Beautiful Things - Beautiful Together

This antique clock is beautiful.

The porcelain case painted delicately in pink - a very pink, pink - and the black trim are good accents, the black tones down what could otherwise be a 'too-sweet' pink color. The gilt details add a delicious richness.

Design Tip: This clock could stand on its own on a quaint table in an entryway. Or, it can be part of an great grouping. On a fireplace mantel, for instance, this piece is placed in the center and serves as the focal point. Place two matching objects on the left and right of the clock, cachepots filled with ivy or paperweights, etc. Finally on the far left and right, place matching candlesticks , lamps or vases.This special 19th-century timepiece made by English clock maker John J. Peters & Co. is offered by Coleen & Company, whom also carry their own decor pieces as well as vintage and antique goods. Click here for more info on this one-of-a-kind 'Pretty In Pink' clock.

The curvy gold-framing adds a soupcon of French style to the Petite Palais Mirror, and is available from the Something Beautiful Shoppe.  By repeating the gilt gold and curlyques, the mirror is simply perfect with the clock.

Design Tip: When hanging a mirror always consider what it is reflecting. A mirror that echos a beautiful reflection is most pleasing.

For more information about the Petite Palais Mirror, click here.




Finally ..... check out this over-the-top chandelier, by Nella Vetrina. Is it awesome, or what?

I would place the antique pink clock and the Petite Palais Mirror in the same room as this Nella Vetrina chandelier.

Design Tip: These colorways work well. The black details on the pink clock - which we've established as a focal point on the fireplace mantle - tie in wonderfully with the strength of this particular chandelier. The Nella Vetrina Chandelier, in black, has an extremely strong 'visual' presence, which greatly attracts the eye, optically causing it to have 'weight' - despite that it is made of glass. Moreover this chandelier's curves, circle shapes, etc. are a repetition of those in the antique clock and the Petit Palais Mirror. These are spectacular when brought together.

For more information on the Murano Hand Blown Glass Chandelier, click here. It is also available in other colors.



If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Decorating A Dreamhouse - A German Equestrian Estate (Cont'd.) + Ham And Potato Bake

This article is continued from main post, click here to return.





Written By: Patricia Lynne
Editor: Sarahjoy Crain


In my current SB Journal entry I'm imagining I'm "Decorating A Dream House" A German Equestrian Estate.



My Dreamhouse is a generous two stories including a third level attic with two dormer rooms. Ground level has room for parking three automobiles, almost unheard of in Germany.

My Germany Dream House also includes horse breeding and training facilities.








About Hamburg, My Dreamhouse City:


My Dreamhouse is located in Hamburg Germany, the second largest City in Germany, a City which bursts pride. Something new can be discovered, experienced and marveled at everyday. Arts and Culture are at its finest. Worldwide successful musicals, superior and entertaining theatres, a great variety of hotels and excellent restaurants. Historical landmarks from 1200 years of City history. The list goes on. Exquisite shopping possibilities and exciting nightlife.


The Dreamhouse is located near Lake Alster, which has a a circumference of 7.6 km. It makes for a great bike ride and is the hub for meeting friends for a lager shandy draft at one of the many cafes. I've been known to announce: "I'm in paradise," while watching the yachtsmen, oarsmen and paddlers enjoying Alster Lake.

If you visit this Lake which dates from the 13th century be sure to plan a ride on an Alsterboat. Providing tours of the lake including the canals and the bridges, these boatrides offer unparalleled sights of the city.

Lake Alster is surrounded by some of the best residences in Hamburg as well as by many, many landmark buildings, such as the well-known Atlantic hotel and St. Michaelis Church. This Church hosts a 132 meter high baroque spire covered with copper. The spire is a prominent feature of Hamburg’s skyline and has always been a landmark for ships sailing up the river Elbe.



Lake Alster, known as the‘German Venice’ as it runs through the center of the city, competes with Venice, Italy for its number of bridges and canals.

