House Beautiful's "Beautiful in Black & White" Chair Scavenger Hunt

Incelebration of the March 2013 “Color Combinations” issue of House Beautiful, the magazine is goingto Hollywood to launch its tribute to the most classic color combination of allwith an exciting social media happening called:

“Beautiful in Black &White.” 

It’sall part of House Beautiful’s fourth annual Chair Scavenger Hunt, and I would like to invite you to be a part of it. 

Celebratingthe glory days of cinema, House Beautiful's editor in chief NewellTurner will launch the “Beautiful in Black & White” program in Los Angeles onMarch 6 as the team will secretly place 20 black and white chairsin iconic locations around the city - all for the taking!

The streets of L.A. will be have these two-toned beauties carefully placed and I have the secrets to share with you on How to Win this FANTASTIC Frontgate outdoor chair from the "Donatella Collection"!

Donatella Arm Chair - Frontgate - Outdoor Collection

As part of this campaign, I was asked to share one of my favorite *oldie but goodies* from Old Hollywood and what perfect timing the day before the Oscars.. 

...so of course the first film that came to mind was a favorite film starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. What is more "Old Hollywood" then this dynamic duo?

TOP HAT: 1935

aren't you swaying back and forth just listening to this?? 

"Cheek to Cheek” still remains one of the most memorable moments from this movie and showcases these two stars at their very best. Even the flying feathers from Roger's dress, which she helped design, couldn't damper the true cinematic moment that was created by this scene.

Top Hat: 1935/ Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

#HBCHAIRS

Lavish sets greatly inspired in the ART DECO period seem to perfectly integrate the Donatella Chair from Frontgate, even though there is a slight Baroque undertone, the curves and overall form couldn't be more perfectly suited within this "Hollywood Glam" vibe .. doesn't it just seem right?

*PIN TO WIN* - Stay tuned to House Beautiful news on HouseBeautiful.com  and Dec-a-Porter on Twitter
#HBCHAIRS

Carol Clark and Van Nest Polglase created this stage set in the Lido of Venice. Italy, with elaborate Hollywood-esque staircases and ornamental bridges which acted as a perfect backdrop to Astaire & Rogers, the stunning wardrobe and music as they danced each scene - transporting the audience from the dark moments of their reality to a world of lush extravagance and luxury.

Top Hat: 1935/ Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

Top Hat: 1935/ Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

And in keeping with the House Beautiful's Black & White theme - the strong contrasts of these sets were enhanced with creative set decorator and production tricks with darkened canals dyed black to enrich and enhance the contrast of the very bright whites. 

Top Hat: 1935/ Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

WANT TO WIN??

It is as easy as 1 -2 3 to be part of the "House Beautiful Scavenger Hunt" & 

here’s how it works:

1. Follow House Beautiful @HouseBeautiful on Twitter forclues about where to find and win “your” chair in LA between March 6th - 7th. 
2. Make sure to follow ME on twitter @decaporter and onMarch 5th I will share the much needed clues on whereto find this chair using the hashtag #hbchairs
3. Stay tuned for House Beautiful's Pinterest Contest in which you will be asked to include at leastone pin from this post!! (I made a special *Pin to Win* Picture just for this!)
4. Follow us both on Pinterest too -> Dec-a-Porter and House Beautiful

See you soon ~ March 5th on Twitter
& March 6/7th -> See You In LA! 

and the winner is:

via House Beautiful's Facebook page

Couldn't make it to Los Angeles?

You can still enter to win a free chair in the Pinterest sweepstakes starting March 11th.

Starting March 11, 2013, repin three or more of your favorite pins from House Beautiful's Beautiful Black and White Pinterest board. You'll be automatically entered to win one of five chairs we're giving out from Room & Board, Room Service, Target, Grandin Road, and Frontgate. 

Stay tuned next week for the official details on how to enter and the sweepstakes rules.

To Play:

1. Follow House Beautiful's Pinterest boards

2. Repin 3 or more favorite images from a designated Pinterest board on our site, we'll tell you where to find it next week. You're entered to win!

Thanks so much to Jenni Pulos, from Bravo’s Flipping Out and Interior Therapy.

film Top Hat sources: GlamAmour ; Storify ; IMdb

Hey Designers, Architects & Rug Lovers - This will rock your world!

Attention: All Interior Designers, Architects, Decorators, Homeowners, and Rug manufacturers and retailers...

This simple piece of modern technology has so much potential to change how we light up a room AND have a great area rug at the same time!

I came across these flat extension cords via Pinterest, and posted it onto my Facebook page.
Within a day it had over 100 shares! (let's just say, for my little page that's VIRAL people!!)

So I thought I had to share it with you, my loyal "blog-istas", too. So here you are!

Presenting - "Post Line" by Designer: Chen Ju Wei

So now, this is possible..

design/image: Bunny Williams 

design/image: Bunny Williams 

and this...

