I first saw some of Bob Tabor’s photographs at Samuel Owen Gallery, which led me to look into his work. His seascape photography in particular really struck a chord with me.
Photographer Bob Tabor is best known today for his incredible equine portraits. His horse photos are currently on display in Polo Ralph Lauren Home Showrooms and retail stores around the world. His work is also available at Mecox Gardens design stores throughout the United States and at the Tulla Booth Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York.
I first saw some of Bob Tabor’s photographs at Samuel Owen Gallery, which led me to look into his work. His seascape photography in particular really struck a chord with me.
Tabor’s seascapes are so gorgeous. I love the way he catches the light and the dynamic movement of the rambling waves. I can easily imagine being on the beach with these waves breaking along the sand. Bob Tabor’s graphic seascapes are simply phenomenal.
For more examples of Bob Tabor’s photography, visit his website. You can also find him on Facebook.
The combination of black and white in both fashion and design is always very graphic.
The combination of black and white in both fashion and design is always very graphic. You have two strong elements that are not at all subtle. People shy away from using it in interiors, especially those clients with families, but a black and white color scheme makes for a striking environment. On their own, each color evokes its own singular response (mysterious black, pure white) but when used together, the results are quite stunning.
When you think of ski lodge-inspired design, the kitschy, literal images that first come to mind don’t necessarily represent the best this look has to offer.
My perception of ski lodge-inspired design is the opposite of the kitschy sort of approach the term “ski lodge” brings to mind. I don’t think of plaid, antlers, and Navajo-themed prints. Instead, I envision the ski lodge pared down to its basic, rustic elements. When you think of winter, you tend to think of snow, evergreens, and bare branches. My ideal ski lodge design would follow that train of thought, allowing an appreciation of elements that come from a natural place.
Ski lodge designed by Ray Booth.Design by Christian’s and Hennie of Norway
Without the distraction of novelties, the natural beauty of ski lodge elements create a retreat worth getting away to. With exposed wood beams, a field stone fireplace, and vast windows framing mountainous views, the building’s architecture is better reflected. Using modern and sleek furniture as opposed to overstuffed, cushy styles contributes to clean lines and balances out the natural elements.
Beautiful design by Atelier AM, via Architectural Digest.Ray Booth design.
Gathering places like the living room and porch, as well as private spaces like the bedroom and bath, can evoke the ski lodge feel while keeping a thoughtful atmosphere.
Aspen bedroom design by David Easton.Aspen living room, also by David Easton.Unusual furniture color here is great. Image via Elle Decor.Perfect modern bathroom for a ski lodge. Design by Frank de Biasi.Modern. Image via South Shore Decorating.
I love leather. It has a masculine, tailored feeling and grounds everything around it when you put it into an environment.
I love leather. It has a masculine, tailored feeling and grounds everything around it when you put it into an environment. I like to use it in unexpected ways, not just on your typical desk chair. On surfaces, walls, pillows, and doors, as well as couches, leather imparts a rich, sumptuous look. There are so many colors and finishes available now, such as ostrich, python, and larger etchings, there’s no end to the possible uses of leather in interior design.
Starflower Engraved Belting Leather TilesGenevieve Bennett – Leather laser cut tiles. Totally off the wall!
There are many great sources of beautiful, quality leather. One of my favorites is Edelman Leather. They have a huge variety of colors and styles of leathers, each more gorgeous than the last.
Edelman Leather’s Ostrich in Grey SlateShagreen City Lights in Smoke, also from Edelman.Edelman Leather’s Rose Petal City Lights in Smoke.
I find myself drawn to leather with a lot of tooling, unexpected details, and customization. It looks old, but is done in new ways, leading to some amazing products. Leather gets better as it ages, like a great pair of jeans. It can be expensive and you need to be smart about how you use it, but the results can be stunning.
Holland & Sherry Interiors, Birdseye leather rug.Samuel and Sons Passementerie Woven Italian Leather Braid. Makes a great detail trim!3D leather wallpaper by Genevieve Bennett. Macassa Leather in Cote D’Ivoire from Rose Tarlow. I upholstered the interior of library bookcases in this leather. Totally luscious in an inky blue color.
One of my favorite projects involved this leather door with nailhead trim. When I first presented the idea to the client, their reaction was “It might look too S&M!” However, once the door was installed, they loved it. It gave the interior an unexpected aspect and grounded the rest of the space. They had to see it in place to fully appreciate the effect of this amazing door.
Leather door with nailhead trim.
The look of leather is so attractive, but not suited to every room in the home. If you want this look without the upkeep or possibility of damage in an area such as the kitchen or bath, take a look at these tiles from Walker Zanger. They look so much like leather, you have to touch them to convince yourself they are really porcelain tiles!
