Jessie Davidson Interiors

Thicket by Jessie Davidson Interiors

Category: what-were-loving

What We're Loving

March 2014

1.) Churlish Green No. 251 (paint) by Farrow & Ball - Use this color as an accent or paint the entire room.  It will make you smile every time you see it! 

2.) French Vintage Washtub (new) by Pennoyer Newman - If you are creating a new garden or just adding pots and containers, look at the historically inclined designs of Pennoyer Newman. They will be with you for decades, looking classic and stylish throughout all four seasons. 

3.) Leather Clad Parson’s Tables by Edelman - A Parson’s table is such a simple and classic design….taken to a higher level when clad in Edelman leather. 

4.) David Sutherland’s Louis Soleil Chair - You just have to love this elegant chair.  It is equally comfortable out on the terrace as it is on a screen porch or in a conservatory. Very roomy with a well-sprung seat.

5.) Cynthia Bag in Orange/Melon by Michael Kors - Well, I cannot resist Persimmon, or Melon, or Orange….. and these colors are certainly de rigueur this season. This smaller Cynthia bag is a nice size too. 

6.) Bizet in Chocolate (embroidered linen) by Colefax & Fowler - Chocolate and red have always been wonderful compliments.  This embroidered fabric – new from Colefax & Fowler – employs warm and cool reds which makes it all the more delicious. 

7.) No Life Without Water – CMCA’s ArtLab collaboration with the children of Poland and South Sudan - The Center for Maine Contemporary Art  has created a collaboration between the children of Maine, Poland, and South Sudan.  This short video focuses on the importance of water in our lives and it serves to remind us to save energy and reduce pollution.  

If you are interested in any of the featured ideas or products to help create a home you love, contact me - I am happy to help! Jessie, Jessie Davidson Interiors 

All images from linked sites; Cecil Beaton photograph from here.



March 14, 2014 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

January 2014

1.) Classic….that sums up the Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck .  It seems equally comfortable in the living room, dining room, or dressing room.  And what a perfect solution to seating when your visual or physical space is limited?! Find it here and here.

2.) Bobby McFerrin’s new CD, Spirit You All, is one I just keep listening to over and over again.  He has the most amazing range, in voice, lyrics, and collaborations with other artists.  According to the CD jacket, “Bobby McFerrin re-imagines Americana with beloved spirituals and original songs raising the roof with joyful grooves.”  I don’t think it gets much better than that! Enjoy listening to the magic of his music here.

3.) Boyd Varty, of Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, is a marvelous storyteller and has an important message about Ubuntu (human kindness) told through his relationship with Nelson Mandela. 

4.) A bit last minute, but there are two distinctly American exhibits to see in New York and Chicago that are closing later this month. I saw Art & Appetite:  American Painting, Culture, and Cuisine  at the Chicago Art Institute twice because it is so rich and yummy, I just couldn’t get enough!  Try to make it before its close on January 27th

5.) Equally enticing, American Modern:  Hopper to O’Keeffe at the Museum of Modern Art in New York looks wonderful.

6.) Sugata Mitra relays compelling thoughts about Designing a Future for Learning – A School in the Cloud.  His vision is all about education for every child in the world, not just the privileged, and it is fascinating. 

Enjoy listening and hearing, seeing, and pondering this month!

Photo Credits: Moma.orgartic.edu , ted.com , bobbymcferrin.comdwr.com 

January 09, 2014 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

November 2013

1.) If you aren’t familiar yet with the music of Chris Thile*, you need to check him out!  This young 2012 MacArthur Fellow is an insanely versatile musician, mandolin player, and singer-songwriter.  I believe he recorded his first Blue Grass CD when he was fourteen.  His new CD is “Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1” .   I had the good fortune recently to hear him perform, solo, at Northwestern University.  What fun!

2.) For those lucky enough to be in London between Nov. 19 and Dec. 6, there is an exhibition sponsored by Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler of James Wyatt – Architect to the Crown and Designer of Complete Interiors.  I think Cowtan & Tout should video tape the exhibition so that we can all see it from the comfort of our offices!

3.) For all chocolate lovers please pounce on John & Kira’s Gourmet Artisan Chocolates.  They are sinfully delicious and oh so beautiful…..in the form of bees and ladybugs.  I was the joyful recipient of ladybugs last Christmas and I have been smitten ever since!

