Friday, August 13, 2010

Baroque Brilliance


Farrow & Ball's latest collection of traditional wallpapers proves that traditional can be colorful and exciting. The Baroque Papers is comprised of three designs, each in 21 colorways from the Farrow & Ball palette. The collection embodies the large-scale, dramatic designs reminiscent of the Baroque period. Available this September, The Baroque Papers are made using Farrow & Ball zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints.

Orangerie, "bursting with extravagant detail," according to Farrow & Ball, is an exotic leaf pattern interspersed with floral motifs.












Versailles is a grand damask style pattern featuring floral vines that sweep the design in elegant waves.









Acanthus features a softly curved fluid stripe along the length of the wallpaper.

Friday, March 12, 2010

I Want Candy!


Brentano celebrates 20 years of color and innovation with its Platinum Collection. Hard Candy, part of the Platinum Collection, is an innovative new textiles that combines linen and polyurethane to create the first first upholstery and wall covering fabric of its kind. Created by coating a linen and rayon ground with a thin layer of vibrant polyurethane, Hard Candy is available in 12 vibrant colors with whimsical names, including Cream Soda, Root Beer and Bubblegum, that will surely sweeten up any room.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Christopher Guy

Highly styled, beautifully executed, lushly designed! Having designed for some of the finest hotels, cruise ships, and luxury retailers in the world, as well as movie sets, Christopher Guy Harrison embodies refinement and sophistication, fusing classicism with modernism.

The signature end table; the lyrical ampersand form connects the legs with a seamless flourish.

Art Deco inspired, the figure-of-eight dining chair.


Quite the tete-a-tete, with signature Chris-x legs and rattan detailing.

The double door cabinet with mirrored frontage.

Hand-carved mahogany in ribbon form frames the tufted headboard.

Micro-bevelled mirror panes are surrounded by a gilded edge.

"The finest and most enduring designs tend to be simple in their execution." ~ Christopher Guy

Monday, February 8, 2010

Let there be light

Lampshades have the practical purpose of muting the direct glare of a bulb, a seemingly simple task, but one that can be accomplished with great style. Lampshades can be custom fabricated or ready-made, fabric, paper or mica. The style of a lamp can be changed from traditional to contemporary by changing to a different shade style. And finally, scaling the shade to the base is extremely important, and some general rules apply. On a standing or floor lamp, a slightly bigger shade is appropriate, one that just covers the very top of the lamp base. When choosing a shade for a table lamp, the shade should stop an inch or less above the body, so that the neck of the lamp is just visible. Lampshades have three measurements - the diameter of the top opening, the length of the slanted side between the top and bottom, and the diameter of the bottom. The measurements are usually given in that order, for example, a 9" x 12" x 17" lampshade is a fairly standard size.

Shades styles are limited by imagination, but there are several styles that are generally familiar to most.

Empire - A round shade with a straight sloped side, the most popular shade style.

Bell - A distinctive flared shape, like a bell, narrower at the top than at the bottom, a very traditional choice.

Drum - A round or oval shape with straight sides, the top and bottom diameter are generally the same, or very close in size. A classic shape, can be used in a traditional or contemporary setting.

Coolie - A round shade, much like the Empire, but with an exaggerated pitch to the sloped side.

The Shade Shop* specializes in custom crafted shades with an extraordinary selection of styles, sizes and fabrics. Also offering a vast array of chandeliers, table lamps and floor lamps, as well.

Alluminare lets you custom design a fabric - motif, scale, colors - and then applies your creation to a pendant or lamp shade form.

Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware carry a large assortment of fabric and mica shades for the retail market.

A beautiful lamp shade can set the style of a room, and truly make a lamp shine brightly!

*The Shade Shop is a Social Media client of Gibson Design Management.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dressing up

The perfect spot for prepping and primping for your day - be it in front of cameras, behind a desk, or wrangling children. The dressing or vanity table - also known as a poudreuse, from the French word for powder - became popular in the late 1600's during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King. And with style choices ranging from traditional curves and cabrioles to clean-lined contemporary, your close-up is at hand.

Christopher Guy's stunning vanity table with gilded decorative screen and pull-out fabric lined drawer.

The Vinstra by IKEA - small scale, small price tag!

