Fabulous Room Friday 07.30.10

I’ve been brainstorming all types of ideas for an upcoming project and have been spending even more time in my office than usual. Naturally, this draws me to inspiring work spaces even more. I love this office by Los Angeles interior decorator, Vanessa de Vargas of Turquoise. The room is filled with various patterns, yet it maintains a very streamlined feeling through the use of furniture with clean, straight lines. The chevron stripe rug is easily the boldest element in the room, but it’s geometric nature and black and white palette keep it from taking over the room.

{ The wallpaper certainly makes a statement, but again, it acts as a sort of neutral given the colorway that was selected. It adds interest to the room without being too much! By the way, isn’t this console fantastic? I love the knobs and I’m sure it makes a great storage piece. If I had the room in my office, I would definitely think about finding a vintage console, buffet, or credenza in it.}

{This throw pillow is done in the same fabric as the desk chair in the first image. Vanessa frequently updates and redesigns vintage furniture. The lines of this chair are fantastic. I have a bit of an addiction to vintage chairs and beautiful lighting.}

 

Image Credit: Turquoise

The Style Files: Gale Singer

{The Circa Lighting store in Houston}

Circa Lighting has become synonymous with timeless, classic, well-made lighting. The company was founded in 1998 in Savannah, Georgia by Gale Singer, who is the face behind this wonderful company. Prior to opening her first store in Savannah, Georgia, she spent ten years working for Visual Comfort (owned by brother Andy Singer), the company which manufactures most of her lighting. After the Savannah store proved to be a success, flagship stores were opened in Atlanta, Charleston, and Houston. The company continues to grow and will hopefully expand into other parts of the country in the future.

Circa's mission is to offer "quality lighting, lamps, and accessories that are as beautiful as they are timeless." The product line is comprised of thousands of items, each of which come in a variety of finishes and all of which are sure to appeal to various design aesthetics. The pieces in the collection were designed by some of the country's foremost designers including Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien, Michael S. Smith, Clodagh, Barbara Barry, Bill Blass, Sandy Chapman, Eric Cohler, Suzanne Kasler, and J.Randall Powers. There is something for everyone from traditional hand-finished bronze pieces to crystal lamps, and industrial-inspired ceiling fixtures.

 

Name: Gale Singer

Occupation: Owner, Circa Lighting

Hometown: New York, New York

Current City: Savannah, Georgia

 

{The timeless Abbot Single-Arm Sconce adds glamour with its Greek key detail to this beautiful vignette by Melissa Warner.}

 

LDV: What inspired you to found Circa Lighting?

GS: After working for Visual Comfort for ten years, I moved to Savannah. While trying to figure out what I was going to do, I said “go with what you know, the lighting business”. No one was doing a well-edited, boutique-like lighting showroom at the time. I found 375 square feet in Savannah’s historic district and the rest is history!

{The fabulous Hicks Pendant is a perennial favorite of interior designers and design enthusiasts.}

 

LDV: What do you love most about it?

GS: I love how both Visual Comfort and Circa Lighting have grown and how lucky we are to be selling this beautifully-designed product. I love retail. I love the reaction when people walk into our showrooms.

{Industrial Redux: Country Industrial Pendant, Eugene Pendant, Yoke Pendant}

 

LDV: What is the most challenging aspect?

GS: Teaching clients to think about lighting first, instead of as an afterthought.

{Image via Real Simple}

 

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

GS: Magazines, magazines, magazines

{A Room featured in Thomas O’Brien’s book, American Modern}

 

LDV: Who is one of your personal style icons?

GS: Thomas O’Brien for his diversity.

{Circa Lighting’s Statement-Making Zodiac Pendant and Studio Floor Lamps

Image via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine}

 

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

GS: Eclectic. I know that may sound cliché, but it’s pretty accurate.

 

{Lucky Clover: Basil Flush Mount and Quatrefoil Floor Lamp}

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

GS: Honesty

{A Home featuring Circa’s Boston Functional Two-Arm Wall Lights}

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

GS: My son.

{Circa’s Gorgeous Alabaster Ring Lamps (a personal favorite), as featured in the August 2010 issue of ELLE DECOR}

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

GS: Whatever you do, do your best.

{Side by side Vendome Chandeliers add an unexpected touch to this dining room.}

 

LDV:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

GS: Being a good friend

{The French Deco Horn Sconces add Glamour to this bathroom by Angie Hranowsky}

 

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

GS: Having joy everyday. Maybe not all day, everyday, but everyday. Loving my work, friends, family…

 

 

{Image via Domino}

Bloom: Sunflower

Drink: Wine

{Delectable Image via Mary Ruffle}

Food: Crusty Bread

Thing to Wear: Ugg Boots

Season: Fall

{Parisian Breakfast}

Meal: Breakfast

Musician: Bruce Springsteen

Artist: There are too many. I am surrounded by so many incredible local artists in Savannah.

