Gerald Bland House Tour on New York Social Diary

I've been a little under the weather this week so I didn't get to write some of the posts I had originally planned. I hope to get caught up this weekend but until then, I encourage you to head over to New York Social Diary and check out the apartment of antique dealer Gerald Bland. I first met Gerald through Lizzie Bailey who you may remember from the fabulous bedroom she designed for the Hamptons Designer Showhouse this summer. She invited me up to see the Albert Hadley drawings they were selling. Gerald mixes modern and contemporary art with his antiques that makes everything look fresh and always makes me long for the day that I can afford to shop there for myself! Lizzie also used to work for Amanda Nisbet who is friends with Gerald and his wife Mita. It was at her cocktail party last year when I got to meet Mita Corsini Bland and find out that she is an amazing artist. Her beautiful watercolors illustrate the new book Sister Parish Design: On Decorating!

The best part of living in New York is all the wonderfully creative people that I get to meet and get to know. The Blands are a truly lovely couple and it was such a treat getting to peek into their art filled home. I encourage you to visit Gerald Bland Antiques the nest time you are uptown and you check out his "British" accent for yourself! Bon Weekend!

Business, Branding, Blogging and Booze..not necessarily in that order

First, I want to apologize for not posting yesterday. As you can imagine it's a little hard at times to juggle my client work with writing the blog and having any semblance of a personal life. That's why I love talking to other designers about how they started their own business because they all went through the same things and always have great advice.

I got together with June House Beautiful cover star/interior designer David Lawrence last night and he definitely motivated and inspired me. David and I used to work for the same designer, not at the same time, and he understands having so many things to do that sometimes you don't even know where to begin. The business of design is not easy and he really stresses the importance of being organized and getting your business infrastructure in place before you even begin working with clients. He spent a lot of time on the business side of his operations and just four years after he went out on his own, he has the cover of a magazine and a beautiful new showroom/office. I will definitely be listening to everything David tells me!

Sometimes I feel like I landed in business school with no idea how I got here and no idea what I am doing. There is a reason why I majored in art history and not business so I appreciate all the people who have been kind enough to answer my questions, give advice and pass on references of professionals who work with designers. One of my goals has always been to write about my experience and what I've learned so I can help others who want to start their own design businesses. I spoke with a design business consultant and we might partner up on some posts so look for those in the future.

I also attended a great lecture this morning at the D&D Building about branding that was moderating by Newell Turner of House Beautiful magazine. The panelists were Keith Granet of Granet & Associates, a management consulting firm for the design industry that I didn't even know existed, as well as interior designers Suzanne Kasler and Amanda Nisbet. Granet helped both designers set up their product lines and the how that process works is fascinating. I will definitely be putting together a more in depth post about how Suzanne developed her new furniture line for Hickory Chair and Amanda's lighting designs for Urban Electric and both of their new fabric lines.

One of the questions after the lecture was how you get to the point of having product lines and magazine coverage and everyone agreed that you need to build relationships. You may be a great designer but if you don't put yourself out there and meet editors and others in the design community, how is anyone going to find you. Everyone teases me about going to lots of parties but for me it's just as much about work as it is having fun. I couldn't do half of what I do if I didn't get out and meet other designers and interesting people to profile, events to discuss, and exhibitions, artists and authors to support.

I actually have a lot of great things on the back burner that I have to write about and post so I am hoping that I can get caught up over the long weekend. But first I have some client projects to finish and an event to attend. Remember what they say about all work and no play...

Photo from Suzanne Kasler

Amanda Nisbet's Chic and Colorful Apartment

The best part of Friday evening was peeking into Amanda Nisbet's chic apartment! It was beautiful and elegant as well as colorful and comfortable. Not an easy combination yet it was perfect! Amanda teased me most of the not about not liking color which I assured her was untrue. I just haven't had an opportunity to use a lot of color so far. But I have a new large project on the Upper West Side that I have started and Amanda's apartment is going to be a big inspiration for it! And who knows, maybe someday, thanks to Amanda, I will be known for color too! Although, I think we should start with baby steps!

Amanda offered to let me come back and see her office which is across the hall. The night of the party it was acting as a storage space for a few things from the apartment. I teased her that I hide things in the bathtub while Amanda can hide things in her office which she joked was her big bathtub! I hope she will let me take a few more photos of her apartment on that visit since there are many details that you can't see in these photos and some things have changed. Just like any great decorator, Amanda is known for moving things.

The entry above is still the same but for the party the urns on the 19th-century marble pier table were filled with beautiful lavender flowers. The carpet is Antelope from Stark and the light fixture is by Hervé van der Straeten available through Ralph Pucci in New York. The aubergine silk tufted bench at the end is perfect for sitting your bag while you hang up your coat too.

