My qi must be totally out of balance. 

First, I missed out on this tiny table at the Baker sale.  I almost posted about it as my "wish list" item for the sale; I've been coveting it for years and just can't justify paying full price.  Melanie from Charlotte (the purchaser of the table), if you read my blog, consider this a virtual "begging and pleading" for you to change your mind and sell me the table! 

Then I received in today's mail a cutting of a chocolate brown Sunbrella velvet to approve ... but the color of the cutting is way different than the memo sample I got from the showroom.  Even my 3 1/2 year old twins said that they weren't the same color.  Bummer!  Of course, I'm thankful that I have the cutting and can refuse to approve the release of the 20 yards (that are already paid for), but I'm disappointed that I won't have the fabric in a timely fashion. 

Now, I find out that - as part of Hachette Filipappi Media U.S.'s strategy to focus its resources in the shelter category on Elle Decor - Metropolitan Home and its website will close after the December issue.  Read the NYT article here.  I have countless tear pages from Metropolitan Home, including a 2002 article featuring one of my all-time favorite homes, the Washington, D.C. home of Darryl Carter ... who happens to be one of my all-time favorite designers.  Heck, with Metropolitan Home folding and my subscription to Architectural Digest expiring, I barely have anything to read any more!  Big sigh.     

I'm making an acupuncture appointment stat.               

Franki over at Life in a Venti Cup totally cracked me up with her post about meeting Margaret Russell at the Elle Décor cocktail party (otherwise known as, a book signing for Style & Substance: The Best of Elle Décor) at High Point Market!  You all know that Margaret Russell is the impossibly chic, always poised editor-in-chief of Elle Décor and also a judge on Top Design, right?  Anyway, I promised in a comment to Franki’s post that I would share my recap of the same event, so here goes. 

Unlike Franki, I was way early for the party.  I had a babysitter to relieve that evening – my hubby was off to Houston on a business trip – so my goal was to have Margaret sign my book and hit the road for home ASAP.   So, about forty-five minutes or so before the party was set to begin, I wandered off to Market Square to make sure I knew where the party was going to be held.  As I meandered around, I window-shopped the Market Square showrooms, tried to find a good glass of wine (no such luck!) and stumbled across the String & Splinter Club.  Really, at this point, I was just looking for the elevator!  While in the String & Splinter Club, I spotted a ladies’ room and decided to do what one does in a ladies’ room.  As I walked in, I encountered four to five women – all dressed in black – sitting in an anteroom (complete with a vanity, club chairs, and all of the sinks for hand-washing).   A very tiny, pretty brunette was sitting at the vanity and teasing her hair.  Any guesses???  Oh yes, it was Margaret Russell herself … and her entourage from Elle Décor.  I thought it was Margaret, of course, but my suspicion was confirmed when I spotted Elle Décor business cards tucked behind the market passes of one of the other women.  My first thought was “act like you don’t recognize her” and “don’t I look like a dork carrying my copy of Style & Substance!”  So I continued on into the actual bathroom and carried on about my business.  When I returned to the anteroom, Margaret was still teasing her hair and everyone was laughing about how sometimes their families just don’t get it.  Apparently, Margaret had relayed a story about John Mayer putting his arm around her … to which she was asked, “Who’s John Mayer?”   At this point, I’m washing my hands and just doing my best to ignore them.  I momentarily think that it would be awfully nice to have her sign my book so that I can leave for home … but there is no way I’m going to be that girl who approached her in the ladies’ room!  So I walk out … still feeling ridiculous that I am carrying Style & Substance.      

Fast-forward thirty minutes or so, and I’m outside waiting for the party to commence.   A few of the girls in the entourage are now putting copies of the latest issue of Elle Décor out on the tables.  After a few more minutes, I notice a line starting to form – clearly, I’m not the only one with no plans to stay! – so I get myself in line and wait.  And wait.  And wait some more.  Margaret finally arrived and took her place on stage behind a glamorous white lacquered writing desk.   Really, she wasn’t terribly late – well within what I consider to be the “margin of error” – but at this point, I was having second thoughts about not approaching her in the ladies’ room!   After a few more minutes, it was my turn.  Margaret was lovely, of course, and willing to indulge my (and everyone else’s) request that she pose for a photograph.  She did not, however, show any sign of recognizing me from the ladies’ room!  I’m not sure if that means I was just that invisible to her or if she just makes a practice of not acknowledging anyone under those circumstances.  If I were her, I’m quite sure I would do the latter! 

