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The Well Appointed House

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Fabulous Beach House Decor for Summer of 2012!

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FRIENDS YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU'VE GOT A BEACH HOUSE!

Have you heard that before?!  We have!  If you have a beach house or summer cottage and are starting to shop for the summer 2012 beach season, look no farther than The Well Appointed House.  Here are some of our favorite picks for this summer!

View these items by clicking here to see our Beach House Decor!

And while you are shopping, leave nothing on the beach but footprints!  Enjoy!

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Jeffrey Bilhuber in Greenwich

The Greenwich Historical Society celebrated interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber here in Greenwich last week at a beautiful luncheon held at the Belle Haven club.   The event chairs were Catherine Tompkins and Carrie Wallack and I served as one of the table hostesses!  The subject matter and setting were exquisite and a wonderful afternoon was had by all!  I donated a fabulous "Jetsetter" gift basket to the raffle  that included one of my luxurious cashmere travel sets (pillow and blanket for chic jet setting), a Getaway combo bag and makeup case, a Well Appointed House candle, and a classic St. Regis travel clock...

The invite, from my desk...

Jeffrey Bilhuber with chairs Catherine Tompkins and Carrie Wallack - Photo Fairfield County Look

Jeffrey gave a wonderful lecture on his experiences in interior design and in putting together his latest book, "The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty".  Some of the attendees of the luncheon, including one of my good friends, is a client of Jeffrey's -- and Carrie Wallack's home was featured in his slideshow and book.  Jeffrey said, "The houses I cherish most are those that speak volumes about the people who live in them.  They reveal home truths rather than constructing domestic fiction about desired lifestyles."

Bilhuber has been likened to a 21st century Billy Baldwin.  In addition to designing for celebrity clients like Anna Wintour, David Bowie and Mariska Hargitay -- he has worked with Peter Jennings, Hubert de Givenchy, Jenny & Trey Laird, Alison & Leonard Stern, Elsa Peretti and Paul Wilmot, among others.

The tables were beautifully done with table cloths that were made for the event using a patchwork of Quadrille Fabrics, table centerpieces by Greenwich Orchids and table settings by Juliska.  Lovely!

Photo

Lunch was kicked off with a delicious Carrot and Ginger Soup, followed by Chicken Paillard (yum) and Jeffrey's favorite "Gin and Juice" sorbet from high Road Craft Ice Cream and Sorbet.  Everything was superbly done!

Jeffrey's fabulous home books were available for purchase.  

Photo

Take home gifts that were on our seats...(Photo)

Event Sponsors included Artistic Upholstery, Greenwich Orchids, Juliska, Quadrille Fabrics and Dovecote.  The Well Appointed House was a raffle contributor.  See more party pictures here.  It was a lovely afternoon!

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Bunny Williams is Opening Pop-Up Shop in NYC!

We all love Bunny Williams (I enjoyed seeing her in LA last month at the Design Bloggers Conference).  It's exciting to hear that she will be opening a pop-up shop at 306 East 61st Street (4th Floor) from May 1st to May 11th.  The shop will be open to customers and the trade and will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  It will be closed on weekends.  The shop will feature items from her Beeline Home collection, things from the store Treillage (that she and her husband John Roselli run) and fabulous mirrors she is designing for Mirror Image.  We're fans of hers, so go check it out if you're in NYC!

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Interior Design Updates: 2012 Kips Bay Showhouse, LuLu DK Child for Schumacher, High Point Market Week 2012, Jeffrey Bilhuber Luncheon in Greenwich

Here are some updates on what's happening in the interior design world this week:

Kips Bay Showhouse Announced the 2012 Dates and Designers
The much-loved and celebrated designer Bunny Williams will be the Chair of this year's show house.  She will be decorating a room with David Kleinberg and Brian McCarthy in honor of Albert Hadley, who passed away recently.  The show house will be open to the public May 16 through June 14 2012. The President's Preview Dinner will be held Monday, April 30th at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and opening night cocktails will be held on Tuesday, May 15th.  Over four decades, the show house has raised over $17 million for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.  Mark your calendars!

