You can read all about the studio here, on Windsor’s blog!  Enjoy the eye candy!

Enchanted Vine Emerald

Enchanted Vine Navy

Hidden Temple Emerald

Hidden Temple Indigo

Lioness Indigo

Moon Blossom Midnight

Moon Blossom Orchid

This past Spring market, the Material Girls (along with other fab bloggers!) were invited to participate in “Suite Spot Tours” at the International Market Centers in High Point, NC. As part of the tour, we were each allowed to select vendors through-out the market suites to feature as part of our intimate guided tour:

To highlight a few of the vendors I included on my tour (& some of my favorite finds!) – here’s a re-cap:

Marc Phillips Rugs – always love their collection of area rugs, and especially the new unique artist designed rugs that I also featured here. One in particlaur was on display at High Point Market, the Obey Giant designed piece.

Another collection I enjoy, is the graphic pillows from V Pillows & Rugs, a company based out of Miami, FL.

Los Angeles based designer Kim Salmela is a new favorite – loving, loving, loving everything coming out of her product line – which you can view here. Kim was nice enough to share with our group her background and design collections for Spring!

…and when I wasn’t busy with my own tour, I went on over to another High Point building fave: 220 Elm to tour W. Schillig with my bestie: Maison21 (& shout out to him for a big help on my tour…let’s just say he helped “keep the pace.”) BUT here’s the thing: he gets to his tour, finds this super comfy leather sectional sofa to recline back on and tells me, “Now you go take the rest of my tour, I am staying put right here!” See how that works! (If you don’t believe me – well, the picture above tells exactly the story!)

Another showroom at 220 Elm I had the opportunity to visit (thanks to a friend of mine who was helping out there!) was Mat Orange. They have a range of rug collections (many graphic, and colorful) – one of which I absolutely love – pictured above.

In addition to showroom tours, I had the opportunity to attend a press tour for the Traditional Home Showhouse located in Greensboro, NC. The Adamsleigh Estate is a magnificent 15,000 square foot mansion that boasts 33 rooms and covers 13.5 acres which includes a lake, tennis courts, pools, gazebo, & five car garage. A handful of amazing designers transformed the home into one amazing room after another. Above is the powder room. For more info on the home and designers included, click here.

Next came the parties. Lots of them! One of the most anticipated was the unveiling of the new Stanley Furniture showroom. The entire two story space is stunning. The most exciting was seeing the work of our friends, Los Angeles based design duo Ron Woodson & Jaime Rummerfield of Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design and their showroom gallery space for Stanley Furniture. Above is Maison21 and I photographing the gallery wall of mirrors which we loved!

Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield at the Stanley Furniture opening party with fellow blogger / designer Sarah Sarna.

While at the Stanley Furniture party, Christian of Maison 21 took a little time out to be interviewed by Shane Inman.

Next came the Halo party – always a packed house!

Between design events & parties, we stopped to take a few pics – or, in other words – wherever we saw mirrors! Like here in the courtyard at the Baker Furniture Showroom (with Ashlina of The Decorista and Edyta of Edyta & Co Interior Design).

And more mirrors! (Edyta, me, Ashlina)

We had a fun afternoon hanging out at the Younger Furniture showroom (located at 220 Elm) for the launch of designer Traci Zeller’s new textile line. Pictured above is Traci with Ashlina.

Last but not least, came the grand finale of High Point parties: the always fun Four Hands party. I had a great time hanging out with my “twin” & Blog Tour London buddy: Raina of A Stylist’s Life.

Many thanks to High Point Market Authority for organizing yet another succesful market!

Thank you to IMC (International Market Centers) for inviting the Material Girls to High Point for a great opportunity!

220 Elm & Heinz – thank you for hosting us all for an amazing lunch!

If you haven’t yet been to High Point Market – it is defintely worth a trip! For details and planning for Fall Market, visit the website here.

{For additional pictures from High Point Market, check out my Instagrams.}

Original book cover of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

A life full of partying, prosperity, and feeling the need to be free from the constraints of what was deemed socially acceptable at the turn of the 1900th century brought around the Art Deco movement.  A call for new fashion, new architecture, and new furniture and home decor!  Immediately everything went streamline, architecturally as well as decor.  Geometric shapes, and bold colors were all the rage.

A real 1920′s beauty bedecked all in dazzling Cartier jewelry.

Baz Luhrmann is by far my favorite movie director and producer.  He can take a old classic story and turn it into something new and over the top like no one else.  You can totally see what I mean if you’ve ever watched Moulin Rouge, or Romeo and Juliet.  His adaptation of The Great Gatsby has once again totally hit the mark with his impeccable style and lavish ways of transforming something great, into something even greater.  If you ask me, I think he’s done a remarkable job defining the 1920′s era by putting a modern day spin on it.

The stunning Leonardo Dicaprio as Jay Gatsby.

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

Gatsby’s Humble Abode

Now this is the kind of entry hall I’m talkin’ about!  This is where Gatsby hosts all of his lavishly epic parties.  It’s the perfect atmosphere if you as me!

