One my favorite inspirations in design is the inevitable link to the past. Especially since I came into the design world through a degree in the history of decorative art, I am so inspired when I see objects from so long ago which would are so perfectly in style and current today!

I fell in love with the above bowl from the collection of the Corning Museum of Glass; the beautiful translucent deep green glass bowl was created sometime between the 9th and 10th centuries in Western Asia, likely in Iran. I love the scalloped edge, embossed motif featuring birds (also so in right now!) and of course the stunning color. Even though this bowl is at least 1,000 years old it would be amazing in an interior today - just as it is!


Here are a few modern pieces I loved as a way to bring emerald glass into your home - as I am pretty certain the Corning Museum wont be letting this beauty go any time soon!

 I would love to own these elegant emerald Murano glass and brass table lamps! They are Italian, circa 1970. From Amarcord Fine Decorative Antiques via 1stDibs.com.

Kawali green cut glass goblet by Christofle.

This dappled green glass vase is by Venini, available via Michael C. Fina.

Vibrant cut crystal emerald candlesticks from Marvin Alexander Antiques via 1stDibs.com from the late 19th century.

I thought these were an especially wonderful Etsy find! A set of 1950's vintage Anchor + Hocking plates in green glass. They would look great mixed in with a simple white dinnerware set too! From Tinted Vintage in York, PA.

A Boston Goblet by Villeroy and Boch in a lovely shade of green.

Pedestaled vintage candy dish - another great accessory steal on Etsy for just $8! From Easutton Vintage.

And lastly, I had to include this dining room designed by Jay Griffith - the green glass makes the room - oh, and the ibex head and driftwood table is pretty amazing as well! {Photo by Jeremy Samuelson for House Beautiful}.

{First image courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass}

Design Muse: The Girly Bedroom

Now, it should be said that I am a girly girl - I love perfume, peep toe pumps and pretty much anything romantic or French. However, even I recognise that girly is often taken much too far! That's why I fell so in love with this girl's bedroom by designer Peter Dunham - its the perfectly feminine and youthful with a much needed kick of the exotic and grown-up. It is sophisticated and collected while still casual and warm. The bedroom was done for a teen aged girl in an 1920's Los Angeles home and as Dunham is a textiles designer as well, he uses many pieces from his beautiful line. So I used this design muse and here some suggestions for how to re-create this look using retail sources! {Photo by Victoria Pearson, House Beautiful!}

Camden tufted headboard by Ballard Designs {www.ballarddesigns.com}

 Delphine bed linens by Serena + Lily {www.serenaandlily.com}.

 Or how about this sweet duvet by John Robshaw, Cinde in Lavender? {www.johnrobshaw.com}.

 Dunham used a mattress ticking strip from his own fabric collection on the walls of the room, but this Oxford Stripe from Pottery Barn would be a great substitute! Fabric can give so much more texture than wall paper.

I love this little vintage side chair! Available at 86 For The Home, a vintage shop on Etsy.com.

 This Hurley chandelier from Circa Lighting is just perfect in antiqued brass and crystal {www.circalighting.com}.

This Paris Flea Market flush mount in seeded glass, also from Circa Lighting would be great for a bath or attached hallway.

  I love the lines of this Belgian Club chair in Mist linen from Serena + Lily.

 Even more fun in the Jaipur printed linen! 

 

Otto cotton rug in Grape by Madeline Weinrib Atelier (as are the following 3!) {www.madelineweinrib.com}

 Koniya Plum

 Song in Hot Pink!

 Keri rug in Indigo

 But this one is certainly my top pick for a splurge on the area rug! Love how Dunham layered it over a wall to wall natural sisal. Western Anatolian Yutdag from Double Knot on 1stdibs.com.

 This French settee from Wisteria.com in natural linen is so pretty and would be so easy to update with different pillows in the future!

The accents of indio are a great way to temper all the lavender! These are Indonesian batik fabric, made in Bali from Ginette 1223 on Etsy.com.

 Another choice would be these pillows, the Daphne in Blue also from Madeline Weinrib

 And of course these Beachcomber Baskets from Pottery Barn are amazing for catching all the extra stuff us girls tend to collect!

Girly does not have to be precious or cloying, if I did not think it was a bit much for my poor husband, I would would move into this room myself!

Style Crush: Tom Scheerer

I have long adored Tom Scheerer! Well, not that I have ever met him, although I hear he is lovely. . . However, after looking at his beautiful interiors I have decided their characteristics would be wonderful personality traits for any of us to have - light, up beat, breezy, homey, collected, well traveled, balanced, quirky, and playful. I think Scheerer is particularly talented at creating rooms that are not stuffed full of things but still feel warm. I especially love the beach home he designed for the famed Hubert de Givenchy. Originally published in Domino in 2007, the project is still timelessly chic! I hope you agree!

Like you just stepped in off the beach. (and what an amazing coral banister!)

The symmetry of this dining room gives such a sense of calm.

I think the pairing of those wonderful moroccan tiles and vintage bent wood chairs is just perfect!

So charming but not too precious. . . 

The over sized upholstered headboard is a signature style by Scheerer and adds such drama to the space!

Great scalloped skirt on the chair - Love it!

{All images courtesy of www.tomscheerer.com}

Trend Spotting: Decorative Screens

Lately I have been noticing a lot of great screens! Regardless of the style, material, or size, a folding screen can be a fabulous way to add both structure and fun to your space. Screens are wonderful to divide spaces of course but also can help rooms feel taller and give much needed architectural interest to an otherwise bland interior. Plus they are eternally versatile and can be moved at any time! The above is one of my all time favorites - so lacy and romantic! The ivory painted screen is by Kelly Hoppen for BHS, and was featured in Living Ect. 

A striking geometric screen creates a beautiful vignette while still allowing the light to come in! The interior is by designer Michele Bonan, and was published in Lonny.

I just love this mod vintage screen I spotted on 1st Dibs, it's Brazilian from the 1960's by Joaquim Tenreiro and alternates panels of rosewood and white lacquer! Available via R 20th Century designs.

This oversized screen, clad in Ferm Living wall paper adds lots of drama! By Cristina Coop for Rue magazine.

I love by the way designer Laurann Claridge used this cathedral shaped upholstered screen in place of a headboard - just beautiful! {Photo via Lonny}

Carolyn Espley-Miller had a similar idea, however she repurposed antique barn doors instead and filled the whole wall!

What a great way to add vibrant teal - without painting your walls! I think this horsehair and nickel nailhead screen by John Boyd Textiles is just stunning. {Photo via Remodelista}

You can find this beautiful 1940's French screen at Boo Radley Antiques in Melrose. I love how the iron finish is punctuated with accents of gold paint.

Lastly, a classic beauty! Bunny Williams creates a lovely and intimate reading nook out of what have been an otherwise ordinary corner. {Photo via Lonny June-July 2010}

Until Tomorrow! 

The Singapore Challenge . . . Inspiration Files

So, I have been adding to file of inspiration for the new apartment! I have settled on cobalt blues and purples as rich colors to add to my base of whites and neutrals! (I am getting so excited). Here are my latest inpiring images. . . .

Designer Ashley Whittaker in House Beautiful

Blue sponge-wear ceramics and a Raoul upholstered chair by James Rudin

Victoria Hagan - a real master of the white + neutral palette!

More Victoria Hagan

Lindsay Bond