Adaptability Is The Key To Life, Right?

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Earlier today, I was reading La Dolce Vita, a GREAT blog by Houstonian Paloma Contreras when I was tickled to see her post on Hanna Brooks Nation, a cute-as-a-button graphic designer whom developed what I consider quite possibly the most handy and innovative iPhone app, named POST.  POST is the modern answer to a busy gals {or guys} social life.....while of course our mothers taught us that a nice paper invitation and a handwritten thank you note are the only ways to go––and we absolutely employ that as often as possible–– but sometimes we need to do things quicklike and  here, Ms. Hanna grants us a new way to still have manners yet be efficient {and cute!}  all at the same time.....

Because, let's face it––oftentimes, life doesn't give us time to plan. Sometimes the thrill of spontaneity is more alluring than the well-thought-out dinner party detailing everything down to the minutiae and we just want to throw an impromptu gathering with out all of the pomp-and-circumstance {In three hours notice}. Why opt for dry text or email {with no pizzazz} stating: "Cocktails and hors d' oeuvres •• Starts at 6 in my garden" {blah! how boring!} When the brilliance of POST allows us to send that invitation just as quickly and with style! Look at a few of the designs that she has included in her package; they are absolutely adorable!!

I could not help but firing away to all of my friends immediately after I downloaded it. 

P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S!!!!

Doesn't this just make you so happy inside??

Don't hesitate, download this nifty {and thrifty} little app right now! It's only ninety-nine cents for gawd sakes! 

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do––and have a last-minute gathering this weekend, you won't regret it, I promise!

Good weekend to everyone!

xoxo,

Andrea

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RUN To Your Nearest Computer/iPhone/iPod and Listen!!!

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photo via Cote de Texas

The gals over at The Skirted Roundtable  have outdone themselves this time.....I am SO JEALOUS (yet thoroughly excited for them) that they were able to garner an interview with esteemed designer (and one of my personal favorites) Ms. Mary Douglas Drysdale. 


Mary's voice is like velvet, her words glide effortlessly, and her coy laugh kept me smiling for the hour long interview. She's calm, steadfast and confident not to mention incredibly knowledgeable. You will not be disappointed! 


If you want to listen, log into iTunes and search for The Skirted Roundtable podcasts––or there is a feature on the SRT website where you can subscribe to the podcasts directly from the SRT blog. The ladies have offered us listeners a treasure trove of wonderful interviews over the past year and I just can't thank them enough––what a gift for all of us! 


To see more photos of Ms. Drysdale's  work, visit  Cote de Texas. Isn't it incredible that after 14 years there is nothing stale about a Drysdale room? Eternally classic! 


Enjoy!.


xoxo,


Andrea

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Prescription To Beat The Heat: Drink Champagne Cocktails Of Course!

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image via tipsytexan

Summer is here! {For South Louisiana at least} and y'all––it's HOTHOTHOT already. This is the part of the year where we enter the two-shower-a-day-minimum months and we could make meals out of the oppressive humidity because it's so thick you could eat it with a spoon. Not that I'm complaining dot dot dot. I really love where I live dot dot dot.  You should visit just not in summer.

I had this delicious drink the other night at a dinner party and just could not get enough so I have declared it my new official summertime libation. Champagne just makes me feel so tickly inside, so I've decided that is enough to cool me off in the languid Louisiana summer heat. Of course that's just an excuse I'm telling myself to be able to drink more of these crisp and bubbly's, but whatever!


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Classic Champagne Cocktail:

Champagne of your choice
Lemon Zest (curled or finely grated)
Angostura Bitters
One Sugar Cube
Strawberry to garnish (b/c let's face it––everything is better with strawberries, right?)

The only super-technical aspect of this cocktail is the dousing of the sugar cube with the bitters––in other words, this is EASY––just like I like things b/c I am the laziest hostess you've ever met!
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Tahdah!! You're friends will confirm you are the genius that you know you are. Everyone will have fun and get the giggles––Success!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo,

Andrea

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American Art Icon, Hunt Slonem––On The Bayou

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Hunt's body of work is mainly comprised of exotic birds, bunnies and the occasional tiger. Read on to see how special it is for him to grace us with a rare collection of flora and fauna scenes created just for us in southern Louisiana.

