Designer Feature - Thomas O'Brian "the art of Living not staging"

Okay.. I am in "crush" I would say love but I'm still in the intense moment that preceeds true love and well... it's not with my husband, nor a man per say... it's with a "STYLE". Through the archives and design magazines I scour; I have been collecting tidbits here and there and unbeknownst to myself they have all been from one designer! I am serious... I have a picture of a chair that I have taped to the back door at the shop & a pillow and a living room and a kitchen, all collected seperately and wow... they are all creations of Thomas O'Brian.

Yes! He is cute, but he is better than that! He transcends the "decorated feel" and creates true living spaces. Ones in which I would kick off my shoes, grab a book from the coffee table and puruse it while cuddling my children. I imagine my husband happily making us lunch in the supurbly outfitted kitchen that has no snobbery only a collection of the beautifully useful. side note... I am on mission to slowly (as finances allow) create this style of kitchen and well whole home.

I wish for us all to live in spaces surrounded by couches that cuddle back, fabrics that feel like a caress, books who tell the lovliest stories and items that whisper memories. I think we should all be surround by that which we have collected over a lifetime of living. Items such as books, rocks, found shells, dishes and art which constantly remind us of where and with whom we've shared our moments. Yes I am flowery and sentimental today, but I truly admire spaces that don't feel too "Designed or decorated". I like things!... most would call them junk and the kinder people call them accessories but they fill my cupboards and when I bring them out they warm my soul.

I am sure that in this world us Toscana girls are not the only ones whom crave the creature comforts of life while surrounded by beauty. This man has created spaces that are in my absolute favorite pallette of white, cream and my passion Chocolate! Other spaces are layered in charcoal, black, and white completely Toscana girl Ulli! He has also blended the feel of modern style with traditional elements to a level that is beyond both looks yet still tangible and real. His storefront Aero, in SoHo New York, exudes high style carressed by a slight glimpse of a human soul.

Thomas O'Brian's website is http://www.aerostudios.com/ . He has created collections for both Bloomingdales and Target. Wow! Talk about real and fabulous!

Pictures are from Country Home, Domino, Elle Decor, and all scoured from the many websites paying this man hommage.

http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/inside-design/inside-design-thomas-o-brien/a/1803 for more information about Thomas O'Brian!

Picture of O'Brian by Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Summer!

It’s summer and that means time to freshen, brighten & lighten up our homes! Toscana girl Megan is having an “in love moment” with green, hmm better yet lets call it Chartreuse. The shop is decked out in lush hues of green!

Top 5 Hot Summer Ideas:

One: Dress your deck up with a formal white table cloth and use planters for center pieces. Got an old table? Throw a formal white table cloth over it and cover the top with assorted clear juice glasses filled with tea-lights! Ta da! Gorgeous! Try tying inexpensive light weight white drapes to your arbor outside… Another fabulous white fabric moment, we promise!

Two: Tis the season for Lemons & Limes. Forget flowers! Fill your favorite large glass vases and bowls with lemons and limes! Use just one, or mix them up!

Three: Utilize your Garden! Use Hosta leaves as coasters or underneath food when serving on platters. Fill multiple vases/juice glasses with garden greens and any garden flowers for wild country bouquets. Group them together on your mantel, coffee table or dining table. They will be lovely!

Four: Colour Surge! Pick one colour, any colour. Take that colour and mix it with white. Start placing it throughout your home. Green is simple and works well with any décor. Follow the next steps with your chosen colour. Try fresh white flowers, our faves are Casablanca lilies or cannas lilies in the dining room and on the coffee table. Splurge on green cushion covers to go you’re your existing pillows. Change all candles to bright white. Place our some strategic white porcelain/ceramic accessories. Fluff out the white towels in the bathrooms. Wow… Summer Fresh…Did we mention… Megan is loving green right now?

