Live By Your Own Design

On a recent trip to Chicago, we stumbled upon a great little place to stay called the Raffaello Hotel…a little boutique (home away from home) in downtown Chicago www.chicagoraffaello.com.

The bonus to staying in this quaint little hotel was finding the amazing cuisine created at Pelago Restaurant tucked away on the property.

Chef Mauro Mafrici does things Italian like I have never tasted and so very pretty too.  The extra added SNAP was that the design of this property was done by his architect wife, Kimberly Anguil Mafrici and is stunningly exquisite in its simplicity www.pelagorestaurant.com .

While there, be sure to enjoy the art selected by the chef. Artist David DeBiaso brings an old world styling to still life that is not to be believed.  It just makes you want for more!

Until next time!

Leslie

This most amazing Lasagna on the planet!                     Beautiful little dessert!

The 28^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering —the nation’s greatest celebration of the American West, its people, culture and traditions—took place January 30 to February 4, 2012, in Elko, Nevada and once again I had the pleasure of attending and I certainly was not disappointed!  As I have said countless times, to live in the West and not fully embrace this cowboy culture is like having half-knowledge of your experience here!

This is the 28^th winter that cowboys, ranchers, rural and urban people have traveled en masse to this small high desert community, to join with friends, family and others who care about the rural West. Together, they listen to poetry and music, learn about cowboy culture in the U.S. and around the world, experience great art, watch western films, learn a craft, and gather to eat, drink and swap stories.

This year’s programs focused on the Southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and New Mexico—which are celebrating their centennials this year.  The event presented poets and musicians from the region, as well as workshops and panel discussions focused on regional food, culture and agriculture.

The museum exhibition, curated by Meg Glaser, presented “Southwest Ranch Country” and featured the photography of Jay Dusard and Kurt Markus and contemporary craftsmanship of artisans of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.  It combined an old styling merged into contemporary black and white imagery that was just amazing on every level!  Many of these items continue to be on display in the Western Folklife Center’s Wiegand Gallery until September and are available for purchase. 

The exhibition also included custom made saddles, bits, spurs, boots, hats and more from Southwest craftsmen and artists.

There were carving exhibitions by renowned carvers Andy Stevens and Don Butler.

And of course music and poetry a plenty!  The Gathering featured more than 50 poets, musicians and musical groups from the U.S., Canada and Australia, performing on seven stages at four different venues. The line-up included cowboy poets such as Baxter Black (who I had the great pleasure of introducing – he is one of my personal favorites!), Wally McRae, Paul Zarzyski, Waddie Mitchell and many more. The musical line-up included Ian Tyson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, R.W. Hampton, Stephanie Davis, Dave Stamey, Wylie & The Wild West and more. Additional highlights included a keynote address by actor and author Barry Corbin.

This year we saw one of our founding members, Hal Cannon retire. Thank goodness we know he will stay connected through our Advisory Board as he brings so much to this fine organization.

Mark your calendars for next year. We will be bringing in the Italians.  My, what beautiful cowboys and girls they are!

Tah for now!

Leslie

This week I want to introduce you to one of my favorite woodworking companies that my company, Colours, Inc., has been ordering from for well over a decade.    

Dean Bradshaw (the original owner) started the company in 1976 after learning his trade from a master craftsman, Andre Liardet many years ago in West Hollywood.  Having learned his trade from one of the best furniture makers in the world, his unique approach to design and finishing is unparalleled in originality and beauty. 

He has since co-founded two large furniture manufacturers (Woodland Furniture and The Farmhouse Collection) while maintaining Bradshaw Design.  Two companies that I am sure some of you have heard of and these too are favorites of mine! 

Now Bradshaw Design introduces Billy Bradshaw, Dean’s son, who learned the art of furniture making at his father’s side and has become an extremely talented furniture craftsman and designer in his own right.  Billy has continued to build the company based on the principals taught from his father, dependability, quality, creativity and honesty. 

They don’t have a formal warranty policy because in the 33 years of business they have always stood behind each of their pieces.  I certainly can attest to this as on rare occasions, our desert climate can create problems and Bradshaw has always corrected any issues that have occurred.  I can always count on them to do the right thing and that is one of reasons I continue to do business with them along with their outstanding workmanship.  There isn’t anything that I have presented to them that they have indicated to me that they cannot do. 

Enjoy just a few of the images below of their outstanding craftsmanship.  Bradshaw is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Please contact Colours, Inc. if you are interested creating your one of a kind piece for your home or office.

Welcome to XOWYO! A design and print company for custom designed invitations. 

I found this amazing little company when I was looking for something unique and different in the invitation world, while planning my daughter’s wedding. I love their “out of the box” thinking and design savy.

Xowyo is based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  At xowyo (ex-o-why-o), they use unique designs, typography, and letterpress to reflect their customers’ unique message. The possibilites are endless for your save the date, wedding invitation, baby shower, birthday, or holiday card. They can be printed on fabric, wood, chalkboards, plantable…nothing is out of the question.  The images below reflect some of their creativity……..

In the first photo, this invitation reflects what was recently designed for my daughter and her fiance’s engagement party.  I wanted to create a vintage and nostalgic theme for the modern couple.  I believe this was successfully achieved by using a combination of all of the elements included in this ensemble. 

The invitation was printed on brown craft paper, which was placed inside a small square box which sported their engagement photo as well as an image of each of them as small children.  A great way to involve your guests and create a keepsake for the couple was to include a “wish” card for each guest to write their personal wish for the happy couple.  This piece of the ensemble included a printed card with a  poem that was selected by the girls at XOWYO, which was tied to the blank wish card with a vintage key. Each guest brought the key and their personal wish to the party. It all landed in a gorgeous vase for them to display in their home! So cute if I say so myself!

