Modern decorating style you can steal!

I can’t help but be inspired by these pictures from the September issue of Martha Stewart Living. One of Martha’s chief lieutenants, Kevin Sharkey, had his apartment renovation chronicled in the magazine and I’ve been following his blog on the project for the past year. The overall color palette with the mix of vintage and modern furniture and accessories is stunning. Everything shimmers, too, from the use of mirrors, black marble table tops and velvet pillows. The final results are a look I would love to work with.

Sideboards from Bo Concept but personalized with black marble tops, an idea I plan to steal for the night stands in my bedroom.

Custom paintings in the style of Franz Kline. Love that idea! I'm thinking of hitting up a local art schools to ask one of the students to do the same thing for my home.

Flower gig: commitment ceremony

Arranging flowers for the dinner table is much different than coordinating arrangements for commitment ceremony, but I was up for the challenge when good friends asked for my help for their July celebration.


The couple wanted to balance the traditional with the masculine -- the sturdy but soft colored lily was their flower of choice and fit the bill.


The boutonnieres and corsages tied in with the blue and brown color scheme and complimented all the guests of honor. The couple was thrilled, the view was spectacular and the evening was perfect . Congratulations Christopher and Jim!

I love this: painted "wallpaper"

I am in love with this woodland wall pattern that, despite appearances, is not expensive wallpaper but a work of paint. Country Living’s September issue features this creation from rollerwall.com. As you drag the genius tool down the wall, the rubber roller picks up a thin layer of paint from the foam roller. My favorite motifs are the woodland print and a wood grain, but with the right color combinations the other options will work well too. The editors at CL have two good bits of advice: practice painting on scratch paper so you get the hang of it, and remove molding before painting and then reattach to hide any unpainted spots.

I love this: Seahorses

This summer my favorite accessory is the seahorse. The elegant shape of this tiny creature lends itself to pillows, lamps, even cocktail napkins. A little seahorse goes a long way in adding something playful to your décor.

Seahorse Outdoor Pillow by Thomas Paul

Jonathan Adler Seahorse Lamp



Seahorse pillow at Williams-Sonoma Home


Caspari Seahorse Cocktail Napkin

A new lamp for our fine feathered friends

Just when I thought I had reached my limit on bird décor, this little gem landed in my lap. The Voliere lamp is a most elegant cage of copper wiring and faux birds. This bit of whimsy is available as a pendant, table lamp and floor lamp. Not only is it super stylish, there's no newspaper to change.. Available at The Conran Shop in New York City and online.

Pick a paint for the 5th wall

Next time you're deciding on a color for a room try this: look up. It could be your ceiling that needs a new look. Think of it as the 5th wall and make it the room's accent wall. We recently painted a client’s living room ceiling Newburyport Blue from Benjamin Moore, and the results are stunning. We used a matte finish on the ceiling. A Semi-gloss or glossier paint may reflect more light, creating a the a visual "stop" that can be distracting. The painted ceiling in the bungalow/craftsman home works beautifully with the color palette we picked for the home. More on what we did with the rest of the house coming soon; until then, get a ladder and start painting up.


A few more examples of painted ceilings. How lovely!

Add some Mid-Century to your mix

My blogging has been slow these days as I’ve been spending most of my time in the mid-century, combing some of Seattle’s best vintage and antique shops looking for lounge chairs, dining chairs and tables with just the right touch of Mad Men chic: understated beauty, simple lines, streamline shapes. One item that caught my eye for both my clients and my own home is a credenza. Once the item to store your turn table, a credenza can easily be converted to house a modern entertainment center (that’s what I’m holding out for) or sleek storage in a home office. If you are looking for a touch of the mid-century to add to your décor, this sleek and functional piece is the one to have.