I caught the pink bug this week and decided to re-do my office…in my mind! For the sake of imagination, I am pretending I live in a warm weather climate. I have a fabulous office space of my own with high ceilings and wonderful old mouldings. While I’m at it, let’s also re-invent me to resemble Angelina Jolie….. However, this could be any woman’s office, and a darn pretty one at that!

Start with Farrow & Ball’s No. 202 on the walls. Add a glitzy chandelier and drapes that pack a huge punch of color. How about a funky sawhorse style work-table like this one from West Elm?

This is one room where I cannot go without vintage elements. Vintage lamps, hot pink occasional chairs, and a retro credenza complement a Rococo-inspired mirror on the wall.

Throw down an exotic, vintage zebra hide rug. Upholster a sofa and Wing-back chair in unexpected fabrics like a criss cross plum and geometric pink. Tie everything together with some more fun fabrics on the toss pillows! Super feminine, yet glamorous!

I want to hear from you! What’s in your dream home-office?

I am concerned about a few friends and clients who are exhibiting signs of addiction. Let me put this into perspective. It’s an addiction to the online retailer One King’s Lane.

What I see happening is a rampant and impulsive buying inclination. Buying any and every thing they even remotely like—-because it’s “on sale” and for a limited time. This new e-tail category has cornered a brilliant spin on retail psychology and paired it with darn good merchandise. In fact, the “TasteMaker Tag Sales” are amazing. But, just because it’s good and on sale, doesn’t always mean you should buy it—NOW!

I am no psychologist, just an ordinary person who does interior design for a living, so what I am about to say must be prefaced by that admission.

Here is my advice.

If you think you may be suffering from One King’s Lane Addiction:

1. Pause, take a moment, and ask yourself, do I want this or do I NEED this?
2. Place the item in your “shopping cart”, and solicit the opinion from a trusted friend or designer before clicking “BUY”. (This is something one of my addict clients has begun to practice, and I think it is a strong step toward recovery…)
3. Ask yourself, is this item the right color, shape, etc or am I just buying it because it’s a good brand and it’s on sale?

Good luck and be strong!

Lamps: So Important!

I can’t tell you how often I go into a poorly lit room. It’s dark, feels empty, almost soul-less. Well, that may be a bit of an overstatement, but you know what I mean. What a huge difference the right lighting makes. I think lamps are one of the most important accessories. Good ones are worth every penny you spend.

They can and should be bold, shapely and fun. Not only do they add to the utility of a space (actual lighting) but they become a presence—a personality, adorning tables, console, chests and on the floor. When thinking about table lamps, my thought is go big. Color is great, but I am a huge fan of white or cream porcelain lamps. They can be modern or transitional—even traditional.

It all depends on the shade. Let me ask you, have you ever thought about a lampshade—even once? You may be surprised at the difference a different shade makes atop a lamp. Linen and paper tend to be more casual—silk and/or pleating is more formal. A drum shade is fun whereas a pagoda shade is more serious. White is cool and stark whereas off white is softer and less austere.

My Lamp Laws:

1. The simple change of a shade can enliven a tired lamp and make it fresh to look at.
2. Try to differentiate the material of a lamp from the surface it will sit on; i.e. never a glass lamp on a glass table, a wood lamp on a wood table, etc. This creates layers of texture.
3. Same rules apply: too big is a statement and too small is wimpy.
4. Every room probably needs at least one floor lamp.
5. Consistency is key. Pairs are good. Try to keep shade colors the same in a room. A bight white linen shaded lamp will not be great in the same room with an off white paper shaded one.

I will never forget the first time I saw snow—having been born and raised in Florida, I was a freshman at Boston College when I looked out my dorm room window and saw my first flakes. What excitement! I ran outside, rolled on the ground and opened my mouth to eat the snowflakes in utter amazement and sheer joy.

And, now, it’s not so new anymore… It has been snowing here in Boston since January began, and frankly, I am getting fed up. Winter snow, all fresh and white, really is something to look at. That is, until it gets plowed and driven through and turns into gray filthy mud. I took these images and drew inspiration—to share with you: palettes of fresh white. Graphic and stark. Slowly fading to muted gray. Still beautiful, just not as fresh!