Archive
for August, 2011
Out & About: Trillium on Nantucket
Aug 25 2011 ·0Shopping at Trillium is like salve for the soul. There are always new items, and Robin [the proprietress] always make you feel so at home. I love the reaction I get from friends when they discover the gift I’ve given them came from Trillium.
~another happy Trillium customer
As summer in New England begins to fade, we are reminded that every warm and sunny day is precious and every summer tradition is meant to be cherished. One of my favorite summer traditions is journeying to Nantucket with dear friends. I am blessed to have a friend who owns a home on Nantucket and for the past 22 years she has shared it with me and five other friends. During our summer sojourns we have established many wonderful traditions. Not surprisingly, a few of them revolve around…shopping!
This week I am thrilled to share our very favorite shop for decorative home accessories, tableware and fanciful pillows from all over the globe: Trillium. When you receive a one-of-a-kind bag with a box from Trillium, you just know you are in for a treat!
This colorful table setting is anchored by the simple white plates with a lush beaded detail. These lovely plates will truly highlight whatever bounty is placed upon them. I can just imagine a feast of fresh Nantucket grown vegetables and fish. So scrumptious!
I just love the bright pops of color on this table. The not to be ignored whimsical candlestick transports me to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Be Our Guest indeed!
How charmingly organic are the floating votives with the garden hosta leaves? All you need are these elegant tiered glass vases to add a unique touch to your table.
You know how I adore pillows ~ aren’t these amazing?? I love the mix of textures and patterns, so effective in creating a tactile, dynamic and inviting display.
Every table should have something that catches the light and metallic pieces fit the bill perfectly.
The combination of these feminine glasses from J.L. Coquet on a mixed metallic placemat is at once traditonal, modern and a bit sexy. Oooh la la!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little glimpse into one of my favorite Nantucket shops. Next time you’re on the island be sure to stop in! If you haven’t celebrated summer with your friends yet, embrace the last days of this magical season and toast to the warmth of friendship.
xo,
Pamela
Posh Palettes Presentation Panel: Romantic Peony
Aug 19 2011 ·0Don’t dream your life, live your dream
~Unknown
Our latest Posh Palettes Presentation Panel was created for a vibrant, energetic client who needed a restful retreat to recharge her batteries.
The inspiration for this space was nestled in my soul for more than two years. When I saw this peony painting by local artist Lisa Daria Kennedy I felt an instant connection. I was drawn to the beautiful pink and chartreuse hues. Months later I came across the magnificent textural peony fabric. When my client, a dear friend, came to me looking to redesign her bedroom, it was a perfect marriage of inspiration and purpose.
Once again, this Posh Palettes Presentation Panel pulls together both decorative elements and nods to my friend’s personality. Both her active, busy life (she’s a personal trainer and a world traveler!) and joie de vivre are reflected on the inspiration board. The color palette is the perfect mix of restful and dynamic, jazzy and romantic.
As with any bedroom, the bed is the centerpiece. With this bed, the custom made headboard is a stunning focal point. With it’s bowed, lip shape it is both feminine and a bit flirty. Covered in the inspiration fabric and outlined in a poppy colored cord, the bed commands a true presence in the room. The silk plaid dust ruffle incorporates several complementary colors. The walls are a soft chartreuse color and the ceiling a gentle blush color. The glass chandelier is from Murano, Italy and purchased by the homeowner on one of her many adventures.
Another stand out feature of the bed is the plethora of pillows~ one of my signature design elements. Really, can anyone really have too many pillows?? Too much of a good thing can be wonderful, especially when incorporating so many beautiful and diverse fabrics!
This vibrant poppy colored chair is a perfect example of how the homeowner is not afraid of color~just one of the things I love about her! The chair provides a wonderful pop of color as well as a place to reminisce about her travels and plan her next trip.