Five: The box & bucket run! Where did we get that name from? Well… as the sun streams in Megan’s dirty windows (side note: in the entire time Megan has known Ulli, she has never seen a dirty window or surface at her house) she runs around with the bucket full of dish soap/squeegee & a box. Windows are washed and all knickknacks/cushions are stored in the box (let’s be honest…then transferred to the dining room table, Megan has a lot of knickknacksJ). At the end only a few are put out in new spots. Invigorated and soul satisfied Megan is surrounded by clean lines and sparkling windows. Aahhhh!

Pictures are from Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/ .... of course!! :)

The love of a Party!

Sunshine is filtering through my windows... a soft glow is infusing my soul! Summer time! I love the sunshine, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the way my feet get slightly damp from the dew in the morning while I water plants.




But my favorite part of summer is visits from friends and of course "It's the perfect excuse to have a party!" Every summer I convince my husband that a party is a necessity to celebrate life! I pretend each time that it will be "easy" and not a "big deal". This year I decided the party needed to be sooner rather than later and I would try to keep to the "no big deal" promise. The upcoming weekend it will be! I have my annual German guests visiting and I am a crazy person....figuring out the perfect food, theme and making my mile long to do list. Best time to have a party... when everyone is available! ha ha ha.

So....Theme!! hmmm... It's always better to start with a colour and I think red is going to be it for me! Red always is best either super modern or country.... That's it baby! I'm going country. I have sorted through my linen closet to find the perfect red & white check table cloth and black and white floral cushions. Quickly, I searched my favorite blogs and websites for an insipiring picture and ta da! Instantly the email invitation was born and a Country BBQ theme is perfect for the easiest party ever... Potluck! Yahoo! I nicely convinced my handsome husband to make us oodles of homemade sausage.(very popular with our friends and yes, fresh, natural and no preservatives or unpronouncable additives) Is it just me or do you hate eating things that you cannot pronounce too?


The decorationg ideas are running all over my brain: White lights in the trees, terracotta pots for flowers and sand tea-lights, hanging paper laterns in white, candle light everywhere, Raffia bows on all the pots...ooohhh even the cutlery, red napkins, white dishes and serving plates, dining room table outside! Wow! Whew... Where is the ice going to go? Am I doing a signature drink? hmm.. nope...beer and wine will suffice for country... right???



The luck of the.... Toscana Girl!! Must be the new saying! Seriously! Driving down the road I looked to the right and there they were! 14 small terracotta pots with a little sign saying FREE! hmmm.... AWSOME! One less trip to hunt for the little guys! 14... I'll make do! ha ha ha. I purchased some sweet little red roses and tied on a raffia ribbon. I love THEM! On the eve of the party... I managed to finish all the items on the to do list but the clouds threatened rain. Yipes! But the luck continued! I went to work; the rain did not come and my fabulous guests and husband tackled the party set up. Out went the dining table, up went the paper lanterns and twinkle lights. I came home shocked and delighted as they laid the linens! They did an awsome job! If I had known they were going to surprise me I would have sneakily left my Journal out with my diagrams and party wishes! ha ha ha! sigh... next party I will get all my cast iron out to light up the night too!!


The evening was a success as there was plenty of amazing food and people! Should I say that the other way around? Hmm.. a great big thank you to my fantastic family and friends. Without them... who needs a party!

Pics from Martha Stewart of course!!

The Guest Room - A little something special!

I was over at Toscana girl Ulli's house tonight helping set up her guest room for her first European visitor and I realized!! AHHH!!! It's that time of year! My favorite German visitors will be on my door step in less than a 3 weeks. AHHH!! With the birth of my son I converted my guest room into a nursery (whole other topic not for today) and sort of did a dual guest/office room in my office. Honestly, the space is not working for me so I am about to re-vamp the terror that is my guest room/office. Give me strength! I must organize & purge! I have about a gazillion decorating magazines, books, fabrics and paint samples...not too mention actual paperwork too!! It is tucked away, but alway I pull it out and strew it everywhere while I piece together my design plans.

So here I am, taking stock of what "makes" a guest room. I need the space to be special, unique and still budget wise. With much pondering an tonnes of web surfing, and magazine flipping I have decided that the top five Toscana basics are: bedding, lighting, storage, ambiance, and a welcoming touch.