I was thrilled to hear that my fair city would be hosting an exhibit of paintings from renowned artist Hunt Slonem. Hunt is the kind of artist that never stops working. Ever. Part artist, part historian, part antiquarian–– Hunt glides ever so easily between big-city life and the quiet life of Louisiana plantation country and we consider him a treasured neighbor. He purchased the plantation, Albania, a few years ago from the original family of heirs and in a swift and smart move, allowed the film company that filmed "All The Kings Men" take over for a while and shoot parts of the film at the home.  So, if you ever watch that movie, be sure to pay close attention to the scenes, and you'll be looking inside Hunt's home!

Lucky for me, I have a dear friend whom is a dear friend of Hunt's, and the rest is history! I had the pleasure of spending time with him at Albania, which is located about 30 minutes from Lafayette in a small community named Jeanerette. The scale of this place is almost incomprehensible. Its more than stately, it's beyond magnificent and immaculately well taken care of––Hunt would have it no other way!

Albania Plantation

Photo Courtesy of Nola.com

Photo Courtesy of Ellen Kennon

Hunt loves vibrant colors––his use of bold hues partnered with leaving the original millwork untouched makes for one enchanting combination. The walls are rich, vibrant and velvety; while the woodwork is aged and enameled with one-hundred-fifty years of layers.  

Photo Courtesy of Ellen Kennon

Photo Courtesy of Ellen Kennon

Hunt is no stranger to the deep south, having attended Tulane in New Orleans back in the 1970s–– and I think he's captivated by mystical quality of the Cajun culture; we agree with him very well––so in this exhibit, aptly named "On The Bayou" it appears that in a gesture of true southern hospitality, he created paintings specifically influenced by the swamps of Southern Louisiana. What a gift! 

This exhibit runs through December, so be sure to make it to the Hilliard Art Museum in order to view this wonderful collection of 9'x9' paintings by Mr.Slonem––we owe it to ourselves not to miss it!

There is also a beautiful 48 page book to accompany the paintings that can be purchased here. 

Hunt has published two other fantastic books filled with eye-popping color and images so irresistible, I say just buy them already. His love for Victorian and Gothic furniture is bizarrely intriguing and sheds a glimpse into to the mind and private life of one of America's most prolific artists. Well worth the read, I think!

xoxo,

Andrea

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This Kitch Ain't Missin' A Stitch

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Seriously? Looks like I may be saving up for a bit longer for the kitchen re-do now that I've seen this.

I will battle anyone to the bitter end who says that all white kitchens are a trend––I firmly believe that they are a staple in fine estates and the classic finishes will outlast almost any fly-by-night furor. My heart pittapatta'd when I saw this on Decorati today. What extraordinary talent Ms. Williams has! I LOVE that she respects tradition, yet blends a smidge of modernism into her interiors––a great approach to being ahead of the curve, agree?

I mean, this is probably hands-down, one of the most functional kitchens I've ever seen. What luxury! I'll remember this next time I bump into the dishwasher door while carrying a hot pot on the way to the sink, or shimmy my way between the fridge and the entrance into my kitchen when Mr. Hotpiece has it open scrounging for bachelor food. 

Notice the graceful curve of not only the island, but the corner curio piece. No space was wasted whatsoever and everything appears to have a place––large, deep drawers; two workspaces; plentiful seating. This is marvelous! 

To read the whole story {and it's written quite well thanks to Karin Edwards}, check it out on Decorati here.

xoxo,

Andrea

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Knock-down, Drag-out on the Campaign Trail

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Campaign furniture––have you heard of it? Did it perplex you when you first heard the term? I know that it confused me when I first heard of it years ago! 

Simply put, Campaign Furniture is {mostly} antique modular furniture made to be broken down and put back together with ease in case your family had to split town faster than Marie Antionette changed shoes.

This furniture became not only popular, but necessary in times of war. Families and military generals–– not to mention politicians truly on the campaign trail–– needed accommodations, and what better than to have all of the accouterments of the good life to take with you?

The joinery and marvelous craftsmanship within these pieces are second-to-none and the engineering is purely brilliant considering there were no machines, AutoCAD or schools teaching Industrial Design! All of these things had to be broken down quickly, compactly and still be able to ride in style after many miles and moves! From great big armoires to small benches, there wasn't a detail overlooked when designing the furniture.

If you know me, or have read this blog over a period if time, you know how much I looooove 1stdibs. Now, {pretty much} every heavy-hitting antiques store is accessible at our fingertips. I could spend days looking at everything, dreaming up how I would use each piece in a clients home, lusting after all of the things that I want. You know––torturing myself and taunting my willpower at every turn.

