_{Louis XVI chairs from Elizabeth Pash Antiques via 1stDibs @ NYDC}

Back in February, 1st Dibs, the online emporium for fine antiques and 20th century modern furniture from dealers around the globe went brick & mortar when it opened its first physical showroom at the New York Design Center. 1st Dibs @ NYDC spans the entire 10th floor of the NYDC. Although the NYDC is typically only open to the design trade, the 33,000, gallery-like 1st Dibs floor is completely open to the public. Below is a peek at the beauty you’ll find inside. For information about hours of operation visit the NYDC website. And if you can’t get there in person, you can shop the 1st Dibs @ NYDC offerings online! Kudos to the NYDC and 1stDibs for making great design accessible to everyone!

_{Knox Martin Paintings from StellarUnion}

_{A vignette from Lisa Laserow Antiques}

_{1930s French Armchair from Objectiques at 1stDibs @ NYDC}

_{I loved this pair of faux malachite chairs}

Agate & bronze waterfall coffee table

_{A 1970s Victor Roman polished brass console}

_{A Milo Baughman Sofa}

All photos by me.

People always ask me who my favorite interior designers are and one person that’s always on my list is British born, LA based designer Peter Dunham. I just love the global influences he brings into his work, the way he mixes patterns and texture, and the fact that his spaces exude refinement yet feel totally un-stuffy. I’m also a big fan of his textile line which is heavily influenced by Islamic and Indian culture. Peter has an amazing shop called Hollywood at Home, located in the heart of LA’s design district, where he sells his own fabrics and furniture lines along with antiques, art, accessories and textiles from several other amazing brands that share his worldly point of view. Hollywood at Home is a must-visit LA design destination so I always make time to stop by and see what’s new when I’m in town. Earlier this spring I popped into the shop unannounced, just before it was closing for the day and found Peter barefoot, wearing a white tee and jeans, huddled around a giant table working with his team on details for a client project. His presence was a true personification of the way he approaches his designs – casually elegant, relaxed and completely approachable. Peter was kind enough give me a tour of what’s new and let me snap a few photos of his impeccably decorated shop. Have a look at the photos along with a few tips for how you can incorporate some of his styling ideas into your own home!

Hollywood at Home actually occupies two storefronts at 724 and 750 N. La Cienega Blvd. This is his 750 space which is newer and mainly houses his furniture offerings.

I love this sitting area. One way to add a punch to a neutral space is to bring in accessories, like these brightly colored throw pillows for a pop of color.

In the foreground of this photo you can see a peek of Peter’s new Lexington Ottoman and on the right is the NYAC armchair, a reproduction of a rush chair once found at the Downtown New York Athletic Club.

Here are a pair of Dunham’s Cole chair upholstered in his Samarkand fabric.

This is the space located at 724 N. La Cienega which houses mostly textiles and accessories. I absolutely loved this bedroom vignette. A common decorating myth is that you can’t mix up too many patterns and here this myth is completely dispelled as  an array of mismatched John Robshaw fabrics patched together somehow all works together quite nicely. It evokes the feeling of a handmade patchwork quilt. The key is to mixing and matching such detailed pattern is using fabrics in the same color palettes like Peter has done here.

I also love the look of a well-dressed bed full of cozy throw pillows. It makes a bed look so much more inviting.

I often say that good design is in the details. Here a vase of daises brightens up a rustic bedside table.

Accessorizing with books is another great styling tip. Here vintage hardcover books add a pop of color and pattern, and added detail to this tablescape…

R.P. Miller is one of the newest fabric lines offered at Hollywood at Home. The line incorporates Japanese inspired patterns hand printed on Belgian linen.

I was also drawn to these vibrant ikats from Danielle & Sachrijara…

Browsing the wall of Peter’s gorgeous fabric designs is like taking a walk through textile heaven!

For more info on Hollywood at Home visit the website here.

