Pier 1 seems to be changing their direction, presumably to compete with Target, toward affordably priced contemporary furnishings and accessories this year. While I don’t see much in the way of authentically inspired pieces, this Rooftop Lounger did catch my eye. Nice curved lines drew me in. It is made of solid Balau wood and runs $400. It is a Special Finds piece, which generally means that you won’t find it in most of their stores but will have to special order it. Interesting, how modern style is suddenly becoming trendy.


The ad for Fort Street Studio in Elle Decor caught my eye, and when I visited their website, I felt like I might have found an exquisite art gallery site instead, because these beautiful rugs are absolute works of art. Part of their “Classics” line, they are designed to be reminiscent of abstract watercolors with bleeding hues, and “painterly effects”. Hand cut and knotted, they are made of Dandong silk. Also of note are the 100% wild silk shag, tweed and relief rugs. The result of years spent in Hangzhou, China, artists Janis Provisor and Brad Davis blended the ancient art of the silk carpet with a modern concept to make carpets based on watercolors - painterly abstractions without the repeating patterns of most rugs or the usual hard-edged lines. The story of how they made that idea a reality is an interesting read in the History section of their site.

All of the carpets shown on the site are stunning. Prices aren’t listed. Highly recommended as eye candy and the stuff of my interior design fantasies.


I’ve been in a rotten state of limbo lately. I rearranged my fairly traditionally laid out living room with the thought in mind that a new positioning, a new arrangement of art, would bring me a clean, more modern sensability in the room. Boy, was I ever wrong. I seem innately able to compose eclectic rooms and still quite incompetent at editing anything. I am determined to study only very severe rooms until I learn my lesson. Ok, maybe not severe, neccessarily. But I do need to study the art of creating aesthetically pleasing rooms without believing that accessories must be used to soften the lines. I’m going to start with this picture of the lobby at the New Orleans hotel, Loft 523.

Yes, I know, A hotel lobby does not a home make, but I think this room is nice in its simplicity and grace. I need a bit more simplicity and grace in my life. Plus, they have a painting by one of my favorite artists, David Harouni, in their lobby. Very nice.