Studio 534 - gorgeous Boston Design Center showroom

(photo by Michael J. Lee)

I've been wanting to do a post about Studio 534 at the Boston Design Center for a long while. Owner Josh Steinwand has gathered together a gorgeous collection of classic and fresh products that are unique in the Boston market. Josh is also totally the nicest guy ever. He didn't know me from a hole in the wall when he kindly loaned me two beautiful Japanese leaf panels for a photo shoot. He wrapped them up and sent them off with me. And then thanked me for returning them.

(photo by Michael J. Lee)

As I said, I've been wanting to share Josh's beautiful showroom for a long while, but everytime I stopped by to take pics of the showroom, he was moving things around, re-stocking and bringing on new lines. I think this really speaks to his desire to keep things fresh and appealing. And it works. So, finally, a couple of weeks ago, I was able to snap some shots of some of my favorite things in his showroom.

Josh and his staff create some beautiful and ever changing room vignettes throughout their large showroom. Great textiles, lighting and accessories round out the wonderful furniture pieces. (click on the images for a larger view)

How gorgeous is this Leiden Chandelier by David Iatesta? Love the combination of wood and crystals.

Another beautiful room set - this by Michael Smith's Jasper collection featuring the Bamboo bed. 

The Hunt Chair and the Archer Cabinet.

And a view of the beautiful pediment on the Archer Cabinet.

 Love the beautiful details on these pillows and upholstered pieces by O.Henry House.

I was totally drooling over this Chelsea Editions fabric called Hollyhocks & Foxgloves.

And they carry a beautiful collection of fabrics from Bennison, Michael Smith, Kathryn Ireland and Raoul Textiles, among others.

 Some of Studio 534's accessories:

Studio 534 boasts a beautiful collection of David Iatesta lighting:

And a final room set to enjoy.

And here is Studio 534 owner Josh Steinwand with designer Kathryn Ireland who visited Boston last fall as she debuted her latest collection, available at Studio 534. Josh hosted a lovely party and book signing.

image courtesy of Kathryn Ireland

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Candice Olson for Kravet

Click here to see the entire collection.

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Spoonflower - Custom printed fabric

Have you heard of Spoonflower? It's this great service where you can design your own fabric and they will print short runs at an incredibly low price! They are currently printing on 100% cotton fabric by Moda which is great for quilters and crafters. I am hoping that at some point, they will release a home decor/upholstery weight fabric, but the quilting weight is certainly great for many uses!

They have also started a "fabric of the week" contest. Vote for your favorite and you will be able to purchase for a limited time. Click here for contest information.

I hope soon to take advantage of Spoonflower's services. I just have to come up with the design...

Here are a few of the fabrics they have printed for customers:

Larry Laslo at Kips Bay

Larry Laslo's dining room at Kips Bay 2008 - Photo by Raeanne Giovanni-Inoue for The New York Times

This post is a little slow in coming, but I just noticed that there is an excellent video on the Robert Allen site of Larry Laslo doing a walk-thru of his space at the 2008 Kips Bay Show House last April.

Click here to see the video.

And click here to visit Larry's website and here for his fabric & trim collection at Robert Allen.

Kelly Wearster's Groundworks fabrics and trims

Lee Jofa has launched a new line of fabrics and trims with Kelly Wearstler called Groundworks. These colors are so fresh looking - especially as we're heading into Winter here in New England. Click here to view the fabrics and here for the trims.

These fabrics are available only to the trade. If you need help purchasing these or any to the trade items, click here for my trade access buying service.

Interview: Celerie Kemble visits the Boston Design Center

Alexis Contant (left) and Celerie Kemble chat at the Boston Design Center, September 24, 2008.

Each year, the Boston Design Center hosts Design Boston for area professional designers. There are talks and seminars, product launches and some pretty tasty treats.

Noted interior designer Celerie Kemble shared some of her ideas and philosophies on creating long lasting client relationships by using the tools of the trade - color, texture, patterns - to create personalized spaces that truly speak to the personalities of the homeowers.

Through Q&A with Design Center VP and General Manager Alexis Contant, Celerie talked about what went into creating some truly beautiful rooms.

Here are some quick notes that I took of their chat:

• She takes inspiration from travel and, yes, design magazines.
• "Shop for the dream; create the destination". Creating destinations in even the smallest nooks seems to be a trademark of Celerie's style.
• Boldly patterened rugs will continue to be on trend.
• "Modern" means combining all sorts of elements from different periods and styles to create a space the suits our time.

Celerie is one busy lady. In addition to running a firm with offices in New York and Palm Beach and creating beautiful interiors that are regularly featured in design magazines, Celerie has also just launched a fabric line at the venerable fabric house Schumacher.


Click here to see the fabric line.

Here are some pics I snapped yesterday at the Schumacher showroom. So pretty!

And here's the lovely Celerie, who was kind enough to sit down with me to answer a few questions.

LM: What do you recommend that those on a limited budget focus their resources on when looking to redecorate a room?
CK: Color! Adding color to the walls or in the fabrics in the room will make the most impact on the space. You only need one yard of a beautiful fabric to make a pillow for the sofa. Or, you can add a trim with a hot glue gun to plain white window treatments to create a personalized look.

LM: Where do homeowners focus that is often overblown or leads to mistakes?
CK: Many people seem very attached to the rugs they already own and are desperate to see that all new purchases match perfectly. Likewise with furnishings. Insisting that the redecorating has to match perfectly with what one already owns leads us to keep doing the same room over and over. Sometimes, you have to move things out of the space to get a fresh view.

LM: Who are your design inspirations?
CK: My Mom [designer Mimi McMakin who works with Celerie]; Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, Eric Cohler [also a speaker at the BDC yesterday!], Alan Tanksley, Lea Jackson, and others.

I appreciate that Celerie took the time to chat with me - especially as my request was so last minute and she was heading off to LA right after the luncheon at Schumacher!

In addition to her new fabric line, line of faux leathers and furnishings, Celerie has a new book (see photo above) called "To Your Taste", coming out in November!



Thanks Celerie, so nice to meet you!

All images by Linda Merrill, except where noted.

Madeline Weinrib Ikats

Madeline Weinrib fabrics - Black Mu (upper left), Luce Blue, (upper right), Daphne Blue (lower left) and Rasberry Mu (lower right)

I was pricing out these Madeline Weinrib Ikat fabrics today for a client. When I grouped the images together, I was thinking how well they complimented each other. Handmade in Uzbekistan on traditional 14" looms, the fabric strips are then pieced together to make an approximately 42" wide piece. The patterns often don't match up - which isn't going to work for everyone or every application - but in the right place - fantastic!

Madeline Weinrib fabics are sold to the trade only. Contact me if you would like more information.

Palacepapers

I received this eye catching postcard in the mail recently from palacepapers, owned by Massachusetts native Casey Gunschel. "Dedicated to traditional craft, Palacepapers patterns are hand silk screened by skilled artisans on a variety of natural fibers and papers. Inspired by a collective fascination with the natural environment, fable illustrations and antique maps, each Palacepapers hand-drawn design lends an original and sophisticated approach to wallpaper and textiles."

I just love the whimsical nature of these prints!

Cockney in Henna

Nevermore in Blackbird (channeling Edgar Allen Poe, perhaps?)

Deerly in Roan

Nevermore in Snowbird - love this wallpapered headboard!

Check out palacepapers here.