Front porch looking lonely?

Sold!

Here's your solution:

Add some topiaries, flank your front door and viola! An elegant entrance.

Iron green urns, $275/pair. Located at Hunt & Gather.

Forever Summer

Sold!

Yes, we're a month into Autumn, but this chair and ottoman bring back the joy of summer. Perfectly paired with a cold drink, a good book and sand on your feet.

Chair and ottoman with seashell fabric (navy & white) with navy linen piping. $375 for the set. Shown at Hunt & Gather.

New York Finds

1. 100% virgin wool Pendleton throw; houndstooth pattern in kelly green, torquoise, navy and cream. Approximately 5'2" x 5' 5"; mint condition. $145.

Classic with an edge; love it.

Sold!
2. Vintage Lennox butterfly jewelry tray. 9 1/2" diagonally. $35


Sold!
3. Original watercolor of London, framed and matted. 12" w x 14 1/2" h. $125. Perfect for the Anglophile in your life.



Sold!
4. Small gold-leafed, carved mirror. 9 1/2" square. $45. It would be great in a collection on the wall or as an unexpected reflection in bookshelves.

And that's all. There could have been much more, but there's only so much room in the overhead compartments of commuter planes. The next trip to New York may require driving; or setting up a UPS account.

So many fabulous finds, so little space; sounds about right for New York!

How did I not know...

about this?

Ruthie is my favorite. True confession: when I went out to LA a few years ago, I wrote her a letter saying how much I'd love to come by her shop and meet her. I never got a response, but I like to think that it was lost in the mail. It's a long journey from the east coast to the west, no?

Potential rejection aside, I still think she's one of the best designers out there, and her new website is quite pretty, so check it out.

I am wondering what happened to her book, The LA House. It was supposed to come out in 2008, but never did. Amazon.com has a release date of December 31, 1975. Interesting.

If you have answers, do share. Style Court posted this teaser last year. One thing's for sure; when it finally does hit the shelves, it will be worth the wait.

"Old + New= Chic"

Interesting article: "Mixing antiques and collectibles with new finds is a great design strategy."

I concur.

AP Photo by Sarah Dorio

The Big Apple

Ryan and I were in New York this weekend, visiting dear friends and enjoying the city in autumn; my favorite time to be there!

A few things to share:

1. It's fall! Pumpkins are everywhere, and I am loving this multi-colored display on Lexington Avenue. The metallic ones were spray painted by the shop owner, but look so elegant and natural. However, I'm still partial to the white pumpkins, which are my favorite. I can't wait to get some for our porch at home!

2. We visited the Chelsea Flea market on Saturday. It's a fabulous spot for unique finds, and I purchased a few goodies for the booth, which I'll share with you this week.

3. I visited the New York School of Interior Design during my visit. To say that I was impressed is an understatement! From the beautiful century-old campus on the upper East side to the tantalizing course descriptions (Modern Architecture & Design, Great Women Designers, Economics of Taste & Style and Mixed Media Rendering, to name a few) and stellar alumni roster (including two of my favorites, Alberto Villalobos and Mercedes Desio), the school has so much to offer design lovers like myself. If you've thought about going to school for interior design and want to be in New York, I highly recommend looking into the NYSID programs. I'd love an opportunity to continue my studies here someday!

Stay tuned for information on my New York purchases for AAI. Many thanks to Zack & Tracy for hosting us this weekend; y'all are truly the best.

Restore Spaces

I just found out about a wonderful event here in Winston-Salem called Restore Spaces. Sponsored by the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors, the event features local interior designers who create sample "rooms" using items from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The event is aimed toward showcasing the great pieces you can find at the ReStore (one of my favorites!) and all proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County.

The event takes place on Friday, October 23^rd, from 6:30-10:00pm at the Habitat ReStore (341 Witt St., Winston-Salem, NC). Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.restorespaces.com. In addition to touring the creatively resourceful rooms, you can enjoy food, libations, dancing and music.

I wish that I had found out about this in time to participate in designing a room, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's creations and supporting this important organization as a spectator. Hope to see you there!