Colorful Otomi

This colorful Otomi lampshade...

Design by Anna Spiro, image from Absolutely Beautiful Things

Reminds me of the GORGEOUS painting that takes center stage in this living room:

Design by Liz Caan, image from La Dolce Vita

I've never seen this traditional Mexican textile depicted in a painting before. Not sure if the artist intended an Otomi motif, but it looks like it to me. 

The scale of the painting makes the room, don't you think? I love how it overlaps the wainscoting and touches the crown molding. And it makes everything else in the room look perfect together. 

On a side note, when I was recently in Mexico, I really had to hold back on buying a zillion dollars worth of Otomi linens at the airport. They are so so beautiful in person!

 

Friday Crush

Spotted this stunning guest room designed by Susan Tucker over on House of Turquoise. One thing I absolutely must have at some point is a guest room that boasts twin beds - I am dying to create this symmetrical look. The actual beds alone of this room are outstanding. But the wallpaper and touches of green and ivory, well, make it sensational.

See more of this room here...

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. See you Monday!

 

Modern Touch

Photo by Pieter Estersohn via Architectural Digest

The modern touch of the electric blue parsons table is wonderfully brilliant in this space. Overall this dining room is a wee bit too traditional for my taste, but with the table, I instantly love it. The juxtaposition of opposite elements always gets me.

Do you lean more toward cohesive spaces or ones that serve up some tension?
 

Orange Velvet Arm Chair

Today, I'm telling you that you need an orange velvet arm chair. And you should pair it with a color-drenched, patterned pillow and paint the room where it will sit a shade of minty-aqua. Like so:

Kudos to Home Decorators for selling this chair because the price is reasonable at $399 and it comes in orange velvet - a risk, as I would guess that the masses don't realize the potential of such a combination. Good thing we do.

 

Wallpapered Ceiling

Photo by Patrick Cline

I have been contemplating the ceilings of my house lately. The majority are all white, and that fact is starting to annoy me. I love a detailed ceiling and I adore rooms where the ceiling gets lost. Like this one by Angie Hranowsky in the latest issue of Lonny.

The only room with a painted ceiling in our house is our bedroom, mainly because it has awkward slanted bits, like this space, and painting it one uniform color made it all flow and feel more open. It's a brilliant little trick, but I like that Angie pushed the envelope by wallpapering with a divine orange and pink Chinoiserie paper - so perfect for a little lady.

 

Chocolate Phoebe

Let's start our week by delighting in this fantastic chocolate space by Phoebe Howard:

I love the herringbone decorative treatment in the fireplace, the rug, the Chinoiserie coffee table, the horn-ish garden stool/end table, and the fact that the whole room (including ceiling and moldings) is painted a glossy chocolate brown. Phoebe is so great at making a cohesive room that is so pleasing to the eye - she works with harmony as opposed to discord.

I spotted these images on the Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper blog - they are from Phoebe's room at the 2010 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

 

Friday Crush

Do you remember my friend Esther who gave me the heads up on this wallpaper? Well, I consider her my Parisian stringer as her job in the art world has her jet-setting between NYC and Paris (yes, I'm jealous). I spent some QT with her last weekend and she was showing me pictures of the venue for her upcoming wedding, in Paris, and this picture of the decorative marble floor was too lovely not to post. She will be getting hitched at le Pavillon de la Musique, Louveciennes whose rooms, let me tell you, leave absolutely nothing to be desired. A stunning place to exchange vows. And I was just looking at iPhone pictures...I can't imagine how gorgeous it is in person. Thanks for sharing Esther!

Have a fab weekend everyone...see you Monday!

 

Butterflies

Illustrator Caitlin McGauley launched a new website recently and I know we all enjoy her work for Lonny. I love that the new site lets you purchase some of her limited edition prints, and my favorite is below.

I think everyone needs a butterfly print. I have one and it's one of my favorite wall pieces in my living room. And this one by Caitlin is fantastic due to the pink background. Give this a black mat and a gold frame and you're in business.

 

The Power of Orange

Imagine a room with lavender walls and any single item below, and tell me if it's not the most amazing imaginary combination ever.

Orange. It's always amazing.

All of these goods are available for you via Jill Sorensen's "orange shop" at LiveLikeYou. Want to shop other colors? Click here.

