Outdoor Punch List

It's been pretty gorgeous lately here in Texas and the warm weather means that it's time to put our pool and patio to good use. I didn't get to enjoy it enough last year because of the bathroom remodel...having workers around all of the time (even on weekends) kills the desire to parade around in a swimsuit!

I've been cleaning things up out there (the massive maple trees make quite a mess with all of their droppings), planting a few things (including tomatoes and herbs), and making a list of odds and ends I'd like to get to complete the set-up. One of the things that I already knocked off the list was a new umbrella for the dining table. Here's my new black and white striped beauty in action...I opted for a rectangular one with a teak pole:

Another major item on my list is wall-mount lighting. Last summer I ordered some lantern sconces from Quoizel and after having them installed, I had to take them down and return them because they were constructed so poorly (made in China, of course) and would not sit straight on the wall. The situation really irritated me because the engineer at Quoizel that I spoke to about the issue just argued with me and tried to blame my electrician for the problem. I will never source anything from them again...poor quality, bad design, bad customer service, and most (if not all) of their products are made in China. Fail.

So, I had to start over with my sourcing mission which has been an absurdly long process. Because the j box is located close to the fascia on our house, most lights won't fit so it's been a bit of a nightmare trying to find the right size, finish, and style. I've seen tons of great fixtures that I've logged on an Outdoor Lighting Pinboard for future reference and along the way I found a couple of options that suit my needs. Here are the two finalists:

Shades of Light Arched Outdoor Light - 2 Lights $200

Minka Winward Manor 3 Light Wall Mount $150 

I keep going back and forth, but right now I'm slightly leaning towards #2 (Minka) because it has a black finish as opposed to the darkened copper. Since our furniture is black and I want to do polished nickel door hardware, I'm not crazy about the idea of throwing another metal finish into the mix. The fact that the backplate is mounted higher on the fixture is also swaying my vote. #1 might sit too close to the fascia.

But, I love that the Shades of Light fixture is made in America (the Minka one is China). And maybe the antiqued copper will look pretty black?

Here are some quickly Photoshopped mock-ups of what each would look like:

#1

#2

What's your vote? I'm totally rooting for the Shades of Light one because it's made in the USA, but the finish and size are potential problems. I so wish I could see both in person! Unfortunately no showroom in Dallas has the Minka one on the floor and Shades of Light is catalog/internet only.

1stdibs Living with Style Part II

Continuing on from yesterday's post, here are the final parts of my dream living room that I've been charting on my Living with Style Pinterest board. I've been pinning to play in the Pin-to-Win Living with Style contest that my favorite-website-in-the-whole-world, 1stdibs, is hosting. I always use Pinterest to digitally hoard all of the lustworthy items I run across while sourcing and it's been nice to actually design a space with them (albeit a fictitious one)!

It's definitely an eclectic mix. I like to combine metals, woods, finishes, patterns, and colors...the goal is to keep it looking classic and sophisticated while still looking fresh and unique (I hate generic rooms). The easy part of the exercise was that there was no limiting budget in play...which means I chose purely based on what I like and of course, some things are pretty pricey (including the structure I selected which is a 4,000 square foot Parisian apartment). I can't imagine how liberating it must be to have a real life project where funds are unlimited...hopefully one day I'll get one like that! Until then, I'll just have to daydream via Pinterest. So, join me on a tour of my stunning Paris pad...

Thoughts? What pieces would you pick if you have have anything from 1stdibs? I'd go crazy buying art for sure and would be shopping for antique rugs and lighting, along with furniture by Maison Jansen, Robsjohn-Gibbings, Harvey Probber, Gio Ponti, and Palladio.

Bespoke Kitchens by Holloways of Ludlow

During a hunt for exterior lighting for my house, I found Holloways of Ludlow, a British company that produces gorgeous fixtures and fittings (I'll circle back to the lighting project). Besides lighting, sinks, hardware, and all of the various elements that fall into the fittings and fixtures category, Holloways also designs, builds, and installs bespoke kitchens. And my goodness, they are good with kitchens!

Holloways is clearly adept at executing a wide range of styles. I'm the most drawn to their traditional/transitional spaces, but it was great to see uber modern kitchen designs as well. Take a look at some of their handiwork...

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

This counts as one of my all-time favorite kitchens. I am seriously drooling over the floors - pretty sure they are limestone...

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

I also adore this efficient, compact set-up with the navy cabinetry and stunning herringbone floors...

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Here, Holloways of Ludlow incorporated an original Edwardian shop fitting under a new stainless steel countertop... 

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

This one boasts a really unique combination of materials. I'd describe it as a "modern farmhouse" look...

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

 This kitchen isn't my style, however I think it's a great design. The sink area, pantry and prep areas are concealed by bespoke sliding doors to allow the working areas of the kitchen to be hidden away when entertaining.

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

And finally, here's another modern one. I love how the open shelving is styled with white pottery and framed family photos...

Image via Holloways of Ludlow

Isn't their work amazing? I have a feeling that each of the above kitchens are full of thoughtful details that aren't revealed in the photos. I'm a little jealous of the homeowners! 

Keep up with their latest projects by following Holloways of Ludlow's latest on Facebook and they have a fantastic Pinterest feed, so check that out too.

New from Made Goods!

One of my absolute favorite purveyors of mirrors, lighting, furniture, and objets is Made Goods. They are always coming up with inventive new designs and they're known for using amazing materials and textures in their luxe product line.

Just yesterday, Made Goods released their latest wares, and as usual, there are plenty of lustworthy items in the mix. I'm pretty obsessed with faux shagreen because it looks amazing and wears really well, and they have some stunning new colors and pieces using that. And I've long been a fan of their Interchangeables, which is a collection of table bases and an assortment of tops that can be combined to create dozens of different table designs. In the new offering, MG has added some tops and bases to make the possibilities even more endless, so yay for that! I'm also really liking their new upholstered pieces, which are available in lots o' different finishes and fabrics/leathers.

Here are my faves from the new bunch...

Cool stuff, isn't it? If you're going to the New York International Gift Fair, be sure to stop by their booth at Pier 94 42030. Otherwise, you can shop Made Goods product at Clayton Gray.

Happy weekend!

Spotted on the WWW

A few things that have recently caught my eye while prowling the interwebs and I thought you might want to see them too...

1) Beaded Candle Curtain, 2012 by Joshua Aster, Oil on linen - via Sam Lee Gallery

2) Markos Hanging Shade - Circa Lighting - $1,260

3) Ethno Vintage Style Grandpa Wing Arm Chair - Rugs USA - $763

4) Organic Pillow Cover in Raindrops,Chocolate - Swanky Swell - $65

5) Jaipur Urban Bungalow Doha Mango Flat Weave Rug - Zinc Door - starting at $70

6) Lamp Table - Vanguard

7) Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925 - Amazon - $47

8) Bone Burst Chest - Zinc Door - $3992

Any favorite things? I'd be curious to see the green arm chair in person...I'm guessing that the quality isn't very high. I put it on here because I really like the green linen paired with the grey wood finish. And I'm dying to flip through the Inventing Abstraction book!

Oh How I Want to Go to Howe London

Because of the amazing, eclectic offering of antique and bespoke furniture - and the Jack Russell mascot Dotty - I desperately want to go to London and shop at Howe. After pouring through the entire website, I am bitter that Howe is across the Atlantic. Selfishly, I would love to have it as a more accessible resource...and I desperately want to befriend the proprietor Christopher Howe.

Howe is an extraordinary showroom in Pimlico that is owned by the aforementioned antiques dealer/restorer Christopher Howe. CH obviously has a keen eye for spotting great antique and vintage pieces. He's also quite adept at designing new furniture and lighting as evidenced by his bespoke collection, which is handmade in England. With a background in sculpting, CH has a reverence for form and texture. He believes in pure, timeless design and his furniture and lighting collections certainly reflect that ethos. And with all of his passion for and knowledge of antiques, there's no doubt that Howe's custom pieces are created with the highest level of craftsmanship and artistry.

The assortment of furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories offered at Howe is wonderfully diverse. You could furnish an entire house with pieces from Howe and no one would ever guess that they all came from the same place/maker...to me, that's the best kind of shop. Homogeny is lazy and boring, don't you think?

Anyhow, let's get on to the goods. Here are some product shots from the Howe website and Facebook page (including some cameos of his darling dog Dotty):

Mahogany and Marble Topped Gueridons

Salon Chair

This fabric, Irish Beetled Linen, is GORGEOUS!!

