Designer Spotlight A-Z: Philip Gorrivan

I love Philip Gorrivan's style!!
His website is great, but his blog could use a little help in my opinion.  hire me Philip!

 Philip in Real Simple Magazine.

the next few pictures are from his personal home.  It was featured in Elle Decor in 09.

 great symmetrical wall art. 

great asymmetrical frames.
and stripes and prints! yes 

 his daughter's bedroom. 

 his eat in kitchen.

and some more of his work just for fun.

and remember this headboard?? it's Philip Gorrivan too!

Happy Easter Monday if you're living in a country with the Queen still on your money! :)

Designer Spotlight A-Z: Frank Fontana

is it ok that I am too lazy today to actually write anything??
I don't think anyone really read these anyway.
this is Frank.
you might have seen him on HGTV, the Today Show, or Oprah. 
see his website here.

Designer Spotlight A-Z: Kelli Ellis

You may have seen Kelli Ellis on HGTV, TLC, or Bravo... she's a pretty popular girl!
I'll spare you too many details, you can check out her website
she also has this thing called The Kelli Kit... I'm still undecided about how I feel about it. 
on one hand I think it's great that she wants to teach people how to do things themselves and yaddi yadda, but I just really hate the website.  I think it looks like a bad infomercial (which is what it is, yea?)
I'll let you decide for yourself.... and on any account Kelli is a great designer!

pictures from her website. 

Some make overs from HGTV 

 before

after: 50 inspired kitchen 

 before 

 after: Rock & Roll bedroom for teen 

Designer Spotlight A-Z: Dorothy Draper

Do you know Dorothy Draper??
She was one of the first pioneers in interior decorating
and her husband was FDR's personal doctor (oooohh aaahhh) and then he dumped her, but she showed him!
In 1939 she wrote a book called "Decorating is Fun! How to Be Your Own Decorator" and became one of the most famous designers in American history!

she decorated numerous fabulous places & they said that after she was done they had been "Draperized" haha!
she loved intense colors, shiny checkered floors, bold prints, and florals!
whats not to love about that??

In 1946 she decorated the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia and in 2007 it was given a bit of a facelift from her protege Carleton Varney. 
It's pretty fabulous if you ask me

 the original lobby.

 an original siting room

 the outside of the restaurant named in her honor at the Greenbrier
designed by Carleton Varney

the re-vamped lobby by Carleton Varney

I actually have on of Varney's old books at home! I got it at the goodwill! score!

but remind me to get this book when I get home!!

and to spotlight Carleton Varney when I get to the Vs :)

Designers Spotlight A-Z: Anne Coyle

C! week 3 already!

I randomly stumbled on Anne Coyle when I was researching another great designer (Melanie Coddington) but Anne caught my eye and is a little more my style.

What drew me to her was her use of art found in nature. I just made that up btw.
art found in nature.  that is my new line! yea, perhaps a new weekly post. 
There is so much art to be found in nature. 
sea fans are a personal favorite of mine.
coral, shells, branches, drift wood, flowers, sand dollars, star fish.... etc.
and Anne likes them too! \
all photos from her website & I may have "pinned them too" :)

Source: annecoyleinteriors.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: annecoyleinteriors.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: annecoyleinteriors.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: annecoyleinteriors.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

this room is so luxe.

Designer Spotlight A-Z : Betsy Burnham

double Bs, whatcha think about that!

I recently learned about Betsy Burnham and her Instant/Space services.
It's basically online design services. 
You take pictures of your home, measure, and let them know your style.
She then creates a design board and floor plan
and you can decide which pieces you love and buy and decorate yourself at your own pace.
and she gets paid!

Creating Design boards for a living would be my dream!!!
Betsy hire me!!!!
or if someone out there would like to give me a stab at your room (for free)  I would be thrilled!
haha, friends let me know if I can give you some ideas!

example of Betsy's online design services

and some of my favorite rooms from her portfolio.... the lady likes red!!

Designer Spotlight : Jonathan Adler

I'm going to start a new Monday series... going through different designers A-Z. 
I love to learn about new designers, as well as the old, so if anyone has a suggestion of someone I should spotlight please let me know!!

I will start with an obvious choice for the letter A, one of my favorites - Jonathan Adler.

I love love love his 'manifesto'

We believe that your home should make you happy.
We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right.
Unless the husband is gay.
We believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.
We believe minimalism is a bummer.
We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
We believe tassels are the earrings of the home.
We believe in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard,
Bonnie Cashin. Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman,
Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.
We believe in the innate chicness of red with brown.
We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.
We believe in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts.
We believe celebrities should pay full price.
We believe in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses,
raw beams, and geodesic dome homes.
We believe in Palm Beach style:
Louis chairs, chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa '72.
We believe our designs are award winning even though
they've never actually won any.
We believe in Aid to Artisans.
We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.
We believe in mantiques - suits of armour,
worn chesterfield sofas, heraldic tapestries.
We believe you should throw out your Blackberry
and go pick some actual blackberries.
We believe colors can't clash.
We believe in blowing your nest egg on our pots.
We believe our lamps will make you look younger and thinner.
We believe in irreverent luxury.

Someday I too will have such a manifesto.  I must start writing it now.  I wish he hadn't used the line "we believe that minimalism is a bummer"  that could very well be my life's motto.

these images are from his awesome, jam packed, website

He is so fun!! Please check out his 10 commandments for a Happy Chic Home

and just a few more of my favorite rooms from him...