Celebrity Sightings!

We all have those people that we look up to, oogle over and semi-want-to-be.  We watch their work, study their books, try to think the way they think as we create our home spaces.  It is fun to have those people out there that just inspire us - even though we have never actually seen them or met them.  They are just these stars to guide us in our worldly attempt to beautify.

But even better than all of that is when you actually do get face to face with these inspirations and they do not disappoint.  Those pictured below outshone their own legend.  I was touched and blessed to be able to sit with them, to hear them talk about their own creations first hand, and to see their desire to touch the homes of our clients as well.  It was a beautiful thing, and I was inspired by their reality.

If you don't have these books already, you should check out Bunny's recent publications.  Her new book, A Scrapbook for Living, is available November 1st.  Reserve yours now!

Betty

Bunny Williams and Me!

Me and Kelly Hoppen.

Bunny Williams, Michael Smith and Beth Van Collier.

More Market Treasures

One of the most exciting things for every designer (and retail buyer) during market time is finding those high-end look-a-like pieces for LESS. It can be agony to flip through the glossy pages of magazines and design books only to be cut off at the price tag.  So, it is with great joy when I find "the look" for less, but without compromising quality.  My mother has been a great teacher in this for me.  Before buying anything, she insists we see it in person and have the chance to study the quality, artistry and workmanship in every piece.  Lucky for us all, these gems passed muster and will be arriving shortly into the showroom.  I can hardly wait!

My favorite find were these upholstered pieces with lucite legs.  They are very reminiscent of Jan Showers' pieces that are simply to-die-for.  I have been looking for something similar for our clients who are interested in adding a bit of elegance in their bathroom, at the foot of their bed or in a little nook.  And here it is...

Sophisticated bench with lucite legs.  Very Jan Showers.

Wonderful dining chairs with lucite legs.
They are even comfortable!

The day before we found the above beauties, we ran across an affordable collection of custom pillows. These are also very design-book worthy.  Geometric patterns with strong trim always make a powerful statement.  These reminded me of an earlier blog where we suggested bringing in your existing fabrics and that we could make into similar designs shown below. Although this works for many of our clients, sometimes finding the fabric itself is the battle.  Well, problem solved.  We found this pillow line with similar design options- Greek key, chevron, stripes, and solids with decadent trims.  The icing on the cake being that we have the fabric rings from which to to create your own custom designs.  These are all very affordable at about half the cost of a real Jan Showers pillow and you can choose your own colors!

Greek Key Fretwork (choose your colors)

Below are more of the styles we ordered at market and should be arriving in the next few weeks. I will let you know when they arrive!


Greek Key Trim Pillow



Slubby Linen Fretwork (choose your colors)



   



    

Giorgio Linen Velvet Stripe Pillow



My sincere appreciation to you all for following this blog. I am so enjoying sharing all my little inspirations with you.  Have a wonderful week!

Betty

Market Treasures

My days in High Point were filled with delicious eye candy for the decoratively inclined.  From the lighting at Visual Comfort (note the handsome tall gold sconces), to the uniquely interesting assortment of pillows available to us in a variety of fabrics (all hit price points between $69-$89), to the geometrically perfect oval ring cocktail table below -- each aisle, every vendor, and all the showrooms practically oozed enthusiasm and strength.  In a time when this market could have seemed clouded by the economy, the designers had a hopeful outlook and their products revealed their vision.  

Products will start arriving in early November, so please stop by to see for yourself.  But in the meantime, I hope you will be as inspired by these photos as I was of the real thing.  

Enjoy your weekend.

Betty

Mobias Circle End Table
(Due to arrive in store next week.)

22"x22" cotton orange flower burst

22"x22" Geo Print Cotton Jute

14"x 26"Ikat Print $69

Visual Comfort round crystal cube chandelier.

Visual Comfort oval crystal cube chandelier.

Visual Comfort acrylic base candle stick lamp.

Visual Comfort chelsea reflection sconce.

Visual comfort silver lamp with gold base.

Visual Comfort double ballister table lamp.

Visual Comfort aspen gold sconce.

Visual Comfort caged lantern in gold finish.

Visual Comfort tall gold sconce.

Beeline For Bunny

I have just returned from the Furniture Market in High Point, and let me just say that I am completely INSPIRED.  It was truly amazing.  There will be many pictures and details of the market-at-large in the days to come.  However, for now, I cannot wait another moment without gushing about Bunny Williams. I was fortunate enough to spend more than an hour with her in her showroom, and let me just say that the person, Bunny Williams, is as gracious as her designs are inspired.  Without a doubt, it was a 'high point' of the market for me.

Bunny Williams and me.

Luckily for all of you, Eatman's is to be the stocking dealer of her beyond-fabulous collection, Beeline, with the first pieces arriving in a matter of weeks.   Due to her wealth of experience in the industry along with her personal flair for the simplistically elegant, her designs speak for themselves.  Each one is perfection and your home would be all the better for housing any piece from the collection.  Feast on these images and be inspired.

Enjoy...

Betty

Lacquered lattice Arm Chair, as comfortable as it is beautiful.  

 Regency-inspired Star Chair with splayed legs and a chalky finish with hand-applied gold leaf details.

The silver gilt finish on this coffee table enhances the beautiful, open, angular base.

Harvest Table (Cerused Oak) with open tubular wrought iron base, center gilt metal rope detail and cerused oak top. This treasure appears to float off the floor, yet is sturdy enough to use as a kitchen table.

Twigs Mirror with a hand-carved faux bois frame, an old gold patina with a lightly antiqued mirror glass.

Shadowbox Mirror in an old gold finish, with a curved  profile and applied star ornamentation. 

This elegant-but-compact Pug Bench has carved scroll legs and paw feet with an upholstered cushion.

Copper Lotus Hurricane with copper tendrils tied by twisted metal roping and a painted green base.

Eglomise Coffee Table with golden iron base and an inset, sea-green top. 

Mirror, Mirror on the Table

This coffee table just hit the showroom floor, and it makes me happy.  It is hard to say exactly why.  I think it is mostly because the mirrored sides seem to reflect the natural light making a subtle openness to the space.  This time of year is divine anyway, with the air so clear and crisp; it seems all the more poetic that even a coffee table would glimmer with the sun.

The other part of the happy factor is that I have a heart for coffee tables in general.  In all rooms that are truly lived in/lounged in/hung-out in, the coffee table is the anchor.  You can prop your feet on it, set your wine glass on it, rest your book on it.  Hearts are shared around it.  Stories are told over it.  It is the thing that centers the room, that pulls it together, that makes the statement.  It is, at once, the subject and the exclamation point in the room's decor.  And this particular subject is simply fabulous.

Enjoy your week,

Betty