Jack-O-Antlern II

Inspired by my husband's original Jack-o-Antlern, I decided to give it a try myself this year. I did not have the energy to go all out on the face--carving pumpkins is exhausting!

While I doubt anyone would actually want to emulate this project, I thought I would mention that I bought these hunting antlers at a sporting goods store and spray painted them along with the pumpkin. (My apologies to the environment for having such an un-green pumpkin this year, but hopefully I am keeping one less deer from being lured to his untimely demise).

Happy Halloween!

Stick A Fork In Me, I'm Done

For the last ten years, I have been using my great-grandmother's sterling silver for everyday use. In the beginning, it made me feel special, elevating all of those takeout moments into something a little more highbrow. But this morning when I reached for a spoon, all I found was an unappetizing black film coating dull and lifeless metal. I know my silverware needs to be polished, but didn't I just labor over that chore a couple of weeks ago? I can't take it anymore. Today I broke down and ordered dishwasher safe, stainless steel flatware. Convenience winning out over style feels kind of like trading in the convertible for a minivan, but I am hoping that I can satisfy both the angel and devil sitting on my shoulder with this Kyoto Flatware from Crate and Barrel. I already had a few rogue pieces of this pattern floating around, and I like it for it's similarity to Tiffany and Co.'s 1961 sterling Bamboo pattern below. (The pattern is discontinued, but can be still be collected via Replacements).


The good news is that my old silver will be polished and ready the next time I need it. In the meantime, I may take a cue from the Asian motif and incorporate orchids into the holiday table as Cottage Living has done.

Peaks and Valleys

The way up and the way down are one and the same.
-Heraclitus

Schumacher's Zimba has really been growing on me lately. Perhaps I am finding beauty in a familiar pattern...

Park Avenue Bites

Tinsley Mortimer's quintessential Park Avenue dining room, via Jennifer Jane's Style Journal.

Last year...
Park Avenue Potluck.

This year...
The Park Avenue Diet.

Even though I need this year's version, I think I would enjoy last year's guide to Park Avenue eating more.

Shocked

For the past decade, Southern Accents has presented us with a pretty, but somewhat sleepy selection of pale blue and beige bedrooms. Imagine my surprise to turn the page and discover this high contrast, David Hicksian wonder by Atlanta designer Barbara Howard.

The bedroom was designed for the Showhouse at Reynolds Plantation, part of Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. I had to do a double take--this room belongs to a lake house in rural Georgia? The times are a-changin'.

The featured fabric pattern is "Zimba" by Schumacher. The rest of the home is more typically Southern and subtle in palette, but has a few quiet nods to 1970's design. Click here for the tour.

Even though Lake Oconee is only 1.5 hours east of Atlanta, I have yet to visit. One of these days, I am going to hop over for a day of pampering at The Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation. For the time being however, I am staycation city.

Interiors photographed by Keith Scott Morton for Southern Accents, November/December 2008.

In The Mood

Do your weekend design projects (i.e. flipping through design books and hanging pictures) ever look as romantic than they do in the photographs of Joyce Lee?


Images are from Joyce Lee's "Home Reimagined" series, discovered via Red Thread.

Keeping it Real

Nice try, Bravo. I caught you trying to slip this classic Buckhead home into your montage of OTP McMansions the other night on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Maybe most of America won't notice this house is actually WITHIN the city limits--30 miles away from where your story was taking place. Of course this is of no bother to me, but perhaps our metro area cousins would not want this old house (without it's own bowling alley) being mistaken as one of their own.

What is Swanky?

How design fabulous was last week's "Jet Set" episode of Mad Men? I was lamenting the fact that there are no good photos of the Palm Springs interiors until I found a this delicious assortment on Hatch (posted by fellow Atlantan, The Bubb Report). I am seriously crying over the fact that there are only two more episodes to go until the season ends.