Also at Lake Alster is the Port of Hamburg. Named Germany's "Gateway to the World" it's the largest port in Germany. It is the second-largest port of Europe and is experiencing major advancements in commercial and residential growth, cultivating multifarious layers of enriching diversity.


My City of Hamburg, Germany is bursting with such creativity. You'll see it in its contemporary architecture, art, fashion, events and design.



We're going inside now. Please join me in my SB Journal on Decorating A Dreamhouse My German Equestrian Estate



Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Formal Entry


Borrowing a French look with the Louis XVI Style Chairs, these are upholstered in Pierre Frey's "Les Camees."  Les Camees (French transl., the cameos) is a beautiful cotton/linen upholstery fabric with a 59" repeat, making it ideal to position your favorite cameo illustration on these arm chairs. The small table is a petrified tree trunk.  It is the photograph we are drawn to and it is of an Andalusian horse in Susan Friedman's Equus Collection.




Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Living Room:

I love the slight pink paired with deep brown upholstered furnishings. Pink by itself can be considered too feminine, but it's what you pair it with that makes it work - consider a man in a black suit with a pink shirt and tie - it's a dynamic combination.

The horse photograph above mantle again is by Susan Friedman, the marble horse head from The Well Appointed House.

For our family this room feels soft and warm; it is instantly inviting, something necessary as we work hard outside with the horses, this ethereal space is for us.




Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Dining Room
I love this dining room presentation.The simple fireplace and decor are fabulous, but most of all I love the 'borrowed' view of the stellar staircase. If it is just the two of us for dinner, we often use the small table and chairs grouped near the fireplace. This gives us the feeling we've got the best seat in the house. Photograph is from Motif Designs and the Something Beautiful Shoppe can help you access some items in the picture.



Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Kitchen

In addition to working hard, we also entertain a lot. Friends and family from the States as well as newly-made "freundes" (German transl. friends) visit and as a consequence, I love this spacious kitchen. Whether it is in entertaining friends and family, or having coffee with a fellow equine enthusiast, I wanted an area that was easy and efficient. I always work with the best, and here I chose Nancy Thornett Associates.



Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Daughter's Room


This room reflects my daughter's personality. Mature, feminine, romantic and orderly. Everyone who visits loves this room, as does my daughter.

The pairing of the soft pink with whites and greys creates an inviting feeling. No harshness here.

Susan Friedman's "Tempest 1" is on display here; Sherwin-Williams' Paint White Dogwood SW6315 was used when originally featured in House Beautiful.



Decorating My Germany Equestrian Estate Dreamhouse Master Bedroom And Bathroom



This room is perfect for us. It's tranquil. We've got bedding that's like sleeping on a cloud. This master bedroom is from Motif Designs and you can access it through the Something Beautiful Shoppe.  


Freestanding Oval tub by Waterworks has clean, sculptural lines. I also like the simple 'table' next to it. It is literally a soaking tub, you can have water up to your shoulders . . . every home should have one. These are all part of the things that make our home dreamily beautiful.









My Dreamhouse German Equestrian Estate - I could so live here. Couldn't you? 





Ham And Potato Bake Bonus Recipe


Layers of potato, ham and cheese are bound together by a quiche-like egg and cream mixture. This potato bake cuts well and can be served hot or cold, as a side dish or with a salad as a light meal.

Ingredients:

3 large potatos
1 cup grated tasty cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups shaved ham, finely chopped
1/2 medium onion, grated
4 large eggs
1 cup cream
Salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly grease a 7" or 8" pan or bowl.

Line the base of the pan with baking paper. If your pan isn't non-stick, line the side of the pan also.

Peel and halve potatos. Boil potatos until tender, drain. Allow potatos to cool, then cut into 1/3" thick slices.

Combine cheeses in a bowl.

Cover the base of the prepared pan with a layer of potato slices. Season with salt and pepper.

