Renovation...yet more lighting thoughts

I always thought I was a decisive person, and when it comes to picking pieces out for shoots I have no problem making decisions. But somehow when it comes to lighting decisions for the new house I am overwhelmed. There are my absolute dream fixtures, sadly some of which are out of my budget like Lyndsey Adelman's BB Fixture, and then there is just a huge sea of choices.

For the upstairs hall any of these would work quite well.  Most likely we will end up using the white Schoolhouse Electric shade. The ceiling is low and we need several running down the space so the simpler the better- Phew that one was easy and affordable.

I'm not even sure if I am going to use sconces in the living room but these are tugging at me, saying use me, use me.... note to self stop listening to the voices in your head when they are urging you to buy yet more things you aren't sure where to use.  On the other hand do listen to them when they suggest buying yet another handbag.

As you could see from my High Point finds that I am over the moon craaazy about brass lately.  But is this a passing flirtation that I will soon tire of and long for my darling silver tones... hmm one wonders?

But the newly brassed Bestlite is pretty wow.

The Waterworks fixture is so fab but at $1,300 per fixture not doable. I have been lusting after the Tse & Tse porcelain clip on forever ( I'm sure I must have blogged about it before) I just can't ever figure out where to use it.  

My biggest debate is in the kitchen.  I want to put in several sconces over the kitchen sink, but it's the island that has my knickers in a twist. It's a smallish kitchen, with a smallish island so nothing to over sized or visual bulky will work.  It also should be a fixture, or two that throws out a lot of light as it will be the main source in the room. So many of my dream lights won't work. I also keep heading back to brass - but how will that mix with the stainless in the kitchen appliances?

I'm not even sure what I would do with these below, I just love them. Once again most of the ceilings are quite low so a larger fixture doesn't make sense except the bedrooms for which I'm bringing fixtures we already own.  The Lindsey Adelman pendents could kinda maybe work over the island, but in reality I don't think will throw off enough light.  The basket weave shade from Bodie and Fou is going to be pricey to ship from France. I did see something similar at ABC Home, but again - not enough light and perhaps to visually big for the island.  The brass light makes absoulety no sense....I just LOVE it!

1. Athena Calderone 2. DRW  3. Deborah Ehrlich   4. Schoolhouse Electric  5. Obsolete  6. Bestlite  7.  Nightwood 8. 1stdibs  9. One Forty Three  10. Resolute 11. Waterworks  12. Schoolhouse Electric 13. Tse & Tse 14. Lindsey Adelman   15.  Van Der Straeten  16. Bodie and Fou

Rachel Ashwell...The Ranch

As Brimfield Flea Market time nears I find my flea market heart racing... what wonders will I find, for the new house, for clients, for props.  I've been busy lately and missed quite a few good markets which makes me even more excited about "the big one".  One flea market I've always wanted to go to but never had a chance is Round Top in Texas.  I recently had dinner with Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame and heard all about her Round Top experiences.  Rachel is so enamoured of it she even bought a nearby ranch dating back to the 1800's  she calls The Prairie, now that's commitment!  She has decorated it in her signature style and opened it as a B&B. So now my dream extends to include evenings after a full day of flea shopping spent with cocktails and fireflies at her ranch... 

If you can't make it to Texas soon look for Rachel's new book this fall Couture Prairie, melding her pastel, feminine style with the roughness of the ranch.

images via Rachel Ashwell

High Point Market trends

There was so much to see at High Point that I feel like I barely scratched the surface after 4 days.

To be sure there were plenty of pieces that made one wonder who in the world is buying that!! Yet there were also a gazillion stunning pieces that made me stop in my tracks and stare longingly with desire.  

Some of the standout collections were Celerie Kemble's new line for Henredon and Aerin Lauder's for E.J Victor.   I can't show you Aerin's line until late summer but here's a sneak peek of her desk accessories.  The steel circular table from Cisco and puzzle piece coffee tables from Century followed along in a sculptural mode.

1. Aerin 2. Century 3. Cisco

I can't say I came away feeling that there were any completely new breakout trends, more a continuation and refinement of trends that have been brewing for awhile.

Lucite was seen in many forms, especially furniture legs, and seems to be a trend that is showing quite a bit of staying power.

1. Serge De Troyer 2. Celerie Kemble 3. Bernhardt 4. Four Hands

I have been a chrome girl through and through but after seeing so much brass, both brushed and polished I think I just might head over to the other side.

1. Currey and co. 2. Bernhardt 3. Celerie Kemble 4.Taracea  5. Bernhardt 

6. Baker

There were plenty of chairs in all styles that swiveled perfect for changing up a gathering from large to intimate, or to face a t.v.

There was also an increase in upholstered chairs more diminutively sized as well as shaped arms on chairs and couches.  The shaping felt fresh and exciting, creating a twist on the traditional wing chair and couch arm.