I raked over the selection of Campaign furniture to offer of some tasty images for us all to drool over. I love the lines of everything. It's straightforward-meets elegant-meets functional-meets masculine-meets grace and refinement. What do you think?

All images courtesy of 1stdibs

Gorgeous!

I would love to use this in place of a sofa in my sunroom. Truly magnifique!

This daybed is SIXTY GRAND! Not kidding! I mean, it's a beaut and all.........

I love how this secretary pulls double-duty as a vanity and a desk. You know that this was commissioned by the owner to suit his particular needs. I love that!

If I remember correctly, I think this style is a favorite of Albert Hadley in his interiors. I think I've seen him use it in a few homes. I love the frankness of it. 

And every weary traveler needs a bar for a cocktail at the set of dusk, right? How about this cute portable bar to get the job done? 

They even thought about the girls! These are garishly precious aren't they? Like, hmmmm. Cugly. Cuteugly.

Stunning chest of drawers made of camphorwood––so masculine, you know this man handled biznass.

This rosewood bookcase has such and anglo-indian feel to it. What a statement piece. 

Have a great week everyone!

xoxo,

Andrea

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Have a Great Weekend Everyone!

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My weekend will be filled with family, some that I've never met, some that I haven't seen in years! Off to a family reunion in a moment. 

Enjoy the spring air and the baby-blooms of this hydrangea arrangement that I did up for my neighbors whom are continually so generous to us and love to spoil my husband and I. Great neighbors are such a wonderful thing to have and I'm so happy to live in a place where we all just adore each other and that our relationships are more than just a quick 'hello'  :) 

xoxo,

Andrea

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From Drab to Fab!

Pin It Well, not completely done yet, but I tackled this chair over the weekend and I have one more to do. These will reside in my husband's new office and serve as the reception area chairs. Upholstery is NOT for the faint of heart!!!!!!!! I went from thinking "Oh, yeah, I've got this. Going to take me two hours" to "Two hours have gone by and I haven't even started stapling the seat yet" to "Why did I EVER think that I could do this" to "Never again, that's what upholsterers are for!" Perhaps trying my hand at a chair with curves as my 1st foray into upholstering wasn't a great idea? I dunno. But I thought this was WAY hard!

I'm fairly happy with the results (sans a few bloopers) but I'm glad I got it out of my system  ;)

The chair before. I picked up a pair of these queen anne repros (a crude interpretation, I must say, but they were $45 a piece, and I saw prettypretty underneath the thick layer of 1990 tapestry)

I got busy sanding and applying a grisaille finish. It came out a little darker than I anticipated, but I really love it nonetheless. I used some simple ticking fabric that I had on hand, hunted down some twill-tape (which is INCREDIBLY hard to find, I must add....that surprised me b/c its so simple and such a staple, I figured it'd be everywhere, but no, of course not and definitely not in the width I needed) I ruined more nailheads than actually used! Blah! If anyone has a tip on how to set them in straight on the 1st shot, I'm all ears ;)

Here it is in progress! I still have to do the elbow pads, which I'm debating if I want to do them in a camel toned velvet vs. the ticking. We'll see :)

Notice that sexy fireplace surround! Whew! No, I mean, eww! 

I should be finished with the whole office soon, and I will definitely do up a whole post on how I manipulated a meager budget {and I mean meager y'all} to something that looks nicely high(er)-end! I'm excited to have it all come together.

xoxo,

Andrea

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They Don't Make Em' Like This Anymore

Pin It Four years ago today, my husband and I decided to go against the grain, buck tradition and elope. While not a decision that is for everyone, it was a decision that for us, made all the sense in the world. It resonated with our personalities which are fairly private, we are no frills folk and we tend not to make a big deal out of most things like holidays, birthdays etc. We'd rather celebrate just us two, quietly, privately and without all the pomp and circumstance. All of those things are great, of course, but not necessarily for us, so we went ahead, booked our flight, filed for a marriage certificate and had an absolutely incredible day filled with laughter, tears, smiles, bloopers and enough Veuve Clicquot to make a french woman fat ;)

I've been in love with San Francisco since I was a child, and when I found the website to San Francisco City Hall, I knew at that second it's where I wanted to be wed. Everything about it screamed elegance and history, so I immediately beckoned for Mr. Hotpiece to come into the room and check out my findings. He fell in love, I was in love and we knew that's where we were going to exchange our vows.

The most common response we received was "City Hall?" said with a wide eyed stare and look of disappointment "WHY would they want to get married at City Hall......???"

