Lighting - with a Twist

Study this photo for a second. I took this picture at a restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Such an interesting, inspired kind of lighting. I wouldn't call it a lighting fixture. It's more of a design element than a fixture. What I think they did was run plain light bulb sockets along a ledge and cover them with random lampshades. There were no lamps up there - the shades sat right on the ledge. So much fun! My hat is off to the creative person who thought of it.

The Greenbrier - A Visual Feast

I have been doing a lot of travelling this year. Whenever I can I love to stay in big historic hotels. Back in February I finally made it to the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, WV. It is over the top beautiful.
The hotel interiors were originally designed by Dorothy Draper. In 1923, Draper established the first interior design company in the U.S. She invented a style called "Modern Baroque", which is particularly suited to large public spaces and modern architecture.
Draper used vibrant colors in never before seen combinations such as pink and aubergine, with a bit of chartreuse and a touch of turqoise. Her dictum, which I love because of it refusal to enforce any design rules, was "if it looks right, it is right".
When my friend found out I was visiting The Greenbrier she sent me this message: "Gotta love big flowers!" to which I would add: "and big stripes and big chandeliers!" Of course, I love them all.

Fun & Easy Valance

I saw this window treatment in a model home. Such a cute idea! Loved that it was a departure from traditional but wasn't too far out there. Also loved the way three fabrics were used.
But there is a glaring mistake on this treatment. Why did they use white lining on the valance portion?? It really takes away from the effect. My eye went straight to that white lining. It would have been so easy to self-line this or line in an inexpensive cotton in a coordinating color. Maybe it was an oversight - been there! - or maybe they only had so much of the solid fabric - been there, too! - but if that was the case, I repeat: use some inexpensive colored lining! Or add trim along those seesaw edges and you wouldn't see the lining. How cute would some pom poms be along the bottom edge? Or to fancy it up, some tassel fringe?