Hot House Flowers

I love the saturated colors in the Celerie Kemble 2008 fall collection for F. Schumacher. It has a Palm Beach-meets-Scandinavian feel that I adore. My favorite? Hot House Flowers in "Spark". This floral pretty much sums up my current color obsession: turquoise and blood orange. Then, add navy with hits of red and citrine. I love it. LOVE.

As a designer, I am my own worst client. I have issues committing to fabrics with color, let alone prints in my own home. I change my mind constantly. However, I fell in love with Hot House Flowers at first sight and saved myself from a house full of beige. I immediately ordered enough fabric for my living room pillows and now, I don't want to change it (well, not yet). Here are some pretty images with a similar color scheme...

Not only do I love Celerie Kemble's Hot House Flowers, but my dining chairs are newly reupholstered in this lovely number: Betwixt

Oh, and my kitchen window treatments are in Bleeker "Bear"

Yeah, I really like this collection.

Friday's Etsy Shop: Alicia Bock

"adrift"

I have lived my entire life in Southern California, where we pretty much sported flip flops year round. As a recent transplant to the East Coast, I whined through the entire winter (the novelty of coats and scarves gets old after about two weeks-- then it's just really cold and gray).

"home sweet home"

So, I am desperately waiting for Spring to make it's presence here for good. I tried to ignore the ice on my windshield yesterday morning, and I have left my coat at home because I am in denial. It's well into April, dammit. Where is the warm sun?

Until then, enjoy these gorgeous pictures from Alicia Bock. I am a big fan (I own three of these prints, hehe). Visit her etsy store here.

"just another friday night"

"my hearts desire"

"revolution"

"on holiday"

Have a joyous Easter Weekend!

**UPDATE: Heather is also upset about the lagging Spring weather***

Andy Warhol and the real McCoy (Pottery), part II

If you want to learn more about Andy Warhol and his obsessive collecting (much more than just cookie jars), go HERE to this 1988 article in the New York Times. I was pretty amazed... he sounds like a high-end Hoarder.

Posh Plans for the 1962 Playboy Townhouse

You may have already seen this, but these renderings still captivate me. I first found this article while in design school, and I have kept it ever since... dreaming that I too could accomplish renderings like this someday (if I only studied them hard enough, the talent would eventually travel though the page and into my brain by osmosis, no?).

click to enlarge these images for an even better view

This article, from the May 1962 issue of Playboy magazine, takes readers on a virtual tour through the townhome of our "modern bachelor." Imagine Him, entertaining a "guest" where a three story atrium houses a central pool, and design features include massive rock walls and wood paneling? Our Bachelor watching television on his impressive 24" television, on a round bed with built-in telephone and refrigerator? Nice, huh?

In all seriousness, I love these drawings... And these modern aspirations aren't that far off from how we dream today. In 2009, we dream of controlling the temperature, sound system, kitchen appliances, and the revolving artwork in our homes from a flat-paneled touch screen monster remote. Read part of the article for even more on the Modern Bachelor:

Designed by R. Donald Jaye
Renderings by Humen Tan

"The discerning city-dweller of individual ways and comfortable means is turning more and more to the superb outlets for decorative and architectural self-expression inherent in the town home. He is beguiled by its intrinsic advantages of privacy and spaciousness coupled with a metropolitan location just a shift of the gears away from myriad urban attractions. Recognizing this, Playboy has taken a city lot in a typical brownstone neighborhood and transformed it from street to stern into a modishly swinging manor for the modern man. The requisites we set for architect-designer R. Donald Jaye in laying out the Playboy Town House were many; the limitations (except for those imposed by the necesssarily constricting 25-foot width of the normal city lot) were few. Our urban home was to offer..."

Sorry, that was all I got from the scan. But if you know where to find the article in it's entirety (short of getting your hands on a copy of the May 1962 issue), let me know!

**UPDATE: I found the article HERE.**

Andy Warhol and the real McCoy (Pottery)

Did you know that Andy Warhol collected McCoy pottery? Neither did I. He especially loved McCoy cookie jars, and after his passing, his entire collection was auctioned off to the highest bidder. In 1987, the 175 cookie jars(!) that Warhol had collected from flea markets and antique stores brought in an astonishing $250,000 at auction! One hundred and twenty five cookie jars? I don't think he kept them all on his kitchen counter... A collection like that deserves an entire room. I would like to see that.

The Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was originally founded in 1848 in Roseville, Ohio (due to the large supply of clay in the region) but the McCoy factory wasn't established until 1910. Producing beautiful pottery for nearly 140 years, the company was managed by three generations of the McCoy family, but was sold in 1985 (and closed five years later). During the economic depression of the 1930s, the McCoy Pottery Company teamed up with other local potteries to stay alive. The co-op was named, the American Clay Products Company, and they shared everything-- even one salesman! This joint venture might explain for the large amount of pottery on the market that looks like McCoy pottery, but does not feature the McCoy hallmark. This joint venture did not last, as the individual potteries in the co-op became too competitive and the McCoy Pottery Company eventually separated to manufacture independently.

Many of the products that McCoy produced featured leaves and berries, or swirls and interesting art deco details. A collector will regonize a McCoy piece first by it's color (their collection featured works in pale yellows, blues, greens, apricots, turquoise, and pink), and then by it's hallmark. However, not all McCoy pieces feature a hallmark... so, finding the REAL McCoy can be tricky (sorry, bad joke). I often see McCoy pottery and McCoy "mystery pieces" (look-a-likes that are not marked) at the flea markets. Some of these pieces are just marked "USA." Someone once told me that these pieces are referred to as "USA Pottery"... who knows. I just like the soft colors and graceful lines, plus they look terrific filled with fresh flowers...

Here are some McCoy look-a-likes at High Street Market:

Vintage art deco vase in butter yellow

Vintage art deco ruffled vase in cream

Vintage faux bamboo turquoise ceramic bowl

**UPDATE: If you want to read an INSANE article about Andy Warhol's vast collections, go HERE. You won't believe what a nut he was.**

Leather Floor!

Holy pleather, am I the last one to know about this? Not only did Apartment Therapy blog about this in December of 2008 (I obviously missed that post), but this luxury leather floor was featured in the May issue of Metropolitan Home, and it knocked my socks off! Made from vintage leather belts, each floor tile is unique. You'll pay for this snazzy flooring feature ($75 dollars per square foot)... but, I gotta say it's pretty cool. Ting London manufactures this product, and I am sorry to say that there is very little information on their website... But, wouldn't it be perfect in a retail space? You're shopping for jeans and you're walking on recycled leather belts... hmmm.

About Me

So, a little bit about me. 

I am an interior designer with a love for anything vintage. I grew up in Southern California, went to college at the University of San Diego, followed by graduate school (for Interior Design) at UCLA.  I lived in Los Angeles for five years, helped design homes in Aspen, and worked on high profile projects in Los Angeles.  Then, I married a boy and moved to Philadelphia.  In November 2009, we bought a 120 year old house.  Since then, we've been working hard to restore it and make it ours.  I think that we'll be doing this for the rest of our lives. :)

In addition to running my Interior Design business, my husband and I co-own a retail store called High Street Market.  Our store is a place where you can find one-of-a-kind vintage pieces alongside new and original home furnishings.  Because, after all, good design includes both!  We are constantly searching for unique pieces to keep in the store, and we update our inventory on a daily basis.  Drop by for a visit sometime-- you'll find us at www.HighStreetMarket.com.  And, if you have any questions, drop us a line!  We would love to hear from you.

In need of design advice?  Please email me for details!

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Little footstools...

I love the addition of footstools to a room. Either sitting bedside to hold a stack of books, or tucked under a side chair or table, these footstools never get old. This one has a vintage base with a newly upholstered cushion. Reupholstering these footstools gives you the best excuse to use that crazy fabric that you could only stand in small doses... a pop of bright pink? or a flamed stitch pattern? Try something fun.

Vintage leopard footstool with new upholstery

images from Canadian House & Home, Mary McDonald, Meg Braff

Nice Floor

I love how these rooms were designed with a little out-of-the-box thinking... checkers, zig zags, stripes. Looks good, right?

Milk Glass

Milk glass, to me, is a classic. It's white. It matches everything. It's lady like and a little retro... I never tire of it. This type of glassware has been in production since the mid-1800s (but hasn't been produced in large numbers since the 1980s), so when I shop the flea markets, I often come across some interesting milk glass. With over 150 years of production, there is plenty to choose from. First developed as porcelain for the masses, the white milky glass material was turned into compotes, bowls, etc. But because many of these pieces are not marked, it's really hard to tell the old from the "not so old." One of the largest producers in the twentieth century was Westmoreland Glass Company of Grapeville, Pennsylvania; however, their factory closed in 1985. Only a handful of companies still manufacture milk glass, including the well-known Fenton Art Glass Company of Williamstown, West Virginia.

Here are a few pieces that are listed in the shop...

Vintage milk glass taper candle holders

Vintage milk glass Hobnail vase

Vintage Hobnail ruffled bowl

Vintage milk glass cream & sugar set

Vintage Hobnail ruffled vase

Large vintage milk glass cake platter