The Perfectly Imperfect Home....

My new Favorite Book

If this book doesn't sum up my aesthetic, I don't know what does.  I think we all should embrace a little bit of Imperfectly, perfect!  Deborah Needleman, founding editor of the much coveted Domino Magazine has hit a home run with this book. Not only are the illustrations  (by the oh so talented Virginia Johnson) just amazing, but the meat of the book is so informative....with tidbits on everything from lighting, to how to make a bed (the easy way AND the hard way!)  There is something in it for everyone from the decorator to someone who just wants to zhush their own home.

  I took the book with me to my daughter's swim practice last night, and almost forgot to go down and pick her up out of the pool, because I was so engrossed!

In the forward Deborah says...

"Embracing imperfection in a home does not mean that anything goes.  Here it means aiming for beauty tempered by reality.  If real life involves mess, accidents, memory, and the incidental, then so too must decorating account for serendipity, and even embrace it."

"Luxury cannot be defined by expense or grandeur.  Style is luxury, and luxury is simply what makes you happy."

According to Deborah, the point of decorating is to create the background for the best life you can have, with all its joys and imperfections.

Amen sister!  This book is going with me on every client meeting.

 Take a look for yourself.

I am waiting on the Perfectly, Imperfect LIFE book to drop in my lap....things are crazy, but good around here. 



Happy Tuesday.

Book of the Month...serving up...

photo by Moi

orry for the delay on the Book of the Month...is it already the 8th??? I have been a bit, um, shall I say DISTRACTED lately with the whole E&J festivities.  Anyway, without further adoo I am serving up an entertaining book called FLAIR by Joe Nye that I picked up at my favorite local design establishment, House of Rugs.  Many of you know by now that I am a sucker for entertaining, and a beautiful tablescape, and this book just makes it easy. It demystifies much of it.  Inspired by his mother's easy entertaining style, he encourages the reader to invite their friends and have a party, that it doesn't have to be fancy or complicated, just add a little bit of FLAIR and you have yourself a wonderful get together. 

I feel like this month is begins the entertaining season (although,  I believe we should bring out the good stuff and have a party all year long!)  On the heals of a wonderful weekend with the quintessential entertainer and tablescape stylist Eddie Ross, I thought it appropo.

A must read, go grab yourself a copy, enjoy the inspiration, send your invitations, and set a beautiful table, (there might just be an event around the corner...) I promise it will make you and your guests feel great!

On another note, The winner of my vintage napkin giveaway is Nessa from the Moments and Impressions.  Congratulations Nessa!

Drumroll please....

The Coffee table Design Book of the Month!

 So I KNOW you all have been waiting on the edge of your seats, waiting for my next installment of the Design Book of the Month. Well the waiting is over AND here it is!

DOWNTOWN CHIC by Cortney and Robert Novogratz of 9 by Design on Bravo TV Fame. If you didn't know already, they also own their own design firm Sixx Design AND they raise their 7 kids (2 sets of twins), AND manage to do it with much style, fun, and  humor!  All I can say is WOW!  I loved every episode of the show, and was so excited to receive my book. 

Designing fantastic spaces from New York City, to Tranconso, Brazil from Residential to Hotel Design this amazing duo is helping to transform the way we all look at design.  The ultimate in High/ Low aesthetic.  They are more than willing and unafraid to mix the common with the luxurious, breaking all rules along the way.   I can't wait for what else they have in store.

You HAVE to take a peak, there are great quotes, tips, and  most importantly photos and inspiration throughout the book.  

you MUST check it out.

Happy Friday, well what is left of it!

Quote of the Month...

The Book of the month on my Living Room Table.

From the Design Book of the Month...Celerie Kemble's To Your Taste.

If anyone noticed... I added a quote on my header.  This is one of my favorites from a designer that I REALLY admire, Celerie Kemble.  Whenever I am having a moment of design insecurity, (don't we all have these moments) I remember this quote. 

"Don't let a fear of being tacky render you tasteless."

I surely don't want to be "rendered tasteless:)  I think you do have to take risks in design...sometimes it is a huge payoff, and sometimes you think, ""oh dear, what was I THINKING!!!"  But, how would you have known otherwise?

I also love design books, and I spend many a day at Barnes and Noble (in the kids section with my kids happily playing with the train table, and me with no less than 5 magazines and a few books) checking them out before I buy.  I would like to beef up my design library, so I thought that doing a Design book of the month would be fun. (and little splurge for myself.)   I will pull a favorite quote from my book of the month, and then do a post each week about the designer and their rooms. 

Do you have any favorite design books that you would like to suggest?

Have a great Tuesday.