Threshold by Kendall Wilkinson

Threshold is a fabulous design shop located in San Francisco. The spacious shop, owned by decorator Kendall Wilkinson, consists of lively tableaux that feature furniture (both antique and new), accessories, candles, books, and other chic items for the home. Wilkinson has a knack for mixing the traditional with the contemporary, but her real forte is her use of boldly colored accent pieces. Fortunately, much of the shop's wares are available for purchase on the website.

Town Toiles

Have you always wanted to see your hometown or favorite city immortalized in fabric? Well, Town Toiles may be just the thing. The Florida based company has created a line of toile fabric and wallpaper that celebrates such cities as Charleston, New York, and San Francisco. Other cities that will make their design debut this year include Atlanta, Palm Beach, and Philadelphia. In addition to fabrics and wallcoverings, they also sell home accessories made from their toiles.

"New York" Toile


"Charleston" Toile



"Nantucket" Toile

(Fabric at top is "Beach" toile)

Valentine Wishes

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and so is the stress of trying to figure out what to get one's significant other. I personally think that a beautiful and heartfelt card is one of the best gifts you can give. Here are some cards that hit a sophisticated yet romantic note!

Bernard Maisner "Love" Card


Bernard Maisner "I Love You" Card

Mrs. John L. Strong "Sugar or Spice" Card

Mrs. John L. Strong "I Only Have Eyes For You" Card




Kate's Paperie "Hey Hot Stuff" Card

Tyler Hall Wallpaper

Tyler Hall is a small wallpaper line that may not have the name recognition of Brunschwig or Scalamandre, but what it does have are some knock-out designs. Some of their patterns are document prints which are sure to impress the traditionalists out there. But what the line really excels at, in my opinion, are prints that are graphic and colorful.

I love the pattern "Exeter" above. I used this wallpaper in the black/graphite colorway in my powder room. It is the perfect backdrop for bold accessories which is the reason why I chose it. If you would prefer a bolder pattern, perhaps some of their other patterns might suit you.



"Casa di Whitney" in the Red/Coral colorway

"Villaggio di Cina" in the Black/Taupe colorway

"Gallery Gardens" in Coral colorway




"Esplanade" in the Wrought Iron colorway (yellow/black)



"Summertime" in Honey



"Cottage Gate" in Perennial Blue

Anthropologie- Design for the Masses?

It appears that Anthropologie is now selling furniture upholstered in fabric by lines such as Marimekko, Josef Frank, and House of KWID. While I'm not necessarily crazy about the design of some of the sofas and chairs, I think it's interesting to see fabric that is usually available to the trade only being used by a retail chain.


Wingback chair in House of KWID "Couture Stripe" fabric

Wingback chair in Josef Frank fabric


Chesterfield sofa with Marimekko fabric

Sofa in fabric by Missoni Home

Sister Parish Chic

Sister Parish's style lives on in a line of fabric and wallpaper by Sister Parish Design. Owned by Susan Bartlett Crater (Parish's granddaughter) and Libby Cameron, the company has created prints that were designed and inspired by the legendary doyenne of decorating. Sister loved pattern and was known for being able to mix numerous prints in one room with smashing results. I think these prints still look fresh today!


"Burma"

"Chou Chou"


"Desmond"

"Flora"

"Tucker"

C. Bell Palm Beach

Someone recently told me about a fun design shop in Palm Beach called C. Bell. Located on South Dixie Highway, the shop stocks new and refreshed furniture that really has that Palm Beach Vibe. Take note: these bold pieces are not for the faint of heart, but they would certainly provide some wow to a room!

Rooms

For those of you looking for another book to add to your design library, you may want to consider "Rooms". With minimal text by Carl Skoggard, the book is a compilation of interior photographs by famed Irish photographer Derry Moore. Moore has had a thirty year career photographing prominent interiors for publications like Architectural Digest. To me, his photos have a rather faded and ethereal look to them.

Below are some of my favorite rooms from the book; in fact, there were so many that it was hard to choose.


The private bath of Madeleine Castaing at her shop on the Rue Jacob

Chatsworth- home of the Duchess of Devonshire

London home of Lady Diane Cooper

Portrait of Lady Diana Cooper (I included this photo not just because of Cooper's peculiar choice of hats, but also because of the trompe l'oeil panels behind her that were painted by Rex Whistler).

Bedroom of Nancy Lancaster, located in her private quarters at Colefax and Fowler in Mayfair


Villa Trianon, home of Elsie de Wolfe

That Touch of Red

Albert Hadley once said that there should be at least one red accent in every room. I couldn't agree with him more. Red is such a powerful color and can add such energy and drama to a room. Red walls add sizzle, while red furniture catches your eye. Red can be used sparingly, if you choose, through displays of books with red dustjackets or bunches of red roses, for example. Below are some photos of rooms designed by various decorators. Some use the color proudly, such as Miles Redd, while others use it in a more subtle way. However you choose to use it, perhaps you might find some inspiration.

Miles Redd


Steven Sclaroff & Kate Spade

Sam Blount

Woodson and Rummerfield



John Loecke

Lampshades Part 2

In my post from earlier today, I mentioned that I had recently purchased some black pagoda-esque shades and red finials for some silver lamps of mine. Pinkmohair had asked me to provide some photos, so here they are. Hope you enjoy them!

Lampshade Chic

In the February issue of House Beautiful, Miles Redd mentions that bad lampshades can ruin both a good lamp and a good room. I think he is so accurate. So many times lampshades are an afterthought. How many times have you seen a beautiful porcelain lamp topped by a boring beige shade? Or a crystal lamp wearing the wrong-sized shade?

The fun thing about choosing a lampshade is that you can create an impact with your choice of shape, color, and material. Good quality and well-made lampshades can be quite expensive, but you can find chic shades at a decent price. And don't forget the finials- they are like jewelry for lamps! I recently bought shades for some plain candlestick lamps. In order to give the lamps some pizzazz, I bought some black pagoda shaped shades. But what really gave the lamps that added flair were shiny, bright, Chinese red ball finials. It was like an exclamation point at the top of my lamps.

White ceramic lamp with Brunschwig and Fils toile lampshade by Woodson and Rummerfield

Orange shades by David Netto

Houndstooth lampshade and black lamp at Balsamo


Lampshade by Oriental Lamp Shade Company

Feather shade available at Gracious Home

*Image at top courtesy of Edgar-Reeves, Atlanta