Kitchen Design Ideas 2015

Swank Lighting

I arrived back from my <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2008/01/la-dallas-and-meeting-joni.html" target="blank">Dallas Market </a>trip to find an email in my stuffed Inbox informing me that I was the winner of the Swank Lighting contest. Unbeknownst to me they had the drawing while I was in Dallas. These beautiful Vintage Barovier & Toso Murano glass lamps are more beautiful in person than the picture shows. They are mounted on a wood base that is gold leafed and there are sprinkles of gold dust in the glass. They even have a numbered authentication sticker on them. Thanks Swank Lighting!!!!<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161691055532879106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Dl5etI2qLx30g1Nytf5M0ygl-3tkkheHckfIUM5NTVo7qjpRLFzEMPVwsSjPm4hjqWzFqX2V_fN0ZxY9ca4TE_17JltrC_uJFXAcw3k22QLJOr0v1RjcNLev1O16asXMBDLDrIdWxc/s800/DSC01260.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /><br />To see the post that Swank Lighting did on the contest click <a href="http://swanklighting.blogspot.com/2007/11/win-these-beauties.html" target="blank"><span style="color:#cc0000;">here</span></a>.<br />To view the post Swank Light did on me winning these beauties click <a href="http://swanklighting.blogspot.com/2008/01/now-thats-some-powerful-karma-and-we.html" target="blank">here</a>.<br />Stay tuned: <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2008/02/current-project.html"http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2008/02/current-project.htmltarget="blank">Tomorrow </a>I will tell you about the samples in the foreground of the above picture, which are for a current project I am working on.

Swank Lighting

I arrived back from my Dallas Market trip to find an email in my stuffed Inbox informing me that I was the winner of the Swank Lighting cont...

8:13 AM

New Baby

New Baby

I received wonderful news yesterday: my client Elizabeth is expecting her second child. Congratulations Elizabeth, I am so happy for you. Ma...