All photos are by Nicole Gibbons

_{Living room by Carrier & Company (Photo: Courtesy of Elle Decor)}

On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending the opening of ELLE DECOR’s Modern Life Concept House at the new +Art condo development in Chelsea. The showhouse was comprised of two neighboring apartments with rooms designed by 10 of Elle Decor’s A-List Designers to Watch. Each designer offered their own unique take on modern living and I especially loved the living room, shown above, designed by Carrier & Company and the adjacent kitchen/dining area designed by Katie Lydon. The well appointed spaces flowed seamlessly together and felt fresh, effortless and totally livable. The ELLE DECOR Modern Life Concept House is open to the public over the next three weekends so you can have the opportunity to check it out for yourself! If you’re not able to make it to the Concept House  in person, below are a few photos of my favorite spaces to watch a video tour of the entire showhouse by Elle Decor editor-in-chief Michael Boodro click here.

Here are the details on dates and hours and for more information or a link to purchase tickets, visit www.elledecor.com/showhouse.

Elle Decor Presents: The Modern Life Concept House

May 20 – 22; May 27 – 30; and June 3 – 5

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

540 W. 28th Street

Admission is $30 and all ticket sales benefit Housing Works.

_{Living Room by Carrier & Company. (Photo: +Art)}

_{Living Room by Carrier & Company. (Photo: +Art)}

_{Dining area by Katie Lydon (Photo: Courtesy of Elle Decor)}

_{Dining area by Katie Lydon (Photo: +Art)}

_{Tilton Fenwick for Traditional Home}

This past weekend Housing Works hosted it’s annual Design on a Dime charity fundraiser which supports homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV & AIDS. Each year top interior designers create fabulous room vignettes for the event and all of the products used are sold at deep discounts to benefit Housing Works. This was the biggest year yet with 56 participating designers and a star studded roster of event chairs that included Nate Berkus, supermodel Iman, Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer and interior designers Charlotte Moss and James Huniford (who is a founding chair of the event). I attended the opening night to do a little shopping (of course!) and there was so much inspiration and creativity abound! Below are a few highlights…

_{Designers Suysel dePedro-Cunningham (L) and Anne Maxwell-Foster (R)}

One of the featured vignettes of the event was a space designed by Tilton Fenwick for Traditional Home. This young design firm has been receiving a lot of buzz since being named one of Trad Home’s top 20 New Traditionals. And aside from having one of the most beautifully designed spaces at Design on a Dime, I think Tilton Fenwick’s Suysel dePedro-Cunningham and Anne Maxwell-Foster should also win the award for most stylish design duo! (Can you believe Suysel’s chic dress is H&M?!)

The inspiration for their vignette was a design blogger’s dream office space! The star of the space was definitely the wall covering which is a Brunschwig & Fils fabric called Seychelles which is based on a classic French motif from the 19th century.

Designer Daniel Pafford also had a standout vignette. His bedroom was an homage to Elizabeth Taylor.

The regal blue color on the walls paired with all of the gold accents is the perfect combination for a space fit for Hollywood royalty.

I had an opportunity to chat with Elaine Griffin who is so fun to be around – she’s always full of energy! She designed two spaces for HomeGoods who was also a major Design on a Dime sponsor (& they’re finally opening up shop in NYC very soon!) Her first space that you can see a glimpse of above is an outdoor terrace belonging to a chic NYC fashionista.

Elaine’s second space was this bright pink living room designed with the quintessential New York City it girl in mind. Think Holly Golightly, Carrie Bradshaw and Blair Waldorf.

Shawn Henderson designed this stylish living room which I absolutely loved. The space has a masculine edge although the pink accents in the artwork and flowers definitely add a feminine touch. I thought the large scale painting above the sofa was stunning.

I was excited to see Katie Ridder added to the roster of participating designers this year. She created a vibrant orange room with an eclectic mix of furnishings that showcased her signature ethnic inspired fabrics.

Jessie Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company designed a cool dining space that featured a show-stopping art installation by NYC street artists A.S.V.P. I chatted a bit with Jesse who told me that he and Mara gave A.S.V.P. free reign to go crazy on the walls and they just worked with it! The result is fun and totally un-stuffy. I also loved the Sphinx…another fun, kitchy touch. This space perfectly illustrates the idea that decorating doesn’t always have to be so serious and buttoned up!

