Summer in Aspen

An invite from some dear friends, a much needed family vacation, and a free place to stay landed us in Aspen, Colorado over the week of July 4th.  And what a gift it was!  I had no idea what to expect as I could only envision Aspen in the winter -- snow covered mountains, ski resorts, elaborate homes, and fine dining with celebrity sightings.  So, what does Aspen look like when it is not all decorated in white?

In a word - SPLENDOR.  In another word - BEAUTY.  Aspen in the summer is a magical place.  There are still luxurious homes and celebrity sightings, but what I could never have imagined was the glory of the colors of nature's beauty painted on the summer landscape.  It is simply exquisite. The rich blue sky seemed to be changing in the depths of its rich hue all the time. In magnificent juxtaposition, creamy white clouds sat like poufs in the brilliant sky.  Green leaves of thriving trees reaching for the sky.  The rich salt and peppered colors of the Aspen tree's bark.  Vivid flowers everywhere.  And those mountains!  Glorious.  For all of us design junkies, it is a humbling and inspiring thing - to take a step outside and see what nature does all on its own.

In addition to the majestic scenery, Aspen was filled with art galleries, unique shops, restaurants, hotels and, of course, an old fashioned 4th of July Parade.  Here are some photo's of our trip. Now, I can't imagine not going in the summer.

Enjoy.

Ahhh, to wake up to this every morning. What a dream.

One thing I adored about Aspen is the liberally planted flowers everywhere.
In front of almost every home in town, homeowners planted flowers (outside their gates) next to the sidewalks  for all to enjoy. The flowers were all colors and kinds and were intentionally planted to look like wildflowers.

At times I felt like I was in Switzerland.

The trees lining the brick walkways provided beauty and shade.

This stream running through the town kept our kids entertained for hours. Yellow ducks, hair bows, and shoes all  dropped in to see how far and fast they would go.

Getting ready for the 4th of July Parade.

Old timey car to go with Old Fashioned Parade!

Kids & parents alike took to decorating bikes for the parade. The best bike wins!

 All aboard the parade. By bike, by foot, or by kayak!

I love the red mullion's on this cabin-like home. I wonder if they paint them green on St Patty's Day.

One of the town parks. Perfect and pet friendly.

During our trip, I wandered away to scout out the decor of some of the hotels & restaurants. The Little Nell is a boutique hotel that has that cozy feel with all the needed luxuries. The Sky Hotel is supposedly the Hot Spot to see and be seen. The decor is very hip and modern.

Foyer of the Little Nell Hotel.  Love the single piece wood console.

Artwork inside siting area of Little Nell.

I loved this piece. The artist used several different hides for texture. Perfect for an elegant mountain villa. 

The foyer of the Sky Hotel.

Love this custom runner in the lobby of the Sky Hotel.

After a day of hiking and site seeing, we had to take a rest and rehydrate at the Sky Hotel Bar. Of course, I loved the sputnik chandeliers. 

The Ajax Restaurant was one of our favorite spots. Located in the middle of Aspen and at the base of the mountain, it is a great spot to people watch.

The last day our host took us to the Pine Creek Cookhouse for lunch. Located in the Ashcroft Valley in the White River National Forest, the views were breathtaking.

Although I recommend outdoor dining for the views, the inside was very Aspen! 

Gallerie Maximillian, one of the many art galleries in town.

 I had to stop in at Daniels Antiques. Unique antiques from all over the world.

McHugh Gallery was my favorite design spot in Aspen. Filled to the brim with unique accessories, paintings, and furniture.  Loved his style. Want the coffee table below.

After I make my millions, this will be one of my vacation homes. This lovely estate over looks downtown Aspen with clear views of the surrounding mountains. 

Complete with pond, a guest house, and stables.

But, the spectacular view was priceless.

Dear Friends, thank you for the gracious hospitality and fond memories.  We are forever grateful!

                                                            Farewell Aspen!

Jonathan Adler Fabrics

Today I met with one of my textile reps who showed me the new Jonathan Adler fabric line.  After one look, it was clear - I had to have them all. I ordered every single sample for our showroom. The designs and colors are classic Adler - bold chevrons, modern flame stitch, funky patterns and bright colors. And just to make it all the sweeter -  the price points are unbelievably reasonable.  They will be arriving this week for you to touch and feel for yourself, so please make a point to come visit.   And until I see you face to face,  enjoy the preview below.

Linen with a punch. I would love a pillow out of this fabric.

Cut velvet fabrics in cool designs and colors.

The perfect scale of chevron on linen. The colors are good. (Very similar to the Quadrille line, but much less expensive.)

Everyone could use a touch of Adler to add some fun in the home!  

Peace!

A Space of Her Own

Over the past year, my husband and I have been slowly renovating our home.  We started in the attic with what we thought was a simple, straightforward project.  This minor renovation began with the intention to give our 6 year old daughter a space of her own.  I wrote about my plans for this project in an earlier blog (Big Girl Room)  in October 2011.  Many of those initial ideas did not actually make it into the final product; however, I am pleased as can be at what did.  In the end, this space is a collaboration between the creative vision of a mother and her daughter.  And what could be more beautiful than that?

Regardless of whether you are a mother to girls or boys, it is a wonderful thing to daydream of the design for a space that could be the place where your child dreams big dreams and creates memories of home.  We invite you to see this special space in the images below.  Her play area and bathroom are not yet finished, and we are missing a few accessory items still on order, such as a custom throw for the end of the bed.  But life itself is a work in progress, isn't it?  I hope you enjoy.

Note:  Since we started this isolated project, our renovation has taken a different turn.  We are now not only "fixing up" the attic, but also the entire downstairs. So, there is more to come.  Stay tuned.

The 3-light vendome sconce is one of my favorite things in the room.

Slanted ceilings add so much character and charm to a room.

                           

My daughter adores purple and pink. I gave her a few fabric choices, and this Manuel Canovas was her favorite - and mine too.  So, we used it for the window seat cushion and some pillows as well. 

I adore children's art work. My daughter loves to see her paintings on her closet door each morning.  The pillow on the window seat is by Trina Turk.

My husband turned a design challenge into a great opportunity. The custom window seat was clever way to disguise the heating and cooling duct system. He used recycled kitchen drawers from an earlier project, adding extra storage all while keeping it "green".

Inspired by Designer Alessandra Branca, I trimmed the ceilings in purple cotton. You can also see a photo of some of her work in an earlier blog Big Boy Rooms. 

My girl loves both books and animals.

Babar was one of the first gifts given to my daughter when she was born. He has been with us ever since. 

Love this Saarinen side table.  I had to use it somewhere. 

I saw this silver tooth fairy box at the closing sale of Jolly's Jewelers. I couldn't pass it up.

Above and below - a sneak peak at the unfinished bath.

                                           
                                     
                                         

My daughter's impression of a Cy Twombly painting.

Fabulous Fabric

I adore rich designs in fabrics.  Nothing adds depth to a room like woven aesthetics --  whether they be fabrics or carpets.  Recently, I met with Suzanne Early to review the 2012 collections of Manuel Canovas, Romo, and Cowtan & Tout.  I loved the colors, the designs, the textures, the freshness, and, yes, even the subtle reminders of classics that never lose their beauty.  In short, I was inspired.  

Our samples should be arriving soon. In the meantime, peruse the photos I took while I had them in hand.  Ponder them as you sit by the pool (or in car-pool) and see if there may be a way to bring these inspired fabrics into your own home.

Regardless of your current interior needs, just looking at these designs will bring color to your day --  and they may just leave you inspired.

Enjoy.