1.  Brush Stroke Lamp from Bunny Williams

2.  Sophie Lamps from Christopher Spitzmiller, Inc.

3.  Trentham Vase Lamp from Vaughan Designs

4.  Hudson Table Lamp by Dragonette Ltd.

5.  Dunes and Duchess Four Arm Lamp

6.  Clayton Home Concrete and Brass Table Lamp

7.  Tessaras Table Lamp by Pamela Sunday for Studio Van Den Akker

8.  David Iatesta Nantucket Lamp

9.  Diego Table Lamp by Dragonette Ltd

10.  Drum Lamp from Uhuru

11.  Julian Chichester Capri Table Lamp

12.  Stiffel Ceramic and Brass Glazed Lamps

Photos by Amy Vischio

1.  Rothko:  An amazing introduction to Rothko’s work!

2.  Abstract Expressionism:  A beautiful look at the abstract expressionism movement in NY following World War II.

3.  Andy Warhol:  Features the life and work of the iconic Andy Warhol.

4.  The Art Book:  A fun, accessible compilation of artists from medieval times to present day.

5.  The Little Black Jacket:  Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld’s reinterpretation of Chanel’s iconic little black jacket.

6.  Cabinet of Natural Curiosities:  Gorgeous displays of natural wonders!

7.  Dealer’s Choice:  Lush photos of homes belonging to the world’s foremost anitquaires.

8.  Big Book of Chic:  A lavish book featuring Miles Redd’s unique designs.

9.  Cohler on Design:  Cohler’s classic interiors interspersed with amazing inspirational design images.

10.  Marilyn Monroe:  Text from Normal Mailer’s biography of Marilyn along with Bert Stern’s incredible photography.  I am so fortunate to have an edition of this book from my mother.

11.  A Photographer’s Life:  Everyone should have at least one book by Annie Leibovitz!

12.  Alexander McQueen:  Savage Beauty:  A look at the full breadth of McQueen’s amazing career.

13.  Woman in the Mirror:  Richard Avedon’s poetic portraits of women.

14.  By the Light of the Sea:  Always a go-to book!

15.  Slim Aarons:  Once Upon a Time:  Influential photos of the rich and famous in their exclusive surroundings.

What kind of story do your coffee table books tell?

1.  Paraty Leather Shoulder Bag

2.  Hand painted wallpaper from Gracie Studio

3.  Dining room design by Suzanne Kasler

4.  Evening gown by Zac Posen

5.  Sage Wisdom from Benjamin Moore

6.  Chic celadon.  Image via Vogue.

7.  Maribel Lantern Lamp by Coleen & Company

8.  Celadon Grasscloth Wallpaper by The Wallpaper Company

Summer is by far my favorite time to plant because there are so many different flower varieties to choose from and all are so vibrant with color.  It is an art to be able to create and design with plants, and the type of containers you choose to showcase your plants is almost as important as the flowers themselves.

Examples of container plantings in my garden.

First, you will need to decide if your pots will be placed in a sunny location, a shady spot, or where they’ll receive a mix of sun and shade.  The type of plants you use will depend on the amount of sun in each location.  There have been times that I have had to replace plants that did not last the season, either due to using incorrect plants, overcrowding, or, of course, the weather.

If you do not have any knowledge of plants, you will have to depend on your local garden shop. I have been fortunate to learn from a knowledgeable person for years who has taught me a great deal about plants and the planting of containers. There has to be symmetrical balance of the plants, and the size of the pot will determine the amount of plants used.

Annuals are plants most widely used for containers. I decide on a color palette and then choose the type of plants I will use.  Some of my favorite annuals to use are geraniums, calibrachoas, verbena, angelonia and bacopa.

An urn planted with Verbena, Angelonia, Geraniums,and Bacopa.

Rose Standard Topiary Trees and Bougainvillea Topiary Trees make a great focal point.   I will under plant them with an annual such as verbena or bacopa.  Another favorite option of mine is putting Dwarf Hydrangeas in containers.  They need a shadier area or else they will wilt.  After the season is over, you can transplant them in your garden.

Bougainvillea Topiary

I also like to do containers of mixed sedums, or a container of a creeping sedum.  They are quite interesting.  Boxwood Topiaries make a simple statement and, come winter, the Topiary looks great alone or under planted with greens.

My containers sit amongst my perennials and herbs as well as on ledges and walkways.  They are a menagerie of all shapes and sizes.  A lot of planning and work is involved in planning a container garden, but there is a satisfaction you get in knowing you have created something that is beautiful to behold all season!

Using a trestle in a container allows climbing plants to spread upward.

I hope you enjoy some of the containers I have done.  I am getting ready to start a new season and cannot wait!

1.  Books by the Foot

Sets of books in earth tones.

Stocking a library or extensive bookshelves with antique books can be expensive.  You also want to collect books you would actually read.  However, putting together a set of books that also looks great with the room around them can be more of a challenge.  A client introduced me to Books by the Foot, where you can order books by color, in matched sets, vintage books, wrapped books, and even faux books.  This makes it possible to achieve just the pulled-together look you want in any style.  This is an amazing site, even offering coffee table books and sets for commercial interiors!

