Happy Holidays to you and yours!
image: Homage to Wilson A. Bentley #4 by Yuji Obata
Author: Amy Hirsch
Gift Ideas
Here’s a quick list of gift ideas I love.
During the holiday season, I try to think of what might be a little different to give as a gift. With all of the hustle and bustle, here’s a quick list of gift ideas I love. If you’re like me and wind up doing last minute shopping, meaning you need something in a pinch, one of these options might be perfect. Happy shopping!
What are your favorite gifts to give friends and family?
Drapery Hardware
Drapery hardware is a finishing touch on a space that has a lot of potential to add interest to window treatments.
One of my favorite parts of the design process is getting to the stage where I choose final details for a room. Drapery hardware is a finishing touch on a space that has a lot of potential to add interest to window treatments. The hardware is like jewelry for the window, complementing the room or adding ornamentation.
There are so many styles of rods and rings available, from contemporary elements to more traditional styles and everything in between. You can really customize the look of drapery hardware by thoughtful choice of materials, finishes, and accessories. The hardware can be sleek and minimal or make a bigger visual impact. Using contrasting rings with a bar is one way to achieve a memorable look. You can also mix darks and lights or use varying materials for an unexpected twist on drapery hardware.
In some cases, having simple hardware that is recessed allows the window treatments to be the focus. Hardware that doesn’t dominate the look of the windows is sometimes a better choice for a room.
Which look do you prefer?
Design Dose
Beautiful lighting is jewelry for a room.
Color Obsession: Navy and Plum
Navy and plum make a deep, sultry combo.
Navy and plum make a deep, sultry combo. What I love about them is how they are such a saturated. So many people want blue or navy for their interiors which is so typical to see paired with white or red — things that are basic. I want to be able to counteract with something else, and plum does that. It doesn’t create a high contrast, but the two colors pair well because they are on the same level of saturation. Part of my obsession is my serious desire to get away from what everyone else is doing. Yes, an interior is an investment, and some people are braver than others. I see so much similarity and safeness as a designer, so when I am working on projects with repetitive palettes, it is nice to jump outside the box. With a color like blue that everyone loves, I like the idea of being original and pairing it with something that isn’t the norm. Add a little spice!
1. Purple Ocean, oil on canvas, by Lynn Grayson
2. Fragile, photography by Cathleen Naundorf
3. 1950s Lounge Chair from Michel Contessa
4. Valentino Spring 2015
5. Galata Pumps by Louboutin
6. Tablecloth from My World Bazaar — fabric would make amazing pillows!
7. Hughes Upholstered Velvet Sofa
8. Over Dyed Vintage by Sacco Carpet
Design Dose
Classic and elegant.
Favorite Things: Bar Carts
A bar cart is a great addition to your home furnishings.
A bar cart is a great addition to your home furnishings. They are versatile, compact, and mobile, letting you set up the party in any room of the home — or even outdoors. It can find a spot in unexpected places, such as a console in the entry. Pretty decanters are one thing, but I think it’s cooler when it’s just dressed with bottles. The upside to that is, it’s constantly changing! The bar cart is an elegant reminder of the glamorous past, a throwback to an era of sophistication. Here are some of my favorite examples of bar carts. Which would you like to wheel out at your next party?
1. This bar cart features a chic geode knob. (Image via The Decorista)
2. Expandable Rolling Server from 1st Dibs
3. Vince SS Bar Cart from Worlds Away
5. Console Cart, a more rustic bar cart.
6. 1930s Industrial Steel Bar Cart from Restoration Hardware
7. Roland N Bar Cart, nickel plated with mirrored shelf.
8. Nero Bar Cabinet from Williams-Sonoma Home
10. Bar Cart no. One from The New Traditionalists
Custom Pillows
Custom pillows are a need in a room.
Custom pillows are a need in a room. The moment someone wants to take them out of a design, my heart starts to palpitate. Pillows are the icing on a cake, finishing a sofa or chair and pulling the room together. I actually feel unsettled if custom pillows aren’t part of a design.
Additional details such as the edging or embellishments provide further ways to individualize each pillow. They don’t have to all match each other, the upholstery, the window treatments, and the rugs. Pillows let you mix things up, soften an area, or influence the mood of a room. Here are some custom pillows I’ve designed for clients, each one designed specifically for a certain space.
Design Dose
Create a favorite spot.
More Must-Have Design Books
I love adding to my collection of interior design books
I love adding to my collection of interior design books. There’s so much inspiration in all of these pages! Seeing what iconic designers are doing really makes me want to be a better designer myself. Books like these are an invaluable resource, allowing us glimpses at a wider world than we would normally see in our day to day lives and opening our minds to new possibilities. Here are some design books that would make a great addition to any design enthusiast’s home library.
As you all know, books are a passion of mine. Here are some recent ones that I’ve been exploring.
1. Artfully Modern: Interiors by Richard Mishaan
2. Jean-Louis Denoit: Interiors
4. Markham Roberts: Decorating the Way I See It
6. Mies
