Quantcast
Channel: Portobello Design

Early Spring: Intentional Living - Pursuing Beauty in the Everyday

0
0





Early Spring in Angélique's Lovely Greenhouse @country.chique


🌱🌸🌱


If you are like me and don't have a greenhouse: buy tulips, plant them in pots with green moss covering the soil, placing them on antique or vintage dessert plates, and group them on your dining room table, or an outdoor windowsill so their pretty colors peak through your shutters, placing the potted tulips in a basket with some tea and bring it to your neighbor, hairdresser or someone who is recovering from an illness.  No matter who you bring them to it will brighten their day and yours.  Of course planting them in mass is always stunning...


Intentional Living is pursuing beauty in the everyday.












Have you followed us on Instagram @portobellodesign  We look forward to connecting with you! 🌿



Weekend Chic Video: At Home with Designer Isabel López-Quesada

0
0






"My main idea, and usually regardless of the project, is authenticity."
~Isabel López-Quesada



This Weekend Chic is a combination of design and a video showcasing the designer's personal home in her own voice... which is absolutely divine.    @Zarahome and @Nowness featured a video of Madrid designer Isabel López-Quesada in her own voice and design philosophy and videoed in her home.  I have viewed this video probably 20 times.  I #havethisthingwithlight and designer López-Quesada has built her home so it's filled with light.   I love that it is in Spanish with English subtitles, it brings warmth, charm, inspiration and authenticity.  
Enjoy!   
🌟













































Her new book: Isabel López-Quesada AT HOME is beautiful and personal as it showcases her designs in her various homes.  I believe how you feel in your home is more important than the individual items or their pedigree.  It should feel like you, your tastes, what's important to you, and how you want to live.

This beautiful video and her book will inspire you to live beautifully your way.





















Video Produced by: @maximilliagram 
Photos: @isabellopezquesada #onetofollow
🌳Have you seen us on Instagram?  Follow us  @portobellodesign  🌳🌳



Collections: Intentional Living - Living with what you love & Beautiful Instagram accounts to follow.

0
0






🌿💙🌿


Blue and White is always timeless and it never looks better then when gathered in a collection.  This beautiful glass front cabinet of @verandahhouse showcases a lovely gathering of items.  


🌿💙🌿


There are some wonderful Instagram accounts who live with what they love and mix in their collections into the everyday:  @jennyroseinnes  @m.o.endres  @stampsandstamps  @karenkeysar @hautedownsouth


🌿💙🌿


Intentional Living with items we love and collect or have been given to us, brings life to our homes, creativity to how we want to live and inspiration to those we share it with.



Happy Monday sweet friends!  
You are so loved by God!
🌿











🌿Have you followed us on Instagram @portobellodesign 🌿

Joy

0
0





Living in the Bay Area of California as a child there was a neighborhood church who played the bells on Saturdays and Sundays.  The church was just an old building really, no charm in it or the grounds.  But the beauty it shared with us is something I treasure still to this day.  I would wake up early on Saturday mornings and climb into our treehouse so I could see more of the sunrise and listen with pure delight to the morning's song.  It was absolutely peaceful.  On Sunday evenings it would play several songs and my family would sit on the patio and just listen.  One weekend the bells didn't play.  My mom knew something was wrong and took me and my brother to this little church to find out that the old pastor was dying.  He went home to be with the Lord a few days later.  Many hundreds of people came to his funeral, the little church could not hold them all.  Most never attended his church but they loved the beauty he shared with us.  He said he wanted people to know that God loves them and He does, all of us, there are no exceptions.  

Each of us have God-given gifts to share...so share it, give it all away.  People need your kind words, a smile, your thoughtfulness so they too can know God loves them, because He does.  
🌿🌷🌷🌷🌿


The beauty of The Old Parsonage in Little Bredy, Dorset @mccormickcharlie was featured in the May issue of @countrylivinguk and brought these sweet memories back.  #regram from @clivenichols 



🌿🌷It's the weekend! 
 I hope its lovely sweet friends. 🌷🌿









Have you followed us on Instagram @PortobelloDesign

Sunday Chic: Australian Designer Cameron Kimber's Love of English Country-House Style

0
0





Inspired by the late American Philanthropist Bunny Melon, Australian designer Cameron Kimber built a new home in New South Wales and filled it with his love of English Country.



"I wanted a simple House that was quite cottagey, but I had some big paintings and collections, so I just stirred it all together"




It is in his "stirring" that his home and his designs frequently are featured in magazines, blogs, and Instagrams, and are worth revisiting again and again.  His pale neutral rooms are the perfect backdrop for his large-scale furnishings, he says, "I like everything to be comfortable", and changing or adding to his collections of vintage fabric, English and Chinese ceramics, antiques, layered rugs, and oil paintings allows him to do so with ease.  He also includes a snug room with rich colors for evenings: "In all my houses, I've had a room that feels cocooning and enveloping." 




"I like the way English interiors have a handed-down look.  It doesn't matter if something doesn't quite match or isn't perfect, and it's OK to have the dog bed in the sitting room.  Things are beautiful and comfortable, and that's really all that matters."




Along with his gorgeous designs, it is this 'Intentional Living' that inspires me most.  Living with items you love and in the way your family's life and home functions best.  Our homes should be beautiful, welcoming, appointed... but they should have "us" in them, regardless of where you live.  Welcoming friends and family into our homes is a gift to them and us.   Here is some Sunday Chic for inspiration!   Enjoy!

































House & Garden article:  Here

At home in her lovely garden with Landscape-Architect, Bunny Guinness, Cambridgeshire

0
0




We are currently in the middle of refreshing our garden.  I want it to look neat and lovely from the windows, with a small raised bed for a kitchen garden, flowers of course for vases, and a stylish space for entertaining by the pool.  I have long-admired English gardeners with their seeming ease and dexterity of plantings: gorgeously unruly flowers, and vegetables in manicured beds.  I was thrilled to find an article in House & Garden of Cambridge's landscape-architect, radio host, and columnist Bunny Guinness who frankly never disappoints, always inspiring and makes a weekend gardener announce with great confidence and sincerity to her husband:  'Of course, you know... we can espalier the apple trees next to the pottager.'   