The colors also look a little different in real life or maybe it was because the party was held at night and these photos were taken in the daylight. In the March 2008 issue of House Beautiful, Amanda mentions that the living room "is best at night...with the stick blinds closed." In reality the room is less yellow since the walls are Benjamin Moore Desert Tan (2153-50) and the curtains are burnt orange. I think the reason that I love Amanda's apartment is because you'll notice almost all the rooms have neutral walls and carpeting. The color comes in the form of curtains, pillows, upholstery and art. A neutral backdrop is great because then you can change out the pillows and other smaller items whenever the mood strikes which is cheaper than repainting or buying new carpet.

The living room is divided into two zones by back to back sofas. The television is actually housed in the ginormous William Yeoward Cherington bookcase that Amanda had shipped from the UK. Obviously ceilings there are taller so the middle three finials had to be removed. The lamps are Christopher Spitzmiller.

As I mentioned, Amanda likes to rearrange and the beautiful Elizabeth Peyton has been moved to another wall. I mentioned in my last post that Amanda has an art history degree but she also worked for Christies and has an enviable art collection. If I didn't like her so much, I could easily hate her for all the amazing works in her apartment!

One of my favorite rooms was the glamorous dining room. The brown Venetian plaster walls are so beautiful with all the gilt and lavender upholstered chairs. I'm not sure if the portrait is of Amanda's grandmother so I'll have to check but many of the items in it are from her including the bibelots and china on the table below. In this photo of the dining room, the table is about to be set with china from Marie Daâge. I've been in love with Haviland's Laque de Chine china in amethyst and gold forever and it would also look pretty in this room.

Isn't that most beautiful table you have ever seen?! I love how the blue candles pick up the color of the plates and also the draperies.

The color is a little off in this photo but the curtains are a pale blue. Since this photo was taken, a to die for bright blue and white painting by James Nares has been installed above the demilune table. If I can't own my own James Nares, I'm glad I can admire Amanda's!

Apparently, Amanda found out too late that her daughter wasn't fond of lavender since the room was decorated while she was at school. Oops. It's actually really subtle since the walls are white. I really love the Greek Key rug which is Beaton by Stark and relates to the pattern on the headboard. The fabric on the headboard and shade is Montego Tourmaline by Manuel Canovas. The navy blue patent leather chair is really fun too!

Everyone really loved the son's room. I especially like how the orange in his room relates back to the living room and the lavender in the daughter's room relates to the dining room. She even papered the ceiling in a wonderful patterned paper. When Caroline Rhea was in this room with me and Christopher Corcoran, I asked her if the children appreciate how fabulous their rooms are and she said that they definitely do!

I really like children's rooms that aren't too childish and can grow with them. It also works well if you ever have to use them as additional sleeping quarters for guests too. No adult wants to try to sleep in a bunk bed or race car. Trust me. The children share an adjoining bathroom that I don't have a photo of but that has a great green and white herringbone wallpaper. I would think it would be very cheerful to stumble into in the morning while getting ready for school.

Another one of my favorite rooms is the glossy media room! The walls are painted with a glossy paint from Fine Paints of Europe the color name I do not know but I will find out. I have said before but I love lacquer and shiny walls in New York apartments since they tend to be small and dark and the paint is great for reflecting light. I love how she's mixed in brass and black and photos in this room too. On the opposite wall is a built in for books and the television.

A coordinating tablescape in the media room.

I've already mentioned how many of the rooms relate and the hall bathroom is across from the green media room so the green shower curtain works perfectly. I love the whimsical picture and notice how it is hung over the bump out in the wall. New York apartments are notorious for strange bump outs and I love how she didn't let it deter her from hanging art above the toilet.

The pink bedroom reminded me of Charlotte Moss's room at the Kips Bay Show House this year who's fictional husband said no pink in the bedroom! Amanda's husband asked her that since they had so many pink bedrooms over the years could she maybe she could go with a different color this time. I guess she tried but kept coming back to pink. In reality, it's not really that pink. The walls are Farrow and Ball Tallow, a very creamy white and the carpet is also creamy white Berber. The room is really dreamy and makes me think of floating on a cloud. The hot pink chair in the background has been replaced by a gorgeous grey shagreen piece. I also love how the the lucite nightstand disappears.

The new grey shagreen piece relates well to this painting Maury River Cliffs by Ray Kass in the sitting area. The lucite table keeps the arrangement from looking too heavy as well.

Amanda's husband was very glad that there was no pink in the bathroom but that was before the wallpaper was installed above the tub (below)! He's ok with it now because he can't see it from the shower! Pink is a very good for your complexion so I bet it's nice to put on make up in this bathroom! I think it's funny that Amanda teased me for hating color because I really do like it and especially in her apartment! But I'll still let her take credit for converting me! But only if I can come over and visit her art!

