Pied a' terre Perfection....

Ahh...

There is something about Paris.....

The architecture, wine, fashion, gardens, museums and lively cafe society have seduced travelers for centuries and continue to do so.

 

Many imagine owning a small apartment or pied a' terre to escape the monotonous everyday grind and live it up in true Parisian style but finding the perfect apartment in the right location for the right price is elusive.  Often older apartments have been neglected and poorly remodeled and are in need of extensive renovations.      

Enter  A+B KASHA

Founded in 2002 this husband wife duo from New York works wonders on the ancient and forgotten interiors of old Paris.  They specialize in resuscitating what seems too far gone and making it incredibly modernized and livable while earning accolades from clients and publications alike.   

Their must see 

BEFORE AND AFTER PORTFOLIO 

is truly remarkable as is their ability to rally the Parisian artisans and permit offices to complete projects on time and on budget.  Plumbing is modernized, electrical wiring is no longer a fire hazard and best of all you can stay out of the picture and rest assured knowing the project is being managed efficiently while you are jet setting to St. Barths or driving the kids to soccer.

A+B KASHA also offer apartments that are move in ready for those who need immediate satisfaction. Voila!  

Your joie de vivre is restored....your dreams of becoming a true Parisian have come true! What an incredible feeling it must be to bring life into these old forgotten beauties.  

I'm quite jealous I must say. 

Explore their website

HERE 

XO

t    

       

Gulfstream, FL Cape Dutch Update....Before and After!

After a few weeks, things are taking shape at the Cape Dutch project!  Here are a few pics of the driveway paver "puzzle" being installed.  It was quite a lot of work as you can see....

Each paver was placed by hand in a recurring pattern... 

LOTS of huge bags of pavers waiting to be installed...

After the paver install

Now let's go inside!

Foyer stair with molding, grasspaper and lighting installed.... 

Foyer stair before...

This ceiling at the Roger Vivier store in Bal Harbour was the inspiration.... 

In the family room we reupholstered and painted the client's vintage Baker chairs and consignment find table to update them and meld with the new lighter-brighter color scheme.

The other side of the room isn't quite complete yet as you can see...

(And the bear rug is NOT staying!)

I love framing things!  

Add a textured linen mat and complementary fillet that matches the frame finish to give an ordinary print a custom look that coordinates with the rest of the room.  

In the dining room we lacquered the ceiling a pale blue to reflect light off of the intra-coastal waterway and the effect is magical!  

In fact it is mesmerizing if you gaze at it long enough....but no rest for the weary as they say!

Dining room after....curtains not ready to install yet :( :(

Dining room before - prepping for lacquer paint is a laborious process....but totally worth it!

The bar has the same color cabinetry as the dining ceiling in a matte finish.

The kitchen features two Sub-Zero refrigerators for a busy family and a large u- shaped island topped with exquisite marble in cream, white, beige and blue tones.   

  

A few touch ups need to be completed as the blue tape indicates....

The driftwood mirror is a favorite of the client and myself and we had to display it prominently!

In the breakfast area we again reused existing pieces - a Henredon table and Baker chairs -  but painting the chairs white updates them instantly.  The seat cushions have not yet arrived as you can see. 

The cabinet was also a vintage find and houses crystal and silver heirlooms perfectly.  

The original house featured a living room fireplace which the new owners kept so we updated it with a new mantle and a marlin.....

This set of 4 mid-century chairs was reupholstered in one of my favorite geometric fabrics.... 

In the master bath we created a serene escape for the mother of three boys using pale celadon hues and adding a luxurious tub.

I love the tub back-splash....such a simple detail adds so much style!  Another vintage chair - now repainted and reupholstered - will sit at the soon to arrive makeup vanity.

This chair was left in the original house so of course we HAD to rescue it!

Here is the facade of the house landscaped with large live oak trees.  Mature trees make such a difference if you can splurge on them - making a newly remodeled/constructed home feel not as new....

  Whew!  That's enough for today....more to come in a later post! 

XO

t

Mary McDonald does it again.....

We all know and love Mary McDonald and 

today my inbox held news I just HAD to share...

Mary at a book signing looking lovely....

Schumacher and MM have introduced a new fabric and trim collection I'm sure you will be thrilled to know....  

Beautiful Chinoiserie linen panels in luscious color palettes...

Chinois Palais in Lettuce

Chinois Palais in Tangerine

And another favorite: versatile appliques which can be applied to pillows, sofa skirts, chair backs, drapery panels and more!

Madame Wu applique

Madame Wu applique

Various Appliques shown on pillows

Vivid blues and whites 

To see the full Mary McDonald collection

click HERE

Happy Holidays!

Howdy from Dallas Dears....
It has been a fabulous holiday with family here in the Lone Star State with even a little snow to boot!
  

So let's start with a gorgeous holiday door 
all dolled up and ready for its close up....

Now that this year has almost ended (Can you believe it?!)  
I am so grateful for all that has been accomplished and even though I have much more to do in 2013 I can close the door on 2012 with a Texas sized smile on my face.  

 

For starters my new custom -made to order- luxury clothing line Della Terasi has finally launched!  It is the only place you can order gorgeous authentic Fortuny and Ikat clothing and accessories in your favorite styles.






View the Della Terasi website HERE !
And look for an article about us in the Jan/Feb issue of DC Modern Luxury magazine.

The lovely Marisa Marcantonio of STYLEBEAT 
also featured Della Terasi in her truly gifted hostess guide!

   
TRULY GIFTED

She is an amazingly gracious lady and we are beyond thrilled to be featured in her stylish trend setting blog.  Thank you Marisa!

In addition one of my large design projects in Gulfstream, FL is finally showing visible progress.  As promised my next post will include a few photos....For now I bid farewell to 2012 and wish all of my readers the best in the new year!
XO
t
   

     

LA Girlies: Heidi Merrick & Jenni Kayne

Let me introduce you to a couple of uber chic US

designers you may not have heard of.....

The daughter of legendary surfboard shaper Al Merrick, Heidi is a LA based clothing designer I'm a HUGE fan of.  HUGE.

Forget the fact that her heritage is super cool,

"Easy and Edgy" is how I would describe her looks...full of that  relaxed California vibe that looks put together but not TOO styled....I also adore the fact that every stitch is sewn in LA and not overseas.  Gotta love that!

Holiday 2012 looks....those masks are the bomb.  

Would love sunnies made to match hint hint...

Check out Heidi's website HERE!

Another one of my LA based favs is 

Jenni's LA Boutique

Jenni and her son in New Zealand - love this pic!

Jenni like Heidi has been around for a while and is famous for her D'orsay flats which come in LOTS of styles and colors and are a great way to add instant edge to a look. 

Jenni has the same laid back yet put together vibe.  

Check out her website HERE!

Who wants to stress over their look in the a.m?  

These girlies make it easy to style yourself in seconds.  So next time you have a shopping need to scratch, forget the mall.  Surf over to these designer's websites and spread the love for some US based talent.  You'll help the economy....and they won't dissapoint. 

XO

t