Starr Miller Interior Design, Inc.

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 5 - Cheers!

Now for the 5 crystal patterns that I would add to my party warehouse...

1) Waterford Clarendon Cobalt - Perfect for the white china and cobalt table I want to set.  It could include white shells, or colorful flowers or red roses for the elegant Forth of July party.  Add to list - FIREWORKS!!!

(For blue also see:  Orrefors Intermezzo Blue)

 
2)  Fil a Fil White by Nasonmeretti - Just plain haunting.

 
3)  Couldn't choose so must have all three.  Baccarat Messena, Saint Remy and Nancy

 
 

We used the Baccarat Nancy mixed with Ralph Lauren's Glen Plaid for this nautical table.

 
4) Newport by Theresienthal - I am smitten.  Such an unusual shape.  Will make a fabulous table!

 
5)  Color - need more color! These Nasonmoretti Glasses will help me set those exotic tables I am craving.

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 4 - Fine China with IMPACT

Yesterday I started to build my perfect warehouse for party planning.  Imaginary of course, but fun none the less.  Today I am going to stock it with colorful, impactful fine china. 
Here are my top 5 choices:

1)  An all time favorite china pattern - Mottaheda - Tobacco Leaf - How pretty is this oldie (circa 1780) but oh so goodie? Can you imagine the tabe you would set?

The design shows the leaves of the flowering Nicotiana (Tobacco) plant upon which a small phoenix perches bearing a flowering twig in its beak. This exact reproduction requires twenty-eight colors including 22K gold and five firings to manufacture. The joyous exuberance of the Tobacco Leaf pattern is undiminished by time. Tobacco Leaf is an authorized reproduction for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (dinnerwareetc.com)

 

2)  Royal Crown Derby's Imari Gold.  This would make such a regal table or (stay with me here) a great formal dinner party before a an elegant night of gambling in Monte Carlo!  Don't you see a roulette wheel and cards in this classic from the 1800's?

The colors of cobalt blue, iron red and burnished gold make a fabulous, timeless table.  This pattern of geometric shapes has been in production off and on since the early 1800's.  It appears to be modern, while clearly not!

 

3)  Anna Weartherley's Ivy Garland - Don't you just want to go to this garden party? Note to self:  Go buy hat immediately!

"Anna Weatherley started her career in designing and manufacturing couture fashion and jewelry. Today her reportiore also includes home furnishings, fine china, and printed textiles. In the early 1990's she established a studio in Budapest, Hungary where she trained a group of highly talented painters to create her collection of handpainted porcelain." (Neiman Marcus)

 

 4)  J.L. Coquet Toundra and Paris Metal -  I couldn't decide - I need both!  They are both soft AND impactful!  I would love to have a party of several tables every other table set with one of these patterns.

 

5)  Rosenthal meets Versace's Dedalo - Metropolitan, sexy, shiny - Think New Year's Eve!

 The Greek meander band motif is a distinctive element that finds repeated application on many Versace products. The motif is interpreted here in a modern form under the motto: “past meets present”.  “Rosenthal meets Versace.” (Rosenthalusa.com)

  

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 3 - Flatware

Entertaining is part of celebrating and if I had my way I would have an entire warehouse of china, crystal and silver to mix and match and set beautiful tables......

In this dreamland warehouse I would make sure to have these 5 flatware patterns:

1)  Christofle Malmaison - sleek, beautiful, timeless

2)  Wallace Grande Baroque - Perfect for a bit of frill and lace or when the Queen drops by for tea

 

3)  Target Bamboo - for $31.99 for a 20 set I could be stylin' and afford to have a large dinner party!

 
4)  Nambe Paddle -  Sexy, fun and makes the table light and airy

 
 
5)  Nambe Mikko - Heavy, modern, sleek makes a statement

 What would you have in your warehouse?

Avalanche in North Carolina

 
When last we chatted it was September and the Labor Day weekend was upon us.  Well, after that we just had an avalanche of an Autumn....

In September Tom and I had a great time going to watch our beloved Alabama Football team win at Duke.  And may I say the Duke folks were delightful, kind and gracious hosts!  While I enjoyed the football - I LOVED the architecture.  What a beautiful campus!

Tom and I spent the first week of October enjoying the beauty of Sea Island, the McGladry Classic and a wonderful evening at Davis Love III's home.  Tom had a great time playing in the ProAm and I enjoyed The Lodge!

 

October brought us High Point Market (that I missed due to a 3 week virus) and work, work, work!  Thank you team for going and scouting out the new trends!

November hustled in with a fun afternoon at the Metrolina Antique Market with Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan.  Delightful guys with great insights into a modern take on market finds.  I ran out the door with these marvelous table bases....

 

Do you notice anything in this photo from Coco Chanel's sitting room???

 
 Just a bit of whimsy!

The following week the StarrMiller team won People's Choice Award for our work in the North Mecklenburg Woman's Club Holiday Over the Tabletop Event.

 
One week later we won:

2010 NARI of Charlotte - Contractor of the Year Award, CotY, Team Award for Residential Interior Under $100,000
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - 1st Place- Bath Revovation
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - 1st Place - Home Additions (Rooms and Suites)
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - Honorable Mention - Kitchen Renovation
 
It is an embarrassment of riches. 

Additionally, we reconstructed our back of the house operations and worked hard to delight our clients!

I am forever greatful to the Team!  I am truly blessed to work with smart, creative and fun people!!

 
(Mary, Warren, me and Sam - photograph by Chanda) 

Coming up......

February's Favorite Fifty........... 

I am in mad love with this chandelier!

Can you stand it?  It is fluid, organic, sexy and just makes me dream....  This is an iconic fixture for the Hudson Company.  What do you think?

Asian Influence in Tablesettings

As we head towards the Holidays I am going to post some of my favorite table settings from either my readings or searches on the internet and some of my favorite china patterns. 

I love an Asian inspired table that isn't just square plates!  The Asian culture attaches symbolism to color.

Red: Happiness, marriage, prosperity
Pink: Marriage
Yellow: Against evil, for the dead, geomantic blessings
Green: Eternity, family, harmony, health, peace, posterity
Blue: Self-cultivation, wealth
Purple: Wealth
White: Children, helpful people, marriage, mourning, peace, purity, travel
Gold: Strength, wealth
Gray: Helpful people, travel
Black: Career, evil influences, knowledge, mourning, penance, self-cultivation
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

An all time favorite china pattern - Mottaheda - Tobacco Leaf - How pretty is this oldie (circa 1780) but oh so goodie? The design shows the leaves of the flowering Nicotiana (Tobacco) plant upon which a small phoenix perches bearing a flowering twig in its beak. This exact reproduction requires twenty-eight colors including 22K gold and five firings to manufacture. The joyous exuberance of the Tobacco Leaf pattern is undiminished by time. Tobacco Leaf is an authorized reproduction for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (dinnerwareetc.com)
 
 Here is Jasper Coran's Wedgwood Chinoiserie pattern; ayummy layered pattern!

From Oprah Home we find the colors of influence. (Winter 2005)

 
Next we have Royal Crown Derby's Imari Gold.  The colors of cobalt blue, iron red and burnished gold make a fabulous, timeless table.  This pattern of geometric shapes has been in production off and on since the early 1800's.  It appears to be modern, while clearly not! 

Now notice how the Oprah team put it together in a layout during the winter of 2005.

Lake Norman Woman Article - October 2009 "Table Settings"

I love table settings!  Here are some tips as we get closer to the holidays from my article in Lake Norman Woman!

You may click on the photo below for full size version of the article!