I was lucky enough to find a copy of the new July/August issue of Elle Decor at my local newsstand this weekend and boy is it a good one. As soon as I saw the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross, all I could think of were the immortal words of Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there!" Actually, I want to go there, kick them out and move in but that's a different story. The home is absolutely perfect but I don't know why I expected anything less from the duo behind Dransfield & Ross. These photos are from just one of their fabulous rooms and the story of how they came to own the home is even better! Check the rest of it out online or pick up the new issue. Just remember, I called first dibs on it!
Showing posts with label elle decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elle decor. Show all posts
Sunday, December 4, 2011
I want to go to there.
>I was lucky enough to find a copy of the new July/August issue of Elle Decor at my local newsstand this weekend and boy is it a good one. As soon as I saw the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross, all I could think of were the immortal words of Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there!" Actually, I want to go there, kick them out and move in but that's a different story. The home is absolutely perfect but I don't know why I expected anything less from the duo behind Dransfield & Ross. These photos are from just one of their fabulous rooms and the story of how they came to own the home is even better! Check the rest of it out online or pick up the new issue. Just remember, I called first dibs on it!
I was lucky enough to find a copy of the new July/August issue of Elle Decor at my local newsstand this weekend and boy is it a good one. As soon as I saw the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross, all I could think of were the immortal words of Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there!" Actually, I want to go there, kick them out and move in but that's a different story. The home is absolutely perfect but I don't know why I expected anything less from the duo behind Dransfield & Ross. These photos are from just one of their fabulous rooms and the story of how they came to own the home is even better! Check the rest of it out online or pick up the new issue. Just remember, I called first dibs on it!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Country Chic
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It's going to be over 80 degrees today in New York today and that makes it a great weekend to getaway. A perfect place to do so would be the country house in Connecticut owned by designers Richard Lambertson and John Truex. The showhouse room in my last post reflected more of their city style while this home is clearly channeling country chic. It was featured in the October 2008 issue of Elle Decor and you can read about all the details online but the photos pretty much speak for themselves. I especially love the library and the office. More importantly, I wonder if they have room for one more this weekend!
It's going to be over 80 degrees today in New York today and that makes it a great weekend to getaway. A perfect place to do so would be the country house in Connecticut owned by designers Richard Lambertson and John Truex. The showhouse room in my last post reflected more of their city style while this home is clearly channeling country chic. It was featured in the October 2008 issue of Elle Decor and you can read about all the details online but the photos pretty much speak for themselves. I especially love the library and the office. More importantly, I wonder if they have room for one more this weekend!
Photos by Pieter Estersohn for Elle Decor
Monday, November 21, 2011
For Sale: Gilles Mendel's Duplex
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If you have an extra $2,200,000 lying around and are in the market for a new apartment, you may want to check out Gilles Mendel's chic duplex. The Pre-War two bedroom space is located on the Upper East Side near all the fabulous stores and luckily comes with walk in closets to store your purchases. I'm not sure where the designer of J. Mendel is moving but I'm sure it's to a bigger space to house himself and his growing children. It was published in the October 2007 issue of Elle Decor and as you can see from the photos, it was styled a little better there than it was in the real estate brochure. If you decide to buy it, maybe you can get him to throw in a dress.
Elle Decor photos by William Waldron
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
My NYIGF Trend Reports for Elle Decor
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Elle Decor enjoyed my trend reports from the New York International Gift Fair last year so much that they asked me to cover the show for elledecor.com this year. You can check out my trends of Butterflies & Bugs; Nautical; and Letters, Words and Numbers on their website. It was an honor to contribute to one of my favorite shelter magazines!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Redesigning Design
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HC: I had been working for a high end interior designer since 2005. During that time, I had started reading design blogs for work. It was in the summer of 2007 that Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic and Courtney Barnes of Style Court were posting about the Charlotte Moss Townhouse that was about to open in New York. The townhouse was literally one block behind where I worked and I would walk by every week to check the progress. That’s when a light bulb went off in my head. I thought that if these two bloggers in Atlanta were writing about something that was right behind me, maybe I should start my own blog. At that time, there weren’t many design blogs written by anyone who was actually a designer or working for one. I thought I could write about design from an insider perspective as well as what was going on in New York in art, architecture, photography, and fashion among other things.
