Michael Del Piero

Take a cleansing breath. Michael Del Piero’s rooms are meditation for the eyes — soothing and serene with just a bit of the unexpected. She is known for her signature layering of natural textures and neutral-toned pattern. On top of this, she playfully adds an overscale something or a wisp of color. A massive painting or chandelier. Del Piero is skillful in combining old with new. Many of her art pieces and collections appear to be ancient antiquities and they work beautifully with mid-century lighting or new furniture. If you are in Chicago, visit the designer’s boutique, Good Design, to see her furniture design, accessories, and antiques. Here are photos of Michael Del Piero’s interiors — and they are guaranteed to calm you.  

{ Images are from Michael Del Piero’s website. }

LIST LOVE — 12.14.08

Here’s a handful of furniture, decor, and miscellany on this week’s Craigslist. Enjoy.  { Be sure to scroll all the way down and see the freebies! }

Small asian-inspired table — $25

Fabulous iron bar gate or doors — $475

Mid-century chest of drawers — $80

Vintage shield mirror — $100  { I'd paint it orangy-red or lemon yellow }

Ornate iron gate from The Gate movie — $350

{ Okay, call me curious. The Gate was released for a total of 2 weeks in 1987. It is a horror movie about creepy spooky monsters and zombies sneaking through the gates of hell. Maybe it flopped because that gate pictured above is just too pretty and not nearly secure enough to hold back those demons from hell. }

Modern arc lamp — $150

Plycraft Eames-knockoff chair — $300

And for crafters…

Hundreds of cigar boxes — $10/for 20

And here are a couple of free items on Craigslist this week.

Four large t-shirts, each emblazoned with a giant ”NO” — FREE

{ Oh my gosh! It's a new uniform! I can think of a handful of places or events in which to don these tees. Hilarious! } 

Taxidermy your thing? Bare space above your mantle? Here’s an elk head just for you — FREE

Not feeling it.

I just do not have the Christmas spirit. To force a change of attitude, I'm playing Pandora's fab selection of holiday tunes almost around the clock. And, I'm gathering photos of Christmas ornaments and decor to bolster my inner cheer. Here are some weirdly wonderful antique mercury glass ornaments.   { Maybe it's working? The angry guy with the cigarette is such an unlikely Christmas celebrant that he has put a nice smile on my face. } 

Source: About.com

Zig Zags!

It's a sleepy gray rainy day. I need a wake up call. Zig zags! Nothing like bright, bold, graphic zig zags to energize a room. Here is some zig zag pattern goodness just for you.

An entire page of zippy zig zags from Australian Vogue Living. 

Ikat zig-zagginess by Madeline Weinrib

 
Traditional zig zag patterns meet livelier versions: TOP LEFT, Mesa, Laura Lienhard; TOP RIGHT, creamy chevron tones from iluvfabrix; CENTER, Lokki by Marimekko, ReproDepot; BOTTOM LEFT, Schumacher’s flame stitch linen print, Design Diva Fabrics; BOTTOM CENTER, pillow sporting a Moroccan vibe, Pier 1; BOTTOM RIGHT, Schumacher’s large scale graphic High Voltage

Bright and bold: fabric, Schumacher; interior, Drake Design

Zig zags in bed: bedding, PB Teen


 
Rubie Green’s zig zag packs a punch: upholstered furniture, Absolutely Beautiful Things; East Villages swatches, Rubie Green

Wool crewelwork wavy zig zag pillows from Judy Ross at Greener Grass

The Rug Company

Some of the most beautiful interiors in recent Elle Decor and Domino magazines are found in a single-page ad for The Rug Company. I know you’ve seen it. It’s an ad jammed top-to-bottom with teensy images of gorgeously styled vignettes. Each vignette features outstanding color; spare, artful interiors compositions. And a strikingly beautiful rug. I had to see bigger images. 

{ All images from The Rug Company }

The Rug Company’s images are beautifully styled and photographed in stunning locations. I especially like how each vignette has been edited down to the sparest of elements.

The Rug Company creates truly exquisite hand-tufted rugs and needlework. Company founder Christopher Sharp compares his hand-knotted rugs to the slow food movement. Unlike hand-tufting in which rugs are machine-produced and hand-finished, The Rug Company painstakingly hand makes its rugs from start to finish.

The Rug Company’s rugs and needlework pieces are designed by brilliant designers who also approve each step of the painstaking production process. Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Tom Dixon, Kelly Wearstler, Lulu Guiness, Allegra Hicks, William Yeoward, Marni... just to name a handful.