Tag Archives: All Modern

Side Table Challenge

Posted in Lighting, Side Tables by

Top: All Modern . Keith 1 Plug-in Wallchiere $92.99. Bottom: Bungalow 5 . Isadora Tea Table . Natural $663.00

Bedside tables are very personal. Are you a reader, and need to stack up books and magazines next to the bed? Prefer a vintage alarm clock and not much more? These considerations have to be – well considered before you lay down hard earned cash. Too tall and you are apt to knock your noggin on it at night. Too short, and you’ll find yourself tossing down the expensive iphone, putting the screen in peril. Think about what makes you – you when your tucked beneath the sheets on a Sunday night. It’ll serve you best all the other nights of the week too.

Left: Rejuvenation . Cypress Double Sconce Plug-in $343. Right: Serena & Lily . Pinecrest Side Table . $898.

I love a lamp on the bedside table, but it does take up a lot of room. For this challenge I looked into wall sconces – plug in only. Unless you are renovating the bedroom the prospect of bringing in an electrician for the one tiny job of installing sconces in the bedroom can seem daunting. If you are a little bit like me, you might tell yourself that you will definitely do it, likely after having fallen in love with a ridiculously expensive pair of wall scones, awaiting their arrival, and then looking at them wistfully for weeks – maybe months on end, watching as “call the electrician” gets kicked down the To Do List, and you go to bed without reading your book because it would necessitate you getting out of bed after your all warm and sleepy – to turn the light out. Boo – who wants that.

Left: World’s Away . Brass Two Light Starburst Logan Wall Sconce . $59.99. Right: Ballard Designs . Suzanne Kasler Southport Rattan Side Table $374.25

Worry not, I have selected quite a few DIY sconces for the refresh. Check them out and let me know which combo has you singing your favorite lullaby.

Left: Bungalow 5 . Polo 1 Drawer Side Table $1,046. Right: Lamps Plus . Antique Brass Plug-in Swing Arm $119.98

Rumor Has It: Lust worthy set design

Posted in Color Trends, Uncategorized by
Even in black and white, the orginal NYC Tiffany is stunning.

When I saw Rumor Wilson’s NYC head knocking, dream of an apartment in the Comedy – Isn’t It Romantic, I gasped. It’s beautiful. Like any good romantic comedy, the protagonist has a fabulous apartment, and what screams romance loader than a jewel box from Tiffany? An NYC apartment designed like one – that’s what.

Anything in the family of blue appeals to me. I often think that Tiffany Blue is more green than blue, and that I wouldn’t like it at all if it were in my home, and then I find myself standing in one of their signature stores or starring up at the ceiling in the Fairmont Copley Plaza – their muraled 5th wall’s base color is in the same iconic hue, and becoming quiet, calm, and filled with a sense of wonder. I adore it.

Crate and Barrel Infiniti Curve Back Sofa $1799.

If you have to live in a box – perhaps one that looked like this wouldn’t be at all bad. Perhaps it might even be good. Perhaps it would be a dream come true.

  • Joss and Main
  • Lulu and Georgia

Production Designers seem, from my distant vantage point, have a pretty cool job. While the facade of the building is used for the shots, I am pretty sure they “build the set” in some low rent district warehouse. Wherever Sharon Seymour created Natalie’s Manhattan Pad, she rocked it. There is something about that magical color that sets the tone for the fantasy. The curved sofa in white makes a two fold statement, first, I have room to spare. You aren’t sticking me into a corner or up against a wall, “you bought me” it seems to say, “to show off my luscious lines to their best advantage” – center of the room please. Second, the impracticality of a white sofa speaks to the single life, which ideally is how a romantic comedy begins. Ah, the perfection of a single gal controlling her environment. No durable Sunbrella’s for her.

All Modern . Mercury Row McCray Upholstered Side Chair . $149.99

The aqua blue accents, throws, vases, trays, give a little punch to the monochromatic palette. I would forgo the portrait of the puppy – as cute as he is, for an abstract of the sea, but that’s just me.

If you spend some time really hunting, most of these items can be found either on sale, or if you are willing to suffer the ramifications of in overflowing in-box – you can sign up for the companies promotional emails to receive 10% – 15% off the purchase price. When you are busy creating your own Hollywood Set of a home, that discount will add up, and dare I say – be worth the aggravation. Happy Hunting.

  • Iitatala Kastehelmi Collection.

