So OVER Winter!!

It's seems like most of the country got one more blast of winter and we have all had enough. After the trip to Charleston I can't wait to start planting and designing my garden. Here are some wonderful pieces that you can see at www.horchow.com. It will get your green thumb itching to get out and get spring in the yard.

The Charm of the South!

Back from a wonderful week in South Carolina and Georgia! The weather was fantastic and the flowering trees and shrubs were at their peak! I was losing my mind on the wisteria growing wild everywhere along the highway, the dogwood trees and the multicolored azaelas. My girlfriend Carolee who took these pictures and I are working on a book about the area. It will be mostly a photography book with everything from the homes, garden designs, garden statuary and information about the interesting and rich history of this area. I suddenly want to get my hands on as much as I can about the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. In Charleston they have a very active Historical Foundation and the homes and antiques are preserved for all of us to enjoy. We traveled from Charleston to Beaufort then to Savannah and on to Hilton Head. Each spot although not far from each other had their own unique flair and flavor. I will keep you posted on the progress of the book and when you are planning your next trip consider seeing some of these areas and the treasures of American's heritage!

Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah!

The blog is going to take a rest for this week as I will be traveling to South Carolina and Georgia to bring you some beautiful photos and stories from my travels. I will be going to the Charleston Home and Garden Tour and am very excited to see everything in bloom in the deep south.

So stay tuned and see you in a week!

Graphite Grays....

This is the new look from Restoration Hardware! I think they have hit a home run with their new designs. I have always loved the natural linens and paired with the gray wicker is gorgeous. Not shown in these photo's is their vintage Mayfair steamer trunk collection which is fantastic. Their reproductions of mirrors, furniture and accessories is outstanding. Restoration Hardware has salvaged wood architectural mirrors making each mirror a one of a kind piece. Gray's kinship with other colors makes it very appealing as well. You can add a touch of blue to make it icy, silver giving it a flash of luxury or yellow for a bit of warmth. Please visit their website and see all they have to offer at http://www.restorationhardware.com/

Here in Dallas there is only one store down at Knox and Henderson but another one is coming soon to Plano and the Willow Bend Mall.

Violet and Lavender!

Purple is the color of royalty and violet symbolizes delicacy. Crown Royal bags are purple and great to use for your scrabble letters!! On fabrics purple is most often grouped with the colors of spring...green, white, yellow, pink and some blues. When arranged with red or raspberry-deeper colors, purple takes on a much more serious tone. I find it to be a peaceful and restful color perfect for the bedroom.

Planning Your Wedding!

I found this pie shaped graph that a couple did to show "where the dough goes". This is a good guide line and gives you some idea when planning your wedding. Most people only do this kind of planning of their wedding once in their life and have no idea what they are getting into until they are in the middle of it. So study this chart and use it as a guideline when you are all sitting down discussing your plans.

Looking Ahead...Fashion Colors for the Fall!

Pantone the global color authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industry has just announced the top 10 colors for women's fashion for fall 2011. To check out designer sketches and quotes go to this free download at www.pantone.com/fall2011.

Courageous, Confident, Vital and Uplifting: Pink!

In times of stress we need something to lift our spirits...well pink is the perfect remedy! Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up a room? Try painting a wall with Honeysuckle the color of the year 2011. Pink seems almost synonymous with spring as the azaleas bloom and tulips flower but it is present year round in our favorite china, rugs and window treatments. Vibrant fuchsia accents can enliven an space, and lampshades lined with pale pink will cast a warm, welcoming glow. I just had some dining room chairs made for a client in pink patent leather!!! Awesome and what a statement that makes.

Be Daring - Go Orange!

Color is definitely a mood setter. It can make you feel great and energetic. Not sure why people have a fear of color as a can a paint is one of the least expensive ways to change a rooms' mood. These days they finally have little sample pints that you can test and live with to see if you like the color. So don't live in fear of trying something different. The ceiling is a forgotten surface. Paint it a color or even covering it in wallpaper changes a room and looks fantastic.

When we look at this photo of an orange room you can feel how strong and intense it is yet full of light. Orange occurs in sunrises and sunsets as well as fruit and fauna and used at full strength can be overpowering ...but mellowed can be relaxing. Add a little yellow, white or even pink to soften the jolt that orange fabric or paint can deliver. Difficult to not be happy in this room!

The Drama Queen: RED!

There just is no competing with it or upstaging it...Red takes the stage! As an accent or filling a room with red, it always commands your attention! It is very intense and eternally flattering. Not for the timid, red is a bold backdrop that begs for strong accessories. Silver, white and yellow are great colors to coordinate with it. Dark chocolates, charcoal grays and rich caramels all have enough strength to balance with vibrant reds. I just did a room with a gray velvet sofa and did red accessories such as a red lacquered mirror frame and red silk pillows. Of course there is variations of the shade of red and they all inspire warmth and a festive feeling. Don't be shy...go for it!