7:45 AM

{ Calling Card Chic }

<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6_UkuKP9k0oFGvv3CkWlLq4KCjljnyYcFq-dz1zgfAZFUH8fLSpz1OtxncR2VIcpVgs3KSGKh1i7f2A6_YqaM1U-VfCAu9FMGw1VvlF4zzDJk7DKQXUCFtTFrwUx_qi2wk2KrPqBKoM/s1600-h/img23.bmp" target="blank"></a>I was having some fun on this stationery web-site I found called <a href="http://iomoi.stores.yahoo.net/">Iomoi</a> and fell in love with their designs for calling cards and I started to match up their designs for these cards to the personalities of the people I thought might live in these rooms. Check them out and have some fun coordinating your calling card & address labels to match your home. And let me know if you find a favourite for yourself.<br /><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077143288326788258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXnHNRJXvvgtTiU5FnK4HVnVnsnsyzrCkgh1PQGSBkO0NI1OM-ULY41JZnF5q1e6CIDyDt9ziuuvGh7c8tFF-3USlZB-P53wTB8CfSL2BOWiOwGL8USkhMUzGO783oBaqCcPWF9unzgw/s800/img23.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.victoriahagan.com/">Victoria Hagan<br /></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077141235332420738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkqkSkjB35qsYW2MGjXO7SLecF4XlJXFQ45MX6pzOxvZiJWkHF4DvsVmgQRNQfYlCyj8muu36JXcTUizfvdwV6Wb5je7Mg-2gaKkqYUgJWG8anoX3oXhQC5NCjTtV6_tULs85KWjuzF8/s800/iomoi_1951_41644586.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqglw_Gs80FAKIJA2nY9TSF5FlfYa2eB_5YZgMiy0h0M57TC3IG9U42Qt5hE_WdJlkjc4n3fB8ALNcqK1Tj-eQRJN2vFN9zgqm4hFx_ImbKWOOexmaKHI3lDt_Dxx7f9wSfafp1uyGD-Y/s1600-h/iomoi_1951_39590918.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077141140843140210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqglw_Gs80FAKIJA2nY9TSF5FlfYa2eB_5YZgMiy0h0M57TC3IG9U42Qt5hE_WdJlkjc4n3fB8ALNcqK1Tj-eQRJN2vFN9zgqm4hFx_ImbKWOOexmaKHI3lDt_Dxx7f9wSfafp1uyGD-Y/s400/iomoi_1951_39590918.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHquOaDIVah4GD1pKz8MyZIoVfZ25wYX7xPRtX_JepaicPhCZB_UnpsVpW2qP1zY-CNjEZwg1H5kzG88Sx2B05iV7zzKv834R4o5WB2xMIaSU6QI12jr0sz818qZqMqh3TQyVZJD_ZOo/s1600-h/img17.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077138868805440610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHquOaDIVah4GD1pKz8MyZIoVfZ25wYX7xPRtX_JepaicPhCZB_UnpsVpW2qP1zY-CNjEZwg1H5kzG88Sx2B05iV7zzKv834R4o5WB2xMIaSU6QI12jr0sz818qZqMqh3TQyVZJD_ZOo/s400/img17.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> <a href="http://www.victoriahagan.com/">Victoria Hagan </a><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077110461891744482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6O9zOE7IpAFRxHlkKMCtb8GpEBjOq7cVw205iyFdfZk34z2o1zd1CISvlU3oSStjbrVsyjntAbX5JM5aixpoKcamNXxeO4PBfCJxXU0ZWxACpfFmaEkrbKJo4Am-pVU2TCZrN6R59Ys/s400/iomoi_1951_203328628.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077138611107402834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HwKrHJRUREfjw5d8FC_Egx-enJhZONCLLHz1WSU38z-BHL7BTpySS_k-LjhT192Ikhy60ZBuyGxT50WDXmcMoORrUmLzkJTUOC7N2lMD9hPTRNmwj2Sa0-yQuEWuJDCjALYWaOiFtCU/s400/iomoi_1951_26274089.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtI-lc9vtDrvCp2O4sJfPuuthyiELgQ3OXB2HkypbY0yM2t5wa1txakKT-6XkZbnC7goo-Hon6TDz7liache3aMizK9tst06X9XA32_fzAQVftkOf9gTF8VF_jSIFaT7tMwRBjxx-8E/s1600-h/loftLiving.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077135402766832626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtI-lc9vtDrvCp2O4sJfPuuthyiELgQ3OXB2HkypbY0yM2t5wa1txakKT-6XkZbnC7goo-Hon6TDz7liache3aMizK9tst06X9XA32_fzAQVftkOf9gTF8VF_jSIFaT7tMwRBjxx-8E/s400/loftLiving.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffOOIFz8gsAlHY8CDJbX4c_lI19F-AZrGnYtPxc1NPhLxEpATWvnUnY5tQaJy-fZmq2yu2GDrv9ZzwTrGVZx4nJU9fhDtxp5Ibum8RbqivJPlXbvXvmZf9ifTHsH40Gd7L8z_CFC8mz4/s1600-h/iomoi_1951_51127976.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077135024809710562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffOOIFz8gsAlHY8CDJbX4c_lI19F-AZrGnYtPxc1NPhLxEpATWvnUnY5tQaJy-fZmq2yu2GDrv9ZzwTrGVZx4nJU9fhDtxp5Ibum8RbqivJPlXbvXvmZf9ifTHsH40Gd7L8z_CFC8mz4/s400/iomoi_1951_51127976.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AU4xUSGu6JgN5nGragO_-Wg7LWglQMe0aI_DM9ffkUKvFI-g0otUYEjRgcWZ7xLl_q8auPjMOvDZOF8rnNYs2tLR7l3uSqCRhF0QqG2AwgZ4wgF6TbkmGiM5UZbosupCFROKiUHiYUE/s1600-h/iomoi_1951_42196337.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077134874485855186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AU4xUSGu6JgN5nGragO_-Wg7LWglQMe0aI_DM9ffkUKvFI-g0otUYEjRgcWZ7xLl_q8auPjMOvDZOF8rnNYs2tLR7l3uSqCRhF0QqG2AwgZ4wgF6TbkmGiM5UZbosupCFROKiUHiYUE/s400/iomoi_1951_42196337.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Kate Spade as seen in <a href="http://www.worldofinteriors.co.uk/">World of Interiors<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077133212333511618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp9c0p4pmIn0oKBvWE_bUNuCmavHZVXPaU8RVdboGXStjjSuDHQQHVDTT08kfCBFKXu4H-qgKDtZafqGxoduB5ntZabwHFEGiB1sMEqNYdSsUylY9X9Y5XaSLCqvKd1SQwlQuUD0JO0s/s400/World+of+Interiors+Kate+Spade%60scalamandrespade1-1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077137438581330978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59zhM6Qf6IN_KG_H9I8u63H57HNIKLTW4brou0Ile3cuhTuymNaxjCatqoZBQPohgnEbOGIRHhVrWk5Nx7AYoQC3xBReeqCpR2VoiGanRupS0nKriZT1iw63F9HDMyT5IDoanP56q4Fk/s400/iomoi_1951_44196395.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOexQr0yVagbQ5KPYkMWZkOMn0Gz8ly3GWQE4ssiVEYOQte6-tlhO0COgvXyCFvkEmH-NQQCnfQ5P7eX00q_KsHUgNaNttZHYQ17CVett49f9mS-6xNKQtVinfpESwIZPAEVXIGrLeVd4/s1600-h/iomoi_1951_41310358.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077133092074427314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOexQr0yVagbQ5KPYkMWZkOMn0Gz8ly3GWQE4ssiVEYOQte6-tlhO0COgvXyCFvkEmH-NQQCnfQ5P7eX00q_KsHUgNaNttZHYQ17CVett49f9mS-6xNKQtVinfpESwIZPAEVXIGrLeVd4/s400/iomoi_1951_41310358.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6SLF5YGD0k122tFZ0KcCFFqrWLzjtmwWeYLLLhnCKCW0VBiyE4pwEiWwVeJlQNLnd9AhfgYHu958fz1wt5tXZ0WLh4EUbvpWHXM6b1o1kK5w4kZqs02_-fk6zhcB0xWd6XiUmHq5nMA/s1600-h/pr07_02z.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077132722707239826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6SLF5YGD0k122tFZ0KcCFFqrWLzjtmwWeYLLLhnCKCW0VBiyE4pwEiWwVeJlQNLnd9AhfgYHu958fz1wt5tXZ0WLh4EUbvpWHXM6b1o1kK5w4kZqs02_-fk6zhcB0xWd6XiUmHq5nMA/s400/pr07_02z.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Michael Taylor headquarters designed by Jeffrey Weisman of <a href="http://www.fisherweisman.com/">Fisher Weisman </a><br />Stick Art by <a href="http://www.sticks-n-stones.net/index.shtml">David Ward </a></div><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077132855851226018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzo_jSSICB3EIoW5RZGQTDZ7yIELg2POBi0QUHKM1kKeGp7kTy-OInZaIFqOfFNtKj4MUyfvx2CYuuTIdetSEmTDk9-FPhTvkg-uOQzWXjNFNuv8x-Ba92qAHoIDF0fZTPOSu9n6M95fE/s400/iomoi_1951_50351154.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077138512323155010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH11AE6Xb0nb59-tezx2Pl4AlKETXwVbmaowl8ueEhG0ctQmj2d70VowZZWqRJfN9Vt3Okf_7O-H7nMglhtMV90tEaKUAhNinU8mALqja9Qqn7vH6nNcJP6mvP4GP93mJ5l9tcATI9cYo/s400/iomoi_1951_39983473.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> </div><div> </div><br /></div>Click <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/search/label/Color" target="blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;">here</span></a> to see other posts on Color

{ Calling Card Chic }

I was having some fun on this stationery web-site I found called Iomoi and fell in love with their designs for calling cards and I started ...

