Archive for April, 2009
C'est Inspiré is simply that - what is inspiring. Where the words end, images continue to speak. Seeing all that is around us, we seek some aspect of something that is life enhancing... something that you would like to be reminded of - to revisit. Something to capture and bring into your world, not leave behind... . That is why I take a camera everywhere; have spent countless hours organizing images in scrapbooks and pouring over them later to revisit the place, the people, the memory.
So, C'est Inspiré may be a single photo - or it may be 50, it may mean one thing to me, another to you - the meaning isn't important. Did it inspire? Did it make you smile? Did it bring back a pleasant memory? One or all of the above will do.
During a brief period of his life, the legendary art historian Bernard Berenson kept diaries where he wrote about how to see - and what he saw. These diaries were published under the title The Passionate Sightseer and edited by Raymund Mortimer.
Anyone, anywhere, anytime can be a passionate sightseer - just look.
Last week Charlotte traveled to Lake Forest, IL to lecture at the Lake Forest Show House, which benefited the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Charlotte spoke to a sold-out crowd of 400+ people at the Landsdowne Estate, designed by Benjamin Marshall and built in 1911.
…to entertain in Frank Ponterio’s soothing Conservatory…
… a candlelit dinner in Missy Derse’s art-filled Farrow & Ball “Churlish” green Dining Room…
…send the “Boys” down to Gary Lawrence & Jeff Lawrence’s English pub in the carriage house, while the “Girls” take a dip in the pool and enjoy a nightcap in Marshall Erb’s Pool House…
…and to have a dreamy night’s sleep in Mary Southwort & Kevin Boksha’s Bedroom…
…BUT, only after a good workout and dip in the spa by Monica Pedersen & Becky McCallum!
(so many rooms – so little time!)
April 30, 2009
Laura Vinroot Poole is the proprietor of Capitol, the hottest boutique in Charlotte! We convinced Laura to sit for a minute to talk fashion, shopping, travel – and a few personal topics…and – what is she sitting on? A tete-a-tete! How about that?
How do you encourage your customers to take risks?
I think that is my job…people come to me for that. I have women in their 60s wearing Balenciaga motorcycle jackets and they end up looking more modern and, oddly, more like themselves. They seem to have a new confidence about themselves.
Define style – a person who embodies it.
I am an admirer of Slim Keith’s glamorous yet down to earth style.
What watch are you wearing?
Cartier Tank; it was a wedding present from my husband and I’m not sure I have taken it off in the last 12 years.
Your closet would not be complete without:
Azzedine Alaia and Yves Saint Laurent
What’s your it bag of the moment?
Proenza Schouler. The anti-it bag…no logos, just function.
Favorite fashion icon:
Jerry Hall in the late 1970′s
In New York you must:
Have a Gin Gin Mule at Bemmelman’s.
What you would pack for a weekend in Paris:
Alaia dress, Lanvin flats, Nicholas Kirkwood heels, Indian embroidered shawls, Rag and Bone trench
Favorite place to shop:
Marie-Helene de Taillac in Paris
Favorite Hotel and why:
Villa D’Este [in Italy], because I had my honeymoon there
Dream vacation:
A week at home with no phone and no computer or a train trip on the Zephyr across the US.
Favorite room in your house and why:
My bedroom…threadbare Pratesi sheets and crisp Leontine linens. I love a Sunday afternoon nap.
Favorite piece of art at home:
Sally Mann’s “Deep South No. 45″
Personal fragrance:
Une Rose by Fredric Malle, a pure rose that’s not too sweet.
Favorite home fragrance:
Diptyque’s Feuille de Lavande – it smells like I’ve cleaned even when I haven’t.
What makes you split your sides laughing?
My daughter and “The Office.”
When you have time to yourself you…
I read cookbooks and pull weeds in my garden (in progress).
Thanks for sitting still with us for a moment, Laura!
April 29, 2009
Interior Design : The Kips Bay Show House is open!
Our inspiration for the Show House….
“…the colors ran the gamut of Fowler’s range. Against a grey-lavender ground, frosted green trees – with strange white flowers – bear clusters of purple berries and green… wiggly bouquets of mauve poppies.”
The King of Sweden gave Nancy Lancaster a fragment of Chinese painted paper—that provided the inspiration for a mural described above painted by John Fowler and George Oakes. The mood of this quote and the paper set the tone for the Master Suite’s scheme…
The color mauve was discovered in 1856 by the eighteen-year-old William Perkin—go read Mauve by Simon Garfield (Faber and Faber 2000)—a fascinating story…
The palette in the Master Suite… For her, French blue, mauve, ivory, pale pink and celadon. For him, midnight blue, pistachio and imperial yellow…
Think artemnesia, anemones, helichrysum, philadelphus, lavender, baptisia, and olive…
Playing in the background…Dusty, Anita, Aretha, Etta, Reba, Mariah, Patti, Nina, Eartha, Bette, Carla…
Les Femmes Formidables
is available as an iMix!
The room fragrance wafting gently in the background, Left Bank by Charlotte Moss for Agraria…
“Regarde – look, feel, wonder, accept, live!” – Colette’s philosophy of life inspires us.
2009 Show House Designers Include:
Bunny Williams Incorporated
Charles Pavarini III Design Associates Inc.
Christopher Coleman and Angel Sanchez
Christopher Corcoran
Eileen Kathryn Boyd Interiors
Joe Nye, Inc.
and many more!
Now – go and see it for yourself!!
Kips Bay site
April 23, 2009
Last week Charlotte went south to lecture at the Room to Bloom Decorative Arts Symposium in Charlotte, NC! This year’s Symposium took place at the Charlotte Country Club, with Charlotte’s lecture, a luncheon, and book signing.
Kudos to the ladies of the Mint Museum committee who were responsible for a stellar event and a sellout crowd of 450!
Charlotte stayed at the historic Duke Mansion, built in 1915 by James Buchanan Duke.
Check back for part two of our Charlotte Travel Scrapbook entry – including an interview with Laura Vinroot Poole of Capitol, the hottest boutique in Charlotte!
What's Happening : Getting Ready for Summer Entertaining
Spring is here, summer not far behind – picnics, backyard barbecues, garden parties and dinner a deux – whatever the occasion, entertaining brings everyone together to enjoy a good meal and each other.
“Espalier,” a pattern designed by Charlotte for Pickard, was inspired by the garden. From the manicured parterres of formal gardens, simple yet abundant potagers, to backyard borders, inspiration from gardens is a limitless source.
“Each year I look forward to the first buds on my espalier in New York and East Hampton. Watching the shapes take form & evolve is a great source of pleasure and inspiration. These architectural and ornamental plants were the inspiration behind my latest pattern. Dining indoors or out – winter or summer – the simple palette and design of Espalier make it extremely versatile and a great partner for mixing with other patterns.”
For another decorating idea, use your plates as hangable art…
April 14, 2009
Characters : Charlotte featured on Cote de Texas
One of our favorite blogs, Cote de Texas, did a fabulous (and epic!) posting on Charlotte, and listed Charlotte as one of her top 10 designers! From her first store to her latest book, this covers it all.
Hop over and check out it out!
April 13, 2009
