DAVID SEIDNER: Exhibition at the International Center of Photography

I am excited to announce a new exhibition at the International Center of Photography in New York, that of the late photogrpaher David Seidner. The exhibition opens on May 15th and is titled "David Seidner: Paris Fashions, 1945." The exhibition features photographs of couture-clad dolls made for the Theatre de la Mode, a creative effort by the French fashion industry to broadcast to the world they were back in business after World War II. In 1990, the dolls were rediscovered and returned to Paris, where they were recoiffed and restyled for an exhibition at the Musee de la Mode. David Seidner was asked to photograph them. In his images, he captured the essense of French postwar style using rough, abandoned sets to reflect postwar Paris.


David Seidner was born in Los Angeles and had worked as a top fashion photographer for twenty five years, best known for his work with Yves Saint Laurent. He had homes in Paris, New York, & Miami and spent much of his time in Paris before his passing in June 1999.

My favorite book by David Seidner is "Portraits" which features elegant and timeless photographs of well-known people:

Portrait of Marie-Chantal Miller (1995):

Portrait of Princess Alexandra Von Furstenberg (1995):

Portrait of Pia Getty (1995):

Portrait of Honor Fraser (1994):

Portrait of Helena Bonham Carter (1998):

Portrait of Bernadette Jukowski (1995):

The exhibition runs from May 15th - September 15th, 2009. For more info, please visit the ICP website.
To view the David Seidner archive at the International Center of Photography, click here.

Morgan's Hotel Group is my DREAM LOVER!

I was so excited to do this post until I realized how hard it is to find pictures of the Morgan Group's Hotels that they will actually let you download! Their hotels are AMAZING and I was only able to find a few pictures that I could post, but PLEASE, PLEASE check out their site if you really want to see some cool decor!

The Morgan Group

....below I have posted what few pics they did share or what I managed to find on flickr!

The Hudson Hotel-NY

I met a client here last year and it really is breathtaking in person! Of course, the rooms are small, but it's NY, what do you expect? It's all about the lighting at the Hudson. From the neon yellow back-lit walls that enclose the escalator as you first enter which brings you to the front desk where you are greeting by momentous chandeliers! Then in the bar area the floors are made of back lit opaque lucite that create such a sexy, modern, NY vibe. I thought Carrie Bradshaw was going to walk in any second!

This is the bar I was explaining. So chic! I love how they use the modern ghost chairs and fiberglass elements with the traditional pieces.
Definitely my style!

Mondrian Hotel in Miami

You really have to go to their site to see all the amazing photos which they BLOCK ME FROM DOWNLOADING! That's a little annoying. Fortunately I somehow found a few online that in no way do this GORGEOUS hotel any justice!

The Royalton-NY

Oh, how I do love a good tuft!

The Sanderson Hotel -London

I LOOOOOOOVVVVEEE how outrageous this decor is! It's so surreal and unexpected, like a dream I never want to wake up from!

Notice all the eyes are different! So cool. They really put a lot of thought into the details! It pays off!

Wow, I'm inspired! I think you will see more hotels from me this week!

Alice's Collection: I'm in Wonderland!

Alice Temperley has designed a small, but attractive collection for The Rug Company consisting of pillows and what else? Rugs!

You can see color and pattern similarities between her clothing line and those products that she designed for The Rug Company.

This 7 foot diameter, rose shaped rug has us wishing we had an extra $4900 on hand to spend!

Her woven cushions consist of fashionable leopard and floral prints, that are completely handmade.

We love when fashion designers move into the home, because what place couldn't use that extra bit of style designed by some of the industry's best!

Now if only I could afford her precious RC pieces...but she has designed clothing for Tarjay before, so there might be hope of me owning an Alice Temperley SOMETHING one day!

I....Want Candy!

The candy colors Kate Spade uses in her home accents, are so completely yummy...

Here are a few of our favorite pieces to satisfy our sweet tooth cravings:

Perry Street Frames

Posy Vases

Striped Notepad

Canvas Anne Pocket Organizer

Cherry Blossom Thank You Notes

Ancient Obelisks

I just bought a pair of these Obelisks from Room Service Home outlet in Dallas for my sister's living room end table. They are so pretty in person and very inexpensive- the ideal combination.

Obelisks have such an interesting history. They date back to the architecture of the Ancient Egyptians (although I'm pretty sure they weren't made of marble and crystal back then, like the above!)

These structures were placed in pairs at the entrance of temples. Obelisks essentially described a monument that was tall, narrow, four sided, tapering, and included a pyramid shaped top. It symbolized protection.

