design

You are currently browsing articles tagged design.

The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley 9.1.10

September 1, 2010 in The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley by Paulette | 1 comment

Hi all, it’s The Traveling Designer and I just got back from the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas.

Vegas, the home of casino gambling and some of the world’s best shopping, was also home to me during the summer of 1998. I was there doing my interior design internship for Yates-Silverman Casino Design Firm.

I usually visit Vegas at least once a year. My recent trip was for the Las Vegas Market where I was on a great discussion panel with some designer friends talking all things social media.

Lucky for me, one of my favorite Vegas hotels is located not far from the Vegas Market. The Wynn Las Vegas and its sister property, the Encore, are always my pick for the perfect place to stay.

It doesn’t hurt that the Wynn and Encore spas are some of the best in the country.

And now let’s talk about the shopping. I know it’s hard to believe, but I may prefer Las Vegas shopping more than New York City. The Chanel boutique at the Wynn (there’s one in the Encore too) always has the latest and greatest offerings inspired by Coco herself.

And if you don’t get your fill of shopping in the Wynn, there are many more options. Located across the street is the Fashion Show Mall with fabulous department store shopping including Neiman’s, Saks, Bloomies and more.

The Forum shops at Ceasar’s palace houses great brands like Gucci, Ferragamo, and the home of the little blue box, Tiffany’s. You’ll feel like you’re walking the streets of Rome with the Forum shops Italianate decor and replicas of some of Italy’s most famous fountains.

If you haven’t already spent your life savings, down the way at the Bellagio are more luxury shopping locales. And be sure to see the gorgeous Dale Chihuly anemone ceiling. It will take your breath away!

When you are finally finished shopping at the Bellagio, you can have lunch at one of the many restaurants and then take a walk around the lake and see the impressive fountain display.

There are as many fabulous restaurants in Vegas as shopping destinations. What are my favorites, you ask? Well the Steve Wynn Steakhouse for starters.

And when you take the kids, a trip to Serendipity 3 is a must! It is similar to the famous New York eatery but is executed Vegas style. I love the pink and navy color palette and the over-the-top design details like the fun lighting fixtures.

The world-famous frozen hot chocolate isn’t bad either!

American Fish at the impressive new Aria hotel and casino is uber hip and the food is delish! The menu is quite sophisticated, which makes it a little hard to decide what to order. But everything my family and I tried was fantastic, so don’t be intimidated. As long as you like seafood, you can’t go wrong!

And while at the Aria, take the tram over to the connected City Center. It is a plethora of you guessed it…more shopping! And some exclusive shops at that. The Tom Ford boutique is a sight to see both inside and out.

And if you just can’t spend another dime, no worries. The city center is a feast for the eyes. I found design inspiration everywhere including these gorgeous agate covered steps.

And the unique and impressive tree house sculpture and Mastro restaurant at the City Center are a must-see!

The lovely wooden curves of the structure are awe-inspiring.

And the dining experience is quite chic.

I love the bright yellow decor in the tree house and adjacent dining room. Aren’t those glass chandeliers a wow?

If a show is in order one evening, there are many to choose from. This time, I opted for the new Cirque de Soleil tribute to the King. I am a huge Elvis fan and Viva Elvis was highly entertaining, so if you are a fan be sure to check out this fun performance.

And when you are exhausted from all the shopping, eating, gambling and shows in Vegas, a trip to the pool might be in order. It’s how I finished up my fabulous recent stay at the Wynn.

The views of the stunning pool and pool-side cabanas were all it took to get me in the mood for a fruity drink while lounging on a comfy chaise. And the Wynn pool is very kid-friendly, so don’t be afraid to take your little one along like I did.

Well there you have my latest Vegas excursion in a nutshell. It was full of food, fun and lots of design inspiration. I hope these recommendations come in handy on your next trip.

Now, I’m off on another excursion to the East coast. I’ll be back soon with more highlights, but until then…Happy Travels!