Top with half the ham and onion. Sprinkle with about one third of the combined cheeses. Continue layering ingredients (seasoning each layer of potatoes), finishing with a layer of cheese.

Use a whisk or fork to beat the eggs and cream until well combined. Gently pour the mixture over ingredients in pan.

Bake for about 50 - 60 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the egg mixture has set. Cover the bake with aluminium foil if the top begins to over brown before the egg mixture has set.

Remove from oven and set aside for 5 - 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cut into wedges to serve.

This recipe is from Exclusively Food.



Want More? Read Other "Decorate A Dreamhouse Articles":






If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.


Bathroom Vanity Photograph: Julian Ross
Foyer, Living Room photograph from
House Beautiful, January 2009
Research Source:
Hamburg Germany Tourism, Hamburg Travel Guide
Research Source:
http://www.cometogermany.com/
Research Source:
http://www.hafen-hamburg.de/en
Research Source Climate:
http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/Germany/Hamburg/Climate

Posters As Art




I can feel my own hair being tossed by the wind and it is my face embracing the sun as I enjoy this vignette. The French poster from Phillip Williams Posters is perfect. It accomplishes the goal of creating a beautiful room through selective placement of decorative art, furniture and accessories.

Decorating a room with posters can be both cost-effective and an engaging way to create beauty. Posters come in all shapes and sizes, themes and styles; and be assured, they can be introduced in a room with original artworks, oil paintings, etc.

Here are some suggestions on turning your dull space into an instant gallery.

Think about a feel or a theme you want for your room.

Example: the room above conveys light and airiness - a magical moment - on a beautiful day.

Another Example: an earlier article I wrote Decorate A Dreamhouse In Beverly Hills (click here to read it) is another good example, perhaps you could call it a charming example.

In that article I wanted to contrast in a big way the elaborate and over-the-top Georgian architectural style exteriors of the house - symmetrical, conservative, orderly with its interiors.

This helped me establish my theme or feel. I wanted drama . . . fun - and I wanted to flaunt it.


So there it was and who best to help me than Ms. Audrey Hepburn, that is, one particular poster of her. Wearing a tiara, a formal gown and long, silk, black gloves, Ms. Hepburn flirts with a long-stem cigarette holder. This poster I chose to anchor my varied but engaging grouping of black- and-white photographs.

Reading the rest of the article and appreciating my selection of flamboyant furnishings - perhaps you'll agree: who else but Ms. Audrey Hepburn to welcome visitors to this particular home.


Right, poster of
"Pablo Picasso's "Head Of A Woman," from Art.Com.

So, posters . . . . . Envision what you want your artwork and decor to do for your room.

* Posters can add color (coordinating or accent)
* Pull together a theme (marine life in a bathroom, sports in a den or child's room)
* Or stand in for a more expensive art collection (you too can own a Monet or a Picasso). Be creative.




You can bring a magical ocean view to any room with a wide-angle photographic oceanscape, such as the one above, by Marine Hugonnier. (More of this art can be seen at MarineHugonnier.com).

Recipe posters can double as cookbooks in a tiny kitchen. Reproduction movie posters from classic films can turn your family room into a home theatre.

Browse. Shop for posters online, at craft supply and decorating stores, in museum gift shops and at flea markets. You may start looking with one idea in mind, and be captivated by something completely different.

Frame your posters once you've chosen them. You can also find simple, classic, inexpensive poster frames at art supply stores and discount department stores. But posters can be more classically framed also; again, it is all what is within your theme. If you are grouping posters on the same wall, choosing identical frames is a great look.

Using posters as art can be an adventure - enjoy!


If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Adrian Swinstead Practices Green Design - Reclamation




The table at left is a bog oak and glass circular dining table,


the oak is 5,000 years old -

and was originally found in Wereham Fen, Norfolk.  Artist Adrian Swinstead secured the bog oak pieces, allowed them to air dry for four years and crafted - reclaimed - them into this circular dining table.





