ED: What has surprised you about starting a site? Let’s talk here about how you started a site, likely for inspiration/personal journal purposes—and suddenly you found yourself doing things you didn’t really intend: i.e. “writing for magazines, being hired for design projects, etc”
HC: When I started, I was working for another designer. I felt like I needed something that was my own. It began as a place to post anything that I found inspiring. After I was laid off in December 2008, the blog enabled me to go out on my own and post more about my own work which led to more clients calling me. I’ve also made some wonderful friends and business connections. Stefan Hurray of Architect Design and I traveled to Paris together and are taking a cruise and trip to Miami next month. I’m working on a bunch of new and exciting things right now that I look forward to sharing with my readers when they are ready.
ED: Where do you find inspirations for your site? How do you get inspired?
HC: Since there are so many design sites and we’re all looking at the same shelter magazines and sites, I end up looking to the fashion world or European magazines for inspiration. I read a lot in general which often peaks my curiosity about a person or subject that might end up on the blog. I also live in New York which is ripe with museum and gallery openings, fabulous events, fashion shows, store openings, etc. I can be inspired just walking down the street!
ED: How do you edit yourself?
HC: I think editing and being an editor is the most important part of writing a blog. I only post the best photos and also care about how they are ordered and the story they tell. I try to plan out the order of posts and one often leads to the next. There is actually a method to my madness.
ED: Let’s talk about how the internet and your site/blog humanizes you. Do you think this makes you more attractive to prospective clients? Are clients more likely to come to you feeling as if they know you and your aesthetic/style? Does this work for or against you?
HC: I have posted some of my projects which clients have seen but the inspirational posts also let them know if we have the same tastes and style. If you like what I like on my blog, than we’d work well together. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they feel like they know me already when they meet me because of my blog.
ED: What are you hearing from online readers? What do they want? What are they hungry for? HC: I have a lot of people contact me about making a career switch to design. They know that I was able to do it and are seeking advice. I also get a lot of people who ask me to help them find a job. I try to help when I can but unfortunately, I can’t help everyone. I have a business to run!
ED: How has the role of designer changed since clients are spending more time online/ seeing more things for themselves online vs. what used to be to-the-trade?
HC: Clients are more informed and have more ideas. I think the days of a client just letting a designer do what they want are over. They want to be more involved and a part of the process. They have ideas but need a professional with experience to help them pull it all together. I always shop from a variety of sources some online, some to the trade only, the flea market, and my favorite shops.
ED: Why, in your opinion, is it so vital for designers to be online?
HC: I think important to have a website so potential clients can check out your work before they contact you. I think a website is especially important for anyone who has a product to sell. I can’t post about any product or company that doesn’t have a link because my readers tend to get upset if they can’t purchase a product online. Even just a landing page with your contact information is better than nothing!
ED: Let’s talk about social media: if a designer doesn’t want to commit to a blog, is social media enough?
HC: I don’t think a blog is for everyone but you should probably be on Facebook and/or Twitter. Your website portfolio doesn’t often get updated because projects can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years to complete. A Facebook page enables you to post updates and keep yourself on people’s radar. I also think Twitter for getting your name out. We focus a lot on technology but it's still just as important to go out and meet people in person. I've made a lot of great connections at parties, events, and panel discussions.
I was all dressed and ready to head to Florida Tuesday morning for the Elle Decor panel discussion "Redesigning Design" at the DCOTA (Design Center of the Americas) winter market. Unfortunately, mother nature had other ideas and the Elle Decor moderator, Allison Mezzafonte, and I were snowed in and could not make it. Luckily, Stefan from Architect Design who gets photo credit today, Jennifer from Peak of Chic, and Brooke from Velvet & Linen did make it down to speak on the panel. I few of you mentioned that you disappointed that you couldn't hear me speak so I'm posting some of my answers to the questions I received from Elle Decor. Enjoy!
ED: What was your light bulb moment of saying, ‘I’m doing it, I’m starting a blog’.