Schumacher Announces New LuLu DK Child
Schumacher announced this week a collaboration with Lulu deKeiatkowski, founder and designer of LuLu DK Fabrics.  Lulu DK Child features eight prints and six embroideries on cotton.  It's a charming collection for both boys and girls!

High Point Market Week

High Point market week is coming up!  It's April 21-26!  

Jeffrey Bilhuber Lecture & Luncheon in Greenwich, CT

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a lecture and luncheon with interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber this at the beautiful Belle Haven club this Wednesday April 18th.  I'm a table hostess at the event and can't wait to hear about his design projects.  The Event Chairs are Catherine Tompkins and Carrie Wallack.  Jeffrey is an AD100 top designer who has designed for celebrities Anna Wintour, David Bowie and Mariska Hargitay and also a few friends of mine.  Hamish Bowles of Vogue has likened him to a 21st Century Billy Baldwin!  I'll let you know how the luncheon is!

Spring is in full swing!

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The Secrets of the Little Black Jacket by Chanel

If you've ever wondered what goes into the creation of the Little Black Jacket by Chanel, watch this video!  It is spectacular!  Enjoy!
~ Melissa Hawks

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Reusing Gracie Wallpaper

When I installed Gracie hand painted wallpaper in my previous home, in Westchester, I had it backed in muslin fabric with the thought that if I ever so desired, I could take down the paper and reuse it.  I had been told this was an option, and quite frankly, I wasn't sure it would work out!

Well, I am here to tell you that it is possible!  Here are a few photos of the paper in my previous dining room (all photos copyright The Well Appointed House/Melissa Hawks):

Here are some photos of Joe Shea and his team reinstalling the paper, two years later, in my home in Greenwich:

The end product (minus a rug, and these are iPhone photos!)

Well, as they say...

If you love something, let it go.  If it comes back to you, it's yours forever.  If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be....

I say:

"If you love something...

back it in muslin...

Keep it...

and rehang it!"

Enjoy!

-Melissa Hawks. The Well Appointed House

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Style Spy: Taylor Tomasi-Hill

It's no secret that editors are New York's celebrities.  We live for sightings of the arbiters of cool -- constantly checking street style blogs like Tommy Ton's on style.com for a glimpse of the chicest of the chic.  Some make us more excited than others, which is the case with former Accessories Director at Marie Claire and now Creative Director at Moda Operandi, Taylor Tomasi-Hill.

via google

TTH has made a name for herself in the industry with her scarlet mane and constant blend of feminine sensibility with harder, more masculine structured pieces.  She is a complete original with exceptional taste, and it's no surprise that Vogue contributor and Moda Operandi founder Lauren Santo Domingo chose to profile her Chelsea apartment. 

 Both Taylor and her husband are hardcore New Yorkers but their Texas roots are evident in this culture clash of a creatively cultivated apartment.

 Tomasi-Hill told Vogue that one of the items she and her husband disagreed on was the farm sink that she cleverly uses as a counter.

 Plenty of nick-nacks and odds and ends make up the personality of their space.  You can tell that each pieces tells a story.

 And then of course there's her closet... the shoes alone leave you wanting more!

Tomasi-Hill knows that like every great wardrobe, every great apartment needs layering.  It needs an eclectic feel -- a sensibility all its own.  Get the look with some key pieces from The Well Appointed House.

The colored letters and characters are the best!  Hang one on the wall of a children's playroom or a funky eclectic space either spelling out a name, phrase or monogram.  (and work in some key lighting while you're at it!)

This pillow is not only beautifully illustrated it is unique and brings a sense of the exotic outdoors to your home, perfect for a New York City apartment in need of a little wildlife. 

Frame this print in a chunky wood frame and add to its rustic charm.  Hang against a white wash brick wall for extra contrast.

This papier-mache mirror has a branch motif and comes in an array of different colors, meaning it coordinates perfectly with your space's hue constraints. 

And who could resist this little love bird!

For furniture, this hand carved wood frame chair with vintage inspired upholstery doesn't get any better.  It has a taste of sophistication with some down-home country char,

You have to love this tin embossed table for the sparkle and little add bling it brings to the room.  It is the perfect finishing touch for your Taylor Tomasi-Hill digs! -Gabrielle Katz, The Well Appointed House

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