Welcome to the party!  The outside movie set of the famous swimming pool/fountain party scene.  Looks like a blast!

Take a look at Gatsby’s bedroom.  The clean lines and no frills make it the perfect bedroom for such a dashingly dapper bachelor.

Daisy’s sitting room exudes femininity with all it’s pinks and blushing hues, accented by soft whites and golds.  I’m loving that patterned rug and long fringed throw over that side chair!

Even Tiffany and Co. has gotten into the spirit of the movie.  They’ve designed an entire collection devoted to Daisy, the leading female role in the movie.  If you visit their flagship store in NYC, you’ll find their famous window displays bedazzled with 1920′s glamour in  honor of the movie.

Looking for that special outfit to go along with your new diamonds and pearls from Tiffany’s? Just stroll on down to the Brooks Brother’s flagship store on Madison Ave.  They’ve transformed their store with a vintage 20′s ambiance that’s sure to make you want to pop open a bottle of bubbly!

Still can’t get enough of that fabulous Art Deco style?  Take a gander at these gorgeous rooms!

I love the soft golden back drop of this room.  The ebony furniture pieces make a dramatic contrast against it.  The marble floor inlay is breath taking, and look at that console on the back wall!  I’m in love with the Greek Key motif in white that borders its edges!

One of my favorite pieces of furniture in a grand home like this one, is an entry table that sits in the center of a foyer.  It’s so stately!

Let’s face it, deep down, everybody wants a grand sweeping staircase like this to walk down every morning.  I know I sure do!

This Art Deco interior embodies the clean and simple shapes found in many period buildings.  Check out all that silver leafing on the ceiling!

This Parisian apartment designed in in the early 20′s is still fashionable today!  Just look at the shape of the cocktail table, and the gilded screen behind the sofa!

I’ve always been in love with these simple and sophisticated prints from the 1920′s.  These wallpapers are still a classic, even after 93 years!

So, if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, what are you waiting for?! This is definitely a movie you don’t want to miss on the silver screen!

{Ro Sham Beaux Lighting}

I had SUCH a great time in High Point, the highlight being to hang out in person with fellow MG’s Julia, Jill, Emily, and our Material Boy/Mascot/Biggest Cheerleader, Nathan.  It was a whirlwind trip, but so, so, so much fun and I hope to go back at least once a year!  Here are a few of my favorite things I saw…

A fun new discovery was the Phillips Scott Collection, I ended up ordering this chest above (for me) in the dark stain finish.

Oly Studio didn’t disappoint.  Everything is so clean, cool, and perfect.

Visual Comfort was a treat, especially seeing Aerin Lauder’s collection in person.  I can’t wait until photos are finally released of it.  Let’s just say I have my eye on SEVERAL things I must own.  I love this new Thomas O’Brien Chandelier.  I also ran into friend, Paloma working it and she was nice enough to introduce me and my partner in crime, Meg to Aerin Lauder herself.  Major Moment.

Julian Chichester was a visual treat, and wonderful to see some things I’ve specified in person.  A client ended up ordering that gold buffet – SWOON.

I loved seeing a great mix at Tara Shaw Maison.  Really, really great stuff!

I think all the MG’s enjoyed giving their tours at The Suites at Market Square.  The Suites are SUCH a great venue, I spent so much time there discovering new vendors.  It was awesome!  If you are a designer, you should really try to make it to High Point – totally worth the Business Trip!  Happy Weekend!

After treating myself to a vintage Hermes scarf at Round Top (Happy early Birthday to me), I am obsessed with all things orange.  But I don’t want cheesy orange, I want old world orange.  I think traditional bones are the key to pulling off this color.  I of course LOVE Hermes orange, but lately I’ve been completely obssesed to color matching fabrics to the label on a Veuve Clicquot bottle!  I also love the idea of the bold orange paired with powder blue and indigo.

Oh, I met Aerin in High Point…no big deal!  We’re BFF now, she liked my necklace!  Seriously, she is the DEFINITION of effortless chic, which sadly, to pull off, is not effortless at all!  Love her!

Here’s my spin on it…a little Michael S. Smith for Jasper, a little Windsor Smith, and a dash of leopard!

Genevieve in her Valspar Vignette where she created two separate spaces.  One kids area with a bright yellow wall and one dining area with the navy blue.  She really wanted the color to have an impact on the space so she chose colors that had nice contrast and worked her magic from there

As you can see her choice of color really packed a punch!  All of the pieces were collected from various Housing Works locations around the city and she had to pull the vignette together with what was available.  Never and easy task!  Using Valspar paint she was able to transform each piece and re-purpose it in a way that’s unimaginable to the eye until it’s complete

She found an adorable daybed for the kids half of the room and used a fun, bright throw to cover it which allowed her to bring in other colors like the pink side table and green pendants.  Valspar makes it easy and fun to use color

One of my favorite finds was this antique side chair with a strong black and white ikat upholstered seat and rich black painted frame.  It was snatched up before I could get my hands on it so unfortunately it’s not one of the pieces I went home with..

