When I first moved to New England I was really impressed with the area’s true commitment to historical architecture and design. As a California native I came to view anything designed before 1980 as something from “olden times” – but here the residents take their antiques very seriously – even contemporary interiors seem to have a twinkle of the colonial somewhere just near the surface.
So it’s no wonder that the country’s foremost designer and creator of faithful historical lighting is here in Yankee country.
Scofield Historic Lighting has become a “fixture” for New Englanders – creating remarkable pieces for hundreds of distinguished homes and businesses in the area.
Their designs reflect popular lighting styles of both Europe and America from the past several centuries. Each meticulously made using the same materials and tools as those created two hundred years ago – but with modern safety and savvy in the mix.
“We’re interested in a material quality proven for centuries,” John Neely of Scofield says. “The patinas we use are hand-mixed casein, applied in layers to get that buildup as if it were painted over two centuries or more. Our glass is hand-blown. The chandelier turnings are hand-turned, never mechanically duplicated.”
I’ve chosen a few of my favorites above – check out all the designs on their website.
Have you checked out Interiors Magazine lately? I rarely spy the actual book on the stands but the online version is quite spectacular. The Oct/Nov issue features page after page of interesting design – most projects splashed with vibrant color. The issue features a gorgeous residential project by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, an apartment in Hong Kong by Miles Young, and a home in Portugal designed by Vera Cristo – all extensively photographed and documented. Shown here are some images at random – to see them all check out the digital version of the magazine here>>
Maybe we should consider Thanksgiving “pre-Christmas” this year as retailers are really going all out with early shopping suggestions. They always do but this year it feels like everyone is very intent on making up for lost ground. The catalogs are coming in droves and the emails are pretty overwhelming already. Because I get so much of it I unfortunately have to dump-truck most of it without really looking in order to maintain some level of sanity.
But this morning I got an email from British based Pale & Interesting that stopped my finger from hitting the delete button cold. It was their November newsletter, which I hadn’t signed up for – but that’s really beside the point.
I guess what really grabbed me was the quality of the photos they chose to include – just three of them, but the editorial styling against a very clean and simple layout made me click over immediately. Of course I looked through each and every section of the website. Below are just a few of the pretty pictures I found. I can’t be the only one that thinks these shots are really swoon worthy – they sell sets of cards featuring photos of their products. Unfortunately I don’t think P & I sells in the US but I’m still a big fan!
I’ve been noticing a lot of cool canvassy and burlappy looking furniture lately made using coffee bags and tarps that have been re-purposed. It’s a very interesting trend that I think has been done really well with these two pieces.
Above is the Upcycle Ottoman from Gus Design Group upholstered in fair trade coffee bags – I love the look and because each is created from original bags, each is entirely unique.
Below is the Bobo Wing Chair from Bobo Intriguing Objects that’s upholstered using reclaimed tarps. The tarp is Libeco mill-washed linen that comes from vintage South American truck tarps. The piece also features hand-carved wood legs.
One of my go to resources when I start thinking about parties and holiday decorating is Carolyne Roehm’s book A Passion for Parties ($31.50 on Amazon). It came out a couple years back and each year since I’ve marveled especially at her photos of a Dickens Inspired Halloween Party.
Above, she spray painted pumpkins silver and arranged them with white tuile for a really fun effect. Below she gathered vintage silver candelabras, black candlesticks, black bird props, gauze, artificial spiderwebs, Spanish moss and some silk flowers to create a really pretty but spooky look.
Whenever Jonathan Adler comes out with a new product – which is about every week or so – I always really enjoy the section that he sets aside on his website displaying his recent interior design projects.
Today’s fab product is his ingenious Room Diffusers (photo bottom) which are shaped much like his iconic vases – which in fact are his iconic vases (in bud vase size) with the addition of some gorgeous room fragrances – Southampton Green Garden and Acapulco Red Currant and some diffusing reeds. Great way to update and make multipurpose an everyday product.
While I was taking in all the hipness (and the amazing Barbie Doll products) I noticed this gorgeous interior that Jonathan created in New York. Adore the fun eclecticism and strong use of color.
Former House & Garden and House Beautiful editor Katie Ridder did more than hone artful sentences and contribute to lovely layouts while on staff. She absorbed as much as she could from top designers.
“I learned who the best decorators were and why. I met them, I saw their work in person, I saw their offices; it was a unique education and I know that when I imagine a room, it’s through the camera’s lens,” she told Connecticut Cottages & Gardens recently. And judging from the luscious rooms shown here she learned well. See more of Ridder’s work here.
