Room as artist's canvas ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/articles/style_compass/michelle_nussbaumer/index.php" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465324662810188770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4TMymT-DVmiOJ-YwgOy5dKVJEJ1TH0lAkI5Mx8_cWihxIeheXnAqAZlhUE0nEyNGj75-rxzSuj-9tFRUfkCtE7v5-v3G4rfGinNTZNU4o7AWOYaswbvDWkmAimm-48HKDv_SNhyphenhyphen3UrE/s400/1stdibsMN.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/articles/style_compass/michelle_nussbaumer/index.php">Michelle Nussbaumer’s work</a> as featured on 1st Dibs,<br />photograph by Miguel Flores-Vianna</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:180%;" >“I see myself as an artist and the client’s home is my canvas and all the furniture, antiques, textiles and artwork are my palette.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:180%;" >”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">– Michelle Nussbaumer </span><br /><br />One of the design themes of my space at the upcoming <a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/adults_programs.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">North Shore Design Show: Favorite Spaces</span></a> is how decorating a room is just like creating a work of art. Colors, textures and objects combine to paint an emotional picture. A lot of designers feel this way. Take a look at this <a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/#introspective">1st Dibs</a> interview with Michelle Nussbaumer of <a href="http://www.ceylonetcie.com/">Ceylon et Cie</a> where she expresses the same sentiment. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">While you are there, check out the impressive list of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Style Compass</span> interviews with top designers and trend setters, some of whom I have met in my travels like <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-of-fashion.html">Iris Apfel</a>, <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/inspired-by-barclay-butera.html">Barclay Butera,</a> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/08/decorators-q-luncheon-in-york.html">Nate Berkus</a>, </span><span style="font-size:130%;">and <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspired-by-celebrity-designers.html">Kathryn M. Ireland</a>. Plus there are lots of inspiring stories (with amazing photos!) from other prominent decorative artists, many of whom I would love to meet in the future ... wouldn’t you?!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/inspired-by-barclay-butera.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465337793709284802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CKNaqAPASuU_LhI5XEQjqP07J3aixE94_hr3z9XnqIInKgWZ-JFxKnFeB8s8Rb1vIqQ74RWz0Pb7T2J-RIf_U9TRPCfUKY127wpt7lBOPkcIBOVjDtFv6dl83U8bOLFvkYBKoO_Zl6Y/s400/Barclaybooksigning.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>

Room as artist's canvas ...

Michelle Nussbaumer’s work as featured on 1st Dibs, photograph by Miguel Flores-Vianna “I see myself as an artist and the client’s home is ...

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Inspired by ... Barclay Butera

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKhncfANXzn-QrNgbTA9OoR5Zo523-mHuTf0goUl7oNuwyBLargVI5onOqE9PpliTTbu-xcSSSQICOL07lI9brR6tbWEjNa-W2xDQhVsdghtxYxXw4YrZw9REYEAcn9QZxSR_P_WES9U/s1600-h/Barclaybooksigning.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398367838745643282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKhncfANXzn-QrNgbTA9OoR5Zo523-mHuTf0goUl7oNuwyBLargVI5onOqE9PpliTTbu-xcSSSQICOL07lI9brR6tbWEjNa-W2xDQhVsdghtxYxXw4YrZw9REYEAcn9QZxSR_P_WES9U/s400/Barclaybooksigning.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAFWXjTdcA_lAbQwm4SJ8N1OAvomzeO0nKn_jcxU-xtWmJtOQ8acOKDl_2Gk4sU1HMvWgnyZNtkmVcvf4AkkXRn9jse-lyhckkd1AzsYnqTcAXr65oXrYg-sIfljbPnvuB15J3psnx6w/s1600-h/BButeraLivingInStyle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398364885915483970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAFWXjTdcA_lAbQwm4SJ8N1OAvomzeO0nKn_jcxU-xtWmJtOQ8acOKDl_2Gk4sU1HMvWgnyZNtkmVcvf4AkkXRn9jse-lyhckkd1AzsYnqTcAXr65oXrYg-sIfljbPnvuB15J3psnx6w/s400/BButeraLivingInStyle.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My autographed copy.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">As promised, I wanted to share with you some designer words of wisdom from the <a href="http://www.barclaybuterahome.com/">Barclay Butera</a> lecture last Tuesday (October 27th) at the <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/showrooms/kravet-fabrics/overview/"><span>Boston Design Cente</span><span>r</span></a>. First, I have to say, Barclay was California-handsome dressed in a gorgeous cinnamon-orange blazer that contrasted beautifully with his signature colors of navy blue and crisp white (which when he stood in front of the image below during his slide show, it was a perfect example of the value of adding that punch of contrasting color.)