Solo Act: seeking solitude at the office

Posted in Furniture, Uncategorized by

There’s been a big brew ha ha about open office layouts of late. Claims of lowered productivity, less collaboration, more distraction. The exact opposite of what the experts claimed would happen a few years back.

Cole and Sons . Woods and Stars wall covering. Just a little bit of calm.

I don’t mind an open office environment. My very first job at an architectural firm I sat in the wide open with all the other employees. I loved it. Between opening and reading the mail and listening to the conversations around the office, I might have been the second most well informed person in the company next to the Founder. Pretty good if you ask me.

Later, I had an office and then I didn’t. The rising cost of real estate forced the shift. Having gotten used to the private space I thought I would hate being on a floor with no walls and 250 people. I didn’t. I liked it quite a lot. I even found the weekly battles of the genre of music that would be played RATHER amusing. As far as my experience went – I did in fact collaborate more – and that was pretty cool. When the economy tanked and we had to give that floor back, I never felt so lonely as I did returning to a private office.

Wayfair . Wrought Studio Sease Lounge Chair $233.99

So hype or not, the cost of real estate is going to continue to rise, so finding ways to whittle down that SF is probably here to stay. One pretty great residual benefit of the open office is the specialty spaces that come along with them. A huddle room, how cozy. A phone booth, a Mother’s Room, a Meditation Space, a cafe with snacks, and wi-fi simply everywhere you can drag your device. As a writer I sometimes just need a change of scenery to spark the creativity, and our conference rooms are often booked, so I have been charged with designing a little space to take a call or a brief breather. Comfortable but not so comfortable you wouldn’t want to leave.

All Modern . Swan Swivel $339.99

I feel generally good about what’s been selected but am a little uncertain about the chair. The chair will make or break the space. Advice welcome.

All Modern . Alberto Swivel Wingback $349.99

Happy Sunday.

Fall in Line with Fashion

Posted in Designer Profiles, Lighting, Uncategorized by

The Gates have opened even wider with Elements of Style, Erin Gates new product line entitled:  Elements.  Whoever said “success begets success” was referencing just these types of phenomenon.  Blog, booming design business, book(s) – a second is underway, jewelry line, pottery line, and now full blown product lines which can be found on Wayfair and All Modern.

elements

Erin Gates brings Elements of Affordable Style to your home through Wayfair and                  All Modern.

You’ll find pillows in her signature leopard print.  This is an element of her style that precedes this Fall’s trend, and is near and dear to her heart.  Not only does she have quite a few pairs of shoes in this spotted animal print but she wasn’t afraid to bring a little of this Sub-Saharan grace to the runner on the stairs in her entry.  Meow.

Elements . Leopard Print Pillow $48.
Zara . Leopard Print Shirt $39.

Left:  Elements. Leopard Print Pillow $48. Allmodern.com  Right:  Zara . Leopard Print Shirt $39. Zara.com

The bold black and white stripes that to me seem so very French make an appearance in throw and lumbar pillows, as well as the wrap on the scented candles.  Sweet Smoke, Lavender Leaves, and Blackberry Pumpkin, Juniper Moss, and Currant Rose are the alluring combinations she has imagined to fill the air in your home.

Zara . Off the Shoulder .
Elements . Stripe Throw Pillow . All Modern $38.

Left:  Zara .  Off the Shoulder $39.  Right:  Elements . Solid Stripe Throw Pillos $38.

Throws and ottomans, baskets, and lamps in warm hues, cozy fabrics, clean lines, make it appear as if it’s easy just to throw it all together.  I wonder how much Erin would charge for a paint by numbers guide?

Max Mara . Striped Skirt . $595.
Elements . Sweet Smoke Candle . All Modern $18.

Left:  Max Mara . Striped Skirt . $595. maxmara.com  Right:  Elements . Sweet Smoke $18.

The line was well received – many items sold out almost immediately.  Still others never made it to the site, but Erin assures us, that like any product launch, bugs need to be worked out of the system.  Elements 2.0 will be along shortly.  Your wallet might just welcome the pause.

Elements . Ottoman . $68.
Max Mara . Gray Coat . $2,850.

Left:  Elements . Ottoman $68.  All Modern  Right:  Max Mara . Gray Coat . $2,850.

Congratulations Erin, and thank you for opening the “Gates” to a beautiful and affordable collection of home wonders.