What about Yellow?

Much can be said about the color yellow...soft, buttery, vibrant, bold, golden, happy, radiant and sunny. Yellow is one of the most versatile colors and gives the illusion of light when a room has few windows. But it also is wonderful in a sunny room with lots of natural light as well which will tone the yellow down. This room is done by Jan Shower and Assoc. in Dallas and who wouldn't want to relax with family and friends here.

Tea with Anna Weatherley!

As an international designer, Anna Weatherley's career has included designing and manufacturing couture fashion, jewelry, home furnishings and printed textiles. In the early 1990's Anna established a studio in Budapest, Hungary where she trained a group of highly talented painters to create her collection in hand painted porcelain. This is the china I picked to showcase in the "Butterfly Brunch" chapter in Kimberly Schlegel Whitman's best-seller "Tablescapes." It is one of my very favorite china patterns as each piece is such a work of art and I love the whimsical butterflies, ladybugs and other charming bugs found on most pieces. Anna's designs are inspired by early botanical illustrators and flower painters of 18th Century Europe. In 2009 Anna delivered her magnolia patterned china set to the White House and a different pattern can also be found in the Blair House, which is the Presidents guest house. Anna is a true American success story and she is a fascinating woman who has had many successful careers in her life. You can find her gorgeous porcelain china patterns in over 400 stores including Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Anna is a native of Hungary, and went back to her native country and now employs 60 master painters to execute her designs. One plate will take up to 2 days to paint. Having something hand-painted anymore is a dying art and these older workers do such fine work but when they are gone, it's over.

It was a thrill for me to meet Anna personally after admiring her work for so long. If you don't need a full set of china, there are gorgeous vases, cachepots, chargers or tea cups...something for everyone and once you see these pieces I know everyone will want a treasure to enjoy!

The Ultimate Party!! Purple, Green and Gold!

This is it...Fat Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday...then tomorrow Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. So many of our holidays and celebrations revolve around our different faiths and Mardi Gras is not an exception. As an event planner this is one of the ultimate parties to plan and host. New Orleans does a fabulous job and had been doing it for years. So get out your beads, keep your top on, enjoy the parades and the food. King Cakes are available at your local grocers right now and you can't have a party without one of these cakes. Remember whoever gets the slice of cake with the baby this year is the host of next years party.

Not Green? What about Blue?

Blue is one of my favorite colors! I usually only use it for accent pieces but I've gotta have it! This color has been associated with every fashion trend throughout history. From Chinese blue and white porcelain to Levi jeans, there is no denying its presents in our everyday lives. The color blue signifies constancy and it is very versatile as well. It can be bright or sedate, traditional or ultra modern, classic or trendy.

Blue when used right almost always guarantees a compelling interior, whether on a small or large scale. In a warm climate it is used to cool a room. It is not just for a little boy's nursery anymore. With so many shades to choose from living rooms, bedrooms are perfect choices for blue. You will also notice that there isn't many blue flowers in the garden and that makes the flowers that are blue all the more precious!

Color Palette: Green

Colors speak volumes to each of us and the colors we pick speak about us as well. I find it so interesting to see how one person seeks out and picks blue over green, yellow over gold or brown over gray. Each of us have our own favorites that we like to surround ourselves with. In the photo green is the main color, which is a popular choice in the south as we bring the outside in. When you are seeking a neutral tone but what a color, green is a great choice. It has a chamelionlike way to take on and mesh with alterate colors. Green can be vibrant or restful. It also represents life, growth and springtime. Each day I will bring in a new color and see which one is your favorite!

Classic outdoor dining!

This collection is new this season from our friends at Pottery Barn www.potterybarn.com

I love this pedestal wicker table and chairs all reasonably priced. This is perfect for indoor, sunroom and outdoor areas. It is part of their Palmetto all weather collection.

Sitting under a pergula sipping a glass of fine wine! Love it!

Love This!

Love this shot! A German bike shop let everyone know that there is a new bike shop in town by hanging their inventory on the outside of the building. I think this is a brilliant ad stunt and it looks very artistic.

The Clutter Comeback!!

Suddenly the most buzzed-about interiors in LA are the ones that appear to be inhabited by actual homeowners!! We've gone through the modern, austere interiors to having the pendulum swing the other way. With all the collecting over the years why stash it all away? It is our life...personal, authentic, sometimes odd, occasionally tacky but filled with surprise and our persona lites! Interiors have been so pristine that they weren't directly linked to a sense of self. Welcome to eclecticism...the culture of people doing their own original thing. That is the fun of surrounding yourself with things you want to live with!

While I lived in Singapore for several years I collected Chinese blue and white ceramic, celedon pieces, masks and textiles. I am going to bring some out of storage and have some fun! As you find some of your favorite things to bring out you still need a plan on how to place it in order to appreciate it. Accessories and art are the two biggest things that gives your home it's personality. Don't follow everyone else...make it your own! The photo's are from Kate Spade's home.