I have had a long week of work (and a pretty dull, non-inspiring type of project) – so for today’s blogpost I needed some beautiful inspiration shots.  I hope you love these as much as I do…

I wish I could just hop on a plane to Los Angeles to be in the company of Paula Smail, the owner of Henry Road in Studio City in California.  She descibes herself as a “Shopkeeper, Designer, Daydreamer” and she has dreamed up a great store – chock full of great items and gifts. Oh well – a trip is not possible…but she has an online store that is so inventive and inspiring that it’s easy to be a very clever gift-giver this holiday season.

She also has a online magazine that is full of great accessorizing ideas, interviews with artists and much more. Just looking at the images in this magazine will give you great tips on how to arrange your art objects, books and accessories. On the website, you’ll also find a link to her fabulous blog – well worth the look. 

I have pulled together a “Top 10 Gifts” from the catalogue – but please go take a peek at all of the offerings because I know that you will find some great ideas for even the pickiest people on your gift list! We all have a few of those, don’t we!?!  And with everyone tightening their belts these days – each one of these gifts is easy on the wallet.

It was hard to pick only 10, believe me – but I’ve heard that blog readers love short lists – so here it goes!

For Kids…Or Kids at Heart!

Number 1 

The Scratch Off Map: This is based on the “scratch off ticket” idea – but here you scratch off where you’ve been in the world.  Great for kids as well as grownups.  Perfect for the world traveller or someone planning to do some travelling.  Cost: $20

Number 2  

Classic Baby Blocks:  Made in the USA and toxic free, these blocks will also help a little one learn math.  I could have used these as a kid…I can spell but don’t ask me a math question.  Cost: $40 for a set of embossed blocks with canvas bag. 

Number 3  

I love birch trees.  The texture, the vulnerability, the purity…maybe how they remind me of my childhood, as in the except from the poem “Birches” by Robert Frost, above. Once, while living in Kirkland WA, I told a friend that the one thing I missed since moving from NY to Washington State was Birch trees. She told me that WA had birch trees – “just open your eyes!” And – they did have birch trees.  It took my taking up jogging to finally see them.

So, in honor of birches – a blog post!  You can bring the textural beauty of birches into your home easily and affordably.  And, of course – expensively, if you are so inclined!  I put together some great choices and sources for you to use throughout your home…throughout the year.

This more contemporary piece comes from Woodland Furniture.  This company is very well-known for their attention to detail and quality.  It’s a “to-the-trade” company, so you do have to go through a designer to access their line. 


Artwork can bring in the textural quality of birches while adding color as well.  The Russian artist, Maya Eventov, uses birches as inspiration  for her paintings time and again.

So, bring nature in with the beauty of birches.  Maybe you will become a “swinger of birches” too.

     Source

I have been head-over-heels in love with French Script fabrics for ages – ever since I saw this type of fabric on a French chair in a design magazine many years ago.  It was Carolyn Quartermaine’s fabric – love at first sight. It’s not just the French aspect – it’s her use of color and pattern with the script that is so engaging.  Her clear, beautiful hues make whatever they are covering the star of the room. The script also lends a textural quality to the fabrics. 

I was probably drawn to her fabrics because I see “artist” written all over her work (pardon the pun).  In fact, she is an artist and she started out using 17th century French calligraphy, that she found and was attracted to, in her artwork that she exhibited in galleries.  You can read a great interview with her on Haute Home

     Source

Above you’ll see her “Flowers” collection.  It’s feminine, colorful and romantic – it makes me want to start on my Master Bedroom right away.  We can all use a little extra romance in our lives, right?

While there’s nothing like the real thing, you can bring the feeling of her fabrics into your home without spending an arm and a leg.  I’ve purchased several pillows and chairs with some lovely French Script fabric at HomeGoods and other discount stores.  So, be on the lookout.  You can score some beautiful finds without breaking the bank.

I’ve seen some great pillows with French Script in the Ballard catalogue – and they also sell the fabric there as well.  It’s a bit pricey – but I did find a less expensive version (I think it’s $19.98 per yard) at Lewis & Sheron fabrics.  A big Thank You to Joni Webb of Cote de Texas for introducing me to this store. 

While most of Long Island just got some wet snow, Westchester County – where we were all weekend minding our grandson Sean – got 7 inches of wet, heavy snow.  Trees and branches were falling all around.  You’d hear these huge cracks and then “thud” and you knew that something landed on the ground (and hopefully not on the roof or on a car).

My husband Richard and I drove back to Long Island on Sunday morning and we were very happy not to see this kind of snowfall on our driveway.  The snowy weather was fun for a weekend when we had no place to go.  Glad to leave it though. Not looking forward to a storm like this – but we all know it will happen in the next few months.

I hope all my friends and relatives in CT, NJ and PA fared well during the storm. 

I recently did some decorative work in a lovely condo in Woodbury, NY.  Working with designer, Teresa Simone, we created some beautiful rooms in soothing palettes of blues and and greens…and blue-greens. The formerly all white guest bath was done with a custom-colored blue-green metallic plaster that lends a wonderfully restful quality to the room.  Teresa had located an antique mirror on one of her shopping trips – and placed it on the large, frameless mirror (that shows its 80s origin!).  This is a great way to soften and feminize a bathroom without having to rip the entire mirror down. 

The homeowner found the silhouettes – left by the previous owner – and these look great against the soft blue-green plaster…and they add to the “been there forever” feeling in the room.

As you know, we participated in a beautiful Designer Showhouse in Centerport NY. We did the art and wall finishes on the stairway and we also did the beautiful stried wall finish that’s in the living room.

You will get some great ideas for your home in this Showhouse – so I hope that many of you will take a ride out to see it. The Showhouse is located right across the street from the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport (on Little East Neck Rd). It will be open until October 16th.


Here’s a video of the Showhouse that gives you a sneak peak of what you’ll see!…

Whether you have a modest home or a mansion, we can help your home look like a Designer Show Home.  Call me today at 631 793-1315 for a Free Consultation!