Not only did Genevieve add bold color but she threw some stripes and matallics in the mix to give the space some variation in pattern and color.  Don’t be afraid to take your paint projects to another level

Here we are together in her vignette!

Samantha Knapp designer and creative director of Tiger Lily’s Greenwich stands in her “Wizard of Oz” vignette

Samantha used a mixture of matallics and furnishings both traditional and modern to create this fun space which included an actual yellow brick road.

Nicole Gobbons Studio (aka SoHaute) created this colorful space using bright colors and abstract art which seems to be a BIG trend these days.  It’s a great way to spice up a room in a jiffy

Here’s a close up of the abstract painting which was done by blogger and artist Nicole Cohen of Sketch42

Larry Ruhl from High Falls Mercantile used old pages from a collection of books as his rug and various antique maps that he’s been collecting for years as his wallpaper.  He’s the king of re-purposing!

Check out this gorgeous wallpaper by Florence Broadhurst!  Bravo Arden Stephenson for selecting something so smashing

Lara Spencer (another chair of the evening) created this blue and neutral room for One King’s Lane

Housing Works made their own fun vignette using bold fluorescents and a geometric pattern on the wall with Valspar color

One of my favorite rooms of the evening was by Danielle Colding (the HGTV design star winner) who used bold black and whites including the gorgeous juju wallpaper by Aphrochic.  Swoon worthy..

I love the touch of bright orange on the edges of this unique console table

A masculine groomsmen’s suite

Pops of color added to this neutral room gave it just enough oomph

Thanks to Valspar, Housing Works, Elle Decor and all the co-chairs who were responsible for another successful event that will help the homeless and those living with HIV/AIDS.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my money and gather design inspiration at the same time.

Our first evening there really set the tone for the entire trip.  Material Girl Lauren, Material Guy Nathan, our friend Meg of LeSueur Interiors, and I made our first stop at the CR Laine showroom for a little get together with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.  While we were there, we met up with Material Girl Jill, and our fabulous friend Christian, of Maison21.  It was a great first night in High Point!  What could be more fun than having a blast with friends in a gorgeous showroom, while meeting other fellow designers and design bloggers?!

 The Material Guy and I at CR Laine!

Material Girls Lauren and Emily with Meg Lonegran! Check out that awesome Schumacher fabric on the wing chair and accent pillow!  It’s perfect with that sofa!

Emily, Rachel and Meg with design blogger Nicole of So Haute!

Our first full day was just that…. a FULL day of shopping, checking out all the vendors we could possibly squeeze into one day, and spotting all the new stuff we could see!  We found a ton of new and exciting vendors that we can’t wait to start using in our designs!  There is so much to see at High Point Market, we feel like we barely scratched the surface!

Amazing new lamps at Visual Comfort-

We brought home lots of great new vendor sources to use on our client projects!

The Bungalow 5 showroom was amazing in person!

We’ve always been a fan of glass knots as accessories.  These beauties are from Sklo.

We met Tara Shaw of New Orleans, who couldn’t have beem more nice!  It was incredible that she gave us a one on one tour of her booth while we were there.

We loved these guys too!  Their look is fresh and exciting, with great use of color and materials.

On day #2, we hosted our Material Girl tour through the Suites at Market Square.  It was really special to be able to meet and connect with some of our devoted readers!  The vendors I targeted on the tour Nathan and I hosted were Festoni, The Detroit Wallpaper Co., CHC Art, Louise Gaskill Lighting, Tamarian Carpets, Saddleman’s of Sata Fe, and Tara Shaw.  We had a really good group, and we think they enjoyed their tour!  We know we sure did!

Tamarian Carpets

CHC Art

The Detroit Wallpaper Co.

Louise Gaskill Lighting

Saddleman’s of Santa Fe

Our tour group at Tara Shaw!

After our tour….. you guessed it!  More shopping and scouting for new vendors to add to our list!  We found some good ones!

Of course Aerin Lauder (and her new collection at Visual Comfort) was s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g!

Regina Andrew had some great new lighting and accent furniture pieces that are to die for also!

Loving this wheel bookcase from Noir!

The agate series from Wendover are so colorful and each one is really unique.  We will be specifying these asap for a client.

After another full day of shopping, checking out vendors, showrooms, and hosting tours, it was time for the famed Halo party!  What a great way to spend our last night in High Point!  We were finally able to get all the Material Girls that were at market all together in the same place, at the same time!  It was a blast getting to hang out at the fab Halo showroom and share a glass of champagne with our fellow Material Girls!

From left to right: Nathan (Dallas), Emily (Dallas), Julia (Chicago), Jill (LA), and Lauren (Houston). We missed you Rebecca (New York)!

