SERVE AL FRESCO WITH SEASIDE STYLE

Summer cocktails are made better when accompanied by little bites. Serving savory treats on cutting boards and in baskets?  Add an elegant touch while entertaining al fresco with paper liners from Kitchen Papers. Made in a notepad style,  25 tear off sheets with summery themes are at your disposal to add some personality to a cheese plate, crudite and hors d'oeuvres.

Octopus Serving papers with a realistic blue sea dweller

A bright red coral sprig provides cheeses with a pretty back drop

THROW A PILLOW ON IT: THROW AND CO. AND YOUR SET TO GO

Seeing an opening in the market, New York-based interior designer Meg Gabrielle decided to start a line of pillows. A perfect way to punch up a sofa with color and pattern, friends had asked Gabrielle if they could buy the fun pillows she created for her clients and Throw and Co. was born. Taking the freshest patterned fabrics and interesting trims, she creates highly contrasting accent pillows that up the ante. Working with Raoul Textiles, Clarence House, Sister Parish and many more, her designs add an element of fun with their creative tape applications and detailing. Backed in a contrasting color,  they flip to a solid. Here are some favorites of mine, and if you see that they are sold out, you can request one, made by the same talented designer workroom that does work for her clients.

CLASS IS IN SESSION: JOIN ME TUESDAY JUNE 18TH FOR BLOGGING BASICS WITH NYSID AT THE D AND D BUILDING

After blogging every day for over 6 years, I love to share what I have learned along the way. Being able to convey my experiences in order to help interior designers and companies make the leap into the blogosphere, I am teaching the Blogging Basics CEU with The New York School of Interior Design at the D and D Building. Join us this coming Tuesday June 18th from 9:30-10:30am, to learn how to launch your blog, find your design voice and increase your visibility. Whether you have a passion to share or you would like to highlight your design expertise, sharing your insights can help others connect with what you have to say. I hope you will join us for the interactive class, it is my third year teaching and it is always a lot of fun. 

See you Tuesday at the D and D Building at 979 3rd Avenue at 59th Street on the 14th Floor in the library at Astra Cafe.

MORE THAN A SNEAK PEAK: THE JOHN ROBSHAW FURNITURE COLLECTION FOR CISCO IS HERE

A few months back I provided a little preview of John Robshaw's new upholstery line for Cisco Brothers when I saw it at the Gift Show. The entire collection was on view at High Point, and I wanted to show them in their best light, thus, waited until I could get beautiful shots to share.
Robshaw, the King of Prints, has made his indelible mark on the fabric industry with his modern Indian-made  block print designs. His collection of prints and wovens for Duralee brought his fresh designs to a new audience and in his new book, he tells the story of his design journey though  his travels and various influences. 

Wanderlust ways have him in a constant state of motion, ever-inspired by the global cultures and crafts he comes across in India, Asia and even further afield. With all this global infusion it was a surprise to find that his furniture collection is noticeably less adorned and elaborate than one might expect. Devoid of inlay, with Moorish cut outs and motifs few and far between. the assortment is instead,  clean, exacting and classically inspired. The pieces hint at exoticism, but do not shout.  Four special-edition block-printed fabrics exclusive to the collection will bring his look to an entirely new consumer who will be able to integrate it into many types of rooms, both modern and trad. There is also the option of COM (supplying your own fabrics).

The foundation for the collaboration between Cisco Pinedo and John Robshaw had been laid years ago, as the long time friends teamed up . The sustainable  eco aspect of the furniture,  designed to "incorporate a far flung romantic perspective on design learned from loitering around tea-rooms in Damascus and mirrored ball rooms in Jaipur palaces" were important to Robshaw.

Cypress Queen Bed with wooden columns

My hands down favorite, the Bengal Chair with vintage lines that makes me think Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakesh.

Benares Chair

 Deccan Chair

Luxor Settee

Modave Sofa

Lucknow Daybed

Diggi Ottoman

Almad Screen

Kishur Screen

GOING GREEN: A VERDANT LAKE FOREST SHOWHOUSE SPACE WITH FANTASTIC FINISHES

Incorporating many shades of green, from lettuce to emerald,  Chicago designer Shelley Johnstone Paschke's sitting area and bath designed for The  2013 Lake Forest Showhouse had glamour and sparkle. With a charming sitting area that leads into the a lively bath, she created a jewel-box wonderland fitting for the grand 1916 David Adler-designed Italian Rennaisance estate it was in. Both Adler and legendary American decorator Frances Elkins collaborated on many Lake Forest projects, so they served as Paschke's muses throughout. The images here can be found on Veranda's website, where they highlighted her dramatic spaces.

