Patterns, patterns everywhere

I escaped the New England winter weather this past weekend by heading east to the sunshine of Bermuda.  Only, the sun was gone after the first day and the wind and rain washed out my plans for a late October swim.  Being stranded on an island that is famous for its crystal clear waters and pink sandy beaches during a storm leaves little to do except for eat and drink away the hours.  Luckily, my sidekick was with me and I was able to take away some pretty cool shots of the elements (which got more interesting with each stop along our pub crawl).

More than leaves are changing

It's High Point time, and I'm hearing lots of feedback from colleagues who are down in North Carolina now checking out the latest and greatest trends that are soon to arrive in the marketplace.  Every year (or season) I am surprised by how much of a swing the design world can make.  From what I've been told, we seem to be coming out of the clean lines that feel transitional in nature and are now looking towards a looser, less tailored look; slipcovers and slouchy upholstery that create more casual environments to hang out in.  But, for those of you who are still into a crisp, clean look, you'll be brightening it up a bit with lacquered, high-gloss finishes in hues of green.  Stay tuned...

My security blanket

Nothing beats a rainy day like cuddling up in front of a fire watching mindless TV with a super-soft throw blanket.  This about sums up my evening here in New England - Lots of good stuff on tonight!  The way I see it is that a throw blanket is a grown up version of a little kid's lovey.  Mine happens to be one of my favorite wedding gifts that I received over 13 years ago - The 525 America Chenille Throw - it's big, heavy, soft, and artistically nubby.  But, thanks to the NYIGF (New York International Gift Fair), my new obsession has become any and all of the cotton throws from Sanford Design (http://www.sanforddesign.com/).  The colors are crisp, the patterns are stylish and the weight of the throw is substantial - not to mention, they are an unbelievable value...

525 America Chenille Throw Blanket (STILL AVAILABLE!!!)

 

Sanford Designs

  
  

All things should be so easy

I like to layer up window treatments.  Mostly, I like something practical and something pretty - like a plantation shutter coupled with some decorative side panels.  If I had to say what my favorite look was, that would be it, but it is really my hardest sell with clients.  Surprisingly, I find that a lot of people do not love the look of shutters; some people find that they are too linear, some think that they will need a lot of maintenance, and some think that they'll block the view.  But, in actuality, shutters are the easiest and most efficient window treatment on the market.  They can easily stand alone (especially if you want to show off the detail of your window frame), or they can be layered up.  And, depending on the size of the louver, shutters can be appropriate for both traditional and more contemporary applications.

Hunter Douglas and an array of other vendors (such as our local friends at Back Bay Shutter Co. and Barrows Window Shoppe) offer shutters with louver sizes ranging from 1.75 to 4.5 inches.  Since the size of the louver determines how much light comes in and how much of a view you see between the slats, it's up to the homeowner to control the mood of the environment.  Remember, with shutters, you see what they see, so if you want to walk around the house in your underwear, then you better be tilting those louvers toward the clouds!  Aside from controlled privacy, other benefits of the shutter include UV protection, insulation, and sound absorption (Hunter Douglas also offers a soil/dust resistant finish).

Pressed for time

I'm a sucker for antique botanical prints.  They look great on their own, paired, as a trio, and so on.  But lately, I'm feeling a little more organic, and I'm beginning to use the real deal instead of the print.  Pressed flora can add another layer of interest to your space and literally bring the outside in.  

Personally, I love the grasses and leaves.  We have some dune grass that grows in our yard, and by this time of year, their plumes stand six feet tall.  It's as if I catch a little glimpse of St. Andrews every time I look out back.  And now that I've found Becky Davis (http://www.bdbotanicals.com/), I can capture that feeling all year round.


Becky Davis Botanicals

The last hoorah

On Tuesday I will finally be joining the "Over The Hill" club.  Just as I was about to go down in flames, my husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to my favorite place on Cape Cod with my favorite childhood gal pal.  She rang my doorbell on Friday evening and said "Pack a bag, we're off to Chatham!"  And as if the surprise wasn't enough, Mother Nature chipped in with 80 degree weather.   Turns out, a swimsuit and my camera were all that I really needed to make sure that I had a little bit of sunshine with me as I approach the summit of an already incredible journey.  It's all about capturing those moments...