Our last day in High Point was short, but we were still able to squeeze in a few more places to see! Our first stop was Oly Studio’s showroom.  It was beautiful with it’s clean and crisp white color scheme.  Have always wanted to see their pieces all in one space and they certainly did not disappoint!

The biggest highlight of the day we found at the Vanguard showroom.  As we were walking through, we turned the corner, and low and behold, there was Thom Felicia!  How adorable is he and his greek key belt? Love!

Before we headed back to our hotels to pack up and head to the airport, we were able to have a fantastic roof top lunch over looking High Point.  A perfect way to end a spectacular trip to market that we’ll never forget!

We’d like to give a big thank you to the High Point Market staff and vendors who all helped make 2013 Spring Market memorable and successful! See you next year! 

This past week I attended the opening party for the Los Angeles Modernism Show, taking place through the weekend at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show features over fifty exhibitors displaying 20th century furniture, decorative and fine art from across the US and Europe. Most all the exhibitors (with a few exceptions) are based here in Southern California. The event also benefits P.S. Arts, a charity working to improve the lives of children by providing arts education (a charity I’ve mentioned and featured greatly on the blog). The show featured some amazing  finds – and here is what caught my eye (among the celebs in attendance)!

It was lovely to meet and see actress Courtney Cox! (Her fellow Friends star Lisa Kudrow was also in attendance.)

My “design partner in crime” and fellow blogger Christian of Maison21 attended the event with me too.

Loved this glam gold console featured in one of the exhibitor booth’s at the Los Angeles Modernism Show.

Lots of artwork among the vendors, including abstracts, pop art, and geometric pieces like this one.

Maison21 looking quite serious among some modern colorful pop art.

I would say the Joannes Lucas booth was the most eclectic of all the vendors, with the theme “Zoo” going on.

But I have to say, I quite liked this guy.

And wouldn’t doubt this would be a conversation piece at any party.

One of our favorites, is the Christopher Anthony Ltd space (which we had also seen at last Fall’s Art & Antiques Show. Yet again, another hit – featuring some great finds – including the console and accessories above (and below).

We had our eye on this vintage fireplace screen.

I thought this gilded geometric wall sculpture was pretty cool.

More from Christopher Anthony Ltd – modern metal and glass side tables.

Off the Wall Antiques featured some great items, too – such as this large scale chandelier.

These textured wall tiles were a fave of Maison21′s.

I quite liked these retro textured pair of doors.

Lot’s of abstract art was on display, both gallery style among the aisles and in the vendor booths. I think seeing all the various pieces of art was one of my favorite things (well, among so much else!).

If you missed the show this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year!

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design

For more, check out all my Instagrams here!

Stay tuned for the full coverage of the show later this week!

{The Adamsleigh Estate in Greensboro, NC}

 I had such a wonderful time being a Style Spotter at High Point Market last fall, and was honored when I was asked to host a “Suite Spot Tour” for this market (along with other MGs Emily, Lauren and Jill). It is always a majorly fun gig to mingle with my dear friends, favorite vendors-both old and new- and of course with the “Mama” to us all, Cheminne Taylor-Smith who brings this whole world alive for us twice a year in High Point, North Carolina.

Between running around market looking for the latest and greatest pieces for my clients and showroom and prepping for my tour, I made it to the Junior League of Greensboro Showhouse.  I was invited to attend a small, private tour of the home with Traditional Home who is the sponsor of this magnificent undertaking- which was an amazing, intimate way to be able to view the stunning home. The philanthropic endeavors that this ShowHouse is sponsoring with all of the proceeds are grand and noble-to say the least. It is truly a brilliant collaboration between Trad Home and the Junior League. We are a design obsessed group and what better timing to highlight the fabulous work of some of my treasured colleagues than our annual Spring trek to market! So good to see you Beth Brenner and your warm welcome into the Showhouse was the icing on the cake. I confess to a Krispy Kreme sampling as well

I am currently working on the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago’s Lake Forest Showhouse for the second consecutive time, so I have the utmost respect for these designers who put their blood, sweat and tears into their spaces.  It definitely all pays off  in the end!  The house looked absolutely gorgeous.

There were so many rooms I loved, I could not just pick one favorite.  Did I mention that this 15,00 square foot, 33 room historic mansion located on 13 acres is on the market and can be yours for around $4 million?  After seeing the photos below, you might want to give your realtor a call.

Here are some of the highlights of this amazing and historic home. A fun fact is that many of the family’s own photographs are exhibited within the Showhouse to add to that historic and personal feel of the family that once spent many years within. Right up my alley!

FOYER

LIVING ROOM – MILES REDD

BREAKFAST ROOM – JOHN LOECKE & JASON OLIVER NIXON

INDOOR PORCH - ERIC COHLER

SUN ROOM – BRADSHAW ORRELL INTERIORS

GUEST ROOM – MEGAN WINTERS

MASTER BEDROOM & BATHROOM – ROBERT BROWN

MASTER SLEEPING PORCH – WARREN KESSLER

MASTER SITTING ROOM – LISA KAHN

MASTER DRESSING ROOM – LISA MENDE and TRACI ZELLER

Lisa and Traci had this wallpaper custom made to match the elevations of the house!

