Browsing Tag

HomArt

Inspirations

You’re Invited…

Invitation Suite

Invitation Suite

to a wedding celebrated last year on a beautiful fall day in Palm Springs.  The bride – a friend we’ve known for years of doing the Atlanta and New York gift shows – is a product designer for one of our favorite companies, HomArt.  The groom – a dashing Norwegian we have yet to meet in person but heard about and now seen in pictures.  The venue – Casa De Los Arcos, a masterpiece of architecture designed by John O’Neil with 84 arches and all the warmth, light and details Julia had wanted for her big day.

The Blushing Bride

The Blushing Bride

A Bouquet of Roses and Succulents

A Bouquet of Roses and Succulents

Upon her engagement, Julia asked her very talented grade school friend, Nancy Teasley from Oak and The Owl, to collaborate with her (they had dreamed of working together for quite a while) and the result were florals celebrating the arid setting (tillandsias and succulents) softened by garden roses and warmed by brass accents.  It took Julia and Nancy over eight months of searching flea markets and thrift shops to gather the vintage brass candlesticks and vessels used in the designs.

Vintage Brass Centerpiece

Vintage Brass Centerpiece

As a designer, Julia knew how to create those special touches that made her wedding such a feast for the senses – from designing a custom monogram and invitation suite, to bringing in some products from HomArt like picture frames, one of a kind furniture from the FOUND Collection, and cast brass feathers which were placed at each guest’s place setting.

Vintage Touches

Vintage Touches

Wedding Cake

Wedding Cake

The party was held under the stars at tables stretching down the estate’s lawns and the locally and sustainably sourced meal was cooked on site by Foundation 10 Catering.  As wine flowed from stemless glasses, the guests dined on dishes served family style accompanied by a ukulele playing the couple’s favorite songs.  What a wonderful evening it must have been and aren’t we lucky that all the pretty pictures shot by Lane Dittoe can be seen on Style Me Pretty?  It’s almost as if we were there!

Photos: 1 – 6

 

Fabulous Finds, Inspirations

Show Me The Goods…

We’re back from the Atlanta Gift Show with lots of wonderful stems and vases for our new Spring/Summer 2011 collection.  Even in this challenging economy, designers are still introducing new product and we’re happy to say that the showrooms were busy.

HomArt - An Array of Allium

HomArt - An Array of Allium

One of our perennial favorite sources of inspiration is HomArt– not only because Dave Thomas, one of the owners, strolls the streets of the Marais in Paris for the latest and greatest in home decor trends, but also because the showroom never fails to please the senses.

HomArt - Bring on The Dirt

HomArt - Bring on The Dirt

We especially loved this season’s garden theme with metal wind charms, wall vases and hanging terrariums.

HomArt - Glorious Garden

HomArt - Glorious Garden

HomArt - Wall Spheres

HomArt - Wall Spheres

Another great place to find a colorful mix of unique gifts and accessories is Diana White and Associates.  For over 32 years, Diana has hand-picked products that exemplify both style and originality and displays them in a charming fashion.

Diana White - Jan Sevadjian Albums

Diana White - Jan Sevadjian Albums

Diana White - Harvey & Strait Napkins

Diana White - Harvey & Strait Napkins

Finally, a trip to the Atlanta show without a visit to La Maisonette for that certain “je ne sais quoi” would truly be a waste.  Jean and Portia Marque’s lively French Jacquards, custom-designed lamps and hand-made Louis XVI style furniture are beautifully presented in a boutique-like setting.

La Maisonette - Jacquards, Lamps and Furniture

La Maisonette - Jacquards, Lamps and Furniture

After a full day of shopping, we stopped by what has become our favorite little “resto – cafe – bar a vins” down the street from the Mart for the most delicious French fare and a chilled bottle of Jean-Luc Colombo Cotes de Provence.  We were so excited when we found out that the Bastille Day menu included cuisses de grenouilles, feuillete d’escargots and moules et frites that we came back the next day – what better way to celebrate French independence than with “liberte, fraternite andbeaucoup de rose!”

Chicken Liver Toast -Yum!

Chicken Liver Toast -Yum!

Tarte Tatin with Rosemary Ice Cream - Double Yum!

Tarte Tatin with Rosemary Ice Cream - Double Yum!

We’ve been sworn to secrecy by many of our vendors not to divulge the name of this cozy neighborhood bistro (after all, they have to spend a week selling their wares in crowded showrooms and deserve a quiet dinner!) but if you email us and plead, we might let you know how to find it!

Photos from yours truly, La Maisonette and a restaurant that will go unnamed for now!

Events, Inspirations

To Market, To Market

Back from a very chilly (actually, freeeezing!) buying trip to the Atlanta Gift Market where we found some beautiful new stems and wonderful containers for our designs.  It’s hard to think about yet another Fall/Winter collection when the ornaments have just be stowed and the wreaths made into mulch but we were definitely inspired by the showrooms we visited.  Turquoise and purple continue to be the hot colors this year, as are accessories that look like they come straight from the Marche aux Puces in Paris.

Barreveld - Porcelain Flowers

Barreveld - Porcelain Flowers

Zodax - French Country

Zodax - French Country

Though we didn’t see many bouquets decorating the showrooms, some of our vendors were very creative with blossoms.  At Accent Decor, cymbidium flowers floated in clear water pearls while at HomArt, blooming paperwhites grew from a mound of peat moss on the floor.  The award for most colorful booth goes to Chive with lush pink peonies, delightful daffodils and gorgeous orange tulips spilling from their whimsical vases.  Oh, how we look forward to spring!

Accent Decor - Cymbidium Blossoms in Water Pearls

Accent Decor - Cymbidium Blossoms in Water Pearls

HomArt - Paperwhites Display

HomArt - Paperwhites Display

Chive - Spring Has Sprung!

Chive - Spring Has Sprung!

Chive - More Blooms

Chive - More Blooms

Campo de' Fiori - Amaryllis and Mossed Pots

Campo de' Fiori - Amaryllis and Mossed Pots

All photos from yours truly