Vintage cloth books.

2.  Artists Ben Ham, Vik Muniz, and Eric Zener

Plantation Road by Ben Ham

Art changes the dynamic of a house and makes my work speak better.  It creates a visceral reaction that varies from person to person, which is why art choices sometimes have to come from the client and not from the designer.  When a client introduces me to an artist I am not familiar with, it’s such a gift!  The photography of Ben Ham (who I’ve written about in the past), Eric Zener’s paintings, and Vik Muniz’s eclectic modern art, were all brought to my attention by clients.  Expanding my knowledge of artists and having a relationship with a local gallery such as Samuel Owen Gallery, helps me collaborate with clients to find just the right art for each project.

Zebra, after George Stubbs by Vik Muniz

A New Direction by Eric Zener

3.  Trainspotters Industrial Lighting and Salvage

Opaline drum pendant salvaged from a chapel.

A client from London who bought a house here in the US sent me a link to Trainspotters website and I fell in love with their amazing lighting.  They have great scale and colors — I’d use these products in my own studio!  This lighting, salvaged from a huge variety of places around Europe, are authentic and interesting.  We used lighting from Trainspotters in my client’s kitchen and the results were fantastic!

Lighting salvaged from a hangar at Heathrow now installed in a hostelry in Portugal.

Czhech arms factory lights.

4.  House Beautiful’s Colors for your Home

Colors for your Home

This book is a great resource I first learned of from a client.  As a guide to color and creating a palette for a room, it’s an invaluable resource to share with clients.  With actual paint swatches from a variety of manufacturers and beautiful examples of rooms, Colors for your Home makes it easier for clients to visualize an unlimited number of color schemes.

House Beautiful’s Colors for Your Home

I find the value of this app comes from the ability to help clients visualize ideas and color interactions.  When I can show my clients their preferred colors next to complimentary hues and examples of those colors in a room scheme, they begin to think about how colors work together and feel confident we are on the same page.

Favorite Paint Colors App

Color App Menu

For homeowners who want to color shop on their own, the House Beautiful app encourages them to branch out from their safety zone and consider colors they may not use on their own.

Choosing from a color spectrum.

The app includes several tools to help choose a color palette.  Color River lets you browse paint colors and read reviews from professionals.  Editor’s Picks features House Beautiful’s top color picks in ten different hues while the Color Personality Tool lets you learn your personalized color based on numerology.  In My Paint Box, you can save and compare paint colors.  There’s also a social aspect to the app that allows you to share your favorite colors via Facebook and Twitter.

My Paint Box

You can download the House Beautiful 500+ Favorite Paint Colors App on iTunes!

Blue Palace Resort and Spa, Greece:  Stunning scenery, incredible blue water, and all of the luxuries you could desire on vacation.  I would love to spend a week or two being pampered and spoiled here.

Infinity pool at Blue Palace Resort

Royal Blue Villa

Private Beach

Arsenali Lounge Bar Pool

Olea Dining Room

Rosewood Little Dix Bay:  An amazingly gorgeous Caribbean destination in the British Virgin Islands.  I love being near water, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay provides more than enough beautiful ocean for even me.  With thoughtfully designed accommodations, a spa, and fine dining, this is exactly the kind of destination that I am drawn to!

So beautiful!

One of the dining areas.

Perfect beach.

Love the stone shower.

So relaxing!

Mayflower Inn and Spa:  Nearer to home in Washington, Connecticut, the Mayflower Inn is a truly tranquil place to escape to.  With beautifully landscaped grounds, luxurious fine dining, and spa you’d never want to leave, visitors here can indulge in as much (or as little) activity as they like.  I love the clean, refreshing design and traditional sophistication of the accommodations.

Mayflower Inn’s lovely grounds.

Understated sophistication.

Simple and uncluttered.

A treat from the dining room.

A more traditional, elegant room.

What hotel would you love visit?

The goal is to create a handsome room that will be suitable for this boy for many years to come.  I’m planning a room he can grow in, for the rest of his childhood and into his teens and early adulthood.  For that to happen, the bedroom has to contain elements that will appeal to the young boy as well as the person he will grow into.  I started with a palette of colors and patterns that are masculine without being too adult.

Sophisticated rather than juvenile.

For the walls, I chose a paper from Phillip Jeffries that I’d been wanting to use for a long time!

Rivets in Copper on Elephant Manila Hemp

The furnishings and accessories also fit the idea of creating a handsome room for this young man.  With leather accents, plaid, and other boyish touches, the furniture had to be solid and strong without overpowering the space.

Sutton Desk from Noir Furniture

French Academie Iron Bed from Restoration Hardware

Redhill Side Table from Noir

Steam Punk table lamp by Jamie Young

Another nice accent I used in this room is this leather braid for the window treatments.

Samuel and Sons Woven Italian Leather Braid

I can’t wait to see all of these elements come together to create a fantastic room!