Alain Lemarchand, President and CEO of Hachette Filipacchi Media, announced the upsetting news today but quotes that they “will boldly focus our resources and investment on ELLE DECOR which is the ad-page leader in the U.S. market.”

{Met Home’s final cover}

How many more upscale shelter magazines will continue to shut down?  In a few years will magazines be completely obsolete?  In the meantime, I’m praying and hoping that my other precious magazines- Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Traditional Home will continue to ride out the storm.

Reader Request: can anyone identify this chair fabric or suggest something similar? 

While you are thinking, check out this model condo designed by John Oetgen for The Brookwood in Atlanta.  I love how he paired traditional Queen Anne chairs w/ graphic cushions with a sleek table steel and glass table. 

 The plush draperies soften the clean, modern feel of the space.  I love the slipper chairs! 

This extra tall headboard and beautiful bedding have a slightly more comfortable, traditional feel. 

 To view the AH&L story click here. 

I really hope someone can help identify that fabric!

As a resident of Bel Air, I like to follow the Bel Air Association Blog to keep up with such neighborhood news as: recent bobcat sightings, the latest home invasions, street construction, & of course, highlights of properties on the market in the neighborhood.  Take, for instance, this property that apparently Michael Jackson was in negotiations to purchase just prior to his death.  The estate is 20,000 square feet, has 15 bedrooms, 16.5 bathrooms and includes a two story guest house, swimming pool, spa, fitness center, tennis courts, and…I must be leaving something out?  Oh, the asking price: $37,995,000.

Here’s a little peak of what MJ would have gotten for his money:

And, of course, Michael Jackson touring the property:

I’ll refrain from commenting about the interior decor and leave that to you, dear readers…

{Images via TMZ}

I STILL love this image of Ruthie Sommer’s living room that I’m sure has since been redone numerous times from the first time this photo graced the cover of Domino.  The sofa is amazing – my favorite geometric fabric covering such a stodgy traditional sofa – it breaks all the rules!   This ain’t your grandmother’s camel back – take a look at these examples and let me know if you could rock one!

A slipcovered version by Houston designer Lisa Epley

Camel Back Christian Liaigre style by Gerrie Bremmerman

Windsor Smith’s Gwen Sofa

Neo-Charleston Sofa by Darryl Carter for Thomasville

Brent Sofa by Cisco Brothers

Gemma Settee from Jayson Home and Garden

Ebay is a great source for finding a sofa that needs some TLC!

Ebay Chippendale

Hickory Chair

Bethany Sofa by Bernhardt Interiors

Lambert Sofa by Martha Stewart

Winslow Sofa by Martha Stewart

DIFFA’s Dining by Design is right around the corner, sure to showcase one of a kind spreads of all you can eat eye candy, entertaining inspiration and dining design just in time for the holidays. Come out and see some of Chicago’s finest set the table for a good cause… It doesn’t get much better than this!

I support so many of my design colleagues who are a part of this noble cause-and event.  I will be there next year designing with you all…out of town this weekend on business,  but will be there in spirit!  Chicago Design Rocks!

Proceeds benefit Chicago area HIV/AIDS service agencies… Let’s make a DIFFArence.

When: November 5th – 7th

Where: Merchandise Mart, located at 222 Merchandise Plaza, Chicago

Reservations required… visit DIFFACHICAGO.ORG for details!

Something tells me these gems just might do the trick…

Where: Jayson Home + Garden, located at 1740 W. Webster Avenue, Chicago

When: November 6th – 8th from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Happy hunting!

The room is wonderful of course (as are all her rooms) and you almost forget you are standing right in a department store!

Neiman Marcus

1618 Main St., Dallas- 2nd floor

DuPont now has an app for browsing and selecting from their line of products.  The app features the entire palette of Corian solid surfacing and Zodiaq quartz surface colors. You can save your favorites and share them via email along with browsing the photo gallery for design ideas and inspiration.  Free on iTunes!

