» Other Designers

Sister Parish

laura — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:48:00 +0000

The entire Sister Parish lineage has long been inspiring to me. Albert Hadley and Bunny Williams, who i have written about many times, and Terry Sullivan, for whom I worked in design school. In Vogue’s May 2010 issue I was happy to see a nod to her.

While working on schemes this week for a green and white bedroom I was reminded of Ramey Caulkin’s fun green and white bedroom that used many of Sister Parish’s fabrics.

Her granddaughter and protege, Susan Bartlett Crater and Libby Cameron have successfully kept Sister Parish’s prints in demand by opening Sister Parish Design.

They also wrote a tribute to her, which I consider to be required reading.

Sister Parish was able to remain timeless in her designs. I have always loved the Master Bedroom at the White House that she designed for President and Mrs. Kennedy. It still looks current.

I discovered an interesting fact while reading (please don’t tell anyone) Wikipedia – Sister Parish and Dorothy Draper were cousins!

Sister Parish- I can never get enough.

Photos Credits: via Sara Gilband, Vogue May 2010, via The Peak of Chic, Ramey Caulkins (Coastal Living July 2009), Sister Parish Design, via Design Public

Charlotte, Maybe & Eddie Ross

laura — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:00:44 +0000

I have mentioned Charlotte’s Metrolina a few times to Eddie & Jaithan, so I almost jumped out of my chair when I read Eddie’s post saying that they are considering coming to Charlotte in the fall to check it out. PLEASE do me a favor and go over to Eddie’s blog HERE and encourage them to come. Eddie is SO talented when it comes to arranging table settings and flowers, decorating and the crafty stuff and I would love to meet both of them. I first saw Eddie watching Top Design a few seasons ago and his personality hooked me from the beginning.

In case you haven’t checked out his inspiring blog or portfolio take a peek…

Come on guys- head south!!

All photographs from EddieRoss.com

Bunny Williams’ Point of View

laura — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:28 +0000

What a treat it was to hear Bunny Williams speak at the Mint Museum Symposium here in Charlotte this week. She started off with a glimpse inside the 18th century Connecticut house, which her book An Affair With A House is about. She said bought this house with her ex-husband thirty years ago and when she went in the driveway she knew it was the house for her, but “like all love affairs you never see the bad parts in the beginning”. We all laughed, she is quite funny. She learned early on that the trees would take constant work and that there is considerable upkeep that comes with a house like this one. She truly loves this house and you could feel it.

She gave us a glimpse into her life, revealed her wonderful personality and spoke about how she met her husband John Rosselli. Twenty years ago they launched the store Treillage on East 75th Street in New York together, which I have mentioned was one of my favorite spots when we lived a few blocks away. On the property of this house was an old timber frame barn built in 1840. John took it on as a project, brought it to life and they really use it and entertain in it.

She also discussed how John wanted a pool at the house. She loved the idea of incorporating Greek Revival style architecture and they created a rusticated pavilion for the pool house.

She referenced Gil Schafer as the architect who really made sure the proportions were correct.

For most of her discussion she focused on her book Point of View and the design principles that she discusses in it.

By this point I was glued, and I was absorbing every single word that she said. She discussed the importance of mixing furniture, not being afraid to combines styles, colors and periods. The cover shot is her living room at her house in the Dominican Republic. Much of the furniture that is in the house she and John already owned and they wanted to use it. She had light blue linen slipcovers made for the furniture to pull it all together. In this house she also created a pantry for her china. (I am dreaming…)

In this dining room of a clients’ below she spoke about how the wheel back chairs give such visual interest and contrast. She encouraged us to “see each thing individually”. When I see this room I also see that the shapes in the chairs and the patterns in the rug are also reflected in the pattern on the ceiling. While they are different, all of the components of the room compliment each other.

In New York she and John so frequently eat out that they used their dining room for an additional reading room. At one end is a seating area with a TV for John to watch the Yankees, at the other end is a desk where she can work and they can be in the same room together. All rooms need to be used, and she encouraged us to use rooms in your house as you need them. One point that I thought was super was if you have a very long dining room table, but are only seating four, to put such things as flowers, books and serving pieces on the end of the tables and use just the center. In a different dining room, she had slipcovers made for these chairs so sometimes the room feels a little less formal, and she can take them off to dress up the room when she wants to. She offered lots of great ideas and alternatives.

Some other key points she made were to be sure to consider the scale of a room and to fill it appropriately, use the corners of the rooms with game tables and small conversation areas, use old materials in a new house that give a sense of patina and most importantly enjoy the process. She also jokingly said that if you use marble in the kitchen the first spill is the worst.

How do I keep up with her? Straight into my email. Click here to sign up at the bottom of the green column on the left side of her page .

What I will forever remember her saying about her work and process is that it is “like scrambled eggs. You mix it all up and hopefully it comes out soufflé”.

