Alexa Hampton: Talent & Personality!

Alexa Hampton is personality and talent all-in one. Funny, down-to-earth, genuine, and relaxed, here she is demonstrating how uber comfortable her sofa design for Hickory Chair is! I mean really, how fun is that! A huge thank you to Suzette Delay, Showroom Manager of Henredon, for hosting a tea and giving us a chance to meet Alexa in an informal setting and learn more about her work and approach to design and...have so much fun at the same time.
Alexa with some of my favorite DC Designers - Sally Steponkus, Laura Stifel and Heather Safferstone of Sally Steponkus Interiors.
Her furniture collection for Hickory Chair is impeccable. Above is the Susannah side table.
Love the Perlini mirror.
Chris Set of Four Trays - each tray can be moved to where needed.
Jennifer Sergent, Marketing Director of the Washington Design Center, enjoying the comfort of the Breck Chair.
I couldn't resist posting this pic of Suzette's personal collection of tea pots.
If you haven't had a chance to pick-up Alexa's book yet, definitely put it on your list. Here's just a few images of her designs to enjoy.

Nicky Haslam: EXTRAordinary

Nicky Haslam - taking it past design into the realm of creation. Be sure to visit his site - each next image will be your new favorite. These images are just from 1 of the 19 homes featured.




Hope you have a great weekend!

Kips Bay: Design & Lots of Laughs

O.K., I better explain my post title first - the laughter is all in reference to the incredibly fun company I got to keep on The Washington Design Center's Kips Bay trip last Friday. More on that later, design first. One of my favorite spaces at the show house was the gallery stairwell space created by Rod Winterrowd. He struck a perfect balance between eclectic art and a cohesive, calm aesthetic. Loved his choice to frame subtle wallpaper for the background.

Rod also made the most of this very small space outside the powder room and created a jewel box with beautiful, glossy venetian plaster. (I think that's what it was...)
The details in the His & Hers Dressing Rooms created by Darren Henault Interiors were standouts.

Closet doors were inset w/fabric and trim - a definite take-away idea for one's own home. Love the door handles.
I know, you've already seen the "On the Bubble" bathroom created by Coffinier Ku Design, Ltd. but I couldn't resist.
Here's a shot looking up from the tub towards the ceiling.
Another favorite room of mine was the "Art Collector's Salon" designed by Aman & Carson Interiors. The furniture layout was very functional and the high gloss treatment on the walls and ceiling were a nice modern foil to the traditional furniture.
Love the choice of the mirror with the simple edge.

A photo of me on the terrace taken by my friend Anne.
Now back to what was for me the highlight of the whole trip - the people!! Laughter, great conversation and then more laughter makes for an unbeatable mix and a very memorable day. Here we are on the train headed into NY. Starting at the left: Anne Hardock of Dwellings by Design, me - Michele Ginnerty, Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home, Roxanne Lumme of Roxanne Lumme Interiors and Jenny Clark (soon to be Castle) of Jenny Castle Design.
A huge thank you to Jennifer Sergent, the Marketing Director at The Washington Design Center, for putting together this very well organized trip and for Sub-Zero/Wolf for hosting everyone in the NY Showroom for lunch!

(In the DC area they have a huge showroom in Columbia MD. Go here for more info.)

Meeting Grant and Scot & Sue Fisher King

It's always great fun when a business trip can include a wonderful design-focused diversion. A few weeks ago I was in San Francisco for work and was very happy to have a chance to meet Grant Gibson and Scot Meacham Wood. As a long time fan of their work and their blogs, I really appreciated their willingness to take time out of their day to meet-up at Sue Fisher King and then on to a cafe for coffee and conversation. Charming, funny, interesting and a great pleasure to talk with - it was the highlight of my trip. Thanks Grant and Scot!
Sue Fisher King seems to top everyone's list for a must-visit while in San Francisco. Grant mentioned it in his piece in Rue magazine and the store has an impressive and beautifully selected range of linens, towels, bedding and other wonderful home accessories. I don't think I've ever seen a wider selection of cashmere throws in one place.


Genius packaging.
Love this fresh, light table setting. Some people are sticklers for white candles, but colored candles, like these blue ones, are really beautiful here.
Outside there's a display of Lavastone tables and samples of the range of saturated color options for both tabletops and counters.
This was my 4th trip to San Francisco but my first trip to Sue Fisher King. I really missed out those other 3 times!

Upcoming Design Camps with Tobi Fairley

Maybe you've seen this but interior designer Tobi Fairley is hosting more Design Camps in Little Rock. They look like great fun & as well as highly informative (wish my schedule would allow me to go!) The Basic Design Camp on November 6th and the Advanced Camp on November 12-13 have been officially confirmed and there's still a chance to secure one of the remaining seats. In addition, there's a third offering of a Blog Camp on Friday December 10th. Go here to get more details and hear what former campers have to say about the experience.

Gwen Driscoll: Break-Out Design Star

I've been a fan of Gwen Driscoll and her blog, Ragland Hill Social, since coming across it last December. It was always a treat when she showed snippets of her home and work for clients - often leaving me wanting more!

Well, Gwen just launched her website and to say her work is incredible is not descriptive enough. Warm, elegant, layered and unique, I think her work is harbinger of an increased emphasis on homes that personally reflect the homeowner and the artistic side of interior design. As she mentions on her site, "Spaces are lived in but become living spaces." In addition to the website launch, Gwen's work with Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens, is in the November issue of Elle Decor, which Teresa of Splendid Sass recently blogged about here. It's so exciting to see Gwen get the national attention her work deserves. Brava!








all images via Gwen Driscoll Designs.