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbruq4DKioR7UVl-jZxNXqlS30YyzS3aAek1R_ThBJ6_SPrrvZxDAZIBuLz2uJfN31yoNEiIOHuqOPFH0xksA0MSQPxMsTYsH5pF6R76zesJR9PwBor8qPgf59aFOEccm1t1cuLUOjs24/s1600-h/kravetfabricsBB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400462005963392002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbruq4DKioR7UVl-jZxNXqlS30YyzS3aAek1R_ThBJ6_SPrrvZxDAZIBuLz2uJfN31yoNEiIOHuqOPFH0xksA0MSQPxMsTYsH5pF6R76zesJR9PwBor8qPgf59aFOEccm1t1cuLUOjs24/s400/kravetfabricsBB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 113px;" /></a> <a href="http://www.kravet.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Kravet</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> fabrics as shown in </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barclay-Butera/dp/2759402878/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257393549&sr=8-1" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Living in Style</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> by Barclay Butera</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrFLhyphenhyphenfv0dZwVPtdJxGuO51CfgPHkya852EfX-IGLvfG3XOsbBc13xiqX1rWA87pkC1tHO6hmjdsv5UrT-Pyjg4yPbMAK-BMZKMqy1wn-cFOJwjNbRFxOICodBCYBInHGgpDo5-fJ4W8/s1600-h/MeandBarclay.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400450355943567218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrFLhyphenhyphenfv0dZwVPtdJxGuO51CfgPHkya852EfX-IGLvfG3XOsbBc13xiqX1rWA87pkC1tHO6hmjdsv5UrT-Pyjg4yPbMAK-BMZKMqy1wn-cFOJwjNbRFxOICodBCYBInHGgpDo5-fJ4W8/s400/MeandBarclay.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A photo-op at the Kravet showroom.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Besides being blessed with boyish good looks, Barclay came across as being very gracious and soulful. His presentation on </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >“Decorating in a New Economy”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> actually addressed concerns that many of us have today ... how to stretch decorating dollars in a respectful way and still achieve satisfying results that make both designer and client happy. While his lecture was geared toward the design professional, the same strategies can be applied by those who decorate their own homes.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSbImcLxKeJYbBCOhESD_XpTsDMJMobXqrR4Ju8XLXpWn9sCAD5dw9FimtjnNq2rxVwsqUorZvdISSmuozwPiVOob_tZ7mT5N4fZrObtu0tXS7BkJG7S0arRzFX7wAn24bkUamxfGd1A/s1600-h/poppyBB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400509500311174674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSbImcLxKeJYbBCOhESD_XpTsDMJMobXqrR4Ju8XLXpWn9sCAD5dw9FimtjnNq2rxVwsqUorZvdISSmuozwPiVOob_tZ7mT5N4fZrObtu0tXS7BkJG7S0arRzFX7wAn24bkUamxfGd1A/s320/poppyBB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Come home with me ... </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I am loving<br />“Poppy” from the <a href="http://www.barclaybuterahome.com/c-7-hearst-castle-collection.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hearst Castle</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Collection</span></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />designed by Barclay Butera.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One of my favorite tips was Butera’s recommendation to change a look of a room by simply adding new accent pillows<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> I don’t know how many times I have had to explain to my husband why I love pillows so much, but Barclay totally gets it! A dramatic fabric on even one new pillow can completely change the look and feel of a space. I always say a great pillow is like affordable art that is available to most, regardless of budget commitments.