I’d say soufflé indeed.

Bloomie’s Big Window Challenge

laura — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:00:45 +0000

When we lived in New York I lived nine blocks north of Bloomingdales and always loved to see their windows. Three talented designers are showcasing their designs in the Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge and the voting is happening over at Apartment Therapy.

Let me know which window is your favorite!

Patterned Textiles

laura — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:27 +0000

It is rare for me to work on a project without incorporating pattern somewhere. I love textile design whether fabrics or wallpaper. Steven Gambrel does this so well, and how smart that there is a tight image of the pattern early in the photograph to the left.

Whether used on headboards, wallpaper, as art, throw pillows or bedding, patterns add so much visual interest to a room.

Do you love a wallpaper of fabric and want to use it in a small amount? Turning it into art is a great way to incorporate it into your home.

One of my favorite textile designers based in London is Aleta.

You can read about the interesting process for her textile design here.

Old persian rugs are often inspirational to textile designers. The colors in this antique suzani are outstanding.

I wrote a post in the early fall about Indigo Resist fabrics. You can click here to read it if you missed it.

Do you love pattern as much as I do?

Photo Credits: Steven Gambrel (1), Sarah Laird (2,4), Richard Keith Langham (3), Anne Becker photography by Simon Upton for Elle Decor(6), Katrin Cargill (5), via House Beautiful (9)

Charlotte Moss & Haiti

laura — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:15:13 +0000

Charlotte Moss has asked bloggers in the design community to encourage their readers to donate through UNICEF if they would like to make a donation towards the crisis in Haiti.

Click here to read about her generous donation. Click on the blue unicef box to make a donation. Call 1.800.FOR.KIDS to make a donation by phone.

MG + BW

laura — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:00:59 +0000

*Please note the date for the Max & Co. book signing is this Thursday the 14th.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’s New Book The Comfortable Home: How to Invest in Your Nest and Live Well for Less is certainly on the top of my book list.

It’s filled with great ideas and tutorial pictures.

This book celebrates the firms 20th anniversary.

Their updated and affordable furniture line makes for a winning combination.

Lucky for those in Charlotte, these two will be signing books at Max & Company this Thursday the 14th from 6-8 PM. RSVP to Leah Kennelly at lkennelly[at]jmhoward[dot]net if you are able to attend.

FYI CLT: Suzanne Kasler at Mrs. Howard

laura — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:31 +0000

One of my favorite designers, Suzanne Kasler, will be speaking at noon at Mrs. Howard in Charlotte on Tuesday, December 1st.

I have featured her designs often on my blog as they are pretty, updated and I appreciate her strong use of color.

She also makes a neutral palette beautiful with amazing choices that seem to complete the room.

I love her furniture line for Hickory Chair. Remember this post?

She will also be signing copies of her new book which I recently bought between 12-5. It is fabulous.

If you are interested in attending please email lkennelly [at] jmhoward [dot] net

Hope to see you there!

Velvet and Linen & the Brickmakers Table

laura — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:04:40 +0000

Velvet and Linen is doing a great giveaway for a coffee table from Bobo Intriguing Objects.

Recently she asked her readers to send her pictures of their rooms that they thought the coffee table would look good in if they wanted to win it. She received almost 200 entries, so she asked some bloggers including myself to be a judge. I selected my top ten and two of them made the top ten. Here they are…In Melissa L.’s room below the furniture proportions are nice, it’s not overly fussy which is the right kind of room for this table, and I love her curtain color. The fireplace looks interesting and a pretty color as well.

If I could vote twice I would vote for both, but I voted for Katie D. today (room below). I like both rooms but I think the look of the coffee table is better suited in the room below. I like the layered rugs, all the books and magazines so organized with the bookshelves all being used . There is a nice mix of furniture frames and she took a lot of thought with the accessories which can really add to the room. The throws on the wing chair, Jackie O. on the top of the magazine basket, the fun lamp and the framed music manuscript. The table looks like it would fit well in the room and the dimensions are right. Nice work Melissa L. and Katie D. and good luck to both.

Thanks to Brooke for including me in the panel. Now it’s your turn to go vote from the top. Click HERE to go to her blog. The top three will be awarded on her blog next week. Let me know who you vote for!

hints of fall

laura — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:53 +0000

The temperature is a little cooler and I’m seeing hints of fall. The leaves have started to change.

Last week my sweet husband brought me home two big pots of mums for outside our front door.

It’s about to be time for these….

I am happy it’s fall. Hope you are too.

Photo Credits: Photo Bucket (1,4 ,8) via House Beautiful (2,4) via Meade Design Group (3) Lee Bierly & Christopher Drake (5)

Victoria Hagan Interiors (6) via Domino (7) Jeffry Bilhuber (9) Ned Marshall (10) Sara Story (11)