Style Sightings from the Outer Banks

Why is getting back to real life such a rude awakening after being on vacation?!

Today was my first day back at work after a beautiful, long, lounging, relaxing week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It turned out to be a rather late night after pulling the store back together and putting out the new merchandise that was received while I was away. Due to the hour, here is just a taste of the stylish documentations you can look forward to!


The ever stylish Southern rocker---always enough for a small party to view the beautiful vistas from every angle. Reading spot, conversation pit, napping, sunning, breakfasting in true southern style.

Our very stylishly private doc, generally occupied 24/7 by my 8 year old grandson and his father, my son Ryan. Ample sunning, fishing, fishing, fishing and more fishing, reading, swimming and leisurely walks down the boardwalk. High tide proved successful for the best fishing, midnight or dawn! Stylish beds were furnished for those of us who cared not for fishing. Tales of the sea the following morning, very stylish indeed!

Stay tuned, as there are numerous style reports yet to come...

Susan's Personal Stash...Now Available!

We had a particularly busy week in the retail store last week. To me, that is both good news and bad news! I don't mind telling you that I often have a problem selling the things that I love, and especially right after I have spent hours re merchandising and designing inspiration vignettes. I realize that the whole name of the game is to sell the merchandise, but I still have issues! Of course, I realize that the profitability of the retail division depends on selling the treasures that I have found. In addition to this, good sales translates into work for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the merchandising and while it is definitely my "night shift" , I enjoy the time I spend alone and the creative outlet along with moments of inspiration are really fulfilling. I often wonder how I ever turned this over to others in past times, as I really love this work.

That being said, at the end of the week, as I looked around the store and saw blank spaces and bare walls everywhere, I had to agree with the grave concerns of my staff members as to the condition of the store on the eve of my leaving town for a beach vacation with my darling family members. As often they do, there was encouragement for me to go right home and scour the garage and basement for inventory that might fill in these blanks. Generally, I roll my eyes and scold them for supposing that I could part with personal "inventory" for the betterment of the store...but, as I looked around, I had to admit that it must might be what was needed.

I began the objective rifling through my storage areas for items that I had purchased for my own use and somehow never found a place for in my own home. And, I ended up with a whole van full of favorite purchases that I reluctantly felt I could donate to the cause. (I might say that Sneelock was extremely pleased with the culling and very ready to load up the van!)

This is my stash unloaded in the back of the stockroom! Needless to say, all were totally surprised when I showed up with the requested goods! I had a pang of regret as we began to open the boxes, some purchased from Black-eyed Susan years ago and in their original boxes. Many of my very favorite floral items, containers, art...yes, indeed, some real second thoughts as Connie began to quickly enter the items into inventory and print the price tags before I could snatch them back !

Many of my long time supporters and fans will remember these cut roses! They even have insect bites out of the petals! Assorted colors and looking like they were just cut, they now are available for your homes. How happy and pleasing the colorful bunches look. My gift to the cause!



Here is a collection of some of my absolute favorite hydrangeas, viburnum, queen anne's lace, berries, and chinese lanterns. I had always meant to make a gorgeous wreath from this prized collection. Now, Joanne will put it together for an inspiring wreath to be sold. Sad for me, lucky for you!

And, there's a lot more to choose from! Favorite containers, art and small accents of all kinds to be had.

I think you'd better come in soon before I decide to take it all back home.

A Visit to Racheal's Room!

It's always a joy to arrive at the destination of a new client's home and find so many instant treasures!

Of course,I was thrilled that this charming parcel had a name!

This tiny historic door (with Black-eyed Susans on the front to boot!) filled us with instant anticipation for what might be in store. We weren't disappointed.

Racheal's cute mother had seen our sheer 100% linen embroidered dot soft roman shades in our recent designer room and the rest is history. Take a look at this adorable 4 year old's room dressed in twin beds with one of my favorite sytles of bedspreads. Linen upholstered twin beds flank this family heirloom-- the petal pink chest of drawers. It was my suggestion to move the chest between the beds and it was an instant "yes"!



