I looooooove fashion, and I so enjoyed The September Issue.  What a treat to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Vogue, especially the record-breaking September 2007 issue! Grace Coddington was perhaps the most fascinating person in the movie; this is a great article to read in conjunction with the movie.  

Of course, I was also watching the interiors.  Many of the Condé Nast offices are more utilitarian than anything else, but there are flashes of fabulous.  Anna Wintour's office chairs bear a striking resemblance to these Tolix cafe chairs. Do you think they are comfortable?  (It's not like Anna has any padding of her own.  As I ate my movie popcorn, I wondered whether she's ever let a kernel of such pass her lips!)  Anyhoo, I've totally been trying to talk my sister into using these as indoor dining chairs in her very casual breakfast area, but she's not convinced just yet.  Don't worry; she'll see the light eventually!       

Photos from The September Issue and Design Within Reach

Ooooooohhhhh, I just got word about Boyles Ultimate Furniture Clearance Sale!  They're advertising 60,000 square feet full of manufacturer-authorized markdowns on samples, overstocks, discontinued product and lightly damaged furniture from all of my favorite brands - Baker, Hickory Chair, Henredon, Ralph Lauren, Hancock & Moore and more.  The sale is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Boyles Corporate Facility in Conover, North Carolina.  Download the flyer for all of the details, including a map. 

I'm heading up there on Thursday for a private preview.  Fingers crossed that I come home with something fun.  Let me know if you are looking for anything in particular, and I'll keep an eye out! 

warehouse sale ad.pdf (208.12 kb)

Did anyone go to the Laneventure warehouse clearance sale?   It was yesterday, of course, at their factory in Conover, North Carolina.  That's what I get for being two days behind in the Charlotte Observer!  Laneventure really needs to take a page out of Baker's book and start a mailing list. 

Anyway, I've never purchased anything from Laneventure, but I would have loved to see what was there - especially when they bill it as a "true clearance" with up to 75% off wholesale.  Celerie Kemble designs a collection for them, and I really love some of her pieces, especially the Genna chair, the Dylan daybed and the Gaines swivel chair.  Wouldn't it be fun to use a different fabric on the back of the Genna chair (above)? 

Oh well.  Better luck next time, I guess!  Aren't we lucky to be in North Carolina, the furniture capital of the world, where they do have these kinds of sales????   

Photos from Laneventure

The Elizabeth area of Charlotte is absolutely charming!  One of Charlotte's oldest neighborhoods, Elizabeth is known for its many bungalows and proximity to downtown.  Before I got married, I used to live in a condo - one of four in an old home that had been converted - on Lamar Avenue.  While the condo had all of the quirks of an older home, it also had all of the charm - spacious rooms, high ceilings, crystal doorknobs, penny tile and a pedestal sink in the bathroom, and so on.  So it is with much excitement that I share the news of the annual Elizabeth home tour!  Six homes - as well as two gardens, the Garden Council House, and St. John's Episcopal Church - will be featured on the tour.  The home above is owned by Hillary and Pat Rondero.  I love the statement chandelier, the bold (but spare) use of color, and the eclectic style mix.  I can't wait to see the rest of the house.  Read all of the details about the home tour here (in today's Charlotte Observer).  For the quick skinny, the tour is next weekend - October 3 (from 11 am to 5 pm) and October 4 (from 1 pm to 5 pm).  Tickets are $12 in advance (at Cooking Uptown, Royal Gardens and Ooh-La-La's) and $15 on tour days (at the Garden Council House, 1820 E. Seventh Street).  

Anyone want to come with me?     

Photo from the Charlotte Observer

The Las Vegas Furniture Market wrapped up a few days ago.  I was just in Las Vegas, so I missed it by only a week!  I would have loved to compare their market to High Point's ... even though the Vegas cabdrivers reported that the market had shrunk in size over the last year and a half.  These economic times, again! 

Anyway, I've been following the reports from market on The Editor-at-Large, a great website for the interior design community.  I really enjoyed their recap of the "Ahead of the Curve" panel discussion, which included Timothy Corrigan, Laura Kirar and Vincente Wolf.  Just in case you are not familiar, those are really big names!  Vincente Wolf was just named the 2009 Design Icon (during the Vegas market) and has authored two excellent books, Laura Kirar designs for Baker, Kallista and others, and Timothy Corrigan has been included in Architectural Digest's list of the top 100 designers. 

Here's what The Editor-at-Large had to say, after the panel discussion, about the trends spotted at the Vegas market.     

"Into the Woods: From over-scaled, unfinished wooden vessels, to dining tables created from lychee wood to floor coverings woven with wooden tiles, the trend is to take one of the world’s most basic and natural elements and create something extraordinary that can be used in everyday life.

Unconventional Concrete: Not just for industrial use anymore, concrete is taking new shapes inside and out of residential spaces. Creatively designed and stained, concrete as a material is found in dining and living rooms, whimsical outdoor furniture and even residential console sinks.

Sculptured Sheen: Sculpted lines framing pieces with a glossy finish make up one of next season’s trends in design. Incorporated on bed posts, dressers and small tables, the juxtaposition of traditional forms to clean cut lines bring a sense of the past to the present time with a modern twist.