Matouche Design by Walker ZangerAnother example of Walker Zanger’s Martouche Design
Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room.
Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room. They add a sculptural element that can be very present in the room without competing with the rest of the space. I like to mix and match the chairs, using one consistent style for the side chairs and another, complimentary, design for the host chairs. I also like to add layers to the chairs by using different materials to cover the seat or back, depending on what works for the shape of the piece. Comfort is an important factor in choosing dining chairs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also look great!
1. Royere Armless Dining Chair from Mattaliano. Love this art deco inspired chair – so chic.
10. 1940s French Upholstered Barrelback Chair From Restoration Hardware – Think about using two different fabrics, one for the front and the other for the back. Stain the legs darker and it is a totally different chair. I just did it for a client and it is an amazing transformation!
11. Great combination with the rush back, from Dering Hall.
Cacciucco is one of my favorite meals, especially when the weather turns colder.
Guest Post from Debbie Aidinis
Cacciucco is one of my favorite meals, especially when the weather turns colder. I originally had this for dinner years ago in a restaurant and loved it. I always try to make meals I enjoy, so I searched through cookbooks and found a few recipes that were close to the restaurant meal I’d liked. This is a hearty stew that tastes just as good -if not better- the next day. I serve it with crusty bread seasoned with an olive oil mixture and placed in oven until it is crispy. This bread is delicious when dipped in the Cacciucco broth.
Crusty Bread
For this recipe, I prefer to use prawns, when available, with the shells still on. The flavor is superb in the stew. Another option is using lobster tails with the shells on. I also like to use Halibut as the fish, which is a very mild white fish. As always, everyone has preferences when cooking with seafood and this dish lends itself to many variations in the type of fish used. The amount of seafood used can also be adjusted to your own liking.
Cacciucco — Mediterranean Fish Stew
Ingredients:
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 stalk of celery with leaves, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 oil packed anchovies
1 can (14 ½ oz) San Marzano plum tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved
Pinch of Saffron threads
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup white wine
4 cups fish stock (see Note)
1 cup water
1 bay leaf
1 sprig rosemary
1 ½ to 2 lb white fish fillet, such as Halibut, skin removed
12 little neck clams, cleaned
12 black mussels, cleaned
8 jumbo shrimp or prawns shelled and deveined
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Warm Crusty Bread
Optional:
Sea Scallops
Lobster Tails with shells, cut in half lengthwise
Note: If fish stock is not available, you can substitute 2 cups (16fl oz) bottled clam juice plus 2 cups vegetable stock.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy deep skillet. Add onion, celery with leaves, and carrot to skillet and sauté. Add red pepper flakes and thyme. Chop anchovies and add to skillet. Sauté until anchovies have melted, about 3 minutes. Add wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with your hands or a wooden spoon. Add the fish stock and 1 cup of water. Add the saffron, bay leaf, rosemary, basil, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add some of the reserved tomato juice if you want more liquid or tomato flavor. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Cut the fish into 2 inch pieces, add to broth, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add clams, mussels and shrimp. If using any additional seafood, add to mixture at this time. Cover and cook until shrimp is pink and clams and mussels have opened. Discard the bay leaf before serving.
Slice bread in half to open, and spread with a mixture of olive oil, chopped basil, parsley, black pepper. Place in the oven at 400 till crisp and brown. Cut bread into long pieces.
Ladle the stew into bowls, place bread on the side, and serve.
I adore Windsor Smith’s designs, from her interiors to her own home line.
I adore Windsor Smith’s designs, from her interiors to her own home line. She’s an amazing designer and very clever about choices, making the success of her many ventures no surprise.
One of my favorite projects involving Windsor Smith was her collaboration with Veranda magazine on the House of Windsor. This first ever Veranda concept house, located in Los Angeles, California, featured Windsor Smith’s architectural design as well as the skills of several other notable designers such as Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Kathryn M. Ireland, Richard Hallburg, and others. The creation of this dream house was a very cool concept. Proceeds from the open house ticket sales and VIP events benefited two charities for children, the Children’s Action Network and P.S. Arts.
Veranda’s website about the House of Windsor is really interesting. It shows the floor plan of the concept house as well as 360 degree tours of each room in the home, including exterior areas like the courtyards and stables. You can even browse specific designers involved with this project and watch videos featuring each designer’s thoughts and experiences. The House of Winsdor was a huge undertaking based on a truly grand vision. Veranda’s unveiling of the home showed it to be very well executed.
