Pillow Talk

March 7th, 2010

When we visited Winterthur, Henry Francis du Pont’s Museum and Country Estate in Wilmington, DE, last spring, we noticed how beautifully the decor of some rooms coordinated with the flowers blooming in the gardens.  The azaleas and rhododendrons were peaking while the Spanish bluebells were fading and all the pinks, whites and blues were reflected in the gorgeous floral patterns of the 18th-century painted Indian palampore covering the bed and the 16th-century Ottoman rug.

Winterthur in Bloom

Winterthur in Bloom

The Cecil Room - 18th c. Indian Palampore

The Cecil Room - 18th c. Indian Palampore

We were told that, from the start, Henry truly understood the delicate balance between the natural world outside his home and the decorative accents inside and would have his staff change the rugs, curtains, upholstery and bedcovers in certain rooms to fit the season.  And while impractical that would be for us to do in our lives today (given our lack of staff!), we think accent pillows are a great way to celebrate the beginning of spring and to bring the garden into your home.

John Robshaw - Earth Pillow

John Robshaw - Earth Pillow

Pottery Barn - Mill Valley Pillow

Pottery Barn - Mill Valley Pillow

Yves Delorme - Mary Rose Pillow

Yves Delorme - Mary Rose Pillow

Dransfield & Ross - Helsinki Collection

Dransfield & Ross - Helsinki Collection

So tell us, dear readers, how do you celebrate spring?

Photos from Garden Visit, The Peak of Chic, John Robshaw, Pottery Barn, Yves Delorme and Dransfield & Ross

Claire Went There!

March 4th, 2010

As you probably know by now, we’re huge fans of Anthropologie and when our friend’s seriously hip twelve-year-old daughter, Claire, attended Leifsdottir’s Fall 2010 fashion show last month, we asked her to write a review and share her pictures.

Silk Shirt with Flowers and Tassle Earrings

Silk Shirt with Flowers and Tassle Earrings

Flowered Skirt and Jacket

Flowered Skirt and Jacket

Leifsdottir, a stand-alone fashion house launched by Anthropologie in 2008 known for its feminine frocks and fun accessories, has found a singular niche in making clothes for the girl who grows up and wants chic, memorable pieces in her wardrobe.  So without further ado, here is a budding fashion designer and young blogger’s take on a “Catalonian Affair”.

Silk Dress with Blurred Floral Print

Silk Dress with Blurred Floral Print

“I went to Leifsdottir’s fashion show a few weeks ago, showcasing the Fall 2010 collection.  Florals are certainly going to be “in” this fall.  I saw them on skirts, dresses and blouses, tights and even handbags.  The patterns are vibrant and the colors are bright and eye-catching.  The fall season’s going to be a floral explosion!”

Flowered Top and Ruffled Purse

Flowered Top and Ruffled Purse

While we love the Spanish colors that inspired this collection, we think Claire’s sense of style and flair for fashion would make her a perfect muse for Leifsdottir’s next collection.  Thank you, Claire, for being there!

Posing On An Aqua Chair

Posing On An Aqua Chair

All photos by Claire

Necessary Luxury: Campo de’ Fiori Planters

March 1st, 2010

Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains is a most delightful store with beautiful gardens and the corporate headquarters of Campo de’ Fiori.  When it comes to designs that reflect the authentic, timeless aesthetic created by Mother Nature herself, nothing comes close to this necessary luxury.

Campo de' Fiori - Wild and Tamed Gardens

Campo de' Fiori - Wild and Tamed Gardens

Named after the small piazza in Rome where owner Robin Norris’ mother used to buy fresh flowers and vegetables, Campo de’ Fiori (Italian for “Field of Flowers”) combines Robin’s classical eye for design (he is a Renaissance man in every sense of the word!) and his wife Barbara’s inspirational plantings (she is a highly respected horticulturalist) to create a magical place where civilization and wild woods meet, filled with chiseled stone animals, bronze garden trellises and bird stakes, and botanically-themed naturally mossed terra cotta planters.

Campo de' Fiori - Stone Bench and Trojan Planter

Campo de' Fiori - Stone Bench and Trojan Planter

According to Robin, Camp de’ Fiori’s collection of products is the result of “plain ol’ hard work.  The hands of the artisans who fashion our goods are deft, yet elegantly cracked and twisted from years of dedication.”   And these talented hands turn clay into the most wonderful planters in shapes ranging from classic urns and bowls, to whimsical artichokes and poppy pods.

Campo de' Fioro - Talented Hands

Campo de' Fioro - Talented Hands

Campo de' Fiori - Pine Cone Planters

Campo de' Fiori - Pine Cone Planters

Should you find yourself driving on Route 7 north through Sheffield, Massachusetts, a visit to Campo de’ Fiori is a memorable treat.  The people there are as lovely as their products.  Take time to browse in the shop and reflect in the gardens, and don’t forget to pick up a perfect planter for your spring flowers - a necessary luxury for March!