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX-DXBnpd2NDRMJQzpCBPXJKyzqxpgIDi5IhnQ9BWCaP9jJ2gGnS2LsOdWL8K47DDaoHtmOQ6Gxc9TJDBn0ii5Zo3CkOCZB-C0e1eKmp1TOBOFHiPkHsuiJmYFYb5KtIYdZ_pwIBX8mM/s1600-h/monkeypillowYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400485190191267138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX-DXBnpd2NDRMJQzpCBPXJKyzqxpgIDi5IhnQ9BWCaP9jJ2gGnS2LsOdWL8K47DDaoHtmOQ6Gxc9TJDBn0ii5Zo3CkOCZB-C0e1eKmp1TOBOFHiPkHsuiJmYFYb5KtIYdZ_pwIBX8mM/s320/monkeypillowYB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">“Monkey in Tree</span><span style="font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> from my collection of<br />designed accent pillows, </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">now available<br />at <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beth Hylan Design Studio</span></a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One comment in particular that Butera made struck a chord with me ... on those mornings that you may not be feeling great, maybe work is slow or you are just having an off day, sit down and take out some nice stationery and write a note to someone to thank them for something that they have done for you. I thought this approach of practicing gratitude says a lot about who Barclay is and how he tries to live his life. No matter what is going on around us, there is always something to be grateful for.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7icYvQSTyFvC4MZwPg-WrwKrfBwquzLycOnfufGQRYSFa6t9sMs5Vr_pGjpKVQ8loMwh7r-rKxyaDDfgw3HnAEJSZrHAfjjUz_aQzlR5f6fDNpjy3uiPhzFR22rQksKNoj4h0jqOAx0/s1600-h/animalprintsBBabrecht.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400475573184192034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7icYvQSTyFvC4MZwPg-WrwKrfBwquzLycOnfufGQRYSFa6t9sMs5Vr_pGjpKVQ8loMwh7r-rKxyaDDfgw3HnAEJSZrHAfjjUz_aQzlR5f6fDNpjy3uiPhzFR22rQksKNoj4h0jqOAx0/s400/animalprintsBBabrecht.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >A Butera-designed room from<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Living in Style</span>,<br />actual photo by <a href="http://abrechtphotography.com/">Andrew Abrecht Photography</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">After viewing the many photos of Barclay’s work in both his presentation and his book (he stated that he has many more in his personal archives ... always take pictures of your work!) I would have to say his style is warm, textural, and classically bold with grand gestures in both scale and pattern. I was so inspired by his love of combining prints (as he mentioned, he is known for his ability to “layer” patterns) that a couple of days later I left the house carrying my favorite zebra print handbag while wearing a leopard print scarf (I never would have mixed animals before, but Barclay does it so well that I had to try!)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4DFjLjBSu2Q1bpcvRBWI-IiFJnIKFXbkDIhhdaBsmQuutTFlL6BcG8zkX7SmKcdw3DoS8FPTmOjKw_SQq7xHCh_R6NMRTyseMEUaaLT19mZUkzSqik7yLuUwBC45wBMM1knMc2ouwrI/s1600-h/zebrabag.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400477084448174578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4DFjLjBSu2Q1bpcvRBWI-IiFJnIKFXbkDIhhdaBsmQuutTFlL6BcG8zkX7SmKcdw3DoS8FPTmOjKw_SQq7xHCh_R6NMRTyseMEUaaLT19mZUkzSqik7yLuUwBC45wBMM1knMc2ouwrI/s320/zebrabag.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Vintage scarf passed down to me that used to<br />be worn by my very stylish grandmother<br />(more on her in a later post).</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In case you want to achieve the Barclay Butera look for yourself, here are a few more designer tips ...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOZ9cmDKuUtxBvNs_b4jPWNpqoQWoDVL2QBHazbhdB0CH9Sxq92btgNkh0FjAa6xsPl-oRE7FAHv9c_xUQMRkG61nZvXVSCE1Nvh12wZNE3wHUNjPl1bg_yVyZS16UI6HTZ4UGVkAJRE/s1600-h/diningroomBB-vianna.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400518928311319394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOZ9cmDKuUtxBvNs_b4jPWNpqoQWoDVL2QBHazbhdB0CH9Sxq92btgNkh0FjAa6xsPl-oRE7FAHv9c_xUQMRkG61nZvXVSCE1Nvh12wZNE3wHUNjPl1bg_yVyZS16UI6HTZ4UGVkAJRE/s400/diningroomBB-vianna.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don’t be shy ...</span> dining room by Barclay Butera<br />taken from his book <span style="font-weight: bold;">Living in Style</span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">photographed by <a href="http://www.mf-v.com/interiors12.html">Miguel Flores-Vianna</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• Tip #1 ... </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >pick up a copy of his book</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. I felt like I was holding my breath turning the pages. The rooms are that beautiful.