Rejuvenating chairs ...

It is officially time for renewal, both inside and out! I loved this chair that I discovered in a client’s backyard garden. If you have a chair with a missing or worn-out cane seat, put it to good use like she did!

Inside her home, we took these
conservative looking chairs ...

and made them boldly elegant.

This chair could have found a home
in a garden like the one above ...

but I loved it in the room of a young client, painted silver with a thick velvet cushion on top. The custom skirt that I designed for her dollhouse table is playful yet sophisticated. Green velvet on top (and at bottom) looks almost like a carpet of grass.

If you are looking for a way to rejuvenate your own look and spirit, check out this May 1st workshop that will be hosted by a couple of inspiring women that I have recently connected with ...


Reinventing Yourself From the Inside Out:
A Life Changing Workshop for Women
Co-hosted by Susan Kanoff, Fashion Coach
and Ginny Williams, Life Coach

Virtual views ...

Furnace Lake on Sao Miguel in The Azores ...
a place I would like to visit some day to research my
paternal family tree (and to enjoy the views).

The view outside a window in Sarasota, Florida

I feel as if I have been in my house for days on end. Okay, it has only been about one full day, but it was a long one spent un-trimming the tree and tidying up after the frenzy of the holidays. I am so ready for a change of scenery! Well for 2010, I would like to start venturing out to explore some places that I have been meaning to go (resolution #2: travel more). I would like to start with Sarasota, Florida.

While I have heard that the temperature in Sarasota has been somewhat on the cool side lately, I am sure it is a lot more comfortable than what feels like freezing in the Boston area today. To make matters worse, there isn’t even an ounce of New England snow on the ground for my kids to play with during their Christmas-to-New Years break (so many idle sleds are littering my backyard as I write this). I am thinking now would be the perfect time for a sunny getaway!


Some ocean inspired pillows that I designed
now reside in sunny Sarasota, Florida

Recently, I was able to help decorate a condo in Sarasota (okay, a couple of my designer pillows found a home there) but have never been there to see it in person. That’s why Sarasota is the first destination on my list, especially since I know that my husband and I can stay there for free ; ) Realistically, we will have to save the Azores for another time (or decade!)


A pair of lounge chairs await our visit
along with comfortable sofas, too.

Image from online brochure at Robb & Stucky Interiors

And when we have soaked up our fill of sun-induced vitamin D, there is actually a lot of great furniture shopping that can be done while in Sarasota. Robb & Stucky Interiors, for example, has a few original items that I wouldn’t mind bringing home with me to New England as a traveler’s souvenir...

The Around the World Occasional Chair would be fitting.

This 3-tiered piece is as beautiful as it is functional.
Robbie Tier Table is designed by master craftsman
John Black (a strange almost-coincidence)


If price was no object, I would take home
a pair of these classic Barcelona chairs.


Watercolors Hand-painted Shell Cocktail Table
However, I would happily settle for this lovely piece of furniture as art. It would be the perfect reminder of the award-winning shell covered beaches found along the Florida keys.


Chanda Stripe Multi fabric designed by
Annie Selke available at Calico Corners

And just in case you are lucky enough to be in the Sarasota area (or near another Robb & Stucky location), check their listings for design events and seminars. Guest speakers have included designers Barbara Barry, Alexa Hampton and coming in February (to Sarasota) Annie Selke. Time for me to start researching those flights ...

P.S. to M&B: Thanks for the use of your photos!

Enter to win this AllModern.com giveaway!

Kikkerland LET Light Imperial Chandelier
available from AllModern.com

While many have begun the hunt for holiday deals on must-have items, I am happy to offer a special of my own ... this completely unique mini-chandelier (it is about the height of a wine glass) that will be given away* to one of my lucky readers courtesy of AllModern.com. Add light and sparkle to any small area with this dazzling and artful object created by designer, Chris Collicott. Just 3 AA batteries and it is good to go (optional adapter is available).

I can picture using this item to decorate for the holiday season ... maybe hanging one at each window instead of the traditional plug-in candle? Or it could be equally pretty hanging over a writing desk, bedside table or in a kids room. Wherever it ends up, it is sure to generate conversation and a smile or two! And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

ENTER NOW TO WIN!*

To enter to win, all you have to do is post a quick note on the comments section of my blog, sharing your favorite holiday tradition, and I will draw one name from the posts that I receive. While you are contemplating your favorite tradition, here are a few iconic design items that I discovered on AllModern.com that would make anyone smile ...


Gus Modern Timber Table



Kartell Mademoiselle Chair
with Missoni Fabrics



Alessi Parrot Corkscrew
by Allessandro Mandini


Kikkerland Charging Station


The Vitra Vegetal Chair by
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

This chair from Vitra looks just like a snowflake to me! How pretty a bunch of these would be around a well-dressed holiday table.


Or for a little one in your life, this
Rocking Crocodile from Wonderworld
looks like it would be adorably fun ...

Best wishes as you navigate your holiday shopping, and good luck to all of you entering the Chandelier Giveaway! I will be announcing the winner on Thursday, December 3rd (please post your “favorite tradition” comments by Wednesday, 11:59pm EST to be included in the drawing).

*The fine print: Unfortunately, this prize item can only be shipped within the United States and Canada so I apologize for any international visitors to my blog! The winner must provide a delivery address to receive the giveaway item.

Have you seen me?

Do you recognize this fabric?

Everything has been going very smoothly with the launch and visual merchandising of my friend Beth’s new store Beth Hylan Design Studio that is scheduled to open on this Saturday, October 24th in Reading. Maybe a little too smoothly ... I recently discovered that a fabric I had planned to use for a new collection that I wanted to show in the store has gone missing. I am not sure where it ended up, but if it were to magically reappear I would be very happy! If anyone knows the name of this print please send me an email ... I miss it!

On a chair-ier note (pun intended!) here is a sneak peek at a before and after that will make its way over to the shop ...

Before ... I loved this fabric that I chose for this hand-me-down chair when it was in my dining room. A couple of mac ’n cheese lunches coupled with a few playdough sessions later, and it was no longer on my best-dressed list.

I have since made peace with my reality (“we just can’t have nice things” is a common phrase around here!) ...

Leather Parsons Chair from Target

My new chairs are completely kid friendly and look quite stylish with my traditional mahogany table (check back next week for a post on tables).

And now that I have a safe place to bring out some of my more delicate pieces, I decided to rescue the old chairs from their banishment to the garage and have since prettied them up to use as display for Beth’s shop.

After ... I am in love again!

Come see me (and the chairs) in person this weekend at the Studio. I will be there as much as our weekend schedule allows (hoping the hubby is looking forward to quality time with his four boys!)

xo
Yvonne