7:44 AM

{ Happy Monday }

<div align="justify">You may notice a new wider format for my Blog and a few other tricks that I picked up this weekend from reading the Blogging "How To" posts hosted by Felicity at <a href="http://creativeflairchic.blogspot.com/" target="blank">All Things Bright and Beautiful</a>. Jo from Desire to Inspire provided the Html for making a table so that you can get pictures side by side. I had to change my Blog template to accomodate the wider format to Minimia stretch. I also learnt how to make a picture or link open in a new window by pasting a neat little macro in the Html code. This was all a little confusing for me (I am far from being a techie) but I am sure that it will soon become second nature. </div><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">So please let me know how you like the wider page format and the pictures side by side....if you can even remember what the old one was like.....Hmmm Happy Monday </p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160373110458363058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLt3z0xHeKWydYEv3a20REWYgRwwMWpqz38_GBBmjbRK6rg6bnKg6xddOBTDcogP5kGpnMzbc_Z9t9PJ9rOKfoTzvXcthhDPspTAxw8gYY0fNjkcLqiyTtu-zlWCxOELS-Lr9IyNPEyM/s1600/Morgane+Le+Fay+4+image.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /></p><p>Photo Credit <a href="http://www.morganelefay.com/"target="blank">Morgane Le Fay</a></p>

{ Happy Monday }

You may notice a new wider format for my Blog and a few other tricks that I picked up this weekend from reading the Blogging "How To...

8:00 AM

{ Campaign Beds }

<div align="justify">What is the history of campaign furniture? The invention of campaign furniture – meaning furniture made for travel –was designed for military and naval use. It grew in tandem with the growth of the British Empire and its colonies in the second half of the eighteenth century. The Napoleonic era is probably the best know for examples of campaign furniture which were designed to be dismantled for travel and assembled at the end of the journey.<br /><br />Ever wonder why these beds are so dreamy, maybe it is because they have their origins in travel to foreign and exotic destinations. I am imagining that the canopy held fabrics that helped to keep out all sort of bugs and protect somewhat against the elements.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yhcRITG7uKitudIElPjNU_Q3S3xwEdu8y5ZSGiA6YRGXMBBGmeqUAI42mF9QbgcMj4mlCCTvcCSxUCgruio7syDI2FAZ2Qk_o77McS3lr7jcyxB75EEknakuQydMQnbEwWdc_fzm6TI/s1600-h/Campaign+Bed+4+image.jpg" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160366985834998946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yhcRITG7uKitudIElPjNU_Q3S3xwEdu8y5ZSGiA6YRGXMBBGmeqUAI42mF9QbgcMj4mlCCTvcCSxUCgruio7syDI2FAZ2Qk_o77McS3lr7jcyxB75EEknakuQydMQnbEwWdc_fzm6TI/s1600/Campaign+Bed+4+image.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Happy Weekend.....Happy dreaming<br /><br />Reference Books:<br />The first English pattern book references to the subject occur in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ince</span></span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mayhew</span></span>’s book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/universal-system-household-furniture-Master/dp/B0007IXWNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201423234&sr=8-1" target="blank">The Universal System of Household Furniture </a>(1759–1762), with two designs for folding sofa-beds and a field bed. Chippendale’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Cabinet-Makers-Director-Thomas-Chippendale/dp/0486216012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201423379&sr=1-1" target="blank">The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director </a>(1762) illustrates six designs for field beds with folding hinged slats, and Thomas Sheraton illustrates a design for a ‘sofa bed’ in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/THOMAS-SHERATONS-COMPLETE-FURNITURE-WORKS/dp/B000WW4ETY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201423450&sr=1-4" target="blank">The Cabinet Dictionary </a>(1803).</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Postscript Jan 30/08<br /></span><a title="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09620941811191294750" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09620941811191294750" target="blank">An Aesthete's Lament</a> has left a comment that I thought was so good I wanted to include it in the main post: <em>"Some of the beds featured seem to be versions of the iron beds that were used in 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>-century France and moved from house to house by the nobility (obviously they could have been used in campaign or expeditionary situations as well). Such beds were considered less prone to insect infestation, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">et</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cetera</span>. Typically, the light iron framework would be covered with curtains and fabric and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">folderol</span>, rather in the manner of a lit Ã la polonaise; these could be moved and packed away should the owner decide to relocate from his city house to his country house, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">et</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">cetera</span>. The first time I ever saw one of these iron beds without its draperies was in the apartment of the French decorator Jacques Grange, where I once visited. In his bedroom, the lit Ã la polonaise just stood there, utterly stark, its ironwork frame like calligraphy written in the air. The company </em><a href="http://www.olystudio.com/products/beds/walker.html"><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Oly</span> </em></a><em>makes a lovely version of these, called the Walker bed.</em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161322156496858322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iNXcMiyX4BLEiQ9bKg5NwoQmVKDqIP-2UJRrIjQzMx3FWJ5LpgcqKiXkmnDY3dqdLfjfEQp6cS1dGGgI-0cDayDCB7Ddvlz5upTddmGMZyVY4ByRXX11U5rUkqGratClUDTjEz1dJvg/s400/Oly+walker_bed.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /></div>

{ Campaign Beds }

What is the history of campaign furniture? The invention of campaign furniture – meaning furniture made for travel –was designed for militar...