Film: Harold and Maude

Television Show: Modern Family

Book: Anything by Anne Tyler

Magazines: There are too many to name!

A Giveaway from Studio Eriksdotter

"I hope to inspire, make people happy with my art and strive to make the viewer aware of and believe in the vibrancy of life. It's all about celebrating life with color and
hopefully bring joy to the room and the viewer."

Swedish-born artist, Erica Eriksdotter fell in love with art and painting at an early age. Inspired by her grandfather, she sold her first paintings at age ten. Painting has been a passion for Erika throughout her entire life, though it has come to have a different meaning for her as she has grown older. Painting “is letting go of the fear and allowing myself to trust my hands and my talent. Each painting is more than just paint on a canvas, it is a story and each layer forms that story for the viewer to enjoy.” Erica’s paintings are available through her Etsy shop. Erica would like to share her talents with readers of La Dolce Vita and is offering the winner of this giveaway their choice of one of three acrylic original paintings.

{Original Paintings by Erica}

{“Green Callas”, Acrylic on Paper}

{“Large Fringed Tulip”, Acrylic on Canvas}

{“Salmon Flower”, Acrylic on Paper}

1. To enter the giveaway, simply visit http://www.StudioEriksdotter.com to check out Erica’s artwork and leave a comment on this post between today, Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 and Sunday, August 1st at Midnight CST telling me which piece is your favorite. A winner will be selected at random and will be announced next Monday.

2. To receive an additional entry, you can link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.

3. Post about this giveaway on Twitter with a link to this blog post for another entry (follow La Dolce Vita on twitter in order to show me your tweet). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your additional entry after tweeting about the giveaway.

4. Follow Studio Eriksdotter on Facebook for an additional entry.

5. Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your e-mail in your comment. Your e-mail address will never be used for anything other than to notify you if you are the winner.

The Winner of the Taigan Giveaway is…

Congratulations to entry #43, kanova! You are the lucky winner of the $50 gift card good towards any item on Taigan’s beautifully curated site. Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway!

It’s All Greek to Me

{This room, designed by the Brooklyn Home Company features Greek key wallpaper by Jonathan Adler.}

All it takes is one look at my blog header to know that I am crazy about Greek key. I love all types of patterns (zig zag,trellis, quatrefoil) but Greek key tops my list for its classic, enduring quality. Over the weekend, I was going through my inspiration files to organize them a bit better and I noticed that I had an abundance of images featuring this timeless motif.

{Nate Berkus used a pair of Greek key chairs in Katie Lee’s townhouse.}

{Suzanne Kasler used these fabulous Greek key benches for an Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Showhouse.}

{Palmer Weiss used Greek key to add a graphic touch to this living room.}

{How beautiful is this headboard? The room was designed by Joe Nye and was featured in House Beautiful.}

{Greek key towels liven up this bathroom featured in Lonny’s latest issue.}

{Courtney Giles obviously likes graphic prints, including the fabulous Greek key used in this bedroom.}

{This living room by Kwinter & Co. features a neutral Greek key rug which adds graphic interest without overpowering the room.}

{Amanda Nisbet chose Greek key drapes for this room.}

{A little Greek key can certainly go a long way. Notice the beautiful trim on the sofa and pillows in this room by Mary McDonald.}

{McDonald also chose Greek Key pillows for this fabulous bedroom.}

 

The Well Apointed House carries tons of amazing Greek key items, including these lovely pillows.

 

 

{Williams Sonoma Home currently has this bold, Greek key bedding available in two colorways.}

 

{The Williams Sonoma Home duvet sets are currently on sale for 50% off!}

 

{ZGallerie’s Labyrinth and Modern Key Bedding are shown together here and are both on sale right now.}

{Leontine Linens’ Gorgeous Pamela With Cuff Style}

{Add a little Greek key to your place settings with these napkins and place mats from Pottery Barn.}

{Dinnerware by Jonathan Adler}

 

{Black Very Stoned Carpet from Madeline Weinrib}

{Jonathan Adler Greek Key Rug}

{Worlds Away Two Tier Coffee Table}

 

{Greek Key Side Table from Worlds Away}

 {Jonathan Adler Greek Key Bookcase}

{Greek Key Calling Cards from Pixel Impress}

{Greek Key Letterpress Cards from Missive}

 

{Jonathan Adler Greek Key Picture Frame}

{Greek Key Cutting Board from La Plates}

{Greek Key Coasters from La Plates}

 

{The beautiful Kate Table Lamp designed by Alexa Hampton for Circa Lighting}

{The Abbott Single Arm Sconce from Circa Lighting was also designed by Alexa Hampton.}

Are you a fan of Greek key? What is your favorite graphic pattern?