The second photo reflects what you can accomplish with type. For a couple who got engaged in Jackson Hole, eloped in Chamonix, France and had the “We Got Married Party” in Virginia, the invitation design had to capture the feeling of all three locations. With a variety of country-style fonts and bright colors, this design, based on an old hatch music poster, is a great theme to package a lot of thoughts in a unique way.

The last photo is of an invitation for an Arkansas farm wedding which was the perfect opportunity to use natural elements and images for this classy, stunning bride. Screen-printed muslin invitations, each hand stitched with peach thread, was frayed around the edges. The invitations wrapped around RSVP and map inserts, and the package was secured with twine. The suite went inside a peach inner envelope, which was mailed in a larger cream envelope. I loved this so much that I am adopting this into my daughter’s wedding invite!

So remember when planning your event…think creatively and think BIG!

Cheers!

Leslie

Happy New Year! 

I want to start the New Year out by sharing with you one of the hand forged iron shops that we work with for custom pieces, Zo’calos.  We have really enjoyed working with Zo’calos as they consistently meet our budgets and more importantly our deadlines. 

Zo’calos specializes in manufacturing hand-crafted metal furnishings and artistic creations.  Since 1995, Zo’calos has been providing durable, high quality metal furnishings to commercial and residential clients throughout the country. They excel in creating original concepts for their customers.

If you are interested in having a custom piece made, please contact Colours, Inc. at (702) 233-1333.

I want to thank those of you that have followed my blog in 2011 and hope you will continue to read in 2012.  As we say goodbye to 2011, I want to thank my wonderful clients for their loyalty year after year and finally, I want to thank the wonderful people I work with every day; everyone at Colours and all those great folks that make us look even better at what we do.  

Colours, Inc. will be closed in observance of the Christmas and New Year holiday beginning at Noon on Friday, December 23, 2011 through Monday, January 2, 2012.  We will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. 

We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.

One of the most overlooked aspects of any interior design project is the containers used for interior plant scape.  Don’t make the mistake of not budgeting for this at the onset of your project whether commercial or residential, as it often leads to last minutes choices found in a rush without the thought process it deserves.  Archiped is just one company that I look to for high quality planters for both inside and out.  Take a peek –  see what you think.   

ARCHIPED CLASSICS creates fine cast stone urns, jardinières, pedestal tables and garden ornaments for an international clientele of designers, architects and landscape architects.  The company’s pieces grace residential and commercial sites throughout the Middle East, South America, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

ARCHIPED CLASSICS urns and jardinières are noted for their durability as well as for their style. Not only do the pieces withstand extreme heat and cold without cracking, most are ARCHIPED CLASSICS design exclusives.  Many ARCHIPED CLASSICS pieces are cast directly from antique originals, whereas others are designed by French artist Jacques Lamy, recipient of the Prix de Rome de Peinture.

Founded in 1989 by Shelley and Richard Stanzel, ARCHIPED CLASSICS has grown from its humble beginnings on a street corner in Dallas to a thriving international business.  Richard Stanzel not only runs the company, he personally creates each mold.

ARCHIPED CLASSICS is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.  The company showroom fronts the manufacturing facilities in the Dallas Design District. 

Their web site is www.archipedclassics.com.

We were visited this week by Senior Vice President, Seth H. L. Pariser of Christopher Hyland Inc. and Janet Yonaty. 

Christopher Hyland has been a long time staple in my library for high end luxury fabrics and more.  They have multiple showroom locations such as New York, Dallas, Denver, Scottsdale, San Francisco and they are in Janet Yonaty’s showroom located at 8642 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California.

Christopher Hyland, Inc. not only creates high-end fabrics, but also wall coverings, trimmings, furniture, lighting, accessories, and rugs.  Their products serve the residential and commercial needs of designers, architects, and specifiers world-wide.  Their products are not priced for the weak of heart, but they certainly are stunning!  Hopefully our economy is beginning to turn around so that high end products such as these can once again be used in our designs. 

Of course, Christopher Hyland products are available only to the trade, so, if you see something below that you just must have, give Colours, Inc. a call at (702) 233-1333.  You can view their web site at www.christopherhyland.com.

Of course no project is complete without the trimmings.  We featured Janet several issues back if you want to peruse through the blog archives or you can visit her web site at www.janetyonaty.com to view her product line. 

Of course, Christopher Hyland products are available only to the trade, so, if you see something below that you just must have, give Colours, Inc. a call at (702) 233-1333.  You can view their web site at www.christopherhyland.com.

Thanksgiving! My favorite time of the year!

There are so many things I could blog about and lots and lots of awesome Fall images of beautiful food and fabulous florals, interiors, all things one would expect….but I’m feeling something different……..a need to be in the moment.

It has been the most difficult year, not just for myself and the design community, but for so many Americans; so many of us worldwide.  Yet I am truly grateful for so many moments every day and for the remarkable friends and family in my life.

I’m also grateful for all those wonderful people I work with every day; everyone at Colours and all those great folks that make us look even better at what we do.  And, of course, our tremendous clients who stay loyal to us year after year.

So I hope you’ll take a moment to enjoy this reading instead of pretty pictures for a change….and I hope you’ll share it with someone special in your everyday life this Thanksgiving season.

Do be kind to one another and give thanks for what you do have!  If you are interested in printing this blessing out scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the link. 

Click here to print the word document Gratitude Blessing