Bog Oaks Are Prehistoric Trees

They date from a time when the world was emerging from the last Ice Age.

It was a time of rapidly rising temperature, retreating Ice Cap and rising sea levels. The vegetation across southern Britain contained many areas of oak forest. As the temperatures rose, storms felled whole forests and in the more temperate climate a vegetation of sphagnum mosses and ferns became predominant. This growth entombed the fallen oaks, eventually compacting to form peat and preserving the trees in an acidic and anaerobic environment. These trees have survived millennia due to extraordinary circumstances.

These ancient oaks are a direct link with a time when the people of Britain were just starting to develop agriculture and expressing their connections to the universe through the erection of standing stones.

Over time the colour of the trees has deepened, sometimes achieving a dense black.

Bog Oaks have a profound history.

Swinstead Bog Oak Bowl, above, is made from 5,000 year old bog oak.


The two photographs here left and right show Adrian Swinstead's Sycamore Arch Tablecut from a concave section of tree, Sycamore from Geddington, Northamptonshire, fortified acrylic toughened glass. 







This last piece is actually a bench - Sycamore Arch Benchcut from a concave section of tree, sycamore from Geddington, Northamptonshire with 50 mm plexiglass.

Adrian Swinstead says about his endeavors,

"Cherishing a piece of ancient bog oak to become a thing of beauty after its five thousand years underground is my work, my art and a privilege."

For more information about Adrian Swinstead's workclick to visit his website.









If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Decorate A Dream House - A Belgian Castle

Written By: Patricia Lynne
Editor: Sarahjoy Crain



In my current SB Journal entry I'm imagining I'm "Decorating A Dream House" in the Country Of Belgium. Actually it is a castle.

A castle - in its simplest terms - is a private, fortified residence.

My DreamHouse Castle has a moat - history tells us is a ditch with steep sides, and could be either dry or filled with water with its purpose being to keep the walls of the Castle from being undermined from invading armies.

My DreamHouse Castle has a great tower, sometimes called a "keep," and this is where a dungeon would be located. The great tower was the strongest part of a castle and most strongly defended, and the last place of refuge if the outer defences fell. You may be surprised to consider that the keep was not left empty in case of attack, but was used as a residence by the lord who owned the castle, or his guests or representatives.

















My Dreamhouse Castle is located in the very small Country of Belgium, approximately the size of Massachusetts. Belgium's total area, including surface water area, is about 19 square miles. It shares borders with four Countries:  France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.


To continue reading this article, click here.





SATC Carrie's Apartment & Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe






 Mr. Big:  Should we get you a diamond?

Carrie Bradshaw:  No, no... just get me a really big closet!



In real life as our actual use of space changes, oftentimes it prompts change in our home - in the design and layout of our living spaces.

As a designer I wanted to see Carrie's apartment in the Sex and the City Movie.  Wondering, as Carrie evolved, would Hollywood be consistent
in her apartment, would form follow function.

For the SATC Movie, it was thought Carrie's apartment should reflect a more organized, more mature Carrie, that she'd no longer sit on the floor at her coffee table, working on her laptop. She also may want to have Big over for dinner, she may require more entertaining areas.








To Continue Article, Click Here And To See Cosmopolitan Cocktail Bonus Recipe

Dinner On The Rooftop - 30 Stories High At The Kimberly Hotel

You enter the express elevator at street level and you are whisked thirty stories up to an urban oasis, way atop Manhattan ..... Viola!
It is a roof top, called 'Upstairs,' and it is so very unexpected.  Don't you love when that happens!