I didn't think to take a shot of the windows dressed in the new linen shades, but you'll have to take my word for it...perfection!


We "ooo'd and awe'd" as we took in all the collectable accents around the room and Jackie quickly made notes while my mind worked overtime to conjour up additional layers needed to complete the room.


You must stay tuned for more progress on this project!




As we were leaving, I peeked into the rear courtyard, and just look at the color Amy (homeowner) had painted the guesthouse! Almost perfect "venetian gold"! This made my heart sing. I'll be anxiously awaiting our next visit to this charming historic home.

BES Backstock?

Last Saturday our first annual Summer Wreath Sale launched!

Enter Andrew!

Andrew is a regular! Never mind that he has to treck almost an hour to get to us. So much a regular, that on his visit early Saturday morning, it was decided that should Black-eyed Susan fall short of inventory, and Susan's personal stash along with Trish's basement stash fell equally short....aaa would be our next (and most likely, equal) source for immediate back stock!


Andrew purchased an abundance, one could say, of my favorite lime green peonies-both large and small! Although this image is not the finest (taken by Trish on her I-phone), it was a great documentation of the purchase of one our finest and most loyal fans. The day was off to a great start...except for the many clients who came in after aaa to purchase this popular flower!

Oh well, the early bird gets the worm.

Come in for more options for beautiful summer wreaths...still at 30% off for one more week!



(Try not to fret, more of these beauties are already on the way!)

And then, there's always Andrew's basement!

*Does anyone else out there have this BES back stock problem?*

The Susan Rules; "Forget the Rules, Arouse the Senses"

Tonight's event was "the Susan Rules...Forget the Rules, Arouse the Senses!" We had a great turnout and alot of great interaction and comments in discussion form. The discussion with photo examples, was to inspire us to design with our own signature, inspired by others and outside sources. We talked about designing a little outside the box of the norm, and unexpected yet purposeful placement. We got a bit involved in talking about the obsessiveness of collecting and had one darling participant who's problem was not knowing what to collect! Oh, my, to have such a problem.

This is an example I embellished last night prior to leaving for home, adding layers to the existing art and finding homes for many of the accessories I brought back from the Designer House.

In the process of returning the furniture, lamps, and accessories to the retail store, one huge domino effect occur ed and resulted in an entire floor change (come in to see for yourself!), and my new summer themed windows. Sneelock usually photographs the windows for me, but just as I was leaving tonight I took a chance on getting something worthy to publish...until the real thing is done by him.

I learned recently that my windows are "famous" and a real draw! I'll take that.

Take a look for yourself, and you can always ask to see Fred's (oops, Sneelock's) in the next few weeks. It's darn hard to not get the glare, the traffic, and the stop light involved.

Orange a green, a great theme.

Dressing and changing the windows is a huge project to tackle in the late night hours, but all in all, totally rewarding! A trip to see them in person would be the real ticket.

I'll be waiting!

Empty

Well, it's almost over. The room is empty. The rug gone. The holes patched and painted. The furniture re-delivered back to Black-eyed Susan and my client. No more books. No more letters. No more buttons. No more pillows. No more sofas.....you get the picture.

We spent the day today packing, hauling, patching, vacuuming, painting, and occasionally being sad! At the end of the day, I took a look around and couldn't resist arranging the last few items waiting to be picked up from Designer Sales, into a more pleasing presentation than just "on the shelves"...see for yourself!

Making it cute for sold items waiting to be picked up....

Sad,sad,sad, very sad.

Until next year...

All in all, a very busy day. And, a little bit sad.

A Successful Ending...and, a little sad!

The 2009 Bucks County Designer House came to an end today. It is always a little bittersweet when the house closes. So many hours has gone into the design and presentation, then we staff the room and "live in it" for a month. It's easy to become attached and feel a true ownership of the room. This one felt particularly warm and calm. The response was overwhelmingly good . All in all, it was a great experience and being only a few miles from home helped as well!