So that’s the story of my encounter with Margaret.  Margaret, it was lovely to meet you.  I apologize for accidentally interrupting your pre-party primping.  I’ll try not to do it again!  I hope the next time I see you, it will be on Top Design! 

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I need a rainy day in bed.  Without my twins.  Look at what arrived via UPS yesterday.  I so love Amazon, and especially my Prime membership. 

We are, however, experiencing absolutely beautiful weather (63 degrees and sunny here in Charlotte) ... and my twins show no signs of going anywhere, or even giving me a few minutes to peruse.  Where's Mary Poppins when you need her?  Oh yeah, she (Grammy) is in Florida.  

Photos from Amazon 

I love the feature articles in fashion magazines that show you how to take one piece of clothing and transform it into several different looks.  I'm all about versatility, and I love pieces - clothing or furniture - that serve multiple purposes or that are appropriate for a variety of settings.  So welcome to my version of those articles ... we'll call it "one chair, three ways!"   So check out this chair - Laura Kirar for McGuire Barrel Lounge Chair.     

It's attractive, isn't it?  Well, I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so because I have been seeing this chair everywhere.  First, I spotted it in the Architectural Digest Greenroom at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.  Here, the chair gives off an "updated retro," sophisticated yet almost groovy vibe as designer Stephen Shadley channeled "a chic 1970s pad atrop the Hollywood Hills."  

Next, I spotted it in "Summer Loving," a feature article about the Long Island home of Veronica and Jamie Beard, in the June 2009 issue of Elle Decor.  Now - while this house still celebrates the seventies - it does so in an entirely different way ... and the chair (in the lower right corner) is Palm Beach all the way!  Can you believe how different it looks, lacquered white and with brightly patterned cushions?     

Finally, I spotted the chair in the season finale of Ugly Betty (love that show!).   Unfortunately, I can't find a still shot, so you are going to have to use your imagination.  Picture it - the swanky NYC apartment of Wilhemina Slater, co-editor-in-chief of Mode magazine.  The apartment is sleek and fashionable, bold and fearless.  From the looks of it, you know better than to mess with its owner!  The chair is lacquered black with red cushions.  Think black patent Manolo Blahnik stilettos with red lipstick, and you've got the vibe.

So there you have it - one chair, three entirely different ways ... yet utterly fantastic in each setting!  Now that's the mark of fabulous design ...    

Photos from McGuire Furniture, Architectural Digest and Elle Decor

I get my inspiration from just about anywhere - one of my favorite color schemes right now was inspired by a 2007 Christmas card - but shelter magazines (industry-speak for interior design mags) are absolutely invaluable.  I use them not only for inspiration, but also as a tool to discover what styles my clients are drawn to.  Obviously, magazines also help you to refine your eye, stay on top of the trends, discover new products and enjoy the work of other designers.  The only thing I don't like about shelter magazines is that I haven't come up with a good way to organize them!   For an organization nut like me, that is really saying something ... but there is just too much in each magazine that I find valuable.  Anyway, here's a list of my favorites and what I like about them.  Hopefully this will help you to discover a new favorite! 

Metropolitan Home -- The homes featured in this magazine are usually very modern, but I love them!   It might not be a look that is right for you in its entirely, but you'd be surprised at the different modern things that you can successfully incorporate into a not-so-modern decor.  

Elle Decor -- Still modern, but not quite as starkly modern as Metropolitan Home.  To me, the interiors featured in this magazine are much more eclectic.  

Traditional Home -- Don't be surprised that many of the houses in this magazine are not nearly as traditional as the name would imply.  Most of them are more "transitional" than what I consider super-traditional, although you definitely won't find the modern homes featured in Metropolitan Home.   

House Beautiful -- I really love this magazine.  It seems more accessible than some of the others.

Domino -- This magazine focuses on good, accessible design with a youthful, off-beat edge ... at least that's the best way I can think of to describe it.   Definitely high-low mixing at its finest.  I like their new book as well.  

There are lots of ideas and some great photos in there, although if you are a design pro, some of the info will be more than a bit basic.  You can take a virtual "flip" through the book on the Domino website.

Architectural Digest -- Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with Architectural Digest.  I just don't find most of their articles relevant to what I do on a daily basis ... and frankly the magazine just bores me.  But you can't deny that they feature some stunning homes ... and you can occasionally find some great things flipping through the pages.  A Decorators Walk by F. Schumacher fabric featured in Architectural Digest was the inspiration for my twin boys' nursery!  But that's the only thing out of AD that I've actually used ...    

Anyway, if you haven't read some of these magazines, check them out!