R.I.P. Mr. Graves

Like his designs or not, Michael Graves was an architect that changed design. He died of natural cause at his home in Princeton, NJ yesterday.

My first encounters with this post modern hero of mine was when I was still in high school with visions of becoming a famous postmodern architect. The "Memphis" style as it was known in the '80s, took the spare lines of the standard mid-century design ideals and added whimsical sometimes silly decoration.

His furniture design speaks to my 18 year-old self, but I am sorry to say that it leaves my, ahem, mature self a little uninspired. I do, however, fondly remember the excitement over his designs in my youth. He made things that made me say, "Yes, just like that! I want to make that!"

I did love my original Alessi teapot (pictured above) I bought it in 1986 for $110 and that, my friends, was a crap load of cash for a young thing like me to fork out for something I would not let anyone use. I sold it and now have regrets.

Farewell Mr. Graves.

A cool collaboration

Several months ago, Lisa Mende contacted me about a painting for the room that she and Traci Zeller were designing for the Ronald McDonald House Long Island, I was thrilled.

First Lisa sent me an inspiration board.

and Traci sent me a memo sample of the fabric.

They added that this office was intended to be a quiet place for the parent's of sick children to take care of personal business. Lisa used the word "focus" to help guide me on what they were after. Something pretty but not too energetic.

Having this much visual information about a room with a clear purpose made my job easier and really enjoyable.

I took many of the colors directly from the fabric, a rare luxury to have a sample in my hands.

The result was "Cocoon".

Traci and Lisa even dubbed the room the cocoon after my painting.

Its a wonderful, cozy space and I am so honored that they asked for my help.

Design house favorites

Nestor Santa -Cruz  photo by Angie Seckinger

The dining room at the D.C. design house was spectacular to say the least. Nestor Santa -Cruz knocked it out of the park. It is not what I would call a practical space, more conceptual, but that is what show houses are for.

David Mitchell

I should mention that most of the designers were present to answer questions about their rooms. They were all so friendly and eager to share their passion and vision.

David Mitchell was no exception. His library was warm and cozy with tons of sunlight which made it hard for me to get good photos.

David Mitchell

The artwork was wonderful. There were two fine art photos of a Belgian landscape (above) and a very glossy, and thus hard to photograph, painting over the mantle.

Regan Billingsley   photo by Angie Seckinger

The teen boy's room did not disappoint. It was full cool vintage finds like the New York city public school locker and French industrial tables from the 1930s.

Regan Billingsley gets extra points in my book for sourcing vintage goodies.

Show Houses tend to have everything new and shiny and its wonderful to see and touch all of those high-end goods. In my opinion, it can leave you feeling a little cold and its as though no one really lives there and they don't but I still love an interesting choice.

That leads me to my favorite room of the D.C. Design house, the morning room designed by Iantha Carley.

photo by Angie Seckinger

First of all, the gray and yellow color scheme was right up my alley and the mid-century vibe really worked for me too. I have a crush on that table.

fixture by Fine Art Lamps

It was filled with the coolest stuff like the Lucite table and this awesome lighting Fine Art Lamps.

Art by Sydney Edmonds Merritt Gallery

The room is super cute and it feels "real". This is the chair put it over the top for me. It has a story.

check out the cute doggie bed on the left

This vintage chair is not just any vintage chair it belonged to Iantha's parents. She remembers playing on its orange, groovy Naugahide and she told me it was actually broken. She had it repaired and recovered but it still has a few lovely nicks and wear on the arm from from being lived with...really.

Who is Kelley Proxmire

I was recently gabbing with a friend about design stuff and mentioned DC area designer, Kelley Proxmire. The name did not ring a bell for her but I assured her that some photos would.

This bedroom has been in my inspiration files for sometime and my bedroom is, in fact, pale blue.

You'll never guess the wall color in this bedroom.

Black walls like these would create the coziest cocoon.

This is the Dc design house room that Kelley Proxmire did. 

See those X-benches? Target. Yes, they are from Target just repainted and reupholstered. That makes her my hero.

Here are a few more colorful spaces by Kelley.

 Are you a fan of Kelley Proxmire?
Follow her on Pinterest HERE

Virtual Show House starts Monday

I am so excited to start this blogger guest post series called "Virtual Show House". It is exactly what it sounds like. Designers from 5 of my favorite design blogs that are Virginia or D.C. based will be designing virtual rooms in the house above. 

Come back on Monday to see Loi Thai of Tone on Tone's entryway design and the rest of the week for

Beth of Chinoiserie Chic

Lindsay of Sadie and Stella

Stefan of Architect Design

 Nancy and Bethany of Powell-Brower Home

Yummy!

Yummy, enough said.

Design crush

OK, crush maybe is not the right word but I must tell you that I met a local design rockstar and he is as disarmingly sweet as they get. His name is Loi Thai and he is the proprietor of  Tone-on-Tone in Bethesda, Maryland.

French mahogany chest HERE

I had the occasion to venture a bit more than an hour north and figured that it would be nice to stop into his shop and say, "Hello" to a fellow blogger...

 and an hour and a half after the greeting...

 I stepped away feeling very happy.

Loi Thai is a nationally known designer and a master of styling perfect vignettes, among other things, 

like styling a perfect house. HERE

I must say that the Swedish/Belgian/French look has been done a disservice by stores like Restoration Hardware that  produce bland washed out bits of expensive crap. 

One step into Tone on Tone makes that abundantly clear.

Photos cannot tell the beauty of this vignette. If I saw it in a catalog of mass produced stuff I would keep flipping but in person I can honestly say that I was gobsmacked... there was the perfect amount of crusty patina and messed-upness to make it really marvelous.Everything in his store was amazingly gorgeous. Little alabaster beauties were calling my name. It was difficult for me to leave without buying anything. Yup, not one thing. 

Some friend I am!!! Ha!

 These photos are all from his site.

Yes, I had my camera. 

No, I did not take a single picture. 

The reason is that Loi expressed his discomfort with having his picture taken and  published and honestly I totally get that. I hate to have my photo taken so I was happy to oblige.

 If you are a D.C. local, I urge you to visit. If not, read his blog, Tone on Tone Antiques.

Lets all crush on Loi Thai.

 

The key to my heart

I saw this chair on Pinterest and said, "Shut UP!!" As it is I have an unhealthy preoccupation with chairs but throw in a Greek key and well... you'd think I had Tourette's.

I know its trendy but I have a massive crush on anything with a Greek key motif.

I think I might need this

Hate the room--Love the consoles

I've got Greek key trim on my curtains in the formal living room but I am hungry for more.

What design tidbit are you crushing on?