]]> http://materialgirlsblog.com/losangeles/2009/11/03/another-design-app/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MaterialGirls-TheInteriorDesignBlogForStylishAndAffordableHomeDecor/~3/15yL5C-d5OQ/ http://materialgirlsblog.com/chicago/2009/11/03/ready-or-not/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:43:36 +0000 Julia -Chicago http://materialgirlsblog.com/chicago/?p=2104 To me, nothing signals the approach of the most wonderful time of the year more than Starbucks’ annual release of their signature red cups. Today marks the 12th Anniversary of the colorful tradition and I hope it brings you as much pre-holiday cheer and excitement as it does me!..  Let’s warm up with a little handful of red today…

A few more reasons I’m loving on this festive hue:

Rina Menardi has added a new shade to her already irresistable collection… Che bella!

I absolutely adore Farrow & Ball’s new Lotus print in red and can not wait to showcase it in my one of a kind designer space at the Merchandise Mart’s “One of a Kind Show” this upcoming December…

Can you imagine feeling anything but fabulous in this Jolie tub?  Regia earned Designer Plus 2009 status with this decadent design…

Getting warmer?

What’s in your red cup?

After spotting this fabulous coat on Emerson Made I immediately emailed my science loving husband to ask if he could please identify the big cat this coat most closely resembles (I really want a “classy” animal print coat).  This was his response:

“Definintely cheetah.  This will make the statement that you are the fastest and most agile of the big cats.”

Um, awesome! Ha ha!  We all can do a quick google search for animal print fashion/decor and find that there are more trashy versions than classy out there.  If home decor really does follow fashion, I wonder if cheetah is the next big thing? 

I think we tend to forget that the original version in nature is SO GORGEOUS. 

My “classy coat” obsession continued when I spotted this picture of designer Lizzie Bailey in a fabulous cheetah print coat (as seen with Michelle Adams of Rubie Green/Lonny Magazine fame).

Her coat looks pretty similar to the Top Shop one shown in this collage by Who What Wear.

I love this little cheetah print collar!

Yes, please.  Christian Louboution Miss Clichy 140 boots.

I had never before pondered the difference between leopard, cheetah, snow leopard, etc!  I’m liking cheetah a lot!  How about you?   

**Disclaimer:  I am by no means a zoology expert.  These items shown may or may not be a good representation of Cheetah print.  If you have any insight as to the differences or discreprencies between the items shown and the actual animal, please leave a comment!  Also, I do not in any way support the killing of cheetahs for their hides…FAUX is fine for me!  Let’s not turn this into an animal rights discussion, it’s just for fun people.

I imagine you would be pretty excited (as would I!!)

Well, that notable designer is Elaine Griffin and she did recently share her deepest design secrets with the public.   All 238 pages of them!  Her new book, Design Rules: The Insider’s Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator, comes out November 3rd and we couldn’t be more excited.  I was sent a sneak preview of it (ok, it wasn’t really a preview, I read the whole thing in two days!) and I was so thrilled that someone so credible FINALLY came up with a “step-by-step practical approach” (in the words of Colin Cowie) to home decorating.  It is SUCH a great reference.  I had always wondered why someone hadn’t written a book like this sooner.

Yes, we all have the book, The Time Savers Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning, and don’t get me wrong, it’s a classic, but that book is like lifing weights (on a good day!)  It’s not easy to tote around and almost has too much detailed information in it that it makes my head spin.  And not to mention the fact, that Time Savers doesn’t address the reader with terms of endearment such as “honey”, “sugar”, and “baby” (like Elaine does).  Elaine makes the reader feel very comfortable.  Reading this book is like having coffee with your best friend (ok, your very talented and knowledgeable best friend).

Not only is it entertaining, Elaine’s book ”demystifies the process with a smart and savvy, no-nonsense decorating primer” (in the words of Margaret Russell)

So why am I telling you all this?  Because one lucky reader will win a copy of Design Rules!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post (between now and Sunday November 8th at 11:59 pm), stating a design question that you have ALWAYS wanted to know the answer to.

One reader will be chosen at random and the winner will receive a copy of Design Rules through the mail.

