IT IS HERE . . . . . .

Patina Style has arrived!  This wonderful book is all about the talents of Brooke and Steve Giannetti, the creators of a blog called Velvet and Linen,  published by GIBBS SMITH.  From the inside flap:

   "Brooke and Steve Giannetti embrace the life in things: a newal post worn smooth by
     touch, a leather trunk bearing scratches of global travel, velvet that is faded over time,    
     silver that is subtly tarnished or a flowerpot wearing a covering of moss.  This is
     the essence of Patina Style."

Brooke, Steve and their three children,  live in the Los Angeles area.  I traveled to meet her
last year to do an interview.  She couldn't have been more welcoming and hospitable.  We met initially at their shop in Santa Monica, called Giannetti Home.  It is a wonderful shop
that will leave you wanting more of their design philosophy. . . . . Meeting Steve, her husband and architect extraordinaire and then their children, was a treat and a memory I will cherish
always.   An interview conducted in their home was more than I would have even asked for, but graciously she said, "lets go to the house"  It was there that their design acumen was thoroughly understood. 

Their trip to Chicago in the Spring allowed me the opportunity to treat Brooke and hopefully make her stay a little nicer.    It was then that I learned of their book, PATINA STYLE.  It had not yet become available, but was do out soon.

AND

now it is available!

This page is from a chapter called, Outside In

". . . . the linking of stone, teak, and iron pieces

inside the house"

. . . . this page from a chapter called, Trim and Molding,

"We found these porch columns with fading house numbers

at a flea market when we were building our house. . . . . "

This book will serve as a wonderful reference for one of the most

sought after styles today.  Well written, well photographed and just

plain beautifully done.

If you haven't already discovered Brooke's blog, you can find it by

going to this link:http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/  You will

be able to order PATINA HOME from her wonderfully informative

website.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. . . .

As a designer, my success has been to listen and allow my clients to express how they live, what makes them comfortable, what their passions are,  their values and  their memories (always in some form of a collection or two). 

Our homes are a reflection of who we are, where we have been, what we love and what we can't do without.  As I begin a new room for a client, it has occurred to me that I often become the curator in the new design process.  "I want a whole new look, but I want to keep my favorite things".   It is up to me to gently use their favorite things, collected objects, art and memorabilia.   Favorite, personal things can be a challenge, especially in a new setting.  But, I do believe that when you are able to balance the old with the new,  the end result will always be far more interesting anyway. 

Personally, here are a few of my FAVORITE THINGS.  I thought I would share with you what makes our house a home, what is special to us and how it has been used.  This is my story and it is my hope that you too will find some inspiration as you scroll. . . . .

MY PRIZED PATISSERIE TABLE

This was purchased in France and has the original marble top.  It had been

used in a butcher shop before coming to the hotel market place where I found it.  It is

dated c. 1880 and was considered to be among the first of the iron pieces

made in France.

The iron detail is wonderful. . . note a hint of the Fleur de Les in

the design.  I used this one time for a breakfast table in a designer

showcase I participated in.  Today, I use it in our living room, in

a bay window.  It usually has a fresh bouquet of flowers and

very often in a confit pot.

             

I purchased this clock about 8 years ago and adore

the oldness that it adds to our living room.  This clock has

kept time for over a hundred years.  I love the shiny brass weights

and pendulum

This is called a wine hod.  It is from Burgundy. It was worn

on the backs of the workers who picked grapes in the

vineyard.  I use this in our master bath over our jacuzzi.

This hand carved  and hand painted French pigeon decoy was a gift from

a very dear friend on her return home from France. He

sits on the top of the molding of my husband's wet bar.

Always a reminder of a dear friends presence in our home.

This hanging rack is above my cooking area.   I brought this

back from a French trip.  It once hung in a French bistro and was

used for hanging coats and hats.

This is a French woman's boudoir table, I have

used it in our great room, far away from my bedroom. It

holds my catalogs.

I really do love the fact that I have never seen this table

anywhere else, nor will I ever!  It was a one of a kind purchase in

Belgium,  right off the floor of the owners antique warehouse office.  It

was his desk and I loved it.  It is now our breakfast table.

I appreciate how special this table is.  Note the table

bases have been carved from one piece of wood which is

almost a lost art today.

These scales were purchased from Marche Aux Puces, a flea

market with stall upon stall of the most wonderful fare

you could ever ask for.  The quanity of antique furniture and

objects for sale is staggering.

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

I have a wonderful collection of lambs and this little guy was always in a vignette

outside.  He now holds court in my dining room.  I was trying to take formality

out of my dining room and he certainly helped to do that.  He came from

Debra Phillips' shop called Scentimental Gardens, Geneva, Illinois.  You must check out

her blog site called http://5thandstate.blogspot.com/  She is sponsoring a trip to

England. . . . Dorset to be exact.  I will be part of that trip.  She is creating a second

trip in September following the first and there IS room available for that trip.

I have quite a few dishes and I also love to display them. This

is my white and cream cabinet with a few dishes I use daily.

The cabinet door is glass, so the interior must look yummy!

Here is another French piece that I covet. . . . it is a glazed terra cotta

bowl, called a dough bowl.  Made the same way a confit pot is made.  The

green glaze is on the interior and I use it often for large buffets.  I have served salads and on occasions pasta from this dough bowl.

Our doors from Bruges (Belgium) face us every morning as we

come down for breakfast.  They are a constant reminder of

what makes our home so special. . . . and certainly among MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Details of those doors. . . . each key hole represents another

family who owned this French home.. . locks would be changed.

The top of the door with such great hand carvings

The hand carved pediment on the upper right hand side of the door.

