Monday, April 30, 2012

Care for a Bespoke country house party!

Yes, one can enjoy a true custom country house party at Sophie Conran for Temple Guiting! One catch, you have to travel to England!  Temple Guiting is a wonderful retreat within a converted barn in the heart of the Cotswolds, which organizes bespoke house parties with eccentricity and the best taste possible.  Here one can at least for a weekend  fantasize about parties of yesteryear, and feel as if this amazing property belongs to just you and your friends!  Sophie can provide an extra element if you like, hostess one step removed. One may want a spa retreat party, or cooking, or even millinery workshops.. the list seems endless.  I just know that I want to book a trip right now! 
The wonderful trio responsible for this little country oasis are as follows: Sophie Conran, Sara Schwartz Saxon, and of course owner Steven Collins.
  
Sophie Conran has always had a passion for food and design. As a little girl she helped her mother, Cookery writer Caroline, test her recipes in the kitchen, and grew up surrounded by the inspiration and creativity of the design teams of her father Terence Conran. She has turned her love of both cooking and the home into her career. She has written two cookery books, and also writes a monthly Food & Drink column, as well as contributing to monthly magazines. 
Sophie designs a range of Porcelain with Portmeirion and teamed up with a variety of brands including Drummonds of Chelsea, Harvey Jones bespoke kitchens and Arthouse, for whom she has designed two stunning ranges of designer wallpapers.


Sara Schwartz Saxon started from humble beginnings behind the counter at a residential recording studio, Sara has created over the years endless meals, cooking courses, masterclasses and specialist food tours. She has fed and cared for Celebrities and Rock Stars, bringing good food to as many people as is humanly and humanely possible. A campaigner for real and slow food, the tinned potato is to her as a red rag is to a pedigree bull.
Cooking courses with Tasting Places; consulting, opinion forming and guiding with Placing Tastes, and now catering with Tasting Plates, the food war rages on.



Steven Collins has been investing in Real Estate for over 30 years in the UK and abroad, where he has acquired an impressive portfolio. His shareholding includes Chelsea Harbour, the Royal Exchange in London as well as investments in hotels in the UK and across Europe
Temple Guiting started out as a family home in which to spend relaxing weekends in the Cotswolds. Recently Steven decided to redevelop Temple Guiting Barn and Manor, working closely with Ptolemy Dean, celebrated architect specializing in listed buildings, and Jinny Blom, award winning landscape gardener. Temple Guiting was presented with the Pinnacle Award by HRH Prince Charles for the restoration of its dry stone walls.

Enjoy a little glimpse of what could be a most enchanted weekend  away in merry old England!


www.sophieconrantg.com













Sophie Conran design tips!! Please enjoy!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

That's Fine Fabric!


Lisa fine was born in Mississippi and grew up in Texas. She has worked as a contributing editor of Elle Décor and House beautiful as well as co-authored a cookbook. Now she spends most of her time traveling between Paris and New York that is when she is not traveling around India gaining ideas for Lisa Fine textiles and Irving & Fine!
I love the relationship between her fashion line and textiles. They have a Boho-Chic edge, but not trendy, definitely classic!   Her textiles blend effortlessly with traditional designed rooms.  I also love the headboards she is famous for designing, would love one myself. See the article about Lisa in the June Issue of Veranda, out now.
Happy Weekend everyone!

www.irvingandfine.com











Pasha Palm on the walls!

Her Noted Headboards!



The wonderful apartment of Lisa Fine!

Gorgeous!


Well I can see how life imitates art!

Fabric in Lamp in Lisa Fine's Home.


Fashion by Irving & Fine !




The Kutch coat is amazing, I hope Lisa does a fabric inspired by this piece!!


Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday web shopping at The Red Vault!

I love to receive the new inventory email from The Red Vault. TheRedVault.com includes profiles and inventory from its members featuring all aspects of quality décor and furnishings. Essentially it is a showcase of constantly updated inventory and services, organized and placed within a searchable database. In addition, the website includes a calendar of upcoming events, articles of interest related to the industry, as well as a blog covering all aspects of design. Each week TheRedVault.com sends a newsletter to its extensive database of potential buyers. It is located in Houston Texas, and is designed to connect discerning buyers with exclusive Texas dealers, and trade resources,selling high quality items and services all related to home design.  I have my favorite web haunts, and this is definitely one of them! So come take a look at some of the great things I found this morning at www.theredvault.com!


Anything Cheryl McClure!

Boxwood Interiors

www.foundforthehome.com

www.maihouston.com


Sugar creek antiques , for the eclectic client.

www.maihouston.com-Antique bleached swedish chest!

4 cane 1960s  chairs that would work with traditional or contemporary!www.heightsantiques.com

Antique Chair and ottoman, love the lines-Antiques on Delmonte.

Classic tuxedo sofa atwww.boxwoodinteriors.com

www.janetwiebeantiques.com, I really like this , and would put a great ethnic/or bold fabric on the seat.

www.vieuxinteriors.com, high gloss white with gilded legs!

Love this one-at Sugarcreek Antiques.

www.cellsworthantiques.com

www.patmonroeantiques.com

www.shopbybrown.com, never saw a turquoise federal style chandelier, I think its great!

Pair of english antique lamps-Classic!-www.marshgardendecor.com

Glass Beaker lamp!-www.vieuxinteriors.com

Large Trumeau with 5 light attached sconce!www.designhousetx.com

Quirky, yet classic shape curio mirror-www.laurau.com