British born, New York based designer Katie Lydon designed this living room that was full of natural touches. I had my eye on those Paule Marrot prints above the sofa but some other lucky guest snagged them before I had the chance!

Miles Redd’s whimsical room was full of pattern and packed a colorful punch…

Interior designer Robert Passal always looks so dapper so I had to snap a photo of him! He was kind enough to walk me through his vignette…a masculine study for an overworked Wall Streeter with a passion for horses. You can see a glimpse of the fictitious homeowner’s equine passion in the large wall art and the racing papers tacked to the bulletin board above. Robert did a great job of creating this character and really bringing him to life through his vignette.

My friend Robert Verdi worked with supermodel Iman to design a stylish bedroom that showcased her eclectic home fabric collection. The pair definitely added a bit of glam factor to the event!

And last but not least, I thought Bradley Stephens designed an exceptionally creative space. The inspiration was an old-school New York City tenement apartment. I loved the red velvet sofa and the gallery wall of art.  And while the space doesn’t necessarily feature the shelter mag worthy decor that we’re used to seeing at these events, I thought the space was beautiful and it reflects how so many people in New York actually live. I really appreciate the fact that Bradley chose to step outside of the box and keep it real!

_{Tilton Fenwick vignette photos by Joe Standart}

_{Pink Flame bedding from Jonathan Adler.}

The twice yearly New York International Gift Fair is often a launching platform for many new home decor brands while for more established brands, it’s an opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest wares. My eyes were certainly peeled for all things new and cool at the this season’s Gift Fair and here’s my roundup of the new product introductions that I thought were exceptional:

JONATHAN ADLER

A perennial favorite, Jonathan Adler’s collections never disappoint. Among his wide array of products on display, I was particularly drawn to his new bedding introductions. A favorite is the bright and psychedelic Pink Flame bedding shown in the top photo. It was paired with his ever popular needlepoint pillows and an array of shiny glam vases and lamps. Above – the Grey Hollywood duvet & sheet set features a mod 60s inspired print. I’m so glad Jonathan Adler has brought his bedding back! It’s full of style and loaded with fun prints and colors!

LAMSHOP

Lamshop is a classic and slightly preppy collection of furniture and accessories run by interior designer Lindsey Coral Harper and Maggie Currey and they’re probably best known for their chic, Asian inspired lacquered tables. Three new side tables in a malachite, shagreen and tortoise finish which I thought were so chic. They have a rich textural depth to them that would make these tables really pop in a room.

JILL ROSENWALD STUDIO

I loved every single piece shown in the booth of Boston based Jill Rosenwald Studio. She makes the most lovely pottery and ceramic lamps, that are handmade with exceptional quality. Her products feature a whimsical take on classic prints like chevrons, moorish inspired trellis and suzani patterns and the colors are fresh and cheery. I predict that we’ll be seeing Jill’s work everywhere soon enough! You can shop Jill Rosenwald Studio products here on Etsy.

COCOCOZY

I was super excited to come across the booth of blogger Coco of Cococozy! I’d been following her blog for a while and am so happy see a fellow design blogger following her passion! Coco just launched a line of soft goods which includes linen pillows, fabrics by-the-yard, shams, drapery and cotton knit blankets. Her prints are graphic and modern and her color palette is cool and vibrant. You can visit the Cococozy shop here and the Cococozy blog here.

PATCH NYC

I’ve long been a fan of artist Don Carney’s vintage inspired ink drawings which he sells through Patch NYC – the company he runs with his partner John Ross. At the Patch NYC booth, plenty of Carney’s quirky ink drawings were showcased gallery style in vintage gilded frames set against a bright turquoise wall. Having the opportunity to see such a large grouping of his drawing up close made me really appreciate the level of detail and artistry that goes into each piece. I’m now coveting one of his drawings for myself! Another new introduction I loved from Patch NYC is their new line of stylish linen scarves trimmed in colorful African Batik fabrics. Don is modeling one in the photo above! The company also recently launched a line of scented candles with moody, eccentric scents like the Pipe candle which which features notes of tobacco, patchouli and vanilla. You can shop the full Patch NYC collection here.