The bedding is always a funny thing with me. The first time I slept over at Toscana girl Ulli's house I was in heaven as I slipped into the sheets. What was so special ? The trillion dollar bedding? The gorgeous toss cushions? The touch me delicious throw? NOPE! She irons her sheets! I discovered that any sheets ironed are fantastic!! The absolute best feeling in the world...but of course I am a mommy of two and already have a pile of ironing that challenges the leaning tower of Pisa! (this is my Tuesday night chore as my friends know I always invite them over with promises of decadent treats, and or strong drinks. I can't understand why they always refuse! Who wouldn't want to watch my crazy ironing binge? So as always I am alone and with iron in hand can be found watching HGTV and that naughty Housewives of Orange County...it's definitely addicting to watch how horrible girls can be; but I digress) So I have learned to cheat! Wash your favorite guest sheets and take them out of the dryer still damp. Pop the fitted sheet damp on the bed and lightly spray or sprinkle with your favorite linen water/H2O mixture. It will dry on the bed as crisp and fresh as an ironed sheet with none of the effort. That only leaves ironing the top sheet and pillow cases. Fold the top sheet in half and iron one side while spraying linen water/H2O mixture. Open and remove ironed crease....you don't have to if you remember to fold the top half over the bottom half not side to side. (did that make sense??) Then proceed to starch and iron the pillowcases. Set all aside and do a quick cheat iron on the top of the duvet cover. Tip: If you use a heavy weight duvet cover the ironing is less. I prefer white sheets always! They just seem to go with every type of toss cushion and duvet that you can throw at them and they are super easy to clean. My favorite places to purchase linens are: Winners, Superstore, Zellers, and Homesense. I love a deal on sheets and duvets. Then I feel that I can always justify the toss cushions to co-ordinate.

Lighting is key as it helps to energize your guests and also allow them to create a cozy space for "down time" Overhead lighting is for everyday and lamps beside the bed are perfect for reading. If the room has natural light all the better. A night light in the hall or bathroom helps guest find the loo without harming themselves.

Try to have some storage for your guests belongings. A dresser is perfect for them to tuck away clothing, and to put personal items on top. Make sure that your closet also has room for them to hang clothes...Subtle way of me saying "don't have it chalked full of your winter wardrobe". Try to put out an extra chair so that your guests have a place to sit other than the bed.

I always need inspiration to begin creating "ambiance" and the pictures I have chosen here will be my starting point. Try something out of the ordinary that you love! Pull out your most colourful bedding and add a triage of colourful pots on top of the dresser. Paint a crazy picture for a headboard. Layer cozy items in the room, cushions, throws and a scented candle. I love to place fresh flowers and mist a little room spray.

It is important to me that my guests feel welcome. I do this by providing a tray filled with towels, soap, mini shampoo's and conditioners. (Yes, I do take these from hotel rooms on the rare occasions I am in one. Not too mention I do NOT want to share soap or body scrub with people other than my children and husband...maybe not even the husband ha ha ha!) If they are staying more than one night, I like to add a snack food, water glasses and bottled water for them to have. This let's them know that I like food...no seriously it keeps them from laying there at night thinking....man I am hungry! I could have a little snack but where oh where does she keep them??

So with my top five in hand I will be sitting in my guest room trying to piece it all together. I will need to get extremely creative this time round. The best thing for this constant procrastinator is to just tackle it! The only question is...how long to ironed sheets stay fresh?? ha ha ha.

I picked the pictures because they are random & lovely!! Pictures are from, Serena and Lily, Brocade Home, Anthropologie the store & designer Andrea Schroeder.

http:/www.serenaandlily.com http://www.brocadehome.com/ http://www.anthropologie.com/ http://www.andreaschroeder.com/

Sustinance for the Soul - The Power of the Family Dinner

Mother's Day... one that I will not be forgetting soon... My wonderful husband acquired us a new family car to fit our growing family. Off to get coffee for the Soccer game, me and all my sweeties were happily driving along when wham! We were in a messy car accident. Thankfully THANKFULLY my intact little family emerged. We were shaken and somewhat bewildered. Did this really just happen to us? On Mother's Day? On the way to Starbucks? Down a regularly travelled street?