What few were realizing is that this isn't any ordinary City Hall where we would go in our Sunday best, a faux-floral bouquet and call it a day. This is a grand building drenched in marble, granite, bronze and gilt with the most marvelous and awe inspiring craftsmanship this side of The Louvre.

Completed in 1915 by the revered architect, Arthur Brown (SF City Hall, Coit Tower, SF War Memorial Opera House), the current City Hall replaces a former which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1906. Since Beaux-Arts (one of my personal faves b/c of the classical proportion and ornamentation) was de rigeur at the time, Mr. Brown set out to create a masterpiece of only the finest materials around. It is said that he commanded full control of the project, having a say in everything right down to the signage. (My kind of guy!)

Look at the massive scale of the building!! Impressive, isn't it?

Photo Courtesy of Thomas Hawk Photography

Fortunately for us, we were able to be married in the coveted rotunda, straight up from the stairs, beyond the 1st set of columns. There were no guarantees that we would have been able to have that space, and in the case where we wouldn't, we would have been relegated to the paltry staircase to be married in tandem with several other couples who didn't 'make the cut.' But alas, luck was on our side and we said our I do's as privately as we could up there in the intimate rotunda.

                                                    

     Photo Courtesy of Harold Davis Photography

Doesn't this blow your mind? I always like to think I could take my creativity to this level, but most of the time, I am just awe-struck by the sheer magnitude of talent and brains of the designers that are capable of this level of skill. Not to mention the brilliant artisans that are so committed to their craft and complete works of beauty as such. This is not easy, folks!

A few little snaps of us on the day of. What a day. I mean, we truly had a blast, and I can, without hesitation, say that this was the best day of my life. I married way up! 

**Also: There aren't many pictures of SF City hall on the interwebz so, you'll have to deal with my vulgar display of self-indulgent pictures ;)

Incredible and massive sheaths of sandstone comprise the interior, as well as impressive detailed marble floors, most of which the marble and granite were sourced in US of A. That is almost unimaginable nowadays. 

At every turn the lighting details were breathtaking. Even these simple sconces and pendants were in cast bronze and reeded glass....they looked so timeless and sophisticated. 

These 'lamp posts" were dotted the whole 1st story of the building...absolutely gorgeous. Possibly 

10-11ft tall and made of gilt bronze or bronze d'ore, whichever tickles your fancy. They were truly breathtaking.

Just to give you an idea of scale, do you see us next to the urn? Phenomenal!

If you are ever in San Francisco, City Hall is a must see on your list. I highly recommend it, and I literally cannot wait to visit the fair city again, perhaps for our 5 year anniversary next year?? Maybe so! 

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A Chance Meeting and Creative Inspiration For The Day

Pin It Today is a gorgeous day! Crisp, sunny, cool, and believe me we need it b/c our weather has been nasty lately. This pretty day got my creativity riled up and while looking for lighting inspiration for a project I am working on, my ADD kicked in and I couldn't help but pull together a room based on my mood. The *real* work can wait, I suppose ;)

I've been wanting to introduce everyone to Erin Chance Fenstermaker, a truly gifted up and coming artist in Lafayette. She's absolutely adorable, demure, and playful. Her artwork certainly exudes her vibrant persona, yet at the same time her pieces have a quiet contemplative quality to them, which I love.  

Comfortable working within abstract and figurative, she does a wonderful job parlaying her point of view in a way that I feel many can appreciate and admire. The color composition she chooses is what really does it for me; not afraid of color one bit, she uses chroma in an approach that rouses a harmonious interplay between many strong hues, and the final product is just breathtaking! 

Starting with this modern interpretation of a buillotte chandelier, I quickly layered a room that would make me happy to be in it, knowing all the while that I wanted to incorporate a painting of Erin's. I feel that her pieces work well within traditional, contemporary, eclectic, anything. My personal taste is more classically-eclectic if that makes sense. I wouldn't call it funky, per se, more streamlined and tailored with the unxepected thrown in for good measure. In fact, this is what I'd love for my living room to look like! Trust fund? Anyone? Bueller? 

Enjoy, and be sure to check out Erin's website! She's a doll! 


**My ADD is really bad today. I realized I should have added more paintings from her website to illustrate how talented she is! Forgive me if you came, saw, left and now I added more! 

Aren't these colors incredible?

I want this one! 

Would you ever know that this is a marsh scene? I love that about her work!

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