Door Trends

If you are searching for a door with a difference, look no further than these smashing modern doors by Karim Rashid from Albed. The Ring and Blow door designs are fascinating sculptural doors that will surprise and delight you! The Ring door features a raised area (referred to as a “volcano”) where one would normally expect to find the handle. Within that “volcano” you can find a metal ring which operates the opening and closing of the door when pulled. Equally surprising, the Blow door has a vertical semi-ellipse on one side of the door. This elegant curving handle defies our expectations of a handle with a highly aesthetic alternative. Add these modern doors to your home – contact Albed

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Tis the Season

Designed especially for compact homes, but indisputably adorable in any sized space, this cute wall mounted fireplace makes the most of every corner, every inch. The Miofocus by Focus is a wood burning fireplace design that offers a traditional ambience with modern flair. This contemporary compact fireplace is a simple, unadorned design of 2.5mm steel which mounts to the wall, freeing up valuable floor space. A smoke outlet exits at the rear, so you don’t have to worry about unsightly fixtures and elements spoiling your decor. All you see is what’s meant to be seen – a roaring fire. The look is clean, clutter-free and contemporary, making an ideal addition to minimalist living rooms, earthy dens and cozy bedrooms. Check out this modern wall mounted fireplace at Miofocus.

Tis the season to crank up the heat and the style in your home, with these amazing hanging stoves by Harrie Leenders. The Pharos Interior rotating stove is the latest and greatest from this Netherlands-based company. This open fire stove boasts a modern yet traditional shape that’s fixed to the ceiling, making a stylish statement in the living room, dining room, bedroom or den. A built-in spark screen puts safety first, but style isn’t far behind! This elegant open fire stove is available as a fixed, 60° or 360° rotating design, so you can enjoy an open flame from every angle. The stove pipe length can be customized to suit your ceiling height, so whether your home has cozy low ceilings or grand tall ones, this hanging stove is the perfect fit. Check out these cool rotating stoves at Harrie Leenders.

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Italian Kitchen Designs

If there were an olympics for design, the Italians would surely take the kitchen category. The country has been producing cutting-edge kitchens since as far back as I can remember (and I’m old). Pedini began designing modern kitchens in 1965, focusing on functionality as much as on form. The company researches the way people use their kitchens, careful to design their cabinets as to minimize stress to the body. Cooking, for those of you who don’t do it, requires repeated motions—a well-designed kitchen should acknowledge this. Any Pedini kitchen pays close attention to ergonmics, and they all look good doing it.
But the Outline Collection, designed by Domenico Paolucci (a name someone should steal if the Sopranos ever comes back to HBO) is particularly striking. With a horizontally-oriented profile, Outline turns the kitchen on its side—and with good reason; while many of us have been married to vertically-oriented cabinetry, it is not the best use of space. Good cooks know that everything should be within reach, and a shelf that’s six feet high is good for very few people. You can further emphasize Outline’s orientation by choosing their grooved drawer fronts, which also feature horizontal lines. If you prefer to keep it minimalist, face the drawers with smooth lacquer or lacquered glass. Any of these materials is available in one of Pedini’s signature “chromatic personalizations,” in other words, “significant flexibility in color choice, innumerable tones of laminate, many shining colors of glass, and wooden doors with different colors and veining.”

All of these materials are 20 mm thick, medium-density balance panels, making them resistant to denting and warping. The finishes also resist fading, so you’ll never lose any of those brilliant colors. The strong lines of Outline are complemented well by contrasting accessories, such as the playful area rug featured on the Pedini website—a composition of circles of varying sizes that brings to mind plates and bubbles (two things one must have in the kitchen).

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Fine Living

HGTV Dream Homes designed for social gatherings, whether it’s a wine-tasting club or a quilting circle. Designed by Interior designer Linda Woodrum.

Loved these rooms!!!!

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Antique/Vintage Table Lamps

Feature Article

Antique/Vintage Table Lamps



A finely carved pair of French, 19th century,lime washed, portrait, fruit wood busts as lamps.The subjects, Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France andMarie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria.Louis is shown as a handsome young man of 15.He wears a short, side curled, powdered wig,tied at the back of the neck with a large silk bow.At his throat is a tied linen cravat, or, stock, a stiffened neck cloth.Across his right shoulder he wears theSash of the Order of the Holy Spirit. The Order was worn suspended from asky blue, silk moire ribbon, Le Cordon Bleu,(children of the king being members of The Order from birth).On his left breast he wears The Badge of The Order,a gold Maltese cross with white borders,each of the eight points ending in a gold ballwith a gold fleur-de-lys between each of its arms.At the centre of the cross, is set a white dove descending.Marie Antoinette is shown as pretty, young bride of 14,her hair dressed with roses.Marie Antoinette was an Austrian Hapsburg Archduchessand roses were the symbol of her Austrian heritage.Recall her famous 1783 portrait, Marie Antoinette with the Rose,painted by Vigee Lebrun who painted 30 portraits of the Queen,most including her signature flower, the rose.



A striking, early 20th century, English black ground,papier mache, urn and domed cover as a table lamp.The black ground finely decorated in gold leaf workwith a large loose bouquet of summer flowers.The domed cover similarly decorated.A table lamp with a strong decorative statement.

A most handsome, vintage, Chinese, baluster shaped table lamp.The monochrome lamp with a rich, dark blue glaze.The lamp on a turned maple wood stand, water gilded.A perfectly understated table lamp with an elegant look.