MAN’S CLOSET – LISA MENDE + TRACI ZELLER

And this wallpaper was also custom made to pay homage to the original homeowner’s textile business of making black socks!

BEDROOM – KARA COX

 BEDROOM – JACK FHILLIPS

I hope that all of you that are enjoying the markets of High Point this season will stop by for a “Bird’s Eye View” of this labor of design love. It was truly the highlight of my time spent here. Congrats to all of the talented and lovely designer’s that created this eye candy for us all to devour!

This has always been a cause that’s near and dear to my heart!  It really gives people a new chance at living life.  I think that creating a comfortable atmosphere that people feel proud to call their own, is one way to better their lives.  It really is a touching and gratifying experience to be involved with fellow designers in helping out those in need.  This is by far one of my most favorite charities, and also one I find unique.  It’s always so exciting to see what all the designers come up with! You can check out some more info on Dwell with Dignity and Thrift Studio by visiting their website www.dwellwithdignity.org.

I’m also excited to announce that this year, Dwell with Dignity is partnering with One Kings Lane!  One Kings Lane is one of the leading online destination for the home that brings members exceptional value on a spectacular collection of top-brand, vintage and designer items.  One Kings Lane works directly with leading home brands, antique and vintage dealers and designers to bring the very best products at exceptional prices to its members – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  One Kings Lane also partners with top designers, decorators and industry insiders to deliver content that inspires, enlightens and informs.  Be sure to check out www.onekingslane.com for some great sales!

Here are some sneak peek photos from this year’s vignettes!

Design by: IBB Design Fine Furnishings /Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: Square Foot Studio/ Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

From April 19th- May 18th Dwell with Dignity will host their 4th annual Thrift Studio fundraiser. On April 18th there will be a special preview party for offering the public an early peek at Dwell with Dignity’s first Thrift Studio of 2013, the event will be hosted in the Dallas Design District at 1100 Slocum Street , Suite 590. One Kings Lane Co-Founder and Chief Merchandising Officer Susan Feldman will be the special host for the evening  Guests that want the first opportunity to purchase anything can do so at the VIP Champagne Reception from 6pm-7pm on April 18th for $175 a ticket. And Preview Party tickets for guests arriving at 7pm at $125. Anyone wanting to attend can purchase tickets at thriftstudio.com.

But wait! The shopping doesn’t stop after the party! One King’s Lane special Thrift Studio Tastemaker Tag Sale will launch online the following morning- April 19th at 10 am CDT at onekingslane.com. There are items available from the designer vignettes and things from the personal collections of participating designers AND the proceeds go to Dwell with Dignity! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

Design by: Dwell with Dignity/ Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: William-Christopher Design/ Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: Horchow/ Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: DJ Lucy Wrubel for Peacock Alley/Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: One Kings Lane/ Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Design by: Studio Ten 25/Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Photo by: Lance Selgo at Unique Exposure Photography

Featured Designers at Thrift Studio include:

One Kings Lane

Horchow

DJ Lucy Wrubel for Peacock Alley

IBB Design Fine Furnishings

Square Foot Studio

Studio Ten 25

William-Christopher Design

The Thrift Studio Pop-Up Shop will be open to the public on April 19th until May 18th, 2013, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays, noon until 5:30 pm

To see what they are all about come check it out!

Recently featured in Architectural Digest (& making the rounds on Pinterest!) comes the latest project from famed interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Along with architect M. Brian Tichenor comes a 1930′s renovation of a Bel Air, California home. Of course, working with Kelly means only one thing: a bold new look!

In the living room, the vintage wall lights are a salvage from a Roman cinema along with leather sofas from J. Robert Scott.

The kitchen features a cluster of pendants from Blend Interiors (located on Beverly Blvd in LA) with alder-wood cabinetry and a stainless steel clad island with brass detail.

The striped vesitbule leading to the master bedroom suite.

Brass reigns in the master bedroom: from the ceiling light to the custom made bed.

Rasberry leather chairs designed by Kelly are featured in the wife’s office.

I’m loving this bedroom! The daughter’s four poster bed is by Paul Evans with a custom made wallcovering from Porter Teleo. Vintage ceiling light and pair of dressers are from local LA showroom JF Chen (a Kelly favorite). The carpet is a customized carpet by The Rug Company.

Another room I am loving! The daughter’s bathroom features inlaid-marble walls with vintage 60′s sconces. Sink fittings are from Lefroy Brooks.

The pool pavilion features a black and white herringbone pattern floor in stained walnut (brilliant!).

In the pavilion bath, striped walls play off a checkerboard floor and an oval 1920′s brass mirror is paired with an angular brass vanity. (Lots and lots of brass featured in this project!)

All images via Architectural Digest, for the full article, click here.