4.) While I’m on a British bent, be sure to search out products by Soane Britain.  One of my all time favorites is their brass door knob in the shape of a hand holding stick of bamboo!  I have to have this somewhere, some day!

5.) I highly recommend The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.  It is a wonderfully rich book about the migration of black people from our rural South to the industrial North, in search of better wages, freedom and equality, and better lives.  This story is one that all of us need to know!

*Photo of Chris Thile by Brian Stowell. All other images from the linked websites.

November 18, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

August 2013

1.) Valerie June, a strikingly beautiful young singer songwriter, has just released her first CD entitled Pushing Against A Stone. This is a “must listen” on my list!  Be sure to Google her for interesting concert and interview highlights. Valerie June - 'Pushing Against A Stone' Video 

2.) Toni Morrison, novelist, editor, professor and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, is an author everyone needs to read.  I just finished Beloved and can’t wait to get my eyes on another one of her compelling and complex books. Toni Morrison Society  

3.) Be sure to check out Project Color Corps whose mission it is to use the “Power of Color as a change agent to infuse a sense of well-being and energy into urban neighborhoods nationwide”.  This inspiring video clip says it all! 

4.) One of my favorite clients recommended Brunello Cucinelli  clothing to me recently.  His line is very handsome and tres cher, indeed.  I love his copy which reads, “This product of quality, fruit of our labour, is created in a small medieval village at the gates of Assisi where Men and Nature are still aware of the harmonious rhythm of Time.” Now that is a compelling statement! 

5.) Weck canning jars are really great looking and can be used for all sorts of storage.  I have over four sizes and shapes that I use to store flour, sugar, cookies, crackers, et al.  Order extra clips because they always get lost! 

6.) My favorite reading glasses are by LaFont.  I’m always drawn to their styles and colors…..very innovative! 

Always remember...

August 26, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

June 2013

1.) Who doesn’t love big floppy pink roses?  New Dawn is available in shrub or climbing habit and it is quite easy to grow.  I’ll never forget a magnificent New Dawn rose growing and blooming voraciously on an arbor over a terrace in the Hudson Valley.  You might want to sit under that arbor all day long! www.whiteflowerfarm.com 

2.) Paddywax candles in their up-cycled glass vessels not only smell lovely, but they’ll make you feel environmentally responsible.  My favorite is their fresh citrusy Grapefruit-Coriander.  It will give you a hint of freshness without being overpowering. www.paddywax.com 

3.) Oska, a German company offering fashion forward, travel friendly, comfortable clothing for men and women, presented its first collection in 1997.  Since then they have spread throughout Europe and have recently begun opening stores in the United States.  I love their natural fibers, flexibility in pairing pieces with other lines, and design awareness.  www.oska.info

4.) Jill McGowan designs and makes women’s clothing in Maine.  Lovely natural linen and cotton shirts and tunics….American-made in the Northeast.  Now, that is hard to beat!  I found her shop in Freeport, Maine on a recent trip and was quick to grab some linen shirts.  There is nothing more comfortable for hot summer days than linen! www.jillmcgowan.com

5.) Pennoyer Newman replicates nearly 400 planter styles that at one time graced the great lawns and terraces of private estates. Cecily Pennoyer and Virginia Newman Yocum have artfully and imaginatively created this line from lightweight, weather resistant stone resin.  I love seeing a garden with just the right number of pots and jardinières dotted among the plants and hedges. www.pennoyernewman.com

6.) Munder-Skiles has just moved their showroom to a fantastic location in Garrison, NY along the Hudson River, just an hour north of Manhattan.  Take note that many of their chair and bench designs pay homage to antique garden furniture the likes of which graced the lawns of estates in the latter part of the 19th Century.

