Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Have you Heard?
The inestimable Grant Gibson is having a sale at One King's Lane from July 24th-26th!
I think many of us know and love some items from his own apartment that will be included, such as this oval portrait.
Or this gorgeous dining room chair! Also included in the sale will be 15 beautiful b&w framed photographs from his travels.
Probably the thing I'm most excited for (that you'll have to beat me to) are these sumptuous pillows! Good luck and happy shopping!
Bastille Day Announcement
Since today is Bastille Day (or Fete Nationale as it's known as in France), Heather from Habitually Chic and I thought it was the perfect time to announce our trip to Paris in early September!
We had talked for months about wanting to go visit Versailles and you can't do that without visiting Paris! We plan on staying in the city with at least a day devoted to exploring Verailles. Another must of course are the fleamarkets! I can't wait :-)
Of course, I'm most excited though about visiting the Petit Trianon which i've blogged about several times in the past. I hope that by the time i'm in my dotage I'll be an expert on the small chateau and this is just the start :-)
the theater at Versailles
the theater at VersaillesWe have a lot of exciting things planned to share with all of you, but I hope you can share with us as well. Are there any 'musts' we should do on this, our first trip to the city of lights?
Beaches
I'm off on a jet plane to somewhere cool and wet for a much needed break. I'll leave you with some of my pictures of the beaches in California I saw last month - aren't they breathtaking? 
The above photos are from route 1 through the Big Sur, a trip I would recommend to anyone. Remember to rent a convertible, it's worth it! Just DRIVE SLOWLY!
Above and below are Carmel Bay -with Pebble beach seen above across the water. The Pacific might be too cold to really swim, but it's certainly beautiful.
I've gone through one of the toughest months imaginable but I suppose thats all part of growing up. I'll hopefully be back in a week renewed, restored and ready to get back to blogging regularly! Have a great week!
I've gone through one of the toughest months imaginable but I suppose thats all part of growing up. I'll hopefully be back in a week renewed, restored and ready to get back to blogging regularly! Have a great week!Bonsai Bonanza
Many thanks to the Midwest Bonsai Society for choosing a photograph (with permission) from my post on the National Bonsai Museum back in April. It was so exciting for me to see this photograph in use! Who said blogging wasn't fun......If you're in the Chicago area, stop by to see the 33rd annual exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Garden later this month, August 20-22nd.
SPACES Kansas City
Many thanks to David Jimenez for including me in his article on color stories in the June/July 2010 issue of Spaces Kansas City Magazine. Not only is David a talented designer (see his beautiful portfolio here), he is a VP at Hallmark Cards, Inc and in his spare time writes for a magazine; Wow, now I feel lazy!
The article is really useful for anyone who is thinking about painting a room with tips from practical application to color options. In the 2nd half of the article, he asks some bloggers we all know and love for their opinions (cleverly typed out in the very colors we recommend!).
I recommended the use of a lovely warm French gray."A paint color I have used in three separate projects now (including my last apartment) and really love is the absolute perfect French gray color: Scroll Beige by Glidden. It's color that changes throughout the day but remains crisp and architectural - the perfect neutral. Pair it with white moldings and you have an amazing space."
Many thanks to David and SPACES for including me!
Thanks Paris Hotel Boutique!
I have long been an admirer of the online retailer Paris Hotel Boutique. When Cote de Texas offered a giveaway of two of their items I jumped at the chance to register!
I was so excited when I actually won! I chose an antique silver dish marked from the Alexander Young hotel. It's so incredibly heavy, beautiful and pretty large too!
I'm happy to report that the item arrived well-packaged and extremely quick. I plan on adding the company to my list of retailers I check out on a regular basis. You never know who you are buying from in online auctions so it's nice to know this is a reputable online dealer.
For now I have the dish living on my coffee table where it really has become the star! Thanks to Joni and also to Paris Hotel Boutique!!Just because it's pretty
Do we bloggers always need a reason to post pretty pictures? I for one don't think so. Sometimes we (or at least I) go to a museum simply to see something pretty and not neccesarily to learn anything. Is that too honest? 
If you need another reason, it's my birthday; A little pretty is required. Shown here are some period rooms and furnishings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
A bust of Louis XV at the age of 47 by Lemoyne and presented to his mistress, Madame de Pompadour (beat that portrait to your mistress, Congressman Weiner)
I show a lot of pictures of chandeliers on my blog I'm starting to realize. Would you believe I don't even own one myself?
Gilded lit a la duchesse (or flying tester bed) by Georges Jacob. Enjoy!
A bust of Louis XV at the age of 47 by Lemoyne and presented to his mistress, Madame de Pompadour (beat that portrait to your mistress, Congressman Weiner)
I show a lot of pictures of chandeliers on my blog I'm starting to realize. Would you believe I don't even own one myself?
Gilded lit a la duchesse (or flying tester bed) by Georges Jacob. Enjoy!ArchitectDesign in CA
Next week for my birthday, I'll be traveling to the west coast to the fabulous places shown here.
A day trip to San Simeon (aka the Hearst castle, the indoor pool seen in the top photo) was the catalyst for the whole vacation. I wanted to spend my 30th birthday doing something fabulous -whats more extraordinary than a fairytale castle along the ocean!
Exploring San Franciso, the Filoli mansion and Carmel are on the agenda, can you recommend any other must-sees or restaurants in particular?