Afrique

Madagascar

Dallah

Field day

Joie de vivre

Sassa

Zanzibar

Now you can see why I’m in a bind.  Too many great patterns to choose from!

One of my all time favorite movies ever is 9 to 5.  How can you not just love Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin?  I could seriously watch this movie every week!

I’ve been thinking about how these stellar heroines transform their working atmosphere by the end of the film.  They’ve been on my mind a lot lately, as we’ve been workin’ 9 to 5 (and then some), on tons of home offices for clients these past few months.  I’ve always believed that people work more efficiently in an environment that they’re comfortable in, so for me, an office full of  personal touches and some glam elements makes me work that much harder!

Our clients must be thinking the same thing because, they also want colorful inspiring environments to work in and we are having a blast designing them.

So without further ado…. meet our seven most recent office designs (including our own!).  All of these designs rock a different color scheme and have their own unique personality.

NAVY/SLATE/ORANGE/WHITE-

We knew from the start that we wanted deep rich navy walls in this home office and so when we found Oscar de la Renta’s amazing grosgrain ribbon fabric at Lee Jofa, it was love at first sight.  This gorgeous silk fabric comprised of slate blue, navy and white was the perfect fabric to pull everything together.  We added splashes of orange through her vintage butterfly chairs and abstract artwork while incorporating a gorgeous carrarra marble countertop desk and custom metallic snakeskin swivel chairs. The big gold sconces from Global Views and stone lamps from Currey and Company were a no brainer in this room!

GRAY/BLACK/WHITE/GOLD/PUTTY-

This client wanted a calming color palette that would flow with the rest of her house so gray, putty, white, black and gold immediately came to mind.  She had an existing black and white zebra rug that we were to incorporate over a sisal rug as well as beautiful white built-ins.  We found a scrolly Lee Jofa fabric that screamed perfect (there is that Lee Jofa fabric saving the day once again!) and we decided to do this fabric on the backs of two rounded French Louis desk chairs.  When you walk in, the patterned backs are the first thing you see which makes for a really dramatic entrance. We paired the French chairs with a modern lacquered lucite desk (love the juxtaposition here) as well as custom greek key pillows, mirrored twig tables, and a gray tufted settee. This one will be installed soon- I cannot wait!

BLACK/WHITE/BROWN/GRAY/BLUE/GREEN-

This office was also a lot of fun to work on because it was for a client’s commercial office.  This was his personal office and as a home builder, we wanted him to have a very aesthetically pleasing space with lots of cool pieces to reflect his taste as a builder.  We used items that had a slightly masculine mid century modern feel to them.  Most pieces were neutral and then we added a pop of color in the large scale artwork.  We made sure all of his neutral pieces had a lot of texture to them- zebra wood, cowhide, rippled leather, etc so it would keep your eye wandering from one piece to the next! How fabulous are those cowhide arm chairs from Palecek?

CHARCOAL/GOLD/TAUPE/CREAM/PLUM:

This office couldn’t be more of a focal point in this client’s home..it is the first thing you see when you walk up the stairs so of course, it had to be eye catching and fabulous!  We love this office because it’s traditional and classic, but with a contemporary twist!  I’m obsessed with the moroccan drapery fabric at top left and the tufted velvet gray sitting chairs.  Of course no office is complete without a wall mounted set of horns (for those UT longhorn grads)!  We picked up on the deep purple through the abstract landscapes from W King Ambler and were over the moon when we found this gold and black funky sunburst from Cyan. It’s a perfect marriage of masculine and feminine pieces- an office space that works for both hubbie and wife!

DEEP TEAL GREEN/CREAM/CHARTREUSE/CHOCOLATE BROWN/GOLD-

This office was a more of a library/sitting room area (not your typical desk/desk chair set up).  We painted the walls a deep green and incorporated four small cozy wingback chairs for curling up with a good book. I could stare at those Russian landscape art all day- they are some of my favorite prints!  This office was super calming but also really cozy.

GRAY/BLACK/CHARCOAL/GOLD/CREAM/BUTTERY YELLOW-

This office was definitely on the more dramatic and glammy side!  We incorporated a dark manly desk with modern artwork behind it.  The mirrored credenza was my favorite piece (actually, it’s a toss up between that and the herringbone patterned cowhide rug) And take a look at those lamps with the black shades from Arteriors- love!! We need those for our own office.  The sea urchin wall art from Global Views completes the look.

TEAL/BLACK/WHITE/WARM WOODS/DEEP PINK/GOLD/EMERALD GREEN-

And last but not least…I’ve also been working on my own office!  I bought some new wall art while I was in Roundtop this week and I can’t wait to get it framed and up on the wall!  We also just had wall to wall seagrass put on the stairs, as well as the second floor!  I had the pink terracotta tiles downstairs painted white, (thanks Kelly Wearstler for the inspiration)  Now we’re just waiting for our deep teal morroccan style rug to come in!  We bought the gold Indian “hand” to hold our business cards (thanks Scout!) and will eventually do a gallery wall up the stairs. I randomly found some gorgeous acrylic and glass lamps from Home Goods for $49 each (who would have thought?) and am now just waiting on a black Dorothy Draper chest to magically appear at my local consignment shop so we can snatch it up and have a pretty place to hold our printer paper (who are we kidding?)