A very rare, French, 19th century, black matt glazed,terra cotta vase as a table lamp.The lamp decorated with a classical Greek subject.The lamp derived from the style of the Bucchero, Etruscan,terra cotta vases of classical Greek antiquity, circa 500 B.C.These vases, characteristically paintedwith highly glazed black figures on a grey-black ground.The lamp of Nikosthenic Amphora shape,an oval body with a narrow neck and curved handles on either side,the Amphora shape supported on a short socle on a circular base.This shape was introduced by the “Bucchero potter”,Nikosthenes in about 530 B.C

A small, vintage, Japanese, claret ground or Pigeons Blood,cloisonne, Ginbari, accent lamp.The claret ground decorated with a spray of flowering plum blossom.The lamp cap and stand of silver plated bronze.
Showa - Circa 1950

A rare, late 18th century, Leeds pottery, Pearlware,underglaze, transfer printed, baluster shaped, accent lamp.The lamp finely printed in dark blue in typical Leeds quality.The transfer printed subject, A Chinese Landscape,with island pagodas in a setting ofwaterways, lattice bridges, junks and Chinese houses.The lamp generously printed in full, front and backwith sides printed with narrow sections of the main print.The lamp with a bright pearlware glaze,undimmed by over 200 years!The lamp fitted with a custom made, gold plated bronze cap.The lamp standing on a custom made, polished maple wood base.Pearlware was the name given to this type of glaze,which had a small amount of cobalt addedwhich produced a bright, pearl-like lustre.The Leeds factory was established in 1771 inJack Lane in the village of Hunslett, near Leeds in Yorkshire.By 1775 it became noted for underglaze transfer printingand by 1790, Pearlware was introduced.

Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co.

Their relationship with antique porcelain and pottery spans a period of 45 years. This includes 25 years as international specialist dealers, formerly known as "The Antique Porcelain Gallery", valuers to The Australian Incentive to the Arts Scheme and regular lecturers. Their long experience with antique ceramics and glass includes dealing with museums and the supply of pieces of national interest to the Prime Minister's Department.
They have extended ceramics expertise into the quality bespoke table lamps seen on our site and are well known to interior decorators who have included many of our table lamps in minor to major projects.
Included is a certificate of authenticity with each of our individually designed lamps, providing a full description, circa date and unconditional guarantee.

Maurice quotes, "our company produces an elegant range of classic and decorative table lamps with each lamp representing a work of art, combining function, artistic design and beauty. Maurice Robertson - Principal of The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co

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Collezioni

Buonanotte Valentina : Italian Beds from Ceccotti Collezioni

From Italian furniture maker Ceccotti Collezioni is a simple line of beds that uses clean lines construction to create a stunning visual appeal. The featured product is "Buonanotte Valentina" coming in both a leather upholstered headboard version and a version where wooden slats adorn the headboard. It is constructed of solid American walnut. The wooden slat version in particular creates an interesting shape as the headboard slats combine with the under-workings of the frame for a nice effect. More information: here.

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Elegant Entertaining/Colin Cowie

Feature Article
Colin Cowie

Colin was born in Kitwe, Zambia, but educated in South Africa. He moved to the United States in 1985. Colin is recognized around the world as an arbiter of style and known for designing and producing the most spectacular parties and celebrations across the globe.

Colin is also an acclaimed interior designer with projects around the world including the Mira hotel in Hong Kong with 600 rooms, two signature restaurants and a ballroom. Ongoing projects include private residences in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, a banquet space in Los Angeles, a bar/nightclub in Myconos, a restaurant and nightclub in Panama and a beach club in Cartagena.

Colin regularly appears on the Today Show and the Ellen Degeneres Show. He was a contributing family member to the CBS Early Show for 8 years and is currently host of the daily wedding planning show Get Married on Lifetime TV where he shares his professional expertise with brides-to-be on fashion, decorating, and other wedding related topics. Colin has been profiled and quoted extensively in periodicals ranging from The New York Times Magazine, O The Oprah Magazine, O at Home, People Magazine, Architectural Digest, Bon Appetit, In Style, Town & Country, US Weekly, Readers’ Digest, New York, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Travel & Leisure, USA Today, Women’s Day, TV Guide, The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Biography Magazine, The Daily News, Bride’s Magazine, Modern Bride, The New York Post, and The Chicago Daily Herald.

Colin's website, ColinCowie.com offers style advise, recipes, decorating tips and lifestyle guidance for those seeking to live a life filled with passion; without spending to much time or money. As an advocate of "only the best will do, but nothing needs to be perfect" ColinCowie.com is an excellent resource for anyone looking to live with grace and style.
Colin is the author of eight best-selling books including five wedding books (Colin Cowie Weddings, For The Bride, For The Groom, Extraordinary Weddings, Colin Cowie Wedding Chic), two entertaining cookbooks (Effortless Elegance and Dinner After Dark) and a book on living with style (Colin Cowie Chic).

Watch his talents by clicking the link below:

http://www.colincowie.com/video

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Thankful Living

Pottery Barn

The Montego is a wonderfully crafted round dining table that is made of solid mahogany wood and some veneers on its table top. The furniture weighs 154 lbs. which speaks to its solid construction. I like the flexibility of dining tables that expand like this model. There is an extra leave which adds another 20" making its overall length at 65". There are 7 choices in wood stains to choose from. For $25 you can request a wood swatch so that you can make a more precise decision about the best color for your dining room. The Montego round dining table is a flexible solution for dining rooms seeking a classic look. Price: $1,599. This product is available at Pottery Barn: HERE.

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