Photos courtesy of Veranda by Werner Straube
There are a lot of design take aways one can learn from the space she created. Upon entering, the strong valance on the curtains add a dramatic focal point in the small space. Yet from another angle, the plexi waterfall console with a mirror hung above it provides an additional focal point when leaving the bathroom around the corner. The space itself is a useful one for leaving keys and sitting to wait. An intricately carved chair from Oscar de la Renta for Century covered in Stark's leopard silk velvet works against the cream silk panels at the window. Samuel and Son's Greek Key Trim outlines the entire window treatment enhancing the architectural elements of the space. One of my favorite tiny tables from Viya Home for Stephanie Odegard adds just the right amount of gleam in hammered brass.

 The Lake Forest-based designer is great with color and mixing special details along with traditional elements that are classics for today. Her studies at London's Inchbald School of Design provided exposure to the classical style in addition to honing her eye for fine antiques and finishes. Not only does Paschke create beautiful rooms, she also  designs Shellkare,  a line of floaty silk caftans and sophisticated evening wear, which she started with two of her friends. 

Another view of the console with Chinese blue and white vases.

 Paschke stayed true to the architectural details, highlighting the paneling with green lacquer walls in Farrow and Ball's Saxon Green and gold painted trim molding.  By not neglecting the "fifth wall" she had the ceiling done in a spectacular faux malachite-- not an easy decorative painting job to get right. 

 The lounge area leads to the bath area. Climbing acanthus leaves lead the eye to the high ceiling above where a gold Starbust Pendant adds a modern moment. The shade of green in the Farrow and Ball wallpaper is a very particular green, and the color flow works nicely between the two spaces. A classic blue and white was placed on a clear plexi stand blocks off the door area, and is a good way to bring in another pretty element with a lightness to it.

GIVE YOUR GARDEN VARIETY: CUSTOM CREATIONS FROM MUNDER-SKILES

 Making new designs with a classic twist, Munder Skiles transforms teak into tall slatted benches and metal into seating  sinewy-lines. Every piece is made to order, and since 1992, John Danzer has been, according to the New York School of Interior Design's retrospective of his work, "Reinventing The Garden Seat." Posessing a vast knowledge of garden furniture and design history, Danzer's creations, enhancing the serenity of landscapes  around the globe,  relate gardens to their houses, in styles ranging from historic to sleek and modern. It is worth making a visit to Munder-Skiles showroom in Garrison, New York, an hour North of New York City to see the 150 customizable designs in metal and wood.

 Photo courtesy of Munder-Skiles

The Almodington Bench 

X-Back Bench

The Fenlake pattern

The Amish Table with Hemmings Chair

 The Hemmings Chair with folding Kelso table

The Baldwin pattern

 The Aiken Sectional

MELAMINE GETS A MAKEOVER: JOHN DERIAN MAKES FANCY FRENCH PATTERNS FOR THE PEOPLE

Call it Melamania. I have it. A love of melamine that comes on strong every summer. John Derian's newly launched collection of plastic plate designs set it in motion.  

Elevating the act of eating outside, classic French Faience pottery designs have migrated onto plastic. Derian, known for creating decoupage plates and accessories out of old book drawings and artwork gets it right with these four French designs, and they even have the high and low relief that make them feel like the real thing.  Originally, the earthenware was produced in Luneville, France in the mid 1700's.  Just don't stick these in the microwave, they won't like it. 

Tres chic. Bon appetite.

Photos courtesy of John Derian
Raised at the rim, the Fleurs Isolees Dinner Plate has a sweet bloom and leaf design. If you love flowers this pattern is for you with the traditional tulips and roses.

Faience Italo-Nivernais Melamine Plate with a naive scenic band and center, all in blue and white.

Birds, butterflies and blooms dance around the border of the salad plate in Faience a la Corne

With the Faience Slice Charger in a generous size, blue and white always looks right. It mixes with other colors well and the symmetrical petal sections filled with scroll work have a charm that look old world yet fresh. I recall loving this plate in decoupage, now I can spring for more than just one.