Happy Halloween!

One of my favorite holidays of the year!  

I love getting dressed up and trick or treat with my kids!  

Here is a fun pic of my great nieces & nephew 

that's sure to make you smile....

Photography by CharlesAnna Williams Photography

Lilly Kate &  Anna Mills 

Photography by CharlesAnna Williams Photography

Cupcake, Halloween Ballerina & Pirate!

Hope the ghost and goblins don't get you!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

These Boots Are Made for Walking....

I'm zipping up my boots and heading out the door to High Point for my second day at market. Yesterday I was in Chapel Hill for part of the day working with a client, but stopped by High Point on my way home to source some furniture for another client.  I realized when I got there that I had forgotten my market badge!  Big oops!  Well, good for me that I was going places people knew me, so I was able to get in all the showrooms I needed to work in.  High Point was full of energy!  When I go between markets, it is like a ghost town!  It is so fun to see all the people there during market week.  There are lots of international visitors as well as locals like me.  I am out the door now with badge in hand and hope to see my entire list (which by the way...never happens)  Here is something I hope to see today...

Tobi Fairley's new home collection in collaboration

 with Hickory Chair.  Aren't these pillows great?

Here is a picture I found on Pinterest of the Hickory Chair 

showroom with Tobi's Home collection....

  I promise to take good pics and report back tomorrow!  Market is grueling but oh so inspiring!  Can't wait to share with you the new trends and all the fabulous things I find!

So stay tuned!

Come on Baby Light My Fire....

Falls here and one of our favorite things to do is build a fire!  There is something special about a warm fire when the weather gets crisp!   My husband doesn't allow gas logs, so we always stock up on wood for fires.  Yes, it is messy but we love it!  We have a fire almost every night in the winter.  Our fireplace isn't anything unusual, just an ordinary fire place but I did find some photos of some killer ones I wanted to share with you.  Here are some pretty cool indoor fireplaces.  A little different....

 Love the wood on this one.....

 and this one...who said it had to be brick or stone?  also L-O-V-E the candles.

 Of course some people don't like fires, they choose to do other things with their fireplace.  After all, it is the focal point of most rooms.  If you don't like fires, here are a couple of things you can do with your fireplace to keep it from looking sad and lonely....

Don't you love the twigs in this one....

this one is especially appropriate for this time of year.....

if you would like a little fire but not the mess, here is another great idea for this time of year....

or if you want something different, why not try fireballs....

via

you must have a burner underneath but I personally think these are pretty cool....

via

you can also have fire glass.  toppers can be purchased to make your fire

 glass different colors, how cool is this.....

via

 of course if i had my druthers....

....all i can say is wow!

(all photos from pinterest unles noted)

I know, I know...you can't have everything, but a girl can dream can't she?

  one thing is for sure....

dering hall....

As a designer, interested in market trends, new products and what other designers are creating, I enjoy reading blogs, shelter magazines and sourcing online.  Brooke Giannetti, of Velvet and Linen, introduced me to a new website called Dering Hall.  It is a website that features the works and products of well known designers and architects.    You can sign up to "follow" your favorites.  If you find things you like, you can always "pin it" to Pinterest for later referral.  Here are pictures from some of my favorite designers featured.....

Dering Hall

 Giannetti Home

Brooke and her husband, Steve have become a well known partnership.  He is the architect and she is the designer of Giannetti Home.  There work is breath taking.  They have a new book out called "Patina Style", which is one of my favorite new reads!

Victoria Hagan

Victoria Hagan, is  well known for her crisp, clean interiors.  Based out of NYC, Victoria has a beautiful line of fabrics and furniture available which is available "to the trade".  

 Elizabeth Dinkel

Elizabeth is from Los Angeles, CA.  Her interiors are known for their classic style and creative use of color. Here she has created a fun children's room with whimsical Jonathan Adler wall lamps, and accents of bright blue.

 Andrew Law Interior Design

Andrew Law of Washington, DC is known for his clean, timeless designs as shown above.

  Frank Ponterio, Chicago, IL

The modern ease of Frank Ponterio's design gives a nod to historical reference and at the same time adds a modern sensibility to his timeless interiors. 

 Celerie Kemble, Kembell Interiors

Celerie Kemble, grew up in design by following her mother, who is an interior designer in Palm Beach.   Harvard educated, Celerie is a much publicized designer, who runs a very successful NYC firm. Her philosophy of design and life:

"In life as in design, it is not perfection you should be after.  There's beauty in the faded and worn, the well loved, and the sentimental...After all, life has seams. Your home should be like a loosely woven fabric of desires, memories, practical, notions, and even compromises."  - Celerie Kemble

Suzanne Rheinstein
Suzanne opened her shop, Hollyhock, in Los Angeles, CA, 20 years ago because she wanted to provide things that couldn't be found in the area.  From her retail shop, she has created a very successful design practice and is well known for her timeless interiors.  She says her shop is known for the handmade items and the people who appreciate them.  

John Derian Co.

John Derian is an artist, who is well known for his decoupage plates, platters and unique things.  He has a lovely store in NYC, which kept me very occupied on my last trip to NYC.  

(all photographs courtesy of Dering Hall)

Enjoy browsing and inspiring yourself to create lovely interiors....