"Upstairs" (at the Kimberly Hotel):

~ 4,000 square foot, roof top, thirty stories up and offering outstanding food and drinks
~ "Upstairs" has retractable glass ceilings and walls - and - ambient heated floors, in consideration of weather
~ 360 degree view (the iconic Chrysler Building as always is the star of this show)
~ living green walls, cascading down bronze panels, framing the surrounding cityscape from every possible angle
~ a fresh spin on old Hollywood-glamour, vintage theatrical lights and strings and strings of incandescent bulbs, floating overhead, emitting an intimate, sensual mood
~ a room that is as elegant and inviting in the winter months as it is sunny and sophisticated in the summer season

The "Upstairs" by AIA award winning design firm De-Spec, in association with architect Frank Denner , Pentasia Design and lighting designer Brian Orter presents an outdoor rooftop design that literally overwhelms the senses at every turn.

An evening Upstairs will be an experience
like no other, focusing on refined service
in a relaxed luxurious setting, offering its
guests a one-of-a-kind rooftop experience
and the desire to come back.

I love the lead designer's approach to the 'Upstairs.' As explained by De-Spec lead designer designer Farnaz Mansuri:


"Upstairs follows a characteristic approach to our work,"
"Rather than objectifying the architectural solution,
Space is choreographed to rooduce the desired experience,
and so in essence 'experience' is designed."


Deliberately shying away from outdoor lounge-style furniture typical of most rooftop bars, "Upstairs’" furniture was carefully curated from renowned houses such as B&B Italia, Knoll and Moooi. The "Upstairs" rooftop offers clean lines and elegant form that at once seem hyper-modern and neo-gothic, inviting guests to relax and unwind in an environment that exemplifies subtle, urban sophistication.
Did I mention the chefs? The food?

Executive Chef Gwenaël Le Pape has worked with such culinary masters as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain. Raised in Brittany, France, Chef Gwen has cooked all over France, Miami and New York, most recently at Maison d’Azur in Miami garnering three and a half stars for the South Beach eatery under his direction. Here are a few samples of Chef Le Pape’s signature dishes:
Seared Steak Tartar
Spiced Duck Cigars with Pomegranate Dipping Sauce
Truffled Mac &Cheese and
Baby Lamb Lollipops with Ratatouille
In addition to great food, the bar will feature a sumptuous list of specialty cocktails featuring modern takes on tried and true classics. (From the Kimberly Hotel's Upstairs website.)



Thirty stories up, the "Upstairs," of The Kimberly Hotel - I am so..... goin' there for a tasty lil' treat of a night!

If you like the Kimberly Hotel and the restaurant on the rooftop, Upstairs, click here to see my "Decorate A Dreamhouse, Manhattan Brownstone."

Outdoor Showers - Perfect Way To Cool Down

A vacation home our family stayed at had an outdoor shower and and the family used it all day long. It's the perfect way to cool down when it's hot, and you can put them anywhere, from lawn to roof to beach to deck.

According to Ross Sicote of Walpole Woodworkers, a firm specializing in custom yard and garden features, "A shower outdoors is one of those things that seems odd at first, but when people see them at someone else’s place, they end up wanting them for their own backyard,"

Here are some playful looking outdoor showers, from stand alone to wall mounts.









From Orvis, this outdoor shower is easy to install on any deck or patio. Hooks up to an outdoor hose spigot, and can be easily adapted for hot water. Made of water- and weather-resistant nyatoh wood."








Minimalist Outdoor Shower From Atelier Tradewinds:, a small,Belgian Company, "The acacia wood frame is set on a couple of nylon gliders so that the shower can easily be moved. The shower tube itself is made of galvanized steel; a simple tap attached to the tube regulates the water pressure."






Jaclo offers these above two outdoor showers including other forms of decorative plumbing.




There are essentially two kinds of outdoor showers — stand-alones and wall mounts. Stand-alones attach to flexible hosing and are mobile. Wall-mounts are stationary. Deciding whether your shower will be a portable or permanent installation is the first step in deciding what type of shower will work for you. The very simplest of showers can be hooked up directly to a garden hose. Shower seekers can craft their own using fittings, tubing, and a showerhead, or purchase a shower package from any number of retail outlets.


Summer will be here soon ~ stay cool!