JOE CARATI GLASS

Another standout were the hand blown glass decanters from LA based Joe Carati. I loved the elegant, graceful shapes and perfectly chosen jewel toned colors. His collection is really well done.

HAMMOCKS & HIGH TEA

I couldn’t have visited NYIGF without checking in to see the latest from Hammocks & High Tea. Founder Karen Young was there looking radiant in a bright pink scarf that perfectly matched her colorful, ethnic printed spring line! The collection is already already getting noticed as her new spring totes are prominently featured in the current March issue of House Beautiful!

CHRISTEN MAXWELL

Young product designer Christen Maxwell showed her eponymous collection of pillows and accessories at NYIGF for the first time this season. I had seen her products online so when I passed by her booth I was eager to check everything out up close and in person. 27 year old Maxwell describes her products as “timeless, well-made objects that turn houses into homes.” I especially love her chic laminated linen trays. They’re perfect for the desk, bedside or for entertaining!

MR. BROWN

Last but not least, I had the opportunity to meet the fantastic Mr. Brown – a slightly modern and more accessible diffusion line from the forever chic Julian Chichester. The line has a bit of a masculine feel with a hint of traditional English sensibility. You can see more from Mr. Brown at MrBrownHome.com!

If you’re interested in seeing more of my photos from the Gift Fair, I uploaded an album with loads more photos on Facebook which you can view here!

I was completely wowed by the incredibly beautiful textiles I saw at Sachin + Babi for Ankasa at the New York International Gift Fair. Best known for its intricate embroideries, Sachin + Babi for Ankasa was founded by husband and wife design team Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia who began their careers doing couture embroidery for fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren and Valentino. The company is now a lifestyle brand that includes home decor as well as ready-to-wear and accessories. Their latest collections of pillows and bedding which I got to check out at NYIGF are exquisite, with elaborate silk and metallic embroidery, rich textures and elaborate beading. Have a look at my photos below and you can see more from Sachin and Babi here.

_{All photos by Nicole Gibbons for So Haute}

One of the booths at the NYIGF that I was eager to check out was John Robshaw. I’m a huge fan of his ethnic block printed textiles and I especially love his bedding collections so imagine my delight when I approached his booth and found John himself making one of the display beds! A consummate perfectionist, John was re-making the bed because, as he says, “the quilt wasn’t laying quite right.” (I snapped a few photos of him in action so I could study his technique – He likes to stack his pillows, FYI!)

Robshaw’s booth showcased his bedding, bath, pillows, tabletop, travel, clothing, window coverings and giftables for spring and as usual his  latest offerings for are perfection!

The bedding seen here is a new introduction called Matar. That sublime coral color was seen all over the spring fashion runways and now you can incorporate it into your home too! I think Robshaw’s choice of patterns and colors are always stunning!

This bed featured a mix of patterns but my favorite is the one near the front with the green, periwinkle and marigold colored Indian floral pattern called Ludoli. The others are a mix of Gent’s Stripe, Stitched (solid white with the moss green embroidery) and Metallic linen which can all be found at JohnRobshaw.com.

I loved this colorful mix of cotton ikat pillows. (I told you ikat isn’t over!)

The pillows on the left here feature hand painted Indian inspired floral and animal motifs while the black and white pillows on the right showcase traditional African mudcloth prints.

I also really like the idea of mixing a few of these colorful picture frames in with your traditional silver frames – it would make for an eclectic display of your family photos!

John’s inspiration for these stylish cotton and canvas travel bags was Jack Nicholson’s voyage through the Sahara in the movie The Passenger.

There were also plenty of travel pouches, passport covers, luggage tags and chic stationery travel accessories and accessories and paper goods. You can shop the entire John Robshaw spring collection here.

