Archive for the ‘Blacks’ Category

January 29th, 2013 No Comments

tabletop: scalamandre teams with lenox to bring their iconic patterns to the table

Scalamandre textile house is collaborating with manufacturer, Lenox, to bring five of their fabric & wallpaper patterns to the table. Bloomingdale’s just debuted the collection. Among the five patterns is the iconic Zebras that was originally a wallpaper that adorned the walls of the legendary New York City restaurant, Gino’s. Gino’s has since closed but Scalamadre has resurrected the wallpaper in it’s line and now in a china pattern. The Bouvier pattern (picutred directly below) was also originally a wallpaper that was in the private home of Averell and Marie Harriman. Jacqueline Kennedy stayed with the Harriman’s in Washington after her … Read more

January 18th, 2013 1 Comment

Meet Kaminer Haislip: My Interview with the Extraordinary Silversmith from Charleston

If you haven’t realized from my shop or my posts, I’m a bit obsessed with tabletop and design. So I was so thrilled and elated when I discovered Kaminer Haislip’s designs for the first time. I just love her coffee and tea services that combine wood and silver… as well as most everything else she designs! And of course wouldn’t you know it, she’s as gracious as she is talented. Kaminer recently granted me an interview and I wanted to share it with you today as well as show you a sampling of her work. She shares a lot of … Read more

January 17th, 2013 No Comments

Photographer Philippe Cheng’s Hall of Black and White Photos Tell His Family History

Walking into photographer Philippe Cheng‘s airy house in the Hamptons that he shares with wife (and talented artist) Bastienne Schmidt and their two sons, immediately makes you feel welcome and that this is a family home. Double doors that are usually kept open in the warmer months lead right into a two story family and dining room. As you come in you also have a view straight through to the other side of the house with glass doors showing off the views of the serene setting surrounding their idyllic home.  As you turn to their private spaces though you … Read more

January 16th, 2013 1 Comment

Weddings with Liz Banfield: Keeping the Art of Black and White Film Photography Alive

The black and white photograph has a powerful way of rendering a scene that is uniquely enduring. By taking color out of the equation, everything is simplified and the viewer can focus on the moment without  distractions such as a busy background or a spray-tan gone wrong.  At every wedding I always shoot true black and white film throughout the day to create these timeless images. Beyond an artful chronicle of the day I’m looking to take photographs that could live on someone’s wall forever. To make my point, I chose pictures from different times throughout my career – only … Read more

January 15th, 2013 No Comments

tabletop: mix old & new, metallics with black & white to create a very personalized setting

Pull out your favorite things from your cabinets….maybe even your grandmother’s china that’s been boxed in the attic to create an eclectic mix of old and new. Look around your house too, maybe you have a collection of small boxes, a gold leaf plate on your nightstand that holds your earrings- pull it all together to group on your table or sideboard. That little dish could now hold candy or sugar cubes, boxes could hold tea bags.. and so on. Black and white are so classic that the color palette is a great cohesive glue to allow you to combine … Read more

January 14th, 2013 No Comments

color palette: black, white with metallics

The other week we were talking about emerging color trends and I said I was excited to see what color dominated the award shows. Well, the emerald green that Pantone selected really wasn’t anywhere to be seen- that was on the red carpet a few years back. Black and white clearly dominated the red carpet with accents of gold and silver in accessories and small box clutches. Red, coral, plum, navy and light blue also made a few appearances but not like black and white. Dresses were either a combination of black and white like Julianne Moore’s Tom Ford dress, … Read more

December 26th, 2012 No Comments

weddings with matthew robbins: 6 steps for successful hunting & gathering for your wedding inspiration

Green is definitely a big focus color for 2013 as well as a return to crisp clean colors. But any color combination or personal objects can serve as seeds for unique and personal wedding designs. Think of planning your wedding as a process of hunting and gathering: You’re hunting for personal, meaningful items and gathering design details that will allow you to bring out the elements you most love about these items. Fresh ideas can come from anywhere, be it an interesting trinket I pick up in a Paris flea market, or a beautiful piece of fruit at my local … Read more

December 20th, 2012 No Comments

owners ken weiner & pam fleischer keep the flame burning at the creative candles company in kansas city, missouri

As usual the owners of Creative Candles, Ken Weiner and Pam Fleischer are right on trend. As Pantone announced Emerald Green as 2013’s color of the year, Creative Candles was already selling and shipping their new color “Emerald” green in their new Metallics line, also consisting of Silver, Gold and Ruby. In the new year Copper, Pearl and Sapphire will be introduced in Metallics- giving you a glimpse of future color trends perhaps?  Founded in 1961 by Duane and Nancy Benton, the Benton’s sold the company in 1998 to two business men, and then in 2005 husband and wife, … Read more

November 13th, 2012 No Comments

simple thanksgiving decor -burlap & votives

A lot of people stress out about setting a table for Thanksgiving and I get a lot of questions about how to set a unique table without breaking the bank. BURLAP. I love taking burlap from the local garden supply store (about $1 per yard) and using it as a textural and inexpensive tablecloth. It’s simple and unexpected, but it will be welcomed by friends and family as a refreshing change from the usual cloth. My ‘stylist’ secret to making a burlap cloth work is to mix in high and low tableware. Here I’ve mixed in simple wood salt … Read more

October 2nd, 2012 No Comments

the classic cape cod (& a black widow for halloween)

The classic “Cape Cod” cocktail is 2 oz. vodka over ice with 3 oz of cranberry juice as a mixer and garnish with lime. I made a slightly smaller Cape Cod in my Japanese etched 3 oz stem glass (that you can find at my store along with other larger glasses) and garnished with sugared cranberries on a pick. This is a perfect little cocktail for the holiday season. A twist for Halloween would be to use black vodka and cranberry juice to make a “Black Widow” and don’t stir- you will get a layered appearance in your glass. … Read more