Bunny's half acre formal garden surrounds her charming stone house, along with a kitchen garden, gravel and stone paths, espaliered apple trees with glorious riot of flowers in and out of the vegetables, and another eight acres of orchard, including twin avenues of pleached hornbeam in the pool garden, woodland, and pasture for livestock.



"I tend not to put all the similar things together, as you're supposed to do, so I 'll grow a few runner beans here, a few there, and throw everything in together.  
It seems to work."










"My husband farmed before he became an accountant, and we have always had livestock, so we have our own meat and eggs, and I grow a fair bit of what we need in the vegetable garden.  We eat what's in season."






















"More than anything else, though, the garden is an antidote to the pressures of a busy working life.  I need my gardening days.  Gardening really takes your mind away from everything else, and it gives me the exercise and fresh air that I need.  And there's always something new to try.  You always think you're about to get to the stage when the garden feels finished, but it never is."







To view the entire House & Garden article written by Clare Foster and photography by Andrew Montgomery please view here.  Enjoy!










Have you seen my Instagram ? Come join the conversation.  🌿🌳🌿


Summer Time and the Living is Easy

0
0




🌞

This reminds me of the first Summer in a new town, riding my bike with my brother to my aunt's to swim in the pool, with grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade lemonade with a sprig of basil...
popsicles, Marco Polo, beach balls, lawn baseball of course your cousins always won because they were older, evening tag, then bath time and falling into bed with a smile, so tired you slept sweetly dreaming your cousins would be home again tomorrow to replay the day all over again.  

 It's the little things isn't, like choosing joy even in difficult times.  
Like the @forkingandcountry song says, 

"And I choose joy
Let it move, let it move you
Yea, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you...."





🌿🌸🍃🌿

This beautiful poolside scene is from @serenaandlily 
Everything is 20% off for their Summer style event.  This post is not sponsored, just thought you  would like to know.  I love a sale







Brooke and Steve Giannetti's New Book PATINA LIVING - Intentional Living: Beauty in the Everyday

0
0




There is beauty in the everyday, in the items we touch and use on a daily basis.  How we live, better yet how we decide to live, with beauty and inspiration is tactile, sound, color and light.  Once we decide we can live intentionally in life, there is no going back it continues on into friendships, design, cooking, the "living parts" of our lives.  Garden roses freshly cut in the morning hours for the kitchen table, gathered eggs for an impromptu omelette, the crunch of gravel on a path to the potager for butter lettuce, lavender dried and made into sachets for the linen closet, is the essence of home.  That is the journey and beauty of Patina Living.  Brooke and Steve Giannetti invite us once more into their life at Patina Farm where everything was considered and designed for how they wanted to live daily, from the rose and lavender gardens, to the potager, chicken coop, and those darling animals; nothing was over looked, everything was meant to slow down and engage in a life well-spent and enjoyed on a daily basis.  When their new book Patina Living arrived I spent the weekend reading, savoring, and taking the time to incorporate the beauty of "Patina Living" into our family's daily life.

I have to say we are the better for it.










"During blooming season, roses from the garden can always be found in my bathroom.  There is nothing more luxurious than taking a bath in fresh rose petals."






"The garden is welcomed into my bathroom.  I fill the bath with warm water, adding soothing lavender and rose petals.  My muscles relax as I breath in the perfumed air and take a moment to appreciate the leftover roses in their vase as well as the verdant garden beyond our all-glass shower.  Then I dab my skin with a towel, leaving the lavender oil covering my body."













"I am a bit addicted to baby birds and enjoy the experience of raising day old chicks inside our home.  The experience of raising our babies fills my need to nurture, and I a know our little birds bond to us as much as we bond to them.  We now have a place in Steve's office bathroom that is dedicated to the baby chick cage, and it seems to be filled with little peepers at least twice a year.  After five years on the farm, Steve doesn't even bat an eye when he sees the red glow of the heat lamp emanating from his bathroom."






"Our free-ranging chickens produce the most vibrant-colored eggs. They are as delicious as they look!  I don't believe it is a coincidence that our hens lay eggs in a color palette that is similar to the colors of our home.  Were they inspired by my work, or was I inspired by theirs?"










"My favorite days include a couple of visits to the veggie garden.  In the morning, when the cool mist still blankets the bottom land, I drift down to the garden and scoop out holes in the earth with my hands for new seedlings... After an hour working in the garden, my mind is clear and cobweb free."






"The design for our veggie garden includes spaces where we can spend time doing a variety of activities during the day.  In front of the greenhouse, a round table is placed beneath the branches of a sycamore tree to provide a protected dining or reading space.... that opens to a gravel walkway covered by roses and lined with lavender... this shaded walkway is the perfect place to feed the donkeys some newly harvested carrots or snap peas."










"Like our animals, Steve and I are creatures of habit, enjoying our evening routine.  It's always the same, with maybe a few minor changes with the addition of a new baby animal to cuddle and kiss.  We spend a little less than an hour washing out water and feed bins and giving neck rubs before safely "tucking" everyone into their barn, coop or cage."






"Steve and I never imagined how much we would both enjoy taking care of the animals.  After the evening feeding is complete, we walk back to the house with an increased feeling of peace and well-being"









TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON - HERE





"Most evenings, Steve and I make an effort to thank each other for what we do."  

"We find that saying it out loud is the best way to stay grateful."










My sincerest thanks to Jill Cohen Associates




for the opportunity.  It has been my pleasure







My sincerest thanks to Austen George, Marketing and Publicity Specialist at Gibbs Smith Publishing




for the Patina Living book, photos and assistance.  I apprecite you.







Photographs by Victoria Pearson 




from Patina Living by Brooke and Steve Giannetti, reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith.