Photos by Pieter Estersohn for House Beautiful and Amanda Nisbet Design

The Hostess with the Mostess: Amanda Nisbet

Contrary to popular belief, New York designers not only get along but enjoy each others company! It's wonderful to be able to chat with another designer about work and commiserate about clients and learn from each other. And no where was this more evident that at interior designer Amanda Nisbet's apartment Friday night (above). Amanda and her wonderful design assistant Anne Patterson put together a snazzy soiree with a guest list of fabulous friends and designers and I was honored to be invited. Look a full post on her beyond chic home later!

I met Amanda at the Kips Bay President's Preview and then ran into her and Anne again at her friend Gerald Bland's reception for the opening of the sale of Albert Hadley's drawings that same week and loved her instantly! Amanda is not only a ridiculously talented designer but also fun and down to earth. I was talking to Anne about how all three of us have art history degrees which we think helps us with our work. If you don't know the design rules from design school, you are free to break them and you are less likely is create a floor plan where all the furniture is measured and placed to within an inch of it's life! I am also excited to let you know that Anne has agreed to let me shoot her apartment for an upcoming post so check back in a few weeks for what I know will be a great story on how design assistants create amazing interiors on a budget!

Another person at the party who I chatted with about being an art history major was Elizabeth Mayhew. I've been a big fan of hers for years and it was so nice to finally meet her in person! She has a great new book out now called FLIP! For Decorating and she said that she thinks about art history principles of space and composition all the time when she styles interiors. I can't wait to talk to her more about this and her book soon!

The person I was most excited to meet at the party was interior designer Christopher Corcoran who created that beautiful landing at the Kips Bay Show House this year! I didn't get to meet him on my tour and I can tell you that he was very humbled and grateful that you all loved his design. I knew I wanted to write another more in depth post about Christopher so you could learn more about the designer behind the landing and he has agreed so look for that soon too!

Anne gave me and my dear friend and interior designer Brad Ford a tour of Amanda's apartment and so I returned the favor by giving the tour to Christopher where we were joined by Amanda's friend and actress Caroline Rhea. The two women have known each other since they were eight years old and Caroline told us about how Amanda had great style even then and had an Oreo necklace that everyone wanted after they saw it. Some people are born with great style and Amanda is definitely one of those people!

It was wonderful to see the lovely and talented interior designer Amy Lau again. She designed the amazing flowered stairs at Kips Bay this year. Amy is very inspiring and never boring (inside joke) and I always feel motivated after I talk to her! I always seem to be running into the popular potter Christopher Spitzmiller these days which is fine with me since he's so handsome and nice! Also, the lovely and elegant Carolyn Sollis who I just adore! Carolyn used to be the style director at House and Garden (may it rest in peace) and is now working with Bunny Williams on PR for BeeLine Home. She is one of the nicest women I know and is always a joy to chat with! I also keep running into interior designer James Andrew all about town and I forgot to mention in my other post that his partner Scott McBee is a wonderful artist too!

The divine textile designer Michael Divine was in attendance with his designer partner Thomas Burak who I am sad to say does not have a website. We are going to have to work on that. Michael was sweet enough to invite me to visit them in the country. I can picture it now. City mouse goes to the country! Michael and Thomas are friends with fellow blogger Ronda Carman who was also on hand with Arkansas interior designer Tobi Fairley.

I had been wanting to meet Mita Bland, the wife of antique dealer Gerald Bland, since I heard that her beautiful watercolors would soon be included in the book, Sister Parish Design: On Decorating. The premise is similar to Mark Hampton's books but this one will be full of decorating advice not only from Ms. Parish but all the top designers today. It sounds like just the type of book that will have the design world buzzing and I can't wait to talk with her more about the project and hopefully Susan Bartlett Crater, Sister Parish's granddaughter and her design partner Libby Cameron. I can already imagine the stories they must have to tell! Speaking of funny stories, when Gerald mentioned he was from the south, I made the comment that I thought he was English. Mita not missing a beat said that he's been working on that accent for a long time! They are a really chic couple!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the best part of blogging has been all the wonderful, inspiring, talented and creative people that I have been privileged to meet. I am also so happy that I have this forum so that I can share their amazing designs and stories with all of you! I know this post was long but it is also very important to me to support anyone who has chosen a career in the arts since we all know how tough it can be sometimes. Oh, and also because I genuinely do like them too! I also want to say a big thank you to Amanda Nisbet for bringing us all together. As everyone knows, throwing a party is very stressful and she was an incredible hostess!