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Archive for June, 2009

Q & A with Sharyn Blond

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

“There have always been those special people for who the ordinary holds no charm… those are the people to whom Sharyn Blond Linens are dedicated.”

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For the past 15 years, Sharyn has been carrying on the legacy of internationally-known designer Constance Leiter in her Kansas City store. By producing many of Constance’s wonderful hand-embroidered designs and creating gorgeous motifs of her own, Sharyn can customize linens to fit any decor. Sharyn also carries many exclusive lines of elegant china, unusual pottery, hand wrought silver and sparkling crystal – and of course, Diane James! Whether you are looking for the perfect wedding gift, or appointing the bedroom of your dreams, you’ll find a beautiful bounty for the table, bed and bath at Sharyn Blond Linens.

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Given her fabulous sense of style and design, we were happy that Sharyn would participate in this month’s Q & A!

1. What did you want to be when you were a child?
A ballerina

2. What is your necessary luxury?
Wonderful linens – what else?

3. What is your favorite decorating accessory?
Flowers

4. Where do you window shop?
Madison Avenue

5. What makes a house of home?
Photos of family and friends, and stack and stack of books

6. What is the most enjoyable part of your day?
I love all day everyday

7. What is your favorite flower?
Hydrangea

8. If you were a cocktail, what would you be?
Something pretty and sweet!

9. If your life were made into a movie, what would be the title and who would play your part?
I don’t know anything about movies or movie stars

10. Name one thing from your “Bucket List”
A safari

Photos from Sharyn Blond

Tags: hand-embroidered linens, Kansas City, Sharyn Blond Linens
Posted in Q & A | 1 Comment »

A Naomi Leff Apartment

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Last week, we had the true pleasure of visiting a client’s beautiful Park Avenue apartment which happened to be one of the last decorated by Naomi Leff before her untimely death in 2005. While she was known for designing the interiors for such retail giants as Ralph Lauren, Ferragamo and Giorgio Armani, Naomi also designed private residences for Diane Sawyer, Barry Diller and Steven Speilberg.

Ralph Lauren Store on Madison Avenue

Apartment in New York City

Penthouse in Naples, Florida

As Naomi was known to say, “Being a designer means listening to your clients, seeing their vision and then intrepreting.” From what we saw last week, she certainly took that statement to heart – our client’s vast collection of contemporary art ranging from Calder and Miro to lesser known painters was showcased by her clean, art deco lines.

Park Avenue Living Room

Park Avenue Front Hall and Dining Room

While so many designers try to put their own trademark looks into a home, Naomi’s restrained elegance only served to enhance the natural grace of this apartment’s flow. We can’t wait to see our flowers in such a setting!

Photos from InteriorDesign.net

Tags: Naomi Leff
Posted in Inspirations, Personalities | 1 Comment »

Here Comes the Sun

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Since it has rained thirteen out of the past fifteen days here in the Northeast, we thought we would write about our favorite cheery yellow accents. You can’t help but feel uplifted when you enter a bright yellow room or surround yourself with sunny citron prints. We hope these images bring a little joy to your rainy day!

Pylones - Watering Can Purse

New York Botanical Garden - Kiku Vase

Anthropologie - Cleo Chair

Diane James - Yellow Spring Bouquet

Ankasa - Naples Pillow

Southern Accents - Jan Showers Living Room

Photos from Pylones, The New York Botanical Garden, Anthropologie, Diane James Home, Ankasa and Tria Giovan for Southern Accents

Tags: Ankasa, Diane James Home, Pylones, Southern Accents, The New York Botanical Garden, yellow
Posted in Inspirations | No Comments »

Bergdorf Goodman – Summer Blue & White

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Between meetings with private clients, we had a chance to stop by Bergdorf Goodman yesterday to see our flowers on the Seventh Floor and loved every vignette! The inspiration for the floor this summer is blue and white – Chinese porcelains mixed with Match pewterware, embroidered pillows and hydrangea bouquets, and tablesettings with Royal Copenhagen china and Italian glass candlesticks. With the ceilings draped in beige linen and fabulous vintage etageres and chest of drawers, the Seventh Floor was a haven of casual elegance. See for yourselves!

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Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, blue & white decor, Diane James Designs, flowers, Match Pewter, Royal Copenhagen
Posted in Inspirations | No Comments »

Please DO Eat the Daisies!

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

While daisies aren’t really that tasty, many flowers are – pansies, violas, roses and snapdragons to name a few – and the best way to eat them is either “au natural” as a colorful accent in a salad or as a sweet treat on a cookie or cupcake.

Blooming Salad

Cupcake with Pansy

While the art of crystallizing flowers has been around for hundreds of years, it is a time consuming, very labor-intensive and often messy process (pick and wash the flowers, dip them in egg whites, coat them in sugar and wait for them to dry.)