Mixed Metals: Gone are the days when metals have to match. Mix shiny and matte, mercury and mirror, or chrome with nickel to achieve a curiously bipolar look. Mixed metals are appearing on dining buffets, tables and decorative accessories like candlesticks and vases.

Trendy Turquoise: Though turquoise is ancient, yet again it finds itself back in fashion. Its shining sky blue is one of the most popular color trends for next season. Sofas, lamps, vases, accent tables, and even chandeliers are designed in the color turquoise, which adds a punch of color to any space.

The Natural World: Many designs seen at Market celebrate the pure and organic shapes and textures that come directly from the source: Mother Earth. Driftwood sculptures, raw linen shades, unfinished wooden lamps all represent a need to return to simplicity.

Unexpected Elements: Expect the unexpected with a new trend that pairs classic with modern, raw with smooth and polished with satin. A raw slab of wood with organic lines coupled with modern chairs can create a provocative dining room. Juxtapose a classic wingback chair with a contemporary metal and glass table. The end result is a modern, elegant and fresh look that is both timeless and current.

Ethnic without Borders: The essence and flavor of the world comes alive in this trend involving patterns, textures and materials. Next season’s accessories reflect an ethnic quality absent of a border or distinct origin. Whether it’s a vintage throw or an exotic outdoor market umbrella, the destination may be unknown but the feeling can’t be denied.

New Energy. New Look.: Smoke and mirrors are no longer the only way to create an illusion and change the look of something. Two effortless ways to draw new energy and generate different moods in a space is to use screens and mirrors. Whether they are small or large in scale, colorful or colorless, meant to break-up or unite a space, these timeless accessories are an easy way to update a room and transform its look."

So what of these trends do you find the most exciting?  I've always loved contrast - the juxtaposition of soft and hard, shiny and matte, smooth and textured, dark with the light - so my vote is for "Unexpected Elements."  I don't think of it as a trend, however, but instead a guiding principle of design.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!  

Don't you love it when you read something that just resonates with you?   I always think "that is soooo true" and "I couldn't have said it better myself."  So, from October 2009's House Beautiful, here goes.   

"Home to me is a living, breathing thing.  It's like your children.  It has its own identity.  That identity is built over time.  Rather than doing tons of things at once, all poorly, you do one space at a time and do it beautifully and savor it.  You buy a table you adore.  Years later, your mother leaves you dishes, or you find great napkins on your travels.  That table is personal now, and it's not imitating anyone else. It's growing from a person.  The saddest thing is when someone moves into a home and considers it finished.  Your life isn't finished that day.  Why would your home be finished?"

- Alessandra Branca

"I learned never to say never, in any context - like, I'll never eat that, I would never wear that.  Because I surprise myself when I open up to things."

- Joe Nahem

Amy M., the last quote is for you.  I told her years ago that I just didn't care for damask, and that, while there is nothing wrong with it, I didn't love the look.  A while ago, when I was working with her again, this time in her new home, she told me that she still hears me saying that!  Well, since I originally uttered those words, I've seen several damask fabrics done in a totally fabulous, modern way.  As Joe Naham said, "I learned never to say never" ... because I really like the "new" damask.  I might even use one in my dining room.  Yikes!  Crunch, crunch.  That's me eating my words.        

What a wonderful weekend!  I was (or I suppose I should say, Traci Zeller Designs was) the presenting sponsor of Charlotte's 4th Annual Race for Fetal Hope 5K.  The Race for Fetal Hope is a national race series which benefits the Fetal Hope Foundation, an amazing non-profit organization that provides support and information, funds research, increases awareness, and is an outlet for leading medical information pertaining to fetal distresses and syndromes.  The Fetal Hope Foundation arms parents and medical providers with information and helps to save babies' lives. 

As my faithful blog readers know, I have three year-old twin boys.  I was monitored very closely throughout my pregnancy, but especially once my healthcare providers realized that Henry (Twin A) had low aminotic fluid and his growth rate was dropping off.  The boys were born exactly four weeks early by what I call a "sort of" emergency c-section.  I was at the ob/gyn on Monday, the perinatologist on Tuesday and in surgery on Wednesday morning.  Henry (who was diagnosed with IUGR, Intrauterine Growth Restriction) had not grown at all and my doctors decided it was safer for him to be out than in.  By the grace of God, and thanks to the excellent medical care that I received, Henry spent only a few short days in the NICU and is a healthy, happy toddler.  He's still a little guy, but boy, is he feisty! 

Unfortunately, not all families are as lucky as we were.  My heart breaks when I think about the little ones who don't make it.  Traci Zeller Designs - and my family - supports the Fetal Hope Foundation in an effort to "pay it forward."  I want all families to have the knowledge they need and access to the medical care they deserve, so that they can have hope - not despair - when facing the diagnosis of a fetal distress syndrome.    

