When The Saints Go Marchin' In...

found at Perch. ask them about it

...I won't be in their number....I'll hop the St. Charles Avenue streetcar north to the Garden District. From there I'll walk towards the river's bend, pausing at the Garden District Book Shop on Prytania Street for a browse and a chai latte before heading a few more blocks past Commander's Palace to Magazine Street...heaven on earth for this California-transplanted-New-Orleans-native-designer-with-a-love-for-all-things-French, old-&-chic!

I'm reasonably sure any true-blue designer would meet me there this {Super Bowl} Sunday! We'll leave the ponderous and dark shops of Royal Street with its period antiques (splendid!) for the lighter mood up on Magazine. And we'll leave the serious business of cheering on the Saints v. Colts for members of Who Dat nation!

No better place to lighten the mood than Perch. There we'll meet up with blogger Valorie Hart & designer Jack Mayberry decamped among all the very hip and chic furnishings. If we're lucky we might even see Girl, the sweet shop doggie!

ask Jack or Valorie about this fabulous lamp at Perch.

lighthearted mix of happy, non-wintery colors and mood at Perch.

this is the way to add the all-important set of horns to your

large, blank wall....find it at Perch.

I love the fruit prints on the wall and the mix of pillows...kept

from being too sweet by the hip lamp

a large metal tree sculpture over a bed, with

beautiful chandeliers... at Perch.

this very cool turquoise glass chandelier could

come home with me anytime!

the exuberant and vivacious Visual Vamp herself (Valorie Hart)!

photo taken by the fantastic photographer Chris Golson

Hi Valorie!!

the very talented and chic designer, the sweet Jack Mayberry; photo

taken with my iPhone, that's why it's not in great focus, sorry Jack!

after all that design work, let's go across to the fabulous Sucre on Magazine Street

for French macaroons......

...and a cup of this!!!

Now, if you do find yourself somewhere wonderful on this Super Bowl Sunday, and if you are rooting for the Saints, you just might want to hedge your bets and bring along a little of Emeril Lagasse's Jambalaya for the crowd, followed by the world famous White Chocolate Bread Pudding from the Palace Cafe in New Orleans. Sorry, you'll have to make these yourself...click on the links for recipes!

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Hello Girlfriends...You Might Like It Here!

You know, I don't know, it's just a feeling....I could be wrong,

but I'm guessing...women live here, right?

all photos courtesy Harlequin

.............................................................

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Oly For All Mankind.

Until very recently Oly was a designer's best kept secret for "sexy French meets postmodern organic"; perfect for those hip and chic clients who are looking for fresh, modern and playful. What I love about their designs is that they never fail to bring a smile. The California designers Katie McIntyre and Brad Huntzinger do not do ponderously serious.

The Berkeley, California duo have taken their full range of products, from 4-inch obsidian bowls to 8 foot etageres and elaborate chandeliers, eastward to stock their newly opened flagship store in Tribeca, called Oly Atelier. Call it the democratization of design; Oly is now open to the public.

New Yorkers at least can now go sans designer to choose their Oly up close and personal. Take a look at a some of their lighthearted offerings:

{ A Sampling of Oly Designs }

Elizabeth Glass Cabinet

Meri Side Table

Jordan Entertainment Console

Margaret Bed

Vincent Half-Round Table

Babette Table

Oyster Shell Sconce

Bedroom by Oly

Bruno Table

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Oly Studio and the new Oly Atelier are featured in this month's Elle Decor special 20th Anniversary issue.

If you are not going to be in NYC any time soon, and would like to have some of Oly's delightful things in your home, talk to your designer. Oly Studio works with the trade only (except for this new flagship store).

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Mohair: Sink Slowly Into This

Mohair is at the pinnacle in the world of textiles. It's been around for thousands of years, coming from the enlightened angora goats of Tibet. And yet, today's hippest and chicest want mohair for their furniture. Why?

• Mohair fibre is lustrous, strong, resilient, and durable
• It is shorn from the angora goat without harming the animal
• It takes dyes beautifully
• Mohair is flame resistant
• It is soft, and does not crease
• Mohair is modernly sustainable and green.

What does mohair ask in return? It will cost you a lot of green.

But it will last you forever, and if the dog throws up on it, smile beatifically. You know that liquid beads on its surface.

The Eight-Fold Path sometimes leads to the mohair sofa. Take it.