8:57 AM

{ The Art of Chic Flower Arranging }

These are some images of flower arrangements that caught my eye on my latest trip to LA and Dallas. I was attracted to these because of their simplicity and freshness. I always prefer flower arrangements to be showcased as a single variety and of the same color. And of course you can never go wrong with an all white flower arrangement. I keep an assortment of different sizes and shapes of clear glass containers in my pantry ready to put any length of fresh stems in. Make sure to cut the bottoms 1/2" off the stems before you put them in water. It will help to keep them fresher longer.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGA6jMo-ddVHASEkr-gJ5SpL9EMSEkNI1_m6WZQiLYVSTEDYRIhFwb3Bz-N4QJjQVe6ewB1AyyPIBvOsC7ajN7ZtvPPP_Hcq76mC-8aehWpwoutrmhFZulC20GZI8Jw2lyAJz97JdpL8/s1600-h/Lilies+LA.jpg" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159561709531769618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGA6jMo-ddVHASEkr-gJ5SpL9EMSEkNI1_m6WZQiLYVSTEDYRIhFwb3Bz-N4QJjQVe6ewB1AyyPIBvOsC7ajN7ZtvPPP_Hcq76mC-8aehWpwoutrmhFZulC20GZI8Jw2lyAJz97JdpL8/s1600/Lilies+LA.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> A simple bunch of lilies in a clear footed vase sitting on a bathroom countertop at <a href="http://www.countryfloors.com/" target="_blank">Country Floors </a>showroom on Melrose in LA.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtT8Y7Yym9lTyuKghSzFsJ3ic2HD5erDmO1m5KAXKzUlR-cgyG_8m8AWi62J1ElSKw4M7tyPBk2I6nvE6h0k3i-N6ZOMwBzYSxuD7pMflgYqibCuNs0TnbMk6NQEKzkj3XX3PkyYNvOQ/s1600-h/Ornamental+Cabbage+LA.jpg" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159561649402227458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtT8Y7Yym9lTyuKghSzFsJ3ic2HD5erDmO1m5KAXKzUlR-cgyG_8m8AWi62J1ElSKw4M7tyPBk2I6nvE6h0k3i-N6ZOMwBzYSxuD7pMflgYqibCuNs0TnbMk6NQEKzkj3XX3PkyYNvOQ/s400/Ornamental+Cabbage+LA.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Another arrangement at Bunches of Stocks in the Lobby of our Hotel in Dallas, simply tied and put in a vase on a base of charcoal.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cLNEzF45zfzIAyje4aK7xktQ8dIJ20veiSFOxsVBZTrTBjM_jKg2ctyQGMr_m0406OGEbarULS3ignuyk2VM1bCqukVGuJzSRQjxf1JLTMOchMFmQ8-p5aHfe_ypsHtmY0QlgzsbMso/s1600-h/Roses+Dallas.jpg" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159561567797848818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cLNEzF45zfzIAyje4aK7xktQ8dIJ20veiSFOxsVBZTrTBjM_jKg2ctyQGMr_m0406OGEbarULS3ignuyk2VM1bCqukVGuJzSRQjxf1JLTMOchMFmQ8-p5aHfe_ypsHtmY0QlgzsbMso/s400/Roses+Dallas.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Roses beside the elevator in our Hotel in Dallas. The bottom of the vase is filled with charcoal. The vases are stacked on top of each other with nothing holding them together other than their weight.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159562242107714354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaiJKPItTnKbg2e6rJUZrbYIyJAKxrPG-cPAJSrBv_WLT18EAdH2nM-4XmUXK4hCZ64ztVXNWtR65cuZQ6ousTu5ZXfVFRdulRS-3SEXGc0-_78k87VzCauYfA1hA7f1Xe5X0vjybP2M/s800/Global+Views+Dallas.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /><br /><div>Roses floating in vases at the <a href="http://www.globalviews.com/" target="blank">Global Views </a>Showroom in Dallas.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160018908800428882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vCf5lPiGJQZX2kyGhUisYCyzVvEU7YahC_bH8r4kf40ss-zpzawkJrQp_WAjgdHgyeYVcU_a_Aswsv8EHNCDJ24-vze3kASpGR7Tgi5_QztDJwbPO6huwEP9gZw8TuiFNjcD4p857nQ/s400/Sun+Ray+Wall+Sconce-Nickel.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div></div></div></div>This is a close up of the Sun Ray Wall Sconce in the above Photo show here in Nickel.

{ The Art of Chic Flower Arranging }

These are some images of flower arrangements that caught my eye on my latest trip to LA and Dallas. I was attracted to these because of thei...

3:33 PM

{ Vintage Children's Wallpaper }

This is a sample of a vingate wallpaper for a nursery I am doing for baby Inigo. It is printed by <a href="http://www.designyourwall.com/"target="blank">Design Your Wall</a>. The first picture is a sample of the actual paper which is printed on a heavy canvas. The second picture<br />is the a picture of the full repeat from their web-site. It is always a good idea to request an actual sample before you order to make sure the colors are what you want and so you can match any paint before the paper is actually hung and to see the actual size of the pattern. As you can see the actual sample has a more yellow background, which I actually like better than the photo from their web-site.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLvUeLe6oyUHaYBCcr-V-s_9TMLqvFJXAEeolLgCSa6rPpVOYlYG6oHzmgxxKoaru_9aETGvG7Kk2EN3XqEDGBfrWDssLWeXK0J71ZRUVPPhyphenhyphenjwfpxu11lO2pAyaIlq6JDj8nrS8QwQs/s1600-h/Inigo's+Wallpaper.jpg"target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159087326098959058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLvUeLe6oyUHaYBCcr-V-s_9TMLqvFJXAEeolLgCSa6rPpVOYlYG6oHzmgxxKoaru_9aETGvG7Kk2EN3XqEDGBfrWDssLWeXK0J71ZRUVPPhyphenhyphenjwfpxu11lO2pAyaIlq6JDj8nrS8QwQs/s800/Inigo's+Wallpaper.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></a> Click the image to enlarge and see the texture of the canvas. This company prints on a shiny paper unless you request otherwise. For this "vintage" design I thought that the canvas showed it off better.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159087729825884898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij__WLfC0W5iLVmGqSAI8OURouXTpeVS2SwQhPnuZh3Otd6TlwBzOKm8r-7TA_p4DZ2V-gOMCd15kz-DtNdbyNgXIrvGp-ighEpaWNWFMZyjvCysX482PpnaT4aBZZsHbUOuOH-GIV5yg/s400/circus+vintage.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank">

{ Vintage Children's Wallpaper }

This is a sample of a vingate wallpaper for a nursery I am doing for baby Inigo. It is printed by Design Your Wall . The first picture is a ...

8:52 AM

{ Registry Bliss }

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWayI0R7vmCndq-C79rh1nwMLgG0T3W2KozpvYMo1ZLzavZiu_BJmYUjxAQhJttTri7EilqcR_dYz_M-u6zIaQIDyS8BtfVWAeH7I0mzFUkbjTFqWCLPI4JL5D3Qt8d-rG7GqpJRnOI1s/s1600-h/perfect+bound.jpg" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158774708314385090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWayI0R7vmCndq-C79rh1nwMLgG0T3W2KozpvYMo1ZLzavZiu_BJmYUjxAQhJttTri7EilqcR_dYz_M-u6zIaQIDyS8BtfVWAeH7I0mzFUkbjTFqWCLPI4JL5D3Qt8d-rG7GqpJRnOI1s/s400/perfect+bound.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /></a>Anne from <a href="http://perfectbound.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Perfect Bound Blog </a>contacted me recently and asked me to contribute to a series of Posts she is doing on <span style="color:#ff0000;">"Registry Bliss".</span> Her instructions were: "<em>to pick my Top Five Dream Registry items...she goes on to add: I'm not talking about a Crate and Barrel coffeemaker here. Instead, truly over the top items that are neither practical nor budget friendly in any way"</em>. Well did she ever ask the right person as I was left wide open to have some fun doing this. Although I do think that what I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">chosen</span> to present are all very practical, but I'll leave it up to your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">discretion</span> whether they are budget friendly as budget is a very relative term. The following is my contribution.<br />Please check out the other posts on Perfect Bound on Registry Bliss<br /><a href="http://perfectbound.blogspot.com/2008/01/registry-bliss-classic-bride.html" target="blank">Enjoy<br />Classic Bride </a><br /><a href="http://perfectbound.blogspot.com/2008/01/sarahs-registry-bliss-toast-and-tables.html" target="blank">Toast and Tables</a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>(Reprinted from <a href="http://perfectbound.blogspot.com/2008/01/registry-bliss-patricia-gray.html" target="blank">Perfect Bound</a>)<br />"It's not everyday that you stumble upon a blog from an actual practicing interior designer." Such is the case with <a href="http://www.patriciagrayinc.com/index.html" target="blank">Patricia Gray Interior Design</a>. I have recently been starting my day with visits to <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Patricia's blog</a> and they have been <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/12/red-for-christmas.html" target="blank">brighter</a> and better styled because of it. I was flattered when she agreed to contribute to this week's Registry Bliss. While many of us are happy to flip through magazines, Patricia Gray continues to be <a href="http://www.patriciagrayinc.com/press.html" target="blank">featured in several of them</a>. I think we're all in for a treat. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158770988872706642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_co0PGVA8vUjKw0UFbXnc9qDx0ykaEH8JrqJETQCmM-XmhYUoToFnDHobPT-TMov8g0lIKk7gC7VRX9nesCnT6-VqSaVNgQqUhiB9inHzor5lshElRJjuyGJEsC44BJ6ACM2o8EpC0r8/s1600/Four+Poster+Steel+Campaign+Bed+from+Nierman+Weeks+Picture++Mimmi+OConnell.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs62_GcB4rPZbooqmIeawb24h3wanPHLtRxtbQsXT7k7DxJxOrCOObzHmOF6yydE6ApkuC1wRvP6WWz03z7SbuCB16POmTC6X_v04UQrnCWONzFC1ZmLT6l-9kiixIZO18SMIqQD_1bug/s1600-h/four_poster_steel_patriciagray.jpg" target="blank"></a>1. Four Poster Steel Campaign Bed. A similar one a available through <a href="http://www.niermannweeks.com/" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Niermann</span> Weeks</a>. Picture <a href="http://www.mimmioconnell.com/index1.htm" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mimmi</span> O'Connell</a>. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158771199326104178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9D6V0DStYmsOCah70m3_uIhn-7Q7R4NdOpwAuIhAJjbWAyd5dLG2lB-upAfabVGtf3oyWaDMt7W09SPv5lkIVNU0gEmuUQDZYp0guD2IMYPXWx26VvpPhtSR97gYgzpCf1wlw5Dj4WE/s800/Ghost+Chairs+and+Knoll+Saarinen+Table.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />2. <a href="http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=8064" target="blank">Philippe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Starck</span> Ghost Chairs</a> & <a href="http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=7474" target="blank">Knoll Saarinen Table with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Carrera</span> Marble Top</a> are both classics and will make your kitchen the most stylish and talked about. Available at <a href="http://www.dwr.com/" target="blank">Design within Reach</a>. $310 and $660<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158771482793945746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtELEMtZ9mSH2qvU21VBC-K5w1GSxOvInffP3hy4T18tiYiqW4uDy3JPol1G_nwtbVmnB_wFbtxLHXDbfe22H6rYWlK0MNdtEIvlctxE2-kQDXApvFCjEKY_bJ65Nu9ZySY-MMgrgVkx8/s1600/Vintage+Murano+lamps+from+Swank+Lighting.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" target="blank" />3. A beautiful pair of Vintage <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Murano</span> Glass table lamps. You will cherish these for a lifetime. Available through <a href="http://swanklighting.com/blog/" target="blank">Swank Lighting</a>. From from $1,800 to $6,000 per pair.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158771293815384706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScq4Xz9XK3pduEjJWcIIP3DR2dzt0kys4HZLtt4pCQMgLcUP8ZUNgAF-ssNGjPu8WytcviaqcchkJNsHH877RFvwquFrtY9EWsftmqkXOIsAVYLDPXfT1pyLnfAePvyK608XHgNRPgYU/s800/Pratesi.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />4. A pair of matching <a href="http://www.pratesi.com/catalogo.htm" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Pratesi</span> Bathrobes</a> and the matching towels. These are made form the best Egyptian Cotton and are absolutely fabulous next to the skin. Available through <a href="http://www.pratesi.com/catalogo.htm" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Pratesi</span></a>.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158772200053484194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8XE3vYZrbwgU5Bzh-3Npb8gOomSCcT2KMzSFDh0-EuACF6BBclUJYfSLOAYsVPIHa-KgoR4k679w4-ZtqyMRJz9tj0JlhQE7NFgbLDR2wKUs4EXL4Dw50_e5FNEjiegL_h0mvufo5_w/s400/Miele+Coffee+Machine1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />5. <a href="http://www.miele.com/usa/cva/product.asp?nav=21&cat=5&subcat=30&series=84&model=379" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Miele</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">CVA</span>4085SS Stainless Steel Espresso Machine & Coffee Maker</a>. It does it all for you, grinds the beans, foams the milk, electronic display. It even has individualized setting for your coffee favorites. Available at <a href="http://www.miele.com/" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Miele</span></a>. $2749. </div><div></div><div></div><div>PS I would be interested to know what you would pick from this list to register for.....</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

