Jonathan Adler's Happy Summer Decor

I think Jonathan Adler makes people like Designers!

His fun spirited view of decor and light hearted take on the world makes me smile and his injection of humour into his work reminds us all that decorating doesn't have to be stressful or daunting if you have fun with it.  Here are some of his tips for easy breezy summer decorating via Musing #15.   Enjoy!

Absolutely Beautiful Shop

One of the very first design blogs I started to follow when I entered the Blogosphere was Absolutely Beautiful Things about an Australian designer, also named Anna, with a knack for gorgeous colour combinations and the flair for mixing vintage with modern for truly lived in looks.  Anna recently unveiled her updated shop to an eagerly awaiting crowd of fans and friends posting these launch event photos on her blog.  Congratulations Black & Spiro for a stunning redesign of your store.

This is the store entry.  Love the iron door and custom chandelier.

Anna designed the tutu desk for her office but used it to greet fans in the foyer on re-opening night

The store is designed with room vignettes that make you feel like

your in her living room instead of a retail shop

This space has a lovely beach house feel to it

I love the mix of pattern and texture in this room. 

The drapes are gorgeous and help balance out the pink sofa

Tuscan Style

I've been dreaming about a European getaway....beautiful countryside,  rustic and nature-inspired interiors, and of course, great food and wine.  Yes, Tuscany would be multo bene and so rejuvenating.  I think a little medievel farmhouse lovingly restored and perfectly equipped with all the modern conveniences would be just lovely, don't you?

This was a farmhouse in ruins near the Tuscan town of Anghiari transformed by Nicholas Risley

Main entrance, I love the clay tiles, wooden doors and flagstone everywhere

Imagine cooking a fresh vegetable frittata with produce just picked from your own garden....(or

someone else cooking for you) while you sip your latte in the sun-filled breakfast area

with a view to the stunning countryside... aaahh, that's Amore!

This Tuscan villa in Cortona was restored over a 10 year period using the bricks and rubble on the property.  Restoration by Fulvio di Rosa -  it's now an exclusive 32-acre rental property. 

 

Here di Rosa painted the plaster walls yellow and added flagstone to the Trattoria,

more vino and percuitto please!

What's your favourite European destination?

photos via Architectural Digest

Electronic Mood Boards

I discovered a new, very cool online design tool the other day and had to share it with my style savvy friends.  At Olioboard you can create your own digital mood board for any room.  There are over 10,000 items and over 300 brands of funiture, accessories, lighting, wallpaper and more.  You can even upload your own images, like art or your own furniture to see how it would look in a room.  Here are some examples:

Eclectic Living Room by moi! 

It doesn't take a lot of time and it's very easy to get started.

So much fun to mix and match colours, patterns, and furniture from the wide selection available.

This is Novelty Euro Wallpaper from Target - anything Paris for me!

Retro Living Room by bmoreguy

Sweet Dreams by nyclq 

Splendor by Mark

Why don't you give it a try?

Get creative, have fun, and please send me your mood boards when you're done,

I would love to see your creations.  Happy Decorating!

Monolo Style

We all know of Monolo Blahnik for his incredibly beautiful shoes once described as "better than sex" by Madonna, but the design of his recent store in Dubai is as equally impressive.  Imagine the excitement of taking your platinum card to a store like this:

 

Sculpture entwined in a web of dreams!

When I hit the jackpot I'll be looking for these babies

If you are ready to shop, you can get your Manolo fix at Browns or Holt Renfrew (Canada)

If you aren't quite ready to put your rent towards your shoes, you can enjoy the gorgeous drawings in this book I found at Chapters the other day.  It has over 200 drawings of the most fabulous shoes designed by Mr. Blahnik over the years with lots of great quotes from celebrity fans, including stylish devotee SJP, fashion magazine editors and industry insiders - only $20!  Enjoy.

Restoration Hardware Summer Sale

Staying on the theme of furniture shopping, Restoration Hardware is having their summer sale with all outdoor and garden items 50% off!  They have some gorgeous pieces and sets to create wonderful outdoor spaces, have a look.

