Tag Archives: Product

Out and About – Barbara Cosgrove Lamps

I admire so much this style of interior.

Clean and clear and graphic.

Lots of black and white.

But left to my own devices I end up with lots of color and plenty of pattern and, well, Legos, but that is not all my fault.

This beautifully edited spot is the home of artist and lamp designer Barbara Cosgrove.

It was a treat to see her home in Spaces last year and it was a treat to meet her and have a tour of her showroom last week.

You can see a few of Barbara’s lamps here, but check her site to see the complete selection.

It was so interesting to see her work space. Eco-friendly shades, below, are one new offering.

But it was the shelves filled with wonderful finds that Barbara uses for inspiration that piqued my interest.

We will have to stay-tuned to see if these end up on the production line soon.
rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

I’m Such a Nerd

Is it possible that the installation of a carpet runner would offer such joy? Can you imagine your heart skipping, not a beat, but just skipping?

That is how I felt this week. I snapped the pictures right away before some boy tramples it with muddy shoes or throws up on it or whatever is eventually going to happen that will make it look like the rest of our stuff. Rosie was skittish at first, but now I think appreciates the cushy tread.
Oh, happy day.
rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

Arts and Crafts

“Mom, are you an artist?”
“No. That’s not art. Art is harder than that.”

My eldest is right. Art is harder than this. This is craft, and my apologies to Gunther Forg.

The hallway needed….something. Even though it’s yellow, it seemed achingly bland. I had picked these frames up at a garage sale a while back. I bought eight canvases for nearly nothing and carted up various paints from the basement. Paint samples for rooms that didn’t work out, craft paint and kids’ paint. It’s an equal opportunity supply closet. Some were used in their original form; a few got to mix it up.

I used the image, top, for color inspiration, measured and drew lines across the middle of the canvases and painted. All eight canvases were completed in an evening.

The canvases did not quite fill the frame openings so I had the framer put in a white fillet. The framer, Frame Works, deserves the “Patience of Job Award.” I took in eight frames and eight canvases, but the direction and order of the canvases mattered and the direction and order of the frames mattered (they are chipped and worn which I liked, but they needed to be arranged specifically.) So I had labeled each frame and each corresponding canvas with a number and an arrow pointing which way was up. And, “Well,” I said, shifting my weight but not averting my gaze, “I need them in a week.” Unflappable, Betsy never blinked.

I’ve ordered this Dash & Albert runner for the stairs from Stuff and that will be the last of the spitting and polishing before the holidays. I’m still aching for dining room curtains, but fear they remain in perpetual simmer on the back burner. There is a great wool at Off the Floor Now at a terrific price, but I’m worried it is too pale. When I mentioned it to one of our guests he said,”You’d better wait; I get the feeling you’re picky.”
I have no idea where he got that impression.
Image, top, Elle Decor, December, 2006. Photography by William Waldron. Design by Shelton, Mindel & Associates. The image also appears in Style & Substance, The Best of Elle Decor.
rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

First Things First

It’s a great indulgence when I am in New York to be able to stop in the showrooms and shops that I usually admire from a computer screen. John Robshaw’s fabrics always delight and the only problem is picking which one I would want to adorn the bed or pillow in question.

But the beauty of going to the showroom in New York is that you can see many pieces that are only available to the trade. Robshaw offers furniture that he has produced for the company including these bone inlaid chairs.

The idea of a pair of these chairs in different patterns sends me over the moon.

But it is not all about me. (Well, mostly it is, but..) Rosie would be oh-so-cozy and chic on one of the new dog beds.

It seems we see a lot of the bedding and pillows but are less likely to get a peek of Robshaw’s fabric used in upholstery.

He has recently produced some pieces through John Derian’s line with Cisco Brothers and Rosselli & Associates to craft furniture using his prints.

More chairs. I know, I can’t help myself.

While Robshaw’s block printed pillows are a great accent, the showroom has a wide selection of pillows made from vintage fabrics.

Yep, terrific. I did mention “the customer” might want to see a little more black. Or me. I would like to see a little more black. I might have mentioned it more than once.

Some of the new prints were inspired by the block printing process itself.

A piece of fabric is laid under the fabric to be printed and absorbs the colors and patterns itself. Used over and over these base pieces are a fantastic montage.

There are a few of these on display in the showroom. You want these, too, don’t you? I know.

Equally engaging are the fabrics they inspired.

You can find retailers in your area here. I’m sure a local interior designer would be happy to follow up on any piece that you are interested in that is to the trade only. Follow what is up with John and his crew through their blog here.

p.s. Courtney brought to my attention that the bed, top, can be seen in the home decorated by Michael Smith in the September issue of Elle Decor.
The loveseat, sofa and chair with the jaunty plaid pillow are John Derian for Cisco Brothers; the remaining chairs are through Rosselli. Many thanks to John and Laura Stanley for taking the time to show me around.
rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail