the upholstery of the seat cushion.

So, I'm on the prowl for some new fabric, with this painting in my kitchen as the inspiration for hue:

This photo sums up the range of hues I'm looking for...

It's actually been a lot easier to find fashion accessories in these colors, than fabric!

Aqua and Green by Bryant Park Designs

Earrings by Dara Ettinger

Clothing by J.Crew

IPhone Cover by Kate Spade

Shoes by Jessica Bennett

Bracelet from Artfire 

Here's what I've got so far in the fabric department...

What do you think?

Deb

Still Trending: Lucite

Unsurprisingly, many seasonal trends often translate from the home to the runway, and vice versa.  This Spring, lucite has made the jump in popularity from interiors to fashion.  Everyone from French Connection to Diane Von Furstenberg is featuring lucite heels for Spring.  My favorites come from Kate Spade, who pairs lucite with color blocking for fun effect...

Kate Spade

I'm also loving Charlotte Olympia's lucite clutch...

... in all its variations...

Lucite and acrylic furniture and accessories were all over the Spring 2013 Domino Small Spaces Special Edition, from a Plexi Craft trunk....

...to a lucite magazine holder from the Container Store.  Lucite, in all its airiness, is indeed a great choice for small spaces!

Jonathan Adler carries some of my favorite lucite furnishings on the market today.  I just love how his designs contrast sleek lucite with everything from the rich tones of burled wood...

to the fluffy pad of Mongolian lamb...

Online antiques marketplace 1st Dibs is always a great place to find lucite pieces, since so much of it was made in the '50s to '70s...

How fun, right?

Deb

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Glass House, Take Two

While I wouldn't say a 1960s modernist "glass house" exactly fits my design aesthetic, I read with intrigue "Restoration Drama" in the New York Times, featuring this sleek Wilton, CT spread...

all images by Trevor Tondro

Owned by Town and Country editor-in-chief Jay Fielden and his family, this unique, mid-century home was nearly destroyed by a 2010 electrical fire.  Fortunately, while much of the contents were lost, architect Robert Dean and designer Jesse Carrier were able to rebuild, and I think the results are just spectacular...

I love so much of this image - of course the natural light, the dichotomy of the industrial steel beams versus the classic wing-back chair, the casual layering of carpets, and the restrained use of color and pattern...

This sculpture is amazing, as it contrasts with the stark lines of the beams and windows.  I can just picture my girls trying to teach their kittens to jump through it.

How do you possibly warm up a "glass house"?  With plenty of gorgeous Phillip Jeffries grasscloth, from in the office...

...to the master bedroom...

The silhouette of the 1950s bedside lamps is perfection.

This lacquered linen bookshelf was designed by Albert Hadley and purchased from Brooke Astor's estate.  And it's styled to perfection!

WellBuilt, the fantastic company that renovated my kitchen and powder room, constructed this closet, designed by Clos-ette.  After the fire destroyed her wardrobe, friends including Jenna Lyons and David Lauren sent Mrs. Fielden clothes - must be nice!

You can see the house as it existed before the fire, as featured in Elle Decor, here.  It's lovely, but I prefer "Take Two"!

Have a great weekend,

Deb

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Nightstand Styling Contest

How have you styled your nightstand - with a lamp, tray, fresh flowers, perhaps a favorite photograph? Here's an example of what we've done...

photo by Michael Lee

We're entering it in Emily Henderson's (she of Design Star fame) nightstand styling contest, sponsored by Serena and Lily.  Do you have a photo of your nightstand you'd like to enter?

Here's some ideas to inspire you....

via Caitlin Wilson

via My Sweet Savannah

via Home Sweet Home

To enter the contest, visit here.

Hope you a great weekend!
Deb

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