I am privileged to have been a part of such a fantastic event!  Thank you to Talitha McGuinness, the Race Director, and the Race Committee, for their hard work.  To those of you who participated in the race or who support the Fetal Hope Foundation in some other way, thank you.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Fetal Hope Foundation, I encourage you to visit its website.  The date has already been announced for next year - September 18, 2010 - so mark your calendar to join me then.  

(By the way, the title of this entry is a quote by Christopher Reeve.)    

I had great fun today working on a preliminary design for a very groovy bedroom suite (bedroom, bathroom and sitting room) for an almost eight-year old girl.  The entire house is undergoing a major renovation, so Groovy Girl's bedroom is getting a fun new look right along with the rest of the home!  Groovy Girl specifically asked for blue and green, and is generally not excited about lots of pink.  Groovy Mom loves the look of the public spaces at the Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore at the Wynn but was specifically inspired by the Encore for Groovy Girl's bedroom.  Both hotels use red and purple liberally for a rich, vibrant look.  The Encore at the Wynn, however, is often described as the Wynn Las Vegas' younger, hipper sister as the floral motif of the Wynn gives way to a butterfly motif at the Encore.  Check out a few pictures of the Encore below ...

So keeping those general directives in mind - while being mindful that the room must be suitable for a young girl, yet able to grow with her - here's what I'm working on.  My fabric favorities are Dazed River Blue and Spirodots Sherbert. 

Buttercup River Blue could be used instead of Dazed River Blue, and Spirodots also comes in a River Blue colorway. 

Rather than add more blue, though, I'd really like to funky it up by using more red and purple.  Butterflies would be perfect, of course, but - if I can find the right one - I'd also love a youthful animal print.  We could have lots of fun with accent pillows and the like!  Oh, and I must mention that these fabrics are an extremely reasonable $6.95 per yard, thank you very much, so even with the cost of having the bedding made, we should in the ballpark of a full-priced bedding set from Pottery Barn Kids.  Paint colors (all from Sherwin-Williams) will be Lime Rickey (SW 6717) for the sitting room, Rapture Blue (SW 6773) for the bedroom and Cay (SW 6772) for the bathroom.  At some point, we'll do some decorative painting - I know Groovy Mom would love to see these cool butterflies on the wall - but that will wait until the house is finished and the family is more settled.  

So, that's about as far as I got today ... although I've had my eye on this Le Klint pendant for the sitting room.   

Unfortunately, it's not large enough.  Well, I should say the "small" (12" height, 13" diameter) and "large" (15" height, 17" diameter) sizes are not big enough.  The "giant" size (30" height, 33" diameter) would probably work, but not to the tune of $3,000+.  Groovy Girl has requested a "disco ball," so it would also be fun to add some sparkle to our lighting choice.  

Isn't this room going to be fabulous!  Stay tuned for more updates as it starts to come together ...       

Photos from Trip Advisor , BuyFabrics.com, and hive.  

The last word that I would use to describe my style is "country."  Remember that I grew up in southwest Georgia in the eighties.  I've seen more than enough hunter green and mallard ducks, thank you very much.  Although I realize that country style has evolved past that stereotypical look (hallelujah!) and gotten a lot fresher, it's still just not really my thing.  (But I do love country music; don't judge!)  With that in mind, the one magazine that I'd never read (or cared to read) is Country Living.  What made me change my mind?  A while ago, everyone's favorite Top Design contestant - Eddie Ross, of course! - blogged about the new direction that Country Living was taking under the guidance of its new editor-in-chief Sarah Gray Miller.  A recent issue even featured one of Eddie's projects on the cover.  (Read all about it on Eddie's blog here.)  So when I spotted the September issue of Country Living on an airport newsstand - in the face of a cross-country flight (sans twins) and a dearth of reading material - I decided to give it a whirl. 

So what did I think?  I must admit that I was pretty impressed!  I totally agree with Eddie's assessment that the magazine is fresh and relaxing, yet manages to maintain a certain level of sophistication.  There's not a mallard duck in sight!  What I like the most about Country Living, however, is the abundance of budget-friendly and/or "do it yourself" ideas that it offers for an average homeowner.  Contrast that with an interview I read in a recent issue of another magazine, in which the homeowner said that his secret to having a house filled with white slipcovered furniture was the skill of his housekeeper!  I think we both know that isn't realistic for most families.  I appreciate that Country Living recognizes that and features design solutions that are both practical and attractive.  I really enjoyed the feature story in which designer Brad Ford revamped his parents' guesthouse using "rummage sales, affordable chain stores, and even a book that he made into wallpaper."  Don't get me wrong - I've admitted that I don't tend to do a lot of DIY projects in my own home, and you know I love high end furniture and fabrics as much as the next girl ... but I also value balance and realize that not everyone has the means or the desire to purchase some or all of those things.  Plus, if you can make it look great on your own (remember The Darlings!), why not?!?!!     

I do have one suggestion for Country Living, however.  Hire Jenny from Little Green Notebook as a contributing editor ... now!  I am constantly amazed by her DIY capabilities, so if you are looking for some inspiration, head over there and pay her a visit.  I'm thinking I might try her "cornices using foam core board" for my sister's house ... cheap and chic!   

Have you read Country Living lately?  I'd love to hear what you think.