According to commenters, "The Jet Set" could have been filmed at Frank Sinatra's former Palm Springs home, Twin Palms. This could also be totally wrong, since mid-century modern architecture can start looking overly familiar to my untrained eye. Still, it is fun to imagine. Take a photo tour (or rent it for the weekend) here.

Poolside at the Twin Palms, then and now.

Update: The "Jet Set" house is not Twin Palms. It was designed by California architect Ed Niles and it was built in the late 1990's in Malibu. Whatever--it is still makes for an awesome backdrop.

In other Mad Men news, the show will be a featured category on one of my longtime TV favorites, Jeopardy, this Friday night. It will be a perfect storm for this television nerd.

Tips from Emily Amy

Opening night at the Emily Amy Gallery

Favorite local gallery owner, Emily Amy (pronounced "ah me") has a new blog with some great tips on collecting contemporary art.  I had to borrow a few to share...

• Emerging artists are not necessarily less talented than established artist, and they usually cost less too!
• Go with your gut when you are choosing art.  Let it elicit an emotional response in you, and when it does, you will know it is right.
• Works on paper are always a great option when a little money needs to go a long way.
• Don't listen to the "rules," if you want to collect several pieces by the same artist, go ahead--it's your collection.
• Start small: if you can't afford large paintings, then buy small ones.  They often have the same effect.
• Buy local - Whether it is a local artist or a local gallery, you will likely feel more of a connection with the piece and you will be supporting your local talent!

More advice and art here.

One of my favorite examples of living with contemporary art: A Damien Hirst hangs above a French sofa in Johnson Hartig's living room. Photographed by Paul Costello for Domino Magazine September 2007.)

By the way, how gorgeous is that lucite table? It is available from The Paris Apartment.

The Cindy Factor

Cindy Crawford in her Malibu home, designed by Michael Smith.

Could a supermodel-turned-mass-market furniture designer be the cause of our Wall Street woes? Carl Hiaasen provides an interesting hypothesis regarding the "Cindy Factor" in The Miami Herald.

Photograph by Simon Upton from Elle Decor So Chic. More pictures of Crawford's home can be seen here.

Going South

Come on, you know you want to visit Atlanta--especially after last night's shining endorsement of our city.

Well, if you were not scared away by the suburban bling and brawls, you can always get a room at the new W Hotel Buckhead designed by our favorite "Queer Eye", Thom Filicia.



According to Filicia and the Starwood Hotel Group last year, the design plan would combine "urban style with the city’s deep history and culture" and "traditions of Southern hospitality". I am not sure how much of this concept made it to the final reveal, but it looks fun and colorful in an Adler-esque kind of way. Even with the rash of new hotels opening in Atlanta this year, we don't have anything that looks like this.

Instead of...

Instead of watching the news this week, I am going to gaze approvingly at pictures of rooms designed by Katie Ridder.

More from her portfolio here.

Unspectacular Details

Ronda from All The Best just tagged me with instructions to list six "unspectacular details" about myself, so here it goes...

Unspectacular Detail #1
My 15 year high school reunion is next weekend.

Unspectacular Detail #2
I was asked to make CD mixes as favors for the party. Having to condense four years of music from the early 90's into 20 songs is proving more difficult than I anticipated. However, Ice Cube and 10,000 Maniacs go together surprisingly well.

Unspectacular Detail #3
I have listened to Drown by Smashing Pumpkins 15 times today as it has become my new favorite old song.

Unspectacular Detail #4
I graduated the same year as the fictional characters in "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Saved by the Bell".

Unspectacular Detail #5
I am wearing a dress from the Kathie Lee Collection in the top photo--not even kidding. Apparently Kathie Lee had the white, conservative dress market cornered in 1993 as it was difficult to find one by any other "designer". I am also wearing sheer white panty hose with my white pumps. Cute.

Unspectacular Detail #6
I am really excited to see my old friends next weekend!

I am also tagging:
Laura Loves
The Sweet Life With Olives
Jennifer Jane's Style Journal

Please visit All The Best for the rules. Thanks for tagging me, Ronda.