Many thanks to Brooke and Steve Giannetti



For all of the inspiration.













Design Inspiration: A Normandy Vacation Home of Peter Copping in Pictures

0
0

🌿🍃There are days where I want to be inspired by photos of beautiful homes and decide how to incorporate this look or this feel into my own home.  Many times it will inspire me to get rid of or move items to different rooms or create different placements in a vignette.  Often it is as simple as adding flowers in a garden basket or recognizing the mix of plates on a table in the photo is something I can design with the plates I currently own.  Many days I just want to look at something beautiful and move on with my busy schedule.  

Instagrammer and blogger Gloria Gonzalez @bygloriagonzales  sent out these photos which are originally taken from the Architectural Digest article  dated from 2015 with many more photos than shown here.   She has a very inspiring Instagram and is #onetofollow 🍃🌿

Enjoy!











































Designing a Beautiful 1940's Cottage - Hanna Seabrook Founder of Gadabout: Creative Design and Digital Direction

0
0




When Charleston-based couple Hanna and Nelson Seabrook had three weeks to find and buy their first home, after Nelson landed a job in Louisville, Kentucky, they found a house with the "most potential".  A 1940s 1,800 square foot cottage with original architectural details and a kitchen that needed to be completely removed and redesigned.  Hanna, an avid Etsy, eBay, flea, and thrift store collector when she is not running Gadabout Creative was happily prepared to decorate her home. 



"I always start with a piece I love and then build around it."



"It's the accessories that give a room its character."



The result is a lovely, livable home with chintz patterns, chalky walls and botanical-themed art and accessories of coral, shells, drift wood along with herberie pictures hung on a flat-panel door to conceal storage.   Not everything was replaced: the black tile surrounding the fireplace was concealed with a charming, vintage wicker screen.  



The walls are painted Farrow & Ball's Vert de Terre. 



"I wanted to bring in the natural world as much as possible."






Who doesn't love a wall of books?  It absolutely transforms a room into a cozy den, library, or TV space; providing a venue to show off personal collections and a beautiful place to display the latest find.  The singular pattern in this room, Smarkand by Peter Dunham Textiles, keeps the space "quiet"  and gives a place for your eyes to land and take it all in.  



"Books and their bindings give layers to a room."









"Growing up, I thought of brown wood pieces as "old lady," but now I value the craftsmanship and combine them with untraditional accents."



The dinning room is painted Benjamin Moore's Woodlawn Blue and the trim is Wedgewood Gray.


Her beautiful magpie collection on her dinning room table.













My favorite room in Hanna's home is the lovely, redesigned farmhouse-inspired kitchen by designer and friend Olivia Brock of torrancemitchell.com   Beaded-board walls hung vertically for height, wood counter tops in a durable mahogany that are oiled twice a month, and hardwood floors painted Benjamin Moore's Randolph Gray.  Making a statement is the French drop-leaf table she found at a local antiques store. 



"It's 4 inches too big for the space, but that didn't bother me at all. Practically speaking it's an investment piece that can just move with us to the next house."






"People think wooden counters require a lot of maintenance, but we just oil them twice a month.  These are 2 1/2 inches thick, which makes them look substantial."









More of her collections beautifully displayed.








The impeccably styled master bedroom is gorgeously painted in Benjamin Moore's Mountain Mist.
The gilt-metal floral mirrors had me at hello.


"I hunted for them specifically because I wanted something that was busy and a bit over-the-top to go with the lamps."






Daughter Eaddy's bedroom is a lovely, muted pink with a timeless feel of collected items and Schumachers' Cabanon Stripe fabric.  A lovely, timeless room to grow and play in.






"I move my furniture around all the time, so I pick things that can travel."










To see the before photos visit the Southern Living article here









Photos:  Hector Manuel Sanchez
Styling:  Elly Poston Cooper

A Room with a Jaw-Dropping View: Aerin Lauder's Gorgeous Modern Apartment in Paris

0
0




"We stayed at the Plaza Athénée hotel..." the article begins with style icon Aerin Lauder recounting her first visit to Paris as a five-year-old with her Grandmother Estée Lauder in 1975, "I was excited by all the beauty". The apartment is featured in the September 2019 Edition of Elle Decor Magazine and was written by Dana Thomas with photography by Pascal Chevallier.  In the early 1990s Lauder's parents, Ronald and Jo Carole, purchased a three-bedroom apartment in the middle of the city with the most incomparable views of the Eiffel Tower and the ornate gold dome of Les Invalides.  They hired French Architect Antoine Stinco to renovate it; his modern, minimalist design perfectly showcasing the family's exceptional collection of modernist furniture, ceramics, and decor.  "My mother's got a great eye, the apartment really is full of wonderful memories."  But my favorite part is the view of the Eiffel Tower from Lauder's left Bank apartment; it is absolutely, captivatingly, gorgeous and I just had to share it with you!  Enjoy!

To read the entire story click here






































































Gowns by Giambattista Valli, Paris  - Instagram














Designer Caroline Gidiere's Alabama Georgian Home - A Garden Inside and Out

0
0




My love of Georgian homes started when I was young at the home of my mother's friend.  The perfect proportions and the symmetry is always so pleasing; nothing seems "out of sorts" as my mom used to say.  The gardens always frame the house beautifully and they are delight to visit.  For designer Caroline Gidiere who's parents had taken her to Colonial Williamsburg every summer for 20 years, she wanted a home based off the George Wythe brick Georgian, and she hired Architect James F. Carter to bring her dream to life.  It's a romantic home inside and out with beautiful gardens designed by landscape architect Randy McDaniel which boast a dahlia garden, trained espaliered hornbeams, boxwood, fruit trees, a petite greenhouse by Eden Brothers, a private side garden swathed in creeping fig, and the classic beauty of myrtle topiaries in pots.  Inside is just as beautiful, designed by Gidier's deft hand with a lovely mix of color, fabrics, and prints with a timeless traditional feel. 