Campo de' Fiori - Inspired Plantings

Campo de' Fiori - Inspired Plantings

‘Tis in the garden that Time slackens its pace, beckons us to rest.  All the languages of the world are spoken here, in soft whispers.  ’Tis here that geometry, texture, beauty and elegance gather, and summon us to dream.
- Robin Norris

Campo de' Fiori - Wonderfully Odd Homes

Campo de' Fiori - Wonderfully Odd Homes

Campo de' Fiori Store in Sheffield, MA

Campo de' Fiori Store in Sheffield, MA

Campo de' Fiori - Spring Gardens

Campo de' Fiori - Spring Gardens

All photos from Campo de’ Fiori.  For more information and directions, please visit their website!

Blast From The Past…

February 27th, 2010

March’s issue of Harper’s Bazaar is filled with the must-have styles for this spring and Suzy Menkes’ spread on “The New Shapes” certainly didn’t disappoint.  Photographs by Camilla Akrans of model Carmen Kass capture a broad range of trends that span the ages: from 1940’s frills and waterfall hair to 1980’s bold shoulders and gold sequined jumpsuits.  But while these fashions are fabulous, we did a double-take on the flowers…

Harper's Bazaar - Carmen in Lanvin

Harper's Bazaar - Carmen in Lanvin

Perhaps the artificial flowers were already on location and the stylist thought they would add the right retro touch, but we haven’t seen the likes of these in decades.  We wish we could have created some custom designs for the photo shoot…  at least we would have removed the price tag from the orchid stem!

Harper's Bazaar - Carmen in Valentino

Harper's Bazaar - Carmen in Valentino

Faux Orchid with Tag

Faux Orchid with Tag

Photos from Harper’s Bazaar

Chintz Prints

February 25th, 2010

Our dear friend, decorator Mario Buatta, called the other day looking for foxglove plants for clients in Texas and though we haven’t featured these plants in our collection in years, we were more than happy to oblige.  Given his love for classic English style and use of floral prints, Mario is the so-called “Prince of Chintz” (a nickname he received twenty-five years ago).

Mario Buatta - Living Room in New York

Mario Buatta - Living Room in New York

Mario Buatta - Bedroom in Houston

Mario Buatta - Bedroom in Houston

With its hand-drawn, exotic flowery patterns and beautiful colors, Indian chintz (from Hindi meaning sprinkled or sprayed) was introduced to the English by the British East India Company in the 1600’s.  The fabric’s soft texture and easy maintenance (compared to the wools and linens that were de rigueur in those days) made it an instant success and its popularity has never faded.

Lee Jofa - Smithfield Parnham

Lee Jofa - Smithfield Parnham

Some may think of chintz as fussy and old-fashioned, but we think that the new patterns being introduced by the likes of Celerie Kemble and Cath Kidston are fresh and fun.  Mario couldn’t agree more - “Every decade has had its chintz.  It’s like having a garden in your house year-round, and it’s cheaper!”

Hazelton House - Anne Dorothea Fabric

Hazelton House - Anne Dorothea Fabric

Celerie Kemble - Hot House Flowers

Celerie Kemble - Hot House Flowers

Photos from Architectural Digest, Lee Jofa, Hazelton House and Schumacher

Vase and Verse

February 22nd, 2010

Our dear friends, Alison and Bo Jia, from Middle Kingdom, sent us this lovely poem that we had to share with our readers.  This creative couple has introduced a new series of vases and bowls inspired by the reclusive Tang Dynasty poet Han Shan (”Cold Mountain”), who was know for his eccentric simplicity and love of nature.

Middle Kingdom - Cold Mountain Vases

Middle Kingdom - Cold Mountain Vases

sitting on top of a boulder
the gorge stream icy cold
quiet fun holds a special charm
fogged-in on deserted cliffs
a fine place to rest
the sun leans and tree shadows sprawl
while I view the ground of my mind
a lotus comes out of the mud
   - Han Shan, 8th or 9th century AD, translated by Red Pine
     (Copper Canyon Press, 1983)

Wishing you a week filled with quiet fun!

For more information on Middle Kingdom, please visit their website and see our May 2009 post on their beautiful Georgetown home.

Photo from Home Accents Today

Petal To The Metal

February 19th, 2010

Who could forget last fall’s images of Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring 2010 fashion show which took place in a huge barn built in the center of the Grand Palais replete with bales of hay and rustic wood beams… The models walked the runway in fabulous double-C clogs, slightly tousled, with straw stuck to their clothes and sporting smirky smiles and temporary tattoos.  According to Vogue, the show “was a bumper harvest of everything that is chicly tattered, beribboned, and gloriously made about Chanel, as well as the season’s sole experience to make the anxiety and earnestness around fashion evaporate, to make it seem like fantastic fun again.”