{ Registry Bliss }

Anne from Perfect Bound Blog contacted me recently and asked me to contribute to a series of Posts she is doing on "Registry Bliss...

8:25 AM

{ LA, Dallas, and Meeting Joni }

<div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Dennis & Leen Showroom LA</span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_u2UQTIx3lxVoRzEbgzfHLeObZ2jLHVQJYj1X2XI4IBAaTcNck3wQyU6ES67hq-0Vc_KRXcV7JpToH3r1_MDfrsBZG-nyDPDh12JpbQ3zrbsykgh-UuX4_UJ14gRr4JUP_T4-lOivOA/s1600-h/DSC01027.JPG" target="blank"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157612772672475938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_u2UQTIx3lxVoRzEbgzfHLeObZ2jLHVQJYj1X2XI4IBAaTcNck3wQyU6ES67hq-0Vc_KRXcV7JpToH3r1_MDfrsBZG-nyDPDh12JpbQ3zrbsykgh-UuX4_UJ14gRr4JUP_T4-lOivOA/s400/DSC01027.JPG" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" /></span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Day 1</span></strong> - LA We arrived to sheer Bliss - sunshine and 72 degree temperature, which was most welcome after leaving Vancouver at 8AM to darkness and the perpetual rain that makes the other 6 months of the year (May thru September) worth living here. Pick-up the rental car and hit the freeway to Santa Monica and spend a few hours at Fred Segal and walking Santa Monica Blvd before checking into our Hotel, Le Montrose, which I was happy to see is a stone's throw away from the Pacific Design Center. After a quick change we are off to see the sights: Beverly Center & Sunset Strip. </div><div align="left"><strong>Day 2</strong> - After getting copious directions from our Concierge we head off to the LA Mart. Only a scant one hour in traffic....relatively easy by LA standards. Heaven. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I visit the <a href="http://www.jamieyoung.com/aboutus.asp">Jamie Young </a>showroom and finally get to see these lamps in person. Heaven.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157609731835630306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXYlr_uXrV0PHGFsPHbQ2XlCK73dm-uNK8K26rcgsAbsLHoZhMeud2lt7KQn2O1_eCetbGPoMY_1nXj61FC_T-qWr1tH4M7Uxy7jbzTZwPuDEriWbkAZEV3oDw6ZjeZEQ_9Jt-56MmHM/s800/scan0005.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><p align="center"><em>Jamie Young's most popular lamp right now<br /></em><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157614980285666114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxAfY5gRjY1lX8vikGcMKQfkrSMjTU2gwjcUxq4ecg0NKS_T1WZqmeK-DV5wOXbUB7zvOoPHQYVy6lqH0cg538IDEazUH-zEbRCBcbkYlzD6vz0HokeOUzpzJiof-AwoMIMfouUs8cL4/s400/DSC01053.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Sofa at the Kravet showroom covered in Lee Jofa Sassari Ikat<br /></span><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157649047966258322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdli6HQdUZsh4LOHCScUNC_bZ0bs4BLN5bkUsUYLhJBl6qv0di6DaT-kP4Z_D_4Ci2D4Sk3qNDYCPOYQ-7wYnucbiUelhvnv6YAS3hsUss0WhXeNTF0MWKdzHJYYu4aeStseVqbxxbCc/s400/LA+Mart.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></span></em></p><div align="center"><em>I saw a real yellow theme happening for the upcoming season. So fresh.<br /></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157649301369328818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAjpzovbh1vEzqC0xqUgRCJ-DFdpcW2a7XqneEYGK9WftW7CEfFt7v6_bkYDV6EUqstDplBo3SgWtgl3GxBSpnQsVlDbeKinISQKumq3as7kKakMNSP3LGX84usz88WzH-MSt0VQyRL4/s400/LA+Mart.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Python side tables on castors<br /><br /></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157649241239786658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKtBbAAWpfVPbfaNQNRCwIEcpEsRS48Lzo4LQ41NvCRJNpknjbptX9NO1JqhYJaZj9M5Jw4Ooudp6NyyyeMxylTg-T7YW1UlBtL-Zx63y8prit3I1qG_EOa59U2wL2nDHPR5NJ3s8q-M/s400/LA+Mart1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Python X Benches</span><br /></span></em><br />Then back in the car to head to the Pacific Design Center. It is now 11:00. Everything in LA revolves around the freeway and timing for traffic is crucial. I arrive at the PDC and have a scant 2 hours before I have to be back on the freeway to the Mart to pick-up my daughter. Okay now it is serious concentration and deciding what is absolutely essential to see. My first stop is Hollyhock, Susan Reinstein's store. I breathe, take it all in, am satiated...buy Albert Hadley's book: Drawings and the Design Process and 2 wonderful cast bronze planters and head off to the PDC, but first decide to stop at Nancy Corzine, Formations & Dennis and Leen. Then on to the PDC. There is so much to see that I can't do it all. So priorities: Janus et Cie, Edelman Leather, Ralph Pucci, Neirman Weeks, Donghia....and I am all out of time. That evening supper at a superb Italian restaurant sitting outside on the deck...weather warm...then on to The Grove for some power shopping.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157621100614063026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5HT46mUgk8oV5GjDYmXabnQRQoqlDWG2Wbe0IxWqoFU-tr7RCtI0WAnA5yRLvpa7hg0gliKwf3kwlU2sTFS14jMfGNcqSak7Pq-W93J9PcqHvxTPjBj_TRokjB0e07oTB8xiTvSBO0A/s400/Nancy+Corzine.