**Even more exciting, Elaine will answer each question that was posted and we will be featuring the answers in an upcoming blog post!**

(When leaving a comment, please leave your email address or a way for us to contact you in case you win)

{Images from Elaine Griffin Interior Design}

Keeping with the spirit of Halloween, the colors orange and black look fabulous together year round…

Orange wallcovering with black trim and black framed pictures.

A balanced room with orange as an accent: the chair seat cushion, the orange side chair, a few orange throw pillows and a mix of black & white drapery panels, an area rug, and a pillow.

Orange walls, a black lampshade, orange throw pillows, black background on the artwork, orange ottoman, dark wood, and a few black accessories = the perfect mix of orange + black.

Pretty in orange and black: orange background color on the wallcovering with a few black accents, table lamp base and bedding.

Modern take on orange and black: orange bedding + black walls with orange accents.

Retro glam: orange grasscloth wallcovering and black textured window treatments mixed in with a pair of retro orange covered chairs.

Eclectic orange:  artsy orange screen in front of a black marble fireplace.

A dark floored entry with orange globe lighting.

These orange + black rooms surely don’t scream Halloween (no pun intended).

Hope many of you are out enjoying the Halloween festivities!  Thought I would share a few pictures of homes decorated for Halloween that I took this past week while staying at my family’s house on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.  Many of the homes on this small, quaint island were decorated for Halloween.  I was hoping to walk around and take more pictures but only managed to get a few.  In the spirit of the island, everything from storefronts to island cottages to streets were decorated for Halloween…I will try to take more come Christmas time, when even the boats are decked out in holiday lights!

This season’s CS Interiors has opened my eyes to the fascinating work of Windy City-based knitter-photographer-artist, Michelle Litvin, who epitomizes the definition above in her “Mindscrim” creations.  Her one of a kind vision begins with meditiation and weaves intuitive intricacy… Litvin tells CS “I go into these meditative states and then I start knitting… There’s no predetermined design in mind, and I make up stitches as I go.”

Enjoy these compelling images and swing by Caste to experience Litvin’s sculptures and accompanying photographic collection live.

What I love most about art and design is that inspiration is everywhere… Michelle Litvin found a muse in kneedle and thread… What will inspire you today?

{Georgina Chapman}

There is nothing more feminime than a ladies dressing table.  The above image of Georgina Chapman epotimizes modern notions of what glamour and luxury are all about.  By simply adding a piece of furniture to your bedroom or bathroom, be it mirrored or modern, you too can doll yourself up the way the Old Hollywood Screen Sirens used to. 

MIRRORED:

 {via Belle Vivr}

{via Pink Wallpaper}

Mirrored Table from Justine Paris

Dressing Table  by Downtown

1930’s Mirrored Dressing Table via 1st Dibs

Home Decorator’s Collection

Collette Vanity

Exhibit A:

Washington D.C. Design House- (design by Kelley Proxmire)

Exhibit B:

Seattle, Washington (design by Carrie Hayden)

I really do love them both! They are both very feminine, soothing and luxurious (my favorite traits!); but on the other hand, their color schemes couldn’t be further from each other.  You have the bright and cheerful robin’s-egg-blue and ivory versus the subdued and more neutral gray and parchment scheme.

Which brings us to my never-ending internal “interiors” debate- do more color or do more neutral? Decisions decisions! They are both irresistable!

A little inspiration for Halloween decorating…

]]> http://materialgirlsblog.com/losangeles/2009/10/28/trick-or-treat/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MaterialGirls-TheInteriorDesignBlogForStylishAndAffordableHomeDecor/~3/oQzvu7PEif4/ http://materialgirlsblog.com/chicago/2009/10/28/heads-up/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:33:26 +0000 Julia -Chicago http://materialgirlsblog.com/chicago/?p=2030 This fall, Chicago Home + Garden raises the expectation for color. Too often we overlook ceilings, but shouldn’t it be the other way around?! Check out these spaces along with a couple of inspirations I pulled from Domino.

A big thank you to Jennifer Adams for including us on a segment of Better TV about where designers shop that they’d never like to admit!  My Homegoods lamp and rock crystal bookend were featured on the segment.  Click the link to check it out!