Chanel Spring 2010

Chanel Spring 2010

And while we think wheat ears and clogs are great barnyard looks, we thought it might be fun to pair one of Chanel’s gorgeous spring outfits from head to toe with the newest in petals and metals.

Juicy Couture - Multi Flower Barrette

Juicy Couture - Multi Flower Barrette

Miriam Haskell - Large Beaded Flower Necklace

Miriam Haskell - Large Beaded Flower Necklace

Valentino - Petale Purse

Valentino - Petale Purse

Alexis Bittar - Large Bee On Geranium Pin

Alexis Bittar - Large Bee On Geranium Pin

Prada - Floral Pump

Prada - Floral Pump

Photos from Style.com, Polyvore, Net-A-Porter, Alexis Bittar and Prada

Let’s Go Shopping… Anthropologie

February 16th, 2010

Besides frolicking in the yard with kids and dogs, snow days are meant to be spent catching up on the little things that fall by the wayside…  like cleaning out the front hall closet or pouring over the new spring catalogs that seem to be arriving by the dozen these days (the latter being infinitely more enjoyable than the former!)  One company that inspires us each and every season is Anthropologie and we hear the new London store is a must-see.

Anthropologie - Regent Street Store

Anthropologie - Regent Street Store

The 11,000-square-foot Anthropologie on Regent Street opened its doors last October with much fanfare, kicking off what is intended to be a major European expansion for the company.  Known for its quirky and unusual designs, each store is unique since managers and buyers are encouraged to customize their wares to suit their customers’ local taste.

Anthropologie - SOHO Store

Anthropologie - SOHO Store

For the London store, James Bidwell, the managing director of Anthropologie Europe, has commissioned collections from UK designers like Patrice Jewelry and Clarke & Reilly, and combined them with one-of-a-kind antiques such as a 1900 Post Office table and an 1860’s easel, as well as an interesting array of South African accessories.

Spode Mosaic Skirt at Regent Street Store

Spode Mosaic Skirt at Regent Street Store

Selection of Ceramics at Regent Store

Selection of Ceramics at Regent Store

While we know we could spend an entire day browsing Anthropologie’s three floors brimming with goodies, it’s the store’s 1,500-square-foot living wall made up of 14,000 plants that we would love to see (naturally!)  In the meantime, we’ll just have to be inspired by the new spring catalog and the company’s European online site when it launches later this spring.

The Living Wall at Regent Street Store

The Living Wall at Regent Street Store

Anthropologie - Nymphea Platter and Bowl

Anthropologie - Nymphea Platter and Bowl

Photos from FT - How to Spend It, Breakfast at Anthropologie, Decor 8, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and Anthropologie

Gourmet Giveaway Winner

February 14th, 2010

We picked the gourmet giveaway winner from dozens of chocolate-lovers this morning and the lucky girl is Karen from Kirtland, Ohio.

Carnation Heart-Shaped Posy

Carnation Heart-Shaped Posy

Congratulations and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Photo from Martha Stewart

Gourmet Giveaway: Rose Truffles

February 10th, 2010

We’d like to believe that every day is Valentine’s Day when you’re in love but who wouldn’t want to treat themselves to chocolates around this time of year?

Knipschildt Chocolatier

Knipschildt Chocolatier

We discovered Knipschildt Chocolatier years ago while driving to and from work - Fritz’s store was just around the corner from our offices and we were always curious as to what kind of delicious confections we could find there.  After reading that Gourmet magazine rated Knipschildt one of the best chocolates in the world, we knew we had taste them…  Needless to say, Fritz’s chocolates are exquisite - from the look, the taste, the varieties and the packaging, his dedication to creating a memorable and delightful experience is unsurpassed.

Knipschildt Chocolatier in Gourmet Magazine

Knipschildt Chocolatier in Gourmet Magazine

So this Valentine’s, we thought we would share our love for chocolate (and flowers!) with a special gourmet giveaway - this beautiful handmade box of truly decadent Rose Truffles (rich dark chocolate truffles with a rose water infused dark chocolate ganache center topped with an edible rose petal) from Knipschildt.

Knipschildt Chocolatier - Rose Truffles

Knipschildt Chocolatier - Rose Truffles

All you need to do is send your name and address to TheBuzz.Giveaway@gmail.com and write “Rose Truffles” in the subject line.  Only one entry per giveaway is allowed and all entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Saturday, February 13th, 2010.  The winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th, 2010.  And please don’t worry, we will not share your address with any other parties or use it for any other purpose but to send you your prize!

For those of you who need a gourmet chocolate fix any time of year, you can shop online at Knipschildt Chocolatier or visit Fritz’s cozy cafe, Chocopologie, in the historic downtown area of South Norwalk, Connecticut.

Photos from Knipschildt Chocolatier