Pearson Inspiration: Luxury Furnishings & Textiles

Hello there, Bergere

I stumbled upon this great little story about a High Point home owned by Wanda and Chuck Link. Having lived in their home for eight years, Wanda still felt it was missing that certain "zing" to make it truly feel like home.

That all changed three years ago when she attended the Chateau de Noel, a holiday show house for charity in Greensboro, and discovered the work of Clemmons interior designer June DeLugas. Wanda pursued the designer's help in transforming her High Point home into a special environment like that of Chateau de Noel.

Some changes were minor, like altering the finish on an existing piece of furniture. But the greatest transformation occurred in the master bedroom. Here deLugas used a special pearlized finish Benjamin Moore paint to give the room an ethereal glow. She also added a Hickory Chair bed and Pearson's pitch perfect Bergere chair, a reproduction of one she spotted in the Chateau de Noel that originally inspired her to call DeLugas.

To add warmth to the space, Wanda and June covered the Bergere chair and ottoman in a salmon-hued plush fabric with textural lattice pattern.

My favorite quote from the story? Wanda stating "I had always wanted a chair like this." What a great feeling to achieve not only the "wow" factor she'd been seeking in her home but also the specific chair that inspired her to leverage the talents of June DeLugas.

On both counts, we'd say this was a rousing success.

Turkish Delight

It's always a thrill to see beautiful stars shining brightly. One of ours (quite literally) is the ever-popular Star of India Ottoman. This time it was the Minneapolis St. Paul Home magazine featuring this unique ottoman in a centerfold spread on design inspirations from Morocco, India and beyond.

We know they adored the updated ikat printed fabric, but it seems the kicky fringe was a real selling point as well. I've seen this piece done dozens of different ways... it never ceases to amaze me how creative a great designer can be. The potential is truly only limited by imagination. It's a marvelous piece guaranteed to strike up many a wild conversation!

Highs & Lows

It's fun seeing Pearson step into new product categories. Last Spring Market they introduced upholstered headboards, but last fall they ushered in a terrific selection of bar stools. Smartly, they offer each style in both counter height and bar height. I love the variety offered by the three different styles.

Looking for versatility? The transitional 1921/1922 bar stools (counter height and bar height, respectively). What I find most appealing about this style is the curvaceousness. A circular base supports a perfectly proportioned round seat set off by a curved back that tops with a scrolled top. It's just a beautiful design from start to finish. Keeping it sexy is the low back and the easy swivel motion. Love these stools and can see them being perfectly at home in almost any setting.

My personal favorites are the 1409/1410's as they mirror the styling of the 1408 & 1409 dining chairs - which I feel are perfection. The Louis XVI frames are carved from European Beech before being accented with heavy duty return swivels forged from high strength steel with smooth motion ball bearings. Even more thoughtful? The footrest is protected with an antique brass plate clear coated to decrease wear. Love that feature!

For those who love a bit more geometry in their furnishings, the exposed picture frame backs of the 1917 and 1918 stools are just what the good designer ordered. Although these beautiful creations don't swivel, I assure you their handsome good looks will turn heads.

Classically Beautiful

Trends may come and go, but for a lifetime of enjoyment I love investing in classics. Now, it's important to note here that classic is not a nice way to say boring or bland. On the contrary. I feel that timeless forms are often some of the best looking pieces in a room. There's a familiarity to their appearance that makes them even more beautiful.

A few pieces from the fall introductions really stand out to me as enduring beauties. The first is the tufted lounge chair that almost begs for a Golden Age Hollywood starlet to rest her weary legs. It's positively gorgeous. I desperately want a pair of these for my bedroom. There's an instant glamour they serve up with their welted borders and curved backs. Love, love, love this chair!

Next up is the Shagreen table that was all the rage at the NYDC even several months back. These were literally being carried out of the showroom one after another by designers who attended the What's New, What's Next event. The buzz on these little shagreen-topped tables still hasn't died down. The color of the top is difficult to describe yet impossible to resist. And that silver leaf Regency inspired base? To die for. Grab a pair of these bunching tables (or their best selling ivory topped sibling) and your room will sing.

And finally... classic continental style with decidedly modern materials. The travertine top of this side table sits upon bronzed iron legs in serpentine shapes, bound together by a ring shaped stretcher for undeniably good looks. There's something about those tied legs that I find endlessly desirable. This is a table I have drooled over since it arrived last Market, and no amount of admiring from afar seems to be curbing my cravings. Seems it's a given I'll eventually cave to my wishes to add it to my living room. A welcome addition indeed.

For more new introductions with enduring appeal, visit our gallery.

The Look of Love

In honor of Valentine's Day, I couldn't help but be drawn back to last fall's Spring/Summer runway show by Jason Wu... specifically, his dramatic pink and white silk look.