In a rainbow of colors or wood stains, Grange's Louis-Philipe Dressing Table with Swivel Mirror.



1930's French Art Deco walnut and black lacquer dressing table with original nickel plated hardware from Antiquities through 1st dibs.

Southwood Furniture offers a dressing table with hand-painting on maple for all of your lotions and potions.

Smooth styling from West Elm in a choice of 3 finishes.

The Directoire Mirrored Vanity from Julia Gray with antiqued mirror and gold leaf detail.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Rose Cumming Wallcoverings

Rose Cumming defined glamour in the Golden Age with a passion for bold colors and striking designs. Operating out of her famous New York shop, which she ran for 45 years, she was one of the founders of today's interior design industry. The Dessin Fournir Companies have reintroduced Cumming's original designs, as well as creating new woven textiles, printed fabrics and wallpapers in the spirit of the originals, building on the flair and élan for which Rose Cumming was known.

Dessin Fournir recently added all of the wallcoverings to their website, a literal feast for the eyes!
Zebrine in 5 colorways.

Josephine in 5 colorways.

Nairobi in 3 colorways.

Gothenburg in 7 colorways.

Galaxie in 4 colorways.


Monday, February 1, 2010

Sweet tweets

The friendly little bird "tweeting" from a branch is a familiar site, but it bursts into song from these beautiful perches.

Dwell Studio has captured branches, birds and flowers in the simple Chinoiserie Duvet.

Sweetly delicate, the Birdwatcher's Dessert Plates from Anthropologie.
Printed in Italy, Cavallini's Birds is ephemera at its finest. Available through Kate's Paperie.

John Derian has captured the Bluebird in a 13" x 18" Oval Decoupage Platter.

Hand embroidered in satin stitch to resemble paint strokes, Pottery Barn's Bird & Nest Pillow Covers.

A chirpy addition to any table, the Cloisonne Bird Napkin Ring by Dransfield & Ross.A garden delight from Stray Dog Designs, the Bird Stool/Accent Table, shown in Vienna Green, and available in 14 additional low-VOC colors.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

......the light fantastic!

The primary function of providing illumination has been elevated to an art form and pure fantasy with these extraordinary and delightful creations.

Archeo Venice Design has captured the ethereal beauty of Mariano Fortuny's original works in art glass. Stunning as shown in Neutral, also available in Amber, Aqua, Green, Ruby and Salmon.

The Cascade Luminaire Grand is available in custom sizes by Boyd Lighting - Kentfield Collection. Imagine a 10' long cascade over a staircase!

Created in 1956 by Tony Duquette for the opening gala of his Robertson Blvd. studios, the Splashing Water Chandelier, in the form of a fountain with drops suspended in mid-air, has been lovingly recreated by Remains Lighting. Shown in Ecru/Tea, and also available in his signature color combinations of Teal/Coral and Forest Green/Red.

Harco Loor Design twists lighting into the magical Diamond Flower Double/Red.

A gift from the sea - Ironies serves up the shell-encrusted, 12-Light Pallas Chandelier.

The Abalone Chandelier was originally unveiled as part of Duquette's one-man exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The original hangs in his own home, Dawnridge. The circa 1952 chandelier has been reproduced in exacting detail by Baker Furniture.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Triple threat

"Three-legged" and immediately recognizable, the tripod comes in a variety of forms - camera stands, easels, stools, tables - but none more varied than when inspiring lighting.

Grand in scale and size, the Royal Marine Tripod Floor Lamp from Restoration Hardware, shown in brown with antique brass hardware. Also available in black with polished aluminum hardware.

With an old-world, European aesthetic, the Middleton designed by Michael Amato through Urban Electric Company.

Porta Romana tops the sinuous Twig Floor Lamp with a sensuous silk shade.

The brilliant Alison Berger Glassworks' Surveyor's Floor Lamp for Holly Hunt.


In bronze, polished nickel, or hand-rubbed antique brass, Circa Lighting's Pimlico Tripod Boom Arm Pharmacy Floor Lamp.

A capiz shell drum shade and antique gold base are a perfect marriage in the Serena Floor Lamp by Oly Studio.

An iconic shape for an iconic era, this all original floor lamp with brass legs, solid walnut detailing and original linen shade. Designed in 1950 by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Offered by Modern Living Supplies through 1st dibs.