Once again in the drapery, elements from the Presentation Panel have been incorporated. The crystal bead trim on the Roman shade echoes the sparkle of the chandelier. The couture drapery with dressmaker details is monochromatic to the wall, providing elegance and romance without being distracting. We incorporated another one of my signature details here: ball gown drapery panels, so called for the way the fully lined panels fall gently like a ball gown skirt. 
This is one of my favorite views of the bedroom. I love the reflection of the bed and the chandelier in the mirror. The bureau vignette represents the fusion of my design and my friend’s dimensional personality. Here we see substantial rococo details along with personal artifacts and fresh flowers.Finally, a close up view of the painting that started it all. From the Posh Palettes Presentation Panel to this bold and romantic bedroom, this space is now a wonderful place to come home to at the end of the day. Sweet dreams!
xo,
Pamela
What's Your Favorite Color?
Aug 07 2011 ·0“The world is your kaleidoscope, and the varying combinations of colors which at every succeeding moment it presents to you are the exquisitely adjusted pictures of your ever-moving thoughts.”
~James Edward Allen
When my son was 5 years old I remember him asking my Mom, an artist, that age-old question: What’s your favorite color? Her answer? It is never brown but everyday it is different depending on the day. Sometimes red or blue or green, true Crayola colors.
That answer so resonated with me that I still use it myself. Truly, I see beauty in all colors and am fascinated by color everywhere I go. I find myself composing color palettes in gardens, museums and even retail stores.
During a recent trip to Anthropologie, I was delighted to be surrounded by a number of striking, colorful displays. Here are a few of my favorites to share with you!
Wire words and notebook paper walls provide contrast for this array of lively fabrics!
I'll take one in every color, please!
Each of these quilts has a unique and vibrant color palette, can you chose a favorite?
Colors and yarn become sculptural in this display enclosing a FAB bed
I think anyone would have sweet dreams in this bed!
Oh, yummy Anthropologie, thank you for your continued inspiration every time I visit! Just remember, inspiration and favorite colors are everywhere!
xo,
Pamela
My Love Affair with Dale Chihuly
Aug 02 2011 ·0“Glass is the most magical of all materials.”
~Dale Chihuly
I first fell in love with the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly during a visit to London to see my daughter Emily who was studying abroad at the time. There in the rotunda of the Victoria and Albert Museum was the most spectacular chandelier I had ever seen. I almost fell over the balcony railing, stunned by the beauty of the installation.
Chihuly rotunda chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Recently I made a pilgrimage to another exhibit of Chihuly’s work, this time a bit closer to home. “Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass” is currently on display at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts through August 8th. This spectacular exhibit holds appeal for all ages from young children to adults and is NOT to be missed!
Banner announcing the Chihuly exhibit at the MFA Boston
“One night in 1965 I melted a few pounds of stained glass in one of my kilns and dipped a steel pipe from the basement into it. I blew into the pipe and a bubble of glass appeared. I had never seen glassblowing before. My fascination for it probably comes in part from discovering the process that night by accident. From that moment, I became obsessed with learning all I could about glass.”
~Dale Chihuly
What Chihuly has done with that knowledge over the years is on full display at the MFA exhibit. A few of my favorite moments from “Through the Looking Glass”…
Ikenebana Boat~ have you ever seen a boat like this at any harbor you've visited?!
Such an inviting table...
This glass garden exemplifies Chihuly’s “when one is good, a dozen is better” philosophy just beautifully.
Mille Fleuri~ literally, a thousand flowers.
Unbelievable glass ceiling ~ not to be confused with the national debt ceiling!
I love the sense of whimsy here. Can you find the hidden starfish?
Another Chihuly chandelier, I have the perfect place for this one in my home!
Reminiscent of the Fiery Sunset Posh Palette Presentation Panel, I find these colors so vibrant and inspiring!
“Through the Looking Glass” is a phenomenal exhibit that will leave you both inspired and infused with a sense of wonder and awe. Truly amazing work by a visionary artist. I do hope you have a chance to visit!
“I never met a color I didn’t like.”
~Dale Chihuly (and Pamela Copeman)
xo,
Pamela