A lovely garden inside and out...  Enjoy!







































































Photography by Brian Woodcock









California Designer Mark D. Sikes 'MORE BEAUTIFUL' new furniture line with CHADDOCK

0
0




Spring is a time of renewal, beauty, and inspiration.  You only need to look at the new Mark D. Sikes collection for CHADDOCK to see that living beautifully and being inspired just got easier.  His customizable furniture and his color choices by the famed Farrow & Ball allow you to design or refresh your home with ease.  Sikes, who is known for his love of blue and white and gorgeous Chinoiserie, also has his second book More Beautiful: All -American Decorating to be released September 1st.  

Happy Spring to us!








































































Weekend Chic: You're Invited Classic Elegant Entertaining - A Must Have New Book By Stephanie Booth Shafran

0
0



~The Essentials~

"For me, the joy of entertaining is in the details: coordinating the colors, selecting the china, choosing the linens, and having it all come to fruition seamlessly.  No detail is too small!  To orchestrate a dreamy event, I focus on a few necessities that, when combined, create a fete to remember.  These include elegant invitations to set the tone, bounteous flowers, an in-season menu, and tablescapes that do more than serve: they delight the eyes."



I had the pleasure of watching my mom prepare for guests to come to our home.  She had a beautiful way of entertaining.  Her desire was to create a stylish, thoughtful event tailored to the guest(s).  Once, a dear friend of hers was in town for a few hours, which prompted her to cut a large sheath of mimosa-colored Forsythia blossoms from our backyard, her guest's favorite flower, placing them in a large clear vase with the stems surrounded by lemons, and "finger foods" and a small basket of travel luxuries for her trip.  Whenever she entertained it was about the guest, where every detail was thought through and the conversation and their time together, no matter the length, was what was important.

Stephanie Booth Shafran's new must have book:  You're Invited - Classic Elegant Entertaining is a lavish guide to entertaining at home which includes RecipesThe Menu and Party Inspirationfor each event, a Pucci by the Pool Party for her daughters and friends,Holiday Magic, House Warming Party, Dinner Under the Stars, and Parties with a Purpose.  Buy one for yourself and a friend, read it cover to cover; it's a luxurious book with practical, beautifully detailed information presented with grace and hospitality which are the essence of entertaining at home.





"There is no nicer invitation in the world than being asked into someone's home." 










A Ladies' Charity Luncheon
~


PARTY INSPIRATION:
A Lush Springtime Garden

PALETTE:
Blush Pink, Sky Blue, and Crisp White

FLOWERS:
Pink Lilacs, Tulips, Sweet Peas, Roses, and Green Viburnum in chinoiserie vases and bud vases

TABLETOP ELEMENTS:
Spring green chargers; Blue and white Herend China; Paisley tablecloth; Topiary Boxwood Balls; Blue Crystal Butterflies

FOOD & DRINK:
Salads, Tea Sandwiches, and Cakes










"Arranging flowers at various heights echoes the natural lines of a garden and encourages the eye to wander."





"A tablescape is more than flowers, china, and linens - even your place card holders should be eye candy.  For this al fresco luncheon, I set the table with some of the most spring-like china in my collection, including the Herend Rothschild Bird with Blue Border and my inherited green buffet plates."










"Life is a party.  Dress like it." - Lilly Pulitzer





WELCOMING STYLE
~

WHEN YOU'RE HOSTING AN EVENT
in your home, align your wardrobe for the night with the colors in your interiors, the food, and flowers.

LOOK AROUND FOR INSPIRATION,
and let the rooms you'll be using for entertaining give you ideas for flowers, food, and decor.  It's an approach that always works, whether you have a modern house that's more neutral or a traditional one that's filled with radiant color.

ENTERTAINING AT HOME,
I tend to focus on what I'm wearing above the waist, as that's what people notice most.  Think statement earrings, a fun necklace, or a beautiful blouse.  And I always feel more festive in heels.

STEVE AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE
our outfits complement each other.  It sets the tone for the party, after all!  And he's a good sport about it.

WHEN YOU, AS THE HOSTESS, 
get dressed up, it sets the tone instantly.










A Chic Dinner in the City


"I let classic New York serve as my inspiration... Everything, from the Beaux-Arts architecture of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the 1914 neoclassical Frick Collection, conjures a cinematic version of the city that will live on forever."


"In New York City, a classic black and white palette exudes the same glamour as tuxedoed gentlemen at The Met.  Black taper candles call to mind Manhattan's soaring skyline.  The custom banquette maximizes space."










"In an intimate setting, such as a New York pied-a-terre, it is vital to edit everything down to its essence in keeping with the theme for the night.  Repetition (like the limited palette of black, white, burgundy, and metallic shown here) is key to keeping with the theme in a small space."




"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." - Elsie de Wolf










HOLIDAY MAGIC
~

"Christmas comes at an ideal time of year- when days are short, a chill is in the air, and it is even more important to spend time with loved ones.  I always adore the season and have so many fond memories of Christmas from my childhood, because my mom made each Christmas very special.  Once I had my own family, I continued some of her traditions and added new ones of my own, all with the goal of bringing the same sense of delight to Christmas."  










CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COOKIES

In our family we decorate these tender, crisp cookies with colored sugar, royal icing, and sprinkles.  The cookies make great hostessgifts.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies

2 1/2 Cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt to blend.  Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until very light and fluffy.  Beat the egg and vanilla extract.  Gradually blend in the flour mixture.

Divide the dough into 4 equal portions.  Shape each portion of dough into a ball, then flatten them into disks.  Wrap each dough disk in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 4 hours minimum.  (The dough can be made up to 4 days ahead.  Keep refrigerated.)

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line large heavy baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out a dough disk 1/4 inch thick.  Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes.  Transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets.  Gather and re-roll scraps.  Repeat with the remaining dough disks.

Bake the cookies in batches until golden on the edges, about 10 minutes.  Transfer the cookies to racks to cool.  Cool completely before decorating.





