BLOG - March 1, 2012 - March 31, 2012

Last night was the launch party for my friend Claiborne Swanson Frank's book American Beauty and tonight is the opening reception for the show that will accompany it at the Lu Magnus Gallery.  The book, published by Assouline, is a collection of a 110 portraits of American women.  American Beauty is wonderful look at  American woman today and I hope you will all check out the book as well as the show.  I'm flattered to be included among such an accomplished group of women! 

Georgia's Post on Green and Grey made me think of other daring color combinations with grey. Orange is certainly one of them. Combining orange with too dark of a grey can look like Halloween, but done right it can be very chic.

Jute Interior Design

I love this nursery so fresh and gender neutral!

I love the stripes. I wish I knew who designed this room. So daring!!

Love the contrasting colors here.

Ron Marvin

I've got books on the brain.  Well, the display of books to be exact.  My budding collection of coffee table books is in need of a new home, and I've perused options from a tortoise shell secretary to a cerulean-colored industrial model from Crate and Barrel - and everything in-between.  What I really want are some built-in bookshelves, recessed into the wall.  I would love to uplight the books with some hidden rope lights and create a chic little library for myself - but that is not going to happen right now.  I think the metal Crate and Barrel book case might end up winning out in the end, as it is an interesting counterpoint to the softer, more muted pieces that are going near it in my scheme of the room.  In the meantime, I can look at the libraries pictured below and dream about the day that my books can live somewhere just as fabulous...

Where to begin?  I love that the shelves are so massive, that they are off the floor, and that they are completely recessed.  Similar kudos to the need for a ladder and those six amazing gold fixtures highlighting it all.

Not too many books in this "library," but I am drawn how bright and crisp it is.  I am kind of obsessed with the mirrored backing and quite like that the artwork is hung somewhat out-of-place on the exterior of the shelves.

Delphine Krakoff in her beautiful library.  See what a bit of hidden lighting can do?  Adds an air of enchantment and romanticism and makes your books look like a million dollars!

A blast from the past.  Thumbs up to the color-blocking, zig-zagged shape, and interesting location.

All-lacquered and all-business.  Extra points for the Mouille floor lamp.

Enjoy reading in the tub?  Combine your library with your bathroom!  Again - the backlighting creates an arresting visual.

So elegant, so cozy.  The chair fits perfectly between the two bookcases, and the two small sconces are a wonderful thought.  The gold/brown/animal skin combo gives this traditional room a fantastic gloss.  Makes me want to curl up in that nook with a great book. 

Clean, graphic, and fresh.  I adore the moulidng and the outline detailing each shelf.

Images borrowed from isuwannee.com, habituallychic.blogspot.com, and onlinectu.com.