_{Bright Moroccan inspired tunics set against a bold suzani backdrop at Roberta Roller Rabbit}

I spent the past weekend checking out the latest products and trends at the New York International Gift Fair. I often hear people saying that the ikat/suzani/eclectic bohemian trend is “so over” but based on what I saw at the NYIGF I think it’s safe to say that these worldy prints and patterns are definitely here to stay. There were ikats, suzani and other ethnic inspired textiles and accessories in bold colors and patterns everywhere I turned – on pillows, blankets, furniture – you name it.  Rather than refer to this style as a “trend” I think of these ethnic inspired textiles and accessories as timeless elements with historical and cultural context that will never go out of style. Perhaps over time we’ll change the way we incorporate them into our decor, but for now my trip to the NYIGF has left me loving ikats, suzanis and other ethnic inspired decorative elements even more than ever!

Roberta Roller Rabbit

Roberta Roller Rabbit

Wunderley

Wunderley

Wunderley

Tessera

Tessera

RP Designs

Patrick Charles LTD

Oomph

Miami Mumbai

Badia Design

Bungalow 5 has just opened a sparkling new showroom in New York City to showcase its modern home furnishings and accessories to the design trade and I’m thrilled to give you a little sneak peek. The showroom officially opens today and is the brand’s first in New York City. What I love most about Bungalow 5 is that even though their offerings are decidedly modern, there is gracefulness and versatility to each piece that enables it to fit seamlessly into any interior. So Haute indeed! You can visit Bungalow 5 on the web here.

Bungalow 5
New York Showroom
251 West 30th Street, Suite 10W
New York, NY 10001

_{All photos by Nicole Gibbons/So Haute}

Margaret Russell with A-List Designer Darryl Carter. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

In Elle Decor’s June issue the magazine announced it’s first annual A-List which payed homage to 25 talented designers who define the way we live today plus 5 up-and-coming young designers to watch. The 2010 A-List included designers like Kelly Wearstler, Eric Cohler, Steven Gambrel, Charlotte Moss, Thomas O’Brien, Miles Redd, Michael S. Smith  Jeffrey Bilhuber, Matthew Patrick Smyth,  Madeline Stuart, Bunny Williams and many more! Among the 5 to watch were  Jesse Carrier, Oliver M. Furth, Grant K. Gibson, Katie Lydon and Marie Turner. I was lucky enough to get to celebrate the occasion with Elle Decor at a party hosted at the McGuire showroom at the New York Design Center a few weeks ago. All but 2 of the honored designers were in attendance and all of the top names in the New York design industry came out to fete the honorees.  It was a fabulous event set amidst the backdrop of McGuire’s beautiful furnishings and gorgeous floral arrangements designed by Bronson Van Wyck. Above is Elle Decor Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell with DC based designer Darryl Carter who I was thrilled to see included on the A-List and I had the pleasure of meeting that evening. He was beyond humbled to be included on the A-List and is obviously very deserving of the honor. He filled me in that his book  Below are a few more of my favorite snaps from the night!

Margaret Russell with Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Designers Thomas Jayne & Bunny Williams. Photo: Patrick McMullan

The Atmosphere at the Elle Decor A-List party. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

A beautiful peony arrangement by Bronson van Wyck. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Margaret Russell and Oscar de la Renta. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

About a week after the A-List event Elle Decor also hosted an intimate cocktail party to celebrate Oscar de la Renta’s new upholstery fabric collaboration with Lee Jofa. I was thrilled to attend and was absolutely blown away at the beauty of his fabrics which mirror the elegance and sophistication of his fashion collections. The to-the trade collection includes beautiful ethnic inspired patterns in bold hues inspired by Oscar’s fashion archives. The fabrications include rich wovens, luscious silks and elaborate embroideries and brocades. Below is a peek of the store window of Oscar’s Madison ave shop which features ball skirts made of his gorgeous new fabrics! I also included a few snaps of my own! Designers, look out for the new Oscar de la Renta fabrics coming this summer to a Lee Jofa showroom near you!