Motivational Monday....

It's going to be a quick work week so I have to make every second count,

won't you join me....

Via Shannon Darrough

Fab -u-lous Fall Friday!!!!

My bags are packed, I ready to go....

Off to the mountains with my peeps....

I'm taking some warm clothes but nothing with heels,

couldn't resist throwing this in through, cause she looks

oh, so sheik!

 Here are a few great mountain houses for inspiration,

I'll try to photograph the house we are staying in if my friend will allow...

and as Dr. Seuss would say....

Whatever you are doing today, remember to make it a great day.....

(sorry the images are so small, they were all a little blurry and i'm in a hurry,

so better small than not at all, right?)

(all image via pinterest)

Festive Fall Breakfast!

Julian Michaels is my hero!  I love her!  I get her emails and day dream about how I am going work out and look like her!  I have all her exercise videos! Yup, all of them!  I have her books, yup, all of them. I bought her vitamins, yup, all of them...Oh well, guess that's never going to happen considering she is about 10 years younger than me to start with and I never looked like that 10 years ago.  A girl can dream though, can't she?   I keep trying to figure out how I am going to lose these 10 lbs I gained over the last two years.   It all comes down to two things...diet and exercise!  Yep, that's it folks!  You gotta eat less and exercise more! The older you get the less you can eat!  Some how I have it backwards...seems I have been exercising less and eating more.  I gotta figure this thing out before the holidays get here.  I always gain over the holidays (which by the way, are only 73 days away!)  Today is the beginning of my "get fit" journey!  I am not going to bore you with the details.  I'll check in from time to time to share my progress. The first thing I have to do is get off this computer and get my butt on my treadmill for an hour!  After that I need to lift some weight and then... I am going in the kitchen to mix up a batch of these delicious looking muffins.  Wonder if I can eat just one....

Here is Julian Michael's idea of a festive fall breakfast!

I have to admit, it looks like a lot of carbs and fat, but it must be ok if Julian says so!

Sounds yummy! Perfect with a cup of black coffee!   

Master This Muffin Recipe

Forget about the sugary candy corn and caramel-covered apples — these muffins are one of my favorite healthy fall treats. Whip up a batch of these over the weekend, then freeze a bunch to eat sporadically over the next few weeks. Adding a new breakfast item into your weekly meals is a great way to start a new season. And remember, to get more nutritional bang for your calorie buck, you can substitute whole-wheat flour for all-purpose flour — and if you can find it, organic raw honey is your best bet. Enjoy waking your taste buds up to fall with these muffins!  If you make them, let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Harvest Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 cup pumpkin, packed solidly
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Preparation

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg; set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter until light; beat in honey, egg and pumpkin. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just blended; stir in walnuts.

Spoon into 12 greased or paper-lined 2-1/2 inch muffin cups. Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove muffins from pan to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 12 servings

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins

Nutrition Facts
Number of Servings: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 226
Total Fat: 10 g
Cholesterol: 10 mg
Sodium: 251 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 32 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 5 g 

Go Big or Go Home!

Always scale up, not down. Everyone is terrified of making things too big
 - if in doubt make it bigger, not smaller.
          - Roger Banks-Pye, Colefax and Fowler Interior Inspirations

When deciding on the width or diameter of a chandelier for a room, the "rule of thumb" is to take the length and width of the room and add together or half the width of your table.  As far as the height, well that is determined by your ceiling height and the amount of distance you hang the chandelier above your table.  Again, rule of thumb is 30"-36" above the table.  Do you have to stick to the rules?

I say to get the maximum impact  and add drama to the room, 

go as big as you can!  Here are some examples...

Consider adding more than one....

via

The more the merrier....

via

The plates and the lanterns add a punch of color to this otherwise white kitchen

and become the focal points in the room..

via

Can I say "wow"!!!  This chandelier fills the space so well and 

adds major drama to this room...

via

Tobi Fairley does it so well with this large red lantern.....

via

Chandeliers are the "bling" of the room, so don't be afraid to go big...

after all, who doesn't need a little more bling in life.....

It's all about the layers.....

This Fall the more layers the better, so go ahead and layer it on...

(all images from pinterest)

Decoration should be integral to the shape and structure of furniture and buildings, not simply applied without regard to their overall form. Each year I add to the number of ways I decorate; the same surface can have several techniques layered over one another.
              - James Evanson, Artist, Architect and Furniture Designer

-sorry for the grainy quality of the photos, it's been a really busy week for me, i am off this morning to chapel hill, to work on the house.  wish me luck....

Let's get this out of the way...

Today was a sad day for me....

Steve Jobs died....

What else is there to say...

I love my Apple, iPad, iMac, iPod, iPhone

I love Steve Jobs!

I admire this man!  He was the epitome of cool!

I think about his kids, his wife, his extended family....

Here's to you Steve Jobs

The world is a better place because of you...

You took lemons and made lemonade.  Most people

who developed a product and then were fired from it

would have been negative about it but not you...

you said it was the best thing that ever happened to you!!!

So heres to you Steve Jobs!  May you rest in eternity!

The quality not the longevity of one's life, is  what is important...

Dr. Martin Luther King