Be Inspired No. 37 - Heritage Shoe

Imagine finding inspiration from a patent your father obtained 75 years ago. A patent for a product that was never produced.

Stuart Weitzman has introduced the limited edition Heritage shoe, created for the brand's 25th anniversary. The snakeskin shoe with calfskin straps is based on a design that Stuart's father patented in 1936. 

His father, Seymour Weitzman, designed/patented this shoe in the 1930's as a double crisscross T-strap stiletto. But the proposal didn't come to be. Damn that "mary jane" which ruled the 30s. The Heritage is a modification of this design with a platform higher heel and snake print. It is available in three colors.

 Bravo to Stuart Weitzman for making this design a reality!

Image Sources: Stuart Weitzman

Translation - Fashion to Home No. 10 - Ralph Lauren Fall 2012

It's no surprise that the Ralph Lauren Fall 2010 collection includes some of my favorite things. Leopard print, feathers, and a pop of color!

Here's my translation from fashion to home inspired by this collection.

Those brass wall lights are like the derby hat.

I love how this translation can be clean and classy.

Image Sources: Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Decor Pad, Ralph Lauren

Garden Design No. 14 - Box Me In

In this case I want to stay inside the box, not think outside of it. I want to wallpaper that box and move in! According to the American Boxwood Society, the Boxwood is "man's oldest garden ornamental". It was introduced to North American from Europe (of course) in the mid-1600s and reached its peak popularity in the US during the early 19th century and again during the Colonial Revival era.

We are all familiar with the love knot gardens of European royalty. What I love in these images is that Boxwood can be scaled to fit any size garden in amazing ways.

 Whether planted in containers or in the garden, Boxwood are amazing sculpture to be had.

 Just remember, this doesn't happen overnight. That's what makes these gardens spectacular. So matter how expansive your garden budget is it takes time, patience, and nuturing.

Image Sources: Houzz, Boxwood Terrace, Bill Barr, MK and Co., Lamps Plus, A Thoughtul Eye, Bleu Eye, 123rf

Gotta Love No. 25 - Beach Treasures

You know I love when a story is attached to a creation. I love the story of the inspiration for the Anthropologie beach treasures dress.

The fabric is digitally printed from a photograph taken by one of their fabric aficionados. It depicts treasures from the shores of Scotland's Isle of Skye.

The photo was taken after she gathered polished glass, pottery, and seashells from the shores of the Isle and put them on her windowsill. I was in love with the story and then I goggled photographs of the Isle of Skye and my breath was taken away.  

See what I mean? 

Enough said, I'm going to let you catch your breath.

Image Sources:  Anthropologie, Light Stalkers, Highland Holiday Cottages, Regal Wings

Speaking of Walls No. 7 - Bringing Back the Past

A number of years ago I had the privilege of a tour of a fabulous wallpaper company's historic archives. And then previewing a new wallpaper collection designed using product and research from the archives. The adaptions of design were amazing. How designs were interrupted through the artist eyes from the historic materials was inspiring. 


Sometimes, however, its been said you shouldn't mess with a good thing. And when Scalamandre reintroduced their infamous zebra wallpaper they left well enough alone. 

In 1945 Scalamandre created the iconic prancing zebras on deep red wallpaper for the newly opened Gino of Capri restaurant. Based on original artwork by Flora Scalamandre, this playful wallpaper was also immortalized in films such as "Mighty Aphrodite" and "The Royal Tennenbaums" along with making guest appearances across the country via Kate Spade and Barneys New York retail installations.


The additional colorways it is available in now make it hard to choose a favorite!


I love this wallpaper pattern!  I love it as a wallpaper, as an umbrella, as a scarf!

Image Sources: KC Interiors, Facebook, Pinterest

Be Inspired No. 36 - Shelf Art

The art of accessorizing shelves is a delightful project to finishing off a room. It puts on display insight into who we truly are and where life has taken us. The treasures we have on our shelves are selected with great care or given by friends.

Whether the shelves are accessorized with loads of goodies are a few of our favorite pieces it becomes the art of a room.

I love the rustic shelves in this stark bathroom. It wouldn't be the same room without them.

Image Sources:  Verdigris Vie, La Dolce Vita, Atlanta Home & Lifestyles, Thomas Pheasant

At the Window No. 2 - Black Frames Oh La La

Vintage. Paris. Iron. Did I get your attention? These words will make my head spin around to join in a conversation in a heartbeat. I love,love, love black window frames. Especially when the rest of the woodwork in the room is painted white. And when speaking of windows, when black window framing is accompanied with black framed doors, well you got me smack dab in the love. And yes it all started in Paris!

Oh la la!

I mean, come on, what is not to like?

Stunning!

A hop and a skip to paradise!

Love that Vicente left these windows bare!

Bare black window frames - if you've got them, flaunt them!

Image Sources: Vicente Wolf, Modern Sophisticate, Greige, Juniper & York

Well Dressed Home No. 19 - The Plantation Chair

The British Colonial design period has pieces that speak of relaxation with style like no other. One such piece is the Plantation Chair. The design has such a graceful slope that cradles the guest just so. Ahem, are you paying attention or just gawking at the dapper man sitting in the chair?

Henredon's Seville Chair is a clever take on the plantation chair design with the same 

comfort. This chair is on my chair favorites list!

Check out the Henredon Seville Chair in fabric. Told you it was one of my favorites!

The traditional plantation chair style in rattan and mahogany is a classic.

The Morgan Hotel in New York offers its guests a plantation chair from the 40's.

Sit a spell. Ralph Lauren does it right with his Cape Lodge chair.

Loving the addition of pillows.

So versatile - indoors or outdoors. 

Image Sources: The Fedora Lounge, Morgan Hotel, Ralph Lauren, Soft Surroundings, One Kings Lane, Kittles, Halcyon Style

RSVP Collection No. 37 - Cucumber Collins

Cucumber Collins

1 oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. gin

4 or 5 cucumber slices

Club soda

In bottom of a mixing glass, muddle cucumber slices, lemon juice and simple syrup. Add gin, along with ice, and shake.

Strain over fresh ice into glass and top with club soda.

Image Source:  Halycon Style

When It Could Be a Don't No. 1

We are all familiar with a popular fashion magazine that features do's and don'ts. You have to admit that it was the inside back page we turned to first when we were reading it. The infamous black box over the eyes protected the fashion don'ts.

But most times in design, it is the rule breaker that sets the trend for the new and accepted. The rule breaker doesn't set out to achieve this. They are simply doing what comes naturally, pairing together things in a creative way that please the eye, standing back and saying "ta-dah".

This is one of the reasons I love interior design. It is truly an expression of creativity without regard to standards.

Take a look at these rule-breaking rooms. These are definitely DO's in my book!

DO:  Bertoia chair with a vintage desk!

DO:  Modern leather bench with sleek legs and a carved marble top table!

DO:  Floor mirrors as bedside backdrops!

DO:  Carved mahogany billiards table in a revamped garage!

DO:  Tulip table with traditional chairs and settee! (And antlers on the wall.)

DO:  Madonna by Andy Warhol in a traditional living room!

DO:  Paint the brick floor gloss white!

Image Sources:  Elle Decor, Ty Larkins, Todd Romano, Southern Living, La Dolce Vita, Houzz