Let's face it, when we hear of a combination of pink and white it is easy to default to thoughts of Barbie^® in her Dreamhouse. And yet, the simple addition of black as an accent or a counterpoint make the resulting look anything but saccharine.

Jason's look - much like Pearson's pink and charcoal ikat fabric - offer strength and power instead of sweetness. Yes, the joy and optimism of brilliant pink is evident. But there's nothing cloyingly sweet in either look. The effect is bold, beautiful and powerful.

What I love most about comparing Wu's runway look to this fabulous ikat textile is the interesting similarity of form. By sheer coincidence, the shape of the ikat pattern mimics the silhouette of the voluminous layers of silk of Wu's pink skirt. Stunning!

Whether you're looking to add feisty toss pillows to your project or want to fully upholster a piece in this fabulous print, rest assured visitors will gasp and gawk at the dramatic visual moment you've created. It's a look you (and your client) will be sure to love for years to come.

Featured photo: Jason Wu, Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Runway photo by Alessandro Farogolo via Style.com, Pearson Brilliant Pink & Black Ikat Fabric

Enjoy: Virtual Walking Tour of Paris Showrooms

I credit Jennifer for finding these fabulous videos on Editor at Large. In them, you'll enjoy a walking tour of Paris' Design District with Jessica Romm, Crans Baldwin of Donghia and Ludovic Darricau of Elitis. prepare to be wowed as you preview new fabric collections and home accessories for Paris Déco Off.

Of particular interest was that the trends and qualities mentioned are all part of our current fabric selection. Lively patterns, watercolored textiles, dip dyed and batik looks... . These are global movements in the textile industry, and we're proud to be just a skip ahead of the curve.

View the two videos in sequence: Part One and Part Two to get the full experience. We may not be at Café de Flore ourselves but we can pretend, no? Oui oui!

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Elle Decor: Bloggers' Choice Awards

The article is a must read - not only to spy great designers but also to see who Elle Decor finds influential online. Guilty pleasure: Seeing design duo Suysel dePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster of Tilton Fenwick featured!

Photographers: Carol Dronsfield and Michael Rodenbush

One of my favorite online personas is the inimitable James of What is James Wearing. I love that he shamelessly nominated himself. If you are unaware of his blog, offer yourself some addictive pleasure and start immediately. As both interior designer and sartorial inspiration you are sure to glean plenty of ideas about glamour, pomp and circumstance from his incredible posts and photography.

{like his nomination, photos of James were taken by James Andrew himself}

Save the Date

One thing that's always on the minds of Marketgoers... when and where is cocktail hour?!? For the upcoming April Market we have the answer... right here!

Sunday April 22nd Pearson is hosting a cocktail party at inside the showroom. Show up between 4 and 7pm and enjoy mixing and mingling with fellow designers and buyers as you sip wine and sample hors d'oeuvres. We are located in the posh Hamilton Wrenn district at 200 N. Hamilton Street, Suite 107. We look forward to seeing you there!

One Kings Lane Picks

The One Kings Lane sale is live! Here are a few choice picks from the available goodies. As always, if you see it, snag it... as there are typically not multiples of any item in the sale. Items also go quite quickly. While I was there, several of my picks were pulled into a nother member's cart. Go forth and shop!

The Golden Rule

This next look was inspired by Madonna's grand entrance at last night's Super Bowl halftime show. If anyone can be considered pop royalty, it's the blonde megastar we witnessed last night. She arrived on the stage in a glamorous black and gold Givenchy topped with a gold Egyptian warrior style Philip Treacy headpiece. Cleopatra style, she was was literally carried onto the stage on her golden throne by what has now been commonly referred to as a "phalanx of Greco-Roman soldiers."

While the exact historical references become quite muddied here, what was clear was that we were witnessing a mega-performance by a megastar. It was a sight to behold. The performance was inspiring in so many ways. But it led me to ponder the idea of a more grand chair in my own home. After all, a queen isn't the queen of her castle without a proper perch. The obvious choice was the 1480 chair. This is one of those marvelous pieces that can either be designed to play well with others or take center stage... depending upon how you dress it up.

For the more spectacular appearance I'm going for - directly influenced by Madge's gorgeous Givenchy costume - I've selected Pearson's new cut velvet with Greek Key pattern. Stunning in appearance and seemingly made for moments such as these. It comes in four color options, but here only glamorous black will suffice.

Next, I'd finish the chair in either Vintage Black or Piano finish, depending upon the level of formality desired. The finishing touch of course is the presence of the nail heads. After all, the Givenchy Couture dress was jewel encrusted and glistening under those stage lights. These glimmering antique brass nail heads do just the trick necessary to cement this design firmly in the glamour camp.

