With all the talk about last minute gifts and what to wear... and when... I have been so busy working on projects that I haven't even had time to do a proper Christmas post!
Fortunately... I have finished all my shopping... but I will be working up to the last minute with deliveries for clients that were lucky enough to get their custom orders in on time...
I want to thank Tish at "A Femme d'un Certain Age" for inviting me to partake in her Christmas festivities... Ooh-la-la!!! She has had so many great contributors this week and it has been delightful to see what has inspired others in the way of gifts. I will certainly revisit all her posts from this week, as well as all the other wonderful posts that I need to catch up on... it will make for good reading when I finally sit down for my Christmas milk and cookies... well, maybe something a little stronger... Cheers!!!!
I wish you all a joyful Christmas and Holiday with family and friends...
Please check out Vicente Wolf's latest post on the need for bone marrow donors. I was not aware of how simple the procedure is to register as a donor... basically, a simple cheek swab.
“To me, sophistication is a perfect marriage between
intelligence and simplicity.”
~ Rose Tarlow ~
One of the characteristics of country life is being frugal, and I think most people agree that being frugal is intelligent… So, if being frugal is intelligent… and if the dichotomy of nature through all its intelligence and complexity is the ultimate model for simplicity and form… then certainly the combination could be appreciated for its sophistication!
As a follow-up to my previous post on “The Beauty of Branches” and to make good on my threat to get out my loppers…I have composed the following snippets from my gatherings…
It all started here last weekend…with the greatly appreciated help from the generosity of the helping hands and strong backs, during my fall clearing and clean-up on my property…
My lovely daughter on her fiancé’s tractor that he so kindly brought along for
a final grass cutting of the season … plus, the front-end loader on it was a bonus for hauling tree trimmings to the burn pile.
One of several burn piles… where I gathered some of my clippings… and which will soon become a warm gathering spot for a birthday bonfire…
Looking out the window, toward the side of the property near the pond, from where I sit and write my blogs….
A close-up of the moss and lichen from one of the trimmed branches that was in decline…
how amazing are those colors and textures!?
Mistletoe… also found in the declining branches of trees (and which will actually kill your trees) is mixed with clippings from a cedar tree.
More clippings from the cedar tree with its silvery-blue berries.
In the vignettes below... I like how the birds in the paintings seem as though they are sitting
There is a quiet beauty in branches… often overlooked and under appreciated during the grey days of winter.Against the horizon the branches form lovely patterns of lace.But if you take them at face value what you get is their sculptural quality and the simplicity of their form.In an interior space they create a very distinct statement, requiring little help or explanation.They can fill a large volume of space without completely dominating it by delineating the negative spaces within.
A sculptural arrangement by Chicago Interior Designer Michael del Piero
www.michaeldelpiero.com
Entry of the 2009 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House via Things That Inspire
Bare wintry branchesgiving way to spring’s blossoms is a welcome sight, especially early on when the buds are forced.
Southern Accents - photo Tria Giovan
Martha Stewart
For centuries the beauty of branches has been captured in chinoiserie style wall papers giving style and character to the spaces they adorn.The following four interiors have been transformed into extraordinary spaces because of the wall features.
Hand painted DeGourney wall papers
Above three interiors by Style Redux on a beautiful blog she did on Chinoiserie wall papers by De Gourney
Yesterday I attended the Decorative Center of Houston’s Fall Market and for most… finding a parking space was not exactly a moment of luxury.I opted for the free valet parking.Why make life more challenging than it already is? It was no wonder that the parking situation was difficult, because two of the countries most respected interior designers were attending.
Houston’s own Bill Stubbs was the keynote speaker for the event.Mr. Stubbs is a seasoned speaker and his boyish southern charm and charisma would make any conversation or topic interesting.In his presentation he revealed behind the scene stories about his lifestyle series that premiered in 2008 on PBS…“Moment of Luxury”.He is now in his second season.
Mr. Stubbs also talked about a two year overseas project that he worked on designing the interior of a 100 million dollar jet.In his warm and humorous manor he spoke about his perseverance in creating the design that would be worthy of his client, against the rigorous challenges of meeting aviation code and manufacturing.
If you ever get the chance to see him in person, don’t miss the opportunity.And be sure and check out his series on PBS.
Kathryn M. Ireland was scheduled for a book signing at the Dorian Bahr showroom, but unfortunately had to cancel…because, apparently the Queen “mother” has requested that Kathryn come to see her.Well… I guess we know where her priorities lie!
It was a disappointment having Kathryn Ireland cancel... but, that was quickly forgotten upon attending the presentation of interior designer Barclay Butera.Barclay, who gave his presentation on “Decorating in a New Economy” in the Kravet showroom, is now part of the Kravet family of renowned designers. He is as charming as you would expect him to be.He talked about his roots in design…growing up in his mother’s interior design business and then setting his own path.His mother has a company in southern California that specializes in model home interiors.The first design firm that I worked with in California was a major competitor of hers.
Barclay, who is know for his blue and white interiors and his use of animal prints, had some wonderful photos in his slide presentation.Part of the emphasis of his presentation was on the use of decorative pillows as a way to offset lower budgets, with big impact.Barclay believes that there are no rules when it comes to designing.His own style in warm and eclectic, and he has a great eye for placement.I can see the influence that working in the model home industry had on his design choices, but he has gone so much further and is now designing 5 star hotels.It was a real treat to hear him speak.
Recently I consulted on a project out in New Mexico up near the Taos area. While there, I spent a brief time in Santa Fe. I have always loved the unique qualities of Santa Fe and the opportunity to revisit had some pleasurable moments.
