Campaign Tables

I frequently get asked about the two gold accent tables in our living room. Similar styles are often referred to as campaign tables, since they were originally designed for use in officers' quarters on military campaigns. The collapsible accordion base design allowed them to be quickly broken down and moved from battlefield to battlefield. Anyhow, all of mine came from Pier 1 and were a steal...under $50 a piece!

I have another one in the guest room functioning as a nightstand.

And it was a bar in a former life ;)

I hardly ever see affordable substitutes so I was thrilled to see Urban Outfitters' Metal Accordion Side Table - a style similar to my little round one. It's only $60 and they have it in an antique brass finish and also in two fun colors. The Metal Accordian coffee table is a look-alike as well - it's $128. And, I couldn't resist throwing the other SUPER cute but totally unrelated table options!

To jazz these up, you could have a piece of mirror (either regular or an antiqued finish) cut and put it in the inset. If you want a swankier look, you could do the same with a piece of marble or granite like these here.

Ok, enough table talk. Have a wonderful weekend and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Peacock and Butternut Bedroom Mood Board

It's been a while since I dosed out a mood board. So when I spotted this pretty bedding from Brocade Home, I thought it would be fun to build a little scheme around it. I love the color name...butternut.

Tier Cascade Faux Chandelier - Urban Outfitters
Sunburst Ventana Mirror - Jonathan Adler
Nailhead Bed - West Elm
Butternut Moroccan Bedding - Brocade Home
Peacock Citrine Bedding - Dwell Studio
Robert Abbey Peacock Blue Ceramic Lamp - Lamps Plus - seen on Stylish Bird :)
Coil Side Table - Urban Outfitters
Russian Medallion Rug - Urban Outfitters
Amelia Tufted Storage Ottoman - Overstock

What do you think? Any favorites items? 

I'm so in love with the coil side table from UO...it's only $78 too!

Dining Chair Round-up

I've been on the prowl for a set of dining chairs for a kitchen remodel project I'm working on. The chairs will be used in the breakfast area and need to be comfortable, stylish, and durable/cleanable. It's a tough trifecta to hit! While I haven't found the right fit for the project yet, I have seen lots of fantastic chairs during my shopping rounds. Here are my favorite picks:

1) Montecito Chair - Z Gallerie

2) Lola Arm Chair - Z Gallerie

3) Black Asian-Inspired Side Chair - Pieces

4) Colette Side Chair - Crate & Barrel

5) Gentry Chair - Ballard Designs

6) Chinese Chippendale Chair - Wisteria

7) Canvas Director's Chair - Williams-Sonoma Home

8) Waterloo Dining Chair - Z Gallerie

9) Bebe Vanity Chair - Cisco Brothers

10) Jonathan Adler Chippendale Arm Chair - Pieces

11) Louis Armchair - Jayson Home and Garden

12) Green Scroll Armchair - Horchow

Anyone out there in the market for dining chairs? What's the most important attribute for you? Comfort? Style? Practicality? Price? Speaking of price...dining chairs are EXPENSIVE, aren't they??

Beauty Bag Revealed on Wallpaper Blog

Just wanted to thank Liz, author of Wallpaper blog for asking me to participate in her Beauty Bag series! Mine is featured today in case you want to check it out. I'm sure some of my best friends are cracking up at this because I'm not a make-up/product maven by any stretch of the imagination. Despite my lack of knowledge in the field, it was a fun post to write and it definitely made me want to take a trip to Sephora and revive my toolkit. Until then...this is what I'm working with:

You can get all of the gory details on WALLPAPER :)

Do you have any product recommendations to share? I'm always looking for tips!

Graphic Image Discount and Giveaway Update

There have been a few hiccups with the discount promo code announced on Friday. So, not only has Graphic Image fixed the glitches, they've also extended both offers for one week. The end date for both the 20% off code (KNIGHT) and the deadline for entry into the giveaway will now be 11/14/2010. Sorry for any trouble you've had!

