What's under your cushions?

A lot of time, effort and resources go into creating and purchasing an upholstered piece of furniture. Under all of my cushions I keep a small, white terry towel laid flat so that in the event of an accidental spill I can grab one quickly. Spills never occur when we expect or when we have something appropriate to wipe up a textile. I've seen stains on furniture that were not the result of the initial spill, but rather what was grabbed first and use to blot up the liquid.

I use these Ikea towels and at $.49 they are the perfect size (16" x 24") and the perfect price for "rags."

What simple tip do you have to share? 

Wild Horses

Last night I attended a reception for notable photographer, Roberto Dutesco, at the fairly new Samuel Owen Gallery in Greenwich, CT.

Roberto Dutesco spent time on isolated Sable Island off the coast of Novia Scotia, Canada photographing feral horses. This particular image was my favorite!

Leaf

Not only has Roberto photographed these gorgeous creatures, he has been behind the lense shooting images of Linda Evangelista, Christie Turlington and Naomi Campbell, hence the name of this piece.

Linda, Christie and Naomi

Run

Fury

Pride

Hair

Equestrian or not, one of these images would be quite stunning in a home. Lee and Cindy Milazzo are the married duo who run and own this upscale gallery. Next time you are in Greenwich stop by the gallery!  

Hamptontoes, Lee Milazzo

My take on artwork is raw, very organic...does the artwork speak to me, does it engage me in thought and do I like the piece regardless of its intrinsic (or lack thereof) value or worth? What is it that you look for when shopping for artwork?

Printing quality photos inexpensively

Last weekend I took my children and my daughter's friend to the beach. The girls were walking in front of me and my son. Unbeknownst to them I snapped this adorable shot! Because of this image, I just placed an order to freshen up the photos in our Hamptons home.

5 year olds - Amagansett, NY

Photos tell a story about the homeowner. Who they are, where they have traveled, who their circle of friends are, family vacations they've experienced and priceless captured moments. 

People often ask me where I get photos printed. I upload my images from home and for a cost of $1.49 per 8 x 10 image I grab them on my next visit to Costco. 

Do you have a few quintessential photos that always stay framed, otherwise updating others? Do you have an inexpensive source for getting images printed?

A day in the life

When it comes to creating interior spaces, I use a wide range of resources but lean heavily towards to-the-trade offerings. The D & D (Design & Decoration Building (to-the-trade) offers 18 stories of showrooms to fill the demands of any assignment. Here's a behind the scenes look at the inspiration I get from a day at the D & D.

Edelman Leather is always my first stop for an amazing selection of luxurious leathers. The offerings are almost endless.

 

Kravet is known to always have eye catching vignettes. Love the upholstered wall!

Ralph Lauren is always a treat to visit. His interiors are as timeless, sophistication and chic as his fashions and his own sense of style.

Love the gold pillows and throw paired with the classic blue and white. Very striking!

Zoffany is one of my absolute favorite resources for wallcoverings, but their textiles and lighting are just as amazing! I like the subtlety of the female and male lamps, they would be amazing on bedside tables - sort of marking his and her side of the bed!

Schumacher wallcoverings are another favorite of mine!  

Since the D & D is to-the-trade only, I know that not everyone can go to there, so my next Day in the Life post will be about retail favorites. Do you have go-to favs when you are creating an interior space?  

America's Largest Home

Recently I was in Asheville, North Carolina and no trip there is complete without a visit to the Biltmore, America's largest single family home. George Vanderbilt's 250 room French chateau was completed in 1895 and it's still owned by the Vanderbilt family, although not occupied by them. 

Can you imagine this as your vacation home?

Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedroom. 

 

Mr. Vanderbilt's bedroom.

The breakfast room. The ceiling is stunning! I'd love a fireplace in a dining space!   

All of the above photos are from the Biltmore library and are used with permission by the Biltmore.

The Biltmore makes a visit with youngsters enjoyable with their "I spy" game throughout the home. My five year old loved it so much that I had to make up an "I spy" for every room, even though there wasn't really one for each space. 

Afterwards, the gardens and sculptures were admired. I felt like I was visiting a world class botanical garden. Amazing!

This place is a gem in our history, I highly recommend a visit! I've been four times and each time I leave inspired by a new discovery. It is never the same experience twice. Have you been to the Biltmore? What is it about grand old homes that inspire you?