My hero of a husband checked each of us carefully, called his father and had us whisked home to safety. In my mind a cape was on his neck billowing in the wind, while he stood there completely composed and offering comfort to all around...even the other driver.

Our little shuttle arrived home. My adorable baby was oblivious to the accident and immediately began to run around...but my bruised and very upset little girl looked up at me and said nothing but... Can we still have our family dinner tonight? My mind instantly registered her need for Mother's Day to continue to establish normality. Not surprisingly this need centered around the most constant factor in her life..."the family dinner". Our regular Sunday dinner consists of the kidlets, my husband, mother-in-law/business partner, father-in-law and myself. Of course this must be continued, no matter what.

After a few cuddles and loves both kids were keen on offering their advice for the menu and added touches for decorating the table. (The baby's contribution included pulling all the items off the table, and my daughter offered advice for creating the salad) My husband made a lovely meal and Toscana girl Ulli showed up with a homemade apple pie. We sat down to a fantastic dinner. At which both my daughter and my son ate heartily and laughed alot.

Me... I just looked around and was so very thankful to have such love around me. Yes... my husband is my hero and I let my daughter have left-over apple pie for breakfast today, it just seemed fitting.

oh please!!! Gimmie Spring!

I whole heartedly hope that gimmie gimmie does eventually get! Where is SPRING?? The primroses have been bursting in my urns for weeks and now I am terribly frightened that they will not survive the cold weather. Yes they have invaribly bursted into huge blooms... fantastic! The yellow petals are like liquid honey against the rain, fog, snow... hmmm. snow??

I can wait no longer and have thrown hits of blue, green, yellow, red & navy into the shop just so I can pretend! Spring Spring Spring. We have now a lovely assortment of colourful outdoor cushion covers and a little sample of lovely starfish and coral branches! Hello Hampton's beach resort at home! I think those Home Heist guys have mesmerized my brain patterns with their over the top wall paper selections. Maybe just that hideous bad taste brooch the blonde always pins on is wearing me down.

If the lovely little items had not happened soon I would be found wall papering large scale scandalous all over everything.

Please sunshine Stay!!

Pic is from www.bhg.com :)

Toscana Girl Megan !! :)

Valentines... our quiet holiday... shhh...

Valentines Day is the simplest and maybe lovliest holiday in my home. We make decorations, set a beautiful table, and have a lovely family dinner in front of a roaring fire.

Every year my daughter (and now one year old is helping) cuts pink, white or red hearts with her fancy sissors and decorates them to hang on our "holiday" tree. The holiday tree consists of curly willow coming out of a large black urn and base in my entry. It's a show stopper against the white wall but my favorite part is that my children get to be creative and "show off" their crafts. The best is every morning I walk down the stairs and smile. This year the biggest grin is over a small turtle drawn in the tip of a heart, "just because it belongs there" says little Emma.

We make the evening special by setting the coffee table in the main living room for dinner. Last year the theme was morrocan. We decorated with lanterns and used a lovely jewel toned patchwork throw as the tablecloth. This year we are going for a lovely white and pink theme. We will drape the coffee table with a lovely white on white damask table cloth, silver chargers, white dishes, old teacups with saucers, and the best idea I found on www.marthastewart.com ... cut out paper hearts in pale pinks to decorate the table. We will have to find lovely pink flowers to use as a center piece. Light the tea lights and we should be set. I will try to post a video of us setting up for good humor. Emma often will add paper scraps...and yes I let her! ha ha ha.

This year's menu is still unplanned as I need to create something that I can quickly finish as I work all day. I am going to have to hit www.epicurious.com to find a fabulous easy do ahead menu. They already have the planner up for Valentine's Day. Last year I made John Bishop's lamb stew with dumplings, and a beautiful flourless chocolate cake with coffee granita and raspberry coulis. It was easy and lovely.

So we will sit down for a late evening in front of our fire and celebrate Valentine's Day. We will be cozy and enjoy each other ,not dressed up, not out to dinner... just as we are.