New Color Palette

My daughter has officially moved out of her bedroom and into a dorm. As soon as she moved out, I could tell that the sweet pink we painted her room a few years ago was dingy and damaged. My most wonderful and patient husband agreed to help me paint a pure, simple grey/ white color. A color that would allow the walls to show her paintings well and be simple enough to make it a peaceful guest room.

Of course, I had to overhaul some of the accessories as well. I made an upholstered headboard out of plywood and foam and covered it with a beautiful linen screen print fabric that I picked up at that mecca for creative souls, SAS fabrics here in Tucson. I won't bore you with the instructions for the headboard, you can find them all over the net on various DIY websites. This is the original palette for the room, showcasing a wonderful vintage pagoda-style candlestick I picked up at one of my favorite thrift stores, The Assistance League of Tucson.

Hmmm....kind of sedate. I think I'll add a shot of fabulous color.

Okay- the palette works.. now how can I bring in the orange and pink and red?

Some basic tools, a bright piece of vintage fabric, and some help from Tony at my local hardware store and I am on my way.

 Little plastic feet stuck on the bottom help make height for the cord.

I found a pre-glued shade at the fabric store. The protective paper acts as a template

 Stuck on, nice and smooth.

The best part about these candlesticks are that there are two! Have a great weekend.

Party with Friends.

 This is what starts happening at my drafting table late on a Friday afternoon.. time to stop working! Have a great weekend.

This just in...

 Over the weekend I had a few free minutes to pay a visit to our friends at Zocalo. They have recently received their quarterly truck  and I always like to sneak in while they are still unpacking to see all the loot! Mexican folk art at its finest, this truck was especially full of fine ceramics and some quirky new looks that I love. 

Here, Kitty Kitty! Ceramic Jaguars from Mexico

A classic Pina, or pineapple, from Michoacan

Antique tin light fixture. Sorry about the flash, I am getting used to a new camera!

Sweet and silly animal banks and toys. 

Traditional black Bateas, perfect in groups on  a kitchen wall.

This birdcage is actually an outdoor bird feeder.

A charming, hand carved wood jewelry chest, it stands about 12" high and is in the most perfect blue.
I think I'll take it!

Pomegranates.

I am checking back in after a few days of reveling in cool weather. It has been beautiful. I suppose early fall in Tucson is much like spring in Montreal, or somewhere in North Dakota. Early fall in Tucson is also Pomegranate weather. I have been eyeing the pomegranate tree across the street from us, in direct view of my office window for several weeks now. Yesterday I mustered the courage to call my neighbor and ask if I may pick a few of these lovelies for a still-life, a salsa and a salad.  Please, he said,  take as many as you wish. Done.

Any recipe ideas?

Frances Elkins

 I am parked at home today, planning for a major remodel I am coordinating for a new client and nursing a bad cold. Planning days usually require a long look at some of my favorite design books for inspiration. One of my favorites is Frances Elkins Interior Design by Stephen M. Salny. 

Frances Elkins was born in 1888 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She worked solidly from the early 1920's until her death in 1953. Collaboration with her brother, the celebrated architect David Adler, started with their travel forays in Europe in the early 1900's.  Projects  in California and Illinois were soon to display the development of their European influences into spectacular, eclectic buildings and interiors. Frances became well known on her own for her seamless integration of many styles and motifs, including chinoiserie, French and modernist influences. She punctuated her interiors with fearless, bold color and glittering luxurious surfaces. Frequently, Elkins own furniture, rug and wallpaper designs showed up in her projects. I love that every room had a surprise. Skulls on the wall of a luxe gallery, a fluorescent pink bench in an otherwise tonal color palette, an oversized Buddha standing tall in the center of a room. She also acted as a champion for European artists such as Alberto  Giacometti  whose work graces many of her interiors in the form of lamps and sculpture. The now iconic loop chair that has been attributed to Elkins  shows up in almost every material imaginable, you have probably seen it! Take a look, and if you would like to see more I highly recommend Stephen Salny's book.

The Gallery at the Yerba Buena Club for the Golden Gate Exposition , 1939
Fearless use of rustic, iconic skulls with ultra luxe surfaces

Salny, page 119. The bar and adjoining card room in this home was encased in a soft aura of blue. Relaxing and  organic, tied to nature through the bold stripe of the zebra rug and the soft glow of the shell sconce on the wall.

And of course, a BANCO. Salny, p 134

Salny, page 23. In her own living room at Casa Amesti in Moneterey, California, Elkins used her favorite colors to create this unusual and inviting seating arrangement.

Finally, the Loop chairs. I am seeing them everywhere!

 Back to work. I have about twenty books to go through. Maybe some more inspiration.

Beachcombers

 As a designer, I spend a great deal of time visiting other people's homes. I see many tastes, preferences and styles, color choices both good and (in my opinion) not so good and all sorts of interesting collections. Today I visited the home of a lovely beach-loving  family and was really intrigued with what they collect: sand.  Nicely displayed, these tremendously varied vials of  silica gave me a big smile and some on the spot color inspiration for their vast and gorgeous new home. 

While on the sand subject, check out these close-up photos of sand grains from Dr. Gary Greenberg via   Lost at E Minor..  Almost like a tiny lost world.

 Happy Thursday!

Its Cooler in Catalina.

 Over this long weekend, a friend and I decided to venture up to Howard's Orchard in Catalina, Arizona to pick peaches. An experience that had been postponed several times due to the heat, we finally decided we better go this weekend before the peaches were gone.It was too late for the first crop of peaches but we got some of the second, smaller crop and also scored some tomatoes and some early apples. It is a lovely spot, several degrees cooler than Tucson right now.  There is plenty of shade, wagons for hauling fruit and helpful staff.The produce is advertised as pesticide-free. Here are a few pictures...

Pipsqueak in size, but delicious white flesh peaches.

Both of our mothers have always been great canners, so we tried our hand at this lost but returning art....Here is our peach- mango chutney cooking.....

While it simmered we visited with my friend's chickens...

And gathered some eggs....

 Canned mango chutney! I feel like Martha, it was great fun. If you are interested in canning, check out the Ball jar website for tips and recipes. There are many blogs and websites that offer step by step instructions with great pictures and ideas. I will certainly be heading back to Catalina in the next few weeks to take advantage of the apple and pear crops at their peak. If you have time to visit to Willcox, Arizona you may take advantage of many other organic orchards and farms that allow you to pick your own produce. Take the kids!

Take it to a Banco

If you are one of my clients, chances are that at some time, some way I have suggested using a Banco or Banquette as they are most frequently called. I love them. Maybe it is because they often conjure ideas of lounging against colorful pillows while sipping mint tea, maybe they remind me of summer vacation cabins in Maine. Whatever the origin, I think they create comfortable seating for dining or lounging while conserving space,providing storage  and eliminating the clutter of many chair legs.
I recommended good glides or even wheels with a locking mechanism on a dining table with a banco so that those seated on the cushions can easily slide out. Here are a few I pulled out of my picture file, and a few from around the net.

from WESTERN INTERIORS

From MARIE CLAIRE MAISON

Grab a cup of coffee and the  newspaper and take a seat!