Hope you enjoyed our office design tour. And now off to utilize our own office design some more…with some late night work!

It seems a bit fantasy, yet an architectural delight: having a pool in the house! Not a generic indoor pool, but a dramatic scape to a living room, bedroom, or bathroom. Common it may be to have an interior courtyard pool, yet many flow right into the house and beyond…

Right in the middle of a living room! (This one is actually situated between a living room, dining room, and staircase – guess there’s never not an excuse for a dip in the pool when it’s that accessible!) Image via Coco + Kelley’s “Room of the Week Feature”

In the bathroom, like a moat to the tub…I would definitely love this set up!

The indoor/outdoor room, with the convenience of having part of the inside of the house.

An interior wading pool creates a symmetry to exterior double endless pools.

Indoor/outdoor living is a luxury in some climates, having the privacy of a courtyard pool and a living room that completely opens up to a pool is pure bliss.

This is producer Jerry Weintraub’s bedroom that was featured in Architectural Digest magazine. Doesn’t seem safe to have a pool this close to a bed, but the architectural elements are intriguing.

Still loving the concept of a pool in a bathroom, this one extends beyond to the outside.

And another…

Perhaps a tropical vacation house could not be without the indoor / outdoor pool concept.

While it’s mainly an outdoor pool, a courtyard pool that is completely open to the interiors is truly an extension of the home.

When I was in design school, one of the design studio projects was to create a 1,000 sq ft home – this is the house I designed with the concept of indoor/outdoor living as an extension of the home. I included the idea of a lap pool jutting into the side of the house, side by side with the fireplace in the living room. The idea reminds me a bit of the very first image I posted (the pool merging with the interiors of the house).

All images via Pinterest.

Rizzoli recently released a book by Stephanie Stokes titled, “Elegant Rooms That Work.” The book focuses on planning comfortable rooms that are also multipurpose spaces to include attractive storage. It’s something many of us in our homes are in need of, yet do not want to sacrifice aesthetics. The book outlines creative ways of turning the tiniest of spaces into imaginative storage. If you are looking to be inspired by elegant rooms that are also planned to precision for maximum storage, this book is worth checking out! Currently available from Rizzoli, it features 224 pages, 200 color photographs, and retails for $50.

If you live in the NYC area, there is a book release event this Wednesday at 1st Dibs on Lexington Avenue.

How adorable is this water coloring rendering of the Hermes La Maison home line?

I discovered the new Hermes La Maison home line when our wonderful Dedar rep came to our showroom and offices at the end of last year, sharing with us the most amazing textiles and wall coverings from this iconic brand. Now, it is not enough to swoon over their fashionable bags, scarves, throws, clothing, boots, sandals, watches (of which I am a huge fan) and baubles-more delightful goodies to ponder!

It wasn’t long after that I decided to recover an antique French chair in the Fil de Argents print (yes, I have a slight thing for chains) in the orange color way (I also have a slight orange thing, too).  This chair made its way to a recently completed Arizona design project, but my obsession with the Hermes home line had only just begun.

Not only does the Hermes La Maison collection include textiles and wall coverings, it includes furniture and rugs as well (obviously of the ultra luxurious sort).  I do not know the exact prices of all the items, but knowing the price point of Hermes,  I can only imagine how many zeroes follow that leather sofa…

Take a look at some of my favorites from the collection!

3-seater Bench from The Pippa Collection

Square Table from The Pippa Collection

Occasional Table from The Pippa Collection

A bit about The Pippa Collection…

“This line of foldable and easy-to-move-around furniture was imagined by Rena Dumas and Peter Coles, in the Hermès spirit of “moving with elegance”. It combines the warmth and softness of wood (pearwood, ebonized maple or teak) with the suppleness and resilience of leather (fontanella cowhide, natural cowhide, clemence bullcalf, skipper buffalo).”

Armchair for Reading and Resting in Fabric and Leather, from The Matieres Collection

Fabric and Leather Sofa from The Matieres Collection

Storage Coffer from The Matieres Collection

A bit about The Matieres Collection…

“In the Matières collection, Antonio Citterio highlighted once more the functionality of furniture, and prioritized conviviality, comfort and harmony. This collection also emphasizes the sensory of the materials: leather, fabric, wood, metal.
During his visit to the Hermès Conservatory of Creations, the designer was particularly drawn to a saddle rack whose proportions and volume inspired him for the design of his armrests. The reading chair reclines into a relaxation position.”

2-seater Sofa from The Jean Michele Frank Collection

Club Armchair in Sheepskin from The Jean Michele Frank Collection…swooning…..