I lingered and took these final stills of some of my favorite areas. (Feel free to skip over, as you will see, I had a lot of favorites!) These shots are also for permanent documentation of a project I put my heart into. I really love this room.

One of my favorite bookcase vignettes, featuring vintage books, favorite framed spectacles w/button and tiny round bulls eye mirror.

Another favorite bookshelf featuring vintage books, clocks and a very fond old framed hound.



Poor lighting didn't help this shoot! More books, buttons (in abundance throughout my room, and I simply adore these old pigeon trophies. The art, a framed card of buttons from a Paris flea market.



One of the other bookshelves framing the mantle. I painted all the entire bookcase/mantle wall my favorite black-Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. Look at these hand carved fish, more old books, an old trophy soldered, and sent by my father for one of my birthdays, and an old Polish document as framed art. These bookshelves remind me of this quote,"Sorry to appear insistent, but I must have my trinkets"!



Hanging on one of the adjacent walls to the bookcase, another collage of vintage buttons and a ladies watch face. Love this frame!


Making the bookcases complete, the mantle! Black urns, carved doves (coveted by all who visited the room!), old maps rolled up, feathery ferns, Paris books,ceramic finials, and a beautiful serene photograph that could be the Bucks County countryside. I could definitely live with this.

A cropped close-up of the carved doves on the mantle.

I had to take this photo of the firewood that I used as sculpture! Sneelock cut it from the fallen trees on the grounds with precise cuts just the right size.


Favorite painted chest of drawers (don't forget to use them in hallways, foyers and bathrooms....not just for bedrooms!

Wall of plates, mostly vintage cream ware with my assorted framed buttons and keys coll aged in amongst them. This wall was a favorite for most guests.

Closeup of the dove wall sconce plucked from my guest room as an afterthought. I sold these in my store about 10 years ago, and could have made a killing if I would have had 30 or so to sell.

The small original letters with dates in the mid 1800's from Paris that I found in some of my old books became art for the wall. Ahhhhhh. I love old documents! Beautiful colored inks and the most fabulous penmanship.

Bring me your cherished correspondence and I'll help you frame them!

Fabulous Black-eyed Susan ferns, lush and full! No water, please!




A shot of the entrance into our room from the foyer. The ferns were the perfect drama to flank the entrance into the living room. Also noted, the three iron mirrors over the front door. This is a favorite space of mine to accent.

Giant birds nest fern. I love this plant, I suppose it's the cost that others don't love. This could be one of those inventory items that I would never be sorry to end up owning!

Linen chair with monogrammed french flea market linen resting on it. Hmmm...wonder where that "T" will end up! (Don't worry, I have more in the store.)


That all too favorite silk pillow collection with pompom embellishments. There could not have been a finer compliment to the room!



That pop of color to an overall calm room--pumpkin and taupey-grey silk throws. Wow.



I used this square bolster on the floor with an old open book on it just for a bit of whimsy. WAY cute pillow!! And, not a bad shot of that extraordinary $48,000.00 rug!



Goodbye beautiful mid century rug.



There were several favorites by those who visited the room. One was this vintage frame tied into the window with a chocolate french ribbon. It served as the backdrop for books tied with raffia and a sophisticated painted dove sculpture.

The swing-arm drapery rods, linen banded panels, and sheer linen embroidered dot shades were another noted favorite. I love them as well!

A good shot of the poised swing-arm rods with the linen painted lampshade which marries the linen furniture and the wall color, in the foreground.



This dramatic and loved chandelier took center stage. I called it, "Bucks County meets New York"!

I staffed the room the second half of closing day and when the final notes played on my jazz CD, the lights were turned off for the final time and I took one last look at the room, it was with a tiny twinge of sadness!

Deep windowsills make my heart sing. Featured in this one, an urn filled with fantail pussy willows, collected globes, and framed seashells. Would you think to put those items together?! Sometimes, it all about color and scale. It works. Still loving those swing-arms!!


A really good closeup and I promise, that last shot of the swing-arm drapery rods!



One last self portrait of me in the room . The lights are off now. Goodbye Color of Calm.