"On the breakfast table, a centerpiece of verdant greens evokes the spirit of the winter woods."





"Fragrant paperwhites - a favorite for the holidays, take center stage at the breakfast table, where teddy bear moss topiaries add to the fun."










"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.







You're Invited: Classic, Elegant Entertaining 2020 by Stephanie Booth Sharan, Rizzoli New York.  
Photographs by The Ingalls.  Selected press images used with consent of www.rizzoliusa.com





Stephanie Booth Shafran is a fifth-generation Angeleno and is one of Los Angeles's preeminent hostesses.   She serves on the board of UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and is a member of the Colleagues, support group of CII, Children's Institute Inc.  She and her family divide their time between Los Angeles, New York City, and Sun Valley, Idaho.  Preeminent Decorator Jeffrey Bilhuber is the author of five books, including Everyday Decorating (Rizzoli 2019).  Celebrated photographers Gemma and Andrew Ingalls are the authors of  In Full Flower (Rizzoli, 2017)






“You’re invited into the world of classic, elegant entertaining by Stephanie Booth Shafran. Peek into the breathtaking houses, apartments, and rooms I’ve created for this world-class hostess and client who has a ‘gift for celebration.’ The book is a triumph (with a foreword by yours truly).” 

—Jeffrey Bilhuber, author of Everyday Decorating





My sincere congratulations to Stephanie Booth Shafran for her gorgeous, must-have book, the first of many, and for the lovely, thoughtful note.



To Jill and Lizzy at Jill Cohen Associates, Where Beautiful Books Begin, thank you for the opportunity, it's always a pleasure. Warmest regards.



And to Ron Longe at rizzoliusa thank you for the gift of this beautiful book.  All the best to you and yours.















**All quotes and colored text are by Stephanie Booth Shafran unless noted.**

PD Book Club: Designer Matthew Patrick Smyth's New Book "Through A Designer's Eye"

0
0

 




"So much of design is finding the delicate balance among all the various parts of a vignette, a corner, a room, or a home.  The calculus of what stands out, what remains quiet, and what harmonizes in ways that draw and please the eye without overwhelming it is different for every person, occasion, space, and function."

-Matthew Patrick Smyth



Ihad just returned home from a trip to Virginia to find designer Matthew Patrick Smyth's new book Through A Designer's Eye - A Focus on Interiorswaiting for me.  It's lovely.  As I had just visited the National Gallery of Art exhibits of Degas at the Opera, and True to Nature: Open-air Painting in Europe, 1780-1870,  I was immediately taken with Smyth's use of art, it's placement, and of course his use of color.  Like the artist that he is, he describes his designs in a first-person narrative.  One of my favorite projects showcased in his book is a new house designed by architect Peter Pennoyer (pages, 122-143 not showcased here), it has a sophisticated appeal that hints at the "summer house" feel of Bunny Melon's Oak Spring estate which I recently had the privilege to tour in beautiful Upperville, Virginia.   


"Year after year, these rooms evolve.  The dining room bookcases reflect how life proceeds.  Children's board and books have slowly given way to chapter books and young fiction.  Mementos from recent family trips ... Summer trophies ... rainy-day art projects that chart the seasons - the kind of changes that every family, and every house, welcomes."  


From a Park Avenue apartment to a home in Connecticut, Smyth achieves his goal of creating a comfortable environment and an ambience that suits the people who live in them. And isn't that the essence of coming home...


"It seems so simple to say that design and decoration should reflect location... But perhaps more important are the quality of the light, the degree of seasonal change, the character of the surroundings, whether urban or mountain, suburban or seaside.  Every aspect of the world beyond our walls and windows can and should  affect our choices within them - everything from architecture to materials, fabrics, and finishes to color palettes and types and styles of furnishings."





FAMILY HISTORY

"Some homes just feel meant to be.  Others, especially when newly built, need love and attention to make them that way.  This house is the second kind.  When these longtime clients purchased it, it had good bones but lacked any sense of architectural style or focus.  To fill it with the welcoming living spaces they envisioned, they knew they needed the backgrounds that only good architecture provides.  Before we started to build up the decoration, we worked to correct what existed not just by adding ceiling beams, wall panel details, moldings, and metals, but also by fine-tuning each element to get its scale, profile, and silhouettes right."































My sincerest congratulations to Designer Matthew Patrick Smyth on his new design book.  

All the best to you and yours.  







To Jill Cohen and Melissa Powell of Jill Cohen and Associates - Where Beautiful Books Begin 

Thank you for the opportunity which is always my privilege and pleasure.  

All the best to you and yours always.






Thank you to The Monacelli Press for the photos.







As always,

 ... live beautifully
x Rié




My Fall Inspiration Go-To Instagram Account: Sarah Patrick @Sarahkjp

0
0



The smell of crisp air ... long walks chatting all the way ...

Hometown bicycle rides to see the changing leaves ...

wrapped in blankets for just five minutes more

after watching the harvest moon rise ... 

🧡🧡🧡

These are a few of my favorite things for Fall.



The personal blog and photographic Instagram account of New Englander Sarah Patrick @sarahkjp, (which includes photos of her husband Kiel James @KJP, baby Harry, and Golden Retriever Bennie who has his own Instagram account @puffinandbenny) is my go to account for all things Fall inspiration ...  

🍂🍃🍁🍃🍂

For our family October begins the holiday season with our son's Birthday and the first fallen leaf.   Sarah brings inspiration with what to wear for fall, pumpkins, firelight, recipes, gatherings and places to travel.  

Each and every photo is an inspiration board.  I thought you would like to see her lovely account.  I know it will inspire you as well.  She is #onetofollow ... Enjoy! 





















As always I hope to inspire you to

. . . live beautifully

xRié



You're Invited: Spring is Here, Join us on Portobello Design Instagram

0
0

 



Step into Spring with Garden Inspiration 

🌷

Isn't this so lovely!  This is the Old Parsonage and Potager in Dorset by @mccormickcharlie
Photography from the ever-talented @clivenichols
Both are #onetofollow
Happy Friday friends!