1. CR Lane 2. Cisco

Glamour and color had a large presence everywhere, from the shine of glazed linens and leathers, malachite and lacquer finishes to the purples, rich marine blues and bold pinks seen in many collections. There were plenty of Art Deco influences seen but in a fresh, updated way that made it seem instantly desirable.  Moroccan influences and raw, rustic wood pieces were also a continuing theme.  Cerused wood surfaces running the gamut from light whites and naturals to darker blacks were seen across the board. Beautiful detailing was everywhere. The Shagreen covered coffee table with brass lined shelves was a standout as was the table from Century with tongue and groove detailing.

1. Baker 2. Mr. Brown 3. Century 4. Bernhardt

Beautifully colored, buttery soft leather was seen throughout many collections, in both detailing as well as upholstery.

1. Van Theil & co. 2. Brown Jordan 3. Bernhardt 4. MGBW Home

There was loads of glamour such as these chic game tables in shagreen and mirror. 

1. Serge De Troyer 2. Celerie Kemble

This sleek and shiny chair at Bernhardt along with the rustic-sleek desk are so chic.  Pair that with the silvered log console from Mitchell Gold Bob Williams along with glass bubble chandelier and send them on over!

1. Oly Studio 2. Bernhardt  3. MGBW Home

New work...Anthology magazine

Last fall I stayed close to home ( for a change ) to shoot a story for Anthology magazine about my friends Michelle and Francesco and their brood.

They own one of my all time favorite restaurants, Mercato's near where I live in the Hudson Valley.

The day was spent as all day's are at their house full of delicious food, lovely kid and dog chaos and lot's of wine.  

all images Susie Cushner

Renovation...garden

One of the main things that made me love the new house was the garden.  The house is on a 1 acre village lot and the previous owners created a beautiful garden that makes the property feel much larger and quite private.  At least that's how it felt in the fall when we first saw it and everything was fully leafed out.  Once the winter hit the property def felt more exposed to the neighbors.  I'm not sure we would have bought it if we saw it in the winter.  

These photo's show the view into the neighbors yard, not at all bad but more then I would like.

In our current home I took an overgrown lot with heaps of garbage - the house had been abandoned for years and the neighbors used it as a dumping ground - and created a lush, private garden. 

We tore down a burned out building leaving the fireplace for chilly summer nights.  We hauled stone creating walls, walkways and a patio.  The garden flourished despite heavy clay soil, which we amended with truckloads of soil. Somehow at the time it didn't seem like hard work, but now I look at the pictures and how much we changed the land and I'm like...Holy Crap!

Before - a stunner isn't it!

When we got married we registered for plants with Wayside Gardens.   Some people (those non-gardener types) kept asking us what we really wanted, but our gardening friends thought it was great and not only ordered plants but brought cuttings from their gardens.  Bob would fill his little truck nightly on his way home from work with soil from a local farm and we spent our evenings unloading it, romantic, huh! 

The 20 ft lilacs that now block out the street started as 2 ft cuttings from my cousin's garden. The hedges and tree's we received make the neighbors house disappear.

This time I am starting from a much better place, great garden bones, rich, dark soil and a well thought out layout. Still I would like to fill in some of the spots that become exposed in the winter and create a hedge border along the east side.

Our current garden needs quite a bit of maintenance and we are going to rent out the house when we move so I need to lessen the upkeep.  So now that spring is here I'm going to start digging and hauling plants over. I've spent the last few months deciding which borders to eliminate and what plants to move, marking them as I go.  So in a mix of emotions, sad to see the old garden go, and excited to start over again here I go.

Books.... Heirloom Modern

Perhaps you are already a fan of Sisters Hollister and Porter Hovey's blog Hollister Hovey or perhaps are new to it, either way their first book, Heirloom Modern is a must read.

This book perfectly exemplifies their aesthetic.  A style not about running out to fill your home with the perfect object, but rather filling it with pieces you love and that are a part of your history and interests.

The book photographed beautifully by Porter is an assortment of homes of the sister's friends and family, and what a family they are... filled with amazing, eclectic, eccentric style.

One of my favorite parts of the book are the pictures and stories from the sister's lives, stories of their parents homes in NYC and Nebraska and their grandmother's Park Avenue apartment, all showing the trajectory that they would later take design wise.

New Work... cookbook - Put 'em up! Fruit

Last spring I shot a great cookbook with photographer Jennifer May and food stylist Jessica Bard called Put 'Em Up! Fruit.  It's a follow up to Sherri Brooks Vinton's canning book Put 'em Up!.  The cookbook pairs fruit canning recipes along side yummy recipes using the preserved fruit, such as Scottadito with Berry Gastrique, Sauteed Greens with Grapefruit Dressing, Lamb Tagine with Poached Quince to name a few of my faves.

This was a fun and dare I say fruitful and delicious project to work on.. and yes it's a rough life shooting a cookbook and eating all of the delicious meals Jessica prepared... but somebody has to do it.

images Jennifer May