Sign of Good Taste

To us Atlantans when we were children, our bedtime story was as thus: "On May 8, 1886, a pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton carried a jug of Coca-Cola® syrup to Jacobs’ Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta, where it was mixed with carbonated water and sold for five cents a glass."  And the rest is history!  In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Coca-Cola has just opened a new display on the history of its visual identity at the Design Museum in London.  A focus on the shape of the most unmistakable bottle ever designed is on display, while showcasing its evolution through the years.  Yet, if you aren't able to stop by the London exhibit, you can always view the World of Coca-Cola at Pemberton Place in the great ATL.

Note:  "Sign of Good Taste" was one of Coca-Cola's slogans from 1957.

Recalling Africa

Lodge in Lobo, Tanzania

Designers tend to have a habit of continually changing their home and updating, whereby, maybe just moving around a few furniture groupings or changing out old photographs with the new-- we must bore easily.  Hmm, no, we are just constantly being inspired!  On my trips I love investigating the styles of that country-- always seeing new color combinations, materials or textures, as I did during my safari to Tanzania a few years ago.  With the simple artwork and artifacts purchased on that trip-- wood bowls, ebony sculptures and wood mosaic pictures, I've created my own African memories at home in a few diverse vignettes around my apartment.

It's easy to be inspired by such beauty as these zebras!

I Fiori per Mamma

We must not forget what an important day it is tomorrow, both in the U.S. and Italy: La Festa della Mamma!!  So, it is a day to show your appreciation for mom... and the classic gift idea is with a bouquet of flowers.  And yet, why not go one step further than having flowers delivered? Of course, a professional bouquet of beautiful flowers is a fantastic surprise, but it can also be quite costly.  So, what if you do the flower arranging yourself, a stylist of sorts, buying some fresh cuts from your local market and distributing the flowers around the house-- an unexpected surprise for mom.  Bring out the vases, both big and small, crystal or glass and begin your arranging (don't forget the extra greenery for those full bouquets).  Spead a variety of flowers all around: on the dining table, as a center piece, in the bathroom, on the sink; or even on the night stand.  For lack of vases, I love to use small glass bottles, such as those of the Italian sodas: Crodino, San Bitter or Martini Rossi, or even found objects will do, even if it's just to hold a single rose.  Afterall, the designers goal on this occasion is to make mom smile.  

Framing the Walls

Well, I must admit that before today I had never heard of the English company, Graham & Brown (shame on me)!  Started by two friends in 1946, the company quickly became the go to point for livening up the English home by offering wonderful wallpapers.  The company has done nothing less than flourish over the years, improving and expanding their products to include both paint and paintable wallpapers (Superfresco line).  And thus, I've become enamored by Graham & Brown's collection, Frames, a totally interactive wallpaper which allows you to use your (or even your child's) imagination-- You can paint on the surface, hang an image within the frames or leave the wallpaper as is, lending a modern backdrop to your space.

A 'Grand' Suite

Living room of suite with new draperies and upholstery

Renovating a hotel is a grand undertaking, especially when "Grand" is part of the hotel's name, such as Le Grand Hotel (St. Regis Rome).  Once in a while, though, a designer has the opportunity to 'update' a few, select rooms, something called a soft good renovation.  It is not an overwhelming project wherein you must start from scratch, yet you must still be very careful in adding new pieces (fabrics, furnishings, lighting, artwork and accessories), while re-using some existing pieces.  It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do to update a room, especially when the color is a modern neutral, and then pulling out the colorful, but worn carpeting, replacing it with hardwood planks-- this immediately gives the sense of entering a newly constructed space.  The grandness of this hotel is very traditional and it is reflected in the rooms; while maintaining this distinct high level, there was also a desire to curb the colorful traditionalism and create a simplified elegance, achieved through softer tones and more modern draperies and fabrics.  The result: grandioso. 

Bedroom of suite with new draperies, artwork and area rug

Newly painted walls and new shades for the wall sconces

Original seating with new upholstery

Newly upholstered bench with nail head detail and new area rug

Original parlor chair with new upholstery

New drapery design

Another bedroom suite with the new headboard and chaise lounge

Pillow detail on the chaise lounge

New draperies and parlor chair upholstery

Note: The below photo is taken from the St. Regis Rome website (a Starwood property); the image presents one of the original suites before renovation.