<br /><br />• Don’t be afraid to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >mix patterns, styles, periods or places</span><span style="font-size:130%;">: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Shells</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> can reside in a room even with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >animal prints</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. As Barclay defines it, it is okay to combine </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Beach</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Mountain </span><span style="font-size:130%;">or <span style="font-weight: bold;">Desert</span> with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Town & Country.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />• </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Don’t overdo it </span><span style="font-size:130%;">with a theme (just because you have animal prints or say <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/04/getting-close-to-nature.html">antler chandeliers</a> in the room, doesn’t mean you have to have signs like “Deer Crossing” hanging on the wall).</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">• </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Textures</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> are the key to hard to resist interiors (leathers, furs, stone, natural wood, etc.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrvmXGv6UwmUWi0m61iudx4rXrSuM0QraOViSXRsYyBfXGvP-BkslL9zYsOAGXh0btHp__JUOZS4e0mqRTPR2DleREMVFBJTCr422GwB7KP7bI6pB0Xq4SAZ62GOFcKUb-3v8JQD-OZM/s1600-h/largescalemirror.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491427053807874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrvmXGv6UwmUWi0m61iudx4rXrSuM0QraOViSXRsYyBfXGvP-BkslL9zYsOAGXh0btHp__JUOZS4e0mqRTPR2DleREMVFBJTCr422GwB7KP7bI6pB0Xq4SAZ62GOFcKUb-3v8JQD-OZM/s400/largescalemirror.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Large orchid seen in one of the BDC showrooms.</span><br /><br />• A </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >large orchid</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> plant is one of Barclay’s all time favorite natural accent pieces (I counted about 36 of them in his book.)<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >My decorate-like-a-pro tip:</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">pick up one or two orchid plants at your local Home Depot and combine them in one big ceramic pot. Add some moss from your backyard if you are lucky enough to have some and voila – instant style</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />• When at all possible, put a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >great lighting</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> fixture in your space. It will get noticed.<br /><br />• Tall </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >white pillar candles </span><span style="font-size:130%;">and glass hurricanes blend with any decorating style.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity3e-Y4HM9HzBvJZACla4h1G_lJ5b0KuK0UfsC4fU0jfsbuZkr8nRukbai6kcOstvjBy9kt4eaz2Rm6JfCmiG65ziOq9ajNDqSKB-M-ilplzSYsG7itwo4MGf9JkjvXqYg9aQEayuce4/s1600-h/hurricane:starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400500489157045346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity3e-Y4HM9HzBvJZACla4h1G_lJ5b0KuK0UfsC4fU0jfsbuZkr8nRukbai6kcOstvjBy9kt4eaz2Rm6JfCmiG65ziOq9ajNDqSKB-M-ilplzSYsG7itwo4MGf9JkjvXqYg9aQEayuce4/s200/hurricane:starfish.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/03/southern-hospitality.html">favorite of mine</a> as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />• </span><span style="font-size:130%;">And most importantly,</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > rooms are meant to be lived in</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> ... </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >enjoy yours!</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are a couple more fabulous patterns that we saw at the BDC after we were “Butera-inspired” ...</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZKue-_TA4EVgPoQrmhbnXbEU8slnIVUcPZOY_K8r792ME-XqmgWs3r356fVkcSBIP2oVnKIozVLy9tGTxT_7L013BWw5OKiIuPVIDBQEUd9ZyHhiqfxOs1eR6adHS8tAyPDPFqnDT4o/s1600-h/SebastiansLamp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398364893387492594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZKue-_TA4EVgPoQrmhbnXbEU8slnIVUcPZOY_K8r792ME-XqmgWs3r356fVkcSBIP2oVnKIozVLy9tGTxT_7L013BWw5OKiIuPVIDBQEUd9ZyHhiqfxOs1eR6adHS8tAyPDPFqnDT4o/s400/SebastiansLamp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Me running into an <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/sdc-fine-furniture-on-road-to-ri.html">old friend</a><a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/sdc-fine-furniture-on-road-to-ri.html"> </a>...<br /><a href="http://www.sebastiancarpenter.com/">Sebastian Carpenter Design</a> lamp<br />at Blanche P. Field showroom<br />at the Boston Design Center.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq6mCZvgWv6P5dJpCs0kOyxrUZGOxckjPCxb1MYRXa-8D4SYSZtEyK05d6T4jXgoHY7gTd_jOvEDHqJtrIuVqWFyjAcptTFclqf-5SFOAC829jU2O5iH7k6Dfzd-EnZp0mE26u_fvHvw/s1600-h/LindaatRobertAllen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398364895645727778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq6mCZvgWv6P5dJpCs0kOyxrUZGOxckjPCxb1MYRXa-8D4SYSZtEyK05d6T4jXgoHY7gTd_jOvEDHqJtrIuVqWFyjAcptTFclqf-5SFOAC829jU2O5iH7k6Dfzd-EnZp0mE26u_fvHvw/s400/LindaatRobertAllen.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My friend <a href="http://renaissanceinteriors.com/">Linda</a> in one of her favorite showrooms.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZPakZKBiRAvlkxE0L360MvyDqqeHQAw9zv7lBYUTCHV3-c5CYLoXDvU_8AnNiYBXeYPtT8P6Z5bKKuKcnhfDD5_s9uKgFBfgzpttCafEFR_dYRU1uCqBbzwxSKens26hivCyz-AmKQ/s1600-h/pinkdesk.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400510986544773410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZPakZKBiRAvlkxE0L360MvyDqqeHQAw9zv7lBYUTCHV3-c5CYLoXDvU_8AnNiYBXeYPtT8P6Z5bKKuKcnhfDD5_s9uKgFBfgzpttCafEFR_dYRU1uCqBbzwxSKens26hivCyz-AmKQ/s320/pinkdesk.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I am planning on recreating this stylish look for a piece that I will put in <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/">the Studio</a>. Look for it soon! And when you get a chance, visit <a href="http://barclaybuterablog.blogspot.com/">Barclay’s blog</a> to read more posts on how he lives with style.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Advertisement </span><br /></div><a href="http://tomwaisnor.nmfn.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680427524253810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWs6eIT19BHpEdbIYWHRkMUdKOVFoBMO-JJ7chBS7VqozroKw0a14CPany8zsvlEwv10kOF_3gj_lcJ9e5veY6KgfHKN1zBsvvRIye9YPKMTNIgsgNHS4ecDz8GKhklVM2FW45xz4eeA/s400/NWMFN_TW.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 64px;" /></a><br /></div>

Inspired by ... Barclay Butera

My autographed copy. As promised, I wanted to share with you some designer words of wisdom from the Barclay Butera lecture last Tuesday (O...

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Inspired by ... celebrity designers

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zLupYa9ifKCkuXH_rQXp28xoesIBwGLm-DwWbcdL1qtxx2AuaxnYWdtsviyKGvAsWaie-Y1ZIGGobTc-rPe222W-f1-yTee1XiG3GfMgSvIGpnVjQSmOO5QfRrSkA0MDMr_fnrrZJ7E/s1600-h/bed&mirror.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399950783490974674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zLupYa9ifKCkuXH_rQXp28xoesIBwGLm-DwWbcdL1qtxx2AuaxnYWdtsviyKGvAsWaie-Y1ZIGGobTc-rPe222W-f1-yTee1XiG3GfMgSvIGpnVjQSmOO5QfRrSkA0MDMr_fnrrZJ7E/s400/bed&mirror.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> I love this color combination of a strong red with a grayish blue background (see flower arrangement in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspired-by-beth-hylan.html">my last post</a>). I took this photo at <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/showrooms/studio-534/overview/">Studio 534</a> in the Boston Design Center</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> which was host to Kathryn M. Ireland for her book signing on Tuesday, November 3rd.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While some people are fascinated with sports figures or high-profile celebrities, I find myself getting giddy over seeing “design stars</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in person. I really respect what it takes to make it as an accomplished designer in this business, whether one is designing for big movie-star type budgets or for homes that are more modest in comparison. For me, being able to design for others is like being commissioned to create a work of art. My client’s home becomes the canvas, and I get to play artist. It is an honor (and pleasure) to be invited to make someone’s house “a home.</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Today at the <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/about-us/">Boston Design Center</a>, <a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/">Kathryn M. Ireland</a> spoke on <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/tss/110309/">Easy Elegance and Comfortable Living</a>, The Art of Creating a Home. She was there to promote her new book titled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Creating a Home, </span><span>which</span> is also available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Home-Kathryn-Ireland/dp/1423605950/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257302338&sr=8-1">online</a>. Check it out (and definitely visit <a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/">her website</a>) to see some of her amazing work with textiles, patterns, color and scale.