Can I Hear an Amen!!

I'm in love! House Beautiful delivers this New Year with a fabulous edition. If it didn't come through your mail slot, run out and get it. And the icing on the cake is designer Mary McDonald's
Hollywood Hills makeover with an homage to Bill Blass. The grey Ralph Lauren men's suiting on the walls in the master bedroom is so scrumptious, so stylish, and so cozy for this Northeastern girl! I won't give all the pics away. but I couldn't resist a few. I'm sure many of you have visited her site, http://www.marymcdonaldinc.com/, but do if you haven't! She is rising American design star.

The interiew with Mimi Read and Mary McDonald about the house can be found here:http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/makeover-details-0208?click=main_sr

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Hello all my friends in 2008! I hope this year does us all great. I have to admit, I'm in a bit of a design funk. I'm not really inspired by that all that much yet in these early days of January. For example, My Cottage Living's ode to Valentine's Day red and whites just isn't cutting the mustard for me. But speaking of mustard (so to speak), this gorgeous yellow French Oven by Staub is about the only thing I'm crazy about right now. A pot? Seriously. I promise I'm searching.

Thank You and Have a Wonderful Christmas!

I just wanted to wish all of my friends, family, customers, and blog readers a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Living in Scranton has been such a blessing and the people that have supported me has been overwhelming. Four years ago when I began House & Life, it was such an uncertain time for me not knowing how it was going to be received by the community. I've been so lucky to have gained the support of so many people of this great city. Thank you!

And to the wonderful people around this country and world for that matter that have been reading this blog and commenting, you've made me feel like I really have a point of view that is fresh and interesting. I so appreciate it.

Please enjoy your family and friends this upcoming week and I wish you all the best in the upcoming New Year. I can't wait to start blogging again.

Holiday Fav!

I was able to find one 2t of this adorable dress featured in Gap's Holiday Ad campaign. Amanda Peet's daughter Francis looked so cute in it, so I searched for it. And I have to say, its worth it! The hood is lined and the quality is really there. Grab one if you can!

Brass Tax

Brass accents seem to be in the back of my head and in every designer's black book these days. My friend Pink Wallpaper has a great post on the resurgence of brass in home design, and how we all can't believe we are loving this "trend" (hardly!). Brass is back, baby! Think a sleek kitchen with that fabulous chicken wire on a painted hutch. Jen Davis, we've been cooking up a place to use that treatment for sure!

TA-DA!

Well here is the big reveal of our new project and home in Scranton. It's a lovely three story in need of some major TLC. So I'm asking for some color opinions. Right now I'm leaning towards a flannel grey body with some very creme trim, and a lipstick red front door! Please offer your thoughts and some other ideas for color. Gigi looks so sweet and relaxed in her stroller. She has no idea what we are in for! I'll keep you posted.

Skipping Hippos Ponchos

For our Scranton friends that read the blog, Skipping Hippos have just been replenished at the shop. And for those of you out of town, these adorable ponchos make for such a cute gift! They are so easy to get on and off, and the fleece make them really practical. Gigi has one in red!

.

A Tiger (or Zebra for that Matter!) does change his Stripes.

A zebra clad hallway in decorator Ashley Whittaker's New York City apartment. Notice the transition from wow to calm waters. From Domino's April 07 article and photo courtesy of Peak of Chic
The adorable decorator Miles Redd in his New York City Townhouse. Photo from New York Social Diary


Do you have a love/hate relationship with animal skin treatments? They tread so close to tacky waters! But when it is done right, it is so chic and refreshing. Just a few loves in my file. The Rose Cummings paper above is just so gorgeous in a crisp blue. Such an unusual, fun approach to zebra. And Miles Redd paired classic zebra on the doors to his red and pink living room. I can just imagine pitching this to a client and seeing them cringe, but look it works!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't wait for turkey! Please have a wonderful day with all your friends and family and I"ll see you next week.

Fresh approach to Children's Bedrooms

I'm excited to have the opportunity to re-do my 18 mon. old daughter Georgia's bedroom over in our new house. Thumbing through some favorite saves, I thought I might post some fresh approaches to the traditional child's room or nursery. I love soft palettes mixed with sophisticated, "grown-up" fabrics. The built-in bed in a rich blue offers simple lines, but still inspirational for a young boy or girl. And I love the chicken wire on one of the cabinets! And notice the sophisticated nature of the zebra fabric on the twin headboards, but the mix of a playful fabric on the drapes brings it back down to a child's level of fun. It's the master of the mix!

David Netto, a children's furniture designer (and ex-husband to Ionie Sky) stated recently that people often feel they need to "dumb down" the furnishing in their kid's bedrooms, which simply isn't true. It's often a much more successful outcome in my opinion if you mix in traditional pieces with whimsical accessories. Skip the plastic, in everything for that matter!