Skirts fashioned from Oscar de la Renta’s new fabric collection. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Beautiful fabrics from the new collection

_{A fabulous bedroom vignette by Alan Tanskly. (I LOVED the John Robshaw bedding!)}

A couple of weeks ago I attended the opening night party for Housing Works’ annual Design on a Dime fundraiser. Housing Works is a wonderful charity and chain of thrift shops in New York City that benefits homeless and low-income people living with HIV & AIDS. Each year the organization hosts a shopping fundraiser and enlists some of the top names in design to create fabulous room vignettes with donated, brand new luxury home furnishings as well as vintage and antique pieces which are sold at 50-80% off retail with all proceeds going to Housing Works. This year’s roster of participating designers included James Huniford (who chaired the event), Charlotte Moss, Ernest de la Torre, Steven Sclaroff, Steven Gambrel, Laura Kirar, Miles Redd, Nathan Thomas, Jarrett Yoshida, Laura Bohn, Todd Romano and more! I was so excited that I was able to meet many of the designers at the event and had the opportunity talk with them about their room vignettes and exciting projects they had coming up. I had a special post planned featuring interviews and insider information from the designers (especially some fun stuff from Miles Redd) but I recorded all of the interviews on my blackberry which was recently stolen so unfortunately I lost everything:( Instead I’ll simply leave you with pictures of some of my favorite room vignettes of the night along with a few of my own anecdotes.

One of my favorite vignettes was this one from Miles Redd who is the ultimate maximalist.

His room definitely illustrates the idea that sometimes “more is more”!

I loved his chic bar table!

This is a vignette by Steven Gambrel whose style has such a modern yet classic American sensibility. This room looked as if it belonged in a chic Hamptons beach house.

Todd Romano designed this vignette. I loved that ticking stripe settee and the juxtaposition of the comic book pop art over the antique bureau.

I fell in love with the wallpaper in this room by designer Brett Beldock. I have to admit that before this event I wasn’t familiar with Beldock or her company Brett Design but now I’m a fan! She has a line of fabulous wall coverings which includes this butterfly scenic pattern which is one of her latest designs.

It sort of reminds me of de Gournay or Gracie and is a modern take on a very traditional Chinoiserie motif. The wallpaper is vinyl and self-adhesive which makes both installation and maintenance super easy. You can see this and more of Beldock’s wall coverings here.

The bold blue walls in this room by Daniel Pafford really jumped out at me. If you recall, Pafford was named one of Domino magazine’s 10 young designers to watch back before the magazine folded. I’d say Pafford has definitely come into his own since then!

Another designer I was unfamiliar with before the event was Oskar Torres who designed the bedroom vignette above. I fell in love with that chandelier above the bed and contemplated buying it but when I went back to get it someone had already snapped it up! Although I didn’t end up buying anything at this year’s Design on a Dime, I didn’t exactly leave empty handed. I met lots of great people and left the event feeling incredibly inspired by all of the ideas and creativity on display! Can’t wait to go back again next year! For more info on Housing Works and how you can support its programs, visit their website here.

_{Chair no. One Five and Credenza no. Two Twenty Five}

I’m utterly obsessed with The New Traditionalists – a fresh, new home furnishings collection brought you by the team who created the modern childrens furniture line ducduc. I had the opportunity to visit The New Traditionalists showroom in Soho a couple of weeks ago to check out the line and chat with the company’s founding partners and was quite impressed with the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that went into creating this collection.

_{Desk no. Two Eleven and Chair no. Twenty Two}

The New Traditionalists furniture collection is actually made up of two lines – MasonGray, a traditional-with-a-twist children’s line that launched last year and Union House, a more grown up version of MasonGray which officially launched this April. The New Traditionalists collection is inspired by classic silhouettes and blends traditional design elements with a modern sensibility to create pieces which prove that traditional can also be cool.

_{Armoire no. Five Sixty Four, Bed no. Sixteen and Side Table no. Five Thirty Five}

The creative team paid exceptional attention to detail when designing the line, referencing details from bespoke menswear tailoring and ensuring that each piece is highly customizable.

_{The variety of finishes available from The New Traditionalists}

The line is designed in New York City and manufactured in Connecticut using sustainable woods and proprietary water based finishes that are also eco-friendly and available in a beautiful variety of colors as shown above. The finishes are hand rubbed and can be combined to create a completely custom look.

