Almost out of here......

We are going to have a crazy busy week starting tomorrow!

We are meeting the best tile guy in the world (Jeff) at a client home to get started on a fireplace tiling project. We have chosen a Crema Marfil 1 x 3 herringbone tile and boy oh boy is it going to change the fireplace. The herringbone pattern is going to bring out the same pattern in a Kelly Wearstler fabric / Hickory White chair sitting close by....I will take before pictures tomorrow.....

Then it is off to the flower market and a few other places to pick up some last minute details for a clients' birthday dinner party we are setting. Beautiful asian theme, black, red and green.......

Then we are seeing the finished product at a clients' home that Jeff, the amazing tile guy, completed Friday for one of our clients - we redid the kitchen counter top in a white Ecoterr with a simple white subway tile backsplash. With the dark gray cabinets, it is sure to look fab. Then we redid the bath/shower in a much more modern way with killer Yuta - Silk tile from Pratt & Larson and a great marmoleum floor - the vanity gets installed next week and will tie the whole project together! Photos later......

On Tuesday we are meeting with our electrician (Randy) and our floor guy (John) - both the absolute BEST at what they do, BTW, to evaluate the space at a new client's basement that we have been hired to re-d0. We need to redo the entire lighting and wiring as the ceiling is till open and still old post & knob wiring (yikes) and we need to do some leveling of the floor to be able to apply the cork we have chosen. I love the very beginning of a project when everything just starts to come together.....I will take some before pictures tomorrow.....

Then we are setting the tables and accessorizing the client's bday party as mentioned earlier and then it is off to the "fireplace" clients home for an interview with The Darling Miss Bridget of the Oregonian and the client for a story on color that she is working on!

WHEW!

Wednesday morning I am off to pick up my rental van for the drive to San Francisco by way of Napa Valley to buy plants, attend the SF Garden Show, eat at Chez Panisse, go to the Ruth Bancroft Garden, to to Flora Grubb and see the King Tut exhibit. My husband and our friends Sue and Eric are flying down on Thursday so we can all hang together.....take them back to the airport on Monday morning and then drive home....CRAZY!

But for now....it is out to the garden I go. Frenchy is installing our new front fence and I have a few things to plant!

Since I don't have any pictures yet to go with this specific post, here are a few gratuitous of the shop.......

Have a great Sunday!

Day 2 at the Maison et Objet show......

First off.....I have been a slacker, after the second day at the show I got tired and could not commit to a blog entry. Truth be told, I was submitting information to Bridget Otto at the Oregonian about what I was seeing at the show and that kept me busy. Then, I had to get ready to head off to Amsterdam with the lovely Miss Cindy. It was a blast - she took me out for bday drinks at the College Hotel - so swank - such great Dutch design.

Before I forget, on our last night in Paris, we had the loveliest evening - the weather was perfectly mild - we had dinner at the place "to be seen" Cafe Marly - overlooking the Louvre - so damn cool - sitting outside - the Louvre in front of you, Napoleon's apartments above you - the sunset.......

Anyhoo........ I am now back in Portland and getting ready for the DIGS "please make it go away" sale from the 12-20 at my shop. Everything is 50% off. Seriously.

All right then......here is what I had from the show...I will add photos later, when I actually get around to taking them off my hone and camera. Ok...so we are out of the outdoor section and have moved to the indoor stuff. Dear God! There is just so much stuff! There is an ethnic section, home textiles, table top, furniture, home accessories, holiday and kids. YIKES! As we wandered in and out of different showrooms in different sections, there were a few commonalities that stuck out. It seems that there are three distinct style directions going on at the moment. The first one is a very organic look. Lots of wood in natural tones as well as natural fibers, wool, cashmere, leather. There was also alot of wicker in modern shapes and very organic cane colors. The look is very rustic, but still very fine. Kind of Gustavian, kind of Dutch/Belgian beach house, kind of Ralph Lauren-ish. For example, a louis 15th dining chair in a cerused and greyed out wood with a chunky linen seat and a huge distressed leather chesterfield sofa ala Ralph Lauren. Did I mention that chesterfields are huge trend?

Then is the modern slick and smooth....lots of lacquered surfaces. Black, white and reds. Acrylic chairs, chrome , Italian modern.

Third is my personal favorite which is more in the steampunk style. Lots of metal. tables, chairs, beds. Lots, of rivets. Wheels on tables. Semi-Gothic, semi-Victorian, industrial revolution-ish. Looks great with the Belgian beach-house style. Actually, if done well, all of these styles can look great together.

Before, I forget....my color predictions for interiors next year are navy blue and taupe (mushroom-ish). Let's just wait and see what happens....

Ok....gotta run, more later~ must take the Stella to doggy daycare. All hail doggy daycare.