Sweetfields - Crystallized Mixed Flowers

Meadowsweets - Crystallized Roses

Lucky for us, companies like Sweetfields and Meadowsweets make it easy to adorn our desserts with these delicious sugared beauties. With so many varieties and colors to choose from, one can turn a simple cake into a work of art! We think these flowers are too pretty to eat, don’t you?

Martha Stewart - Flower Cake

The Perfect Wedding Cake

Photos by Leigh Berisch for Sunset.com and from Sweetfields, Meadowsweets, and Martha Stewart

Posted in The Latest Buzz | No Comments »

Meeting Bobbie Gottlieb of Two’s Company

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

On Tuesday we had the pleasure of attending a presentation by the inspirational and trend setting co-founder and CEO of Two’s Company, Bobbie Gottlieb, at 7W in New York. When she and her husband, Bob, started their company in the nursery of their New Rochelle home with just $5,000 (their life’s savings!), little did the couple know that they would create a legendary business with four divisions and 185 employees.

Bobbie Gottlieb at Home in Rye, NY

From the first collection of giant inflatable reproductions of favorite consumables (like a Heinz ketchup bottle) inspired by Andy Warhol and the Pop Art movement in the late 1960′s to the new ”Second Life” collection which captures the current trend for eco-friendly products, Two’s Company is a true pioneer in the giftware industry. As such, Two’s Company was the first to introduce lucite in home accessories in the early 1970′s, the first to design with recycled products in the early 1990′s and the first to display products in fashionable vignettes making the showroom a must-see for retailers.

Two's Comapny - Second Life Collection

Two's Company - Le Soleil Collection

Cupcakes & Cartwheels - Suzani Collection

While the company prides itself in being fashion forward, the timeless and classic home accessories it designs remain relevant even as trends move on. What we love about Two’s Company is that the products look high fashion yet are very affordable. You would never guess that the pretty accessories in Gloria Vanderbilt’s room at the Kips Bay Show House this spring were theirs!

Gloria Vanderbilt - Kips Bay Show House 2009

As entrepreneurs with a family business, we love learning about other family businesses who have successfully grown over the years and Two’s Company is no exception. Thank you for a truly enjoyable day and so much inspiration!

Photos from Westchester Home, Two’s Company and The Washington Post

Posted in Inspirations, Personalities | No Comments »

The Sweet Scent of Honeysuckle

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

We love this time of year when the sweet scent of honeysuckle wafts into our office from the open window which overlooks the garden next door. It’s no wonder that this plant is a favorite for humming birds, butterflies and night moths with it’s delicious honey fragrance and pretty open-mouthed flowers. Praised by poets like Robert Frost and Philip Freneau, the honeysuckle symbolizes love and devoted affection and was thought to have grown in the Garden of Eden. We hope these honeysuckle accents capture your heart, too!

Smith & Hawken - Honeysuckle and Jasmine Potpourri

William Morris - Honeysuckle Fabric

Fraiche - Honeysuckle Swizzle Bath Salts

F. Edward Hulme - Honeysuckle Print

Photos from Smith & Hawken, MoMa, Fraiche and AllPosters

Tags: Fraiche, Honeysuckle, Smith & Hawken, William Morris
Posted in Inspirations | 2 Comments »

Swarovski Blooms in New York

Friday, June 5th, 2009

While we breathlessly await the opening of the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED Lounge in New York (499 Broadway in Soho) later this month, we are adorning ourselves with these beautiful blooms from this spring’s Blossom Collection.

Swarovski Spring Floral Charms

Swarovski Spring Floral Ring

Swarovski Spring Floral Pendant

Once the lounge opens on June 25th, you will find us taking the Creativity Classes, workshops during which we can design our own pieces, and attending the Inspire Desire events where each month a different crystal trend will be presented by various lifestyle experts. And, of course, we will always be inspired by the bountiful bling!

Swarovski Crystallized Store & Lounge

Photos from Swarovski Crystallized

Tags: jewelry, Swarovski
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June’s Necessary Luxury – Marye-Kelley

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Delight your guests this summer with a beautiful bedroom or powder room decorated with Marye-Kelley Decoupage accessories. From picture frames and coasters, to tissue box covers and wastepaper baskets, each piece is made by hand in Houston, TX and shipped from the Marye-Kelley home studio.

Pink Peony & Butterfly Wastepaper Basket

While the company has grown since Melinda Marye made her first set of decoupage plates as Christmas gifts seventeen years ago, you can still find her and husband, Bill Kelley, selling their designs at the Block Island Farmers Market in the summer.

Blue Hydrangea Tissue Box

Marye-Kelley’s designs range from the floral and garden to animals and antique maps – each transforming an every day item into a work of art. We think every room (and guest!) deserves a Marye-Kelley… don’t you?

Japanese Peony Coaster

Photos from Marye-Kelley Decoupage

Tags: accessories, Marye-Kelley Decoupage
Posted in Necessary Luxury | No Comments »