custom designed dining table

Oh my gosh, I am thrilled to show you my custom-designed dining table. If I ever get a furniture line going, this will be the first piece I take to market. I designed this table based on a vintage piece:

But I wanted mine to have six sides instead of eight, and to be in solid cerused oak. I had the most wonderful artisan make it for me, and it is on its way to my house now! Here is a pic of my finished table:

I can't release any other photos or info because I hope to have it published and put the table into production, but I am so excited I couldn't help myself! What do you think?
E

my painting arrived

So thrilled! My painting arrived from Susan Dory and my bestie Leslie at Guthrie Contemporary. They conspired together to give me a painting for Christmas and I adore it! Susan has invented a new way of painting that looks like melted candy poured out. Some of the shapes are sheer and some are opaque. Photos do not do it justice. Also it is strong enough to be in a bathroom, which I love, because it makes the whole room!
Thank you so much Leslie and Susan - you have made my whole year!
E

the hand-crafted home

My mom and I have been working on a coffee table book that will feature interiors using handmade craft. This can be quite modern, since craft can be anything handmade, from a painting to a chandelier. My mother was the director of the Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild for years, so she has tons of talented artists and craftsmen at her disposal. I would like to photograph my dining room for the book, and I want to have a dining table custom made for the hand-crafted element.

Right now, I love everything except my table. I have a vintage mirrored credenza, hexagon brass table lamp, gorgeous (huge) photograph triptych of a dogwood branch, the polyhedral light fixture from Worlds Away and the vintage Milo Baughman chairs I recovered in a black zig zag chenille.

The room is super tiny and actually does not support a large table. The front door hits it when I open it all the way and you cannot see the credenza at all. I really need a round but I want to do something more interesting than that. This table has always been in my inspiration files, and I am hoping that something similar can be done in only a 48" size. It will probably have to be bigger to get a hexagon shape. I also want it to be black cerused oak so you can see the strong grain like this:

What do you guys think? I think it could be amazing!
E

my favorite room

I will admit that I have had a rough couple of weeks. Adjusting to a new city or situation can be tough, as many of you know. My mother is the best at words of wisdom. She says, "Go sit in the sunshine and breathe." So that is exactly what I am going to do today.

Another thing that always brings me peace is making my home look cozy and welcoming. Nothing makes me happier than fresh flowers or adding the perfect touch to a room. My favorite room in the cottage is the downstairs den. It was meant to be a second bedroom, but it is tiny, so I made it a tv lounge and I spend most of my time there working on the computer (doing this post!) or watching tv. It just barely fit my sectional and it has a ledge for my tv and art, and my favorite portrait of my grandfather watches over everything. I just changed out the builder grade glass bathroom fixture they had installed to this cool little star flushmount fixture, so I finally feel like the room is "finished"....  I am laughing as I type, because is any room ever finished to a designer?

I hope you all have a favorite spot in your home where you can curl up and think about your life, your goals, and to reflect on everything you have. I am so lucky to have my family, my friends, this beautiful cottage and gorgeous weather. Now to the beach! Have a great week, friends...
E

bedroom dreams

I know I have been talking about this cottage bedroom for months, but I just can't decide what to do. I want to stay true to the architecture and feel of a cozy cottage, but I also want my modern design sensibility to come through. Right now the room is so white...white walls and drapes. I have a jute rug and the gorgeous oak/parchment fishscale chest.

Now I am thinking I will do an antler chandelier:

And this simple bed:

With the modern brass sconces over each side:

The tough part is deciding on a fabric for the bed. I have always loved graphic cubes like this tile:

Of course there is the Pierre Frey Kubus fabric that is so popular right now, but I don't like the metallic gold or the price...

But something along those lines - a smaller print in beige, gray and charcoal. What do you think? Any fabric suggestions?
E