Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Happy Holidays from Fiore Interiors
Last weekend we participated in a Holiday Home and Garden Tour in Orange County.
4 homes were featured on the tour and ticket sales benefit local charities.
Lining up early...putting on the required booties to protect the floors.
"Meet the Designer"
...Oooh what a gorgeous tree.
Simple holiday touches in the kitchen.
A home should reflect the client. Always.
Sincerest thanks to the homeowners for trusting me with their home and opening their doors to a few hundred strangers :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Time for Turquoise
via Sparkle Power
Pantone announced yesterday that it had selected Turquoise (15-5519) as the color of the year for 2010
Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens."
Images via the one and only Sparkles Forever
I applaud Pantone for their choice of Turquoise for reasons that have little to do with aesthetics or interior design. ALL OF US have had am interesting year, mostly due to the economy. Businesses have worked harder than ever before. We need a chill pill! Hence, Turquoise.
Before you can say "Trend", allow me to introduce the Hermitage. I toured President Andrew Jackson's Historic estate in Nashville, TN during the winter of 2006. Notice colors used in....1820.
The silver sage aqua goodness of Restoration Hardware fame may have been a precursor. Interior Design color trends tend to begin in fashion shows. The catwalks of New York, Milan, and Paris affect what you see on the shelves in Home stores 1-2 years later.
If you find Pantone's recommendation too much to paint on the walls (and always use low VOC paint), then enjoy these other methods of introducing a little turquoise into your home.
Rugs from Chandra
and Delos
Chesterfield inspired from High Fashion Home, Houston's "IT" store for stylish homes.
Horchow's offerings
Color is a deeply personal, often spiritual, process. You either LIKE a color or you don't. You can lighten up to aqua, deepen into teal, whatever reflects YOU.
The same philosophy applies to amount of color used. I am of the nuetral wall color persuasion, preferring color in textiles. Some people prefer accessories-possible color commitment phobia:)
Of course, Anthropologie
Last but never least, trying something new can be very safe and affordable at Target.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Candice Olson
One of the things I am thankful for is getting to meet Candice Olson last month. It's refreshing to witness a rare combination of talent, poise, and genuine humility. There isn't an ounce of ego that you would normally expect from a celebrity. She will have a new show in 2010 and I wish her continued success.
To qoute the lady herself : "How Divine".
Monday, November 9, 2009
Post High Point Market Trend Report-Klismos Inspired Chairs
I don't like doing a trend report during High Point, it interests me more to wait and gauge the responses from both clients and vendors. This week I will highlight several trendy undercurrents in the design world.
(Well, only the ones I liked of course.)
The earliest known form of Greek chair dates back to six or seven centuries before Christ!
We are still reinterpreting, and personalizing the classic design of the Greek Klismos Chair.
Via House Beautiful, one of my favoritest magazine/websites on the planet:
No one's ever sat on an original Greek klismos chair, because not one has actually survived. Its popularity peaked around 400 B.C., but it was resurrected in the 18th century, when all things classical were the fashion. Since then it's been perennially beloved. From the moment we first spied it on ancient Greek pots, the elegant klismos has been reproduced, reinvented, refreshed, and retailed. It's the most popular chair we've never seen.
What actually makes a chair a klismos chair?
Basically, it's the concave top rail that's curved to embrace the shoulders of the sitter, and those four incurved saber legs. Some chairs have vertical or horizontal back splats and some have none. Because this element is seldom visible in the Greek original, we don't quite know what's "right." There are many variants with perfectly straight front legs, too, but they look clunky.
Are they only available in wood?
Until recently, the klismos form was primarily made of wood, although metal examples do exist. During the 20th century, however, the chair was manufactured in any new material that came along, and I've recently seen some in lacquer with gold leaf, and in clear acrylic. Occasionally, you'll find an example that's fully upholstered. I'm doubtful that this can be called a klismos, since a traditional attribute of this chair is its portability.
(Well, only the ones I liked of course.)
The earliest known form of Greek chair dates back to six or seven centuries before Christ!
We are still reinterpreting, and personalizing the classic design of the Greek Klismos Chair.
The collection is pretty edgy and fresh. You may recognize him from TV's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (fun show but only showed a teeny glimpse of his talent).
No one's ever sat on an original Greek klismos chair, because not one has actually survived. Its popularity peaked around 400 B.C., but it was resurrected in the 18th century, when all things classical were the fashion. Since then it's been perennially beloved. From the moment we first spied it on ancient Greek pots, the elegant klismos has been reproduced, reinvented, refreshed, and retailed. It's the most popular chair we've never seen.
What actually makes a chair a klismos chair?
Basically, it's the concave top rail that's curved to embrace the shoulders of the sitter, and those four incurved saber legs. Some chairs have vertical or horizontal back splats and some have none. Because this element is seldom visible in the Greek original, we don't quite know what's "right." There are many variants with perfectly straight front legs, too, but they look clunky.
Are they only available in wood?
Until recently, the klismos form was primarily made of wood, although metal examples do exist. During the 20th century, however, the chair was manufactured in any new material that came along, and I've recently seen some in lacquer with gold leaf, and in clear acrylic. Occasionally, you'll find an example that's fully upholstered. I'm doubtful that this can be called a klismos, since a traditional attribute of this chair is its portability.
This style chairs pairs with both traditional and modern styles, it simply depends on the specific reincarnation that strikes your fancy.
“I had three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society”
Henry David Thoreau
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Lost City of Atlantis...
Has been found in Dubai
(which is a much MUCH larger international topic)
from conception
to construction only seen in UAE
To Earning the title "Most Beautiful Resort in the World"
and is the only resort to be rated 7 stars.
Being the cancer (crab) that I am, this looks like the type of fun I wish they would let me have at my local aquarium.
But what makes this resort undeniably superior is the exquisite attention to detail
The lobby’s centrepiece is a 33' high sculpture with over 3,000 pieces of hand blown glass said to have taken almost two years to create. It is surrounded by a reflection pool. This is Dale Chihuly’s first installation in the Middle East. Surrounding it are eight architectural sea snake columns. The ceilings feature eight handpainted murals by Spanish Artist Albino Gonzalez telling the story of the ancient mythological city of Atlantis. He is one of the world's foremost interpreters of ancient mythology.
Considering the story of Atlantis was originally told by Plato, the murals in the resort are layered with paint, history and fantasy.
Can you imagine waking up in this suite? SWEET!
I will pretend my aquarium game on facebook is this exciting.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
You had me at "free"
Sadly, we succumbed to twitter and are admittedly twitterpated. So far the only interest in twitter is news like this!! that vendors and partners only release via tweets. Forgive the foray into twit-dom.
I love, love! House Beautiful and appreciate the style Ballard offers at affordable prices.
From Ballards:
From House Beautiful-If you don't have a subscription yet I highly recommend! Their annual color issue is amazing:
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