See March 15th's Post

Utterly charming children's playhouse, furnished with living room and sleeping quarters...sounds like it could be a great vacation rental. 😉💕  Happy Monday dear friends!
Architecture by @kentatearchitect
Both of these are #onetofollow






See February 22nd's Post

Isn't @katrinsgarten country house garden gorgeous.   
This view is exactly what I was craving after days of an ice storm. 💙  I hope this finds you all doing well and I would love to catch up and hear how you're doing and what has inspired you lately.  
 🌿  Spring is on its way. 🌿






See January 18th's Post

The beauty of Florence, Italy is showcased at this gorgeous former 15th century monastery @belmondvillasanmichele isn't it dreamy 🌞🌳🌳








Join us on Instagram for a lovely Spring...







... live beautifully
xx Rié





On The Coffee Table: MILIEU Spring

0
0

 


Spring has arrived after a long winter.  For me, I was in much need of some inspiration...One of my favorite sources is MILIEU Magazine; with famed designers Pamela Pierce and Shannon Bowers as Founder/Editor in Chief and Editor at Large respectively, you can imagine how gorgeous it is.  With our new series, On The Coffee Table, we want to showcase products and publications that highlight living beautifully across design, architecture, travel, cuisine, and lifestyle, and it only makes sense to start with MILIEU which brings all of these elements to life.  It really is the Best in Show; here's a sneak peak...Enjoy!












































To Subscribe to MILIEU: click here
Cover photography by Simon Brown
Produced by Katrin Cargill
Flowers by Harald Altmaier Floral Design




... live beautifully
xx Rié


Charlotte Moss and House Beautiful's Robert Rufino Video: How To Arrange Flowers Like An Expert

0
0

 




Living Beautifully - The Art of Arranging Flowers  

In celebration of her forthcoming book Charlotte Moss: Flowerswhich will be released April 6th, we are showcasing just a few stunning bouquets from the renowned interior designer and tastemaker's website.  As a preview of her book, she joined House Beautiful's Style Director Robert Rufino to create a glorious flower arrangement, and the link for this beautiful video can be found at the end of this post.  

A perfect calling card for Spring... Enjoy!





























To Watch Charlotte Moss' How To Arrange Flowers Like An Expert: click here

House Beautiful Style Director: Robert Rufino
House Beautiful Digital Director: Hadley Keller
Photography from Charlotte Moss | Site: charlottemoss.com




... live beautifully

xx Rié






Weekend Chic: AERIN Springtime Entertaining

0
0

 




SPRING ENTERTAINING AT HOME

In Spring it was common for my mom to place a table underneath a large tree in the garden and our family would gather for a lunch or early dinner she had prepared.  She loved for us to take the time to "gather" and share moments of our lives, have a conversation regarding hopes and dreams...When we were young she would put crayons or colored pencils and paper on the table during dessert, which was always fruit based, (whether a galette, or berries with ice cream) and have us draw Happy Easter or Spring cards to send to our grandparents, give to our teachers, or leave at the neighbors' doorstep.  Living Beautifully for me is making purposeful memories with our family and friends, no matter how small the gathering.  In my husband's family, during dessert a family member or friend who couldn't make it would receive a phone call and the phone would be passed to each person to say hello and send their love or congratulations, whatever the occasion called for.  My husband, our son, and I have been recipients of this long distance gathering and it meant so much to be far away and yet still be close.   

AERIN has introduced a new beautiful line for your Spring or Easter table... with lovely fresh touches to make your gathering (and memories) special.  





































To purchase any of the items shown, click here.
All photography from the line: Springtime Entertaining | AERIN LLC




... live beautifully
xx Rié



April Book Club: Designer Melanie Turner's New Book - Inviting Interiors

0
0
 


"Any traditional design elements, such as the sparkling crystal chandelier and scenic wallpaper, are juxtaposed with contemporary touches.  Amethyst-crystal lamps and dining chairs upholstered in a similar color liven things up.  Even the formal drapery cornices, based on an antique design, feel fresh with their simple tape outlines."



For the month of April we will be featuring a curated selection of new books from the worlds of architecture and design to inspire us to live beautifully.  Already well-known for her Atlanta-based design studio and her boutique store Melanie Turner Home in Big Sky, Montana, and Rosemary Beach, Florida, designer Melanie Turner has released her first book Inviting Interiors: A Fresh Take On Beautiful Roomsshowcasing her versatile style across a range of both contemporary and classic designs.  Turner has been awarded a Kitchen of the Year citation by Architectural Digest, and has been recognized three times as ADAC'S Southeastern Residential Designer of the Year. 

Here's your sneak peak...enjoy!







"The living room's neutral palette creates a dreamlike effect; beyond the barely there pink and icy blue accent colors on fabrics and artwork, there is little to disrupt the quiet vibe.  
The velvet clad sectional was arranged to make the most of the corner unit's unique floor plan and take in the sweeping views."









"Even utilitarian spaces can be designed with nurturing characteristics.  The lack of upper cabinetry afforded space for a window, allowing sunlight to stream through.  The pale-wood finishes imbue the room with spa-like tranquility."









"The tiger-print sofa was based on an iconic piece that once belonged to style maven Lee Radziwill.  Its selection set the tone for the rest of home which is filled with colorful and glamorous details."









"With no hard edges or any kind of trim delineating the wall and the ceiling, the lustrous plasterwork creates an enveloping and soothing environment, allowing one's attention to focus on the furnishings, such as the shaggy armchair, which has an artful, sculptural sensibility, and the bold yet ethereal painting, which enhances a sense of calm."