_{Dresser no. Seventeen}

The New Traditionalists definitely fills a much needed void in the market. Finally we have collection which combines style and quality with timeless yet modern furnishings. I’m excited about this innovative new collection and can’t wait to watch how The New Traditionalists continues to extend its brand. I’ll leave you with a few more images of the line and these words which sum up the company’s design approach perfectly:

“If you think traditional and cool are not mutually

exclusive, then you are one of

The New Traditionalists.”

_{One of my favorite pieces in the collection – Cabinet no. Two Seventy – which features dark oil rubbed walnut with embossed leather panels.}

_{Chair no. Sixty Six, Coffee Table no. One One, Dresser no. Nine and the beautiful Sofa no. Two Twenty in navy blue distressed leather with contrasting quilt stitching}.

_{A close-up of Dresser no. Nine}

_{A room vignette featuring the Savanah crib and dresser from MasonGray}

Photos above without the So Haute watermark are courtesy of The New Traditionalists

I just came across these charming pictures of antiques dealer, interior decorator and fabric designer Robert Kime’s shop in London. Recently opened in December, the shop is a treasure trove full of antiques, accessories and Kime’s gorgeous signature textiles.

Kime decorated the place to look like a residence with a layered, lived-in, classic English look and feel which he’s a master at creating.
Kime began his career in interiors by dealing antiques and eventually rose to become one of Britain’s most prominent designers.

_{This photo and all above by James Mitchell via robertkime.com}

He counts Prince Charles among his many high profile clients and was charged with the rennovation and decoration of Clarence House-the official residence of the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Another famous client of Kime’s is Juicy Couture founder Gela Nash Taylor and her husband, Duran Duran bassist John Taylor. Kime decorated South Wraxall Manor- their romantic English Country estate in Wiltshire, England.

The project was featured in the September 09 issue of Vogue and I thought I’d post a few of the photos here for any Kime fans out there. Kime worked with architect Mary-Lou Arscott and opera set designer Patrick Kinmonth on the project. On the left is the drawing room with it’s incredible Jacobean plasterwork surrounding the mantle. On the right is Gela’s daughter’s room.

What I love most about this home is that although Kime designed the interiors from a clean slate for the Taylors, the end result bears a masterfully layered, perfectly worn, lived-in patina. Here in the Chinoiserie Suite, the de Gournay wallpaper was hand painted with stains and watermarks to appear as though it has been there forever.

No English country manor feels complete without a touch of romanticism and the Taylor’s home is full of romance. A perfect example is Gela’s bathroom. Details like the claw foot tub, antique chandelier and wall sconces, the Venetian mirror above the tub and the curtains made from the queen of Italy’s court train exude femininity and romance.

_{All photos of the Taylor residence are by Francois Halard for Vogue.}

In this charming outdoor terrace, a 19th century Sicilian chandelier hangs above a dining table surrounded by 18th century regency bergere chairs. To see more of the home click here. And for more info on Robert Kime click here to visit his website.

I think LA has some of the best flea markets around. Some of the better markets in the LA area are in farther away cities like Pasadena or Long Beach and only open on select weekends so I often miss them when I come to town. The Melrose Trading Post however, best known for its art, antiques and collectibles, is open every single Sunday rain or shine. It’s also located right in the heart of Hollywood so it’s easily accessible and even on holidays it’s still open. I always manage to check it out when I’m in town and it’s usually chock full of great deals.

When I visited LA in May I stopped by to see if I could find some new tchotchkes for my place and found this booth selling everything for $1. Yes, that’s right – ONE DOLLAR!

You  had to sort through a lot of junk but there were certainly many treasures to be found. It was full of fabulous lamps in working condition like this brass pair above. Couldn’t you just imaging these all polished up with a fresh pair of black lacquered shades…they’d look so fab!

This brass artichoke lamp was also in the dollar booth. I regret not buying it. I was being lazy and told myself it would be too much of a pain to lug on an airplane. I went to sleep that night and then woke up thinking about this lamp. Next time I’ll do better! Below are photos of a few more fabulous finds I spotted at The Melrose Trading Post. The next time you’re in the area, I’d highly recommend stopping by!