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbZZjhnL4ViP1AdyCwaG6gq9hmK7JqGG1oAiLtWpWSpyQ2L5kHgm8rg6pX3G7vItaOruFZgbktOyVRSoWK4zkQj7y5s2CjlK2WK_P3ie0mourcbRzaHrgQMNCKxF8RxM1yy2D7Cz6-4/s1600-h/KMIrelandLR-veranda.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399975251141220562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbZZjhnL4ViP1AdyCwaG6gq9hmK7JqGG1oAiLtWpWSpyQ2L5kHgm8rg6pX3G7vItaOruFZgbktOyVRSoWK4zkQj7y5s2CjlK2WK_P3ie0mourcbRzaHrgQMNCKxF8RxM1yy2D7Cz6-4/s400/KMIrelandLR-veranda.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Interior design by Kathryn M. Ireland</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">as seen in </span><a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/kathryn-ireland-california-color-design"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Veranda</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> magazine, Sept. ’09</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ireland’s visual language is well studied and appeals to the artist in me who loves bold patterns and vivid colors. She is known for her Bohemian chic approach that combines </span><span style="font-size:130%;">California’s easy living with the grandeur of world-traveled influences. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Although she is a huge fan of saturated color combinations, she is also able to achieve the same richly varied look in a more subdued color palette (when asked!).</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOgHtXTN36JyKDCVPe2kSY2xcEkp_KFmCKS3b5Y3Z2pmzRO7K9NWOpVvF9IA4oNjz6urcGzCe7zhzhuXq15dMuGpiHG3u2wUp9h7km_z9pecfthArHue4qHqrxk8Na8DPHEHJ8elv7E/s1600-h/Fabrics-KMI.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400031061374166962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOgHtXTN36JyKDCVPe2kSY2xcEkp_KFmCKS3b5Y3Z2pmzRO7K9NWOpVvF9IA4oNjz6urcGzCe7zhzhuXq15dMuGpiHG3u2wUp9h7km_z9pecfthArHue4qHqrxk8Na8DPHEHJ8elv7E/s400/Fabrics-KMI.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fabrics from her </span><a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=3" style="font-style: italic;">newest collections</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the fact that I was just a wee bit jealous of her well traveled life (Ireland used to take her three boys on trips and they would ask, “How many planes is it going to take to get there?</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> while my husband and I are basically afraid to plan a long – a.k.a. over 20 minute – car ride with our brood of four boys), I did appreciate her take on fearlessly surrounding oneself with color and beauty. Although after just peeking around the corner into my family room, I think we have achieved the same result as my boys apparently had a battle with a purple feather boa from the Halloween costume bin ... and the boa lost.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwltZPS_oGd6_NMeqd3eLvvMMCMpzcSbSA6yWhUmE82dsFPaUicCRhbTLdHyiFR0vZKIfloxz1MhJH6UD4HLky4UQkOyeZF-UJb6ZuC95TQ7nYGaV6h7hDrsocYKiVWgoqj9OTyY4rtkQ/s1600-h/fezpalm_olive_green.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400031932601487394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwltZPS_oGd6_NMeqd3eLvvMMCMpzcSbSA6yWhUmE82dsFPaUicCRhbTLdHyiFR0vZKIfloxz1MhJH6UD4HLky4UQkOyeZF-UJb6ZuC95TQ7nYGaV6h7hDrsocYKiVWgoqj9OTyY4rtkQ/s400/fezpalm_olive_green.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This pattern </span><a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=67" style="font-style: italic;">Fez Palm</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> in Olive Green from Kathryn Ireland’s newest fabric collection would be right at home in one of my boys rooms, which boldly incorporates all of these colors (some day I will post images from it when it is “photo shoot</span><span style="font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> clean ...)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I am sure I could probably learn a lot from Ireland on how to live a stylish life while surrounded by a bunch of boys, but I did not have the luxury to sit down and chat with her today. She did share some funny stories, however, about making a huge outdoor trampoline that did not jive with her design aesthetic mysteriously disappear while her boys went to school, and I especially liked how she admitted to offering one of her reluctant sons money to participate in a magazine photo shoot since this is a trick I have been known to use around December 1st for holiday photos.