Monday, April 30, 2012

The Orchid Lady



I decided to take a break today from High Point Market Post and introduce you to an amazing lady I had the honor of meeting recently.  Her name is Pamela Lovett, but I am going to call her "The Orchid Lady".  Pamela is multi talented.  She has worked as an interior designer in Florida, painter of decorative finishes and angels.   Pamela also has a beautiful home and collection of lovely things.  She and her husband are parents  to six beautiful children.  She lives here in Charlotte, so if you need beautiful orchid arrangements she is the person to know!  She has many ready made arrangements but can custom make arrangements.  Pamela is a little dynamo.  If you met her on the street you would never guess the creativity and beauty that abound in her home.  Get ready to be amazed....




A feast for the eyes! When you enter the foyer you are immediately greeted by this beautiful shell encrusted console with a rusty tin container filled with orchids and greenery.  The day I was there the entire house was filled with music and light.  





Painting three angels by Pamela's friend Jana Mullin.  




I couldn't resist this bromeliad with fuchsia orchids in a silver leaf container. 



Her home is so beautiful.  The living room is painted an ethereal
 tiffany blue with lots of white.  Everywhere you look there is something worthy of
conversation.  Pamela painted the angel painting on the left wall.  





Close up of angel painting...




Another view of the living room. Beautiful painting oner the mantle...




Another view...



Close up of the orchid on the coffee table.  I loved the large piece of wood in front of the fireplace with the moss and succulents tucked through the holes.  





Her grande whites are magnificent.  She guarantees them for 90 days...




On either side of the fireplace is a silver leaf mirror with an orchid in 
an outdoor container placed in front.  




 Every corner is filled with eye candy!






On the opposite wall from the fireplace is this beautiful shell mirror.  





Pamela also has very dramatic Christian art like this breath taking picture of Jesus
 holding a lamb.  The orange outline makes the painting come alive.  
You can feel the electricity in the painting.  




Close up of the orchid on the coffee table in front of the painting of Jesus.




Orchids in the hallway...




A "Ralph Lauren-esque" room filled with orchids.  



Left side of the room features an antique gold mirror and two alcoves with art



Better view of the mirror with paintings of dancers on the hearth..



one of the niches on the right side of the fireplace...




Pamela's collection of blue and white porcelain is placed in the opposite wall's shelving.




More beautiful orchids.  Don't you love the containers?  She uses very
special containers for all of her arrangements.



A closeup of the graceful swan arrangement...


 

Va va voom....the coffeetable arrangement!  Orchids, bromeliads, and other greenery in an antique wooden crate!  Yes, please....


 

Another view.... breath taking....yes?



How cool is this arrangement in the dining room?
Ok, so this was the point, where I realized I was really in trouble....
How could I leave without taking several?  It was like they were all orphans and I was Mother Theresa...of course they needed to come home with me!


Three stately orchids she made for the Room to Bloom event that featured
Celerie Kemble at the Mint Museum




A lovely basketful of orchids with moss...



Gorgeous white in silver bowl...are you spying that killer table?


This was another favorite.  Who can't resist a basketful of orchid love with
 succulents around the base?




This is the beauty I got for a friend.... love, love the container!
Do you see the beautiful tile wall in the background?  Yes, I am slayed!
 

The breakfast room with birds at one end, killer cupboard, and table with upholstered chairs.
Opposite this wall, is a chalkboard painted wall, where the entire family leaves messages.



View from the kitchen into the family room...He is watching...


This painting is amazing.  It was done at an event Pamela held at her house where a gospel choir sang and an artist painted.  No one knew till he painted the eyes what he was painting.  I will have to find out the artist's name.  You can feel him staring at you...



I am the proud new owner of this beauty....


Meet the lovely lady who is responsible for all this beauty....

 
I hope you enjoyed meeting Pamela.  If you need orchids please email me and I will give you her information.  She has orchid shows in her home so if you want to get on the list let me know.  I promise you will feel the beauty of creating among the walls of her home! 
It must be a little like being in the Garden of Eden!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Mr and Mrs Howard For Sherrill Furniture Debuts in High Point April 2012


Jim and Phoebe Howard's new line of furniture, Mr and Mrs Howard for Sherrill Furniture, made its debut this market.  It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to High Point International Furniture Market.  This was a partnership created in Heaven. The thoughtfully designed line of upholstery and case goods reveals once again how attention to detail creates beautiful furniture.  Traditional and classical sensibilities updated in current finishes, crisp colors schemes and elegantly designed furniture.  This line and showroom was definitely a well thought out product through and through.  