HC: I had been working for a high end interior designer since 2005. During that time, I had started reading design blogs for work. It was in the summer of 2007 that Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic and Courtney Barnes of Style Court were posting about the Charlotte Moss Townhouse that was about to open in New York. The townhouse was literally one block behind where I worked and I would walk by every week to check the progress. That’s when a light bulb went off in my head. I thought that if these two bloggers in Atlanta were writing about something that was right behind me, maybe I should start my own blog. At that time, there weren’t many design blogs written by anyone who was actually a designer or working for one. I thought I could write about design from an insider perspective as well as what was going on in New York in art, architecture, photography, and fashion among other things.
ED: What has surprised you about starting a site? Let’s talk here about how you started a site, likely for inspiration/personal journal purposes—and suddenly you found yourself doing things you didn’t really intend: i.e. “writing for magazines, being hired for design projects, etc”
HC: When I started, I was working for another designer. I felt like I needed something that was my own. It began as a place to post anything that I found inspiring. After I was laid off in December 2008, the blog enabled me to go out on my own and post more about my own work which led to more clients calling me. I’ve also made some wonderful friends and business connections. Stefan Hurray of Architect Design and I traveled to Paris together and are taking a cruise and trip to Miami next month. I’m working on a bunch of new and exciting things right now that I look forward to sharing with my readers when they are ready.
ED: Where do you find inspirations for your site? How do you get inspired?
HC: Since there are so many design sites and we’re all looking at the same shelter magazines and sites, I end up looking to the fashion world or European magazines for inspiration. I read a lot in general which often peaks my curiosity about a person or subject that might end up on the blog. I also live in New York which is ripe with museum and gallery openings, fabulous events, fashion shows, store openings, etc. I can be inspired just walking down the street!
ED: How do you edit yourself?
HC: I think editing and being an editor is the most important part of writing a blog. I only post the best photos and also care about how they are ordered and the story they tell. I try to plan out the order of posts and one often leads to the next. There is actually a method to my madness.
ED: Let’s talk about how the internet and your site/blog humanizes you. Do you think this makes you more attractive to prospective clients? Are clients more likely to come to you feeling as if they know you and your aesthetic/style? Does this work for or against you?
HC: I have posted some of my projects which clients have seen but the inspirational posts also let them know if we have the same tastes and style. If you like what I like on my blog, than we’d work well together. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they feel like they know me already when they meet me because of my blog.
ED: What are you hearing from online readers? What do they want? What are they hungry for? HC: I have a lot of people contact me about making a career switch to design. They know that I was able to do it and are seeking advice. I also get a lot of people who ask me to help them find a job. I try to help when I can but unfortunately, I can’t help everyone. I have a business to run!
ED: How has the role of designer changed since clients are spending more time online/ seeing more things for themselves online vs. what used to be to-the-trade?
HC: Clients are more informed and have more ideas. I think the days of a client just letting a designer do what they want are over. They want to be more involved and a part of the process. They have ideas but need a professional with experience to help them pull it all together. I always shop from a variety of sources some online, some to the trade only, the flea market, and my favorite shops.
ED: Why, in your opinion, is it so vital for designers to be online?
HC: I think important to have a website so potential clients can check out your work before they contact you. I think a website is especially important for anyone who has a product to sell. I can’t post about any product or company that doesn’t have a link because my readers tend to get upset if they can’t purchase a product online. Even just a landing page with your contact information is better than nothing!
ED: Let’s talk about social media: if a designer doesn’t want to commit to a blog, is social media enough?
HC: I don’t think a blog is for everyone but you should probably be on Facebook and/or Twitter. Your website portfolio doesn’t often get updated because projects can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years to complete. A Facebook page enables you to post updates and keep yourself on people’s radar. I also think Twitter for getting your name out. We focus a lot on technology but it's still just as important to go out and meet people in person. I've made a lot of great connections at parties, events, and panel discussions.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Weekend Reading
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Someone recently asked me why I don't subscribe to magazines. My answer is that there is nothing worse than seeing a magazine on the newsstand before your subscription copy has arrived. That's why I have two copies of every Domino ever published. And before anyone asks, no you can't have any of them. The point of my story is that I was super excited to find the June 2010 issue of ELLE DECOR on the newsstand last night! My love of this magazine is not a secret but I have to say that this issue is really one of the best in a long time. It's meatier and full of fun articles including the "Top 5 Designers to Watch" and I can't give away the whole list but I can tell you that my dear friend Grant K. Gibson was among them! So exciting and well deserved!
