Check out this page on OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2010/04/shifting_out_of_neutral_two_ho.html

The above article link is an article in today's Oregonian about a client project we have been working on for the last few months. The article is all about color - from none to lots! Thanks SO VERY MUCH to the darling Miss Bridget for allowing us to be part of her color story.....so exciting!!!

The very best part is that the first photo was actually the cover of the whole Home & Gardens section! YIPPEE!!!

This photo is of the dining room into the living room. Love the Hickory Chair Chinese fretwork dining chairs in a French Blue finish.. We used a Calvin Klein for Kravet Collections linen fabric with metallic peacock blue fibers running through it with a Kravet Couture multi-colored checkered silk for the welting. The killer chandelier is the Pagoda Chandelier by Currey and Co. Dear God, I love chinoiserie!!!!! Barbara Barry lamp on the buffet....

Again, from the dining room to the living room. We used Hickory Chair made to measure slipper chairs with a Kelly Wearstler herringbone patterned fabric. The small black table is by Mariette Hines-Gomez for Hickory chair. The sofa we had re-upholstered in a raspberry Metro Chenille - totally indestructible - by Duralee. The drapery fabric is a Laura Ashley ikat pattern for Kravet. You can't see it, but the fireplace to the right of the chair in the foreground we had re-tiled in a crema marfil marble in a 1 x 3 herringbone pattern to work with the chairs - lots of texture and pattern with a neutral color - just in case they change chair fabrics down the road...... The lamps on the altar table from Legend of Asia behind the sofa are black and gold metal tole painted chinoiserie by Currey and Co.

Upstairs guestroom....... The drapery fabric is Tea Blossom by Kravet - so beautiful. coral base with multi-color Asian inspired vases. Delightful! The wall color - which is truly amazing is Benjamin Moore Wasabi - part of the Affinity palette - it contrasts nicely with the curtains! It is a pity you can't see the dresser on the right - it is ivory lacquered in a slightly modern Chinese style with beautiful chow feet - by Bungalow 5.

all photos by Faith Cathcart / the Oregonian

This chair in the entry hall is an antique from the client's great grandmother - we covered it in a super colorful Jim Thomson linen-ish fabric which set the color palette for the whole ground floor of the house. This piece is really special! ...did I mention that I love Jim Thompson??

So thanks again to Miss Bridget - I am so happy!!!!!!

The 12 Days of Xmas Daily Gift Guide - The 8th Day...

It has been pointed out that I am technically going backwards in this whole 12 days of Xmas thing, but it has been intentional..I always though it sounded backwards the other way and since this is my blog..I get to make it up as I go along, right???

Anyhoo........

On the 8th day of Xmas, my true love gave to me.........

........a lovely design book, or two! Who wouldn't love a fabulous coffee table design book by Kelly Wearstler or Jonathan Adler? All three are great sources of inspiration from two completely different viewpoints! I love them both!

The books are from $34.95 - $29.95 each. Stop by and pick one or two up for your favorite deign junkie - they will thank you for it!

Time to get shopping......

YIPPEE!!!!! The holidays are here! I love this season, even though I am in retail..LOVE IT! I am so excited about all the lovely things we have received in the shop over the last few weeks! I had almost forgotten what we were getting since I had placed all these orders in August/September, so what a treat to open all the boxes! I made a conscious effort to buy lots of small but beautiful hostess and tank you gifts for all the fabulous parties you will be attending like Middle Kingdom porcelain vases, each presented in its own little linen box with toggle closure, Aquiesse candles and sooo much more. Our holiday windows will be installed on Nov 25th and will be featuring my favorites! One window will be filled with hand knit sock monkeys from Nepal along with beautifully colored lacquer serving trays and boxes. The other window will be the second time we will have "the tipsy gnome xmas party" with LOTS of gnomes of great character having a party in the forest along with concrete mushrooms, hand felted mushrooms and hand felted gnome ornaments. I can't wait to put in the windows! I love good window displays! I love going to a big city - bigger than Portland, like NYC or London and check out the windows. I was in Chicago in Sept. and the Ralph Lauren windows on Michigan Ave were magnificent!

But if you are looking for a gift that goes above and beyond the hostess gift - for your sweety perhaps, we just got the new Marquetry merino wool throws by Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA. Dear God they are beautiful! They have a reversible abstracted faux bois pattern in three colors; mandarin, cove and slate. All so lovely! Perfect for a cozy winter evening to keep you sweety warm! We also got the Thistle cocktail napkins....hostess gift anyone???

It has been so blustery here in Portland this last week - perfect Winnie the Pooh weather. Makes me want soup and stew and warm drinks. It is just about time to make up a big batch of hot buttered rum mix - you know the one with butter and ice cream - it truly DOES NOT SUCK. I remember the first time I made it - at the home of Miss Sus - now lives in Pittsburgh - bummer! Anyhoo......we had so much fun making the batter and eating it and drinking the results that Frenchy had to come retrieve my sloppy drunk self after work. YIKES! Do you remember that Sus? Thanks again - 5 years later......

OK then.......I have been a busy little blogger this morning - a morning at home with a sleeping Stella made it all possible.....off I go now....I have to meet the darling Mike Darcy from 'In the Garden with Mike Darcy' on KXL radio - Since I am a HUGE Jane Austen geek - I just consider him to be my personal Mr. Darcy - anyway - he has a business selling HUGE and beautiful garden containers and I need to get cracking on a Spring '10 order - then the lovely Miss Sue and I need to record our next episode of http://www.homestlyehappyhour.blogspot.com/ for Wednesday. Where are we going for happy hour? It's a mystery....guess you will just have to check it out on Wednesday at 6.....

Have a great Monday!