The French inspired Provence Collection

The Klismos Collection

The Hampshire Collection

Williams Sonoma Fall 2010

I just received an advance preview of the Williams Sonoma Fall Home collection and it's beautiful.  I know it's too early to think about Fall, but the stores will be filling up with new stuff soon and this sneak peak lets you plan ahead.  As expected, the line is filled with classic pieces for modern living. 

I particularly like the oversized Nassau cocktail table in rich, dark wood

large enough to suit a stack of magazines or your favourite oversized coffee table books. 

I also like the x-base tables with chrome legs and wooden tops,

very chic and can be used in many different rooms. 

The bedding line is very pretty with floral motifs in muted earth tones. 

Just adding new bedding for the cooler nights ahead can dramatically change the look of a bedroom.  Although these look more summery to me. 

Something to consider....but let's keep enjoying the warm nights for now.  

Here's a shot of an outdoor teak dining set where you can enjoy an evening cocktail

with a warm summer breeze.  It may even be on sale soon!

French Modern Bedroom

I"m working on a master bedroom project with a French modern feel.  The inspiration was a beautiful raw silk Bergere chair that the client was already using in another room and wanted to bring into the bedroom to create a reading area.  The walls were painted, new hardwood floors installed, new drapery, dresser, side tables,  fireplace, and accessories were brought in - the only thing original to the room was the lovely iron bed that will be painted a burnished bronze to better compliment the look of the room.  We also provided additional lighting to the room to ensure both ambient and task lighting were optimized. 

This weekend we pulled together a bunch of elements so I couldn't resist giving you a sneak peak.  There are some finishing touches to be made and a chandelier that's due to arrive any day now, so once that's completed I will post the rest of the room.  Here's a before shot:

This photo was taken during the hardwood installation phase.

Fresh mint green walls, builder's light fixtue, and light coloured drapes did not provide

the cozy feeling the client was looking for.

This is the bergere chair that inspired the French Modern mood for the room. 

Lady, the owner's King Charles Cavalier watches on curiously as we move furniture around.

We infused the room with new and antique pieces found on our annual visit

to the Annual Christie Antique Show which I wrote about in May.

I also found some strangely "unique" pieces you can read about here .

What do you think so far?

Retro Fabric

I was looking for some cool and fun fabric for a project the other day and came across a local web-only company that really got me excited.  Tonic Living is a family run business based in Toronto featuring retro-inspired fabric, pillows, custom window treatments and other sewing services for your projects.  They are also able to send out a swatch of your fabric if you would like to feel it before buying.

They have graciously offered Second Wind readers 10% off your purchase and free shipping in the GTA if you spend over $50 pre-tax (use coupon code SECONDWIND).  Thanks Janine. 

I just can't decide...Butterflies or Paris?

Whatever you choose, it's sure to add fun to any room.

Fashion & Furniture: Oscar de la Renta

I found this wonderful introspective on the extraordinary life of Oscar de la Renta on 1st Dibs and wanted to share with my style savvy readers.  I'm always thrilled to see what happens when Fashion Designer's bring their distinct styles to Interiors - it's a match made in design heaven.  

The very successful  Home Collection of furniture and frangrance lines launched in 2002 reflect the elegance and style of de la Renta's personal residences in New York, Dominican Republic, and Conneticut, with three main themes of city, island and country.  Some of the pieces shown below from Century Furniture (trade only).

  

Five-legged Zeus chair

 

Dolphin dining table

Mother-of-Pearl bunching tables

As you may know, he also recently launched a new line of home fabrics with Lee Jofa and continues to bring his unique and timeless beauty to the world of Interiors. 

Fashion and Interiors never looked so good.  Enjoy! 

                                                photo via habitually chic

Summer Inspiration

Sometimes when I need a break from my laptop I will wander into my backyard to get a breath of fresh air and check out what's going on out there.  This week I was rewarded with beautiful blooms of my favourite flowers.

Russian Sage - gets more beautiful as it fills in throughout the summer.

So, don't forget to stop and smell the flowers...and bring them inside sometimes too!