 

Kristen Buckingham

If you were stunned into silence by the Chinoiserie etagere from yesterday, then you'll definitely want to check out Kristen Buckingham's portfolio (purveyor of aforementioned stunner).

Here is but a mere taste of what this Cali-based designer whips up:

All images via kristenbuckingham.com

Isn't her work amazing?! She spans the (what I like to call) "sensory overload" look all the way to clean and neutral, seamlessly. Love, love looking at her portfolio and discovering another fab designer. She is right up our alley. Enjoy.

 

Chinoiserie Etagere

Thought we should get this week started right. Have you ever seen a more perfect Chinoiserie specimen? The Laurent Etagere from Kristen Buckingham. This piece is available in custom finishes and you know a coat of high lacquer paint in say, cobalt blue, would elevate it to levels beyond human comprehension.

Hope your week is as beautiful as this piece.

 

Friday Crush

I was instantly attracted to these city guides currently featured on One Kings Lane. The modern cover design is so lovely and the array of colors would look splendid displayed on a coffee table or a bookcase. OKL has a good selection of destination/color combos...check them out here (you'll need an account to access). A great gift for your chic traveler.

Have a wonderful weekend...see you Monday!

 

Chinoiserie Matches

Even your matches can sport a Chinoiserie look with these incredibly adorable matchboxes from Annechovie:

Ginger Jar Matches

Worcester Jar Matches

Small packages. Good things.

 

Gold Stripe China Patterns

Y'all, I'm posting lots of china patterns these days. I love to look at it and find that this blog is the appropriate venue to show what I find. I can't get enough! I hope to one day amass a minimum of ten different patterns. One of my life goals.

So this time, I have found two wonderful gold STRIPE china patterns. I tend to lean toward gold versus silver when it comes to tableware and once you add a stripe, well, I'm all in.

First up is Serengeti by Haviland. Love the thicker stripe and the large gold border of the plates.

And second is Hemisphere Gold Stripe by Jean-Louis Coquet. It's a little Dr. Seuss, but juxtaposed with a gorgeous Chinoiserie dinner plate, this striped wonder would make the absolute most chic table I've ever seen.

I understand the allure of a simple gold-rimmed pattern but, personally, I need a little umph on my table and while I typically opt for colorful patterned place settings, these striped options bring home the glitz while sticking to a simple golden hue that can be mixed with my other (eventual) nine china patterns.

 

John Robshaw via Barbara Franceski

Those of you in the DC area likely know that John Robshaw spoke at the Corcoran Gallery of Art last week. I not only bought a ticket, but made a pre-show dinner date with DC-based interior designer Barbara Franceski to catch up on her recent accomplishments to share with you guys.

Alas, other last-minute commitments kept me from attending the presentation and said dinner, but Barbara agreed to give us a peek into her thoughts on John Robshaw's lecture.

Enjoy Barbara's post!...

Images via johnrobshaw.com

A BIG THANKS, Daniela, for this special opportunity to guest blog for Aesthetic Oiseau!

The minute I learned John Robshaw would be speaking at the Corcoran, I bought a ticket. His textiles beckon us to faraway places, so I knew his personal insights on India and Asia would be a treat. As one eye-catching slide topped another, I found myself wowed not only by the striking dyes and intricate block patterns he uses, but by Creativity itself. Vegetables seen in the local markets, birds, exotic doorways, even camels influence color palettes for his lovely designs!

Robshaw joked that camels being traded at festivals “all look like they are going to a cocktail party.” How could you not want to spend time there?

Being open to new experiences and opportunities is what originally led him to India. Instantly intrigued by the country’s traditions and great respect for hand work, he found local workshops to connect with and most of all, learn from...these same interests also steered him to Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand. In the mode of doing new things, his unique brand emerged.

His greatest lesson as a purveyor of all this beauty? Patience. Robshaw is now even having fun with fashion. Lucky is currently featuring prints that have been picked from his archives.

I’m mesmerized by how John Robshaw has put his own spin on “the fabric of the world” for us. All due to his penchant for exploration, discovery, and the vision to take creative liberty with generations-old traditions and methods. You can purchase his line (and enjoy more photos) here.

After the Corcoran event with John, who wore a blazer crafted from some of his gorgeous upholstery fabric!

Thank you so much Barbara!