White Lilies

As usual Liz has decked out the house with flowers. We're back to my favorite all white color scheme, including a variety of white pumpkins and beige gourds. Here white lilies fill the kitchen (and the rest of the house) with their heady fragrance.

Short Days, Long Nights & Candle Light

With the departure of daylight savings time comes the early evenings and the opportunity for warm candle light throughout the house. We love living by candle light; everything looks softer, warmer, more romantic. We use a layered approach with a variety of candle length and diameter. We unify it with candles of a single shade- ivory- ensconced in clear glass hurricanes and candle stick holders. The play of light flickering on the glass surfaces is magical.

In The Bedroom

Probably the most important room in your home, but often the one least lavished upon. We spend a good one third of our lives in our bedrooms and perform our most important act of living there- rejuevenation and rest. Anyone who knows me will tell you that my bed is something I take very seriously. I can live in a hovel, so long as I have a great bed.

I'm a natural person so I like the feel of 100% cotton or linen (polyester is depressing), 100% goose down feather beds, comforters, and pillows, cotton and linen or wool blankets.

I've long fostered a fetish for great bedding and I recently found a website that sells luxury bedding from some of the best brands; Sferra, Peacock Alley, Brahms/Mount. http://www.finelinens.com/

Many of the items are made here in America, which for me is an added value. Yes, they're more expensive than the average brand but the quality is well worth the price. Every linen closet should be well stocked with staples that will stand the test of time. Here are a few of my recent finds.

a beautiful herringbone twill weave cotton blanket by

Brahms/Mount made in Maine

a beautiful tailored 100% linen ensemble by Peacock Alley

made in the USA

a handsome masculine ensemble in my favorite color brown

by Sferra imported from Italy (can't you tell)

a sweet and slightly frilly linen cotton ensemble perfect for

a lady of any age- from Peacock Alley- made in the USA

Great looking cotton ticking duvet from Brahms/Mount

as durable and comfy as it is classic- great for a guys

room, a cabin, or country house- made in the USA

When making the bed, Liz and I favor a layered mix and match style rather than matchy match bed-in-a-bag look. We have such a great collection that it's fun to mix things up. We change our bedding with the seasons to keep it looking fresh and we're constantly adding new finds to our linen closet. I like the bed to look and feel great, but I also want it practical. We only buy machine washable bedding (who wants dry cleaninng chemicals in their bed). There is nothing quite like pressed sheets though if you have the time or the money.

We work in bed so we like a lot of pillows, I recommend using standard size pillows for sleeping, and European squares to prop yourself up for reading or watching a movie.

We also invite our dogs to sleep with us, so we also use inexpensive cotton blankets from Target or Pottery Barn to protect the foot of the bed. Lint pick ups are essential with two big shaggy dogs.

Finally, every room needs those finishing touches to make it feel like home; a bouquet of fresh flowers bedside, a fantastic scented candle from Molton Brown or Jo Malone, and really good reading lamps as well as handy bedside tables with plenty of storage.

Something's Gotta Give

I've been thinking a lot lately about Spring- since we'll be putting together a spring line for introduction in June and July. As each season or project commences every designer faces the same question- what to do next? Much as the writer faces off with the blank page we designers square off against a blank drawing board, last season's successes and failures. This year I've been revisiting images from the recent past and asking myself what's pretty now- am I completely out of the loop because I don't like much of the recent Mid-Century revival? As I peruse my archives and old magazines I find that I'm always drawn back to the simple basics; painted woodwork, wing back chairs, linen upholstery, wicker and basketry. A beautiful and timeless example of how some of these elements coalesce into a comfortable haven are the interiors from the film "Something's Gotta Give".

These absolutely timeless rooms from the set of Somethings Gotta Give are attributed to Interior Designer James Radin (check out his portfolio at http://www.jamesradin.com/ ) the homey style is reminiscent of another great designer Michael Smith (recently commissioned by Michele Obama to redecorate the first family's private residence at The White House ) you can see his work and products at http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/

a recent Michael Smith interior

love the asian influence in the lanterns

Another timeless designer whose work has had a big influence on me is Rose Tarlow. I recently found this old photograph of her California home. I'm still as charmed by it today as the first time I saw it many years ago. The bookcases are perfectly proportioned to house interesting collections and the stray Boston ivy creeping into the room is a masterful, eccentric, and romantic touch.

So what do these wonderful designers have to do with my thoughts for Abode's spring collection for 2011? They remind me of the core values that I always go back to and reassure me that timeless design is best; warm neutral palettes, natural fibers and textures, simple forms that are at once antique and modern, and above all comfort and charm that speaks of a home well tended. I'm getting inspired.

High Points at High Point

We're pleased to be having a great turn out at the High Point market. Business has been brisk at our newly enlarged and prominant space at Southern Accessories Today. Thank you to Steve for all the support and belief in Abode and his fantastic (and eye catching) sales team at SAT. We appreciate it.

Please come visit us at SAT in Atlanta for the January show. We're expanding the line and we're excited to show off our wares.

Southern Accessories Today
Americas Mart Building 1
240 Peachtree St, Suite 12-A-12
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
T- 877-867-4709
F- 404-525-4090

More Fall Colors

Lilac roses paired with autumnal grass create an unusual fall tableau. We group two arrangements rather than mixing flowers in a single vase. It makes for a more focused presentation.

Who Says Fall Color Has To Be Orange

It's that time of year again; leaves are falling, the weather is cooling off, and the hearth is begging for some attention. While other folks are pillaging piles of orange pumpkins and bundles of flaming bittersweet at the local market, Liz and I are looking for fall color in other less ordinary shades. We found these beautiful Hydrangea blooms that are fading from green to robin's egg blue and paired them with several bundles of eryngium that capture the same hues. The bouquet on our living room coffee table still says Fall, but in a less cliche way.