Lussier Allure

Please don't roll your eyes at the Hermes; this was 2003. Besides, that's not the point.

If, like Lussier, you want a copy of Diana Vreeland's Allure (a vintage one - there is a re-release in October), there was one at Half Price Books in Westport the last time I was there. 50 clams.

Image Roger Lussier, his own home, photographed by Thibault Jeanson, Southern Accents, March/April 2003.

Lussier's Creamy Cabinet

Here we go, the reoccurring theme of green and white.

Hanging cabinet, chocked full of creamware and Chinese export porcelain. Hard to argue with that.

Images, Roger Lussier, his own home, photographed by Thibault Jeanson, Southern Accents, March/April 2003.

And to Bed

Curtains do seem to be one element that instantly date a room. Pity as they are so pricey.

But many of Lussier's objects are equally appealing today. Could this be a Claire Potter lamp?

Images, Roger Lussier, his own home, photographed by Thibault Jeanson for Southern Accents, March/April, 2003.

Roger Lussier - White Knight

Previously, I have posted two versions of Roger Lussier's Boston apartment. The first was published in '89 and the second in '94. (You might remember that Suzanne Rheinstein noted Lussier's apartment was a space that would last in the Enduring Styles series.)

My needlepoint guru recently passed along piles of Southern Accents and I whiled away a few mornings catching up with that old friend.

This is a third version of Lussier's apartment which appeared in SA in March/April of 2003. Another jewel. With white walls.

Photography by Thibault Jeanson.

One on One

Seems to me that when one to watch (according to Elle Decor and many, many of the bloggerati)

teams with One Kings Lane

to offer up a sale of hand-selected items,

well, it seems to me it's worth a click. Stop in to One Kings Lane from July 24 - 26 (that's starting tomorrow) to see what San Francisco designer, Grant Gibson has cleared out of his burgeoning storage space. Grant has an exacting and well-trained eye and One Kings Lane is a great go-to spot for design at a discount.

All images courtesy Grant Gibson.

Desk Set

Months ago former Kansas Citian, Kate Donnelly, asked me to snap a photo of my desk for her very engaging site From the Desk of. It took me a shameful amount of time to make it presentable.

You can check the post here, then read the other profiles. If you are expecting super-styled, accessorized fantasyland, don't; this is where people work. You'll be embarrassed by what I consider clean. That's Kate, above, who is incredibly patient and nice. Stop in and see her.

Header art and photo via From the Desk Of.

White on White

You probably already know this. It's like someone telling you that sugary snacks are not good for you. But if you read the text from the Elle Decor piece on John Dransfield's and Geoffrey Ross's home, above, you know that Parish-Hadley originally decorated the house.

Which you can see hither and yon. My image comes from Influential Interiors by Suzanne Trocme, but the house also appears in Parish Hadley, Sixty Years of American Design. Which I don't own, but yearn for. I thought this was the case (that this was the same house, not that I yearned for the book) when local dealer, Barbara Farmer called to tell me she had the magazine and the book open on her desk.

The previous owner of the home moved here, a spot also decorated by Albert Hadley. All beautifully crafted with white walls. White walls may be the theme for the rest of July.

Images from top, Dransfield and Ross in Elle Decor, July/August 2010, photography by Simon Upton; Albert Hadley from Influential Interiors by Suzanne Trocme, photography Michael Mundy, I think; Albert Hadley from House Beautiful, photography by Simon Watson.

2 for 2

If you have not seen Miles Redd's project in this month's Town & Country you should make a point to pick it up on your lunch hour. One of the things that caught my eye about this room was not one, but two - two! - pairs of Christopher Spitzmiller lamps. This doubles my regular lamp envy.

That being said, Chris is having a seconds sale and you can pick up one or two or four of his beauties at a discount. He will happily work with out of town customers, but it's helpful, necessary really, if you have an idea of what you need when you call. You can see styles and glaze samples at his site here.

Image, top, is Miles Redd for Danielle and Glen Rollins. This is my image of a much better photo by Francesco Lagnese.

Scanning the Horizon

The boys' swim season has just ended and this year was the first time the youngest participated. As he sat at clerk of the course (don't ask) preparing for his first event my mother-in-law said, "He looks nervous." "You think? Why?" "He's swinging his feet." I looked closer at his lean frame, his forearms resting lightly on the arms of the chair. He was already wearing his googles, their mirrored lenses gleaming in the sunlight, though he would not need their protection for another five minutes or so. "He's not nervous. He's happy."

He's pretty much always happy unless his older brothers are being older brothers and even then his bother is brief. He inspires me.

As Megan Arquette has inspired me with her post of an image of Charlotte Perriand (you must) in a moment that is joy personified.

As does Diane Dorrans Saeks who featured Bellamont House in Ireland and its beautiful white walls. I'm having a flirtation with white walls and am fantasizing about their crisp, clean freshness.

Which is why I pulled this spread. No other reason than it confirmed my attraction to green and black and white. And happy. Just scrapbooking and playing connect the dots.

All images Veranda, July/August 2001, photography by Casey Sills.

Marija Stephens

You might have seen this elsewhere, but a fellow blogger, Marija Stephens of Holding Court was killed in a car accident last week. I found Marija's blog originally through a comment she made here. I can't remember what it was, but it was smart, and likely funny, and it made me click through to see what she was doing on her own site; I never missed a post after that.

I had planned a trip to Chicago, where Marija lived, to see Thomas O'Brien speak and meet long-time blog friend Magnaverde, and felt incredibly fortunate that Marija could join us for the day. We had exchanged several emails and had hit it off. We both have children of similar ages and a passion for design and had discovered an affinity for talking about it on-line. She wasn't striving for anything, she didn't need to be a part of any perceived group, she was just creating really interesting content. She had a great point of view. Even though she was a designer I never felt like she was "building her business" through blogging. She just liked it.

You never know how things are going to go when you meet someone you've known only on-line. It would be easy for someone to pretend to be something she's not. Of course she hadn't. And even Magna, who was unfamiliar with her blog when they met, found her smart and funny and engaging. Instant connection.

Blogging is funny sport. You can use it for profit and you can use it for ill, but I started and have stayed with it for community. Marija wasn't the only friend who I have met via this screen, but I will remember her as one of the bright spots.

Marija's camera wasn't working or she forgot it or the battery died or something so I snapped this picture for her. Typical. Unfocused. I am so glad I have it.