The lucky winner of the giveaway will receive this sophisticated croc embossed leather set that includes a brown Wrapped Pen and an orange Daily Journal. The retail value of this giveaway is $122!

To enter the giveaway you can do one or both of the following:

1) Buy something from the Graphic Image site using the discount code - KNIGHT - and you'll automatically be entered.

2) Join the Graphic Image email list via this link or by clicking the button at the bottom of GraphicImage.com. Please select the Knight Moves Blog option in the “How did you hear about us?” form.

Graphic Image will be tracking the entries and the winner will be announced on Knight Moves on 11/17/2010.

Graphic Image Goodies - Discount and Giveaway!

I am thrilled to share a few exciting promotions from Graphic Image. First, they are offering Knight Moves readers a 20% discount...just in time for holiday shopping (seriously, they have fantastic gifts including some awesome new tech gear). Secondly, they have generously offered to giveaway a super chic 2011 datebook and pen duo!

The set is so classic and sophisticated...

The Wrapped Pen is exquisite in the croc embossed leather. Owning a beautiful pen like this is such a simple yet practical luxury, so it makes for a perfect gift.  The no-hassle refill situation is key too...since it uses Parker or Schmidt ballpoint refills, it's easy to restock at office supply stores.

The Daily Journal is one of Graphic Image's most iconic products and it's gorgeous in the orange Crocodile Embossed Leather. Always appreciative of design that marries form and function, I am such a fan of the layout of this organizer. The agenda is both a journal and diary and it offers day-at-a-view appointment pages. Of course there is a calendar, along with appointment and resource pages, and a comprehensive set of full color maps. For the detail-obsessed, here's the minutiae... 

• Size: 5-1/2" x  8", 416 pages

• Crocodile embossed calfskin leather

• Week and Day-at-a-View pages

• Smyth sewn for strength and longevity

• Cream-white, acid-free paper with gilt edges

• All crocodile embossed leather dates are pre-stamped in gold

To enter the giveaway you can do one or both of the following:

1) Buy something from the Graphic Image site using the discount code - KNIGHT - and you'll automatically be entered.

2) Join the Graphic Image email list via this link or by clicking the button at the bottom of GraphicImage.com. Please select the Knight Moves Blog option in the “How did you hear about us?” form

The 20% discount code is KNIGHT and will be valid from 10/22/2010 – 11/14/2010. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon code. Anyone who uses this code on the Graphic Image site will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes.

Good luck everyone!

The Versatile Vase

As many of you know, I'm a contributor on the HomeGoods Openhouse blog. In an effort to incorporate seasonal themes into the blog, HG sent all of the bloggers a surprise accessory that we were to play around with and write about. Lucky for me, the common thread for the different items was to be the color orange! I ended up receiving this glossy, oversized bamboo vase.

As you can see from the above pics and also on my Openhouse post, I ghetto-rigged an "arrangement" with some green filler from the yard and then tried it in a few different rooms. Since the vessel is so large, I started thinking that it could make for a cool accent table. Luckily, one of my side tables has a removable marble insert, so I used that for the top.

Here it is in the guest bedroom...

and then in the living room...

I probably won't use it as a table since I really don't need an accent table, but I like the idea since the color and shape are so fun. What do you think?

Dhurrie Days

I am madly in love with Calypso Home's rugs right now. Some are by John Robshaw Textiles and some are made for Calypso Home...all are fabulous with bold patterns and fresh color palettes. I was happy to find that the prices are quite reasonable too. I'm partial to the texture/low pile of dhurries and jaipuri rugs, so these are right up my alley in both form and function.

Not surprisingly, I'm infatuated with the navy blue Zig Zag Jaipuri in the photo above. 

These beauties also caught my eye...all can be found via the Calypo Home site. I'm loving both of the hot pink styles! The ivory Hampton Lattice is also a favorite. Geeze...it would be tough to order just one!