Appropriately, they are just down the road from the new headquarters of The National Garden Conservancy! www.munder-skiles.com

June 17, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

April 2013

One: Have a listen to this amazing Brazilian born young cellist, singer and songwriter, Dominique Pinto, known professionally as Dom La Nena.  She began studying the piano at age five, then moved to the cello several years later.  She released her debut album, Ela, in January of this year.  You can preview her beautiful music on YouTube, below! 
Listen on Youtube 

Two: The Quercus line by Penhaligon’s in London has the yummiest fragrance.  They characterize it as sweet, spiced and with citrus notes. In case you aren’t familiar with it, Quercus is oak - or rather oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus. My hands and feet cannot live without Penhaligon’s Quercus hand and body cream!
www.penhaligons.com

Three: Could it be that easy to purify your water?  Just put a stick of charcoal in it like the Japanese have been doing for centuries!  Black & Blum has just introduced Eau Good, a water bottle designed specifically to hold Binchotan, a carbon made from tree branches that softens water and absorbs impurities.  You’ll be the talk of the Fitness Center when you show up with one of these!
www.dargitane.com 
www.black-blum.com

Four: Michael Kors is loving (we are too) the top handle clutch for Spring.  This one is surely to stand out in gilded, embossed leather.  Such a classic, timeless design!  You can carry it by the handle or just slip your wrist through the handle to carry it like a clutch.
www.elle.com

Five: Alexis Bittar jewelry is truly unique, sometimes a bit of bling and always wildly creative.  If you are looking for something fantastic for a special event or just want to update your everyday collection, this designer is one to keep in mind.
www.alexisbittar.com

Six: Snug Harbor Farm in Kennebunk, Maine is the most amazing amalgam of plants for connoisseurs, the broadest selection of topiaries imaginable, aged pots, greenhouses and extensive gardens.  If you are traveling up the coast of Maine anytime soon, plan an extra hour or two to be nurtured in this lovely space.  And, bringing a friend the gift of something growing instills such lasting memories! 
www.snugharborfarm.com

April 10, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

February 2013

1.) Broadway & Thresher:  This newly minted digital magazine was spawned by two writers who wanted to explore the influence urban migration is having on rural America.  Broadway and Thresher is a crossroads in the village of Granville, Ohio…..just a hop down the road from where I grew up!  B&T is well worth the read. www.broadwayandthresher.com

2.) Garden & Gun Magazine:  My day brightens and my heart flips a few times when Garden & Gun arrives in our mailbox.  This is the best cover to cover read going! I also love that it is published in Charleston, SC….a hub of all things wonderful. www.gardenandgun.com 

3.) Uchino Towels:  We found these refined, luxurious towels at the gift show last month.  They are absolutely fabulous……designed and constructed meticulously to suit the varied needs of discerning people.  ABC Carpet & Home carries them in New York. www.uchino.co.jp

4.) Miranda Thomas Pottery:  Miranda came here from Australia, by way of London, to create pottery for Simon Pearce.  Not long afterward she began her own business turning out some of the most unique pieces we’ve ever seen.  She and husband, Charlie Shackleton (well know furniture craftsman) display and sell their work in Bridgewater, Vermont. www.shackletonthomas.com/pottery

5.) Swans Island:  These beautiful hand woven blankets and throws are made in mid-coast Maine of locally produced wool.  The business grew from one couple’s desire to create lovely one of a kind woven pieces from the wool of sheep grazing on Swans Island, where they had relocated from Boston. www.swansislandblankets.com

Lastly, if you can get to New York by February 18th, make time to see the George Bellows exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As you can see by the varied examples we’ve included here, I am constantly amazed at the diversity of Mr. Bellows’ work over (sadly) a relatively short lifetime. We love this quote, attributed to George Bellows in 1920. www.metmuseum.org


February 13, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

What We're Loving

January 2013

  1. La Colombe coffee for coffee aficionados- now available at Williams Sonoma and truly delicious! www.lacolombe.com 
  2. Creative and colorful eyewear from Eye Spy Optical on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. eyespyoptical.com 
  3. A touch of BLING loafers from Stuart Weitzman.....very comfy! www.stuartweitzman.com 
  4. Less is more porcelain dishes by Mud Australia.....their recently opened new store in SoHo is an inspiration. www.mudaustralia.com 
  5. Stunning monograms and yummy linens from Julia B. www.juliab.com 
  6. While I was in London for a wedding, I loved perusing Nancy Lancaster's lovely yellow living room, recreated at Colfax & Fowler. I highly recommend a visit! www.colefaxantiques.com 
  7. Colorful handbags and satchels custom created by YOU at Lill Studio in Chicago.  www.1154lill.com 

January 06, 2013 by Jessie Davidson

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