The French tube container from Paris. . . . always filled

with flowers from my garden or in winter, the floral shop! 

More fresh flowers from my garden!

This one is a fooler. . . . a forever arrangement

No, these are not real!!!  (The only way I will

deal with faux is if they look real!)

Still more. . . and this arrangement done

in one of my confit pots. . . . I adore these pots that

originated from the Dordogne area of France.

Venturing to the outdoor rooms of our home, I adore these lions

that beckon to share the beyond. . .

. . . . The beyond

AND

Gracie's garden . . . . see her center/back?  A wonderful color

collection of Impatiens.  The rain, shade and just the right amount

of sunlight is responsible for such lushness this year!

I hope you have enjoyed your tour of some of MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Have a wonderful weekend. . . . tonight we will be at Millennium Park listening

to the symphony under the stars, while sharing dinner and aperitifs with

dear friends!

NOTHING TO HIDE. . . . .

Life is always full of change . . . . . When it comes to our homes, changes exist there too.  I have recently been attracted to leather chairs, leather stools, leather books (and who doesn't like those!?) and even leather lamp bases.  Leather never held anything other than a bad memory for me.  When I was a little girl, I remember an old leather ottoman that was  quite worn (hmmmm, how that has changed), ugly, dried in places and just not attractive or so my young heart felt and thought!! My dad always had his feet up on this ottoman and enjoyed its use as he would read the news paper.   When my friends would come over to play, I would grab a blanket and cover this old ottoman so no one could see it. . . . .I always felt that my friends would think we were poor and couldn't afford a new ottoman or hassock as they used to be called. . . . .and so goes my dislike for anything leather. . . AND here comes my love for all that is leather. . . . 

 

Today was another day of shopping for a client at the Chicago Merchandise Mart.  I was down there last Thursday and I had to return and take another look at a couple of chairs that I couldn't get off my mind.  This one is in the Pearson Henredon Showroom and it still had appeal, in fact, I would love to have it in my home. . . . . it is more of an accent chair and with the ottoman, quite comfortable.  The carmel leather just yummy. 
The name of this chair is THE CAMP CHAIR.

THE BACK OF THE CAMP CHAIR

Details of the Camp Chair footstool. . . .

The bamboo like wood trim and nail head detail.

This chair was also appealing and very comfortable.

Same chair. . . .front view.

This leather chair was so comfortable, I didn't want to get out of it!

This was one of the other chair that brought me back to the showroom. . .

It is called the Gullison Chair.

It is not a lounge chair of sorts, but comfortable and perfect for a small

desk chair.

Side view of the Gullison Chair

This chair is made strickly of leather and

iron . . . .comfort level use: a great accent chair and

still quite comfortable.

Great detail on the front of the Gullison Chair

This is called the Madison Chair.  It again is in

the Pearson Henredon Showroom.

This tufted leather ottoman was found in the Sherrill Showroom.

It is only 28x28 and I loved this too.  There are other leather colors

to chose from if black leather is not appropriate.  While this is quite sophisti-

cated, the size makes it just as cute as it can be.

While this was not leather, it would serve well as

a small side table next to one of my leather chairs.

Leather/skins have been so popular, fabrics

have been printed to look like the real thing.

This bench is from the Pearson Henredon Showroom.

Last, but not least, I spotted this adorable little footstool

that I know I could have found a place for at home!  This is from

the Sherrill Showroom.

AS FOR THAT LITTLE OTTOMAN. . . . . you know, the one I use

to throw blankets over. . . .what I wouldn't give to have that in my own

home today!

CITY LIFE. . . .AND FOURTH FLOOR DINNERS!

Lake Shore Drive, Soldier Field Parking Lot, Burnam Harbor and Lake Michigan

AND

OK, this is not the fourth floor, but the 9th!

This 9th floor view is breathtaking with Soldier Field in full view!

Our host took us to the 9th floor as we view the city and Buckingham

Fountain (center)

The wind was blowing, hairdo's casting cares to the wind. . . and

of course Proseco could be flying out of our glasses!

It was a Meditteranean food night and the appetizers were yummy!

A cheese selection for the Gods, fresh figs, olive oil toasts, olives

and tapenades.

Breathtaking views from the terrace. . . . a terrace that stretched the length

of the condo.

Soldier Field as seen through the grasses. . .

More of Soldier Field with the Field Museum in the distance.

Kitchen herbs on the terrace

More terrace plantings. .

And yes, this is also part of the terrace plantings. . . . colors are phenomenal!  Just for

the record, Liz, their daughter just graduated with a degree in Landscape Architecture from

Clemson University . . . .she may have had a hand in these plantings. . . do you think?

Morning awakens in an elegant and simply stated master

bedroom.

Anyone for Proseco with a blood orange splash?

Our gourmet club has been together for about 12 years.

The original purpose was to visit restaurants all over

the city and suburbs.  Our host and hostess had moved

from the burbs to the city and wish to change the rules.

Everyone was excited to visit the city and take in the views.

One of the dishes that was brought by one of our club members.

Couscous, peas. curry and a peanut sauce.

A fresh yummy salad with heirloom tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and Romaine.

Roasted, marinated fresh vegetables!

Skewered and marinated lamb with lime and basil

After a dessert of home made lemon verbena sorbet and miniature

lemon cheesecakes out came a tray of glasses surrounding a bottle of

LIMONCELLO!

A perfect summer evening in the city, overlooking the lake and soldier field.

Good times and good byes!

AND

I promise you that a good time was had by

ALL!!!

As for CITY LIFE.  . . . . . . I would love it!

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