Tags: accommodations, architecture, Color Inspiration, design, entertainment, hotels, Inspiration, Las Vegas, On The Road, restaurant, road trip, shopping, The Traveling Designer, Tobi Fairley, vacation, weekend getaway

At Home Friday Favorites 8.6.10

August 6, 2010 in Friday Favorites by Paulette | 2 comments

Editor Diane Carroll is entranced with this beautiful French locale. She says, “This wonderful hotel in the Luberon in France looks amazing. I’m getting ready to spend a few days of R&R in the Texas Hill Country, and while it’s not quite France, it’s casually beautiful like this. Gravel courtyards, herb gardens, tables in the shade, and a few local wineries to boot.” (“A Look at the French Countryside” from Beth Davis Interiors via Habitually Chic)

This Jonathan Adler-designed home matches ad coordinator Laura LaRue’s cheery personality. “I am in love with this entire house,” she says. “I love the white floors & all the pops of color. When can I move in?” (“The Look of Jonathan Adler” from Bear-Hill Interiors via House Beautiful)

Associate editor Paulette Pearson is in the mood for extra-special wallpaper. “We’re featuring a gorgeous dining room with hand-painted wallpaper in an upcoming issue,” she says. “It can transform a room into something so special and luxurious.” (“Room Inspiration: Vintage Wallpaper” from This is Glamorous via House Beautiful)

Art director Mandy Keener always finds the funnest Friday Faves! “How unexpected…mug shots of mobsters!” she says. “So quirky and graphic.” (“KC Home” from Parlour)

Marketing coordinator & account exec Lauren Quick Strother has been checking out furniture makeover ideas: “I love a good before and after. What a great way to spice up an old bench!” (“Benchwork” from eddieross.com)

In case you missed it:

A weekend getaway to Chicago, a la The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley

Every Friday, we share our Favorites!

Tags: alfresco, bedroom, Beth Davis Interiors, color, design, dining room, Eddie Ross, foyer, France, French country, home design, House Beautiful, interior design, Jonathan Adler, wallpaper

Room of the Week 7.27.10

July 27, 2010 in At Home Room of the Week by Diane | 2 comments

Today’s pick: a room that I kept thinking about after our photo shoot, because it was so pretty and fun, a perfect perch for a girl of any age.

It belongs to Millie, a charming three year old, and was designed by Little Rock-based designer Tobi Fairley. Millie and her family’s house are a part of our August Family Homes issues, and when I was there for the photo shoot, I kept looking at this room and thinking how much my own daughter (now 14) would enjoy it, and how much I would have enjoyed it as a girl-teenager-young adult as well.

For one, it contains some of my favorite lines: Cole & Son wallpaper, Designers Guild fabrics, an American Leather bed, and Mies van der Rohe ottomans from Soho Modern. All classics in my book, and a great mix–from mid-century modern to the wildly fun prints for which Designers Guild is known.

I can imagine little Millie using elements of this room for years to come–that bed and those ottomans could even look fabulous in a post-college apartment. Fun, colorful, kid-friendly, yet classic enough to last for years, all the elements that make for a great kids’ room.

(all photos by Nancy Nolan)

In case you missed:

Are you a fan of Tobi Fairley’s work? Have you seen her new blog exclusive for At Home: The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley?

PLUS: Great fabrics from a famous name

Tags: At Home with Kids, color, design, From the Editor, home décor, interior design, kids' rooms, room of the week, Tobi Fairley

The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley

July 21, 2010 in Guest Blog, Guest Blogger Series, The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley by Paulette | 13 comments

I am thrilled to write my inaugural post for The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley. With this exciting blog series I will bring to you all my favorite finds, shopping destinations, delicious meals, chic hotels and behind-the-scenes design news from around the globe. I’ll take you inside industry events, designer showhouses, furniture markets and much, much more.

So let’s jump right in with one of my favorite places in the world…New York City.

I had the great pleasure of designing a tabletop in April, along with 30 other designers including Philip Gorrivan (table shown above), for the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Spring Gala. I don’t know about you, but I jump at any chance I get to trek up to the Big Apple and get a little taste of city life.

My home base is usually the Carlyle Hotel. The hotel’s style was created over the years by design greats like Dorothy Draper and Mark Hampton and is still very chic today.

It is perfectly situated on the Upper East Side at 76^th and Madison Avenue. It’s conveniently located near great restaurants, and it’s a stone’s throw away from here.