Fit for a queen? Absolutely. Timelessly beautiful. I feel the Greek Key and the silhouette of the chair are eternally beautiful. The black finish and antiqued nail heads ground the design and keep the finished look from becoming too theatrical. Although... no one would be the wiser if you did start belting out "Vogue" in the privacy of your own castle. After all, we all deserve our moment on the stage.

{Madonna image via Billboard}

Style, Sweet Style

Some items in a room command attention. Often it's the color, the silhouette, the fabric or some combination of the above. So imagine the beauty of a perfectly designed piece that also is upholstered in an incredible fabric. It's the Holy Grail of design.

Give yourself a head start on achieving this design nirvana with the tufted daybed featured above. Because this particular piece beckons you to come hither, I love pairing it with a touchably soft pile fabric. Think chenille or velvets. This also offers a bit of sheen that serves up unmistakable glamour. A few of my favorites? This beautiful brocade patterned chenille draws out the romance in a piece. You could also use this just as an accent on the toss pillows. A more geometric option would be this beautiful trellis chenille (yes, this is the same option Woodson & Rummerfield used in the window treatments in Mrs. Doheny's bedroom at Maison de Luxe). Or if you want to really wow them, cover it in this delicious new Greek key fabric that shimmers and shines like a jewel in the sunlight. 

Why love a daybed? So many reasons. Versatility. Timeless style. Showstopping good looks. This particular piece could be used in the middle of a room or as seating on the edge. I love the idea of two identical daybeds positioned parallel to one another with a stunning cocktail table in between them (if you choose that option, by all means go for the gold with this one). It's dramatic and inviting at once. The large toss pillows make it almost irresistible as a plump and posh place to sit.

If you are anything like me, nailing that combination of form and fabric requires analysis bordering on what others might consider obsessiveness. You find yourself looking at samples in every imaginable light and at different times of day. It's an arduous process, but when you've finally made your decision you know it's right. And, yes, when the finished piece (your masterpiece) arrives weeks later and friends gasp before finding the words to appreciate your custom creation... let's just admit it: all of that obsessing was totally worth it.

See all of our new introductions in this gallery and our most recently introduced fabrics here.

Countdown to the Napa Valley OKL Tag Sale

Two days to go until the Traditional Home tag sale begins on One Kings Lane. Featured are beautiful items that were featured in the Pearson and Lee vignettes during the Opening Night Gala at last fall's Napa Valley Film Festival.

What does this mean for you? One of a kind or custom pieces specifically designed and chosen to stage the space for this celeb-studded installation. There's also more than a good chance that a Hollywood celeb or other well-known name sat in the chair you'll choose or rested their glass of vino on your future cocktail table. Now that's something we can all raise our Riedel to, I'm sure!

Should you need an invite OKL, snag one here. Sale begins Monday morning, February 6.

Pillow Fight! One Kings Lane Style

Do you recall seeing that incredibly glam space designed for the Napa Film Festival? The one inspired by Pillow Talk? Yes, that impossibly chic white sofa and those jewel toned pillows. Well, all of those can be yours next Monday. We're having a One Kings Lane sale where those stunning furnishings and accessories are being sold at insanely good price points. Brace yourselves... this is one sale you won't want to miss!

Sale begins Monday, February 6th at 8AM Pacific Standard Time. Don't sleep in... you'll surely miss all the goodies as these events tend to sell out quickly!

Trends in Fabrics: Featuring Lori Weitzner's Newest Collection

We always love the Editor at Large interviews. There are two in particular you should watch immediately. In this particular clip Karen Marx interviews Michael Boodro, Lori Weitzner, Arthur Ellsworth and Marvin Wilkinson while on location in Paris. The cause for the celebration? Lori Weitzner is debuting a new fabric collection and celebrating her partnership with Pollack. What's in store for us? Plenty! Time honored artistry and handcrafted textiles. Shimmery details. Luxe textures. It's a full on glamour fest and we love every single handwoven thread of it.

This next video is specifically about the debut of Lori's new collection (video also shot in the Paris location). See the two for a full preview of what to expect in 2012. We absolutely love seeing painstaking details and techniques being celebrated and promoted. Designers - and the customers they serve - who support these artisans are to be thanked for supporting what is truly and form of art.

All Buttoned Up

I'm telling you... New Jersey LOVES Pearson. This month's editorial coverage comes from the terrific Design NJ magazine. Aside from that sleek kitchen on the cover, this issue showcases a carefully selected group of products that offer that "modern retro" look to a space. Alongside Barbara Barry, Thibaut and a few other brands we spied our 220 Chair. There he stands in all his button tufted glory, with his not-so-hidden retro styling.

I do have a weakness for this particular chair, so I'm not surprised to see him getting his due praise. But it's very nice to see him featured so strongly alongside other swanky pieces that we can't help but crush on as well.