Field trip to Aero Studios in SoHo. I do love Thomas O'Brien.

Still lovin' Thomas O'Brien......

It is no secret. I love Thomas O'Brien. Great Style. Great Design. Couldn't be nicer. Sooooo Clark Kent.

Anyhoo........Today I got an email from www.wshome.com and this month it was featuring an interview with Thomas about his tips on decorating for the holidays. So here it is...... from www.wshome.com website.

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Thomas' Style

Great style at this or any time of year is really about creating a balance between the traditional and the modern, the familiar past and the fresh start of what's to come.

Stick with tradition. I think the holidays are more fun if you incorporate traditions which add something personal. Ever since I was a kid, I've been collecting old toys and ornaments and animal figurines, and it all comes out in December, to be set up like a vintage Christmas village on my mantel. My goddaughter lights up every time she sees it. We have a ritual of unpacking all the pieces together and have a great time planning where to put everything. I'm not above adding in less precious elements in small doses, like fake snow or Frosty the Snowman. She loves it, and I get a kick out of seeing the magic through her eyes. For me, holidays are really all about the kids and family and entertaining.
Dress it up. I try to make the whole season feel special. Let yourself and your home be dressier and more festive than usual. I make a point of taking out my china, crystal, linen, and silver to use not just at dinner but during the day. It's nice having Christmas dishes too, even if it's just a set of mugs you mix in with your usual place setting. I set out holiday platters and mixed groups of glasses on the table, so that they become part of the décor.

Pick a theme. I often use a wintry, serene, white and silver palette at holiday time. There are certain details I love year after year: Christmas M & M's in brilliant cut-crystal candy bowls, big fires at all times in the fireplace, a magnolia wreath on the front door hung with antique ribbon, and lots of holly and amaryllis all over the house. Repeating the same scheme is part of the fun and makes the holiday classic for me.

Shine on. I get the largest tree possible and load it up with strands of white lights with bulbs in a number of different shapes and sizes, set back really deep in the branches. This creates a layered, twinkly effect. I also sprinkle tons of old-fashioned silver tinsel all over the tree and pile on ornaments I've had in my family for ages. In the evenings, I always light candlesticks and votives to add to the glow, with dimmed lamp light and as little other light as possible. That puts the emphasis on the tree, and makes the whole night shimmer.

Entertain in style. Every year I host a big party for my office, plus a bunch of smaller get-togethers. In November, I transform my bar and butler's pantry into an entertaining station, stocked with everything I need as a host for the whole season. I bring out favorite pieces like my Mauviel hammered copper double champagne bucket (from the wonderful line of French copper cookware that is sold at Williams-Sonoma). But even with fine things I like to keep the mood a bit casual, as in mixing and matching vintage and new glassware at the bar. This not only looks more interesting, but it is practical for parties, making it easier for guests to keep track of their particular glass. In terms of music, I go for classics like the Nutcracker and Nat King Cole. At our staff party, everyone takes a turn opening presents in front of the group, having a special moment of recognition. And everyone puts such creative effort into decorating and packaging their gifts. I keep a wide wicker basket handy for all the discarded paper and ribbons. These are the small moments that add up to an elegant evening, with so many nice details to be appreciated.

Favorite item. My favorite item in the store is the classic hotel bedding. The quality of the cotton is great, and the colors are always so sophisticated, never overdone. And with all the house guests that come through around this time, it's especially good to have extra sets of sheets.

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LOVEIT! Great article...I had to share.....

Nice enough for a photo......

what we're up to these days....

We have so much great stuff going on right now! Here are some photos of what we are up to. There are alot of fabric images.....I am a total fabric junkie! We are lucky enough to be able to offer the new Kelly Wearstler fabric by Groundworks (Kravet) line through our shop and we will be using quite a bit of it on one of our new projects - I cant wait to shop you how it all comes together, but here are some of the pieces........

Above is a large stack of the color palette we are working with - and we will be adding some rose/coral and ivory as well.


Above is the dining chair we have chosen from Hickory chair - it is called the Gillow chair and has a loose seat cushion. I think we will using the chair with an ivory finish as it will contrast nicely with the dark wood table - a very traditional style table on toe wheels.....

This fabric might be going on the hickory white chairs above....

...and here is another possible choice

...or it might end up on this modern wing chair or a basic slipper chair........