The Carlyle’s own restaurant and bar is a local hotspot for drinks and afternoon tea.

And speaking of restaurants, I rarely make a trip to the city without a visit to a few of my favorites including the Kelly Wearstler designed Café BG at Bergdorf Goodman. It’s the perfect spot for lunch!

Other favorites are Park Avenue NYC which changes its interiors and menu seasonally, and Sant Ambroeus, a see and be seen locale serving three delicious Italian meals a day and where I sat next to her on my last visit.

From Pantone to Eddie Ross, everyone is saying the hot colors of the season are turquoise and orange. Eddie set the tone with his window display for Bloomingdale’s New York around the time of my visit.

This season’s color trends of turquoise and orange were right on the mark showing up this spring and summer in New York fashion and design windows alike from Coach to Crate and Barrel to Gucci.

And speaking of turquoise, I bumped into Marjorie Skourus (designer of this fabulous turquoise chandelier) who was launching her gorgeous line at a cocktail event with the Dennis Miller Showroom at 200 Lex, one of the two New York to-the-trade design centers.

Design openings and events like DIFFA’s spring Dining by Design happen in the city daily. For the design industry there is never a lack of inspiration or new product ideas in New York. I was invited to two exciting design openings while in town.

First my friend and Arkansas native Brad Ford brought me to the new Rose Tarlow showroom opening at the D&D Center. It is a beautiful showcase of Rose’s designs mixing natural wood tones with neutral fabrics for a timeless and sophisticated look.

And speaking of fabulous, I had the pleasure of attending the Juan Montoya book signing at Frette linens on Madison and 66^th Street. Juan’s gorgeous new book is a must-buy.

With his unassuming and kind personality, you would never know Juan designed one of the most popular rooms (I agree) at the 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse.

I rounded out my trip with stops by my favorite book store, some great shopping for the little one, and drinks and dinner for two at one of the hottest spots in New York.

The Mark Hotel is newly opened and designed by famed French designer Jacques Grange.

The black and white marble floors are stunning.

The Mark Bar serves the best Kumquat Mojito ever. Be sure not to miss their rosemary popcorn. It is de-lish! The Jean-Georges restaurant inside is impossible to get into, with at least a month wait for reservations. I’m hoping to dine there my next trip.

Another must visit restaurant…Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Thanks to my talented friend Michael Devine, who lives on Gramercy Park, we got a reservation at this new Danny Meyer joint.

In all its simplicity, Maialino is a feast for the eyes, and the Italian-inspired fare left our taste buds soaring. And remember, you must save room for a bite of the olive oil cake, more moist than any butter cake you’ve ever tasted. I promise it’s worth the calories.

Well, there it is, my latest trip to the Big Apple in a nutshell. I hope you will check out some of these great places on your next visit. And I’ll be back soon with lots of exciting tips, trends and topics from other exciting cities. I’m off to pack now for another excursion. Until we meet again, Happy Travels!

Tags: color, design, Events, fabric, Guest Blog Series, guest blogger, home décor, interior design, New York City, shopping, The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley, Tobi Fairley, Travel

Diane’s Design Inspiration 7.13.10

July 13, 2010 in From the Editor by Diane | 2 comments

July has been a month of contests. First there was our Arkansas’ Best contest, and all the fun of working with those winners (several of them screamed when they found out they won…it was like working for Publishers Clearing House for a day, we loved it!!).

And the last two weeks, I’ve been judging entries for the What Inspires You? blog contest.

Entrants chose a favorite visual and then described in 100 words or less why it inspired them. As you can imagine, the photos were incredibly diverse—from a horny toad to lots of natural vistas to self portraits to technology to celebrities… (isn’t this photo grand?)

The other judges and I have rounded up our favorite 150 entries and future blog challenges and judging will follow (and the winner will ultimately win $10,000 and a fab trip to Paris…sigh, but I’ll live vicariously through their blog posts—and I’ll update you too).

In the meantime, I thought you might like to take a peek at some of the visuals I personally found the most inspiring. (And because I am through and through a home design editor, they were usually homes and gardens)