Vanity Seat

I picked up this guy from the upholsterer's last week, and I couldn't be happier with the results.  Brand new cushion, black glossy finish, and custom snow leopard upholstery.  She's never looked better!  This 1950s faux bamboo vanity seat has a new lease on life.  :)

available HERE

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If I Had A Mountain House...

... it would look like this. 

 

Just a little rustic inspiration before this delightful fall weekend!

xoxo,

Kelly

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Designer Tip: Inverted Box Pleat Drapery

Whenever someone asks me about drapery styles, I always start talking about the inverted box pleat.  I love the clean pleat and versatile feel-- it goes with almost every interior style.  It's my go-to drape.

via Burnham Design

unknown source

via Burnham Design

unknown source

via Nathan Egan

via Lonny Magazine

Drapery panels made with an inverted box pleat are double the fullness of the window.  So they always look full and luxurious.  When you close these drapes, the top of the panel is smooth and flat (creating a clean modern look).  Then, when they're open?  The box pleats stack PERFECTLY.  They never look fussy, or "old lady"...  I love this tailored style.  It's my fave.

If you can't afford to have them custom made, you can buy FABULOUS versions at Restoration Hardware.  Really.  They make such a wonderful ready-made drape.  With an inverted box pleat. 

Restoration Hardware Thai Silk inverted pleat drapery panel

Restoration Hardware Silk Satin-Stripe inverted pleat drapery panel

The Shade Store is also a great resource for ready made drapery (excellent customer service!).  They offer such a wide variety of styles and colors.  They also ship for FREE and deliver within 2 weeks of placing your order.  Pretty impressive, no?  The Shade Store is definitely worth a look if you're in the market for new drapery.

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Croft House

One of my Philadelphia design clients recently introduced me to a store called Croft House.  Based in Los Angeles, Croft House is a retailer that carries fantastic modern furnishings with a rustic edge.  They design and produce their own furniture using sustainable materials, they'll ship their products across the country, and they'll even customize certain pieces depending on your needs.  I love their modern style and fabulous prices. 

Here are some of the Croft House pieces that caught my eye...

Mossam bookcase

Railcar media cabinet

Ruthie leather chair

Greenly Live Edge Reclaimed Wood Table

Beehive pendant lamp

And the rugs!  I love the rugs...

Katherine rug

Leslie rug

Wesley rug

Aurora rug

Visit the Croft House website HERE.

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Cover Girl

The newest issue of Matchbook Magazine is on virtual newsstands now, and the cover is just stunning.  I love the simplicity of this cover design.  It's so inspirational (in my humble opinion). The color, the dress, the simple and minimal text.  Gucci glasses, bouffant hair, and an overwhelming nod to 1960s style.  The subject of this marvelous portrait is Joy Venturini Bianchi.  She runs a vintage couture shop that benefits disabled adults in the San Francisco area.  And at age 72, Bianchi believes that "clothes are about good manners."  Isn't that a refreshing thought?

The article is really wonderful, as is the entire issue.

To read it in it's entirity, click HERE.

 

Doesn't it seem that the newest trend in women's fashion is actually a throw back to 1960s style?  Let the heavens rejoice.  We're moving away from women dressing like men, and going back to women dressing like women.  I love it.  Structured, sexy dresses with conservative cuts and modern silhouettes.  Trenchcoats, ballet flats, cigarette pants, and even lady-like blouses.  Reminiscent of fashion icons Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Audrey Hepburn

 

Audrey Hepburn

 

Jacqueline Kennedy

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Grace Kelly

 

Grace Kelly

 

McCall's dress pattern from the 1960s

 

J.Crew Fall 2011 catalog cover: 

shot from the Fall 2011 J.Crew catalog

(complete with 1960s props)

 

I love a good tailored dress and I'm thrilled to see some of my favorite shops are carrying these retro styles.

J. Crew:

from left to right:

the "Teddie" dress in red, a "No. 2 Pencil Skirt" paired with the "Double Cloth Lady Day Coat" in musturd, and the "Memo" dress in black.

I'm a huge fan of EmersonMade. This online boutique always produces the most fabulously feminine pieces...

Goldie pockets skirt with a black Emerson turtleneck

London coat

Emerson little black dress

Emerson black suit skirt with Cheetah print blouse

And, even Talbots is getting in on the action.  Have you guys noticed the change in Talbots??  The clothes over there are quite good this year.  Gone are the days of boxy jackets, and khaki pants...

from left to right:

the "Puff Sleeve Dress" in red berry, the "Brush Back Wool Sheath" in blue, and the "Luxe Flannel Pleated Dress" in black

(all under $200.00 I might add)

Also, I bought myself those driving gloves that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.  I bought the color called "luggage" (what an odd name for a cognac leather?).  They're wonderful and I definitely feel like Grace Kelly when I wear them.  ;)

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