 I'm normally not a fan of leather furniture, but this Lion Barrel Back chair is just stunning in black leather...

Twin Pillar Desk Lamp

Day Bed

Archetypal Windsor chairs

Brass Tiered Table with Goatskin + Seguso Glass Lamps

Geo III Barrel Back

Michelin Stool

One of six Danish Teak Dining Chairs designed by Niels Møller and modeled by Dotty

Suzani-covered Ottoman

Swedish 1940s Segmented Mirror

 Palette Coffee Table

Pierced Ladderback Chair

D0 P Light

Hope Chair

Beetled Linen Bobbin-Leg Stool

Bassett Sofa - I love the brass-tiped legs.

As you can see, Howe mixes all sorts of styles and time periods together. I absolutely love the sophisticated, yet motley assortment. But again, to me, there's nothing less interesting than a house (or store) full of the same style of furnishings. Another thing that I love about Howe is that it's a bit difficult to tell what is new versus what is old. 

Your thoughts? Have you ever been to Howe? I haven't yet, but it's on my list!

New Colors from Dunes and Duchess

Dunes and Duchess, one of my favorite purveyors of handmade lighting and furniture, added two AMAZING, bold new colors to their lineup - Cap Ferrat Bleu and No Scurvy Lemon. Both hues were custom mixed and are so fresh and unique...which is not surprising because the entire D&D collection is the epitome of fresh and unique. Here's a sampling of their wondrous creations...

I'm quite inspired by the new super saturated colors and my wheels have been turning about how I can incorporate some Dunes and Duchess pieces into current projects. Their product line is diverse and the overall style is super versatile, so I'm sure a plan will come to fruition. And aside from real projects, it's always fun to play make believe and design mood boards that completely revolve around knock-out pieces like the D&D Single Spindle Candelabra Lamp in Cap Ferrat Bleu and the Solid Top Champagne Table in No Scurvy Lemon...

Piece VIII, Original Artwork by Keila Marino - Furbish

Bliss Living Argo Throw - Nordstrom

Jeremy Desk - Jayson Home

Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Chiclet Bowl - Jonathan Adler

Single Spindle Candelabra Lamp in Cap Ferrat Bleu - Dunes and Duchess

Blue and White Garden Stool - Furbish

Geode Bookends - Etsy seller Ashley McCall

Lydia's Fainting Chaise - Etsy seller Susan Baker

Color Greek Key Bolster Pillow - Furbish

Life in Lemon Yellow, metallic limited edition print by Jen Zahigan - Etsy seller Jen Zahigan

No Scurvy Lemon Solid Top Champagne Table - Dunes and Duchess

Pair of Reupholstered Vintage Chairs - Chairloom

Silk Ikat Pillows - Etsy seller MaterialRecovery

Turquoise Candy Dish - Etsy seller Cheryl Byrne

Vintage Footed Glass Vase - Etsy seller Victoria Lynn

Chinoiserie Coffee Table - V&M

Porcelain Pineapple - Furbish

Yellow Greek Key Pillow - Shop Ten 25

Tailor Sofa - Crate & Barrel

Long live Cap Ferrat Bleu and No Scurvy Lemon! The colors are so fun and they perfectly complement the classical, hand-turned Dunes and Duchess aesthetic. What are your thoughts?

If you got to pick any D&D piece in any color, what would you choose? I'm crazy about the entire collection so it's tough to narrow it down, but I would die for the Chappy Dining Table in the Cap Ferrat Bleu! Here is the shapely beauty in black...

And if you don't already know, Dunes and Duchess is a wonderful American company that produces all of its products in the US. It is owned by stylist Stacy Kunstel and photographer Michael Partenio, two of the nicest, most talented, fun, and stylish people that I know. The dynamic duo combined their broad skill set and let creativity and craftsmanship lead the way...and now we have Dunes and Duchess! Because I adore the owners, their business ethos, and their gorgeous creations, I'm a MAJOR fan of D&D (and surely you've caught onto that by now).

If you're gaga over Dunes and Duchess too and are looking to buy, you can find their merch at selected retailers including Hudson and Barney's, online via All the Best on Dering Hall, or you can contact D&D directly. And be sure to keep up with their latest on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest too!