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"><em>Nancy Corzine </em></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157617346812646258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C9rn8bswzhE8ZfGe_wVOqe0T1SNrC8duK-EX3zbUehFxQkeWNMUcx2XcNkckUywWyf66UltedBXrU5tWVs-bZDHCBnc-P7gmMaPX0n6YekaCb_cpYGVa-Nv0Dd_jeAK6mH6tUrqeLWM/s400/DSC01043.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"><em>Traditional Moroccan carpet </em></p><p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157618347540026242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcB-Q_h_DWS6SBeJRVZE4Clqy-Gk7pajzdLEZFzLl70Dz9LRvz0EgoPuU7af7gJFVdZmmFmcWAAVchnZEwbZy5RT_ONiHhKBkSEDw7Z4hXI0jvOvcqvpRIWv2LrY2bIFqHfDh-L1q7a8/s400/Donghia.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>Chandelier at Donghia</em><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157615847869059922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9jZ0gxz8gW1IK6Rjo5Y1f0QKbxShLMZLh_ce18AvWv8XTiondloapKz39Z6Bptg5ieZa3ch_huUTV9iI7yC6TTwOTJhnu7gCfd0ieB6m2zLMH1LAjXAgXbfr8lne4K3osvBXHEx0su8/s400/DSC01030.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>Janus et Cie<br /></em></p><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157650753068274882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoYbjefC5gC-khJuylBKV079stpOmZSgf0SmK38SUQVJKvcWL0_5Qv-gr4RlKouLv04c88Yu7TVPE8YP5VExnCNedAVACpj8cFbSL4UQb0RozOTLKN0ZWxZTmp11U0Kfa3bvusSVLjG4/s400/Niermann+Weeks.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Ceramic Coral Lamp at Nierman Weeks</em><br /><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157620301750145954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6Gbp5U9q1dLU8uF7AVwdJhuUYyBoE-ndds5ApVxLbQr4PS7X0zrMJWQ00MDEKDX1DB3tf4wXWCdj6vkn2YrHuZ9xJvwzrp-iBRR3I41eTLfeVxzxyH4mqmtPQ4HQ5eB6DTKTTY3IDA8/s400/Niermann+Weeks1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"><em>Artwork at Nierman Weeks </em></p><strong>Day 3</strong> - We fly to Dallas at 5:00 PM and we need to buy an extra suitcase for all our purchases at The Grove last night. Then there is time to visit the hip <a href="http://www.shopkitson.com/">Kitson Botique </a>on Robertson Blvd for some funky zebra print scarves, Sak's for a new pair of Tory Burch Randy Flats, Anne Fontaine for wonderful double color white blouses, and we walk the Rodeo Drive strip and have lunch on the sidewalk at The Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive before we head off to LAX. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF3Vk-Ca7rMb9GJbwGxDIIKJZveCITwMKwzLx9n8F5S2vSCEzAlnYlUitfCkayKre3xa68sf1VuxhFjrQtgNGiE9rNh_c4wj-U3gf1Cc1Qxy-1-H9hK3Cz18Gq3mYE49wh1kydap0CDY/s1600-h/DSC01078.JPG" target="blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157622797126144962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF3Vk-Ca7rMb9GJbwGxDIIKJZveCITwMKwzLx9n8F5S2vSCEzAlnYlUitfCkayKre3xa68sf1VuxhFjrQtgNGiE9rNh_c4wj-U3gf1Cc1Qxy-1-H9hK3Cz18Gq3mYE49wh1kydap0CDY/s400/DSC01078.JPG" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>A quick lunch and a rearranging of our suitcases to accommodate all the shopping purchases. I am so excited to be going to Dallas because I will finally be meeting <a href="http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/">Joni of Cote de Texas </a>blogging fame. I feel like I already know her through emails and reading her Blog. She is flying in from Houston and staying at the same Hotel as us. Charmaine and I arrive at our Hotel in Dallas at 10:00 PM, only to find that they have given us a room with a one Double Bed when 2 beds were requested and paid in advance two months ago. We sit in the Lobby and moan and complain while I am finally getting to meet Joni. We are all tired by now and we (my daughter is a little crusty about the mix-up). They put a roll away cot in the room and we fall into bed exhausted. But I have finally met Joni and we plan to meet up for Breakfast in the morning.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Day 4</strong> - Breakfast with Joni and we are off to a good start. We compare what our favorite coffees are: I am a double shot Latte gal and Joni has a coffee drink that totally intrigues me - a coffee with foam on top and a shot of Vanilla. She tries my Latte and we are instant comrades. Then we head off to the Dallas Mart using the GPS Navigation lady to get us there. After a few "re-calculating" maneuvers we arrive to filled parking lots and Joni expertly lands us a parking spot by seeing someone leaving and driving them to their car and getting their spot. I am impressed!! Way to go Joni. We then register (which is another task of mammoth proportion that Joni again breezes us through like a pro) and we then proceed to maneuver our way through the Mart. We focus and develop a game plan because it is so huge and there is so much to see that you can't do it all. We visit my daughter's showroom that carries her line of greeting cards and hit some showrooms. Joni and I find that we have very similar tastes, we get excited about the same things, and it is easy to navigate through the maze of showrooms together. These are some of the things we get excited about.............<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157629467210355682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhXXE0wC3sKVKpUJqQyYhqQi0Pp6vIVMoEoivB8ivXUdZegAuEXhBjB87QC_Is5V4J2kjWwPcYi2DFJaTJf-b71jA4PJ80LbYZ-Zb3osPphXaCJtUt6kiQKqM4M8RO63dBgnXbBo6Mnk/s400/Dallas+Mart.