Christmas is Upon Is

I found a few photos from my old standby's Elle Decor and Martha Stewart.  If you are in need of a few last minute decorations we have the holiday decor below.  And we're having 25" off all holiday fro now until Christmas Eve!

Amarylis are the perfect holiday floral and far more sophisticated than Poinsetias.  We have one left so come in and grab it! Photo: Elledecor.com

The oversized pine cones are a simple centerpiece.  We have them mixed with moss balls and crackled glass spheres at The Summer House. Photo: Elledecor.com

Still some wreaths left featuring pine cones and a mix of greens. Photo: elledecor.com

Shiny shiny shiny!  Red, silver, and gold glitter beeswax candles 25% off now through Christmas Eve. Photo: Marthastewart.com (Actually, from the shuttered Blurprint and I still have my old issues!)

Okay, these aren't for sale but we do have them in our window! Photo: Marthastewart.com

We have a 7' white feather Christmas tree at the store.  Order yours for next year.  We are SO happy with ours and so are the clients who ordered theirs! Photo: Marthastewart.com

Birch planters are another subtle holiday touch. Photo: Marthastewart.com

I just love how simple this is.  Get some pillar candles and nice ribbon to add a little color for holidays.  Make it easy and pick tone on tone.  Simple color palettes work best. Photo: Marthastewart.com

 How are you decorating for the holidays?

Margaret

Warm by the Fire

The cold and grey days make me long for a quiet evening by the fire.  I love the warmth, the crackling sound, the orange glow, and how the wonderful smell fills the house.  There is nothing like a good book and a toasty fire.  Hope this warms you!

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Martha Stewart

Photo: Martha Stewart

Photo: Martha Stewart

Photo: Elle Decor (From the sadly deceased Metropolitan Home)

New Artist at The Summer House

We are so excited to welcome Scott Kahn to The Summer House.  On Saturday we put up four prints and we've had a great response already.  Scott's statement says it all:


I consider my work to be a visual diary, a record of my life, a reporting of the
places and people I encounter. It is not easy to begin a painting, despite the variety and
complexity of the world. It is important to me to have a reason to paint, for the impulse
to be strong. If I do not feel compelled to work, how can I expect the viewer to respond
to what I am reporting? If I am successful, hopefully, the painting will have depth,
poetry, and honesty. The effect should be direct and clear. To achieve this result, a
creative person calls upon every tool available to him: technical, emotional, intuitive, and
intellectual. The act of creating, therefore, teaches us and reveals to us who we are and
our relationship to life. This is why I paint. - Scott Kahn

 Berkshire Nightscape 18" W x 20" H

Lunar Eclipse 17 1/4" W x 20" H

March Moon 20" H x 18 1/8" W

Griswold Point 16 3/4" H x 20" W

 

Legendary Interior Designer David Easton at The Summer House

A quick reminder that David Easton will be at The Summer House tomorrow for a book signing starting at noon!

 

David Easton, a titan of the Interior design world, is best known for his neo-classical design and architecture.  For thirty years David Easton has been transforming private residences into the dream homes of his clients.  Please join us for a book signing and to meet David Easton.  Wine and hors d'ouevres will be served

Unique New Pieces & Holiday Decor

As you know, we always have new things coming into the store.  We have been searching all over for those one of a kind pieces to add some interest to the store.  We picked up a few new things, added some color, put up some Christmas decorations and it feels like we have a new store!  Pay special attention to the desk.  It's my favorite thing in The Summer House right now.  I took these photos a few days ago and already some of the pieces have disappeared...


All photos courtesy of meganandmargaret.blogspot.com

Kathleen and I designed this piece and had our iron craftsman turn these antique saws into an art piece.  This is a one of a kind piece that we won't be able to reproduce.

The Captain's wheel!  It could be cute in a little boys room or in a study mounted to the wall.

Love this new floor lamp!

I am obsessed with lucite and these Louis ghost chairs are one of my all time favorites.

Our local iron craftsman handmade the sawhorses.  We can custom design the style and size and the color possibilities are endless.  We are ordering some side tables from him because we absolutely love his work!

We've also added a ton of mirrors.  The lattice mirror on the right is so unique, the pyramid mirror is an art piece, and the beaded mirror on the right is sold but we are ordering a replacement soon!

We wanted to add more lamps to get through the dreary November and early December days so we picked up these coral lamps.  One is already gone but we prefer pairs so we're getting another in.

These coral prints are so pretty and we are so into the mirror frames!

Not Your Mother's Silhouettes

I love framed silhouettes!  They are timeless and capture such a wonderful moment when children are at their most precious.  I have always seen the traditional black and white in an oval or rectangular frame.  While those are great, I recently discovered something that is much more my style - brightly colored and whimsical!

Sybille Campbell, a New Canaan resident, has transformed black and white silhouettes into pop art pieces that would brighten up any space.  Sybille calls her version "Syb'lhouettes" and her Warhol twist breathes new life into this classic piece of art.  Also, Sybille doesn't just do kids, she does pets and favorite items such as the chandelier below.  These are great mementos to keep or to give to grandparents as holiday gifts.

Stella & Dot Reminder

Don't forget to stop by The Summer House tonight for a Stella & Dot trunk show!  Preview the collection at stelladot.com!

Margaret

Stella & Dot Trunk Show

The Summer House is hosting a Stella & Dot trunk show tomorrow, November 10th, from 7PM to 9PM.  I love Stella & Dot jewelry for myself and to give as gifts.  I have been checking out the Stella & Dot website to get an idea of what I am getting for myself and those hard to shop for friends.  These are just a sample of the awesome pieces they have!

After the Rain Bracelet.  I love the chains covering the over-sized gems.

Charlize Earrings because I will need some cheerful colors to get me through winter!

I have a minor obsession with birds, particularly in my jewelry or on my walls.

Like a moth to flame I am drawn to bib necklaces.  I am definitely a more is more girl when it comes to jewels.

Don't you love the idea of cupid being nearby?

Plume Brooch.  Wear this alone, pin it to a hat, or add to a silver chain.

The Vintage Cluster ring.  Cocktail rings are a fun way to jazz up an outfit.

Hope to see you all there at The Summer House tomorrow!

Unusual Office Space

I have to admit that although I loved the clean, white space we had at Martha Stewart, it made me wonder what other creative centric offices look like.  One of my favorite different (to say the least) offices are the Google offices in Zurich, Switzerland.  These offices are so drastically different I would love to spend a day there to see if people enjoy it as much as I think they would.  Enjoy!

Photos: From the official Google blog at picassa.google.com

Margaret