The first time I went to Santa Fe was over twenty years ago when I was an art director with the Horchow Collection. The trip was supposed to be shared by a couple of friends, but as the advertising world would have it, unmet deadlines prevented my two friends from going on the trip. I was determined to make the trip, even if I had to go it alone... and as it turned out, being alone gave me a whole different perspective and experience than if I had friends along. I had the best time!
Since I wanted to be in the heart of the town, where I could just get around on foot, my choice of accommodations was limited since I was on a very tight travel budget. My home of choice away from home was the De Vargas Hotel at 210 Don Gaspar Ave, around the corner from the town plaza. It was the type of place that you could tell had been at one time a very fashionable hotel, but the years had taken a toll on it. It had become a place of questionable reputation... and the "guests" were very interesting in a precarious fashion. I really do believe that it was trying to hang onto what little respect that it had left...
In retrospect, I wish that I had taken more photos of the hotel
Most of the guests were subject to sharing the bath facilities down the hall from the rooms. But, being that I was a single young (naive) lady traveling alone, I was given a room with my own en suite bath. Hey, the sheets and towels were clean... so what more did I need?
The De Vargas Hotel is quite historical. The original hotel was built in the 1880's, destroyed by fire, and rebuilt in the 1920's. During the 1930s and 1940s, when the state capitol was across the street, the hotel served as a popular gathering place for politicians. What I experienced was the shadow of a one time grand hotel. It still had the phone circuit board with the cords and plugs that required the assistance of an operator. Behind the hotel desk was a tall, dark and scary looking man... and to my relief,was extremely kind. No concern of Hitchcock type events here!
Tall, Dark... and Scary!
Enclosed Courtyard
Shortly after my visit there, the hotel was "renovated" into a Victorian style boutique hotel - how ghastly it must have been!
During my recent visit to Santa Fe I went by the old De Vargas Hotel to see what had transpired... and to my delight and amazement it was the day of their grand re-opening... as the St. Francis Hotel! The following photos are from their website: http://www.hotelstfrancis.com/index.php
The newly renovated spaces went through quite a transformation...
The new hotel desk is in the same corner as the original was
Enclosed Courtyard
Veranda or Colonnade of the front entrance
What a pleasure to see the old De Vargas Hotel re-invent itself into a beautiful space with the form, light and shadow being the dominant features. I have to say however, that their recently added photos to the website depicting their addition of accessories has taken away from the ethereal ambiance of the space... in this case less is certainly more!
Maryanne from Beadboard UpCountry has honored me with a nomination for the Kreativ Blogger.So here are seven things that most readers don’t know about me…
1.My first passion in life was dancing.From nine years of age all through junior high and high school, I would go directly to the dance studio after school each day for 5-6 hours of study.I was a member of a modern jazz/ ballet company in Houston for several years.During summer months I studied with Patsy Swayze and was in classes with Buddy Swayze.The fact that we were members of “rival” dance companies didn’t affect our friendship… he was a very friendly, down to earth guy.
2.I am not easily impressed.As a teenager, I thought school was insipid… so I went to summer school each summer to get ahead and graduated when I was 16.I didn’t even tell my folks about the graduation ceremony and I never went back to pick up my diploma.
'70 Big Movie Hit - the year I graduated from H.S.
3.I love gardening… but you wouldn’t know it from looking at my lack of landscaping at my current home.I cannot tolerate the Texas heat well so I end up abandoning my projects before they come to fruition.I have some lofty ideas for it that I would love to see eventually materialize.
4.I have transitioned through other creative mediums.Before going into interior design, I was in advertising.I had been around art my whole life since my mother is an artist… so drawing came natural to me.My time in advertising began as a fashion illustrator.From there I became an Art Director, which culminated with the Horchow Collection.From there I returned to school to study interior design…
5.I’m a mom, first and foremost.When my children were very young, I made the decision to take a sabbatical from my work so that I could be a full time mom.It wasn’t the best choice to make career wise, but my children are the most important part of my life, and I’d do the same all over again.
6.On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I am an INTJ. I am a very private person, and even my friends think that I am somewhat of an enigma.I am currently reading the book by Debra Ollivier “What French Women Know” and I think that they must all be INTJ’s as well – who knew that I was really French!Perhaps I should move to France so that I can meet a man who can understand and appreciate me…
7.I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to repeating things over and over to correct mistakes… much like when I decided to quit smoking umpteen years ago… I just wanted to go through it one time and one time only!When I took the NCIDQ exam to get my state licensing, I studied my butt off and I passed all three sections in my first sitting so that I wouldn’t have to go back to retake any of it.
I am very passionate about all things creative and I have the highest regard and respect for the talents of others.I am so much in awe of the fabulous blogs that I have discovered since becoming a part of this community.I promise to eventually finish the blog “drafts” that I have put on the back burner while working on projects.But in the mean time, reading all the wonderful blogs from others fuels my passion with more inspirations… thank you!
Seven Bloggers that I would like to acknowledge and nominate for the Kreativ Blogger... for which some are "new" to me, are:
They, among many others, are a wonderful source of inspiration, entertainment, and a reminder of the collective power of creative minds and the art of sharing.
Awarded to me by the lovely Maryanne of Beadboard UpCountry
The Countrypolitan Designer
A designer driven...by passion and purpose.
Interior Design Services
My projects support an eclectic mix of styles and periods to create atmospheres that are original, inviting, comfortable and do not look "decorated", but rather timeless.Environmentally conscience design, which does not sacrifice style or quality. Centrally located in the rolling hills of WashingtonCounty and serving the Houston, Austin, BrazosValley and surrounding areas.Full service.
You can contact me directly at my office: 979.251.7751 email: info@symingtoninteriors.com website: www.symingtoninteriors.com
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