Above is the drapery fabric by Laura Ashley for Kravet - a great linen with an Ikat print in rose/coral with blue and ivory accents - we will be doing floor to ceiling non-working drapery panels in the livingroom - with the wing or clipper chairs - and in the dining room - with the Gillow chair and the Kelly Wearstler seat cushions. We will be using a Duralee Metro Chenille in Bubblegum on the sofa we are recovering that will sit in the same room....a super warm and colorful palette!

Above is an antique family piece - a great empire chair with lion head arms - that will sit in the entry hall and bring all the fabrics and pieces together and really set the tone for the three spaces as they all run into each other....

Here is the Jim Thompson Hexastripe fabric that will be applied to the lion chair with ivory double welting - self welting it would have been a bit chaotic!

I have been coveting the above piece for a VERY long time - the Hallings Secretary by Thomas O'Brien (sigh) for Hickory Chair - and I am finally ordering it for myself! YIPPEE! It is truly one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever seen....

Above is my favorite fabric in the world...Chiang Mai Dragon - by Schumacher - I am going to upholster two Heywood Wakefield chairs in this - I have no choice - my darling Stella decided to eat one of the chairs.......

Lastly, above is an outdoor fabric by Trina Turk for Schumacher that we are putting on a pair of vintage wire outdoor swivel chairs - sorry - the pictures of the chairs did not turn out - but I will post the finished product!

Have a great weekend - our weather has cooled down the the week's high of 107 here in Portland. Thank God - I am not a hot weather girl!

Meet Thomas O'Brien

I had such a great day today! I finally got to meet my ultimate design hero - Thomas O'Brien! YIPPEE!!!!! He was in Portland yesterday and today for a series of lectures about his work and his product lines. I just picked up the Visual Comfort line of lighting for my shop and clients - and his lighting is my favorite - vintage modern and always perfect! I am getting his tension pole lamp in black for my own home - can't wait! I have been watching his work in the magazines for the last several years and I think he has such a clean and simple style. Usually I like alot more color abut there is something about his stuff I cannot put a finger on - it just really appeals to me. Anyhoo........I love these kinds of photos - and he was kind enough to indulge me!...And I love his Clark Kent-ish-ness!

This is a picture of a client's project underway - our last post on this project only included the dining chairs and the new draperies, but now we have the lovely buffet by Patagonia Trading Company and the cool lamps by Barbara Cosgrove...all we need now is art! I think this project looks beautiful!

Also included are a super cute new pair of shoes I found at the super cute shoe shop Switch in the Multnomah Village area. You should really check them out - and they are sooo nice - they even sent me a thank you note for shopping there....hmmmmmmmmm..note to self!

It is going to be an amazing Memorial Day weekend in Portland - mid 80's all three days - amazing! I will be working in my front yard getting ready for a photo shoot next weekend for MIX magazine - their feature - Friday Night Dinner Party - will be about outdoor entertaining and in my garden! YAHOO! I've rounded up a ton of new plants to put in from Xera plants mostly Mediterranean and drought tolerant.

One of my favorite plants going in the ground this weekend is Zauschneria Californica ‘Calistoga’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Here is the description from the nursery: One of the very Best California Fuchsia, this variety may actually be a hybrid. Leaves are thicker than normal and very gray and very wooly. Flowers are the closest to true red that we have ever seen on a Zauschneria (and we’ve seen a LOT). Low spreading plant to only 1’ tall and up to 2’ wide. Blooms begin in late July and continue unabated until early autumn. Full sun, well drained soil. Water during its first season in the ground, after that it should be fine. GREAT ON SLOPES. Hillsides where you find Zauschneria in the wild are where they should be planted in a garden. On an incline they will live for YEARS, on level ground. They can be very temporary. Cut back in mid-spring AFTER all danger of frost has passed.

Truly one of my favorite plants (You should see the color of the flower!) - I have it in several forms in my back and side yards and now I am putting 5 plants in the front to tumble over my retaining walls with some evergreen ornamental grasses and some yellow/green variegated, white flowering sedum - super cool! Oh yea, I am also putting in (finally) the new varieties of Echinacea this year - Tomato Soup and Mac n Cheese - a totally red flower and a totally yellow flower - yummy! I'll take pictures and put them up next week - along with the progress on my new back fence - so cool!

OK THEN.....that is it for now......have a good weekend!