"When I first began working with these clients, I promised to keep their favorite art, rugs, and furniture, all of which was reupholstered.  The walls were originally a deep red color, which actually distracted attention away form their collection of paintings.  I chose to design the new palette around their artwork and use colors from certain pieces as accents, deploying them sparingly but judiciously on pillows, curtain trim, and the occasional armchair.  Two large chandeliers were added to give this soaring space a more human scale."









"On the most basic level, this book is about my love for creating beauty.  Whether my clients' desire is for a home that is cool and calm or eclectic and colorful, one thing never wavers: everybody wants a place that best reflect his or her self."


To Purchase Click Here





My sincere thanks to Jill, Lizzie, and Mallory of Jill Cohen Associates: Where Beautiful Books Begin for the privilege, congratulations on another outstanding book.  

Congratulations to Melanie Turner on your new book, the first of many I am sure. 

Thank you also to Rizzoli New York for providing this magnificent book for review. 

[All quotes courtesy of Melanie Turner]





...live beautifully
xx Rié



NEW BOOK: Visions of Home: Timeless Designs, Modern Sensibility By Architect Andrew Cogar & Partners of Historical Concepts

0
0


It's no surprise that Atlanta-based architect Andrew Cogar and partners of Historical Concepts created another beautiful book.  Visions of Home: Timeless Design, Modern Sensibility is gorgeous, and a must-buy for anyone passionate for architecture or design.  Historical Concepts has partnered with Incollect to sell 100 beautiful, original, hand-drawn sketches from their daily drawing sessions to benefit The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.  The sale will be live on Incollect on April 15th.  



To learn more about the auction click here; to view and purchase drawings, click here.





Visions of Home is a beautifully produced and fascinatingly written showcase of the welcoming Southern homes designed by Historical Concepts.  As you thumb through this book, it will be no surprise to you that the firm is a recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ross Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art.  The attention to detail, and the dedication to simultaneously fulfilling their clients' dream while preserving the history of each property, sets the firm in a class of its own.  Here's your sneak peak, I know it will inspire you to dream your very own vision of home...



"The front facade, which combines Dutch and Belgian influences, tells the story of a house 
that evolved over time.  Oak elements (left unfinished to record the patina from the region's 
dramatic weather patterns), inserted between the lime-washed brick gables, 
suggest enclosures and additions." 







"The entry offers the first of the home's many layers of discovery: rather than a modestly 
scaled foyer or vestibule, one enters into a grand hall with a boldly patterned tile floor, 
muscular beams, and woodwork lacquered in black.  Light from the broad glass Dutch door 
and sidelights plays off the warm plaster walls."






"In the invented history of this East Hampton residence, the farmhouse volume with 
the covered porch sheltering the front door was built first in the mid-1700s, with the adjoining gabled element added in the late 1800s."






"The chalky brick, wide-plank floors, and overscaled copper lights set the tone 
for the main kitchen."






"The cold room at the front of the house serves a an air lock protecting the interior 
from frigid winter temperatures while letting in the cheerful warmth 
of midday and late-afternoon."



 


"Once an underused, unwelcoming afterthought, now the narrow leg of the
 L-shaped property serves as an enjoyable summertime pool and party area
 - the perfect retreat for a young, active family."






"Architects often start with a blank slate and let their imaginations roam freely.  Yet homes that incorporate parts of earlier structures, or sit upon storied properties with a past, require a heightened sensitivity and awareness."







To Purchase Visions of Home:click here.



VISIONS
OF HOME

TIMELESS DESIGN, MODERN SENSIBILITY


ANDREW COGAR
and Partners of HISTORICAL CONCEPTS

Written with Marc Kristal
Photography by Eric Piasecki

This new volume from the esteemed architecture firm Historical Concepts features extraordinary homes rooted in traditions and enriched with a modern sensibility.






All quotes by Andrew Cogar

Congratulations to Andrew Cogar (President), James L. Strickland (Founder), and all the partners of Historical Concepts: Todd Strickland, Kristy Tindall, Aaron Daily, David VanGroningen, Kevin Clark, Elizabeth Dillon, Terry Pylant, Clay Rokicki, and Domenick Treschitta. 

With special thanks to Sarah Burningham - Little Bird Publicity - for the opportunity.

Thank you to Andrew Cogar for a signed copy of your gorgeous book.

Designed by Doug Turshen and David Huang

Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. NY





... live beautifully

x Rié




April Book Club - HOUSES: Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Gorgeous New Book!

0
0
 


I learned the love of blueprints from my dad; as a child I would wait patiently for him to finish, to ask him if he had an extra so I could color them, and of course add my own designs.  Even though his plans were for mainframe computers and their parts, he was a budding architect at heart, and was the first to introduce me to architecture and landscape architecture.  The first time I remember learning an architect's name was for a beautiful building by Robert A. M. Stern, who was first known for his distinguished, timeless, houses.  The firm's latest book marks a new celebration of their world-renowned residential projects.  Houses: Robert A. M. Stern Architectswas recently published by The Monacelli Press, so you know it's gorgeous.  It's a sweeping presentation "...of seventeen homes that showcase RAMSA's mastery of diverse styles and highlights the firm's collaboration with leading designers, landscape architects, craftspeople, and builders around the world."  It also contains blueprints of site plans, floor plans, and early conceptual sketches, which I personally find thrilling. 

Just order it now and add it to your library, you will thank me later... Enjoy your sneak peak!






HOUSE 
IN 
VIRGINIA
BEACH
Gary L. Brewer, Project Partner

"Several years ago, a Virginia Beach couple purchased oceanfront land on which to build their dream house.  While gathering inspiration images, they discovered that many of their favorite homes were designed by our firm and that the wife's father years before had consulted Bob Stern about a house that he was thinking of building.  Introductions were made, and before I knew it, I was on my way to Virginia, where the couple showed me their site as well as several local shingle-style houses they admired.  Among them, to my surprise, was one that had been built to our 1994 plans for the Life magazine dream house." ...


