Folding Screen from The Jean Michele Frank Collection

Low Soleil Table from The Jean Michele Frank Collection

A bit about The Jean Michele Frank Collection…

“Jean-Michel Frank is an iconic designer from the Art Deco movement. He was the most influentialial designer and decorator of the 1920′s and 1930′s. The lines are rigorous and emphasized, shapes are simple yet refined. The materials used are versatile, from the rawest to the most sophisticated.
Sofas are compact, well-balanced and truly simple, iconic of Frank’s style.”

 Antique French Gilt Armchair that I recovered in Hermes Fil de Argent fabric!

One of my favorite wall coverings from the collection- Les Sangles

A panel of this wall covering within picture frame molding- genius!

Stunning scarf-like textile, Couvertures et Tenues de Jour

How fabulous are these drapes?

Circuit 24 Textile

More gorgeous drapery!

I love the Circuit 24 pattern in the wall covering, too!

Finish Wall Covering in Nattier Blue

Finish Wall Covering in Kaolin

Herringbone Wall Covering in Orange

Herringbone Wall Covering in Nattier Blue

Gribouill’H Wall Covering in Sage

Gribouill’H Wall Covering in Mandarin

Feuillage Imprime Textile in Etoupe

Feuillage Imprime Wall Covering in Mint

Wrapping presents in Hermes paper?  Doesn’t get more luxe than that!

Biblioteque Wall Covering in Nattier Blue- I used this in the bathroom of my Arizona design project!

Also love this pattern in the textile version (Biblioteque in Cognac)

Biblioteque Textile in Indigo

On a recent trip to NYC I got a big dose of inspiration checking out street art through out the neighborhoods of lower Manhattan (the Bowery, SoHo, NoLita) with Ginna of 27 Ground, also the Creative Director for Marc Phillips Rugs. Ginna has been collaborating with artists to create unique, one of a kind area rugs for Marc Phillips to be auctioned off for charity in conjunction with PS Arts. Ginna and I spent an afternoon wandering the streets of NYC in search of street art followed by a visit to the Marc Phillips Rugs showroom at the D & D Building to check out an exclusive preview of the latest artists designed rug collection.

“be inspired”
{logo creation by Ginna}

A street artist mural in an ever changing street scape (this wall is home to various rotating artists).

Art by Banksy.

Graffiti art on a parked trailer in NYC.

The work of Obey Giant, as seen on the side of a building in NYC.

Artist Obey Giant’s area rug for Marc Phillips Rugs.

A rug designed by Kenny Scharf for the Marc Phillips artist rug collection.

As part of an homage to PS Arts, a child’s artwork was chosen to be turned into one of the area rug designs for the collection.

A super fab design by Tracy Hiner of Blackcrow Studios, transforming her very chic wallpaper designs into a colorful area rug with vibrancy and movement!

A graphic rug by artist Retna, for Marc Phillips Rugs.

One of my faves, it’s stunning in person! By artist Cole Sternberg.

For more, visit Marc Phillips Rugs.

and, don’t forget to “be inspired”

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design

New Buckingham Interiors + Design logo!

As they say, change is good…  I am in the midst of a rebranding campaign (stay tuned for more deets!), and one of my primary focuses was to redo my logo.  My old “Buckingham Interiors + Design” logo with the crown, all in a minimalist all caps font in gold tones, had been in use since the genesis of my firm 6 years ago.

{Previous Buckingham Interiors + Design logo}

While I did love this logo and it had served me well, I was ready for something different.  I decided to go in a more artistic and feminine direction.  The format of my firm name and the crown remained, but the font is more stylized and the crown is more abstract and whimsical-much like my design aesthetic.  While the hue of “Interiors + Design” remained relatively the same, the “Buckingham” and the crown went from gold to a light purple.  I must say, I am thrilled with the outcome!  I had an amazing graphic designer who took my musings and turned them into something visual and beautiful.

This new logo and theme will be seen on all of my new branding materials- from my 1stDibs page to my business cards to my showroom storefront.  I can’t wait to move full speed ahead!

I’m loving these Pantone colors that my graphic designer and I chose…

Pantone Color 7447 C- one of the main colors in my new logo/branding materials

I was having trouble finding a good photo of Pantone Warm Grey 10 U, so here is a close representation!  Plus, these Pantone mugs are pretty cool, right? I first spotted them while in Paris last year attending Maison et Objet.

Of course, it goes without saying that much of my redesign was inspired by my recent interior design projects- and others I have had my eye on as well within the interior design community. I wholeheartedly have embraced the use of soft, gem- toned hues that feel color saturated without screaming too loudly. I do also like making some bold color statements for my more daring clients. The perfect complement of colors is part of our designer’s “due diligence” after all. Take a look below at some ways that interior design permeates throughout the design world and made its way into my new branding materials!

 {Buckingham I+D Lake Forest Historic Mediterranean Project}

 {Buckingham I+D Winnetka Project}

 {Buckingham I+D Winnetka Project}

Other inspiration…

 {via Decorpad}

 {via Zuniga Interiors}

 {via The Blue House}