Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Beautiful Girl

I have a very glamorous and busy morning ahead of me:

1. Stuff 6 very expensive chairs and 2 cute kids in my disgusting car.



2. Drop off chairs and Raoul Textiles laminated fabric at my upholsterer's shop.


3. Go to gym. Run 5 miles with skinny hungry friends.


If that doesn't make you laugh, this Flight of the Conchords song will.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day

To theirs...


and mine...

Hwang Bishop

I saw some really pretty lamps at Shears and Window at the design center in San Francisco. They were made by Hwang Bishop. When I got home I looked them up. Wow. They have some gorgeous styles online. I am the first to admit that Christopher Spitzmiller rules the hand thrown ceramic lamp world. These can compete, though. Loved some of them.

I just got a new job in Dallas. Modern townhouse. I want these Incense Lamps in there...with ivory leather studded dining chairs and a custom tufted banquette in platinum silk velvet...and pillows made out of something pale green from Pollack or Donghia.
Who doesn't love a little Chinese fretwork action? In a Prussian blue lacquered dining room? With some pretty Prussians?

The Mandarine Hobnail? Earthy Aspen cabin? Bear rug and lucite waterfall table? Strip poker and fondue?
The Lachlan Dots? Summer house in the Hamptons? White Brazilian cowhide rug? Limed oak dining table and chairs? Swedish pool boy?

Friday, June 19, 2009

San Francisco


I flew to San Francisco for a 48 hour trip. I dropped off our oldest child at my dad's house. She is going on a road trip with my family. They were going to pick her up in Oregon. I told them, "No. I'd be happy to fly her down to San Francisco. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. REALLY!"

Of course, any trip to SF includes a trip to the design center to restock my library. I lived out my fantasy decorator life for a few short moments. I set out as my alter ego. Jen West. Designer at Large. Kidless and Calm. I drove there in this...my stepmother's car...the alter ego of my Suburban...


So...driving from Half Moon Bay to SF. Equipped with solid written directions, an iphone GPS and a Lexus GPS...

this girl still managed to get lost. In the hood. Bonfire of the Vanities...but I didn't hit anybody. Lotta bars on the window. None on my phone. Good one, Jen.


Navigation has never been my strong suit. Ask my husband.

So...I escape the hood. (My father later informs me this wasn't the hood. The bars? A city thing. Everybody's doing it these days. You can take the decorator out of the country but...).

Call husband to check in. It is barely 10 am and he is very tired. Sitter just arrived. He says, "How can anybody do this? Get breakfast ready! Take a shower!" Uh huh. I hear ya. Loud and clear. Try doing all of that and faxing in orders and TRYING to sound professional. That is when I am thankful we have lots of closets. To hide in. When making business calls.

Finally. Find design center. Parking lot full of these. Decorator cliche.


NOT that there is anything wrong with that.

Hit my favorite showrooms. Sooo excited. Sorry...this place just does it for me.

Gorgeous Peter Fasano at Sloan Miyasato...



Killer and edgy Timorous Beasties Iguana wallpaper at Desousa Hughes. Love love love.


Nice little modern pillow detail. Simple flat flange.


Loved these Lesley Anton lamps. Earthy but hip.


Pretty Hwang Bishop lamps at Shears and Window.


Jasper furniture by Michael Smith. Gorgeous. Fortune.


Died over this coffee table. Paramedics came.


Donghia showroom... Elitis wallpaper that looks like a sheer curtain over...something. Super cool and modern. You would never ever ever know how cool this was from a wallpaper sample. Ever.


Kneedler Fauchere. I know. Ikat graveyard. We're over it. Well, I'm not. It is a classic. Like leopard print. Or Klismos chairs. Or whatever. Just get a good version. Not a knockoff version.



Ironies lantern. Mirrored. Pretty.


I always like a simple black and white stripe. Don't know why. I've never done anything in my house in it. Love it, though. Graphic, I guess.


Loved the detail on the back of this Chinese red leather chair.


...and this. The piece de resistance. Wallpaper by...can't remember. Still have baby brain. Cool, though. Yes? Expensive? Very.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Progress

A project that I have been working on for quite awhile now is starting to really come together. The living room was very colorful but is now completely toned down with neutral fabrics. It's all about the texture here. Client's sofa was reupholstered in Great Plains' Thick as Thieves in Antelope. Sofa pillows in Rogers and Goffigon's Montacute and Lee Jofa's Bishop Court in Coral. Garden stool from Jerry Lamb in Portland.

A pair of vintage Widdicomb chairs from 1stdibs are on their way to fill out this room.


Curtains in Raoul Textiles' Lena in Auburn and pillow in Clarence House's Sommerset in Taupe. Kravet Chairs in Zimmer + Rohde's Sydney.


Antique Chinese cabinet from Eron Johnson antiques. Pickle pots from Circa Trade. Stools from McGuire.



The dining room sports gorgeous curtains in Galbraith and Paul's Ivy Paisley in Marigold.
We reupholstered her chairs in a subtle Laura Lienhard fabric. Sea Drift in Beach.


Here is one sexy desk chair for my client's bunsies. Lee chair with Schumacher Cheetah Velvet.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Mac Attack

I looked away for 1 minute...and off went the panties and on went the Viva Glam.


Shouldn't I be worried?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

LONG WEEKEND

Pyramid for 3.


Lasagna Bolognese for 20.


Which included this.


Sweet hostess gift.


Now contemplating this here.


Haunted by laundry.


Speaking of dead.


Stupid place for it. Looking for better spot.


Pretty.


Crazy.

Monday, June 15, 2009

New Project

Laminating this fabric from Raoul Textiles...



for these oxblood chairs from Jon Vaccari Antiques via 1stdibs...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Dog Bed

Having a dog bed like this...


made out of this from Groundworks...


for Truly Scrumptious...


because all of her taste is not just in her mouth. This dog has flair.

Monday, June 8, 2009

My James is Ivan

This is my James Andrew. What is he wearing? Vintage YSL suit, YSL glasses and YSL hair that took him just under an hour to nail. Every girl needs a James...or an Ivan.