Design Dose
An oldie but a goodie — comfort is the heart of a home.
Design Dose
Life is a bowl of oranges!
Spring Gardens
After a very long winter, it was a pleasant surprise to see the beautiful array of spring flowers blooming in my garden.
After a very long winter, it was a pleasant surprise to see the beautiful array of spring flowers blooming in my garden. I had quite a display of daffodils and tulips gracing my gardens this year. In the fall I had planted quite a few varieties, including Tulip Angelique, a beautiful scented tulip that closely resembles a peony with long lasting blooms, Mount Hood, a white trumpet daffodil, and White Lion, a gardenia-like daffodil. All were a sight to see!
Right now the Alliums are putting on a show of their own. Alliums are plants of exquisite beauty. A member of the onion family, they are so graceful with their large mop heads, exotic and unique with their shape and form. They are most interesting, easy to grow, and come in a broad palette of colors, heights, bloom times, and flower forms.
Globemaster and Gladiator are the tallest and most architectural Alliums, with huge deep purple, globe shaped flower heads on 3 to 4 foot stems. The white flowering Mount Everest is a bit shorter. Purple Sensation is one of the most popular varieties. Drumstick Allium blooms in early July and the two toned burgundy-green heads are fantastic.
Ornamental alliums are hardy and love the sunlight; there is only one time of the year to plant them, which is in the fall. I started planting them quite a few years ago and have been adding to them ever since. They are a favorite in my garden and maybe they will also be a favorite of yours!
Design Dose
Summer is coming!
Color Obsession: Celosia Orange
Celosia Orange is a great color for this time of year.
One of the best things about spring is the opportunity to embrace the brightness of the season. Celosia Orange is a great color for this time of year. It’s a crisp, saturated, uplifting hue that can add a bit of fun to a space or provide a boost with a dramatic splash of color. Use it to spice up a neutral palette or add zest to a modern interior. Bold and eye-catching, Celosia Orange is one of my favorite shades.
1. An amazing color for a low rider! (source)
2. Hermes, always a classic.
3. Mark Rothko, Untitled No. 11
4. Saint Laurent Color Block Ring
5. Celosia Orange Rug from Crate and Barrel
6. Gorgeous design by S.R. Gambrel
7. Cool shoes! (source)
8. Gorgeous dress by KaufmanFranco
Design Dose
Living casual.
International Contemporary Furniture Fair
This past weekend I went to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Convention Center in NYC.
This past weekend I went to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Convention Center in NYC. Now in its 26th year, the ICFF draws close to 30,000 visitors who browse over 600 exhibitors. Since I missed the last ICFF, I was so glad to be able to attend this year. The ICFF is completely inspirational to me! I don’t understand how other people can go to this event and only buy one or two things. I just want to hoard everything and not share new sources, but at the same time I want others to be inspired by all of amazing products I saw.
From innovative items to re-imagined classics and even archived elements that have been brought back to life, the ICFF had aisle upon aisle of products that left me feeling energized. I saw so many artisans from Brooklyn and a ton of great items that I can’t wait to use in the right environment. Here are my favorite finds from the ICFF.
These new Trove wall coverings, printed on foil, look so beautiful in person.
I love this amazing outdoor sculpture and bench by Atelier Vierkant. I am absolutely crazy for these organic objects and vessels. The sheer scale of their products is unbelievable.
Tibetano has a great range of rugs.
This is one of the sources I am tempted not to share but keep all for myself! This collection by Gilles Caffier of Paris is handmade and each piece is a work of art.
There was a ton of Danish inspired furnishings throughout the show. These pieces by Vitra were so comfortable! The Petit Repos is a cool swivel chair, super good for kids spaces. The Grand Repos – it’s not your grandfathers recliner.
I am seriously obsessed with this tile from Walker Zanger, especially the chevron pattern. It would make a cool kitchen floor, mudroom, or handsome master bath. I can’t wait to use this!
Heated outdoor furniture by Galanter and Jones – can you believe it! This is absolutely the best find of the day. It would be amazing for my Montana project.
Textiles by Hiroko Takeda, a beautiful company who uses alpaca kid wool and silk, woven to your specification and oh so luscious to the touch.
Talk about an endless amount of choices to make your head spin! Cosmopolitan Glass is a very cool company from Brooklyn – this is how creativity starts!
Bernhardt Design is a staple in the design world. Beautifully crafted!
I cannot wait to incorporate many of these finds into my designs!
Stephen Antonson
Stephen Antonson is a true artist, creating beautiful and unique items with plaster at his Brooklyn, NY, atelier.
Stephen Antonson is a true artist, creating beautiful and unique items with plaster at his Brooklyn, NY, atelier. His furnishings, lighting, and accessories are sculpted by hand using a meticulous process that results in objects with an incredible combination of simplicity and elegance.
I’ve seen Antonson’s work in interiors by other designers, and it always catches my eye. It reminds me of Giacometti’s techniques, with the iconic white color reminiscent of John Dickinson’s work in the 1970s. A trained painter and sculptor, Antonson’s Brooklyn studio is a place I would love to see. I am fascinated by the places where people tinker, explore, and create.
I find Antonson’s designs invigorating and innovative. To me, plaster is a peaceful medium and adds a smooth texture to the space. It is completely different medium to add to an interior.
With a medium like plaster, the sky is the limit. I love the idea of taking something you see and like, then adapting it to plaster. Antonson’s lighting designs perfectly exemplify the potential of plaster. They are so clever.
In addition to his plaster work, Antonson creates art for his home and his family. He authored a book with his wife titled Home from the Hardware Store which demonstrates how to build household goods from common hardware store purchases. You can also see more of Antonson’s plaster work on his website or find him on Facebook.
Design Dose
Go ahead and make a splash!