Although its roots lie in Egypt, its name is of Greek origin- because Herodotus, the Greek traveler, was the first to give out the deets on these monuments.

Twenty nine ancient obelisks are known to have subsisted. The magnitude of these structures is just unbelievable.

Rome, the obelisk capital of the world, contains one of the most well known obelisks (at 83.6 feet high!) located in St. Peter's Square. Very remarkable! I think we all need to go on a field trip here.

Fast forward to 2009, and obelisks are still very prevalent...but in home decor. They make beautiful and very interesting accessories- providing a little bit of height, or a little bit of sparkle or just a little bit of color to a table that needs that extra something.

Remember when Lauren posted about these from Mrs. Howard? Loves!

Shell Obelisk from Mecox Gardens

Large obelisks look great on dining tables while smaller ones look gorgeous on coffee tables, nightstands, end tables and in bookcases.

What would the ancient egyptians say about these non-traditional patterned cobalt blue and white obelisks with the greek key at the bottom! Unique indeed!

Pottery Barn has these cement obelisks on sale currently for $29. These are very versatile because you can place them outdoor OR in!

What about an obelisk table lamp from Circa? I'd take this in a heartbeat!!

Orrrr these Italian, white marble ones from 1st Dibs...

These crystal bookends from Restoration Hardware could come in handy in a bookshelf or on a nightstand. Too bad they are currently sold out...they are super cute!

More obelisks from Room Service Home- but this time in chrome.

And who could forget Allan Knight, the king of acrylic? Of course he makes acrylic obelisks!

I'm Addicted!

I love The Skirted Roundtable (and not just because of its adorable name)

It's a weekly interior design radio show hosted by the talented designers and bloggers- Linda of Surroundings, Joni of Cote de Texas, and Megan of Beach Bungalow 8.

This week I kept refreshing its page to see if they had put up a new show! I've since realized that I can just add it to my Blogroll for updates- thank goodness for technology.

Be sure to take a listen- it's so great to hear their thoughts on blogging, design, trends, and other topics (as well as to put a voice with a name!)

Looking forward to more shows by these fresh, hip, and always entertaining ladies!

Happy Friday!

{Country Living}

April showers brings May flowers- Happy May Day!

Chevron Mirror

It's no secret that I have a slight mirror obsession. I saw this beauty and was scheming of where on earth I could put (store) it. I think a pair of these would be fabulous over a bathroom vanity.

Big sale!

If you're in Dallas, head on over to the Peacock Alley Warehouse sale this weekend!

2050 Postal Way

"Antiques Go Young!"

Chicago Home + Garden Magazine asked me to pull together a vignette at the Merchandise Mart's International Antiques Fair which opens tonight and runs through Monday.  The event labeled "Antiques Go Fresh!" highlights the ability of three Chicago design firms to mix modern furnishings from the Merchandise Mart with fine antiques culled from antiques dealers exhibiting at the show.  Here is a sneak peak at my vignette 90% complete at post time....The wall covering is a Maya Romanoff  hand stitched paper from Donghia that looks like leather panels.  I am crazy about the orange color.  The 18th century neoclassical mantle is from the Richard Norton Gallery and looks amazingly contemporary beneath a commissioned art piece made of crocheted fiberglass by Yvette Kaiser Smith via the A. Rudin showroom.  Poised in front of the mantle are a pair of black sandblasted oak chairs by Juin Ho from Bright.  Alongside the chairs is an Alison Berger floor lamp from Holly Hunt.  Midcentury Italian mirrored screen (one of a pair) anchors the back wall which I snagged  from the Douglas Rosin Gallery.  The "Luna" Chaise by Mimi London from David Sutherland lounges in elegance in front of the screen.  Added a rug- hot off the press- from Atelier Lapchi and placed an Alan Knight acrylic based table from William Switzer atop of it.  A white lacquered desk with horse hoove feet from Design Atelier looks stunning in front of an early photograph of Mia Farrow taken by Roddy McDowell, also found at the Douglas Rosin gallery, held by a vintage Curtis Jere easel from Buckingham Interiors + Design.  Hard not to love and be intrigued by the chandelier woven out of vines from TG Couture that makes quite an organic statement amidst all of the many layers of texture in the space.   It allows light and movement without feeling too heavy or overwhelming in such a small space.  

My firm had a blast working on this project and we want to thank CH+G Magazine, the Mart, and all of the showrooms and antiques dealers that allowed us to use their amazing pieces!