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><p align="center"><em>This mirror would be great on either side of a fireplace </em></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157631399945638946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UiMFQ4KV4XheQHhJhGRCJJjcN1zMq1xy2S6anNwJL9_Y6pxsot1RKh7VFjqabE9ug4bzKap5DbNVZDgaoYmfRxn4nEeSb7Y7hlIb1DWaH6BrJxXciqj0OmhBjwp13tbrToEPIFR4o7c/s400/Dallas+Mart+4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><p align="center"><em>Crystal Candlestick</em> </p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157631137952633858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNIqlPnRbvvMmYagATOkMqEc2uWzjESus_LJ2g46haTuMa-12ESPAIU0cHv-2jImw23I96djfitn8k3p5WbP8zy-T88lDn7RktomRZU3gy0ckFXiQ1Ydir_CVqLW_MVa_S1-WLXlFBk0/s400/Dallas+Mart+3.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"><em>Chinoiserie inspired side table</em> </p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157631296866423826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPaNv5QiJmAsfTqO1EEPVffm9cRCFiR2KyAecqhcvC6nxcg2CP5R4M8oT1zBUrLo1ou4Ij3dEsJdf_v0ngEO0YNfz4e6av3mzz9mRszER5zPlu4JY7XDx3fHUVBOxqDOsvAEHMuFnGXs/s400/Dallas+Mart1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><div align="center"><em>A good looking Classic Brass and marble table</em><br /><br /></div>We have lunch, talk, laugh, get to know each other. And I can hardly believe we are finally talking face to face. Heaven.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157633465824908354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d8Tco83gEP5VD1OCau9_pqpxHuHHZiB89CTb_oFoYmUU_FcHYVvaPk5s8pfUJc7JqT5WX8PbMaLLe2EKYljK9B2ESVU9fFnA-49UQIy73yjhw78E3wHNXamyy2itIvgPeA8PDR9FDlw/s400/Dallas+Mart.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <em>We both agree that this would make a great little chair in a Bedroom</em><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157633401400398898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCedSaFVXz2lfYyASedDPaBNM_qJTtNtpfYg49hHisPCAE8A-Gq_QTBxDDdn684eebwvmN5B_rVCb87ItrqCj_giwfkrsxfoF7gL9YgI5uKf7sVohphPAoM2mFwydg2SZSvQcB90x-qSs/s400/Dallas+Mart1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></em></div><div align="center"><em>A Ruthie Summers look alike chair</em><br /></div>We go back to the Hotel with the GPS Lady navigating...by this time we are having conversations with her like she is the annoying but lovable "back seat driver". We rest up and Joni and I get our second wind and sit on the bed in her room like teenagers talking and surfing the Internet and Blogs on her laptop. Heaven. It is 1:30 AM and we can't stop talking.<br /><br /><strong>Day 5</strong> - Our last day in Dallas. We decide to visit the Highland Village Mall and do some fun browsing. Joni's daughter Elizabeth has just gotten her report card and has done quite well and Mom wants to buy her a gift at Tory Burch and my daughter loves Tory Burch, so we have a consensus.....Tory Burch it is. We tell our GPS Lady where we want to go, but unbeknowst to her there is major construction on the road we need to use, so after "re-calculating" and driving in circles, Joni takes the upper hand and ignores the GPS and gets us there on her own. Joni and I end up falling in love with the same scarf at Tory and we each buy the same one (now we are true girlfriends). <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157639693527487586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a5fcaqNywj_OfnwxMb3Dieh2_qzWZKkWvQYEOz8vKNeImgxNWBTiqsEeuu_w2mVSUT8EdHYiEVBb6e8nicZh0tEOzSqZ6s1JnQ-OEMggVn9in6B72DrGOCU31nA89bmToXwggoy_9rI/s400/Joni+at+Tory+Burch.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Joni at Troy Burch with her purchases...That is yellow scarf that we both had to have!!! </em><br /></div><p>We have an absolute ball at this store. It is fun, colorful, trendy and the staff are so great. We have just a few minutes left before we need to head to the airport and for the finale we head over to Anne Fontaine and again we each buy the same white shirt and find out that we also have the same tastes in clothes. We are not wanting our time together to end, but alas all good things end and we say our farewells and I get Joni to promise me that she will think about a trip to Paris together.....soon, very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />To be continued in Paris.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157639762246964338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GCCZBfnVuAOSsY4M30NjWEe5j81MZJdkstjPp3gUPFNbbAg1OlC_vdPDxCW0RgyyLGFSFNxBkOrCdRYPB-Xo4W2IHrH2n5cvkn_CxlaDbJeaBCKjY72JPnY3nHW7a-wOJ7tieN3iCGI/s400/Patricia+Joni.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> </p><p>Okay, Joni has also done a post on our meeting....go to her <a href="http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2008/01/meeting-of-blogs.html" target="blank">Blog</a> to read it.</p>

{ LA, Dallas, and Meeting Joni }

Dennis & Leen Showroom LA Day 1 - LA We arrived to sheer Bliss - sunshine and 72 degree temperature, which was most welcome after leavi...

12:08 PM