Located at the Fairfax High School Parking Lot

Fairfax & Melrose, Hollywood, CA

Open Sundays, 9am-5pm

Rain or Shine

Before last week’s Design on a Dime benefit I had an opportunity to chat with a few of the designers as they were setting up their vignettes and I also caught up with a few more designers at the opening reception. It was fun hearing about their inspiration, the resources they used in their designs and especially the creative stories they came up with to help guide their design process.

Calypso Home’s vignette probably had one of my favorite back stories. This room belongs to a young woman who just had her heart broken by her boyfriend. The space has a youthful aesthetic but it looks very disheveled because its owner has been holed up in her room feeling sorry for herself and mourning the end of her relationship.

The crumpled up facial tissues strewn about the room are evidence that the young woman has been crying quite a bit. And the empty wine and champagne bottles seen on the floor reveal that she has also been attempting to drink away her sorrows! All of the products seen here are from Calypso Home. Draped over the giraffe printed chair is Calypso’s pom pom blanket which I love and have blogged about before.

Designer David Cafiero’s vignette, shown above, was another favorite of mine. His space is actually a psychiatrist’s office. When I asked him where he found his inspiration he joked, “I’ve been watching In Treatment a lot!” He then explained that his vignette was actually inspired by his childhood shrink’s office which ironically was located in a home once owned by his grandfather. The space had green walls, grasscloths accents and a fireplace which were elements David used as a starting point for his design plan. The key pieces in the room, the Danish Chaise and the two cuban deco chairs came from an acutal psychiatrist’s office. He recovered the chaise in a buttery yellow linen and left the chairs as is. The wingback chair was from an estate in Westchester, the lamp was a flea market find, the rug was from a client’s house and the fireplace surround was a street find which he painted black. The frame for the mirror above the mantle was a flea market find and the mirror itself was belonged to Chloe Sevigny, one of his most notable clients. It was too large for it’s intended purpose so David cut it down to fit the frame and then used the other half as a top for the coffee table that you see in the photo on the far left. I love that David really stayed true to his inpiration, even sourcing peices from an actual shrink’s office! I enyoyed chatting with him and have become a fan of his eclectic style. He’s definitely on my designer to watch list. Look for a profile on David coming soon!

Designer Laura Bohn created this stylish men’s dressing room. He seems to be a bit of a prepster as evidenced by the pink dress shirts hanging in the closet. He also has a sexy girlfriend who often sleeps over and leaves some of her raciest lingirie hanging in his closet as a reminder of her. You can’t see it in the photo but on the end of the closet opposite his shirts hangs an assortment of her hot pink and leopard printed lingirie! The closet in the space is from California Closets, the daybed is from Resource  Furniture, the round ottoman is from Classic Sofa, the lamps are from Holly Hunt and Ralph Lauren Home, the wallpaper from Wolf Gordon, the vanity is from ducduc, and the rug from Patterson Flynn and Martin.

I didn’t have an opportunity to talk with Charlotte Moss but this is her chic gardening shack, which I thought was amazing. In an interview for Housing Works, Moss discusses her inspiration for the space which was a cartoon from a March 1946 edition of the New Yorker.

Moss exlains, “It’s got a woman standing in her garden in the winter; and she’s standing there in a pant suit with her mink coat over her shoulders, and with seed packets in her hand. She’s thinking, ‘What the hell do I do now?’ And I thought, My Design on a Dime room is going to be a chic gardening shack and she’s going to be my star.”

“It’s going to have a potting table, a hall tree, gardening books and implements, and hats and pots. And there will be silk panels on the wall with art hung over it—that’s the chic part.” I absolutely loved this room…there were so many interesting visual elements but my favorite the fur coat that was hanging inside space. You can see it in the top photo on the far right. The coat once belonged to Helen Gurley Brown, the most ifnluential editor-in-chief in Cosmopolitan magazine’s history. She was also a major player in the women’s feminist movement in the 60s. The coat even had her monogram inside! My friend Samantha tried it on and in the 60 seconds she wore it, at least 5 people came up to her and told her how fabulous it was!

I’m sorry that I can’t recall who designed this room….but I absolutely LOVED it! A not-so-subtle nod to our inspirational Commander in Chief!

_{Photos courtesy of Housing Works}