The other fun feature is J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons "12 Things she can't live without." I won't give away all of her answers but like me, she hasn't met a sequin or sparkle that she hasn't liked and I'm beyond jealous that she also owns a 1969 Mercedes 280SE! Could she get any more perfect?! Love her and ELLE DECOR this month! Bon Weekend!
Someone recently asked me why I don't subscribe to magazines. My answer is that there is nothing worse than seeing a magazine on the newsstand before your subscription copy has arrived. That's why I have two copies of every Domino ever published. And before anyone asks, no you can't have any of them. The point of my story is that I was super excited to find the June 2010 issue of ELLE DECOR on the newsstand last night! My love of this magazine is not a secret but I have to say that this issue is really one of the best in a long time. It's meatier and full of fun articles including the "Top 5 Designers to Watch" and I can't give away the whole list but I can tell you that my dear friend Grant K. Gibson was among them! So exciting and well deserved! The other fun feature is J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons "12 Things she can't live without." I won't give away all of her answers but like me, she hasn't met a sequin or sparkle that she hasn't liked and I'm beyond jealous that she also owns a 1969 Mercedes 280SE! Could she get any more perfect?! Love her and ELLE DECOR this month! Bon Weekend!Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The House that SATC Built
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Since I've already written about Carrie and Big's apartment in the new Sex and the City movie, I thought it would be fun to take a look inside the home of the original Carrie Bradshaw, Candace Bushnell. ELLE DECOR just posted these photos and I'm so happy! This is one of my all time favorite apartments. It was published in 2005 and it's another one of those rare examples of a timeless interior. With help from interior designer Susan Forristal, she and her husband created a jewel box in what was a wreck in Greenwich Village. I especially love all the pale colors and touches of gilt in the living room. It looks like a soothing oasis to escape the craziness of the city! For more details, check out the online article. Enjoy!
Photos by William Waldron
Since I've already written about Carrie and Big's apartment in the new Sex and the City movie, I thought it would be fun to take a look inside the home of the original Carrie Bradshaw, Candace Bushnell. ELLE DECOR just posted these photos and I'm so happy! This is one of my all time favorite apartments. It was published in 2005 and it's another one of those rare examples of a timeless interior. With help from interior designer Susan Forristal, she and her husband created a jewel box in what was a wreck in Greenwich Village. I especially love all the pale colors and touches of gilt in the living room. It looks like a soothing oasis to escape the craziness of the city! For more details, check out the online article. Enjoy! Photos by William WaldronMonday, October 10, 2011
Ready for the Hamptons!
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We are having the most glorious weather today and it makes me want to take off for the Hamptons. But since I have too many projects, appointments, parties, and work, I will have to make due with drooling over Christina and Chris Cuomo's humble abode that was decorated by designer Emma Jane Pilkington. It was featured in ELLE DECOR a while back and if you have a very good eye, you'll remember that the little playhouse above was also featured with the Cuomos in the new photos by Elliott Erwitt for Tod's Icons by an Icon exhibition. Wonder if they'd rent it out? Just kidding but it sure is cute! Enjoy the great weather where ever you are today!
Photos by Roger Davies
We are having the most glorious weather today and it makes me want to take off for the Hamptons. But since I have too many projects, appointments, parties, and work, I will have to make due with drooling over Christina and Chris Cuomo's humble abode that was decorated by designer Emma Jane Pilkington. It was featured in ELLE DECOR a while back and if you have a very good eye, you'll remember that the little playhouse above was also featured with the Cuomos in the new photos by Elliott Erwitt for Tod's Icons by an Icon exhibition. Wonder if they'd rent it out? Just kidding but it sure is cute! Enjoy the great weather where ever you are today!Photos by Roger Davies
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