 When entering the showroom, the first room's walls featured hand painted designs which is a signature look Phoebe has used in some of her client projects.  The showroom had a mix of the new items along with  antiques and other items from their Charlotte retail store inventory, Mrs. Howard.  I was going to edit the photographs but decided to share all that I took.  As you will see, it is hard to decide which room and items are a favorite because each is special in its own way.  The first room was a living room with a beautiful antique pine mantel flanked with starburst mirror and accented with blue and white vases.  



Two elgomise tiled alcoves were on either side of the fireplace.
I especially liked the Han Dynasty table with the blue and white vases.


Close up of the painted wall design which was painted on all the walls in this room.
Trees and birds painted in a tonal design.  


A living room vignette featuring a beautiful velvet sofa, 



Great paris cocktail table in light cream vellum adds an updated 
look to this otherwise traditional look. 



Notice the details on the chair skirt were not only the border but also the added pleats at the corner.  Every detail was very well executed.  In "Phoebe" style there were lots of linens, velvets and trims. 


The pierced fretwork on this round side table made this simple table interesting and 
was presented in a perfect size for so many applications.


Arles Dining Table in Limewood with washed linen chairs with nailhead trim
created an inviting dining area.  Note the graceful cure of the table's edge.



Loved these screens. They gave the room balance and kept it from being too feminine.
More blue and white porcelain on the antique pine side board.


Oh Lowboy in griege is perfect here as an accent but would be equally great bedside.


The gallery painted in Benjamin Moore AF-505 Blue Echo Lacquer was
breathtaking.  The collection of botanicals gave you the feeling of being in a garden.


Another view of the gallery's opposite wall reveals photography of a garden which further enforces the garden theme in this area.  



The perfect size Hourglass dining table with a 54" diameter that extends to 74" with leaf.
Perfect for small dining area or as a game table.


Masculine and perfect for the bar area



A handsome vignette in grey.  Loved the french grosgrain on the walls with nailheads. 


Up close detail of the nail head trim with alternating size and type of nail heads...




The Phoenix slab cocktail table packs a dynamic punch in bordeaux grigio. 
48"x48" in size, this table is a showstopper.


Love the shape of this swivel chair...


The Chamfered bed pays tribute to the poster beds of the past but with an updated
 slender and square post.  Very graceful and elegant. 



Vienna side table in black.





Beautiful ottoman flanking the fireplace with art mounted to create balance
and serenity in the room.


On either side of the fireplace were alcoves with these beautiful mirrors and
chests.  Great as accent chest but would also be wonderful bedside chests.



The sitting area in the bedroom.


As you walked down the hallway, this oval dining room draws you in.  I could hardly take notice of the room I was standing in, because I wanted to walk ahead to see what this room was all about.  It did not disappoint.  The art you see in the photograph was mounted the same way all around the room.  It was everything a dining room should be.  This room was warm, encapsulating and comfortable with the right amount of layered interest.  



The poster spool bed was the star of this room.  The benches at the foot of the bed were
handsome additions to the room as well.



Beautifully designed bedside chest in lighter finish.



The Lisbon library table in linwood finish was tucked in a corner of the bedroom.  It is perfect as a desk but would great in a living area with two of the webb natural ottomans underneath.



You could feel the drama of the dark walls when you entered this room with light upholstered furniture.  Note the concave side table in the driftwood finish.  It has a pull out tray which I think is a much needed feature for the perfect bedside chest.  




Close up of the round tables painted finish.  


 

A fabulous chaise which Stylespotter, Tobi Fairley chose for one of her picks for market trends.




Pops of orange and brown in this vignette...




The paris cocktail table in another finish..




Love these webb natural ottomans with dressmaker skirts


Items from Mrs Howard, the store.



 I don't know if it was because this room was filled with light unlike the other rooms in this showroom but this room was so warm and happy.  



More dressmaker details on this lovely swivel chair..



Society coffee table is a work of art.  Proof that every room benefits from a touch of black.




This vignette featured a tufted back linen sofa, beautiful oval ottoman and a well placed collection of Tommy Mitchell's beautiful tole flowers.  I am featuring him on the blog next week.
His work is amazing.  I spent time at market talking to Tommy and his lovely wife.  



Rennies Side table in washed linen with shelves for all the books!  




A pair of the Wm IV Library Table flanked the door in this room



Brighton Pedestal 60" diameter table.  This was one of Traci Zeller's stylespotter picks!
I must say it is beautiful.  I loved the chairs too!






I also had the opportunity to purchase one of Phoebe Howard's new books
The Joy of Decorating which included one of her "favorites" paint chart and a paint schedule for all the finishes in the showroom!  If you would like to purchase this awesome book you can from Amazon here!  It is definitely one you will want for your collection!


I hope you enjoyed the tour through the new Mr and Mr Howard showroom.  Their partnership with Sherrill furniture is sure to be a hit.  When you pair good design with quality furniture how can you miss?  I say kudos to The Howards and Sherrill for creating a line that is certain to be a best seller.