California Dreamin'

Sorry for the lack of posts on Friday and Monday...I was in Napa needed a little break from blogging. My trip was so fantastic and I can't wait to go back! I was lucky enough to stay in the most idyllic home in St. Helena. It was designed by renowned architect Howard Backen and is one of the most thoughtfully executed structures I've seen. Not a detail was missed...it was a wonderful balance of being perfectly functional + warm and welcoming. I'm certainly not the only one who thinks it's a notable home...it was featured last year in Architectural Digest!

Image via bgarch.com 

This expansive set of sliding pocket doors was my favorite feature of the house....

Classic kitchen

That's not a fireplace, it's actually a rotisserie!

The home is filled with amazing artwork...this was one of my favorites pieces

Pathway to main house...the quaint garage is on the left

Bocce ball court surrounded by a vineyard.

View from the house...pastoral perfection

They had the most lush gardens and spectacular flowers throughout the property...

I was stunned by the size of these Heirloom Tomato plants! I'm now completely obsessed with the idea of having raised beds just like these.

Needless to say, it is a fabulous home and I'm so grateful that I got to stay there! 

Happy Chic

Have you heard that my beloved Jonathan Adler is selling his wares on HSN now?? The line is called Happy Chic and according to the man himself, "It’s about making design that is unimpeachably chic and beautiful but that has an element of levity and that makes you feel good." I like that attitude and of course I love his bold, funky designs. JA's Happy Chic makes a great addition to HSN's growing collection of esteemed brands like Colin Cowie, Nate Berkus, and Peacock Alley. I've only ordered one thing from HSN (a chevron-patterned Nate Berkus throw), but I was definitely impressed with the product so it won't be my last purchase from there.

The Happy Chic price point is lower than JA's normal goods which makes some of the items in the collection great for gifting (I hate to say it, but Christmas is around the corner). Here are some of the things I liked best...

Striped Bud Vases

These are so freaking fun...I'd love to get a few sets and use one at each place setting at the table.

Book

Design books are among my needless necessities and shockingly, I don't have a single one by my dear Jonathan. Gotta fix that problem!

Ceramic Table Lamp

This is a fabulous, versatile lamp. I love the white-on-white look, but you could also add trim to the shade or infuse some color/print with a different shade all together.

Greek Key Woven Throw

Always a whore for blankets, this one is cute and reversible. You can get it in Navy or Black.

Greek Key Diffusers

Has anyone smelled the fragrance yet? Not really sure what "Ozone Breeze" means, but it sounds fresh. I like my diffusers to smell like clean laundry so I'm hoping for that!

Will you be buying anything from Happy Chic?

Inspiration from Elle Decor

Yesterday the latest issue of Elle Decor came in the mail. I flipped through it and wasn't blown away by anything in particular (maybe it's an awkward time at the mag since they recently changed editors). I did, however, notice a shot of this room...it was on the first page of a feature called Curtain Calls.

It's designed by Brian McCarthy. I love that he used black shades under white curtains. It looks chic and from a practicality standpoint, the dark shades are probably ideal for sleeping in. The print on the curtains is fantastic and I love that the motif was also subtly used on the armchair. The carpet and the black-lacquered molding are favorite elements as well. The overall effect is somewhere between exotic and sophisticated...which is a tough mix to get right!

 

These are images of the rest of the New York apartment, which was featured in a previous issue...the spread was titled The Transformers. It was beautifully photographed by William Waldron.

I've long been obsessed with this breakfast nook!

Images above via Elle Decor

I was curious to see the rest of his portfolio so I checked out some of the projects showcased on the Brian J. McCarthy, Inc. site. His work is quite varied, which I assume means that he adapts well to his clients' tastes and preferences. These are the spaces I found most interesting...

Since the portfolio was all over the place (from über modern to syrupy traditional), I'd really like to see his home to get a better idea of his personal style. Brian, if you're reading this, feel free to invite me over ;)