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400048308141339426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q-uh8X_6Z6px39umwrsN0gZFW6rf9b5Mv8Xt73qokKiaLHoftaYbNK1oL2ahikVpr4qM_-WBYsj40MOI7DlaMSID2aVez52Z5RyBgpo0CieiRIuUzQsVic2BbRqMkdn5sCOU29lRItE/s400/eofsblog.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 107px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While my friends and I were waiting to meet with Kathryn, I had the opportunity to say hello to one of my favorite designer-bloggers, Erin Gates from <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/">Elements of Style</a>. She was hard to miss as she is model gorgeous and was dressed very stylishly even for the Design Center (sorry, I wasn’t ready with my camera this time, and besides she probably thinks I am stalking her!) Be sure to <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/11/design-crush-kathryn-ireland.html">visit her blog</a> to read her take on today’s lecture since she mentioned that she would be posting about it, too. She has a refreshing take on this business of design that I find laugh-out-loud entertaining. She is also great at spotting design trends, and I predict she will soon be setting them, too.<br /><br />Below are a couple of pictures of other designers who have inspired me lately ...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F23kpOqAkv9jly-8wsBgs_uqcDL5PKlPl2NbCOGaFqSwpyQmPD_EILEEatlO9lFBp4L8TPLOuYASZMmoMFaknlVEj4gwiOPxjzxJR2F3Yfo0-Y1AUCpI6SI7RJCRHBynlB8SIYf4_Uc/s1600-h/Nancy&Linda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400040959718681074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F23kpOqAkv9jly-8wsBgs_uqcDL5PKlPl2NbCOGaFqSwpyQmPD_EILEEatlO9lFBp4L8TPLOuYASZMmoMFaknlVEj4gwiOPxjzxJR2F3Yfo0-Y1AUCpI6SI7RJCRHBynlB8SIYf4_Uc/s400/Nancy&Linda.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://www.eagletribune.com/pulife/local_story_118010542.html/resources_printstory">Nancy Faye Glass</a> of Glass House Design and </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Linda Hentschel of <a href="http://renaissanceinteriors.com/">Renaissance Interiors</a> who I met through our <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/09/stevens-estate-receives-design-update.html">design collaboration</a> at The Stevens Estate in North Andover. (I had them pose today in front of the <a href="http://www.nehomemag.com/New-England-Home/Industry-Insider/Hall-of-Fame/index.php">New England Design Hall of Fame</a> Allee of Trees – just for luck). They have both been very generous in sharing their design stories and advice with me (plus we have a great time going to events like this together).<br /><br />Check back tomorrow for my post on last week’s lecture at the BDC presented by <a href="http://www.barclaybutera.com/index.html">Barclay Butera</a></span> ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRlPyKypN4Et8IDbrpw2pcxzzVdy3VZThoApk6xxcT_aTIIJEhAVyaCZ2b8zz2S-b8CRlNYBh1UJ6EVd9BRm16KvShTPnrvr90M9O-CKMYH5LwI4faOy5XcTE1_7uhPjFqip_ce6U9xI/s1600-h/MeandBarclay.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400067868730643650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRlPyKypN4Et8IDbrpw2pcxzzVdy3VZThoApk6xxcT_aTIIJEhAVyaCZ2b8zz2S-b8CRlNYBh1UJ6EVd9BRm16KvShTPnrvr90M9O-CKMYH5LwI4faOy5XcTE1_7uhPjFqip_ce6U9xI/s400/MeandBarclay.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >“Barclay and I” at the <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/showrooms/kravet-fabrics/overview/">Kravet</a> showroom</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">or </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >“</span><span style="font-style: italic;">I love this job!</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >”<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Advertisement </span><br /></div><a href="http://tomwaisnor.nmfn.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680427524253810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWs6eIT19BHpEdbIYWHRkMUdKOVFoBMO-JJ7chBS7VqozroKw0a14CPany8zsvlEwv10kOF_3gj_lcJ9e5veY6KgfHKN1zBsvvRIye9YPKMTNIgsgNHS4ecDz8GKhklVM2FW45xz4eeA/s400/NWMFN_TW.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 64px;" /></a><br /></div>

Inspired by ... celebrity designers

I love this color combination of a strong red with a grayish blue background (see flower arrangement in my last post ). I took this photo a...

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