Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

My sister, who is only 14 months younger than me and my only sibling, is due with her first (a girl) at any moment. My niece will be a little NYC Upper East Side princess (the sweet, down-to-earth, but effortlessly chic kind, of course) as her first home address is Madison Avenue, just a block from the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Her Royal Highness will return from the hospital, wrapped in an organic cotton one-sie, and be placed in a beautiful room that sits ready for her arrival.  My sister's vision, combined with countless hours of research and contemplation, has finally become a reality with a beautiful nursery, worthy of a feature in any design magazine or blog.  The bold coral, combined with rich golds and yellows, soft creams, and a crisp white, make the nursery playful, yet sophisticated.  The dresses are pressed and hung, the diapers are folded, the pillows are fluffed...and my family is ready to meet her.

Here are some pictures of my sister's creation.

A little chick-a-dee mobile for my sister's little chick-a-dee's delight

The changing table has a removeable tray on top so it easily converts to a dresser

this upholstered chair is also a comfy glider 

a day bed for mom or dad to catch a few zzz's when the baby sleeps
(I love the Beatrix Potter bookends holding her first books)

she has a pretty monogram, of course I'm biased with an "E"

Sources:  carpet (Stark); crib and changing dresser ("Celine Collection" by Newport Cottages); crib bedding (Lulla Smith); crib corona fabric, day bed linens, and throw pillows (Lulu DK for Matouk); glider chair and ottoman (Angel Song); stuffed animals (Bla Bla and Bunnies by the Bay)

Ahoy Matey!

(mividabonita) 

One of my favorite Samantha Jones' quotes from "Sex and The City" is when she spies handsome navy officers walking down the street during NYC's Fleet Week. Taking off her dark shades, she announces, "Ahoy Matey!"

I grew up in Central Virginia, and thus my husband dubs me "a land lubber." While he spent his summers sailing in North Carolina, I prefered the dry ground of hunt country on the back of horse.  But despite my propensity for land over sea, I fully admit I'm looking forward to living near the water in Norfolk (the city sits at 3" above sea level).  I plan to draw decorating inspiration from my coastal surroundings and to me there is nothing more crisp than the classic combination of navy and white.  The nautical color palate is preppy, whimsical and it doesn't have to be reserved for a child's room, if done tastefully.  I'm going to cast my decorating net wide to incorporate a few seafaring accents in our first house.

(modernwingchairs.com)

(Laura Casey Interiors)

you can create your own pillow on his website
(Johnathan Adler)

The "Nautical Room" within a home in River Dunes, NC
(Coastal Living)

crisp white chair and desk
(brightboldandbeautiful)

a pair of navy chairs in velvet

Trunk Show

Richard Avedon photography

My favorite animal has always been the elephant. They are majestic and graceful relative to their enormous size, and they have better memories and display true humanistic emotions more than most creatures in the kingdom.  Flipping through the winter issue of Luxe magazine this weekend, I found this porcelain urn by French artist Jean Boggio.

My earliest indicator of my love of elephants is recalled by my parents when they took me to see Disney's "Dumbo" in the theater.  I was four-years old and apparently I could not bare the scene when Dumbo is separated from him mother.  Despite attempts to keep her little son with enormous ears by her side, she is helpless to the circus' metal shackles and Dumbo is torn away, sold to another circus.  I became hysterical, and crying ran out of the theater, flinging myself on the lobby floor.  I never finished watching "Dumbo" that day and scarred for life, I adamently boycotted Barnum & Bailey and began collecting elephants.  Throughout the years, friends and family have bestowed upon me many elephant-themed gifts.  I have over 30 minatures mainly attributed to my grandmother.  She has travelled the world--literally every continent--and whenever she saw a pacaderm figurine she would purchase it for me.

gold elephant necklace
my friend in NYC found it at a street vendor in the city for me

I have collected pictures of elephants in fashion photography for my inspiration book.  They include Richard Avedon's famous photos (see above), Keira Knightly with a baby elephant from Vogue, and a photo of an elephant in front of a gorgeous facade in Paris.

Vogue June 2007

Here are some pieces I'm trumpetting for the home.


a carved wood elephant carries the weight in this airy sun room
(decorpad.com)

gilded bookends take a set of novels Out of Africa
(amazon images)

Thomas Paul Bali red pillow adds pop to a white chair
(apartmentherapy.com)

never forgt your luggage with this tag
(johnrobshaw.com)

white ceramic garden stool
(West Elm) 

elephant toy keeps guard in a children's room
(wolfeyebrows.wordpress.com)



Souk Searching



A simple Souk setting (farm3.static.flikr)

I feel like I'm in need of some serious souk searching. Our current apartment with its white walls and white carpet has always felt too sterile and expected. My next home will be decorated with pieces I find, curate, scavenge, uncover. No more cookie-cutter Pottery Barn post-college decor for me!

My souk searching starts in Morocco. On my short list of places to visit has always been Marrakech.  The obsession began in 2002 when I studied their ancient buildings in an art and architecture class in college. Then last New Year's my colleague attended a wedding there and he returned raving about the city. Here are some pics of Morrocco I like.



Marrakech College (National Geographic)



Moorish home in Morocco (ArhDecor.com)



Moroccan portico (prlog.org)

 

Then last fall I was in Middleburg VA for a wedding and I discovered the eye-catching patterns of John Robshaw at the home store Creme de la Creme. My husband and I came out with two oversized pillows and a newly ignited love of Indian textiles. Here is the designer...



John Robshaw and his pillows (Oprah.com)

And here are his pillows adding some pop to our white sofa...

John Robshaw's accent pieces (pillows, table cloths, napkins, rugs) will make any space instantly souk chic.  Below are our pillows doing wonders for our plain white sofa.  Once we move into our new home, I plan to purchase a few of his woven dhurries. They would make an elegant runner down a hallway, a clean palate for a dining room with a large wood table, or I would put one of their more whismical patterns in a children's room.



John Robshaw Woven Dhurries