Lisa Sherry design via Lonny

Mark D Sikes Michael Griffin Lonny

without risk of killing yourself tripping over extension cords hidden underneath tables and rugs.



From the comments on the original post, there are some electrical concerns, perhaps let's just think
of this as a idea in the making but one that has obviously a huge place in the market!

So - if anyone does have more information, or has this in production, please leave a comment below and let us hear about your experience!

*all images of product & discovery via Yanko Design

DAP 360* - Celerie Kemble Schumacher Collection - Part 2

Celerie Kemble Photo: Claiborne Swanson Frank, in American Beauty

"...I'm just custom mixing someone's space so it will be part of their identity."               - Celerie Kemble  (Elle Decor)

Continuing my interview with Celerie Kemble and the team at Schumcher from yesterday's post,
I begin by asking Celerie how the new wallcoverings play a part in the story of the already successful collaboration with Schumacher, in her fabric collection.

DAP: When creating your new wallpaper collection, did the fabrics in your existing collection play any role in your creative process or was the inspiration for the new collection free from any creative constraints?

CK: Having the experience of working with Schumacher on the fabrics gave me faith that the execution of my designs, even if the concept was a stretch technically or creatively, would be flawless. So, that certainty was really freeing - it let me think that too big was o.k. and 

the the crazy colors I was craving would be given a chance in the marketplace, even if they weren't going to be sure things...." 

A few of the papers and fabrics do coordinate well and few are entirely new and are meant to stand in their own.

I never once held the fabrics next to the papers as we were designing ...but there is a cohesion in the two collections.

"I am drawn to certain patterns, colors, textures and their influence is reflected in my designs so there is only unconscious coordination {between the two}."

DAP: How did you imagine that these different patterns and designs would be used?


CK: I really think about where each pattern is likely to be used and I tried to create a pallet that would reflect well in those circumstances.

For instance - Hot House, which was a brazen mix of colors in the fabric story..

Hot House: Fabric Collection & new Wallcovering Collection

.. is now a cream tone on ethereal light backgrounds. As a paper I think it would likely be used in more more feminine spaces: bedrooms, or serene sitting areas.
The scale and the pattern drive the statement so I dialed color out to keep the impact focused on those elements. 

Feather Bloom

In another case, say Feather Bloom ..

I felt it was o.k. to use super deep colors because it would be very exciting to see in moody, jewel box rooms: 
Libraries, Dining Rooms and Powder Rooms.

We scaled it so it would also look right on a ceiling.

The Stylized floral motifs in 'Feather Bloom' wallcoverings are comprised of radiating circular flower petals and the over-scaled hand print have a hand-painted quality, which is softened by its textured sisal ground.

The palette includes nature-derived tones of jade green and China blue as well as chic art deco-inspired shades of plum and silver grey and can be seen here.

Celerie's mood board: Feather Bloom

DAP: When you imagined them within your own design work, do you feel that it is a natural continuation of the process to then incorporate them within your Interior Design projects? Because of their adaptability can you reuse them in different ways and still feel that you are presenting unique schemes that are fresh?

CK: Absolutely - I feel my collection is like a troop of Circe du Soleil acrobats- with different music and in costumes of different colors they can take on varying rolls. 

For example, my Flame pattern in the "Waltz" colorway tells a classic and elegant story, perfect for an entry hall, dining room, or study...

Flame - Waltz; Celerie Kemble designs; mood board for Flame

while the blue and berry tones of the "Cha-Cha" color way is much more of a fashion play.
I can see it in a super chic library on the ceiling or int the interior cabinets of a dark lacquered bookcase.

Celerie Kemble designs; Flame: Cha-Cha

DAP: How do your clients react, when you present your collections to them as part of the design scheme?

CK: I'm usually very careful with my clients homes because I don't want them to feel any conflict of interest or pressured to use my products for fear of hurting my feelings...but in some cases these papers were being developed in a timeline alongside a clients design scheme and inevitably the colors and scale matched into the project at hand because they would all become married in my head. 

Six months later as we were trying to pick a Powder Room paper my client laughed at the clouds pattern being exactly the scale, vibe, and color pallet her powder room needed.  In that case It was a bit more confluence than kismet.

Cirrus Clouds - Shanghai

"It's all about the client, not about you. Be prepared to make beds and put away your clients' dishes. You're the interface between reality and aspiration, and your job is to make people feel good about themselves and their rooms."                                         - Celerie Kemble via Elle Decor

Can't get enough of Celerie and her fabulous taste - try some of the great books!

I just wanted to send a huge thank you to the entire team of Schumacher, and Celerie Kemble for taking the time to share their thoughts and musings on this fabulous new collection.

Please, leave a comment on what your favorite patterns and color ways are, and how you plan on using them in your design schemes! Can't wait to hear all about it...