Of course I also plan on staying at a few fabulous hotels that I can't wait to share with you all :-)Blogger inspiration
I feel a bit uninspired lately, I have to apologize for that. I want to thank the kind people who have emailed me to make sure I'm ok: I'm fine and just a bit pre-occupied! Hopefully the weekend will rejuvenate my blogging sensitibilites and 'think different' as this old Mac ad proclaims with the divine Callas. I hope her singing will inspire you this weekend!Blogger Tea Party
This past Saturday I hosted local design bloggers for a meet'n greet High Tea at my apartment. A few of us had met before, but it was so great to be in one room all together. We are trying to keep up our blogging social meeting once a month - power to the DC bloggers!
Here you see Beth of Style Redux and Chinoiserie Chic serving champagne to the guests.Only a blogger can know how fun these online friendships can be. We get to share our design passions and interests online daily with one another and it's fun to bring these into real life conversations!
Michele from My Notting Hill poses by the drinks station. Champagne, lemonade, sparkling water, tea and coffee were the drinks of the day.
Allie from Summer is a verb took some artistic shots of the tea table, which she thinks are blurry but I think are more impressionist!
Strawberry shortcake, croissants, tea sandwiches and some other snacks all proved popular!
The spread before.......
And the spread afterwards -chaos and empty plates show that everyone had their fill! I used my Harebell by Coalport china for most of everything, but couldn't resist using a plate from my strawberry cream service by Royal Doulton for the tea sandwiches to go along with the strawberry theme!
The peonies even got some showtime in the bathroom - I put one single flower in a bud vase to liven up the sink.
As little 'host' gifts, I gave away my favorite carrotcake cupcakes from Georgetown cupcake -a nice little treat for the ride home :-) Hopefully this will encourage you to meet some of your local blog buddies!
And the spread afterwards -chaos and empty plates show that everyone had their fill! I used my Harebell by Coalport china for most of everything, but couldn't resist using a plate from my strawberry cream service by Royal Doulton for the tea sandwiches to go along with the strawberry theme! Whats a sign of a good party? Empty champagne bottles and glasses litter the coffee table!
Also in attendance was Scott from Domicidal Maniac (who I've known since early college days and motivated me to start blogging),
Thomas from My White Shirt,
Janet from JCB
and last but not least, Abby from Semigloss Chic
The peonies even got some showtime in the bathroom - I put one single flower in a bud vase to liven up the sink.As little 'host' gifts, I gave away my favorite carrotcake cupcakes from Georgetown cupcake -a nice little treat for the ride home :-) Hopefully this will encourage you to meet some of your local blog buddies!Participant in Tablescape Thursdays!
ArchitectDesign interview
Check out my interview by Samantha on We Love DC for some of my thoughts on architecture in DC. 
Thanks for the opportunity, Sam! Check out her blog, Pretty Lovely Things.Finally Framed
You may remember I was talking about framing the sketch Patricia at PVE drew for my blog header, seen here. Well, I finally got it back from the framer and it looks fantastic! I chose an ebonized frame in an architectural acanthus leaf pattern which I felt grounded the drawing and matte as well as relate to the subject.
I had it framed at L'Eclat de Verre in Cady's Alley near my office in Georgetown. I would highly recommend them based on their selection, friendliness and affordability.
I think the added 'Lavis' or French Lines, drawn around the French Panel done with marbelized paper really add a lot to Patricia's beautiful drawing -what do you think based on the progression? It now has a proud spot on my gallery wall.And don't forget the picture hanging hardware.
Lilacs and a Thank You!
I want to thank Michele of My Notting Hill for naming my blog among her favorites in a fantastic interview done by Emily Leaman at Washingtonian magazine! Read the entire article HERE: she has some great solutions for common design problems that I think everyone will appreciate. 
All of our April showers have brought us beautiful May flowers! These are some fragrant lilacs I picked up tonight, aren't they beautiful!
Save our Urban Centers!
While reading this months Preservation magazine (magazine of the national trust for historic presevation) I came across a plea to save a bank by Louis Sullivan (whom I've blogged about recently here). Of course, Sullivan is a great architect. He was a key innovator in the modern movement and was mentor to such great architects as Frank Lloyd Wright and generations of students. However, I think this is bigger than just this one bank and I'm really upset! Of course, I'm going to blog about my feelings on the matter and I hope you take the time to read this unusually wordy post from me!
Our nation's cities were decimated by city planners in the 50s-70s. They are only now beginning to regain a little strengh and the sense of place they once had thanks to preservation efforts. The powers that be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa are planning on destroying what is left of their historic urban center as well as a NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE in a strategy they feel is a cost effective way to combat nature (building levees). 
One of the fundamentals of urban planning is to work with what the land is giving you, in many cases to the advantage of the city! Look at places who have prominently featured rivers and waterways in their recent revitalizations: Chicago, Austin, Pittsburgh, Providence and others are feeling the benefits of creative solutions. Older cities that are based on water management also prove to be popular and successful: Stockholm and Vienna as examples. What do we know about levees? Well...look at how well they worked in New Orleans. Is that a long term or even a creative solution?
So much good work has been happening in the past 20 years to save our nation's architectural heritage as well as our urban cores; to let Cedar Rapids continue on this OUTDATED path of destruction is monstrous. PLEASE join with me and sign the petition to make city planners of Cedar Rapids, Iowa consider alternative ways to manage flood waters and save their urban core! Sign the petition online HERE, I have!
Thanks to Hello Beautiful blog and Fred Camper for letting me use the photographs of the bank.
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