House of Windsor floor plan.Entry hall, designed by Windsor Smith, is wide enough to serve as a dining room for entertaining on a grand scale.A graceful room with back to back sofas for increased seating and entertaining.Geometric pattern on the carpet offsets the chinioserie on the walls.The use of a corner sofa is very smart, and the wallpaper is beautiful!
Windsor Smith uses beautiful products in her designs. I love the way her rooms are layered and how everything looks perfectly collected. She can be bold, but her interiors never look too decorated. They seem effortless and timeless. Windsor Smith’s own collection reflects her design style, featuring furnishings that are as well thought out and executed as all of her other projects.
Samantha scroll arm chair.Moroccan ottoman: Great style and size.Mirrored console: Super chic!Colony breakfront.Insignia printed pattern: Great for window treatments. Check out all of the color ways.
To see more of Windsor Smith’s designs, visit her website. You can also see her Collection, find her on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest.
One night, my husband came home with three cake pops from Stick and Pop.
One night, my husband came home with three cake pops from Stick and Pop. He meant for our two daughters and me to each have one of these adorable little treats, but after taking one heavenly bite, I selfishly decided to keep them all to myself! I love chocolate and anything surrounded by chocolate, and these cake pops were too yummy to share!
Assorted cake pops from Stick and Pop.
These moist morsels of cake on a stick make the perfect treat for nearly any occasion. They are well packaged and great for kids, making them ideal party favors for birthdays or school functions. Any time I need a hostess or housewarming gift, I pick up an assortment of cake pops knowing they will be well received, unique, and appreciated. Stick and Pop offers a big selection of flavors and designs to mix and match for different events, from birthdays to weddings, and holidays from Christmas to Halloween.
Birthday CakeO’Hara: Coconut Cake in dark chocolate with coconut flakes.Wedding pops.
Stick and Pop also offers Minis, bite-sized versions of their delicious cake pops, and Cups, which are made from layers of cake, icing, chocolate, and toppings.
Cups!Johnny Cakes cup.
To place an order (they ship!) or see more flavors and varieties, visit the Stick and Pop website. You can also find them on Facebook!
David Sutherland, Inc. now offers a collection of John Dickinson’s iconic furniture designs.
One of the 20th century’s most acclaimed and important designers, John Dickinson was born in 1920 and grew up in Berkely, California. He attended Parsons School of Design and launched his own firm in San Francisco in 1956. Dickinson was one of the area’s top designers in the 1960s and 1970s when he produced his signature concrete plaster furniture. He died in 1982, but his pieces are still highly collectible and resell for thousands.
John DickinsonJohn Dickinson’s San Francisco residence.
From 1980 until his death in 1982, Dickinson’s furniture designs were represented in David Sutherland’s Texas showrooms. Dickinson’s rather fragile plaster pieces became known for their unique combination of whimsy and austerity, humor and elegance. These imaginative designs are easily recognizable and can be found today in museums and high end furniture galleries.
If you’re hoping to add one of Dickinson’s iconic pieces to your home, you can now purchase reproductions of these designs from Sutherland Furniture. Ever since he represented Dickinson’s work in the early 1980’s, David Sutherland hoped to recreate the collection and bring those designs to a wider audience. Sutherland’s hopes have finally been realized. Sutherland now offers Dickinson’s designs, recreated with a more durable glass-reinforced concrete.
Footed lamp.Hoofed table.Three-legged side table.
I think it is really great that Sutherland carries these reproductions. The indoor and outdoor collections are amazing! Everyone now has access to these fantastic pieces. With Sutherland’s innovative materials, you can not only have a John Dickinson design but actually use the pieces in your home without any worries. I would love to have one of these pieces of history in my own collection!
You can view the entire collection at Sutherland’s website. They are also on Facebook.
I am so happy to be included in this talented group of renowned designers as an A-List Winner for my pool house design and a finalist for my dining room design.
The Winter 2013 issue of At Home Magazine, which also happens to be the A-List issue, is now available! As always, the magazine looks beautiful and is full, cover to cover, with incredible design by this year’s A-List Winners. I am so happy to be included in this talented group of renowned designers as a winner for my pool house design and a finalist for my dining room design.
The A-List Award Winners this year comprised a competitive group of people I truly admire. I felt so sad to miss the award ceremony in person. So many special designers that inspire and pave the way for others were there, and I really missed being a part of that event. I know Moffly Media threw a fantastic shindig! It really feels so great to receive this kind of recognition from designers who are a driving force in the design world.
Photographer Bob Tabor is best known today for his incredible equine portraits. His horse photos are currently on display in Polo Ralph Lauren Home Showrooms and retail stores around the world. His work is also available at Mecox Gardens design stores throughout the United States and at the Tulla Booth Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York.