RESIDENCE
ON
KIAWAH
ISLAND
Roger H. Seifter, Project Partner

"Just twenty-five miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, the barrier island of Kiawah was first developed as a private community nearly fifty years ago.  Since then it has become a veritable subtropical paradise of scenic inlets and lagoons, rolling golf greens, and broad, south-facing beaches." ...













HOUSE
ON
LILY POND
LANE
Randy M. Correll, Project Partner

"This house is on one of East Hampton's most picturesque lanes, just parallel to the beach, with the sound of the ocean ever present.  The street is lined with beautiful sycamore trees that tower above the landscape, which takes on a park-like quality, thanks to the unusual siting of the house far to one side of the generous lot." ...





















To Purchase Houses: Robert A. M. Stern Architects, click here.








All quotes attributed to the respectively listed partners; the opening quote sourced from The Monacelli Press press release.

Book Forward by Robert A. M. Stern.
Edited by Peter Morris Dixon and Shannon Hohlbein.
Written with Samuel Cochran.

Congratulations to Robert A. M. Stern Architects, and in particular RAMSA's residential Partners - Gary L. Brewer, Randy M. Correll, Grant F. Marani, and Roger H. Seifter on the magnificent book and each of your world class projects.

With very special thanks once again to Sarah Burningham - Little Bird Publicity - for the opportunity.

Thank you as well to The Monacelli Press, and media contact Laura Mintz, for the copy of the book to review.







...live beautifully
x Rié



Patina Homes: Steve Giannetti and Brooke Giannetti

0
0



Everyone who has followed Steve and Brooke Giannetti has been inspired by their design style, a beautiful paradox of vintage modernity with a curated color palette of neutral tones, often accented by French oak and creamy French limestone walls, juxtaposed to steel windows and set in an open floor plan that is at once warm and inviting.  In their fourth book Patina Homes, readers are presented with a breathtaking showcase of 12 homes that demonstrate the architectural brilliance of Steve's signature materials and understated elegance.  The book, while focused on the architectural aspects of each project, is also a wonderful collection of design inspiration, and together these elements are perfectly suited to inspire us to lighten up our interiors, and pursue the lifestyle quality that makes a house a home.  

I know you will love it...  Here is your sneak peek!







Atherton

"Atherton reflects the stories and dream of our clients.  They raised their family in a beautiful traditional home on this tree-filled property, but their children were older now.  They were entering a new phase of their life and their house no longer fit their lifestyle.  They dreamed of open interior spaces, where they could entertain friends and their grown children.  After seeing Patina Farm, they were convinced they could create a home that reminded them of their original, traditional house, but also included bright, fluid spaces connected to their gardens."





"Although the interior rooms have a modern sensibility, I also wanted them to feel warm and welcoming.  A few antique architectural elements–a large-scale limestone mantle in the living room, a pair of antique French pine doors in the breakfast room, and two vintage zinc industrial pendants in the kitchen–help balance the contemporary detailing.  The view of the gardens through the generous steel windows becomes large-scale landscape art, adding a natural ease to the interior spaces."












Cliff House

"This Malibu home, equal parts industrial factory and Italian villa, is a departure from the traditional shingle-style beach house I designed for this same client a decade ago."





"One of my main goals was to connect the indoor spaces to the ocean beyond.  I wanted to take advantage of this home's location on a cliff above the Pacific.  From the entry courtyard, a steel-and-glass door allows visitors a peek at the magnificent views.  Upon entering the house, monumental steel doors pocket into the wall, providing guests with the full, breathtaking sights, scents and sounds of the ocean.  The entire home becomes an outdoor porch."












Malibu Colony

"This Malibu Colony beach house was my opportunity to create the perfect beach house by having every single element conform to the single purpose of opening the whole space to the ocean."





"Although this is a contemporary house, I wanted to make sure it felt inviting.  The natural material selections add warmth.  Planked wood walls and floors stained a warm honey tone balance the cooler plaster and glass throughout the house.  Honed slabs of buff-colored, fossilized limestone add natural texture to all of the bathrooms."







Oceanside

"Oceanside is a home in a private beach enclave in Southern California.  Built in the 1920s, all of the houses in this community are based on classic French Normandy architecture, and all new homes are required to adhere to these details."





"...I designed a French Normandy-style home centered around a courtyard, where the living room, dining room and kitchen flow together and connect to a porch with spectacular ocean views.  Combined with our clients' bedroom suite, these spaces become a comfortable two-person home.  As more guests arrive, the extra bedrooms and bunk room surrounding the courtyard extend the home while still protecting our clients' privacy."








To purchase Patina Homes and request an autographed copy, click here.







Congratulations to Steve and Brooke for the gorgeous new book, thank you ever so much for the signed copy.

As always a very special thanks to Jill Cohen Associates for the wonderful opportunity to review this beautiful publication.

All quotes courtesy of Steve Giannetti - Patina Homes
All images courtesy of Gibbs Smith, photographs in post taken by Lisa Romerein
Reprinted with publisher and authors' permission.


Architecture by Giannetti Home
Design Associates: Ryan Oliva, Laura Putnam, Renata Costa, Andrew Mitchell, Nick Giannetti, and Blenda Luong.






...live beautifully 
x Rié




Autumn's Melody - Peter Pennoyer Architects: City | Country

0
0

 


Autumn's melody brings us the fall publishing season and an early highlight for us is Peter Pennoyer Architects breathtaking new book "City and Country".  The "City" features residences designed with history and urban life in mind, while "Country" features romantic estates and coastal homes.  

Thank you to Vendome Press and Sarah at Little Bird Publicity for the opportunity to showcase this book and for bringing us along for the journey.  And to Peter and your team, you have brought together world class collaborations with the best in the industry, including Katie Ridder, Redd Kaihoi, Steven Gambrel, Jacques Garcia, Victoria Hagan, Robert Stilin, Miranda Brooks, and Hollander Landscape Architects. 

Thank you for bringing lasting beauty to the world through you work.  

Congratulations! xRié























Click here to pre-order on Amazon.




#book #fall #design
#garden








Latest Images