about Design on a Dime... Flexible Pieces: Jayson Home & Garden.

There aren't many places where you can log on and furnish an entire suite of rooms without having it look like it all pulled up in one truck, but Jayson Home & Garden is one of them.

Even though I can't quite remember how I found them, I fell for the Jayson Home & Garden website at first, well, site. They also produce a gorgeous little catalog, offer a great selection of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams upholstery, and their seasonal "Petite Flea" events are droolworthy (WHO is the lucky person doing their shopping??). They feature a beautifully cohesive, yet highly eclectic collection... traits to which I generally aspire in my own design work, but which certainly ain't as easy as the folks at Jayson would lead us all to believe.They also have a smoky, masculine vibe, but not in a cliché way, and with a healthy dose of curve and refinement that keep their appeal broad. No pun intended.

Jayson's Painted Wood and Black Velvet Napoleon Armchair, paired with the iconic Saarinen Tulip Table from Knoll

I recently pitched some pieces from Jayson to a bachelor client... their Napoleon Armchairs, which I had hoped to pair up with a Saarinen Tulip Table for a dark tone-on-tone story in the corner of a his open plan living room. That never went anywhere, but I filed away the chairs, the idea and the link to Jayson for some other room... hopefully, perhaps, some day, my own! I am also a big BIG fan of their Tyler Armchair (apologies to PETA), a staple in their collection which I've dog-eared in more than one of their catalogs...

Tyler Armchair

So when I was rounding up my list of dream sources from which to pull a piece or two for Design on a Dime, Jayson was high on the list. But like my lust for Wisteria, I didn't think desire alone was enough to convince them to ship some pieces, free of charge, to be included in my in my room vignette.

Clarke Upholstered Bench, in "Mineral" Velvet

Once again, I underestimated the generosity of a company I now have even more reason to admire. Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR pieces are heading my way... their brand new Clarke Bench (in a gorgeous Mineral blue), the super-versatile and ideally-scaled Wentworth painted wood cabinet, and two deep anchors of color... a pair of Embellished Turquoise Jars.

The Wentworth Cabinet

The Wentworth cabinet will be the perfect anchor for a little "Tidbit," and destined to be styled as a compact and civilized bar (stay tuned for lamp info!). The Clarke Bench, with it's timeless Parsons styling, the perfect companion to the Wisteria Stacked Stainless Steel coffee table, just as angular but softened up with full upholstery. They play very nice together.

Okay, so with more pieces in place, what's your guess for frontrunner in the rug race?

about Design on a Dime... Interesting Pieces: Wisteria.

Shhhhh! Wisteria is my secret weapon, my go-to source for pieces to finish off a room. Their collection is eclectic, full of pieces that look like you found them in an antique shop or posh boutique, but are in stock, internet ready, catalog easy. Over the years, they've added larger pieces, and broadened their time span to include pieces of a more modern ilk. They were doing global chic with a high-end look before, well, everybody else. All good.

They've also long been known for having a sense of humor in those catalogs, and having a big heart, with support of local and global charities, artisan spotlights, and heartfelt profiles of their employees. When Wisteria writes about their "family," you get the very real impression it's not just marketing copy. Humor and heart are traits I greatly admire, so even more reasons to like Wisteria.

I rarely finish any interior or virtual makeover without a little something-something of theirs working its way in, so it seemed odd this room would be without them. They were a natural candidate on my Wish List (and very high on it) of suppliers for my Design on a Dime room. But I figured it would be a long shot, since I've only ever been an anonymous online customer and happy catalog recipient (and Wisteria Facebook fan). I was so intent on having Wisteria represented before I made official contact, I jumped the gun and coerced the boyfriend to make his own generous donation to the cause, scooping up two of their statement-making Chinese Acupuncture figures.

Left: Architectural Stainless Steel Stool; Right: Chinese Ceramic Garden Stool

Well, I asked, and Wisteria answered. And answered BIG. You'll see their Chinese Garden Stool and Architectural Stainless Steel Stool as shiny punctuation, and the room-commanding Stacked Stainless Steel Coffee Table, center stage, if you visit the Metropolitan Pavilion here in New York for Design on a Dime May 5th for the opening cocktail party, or on May 6th and 7th. These and every other item in the over 50 designer room vignettes, from the talented likes of Robert Passal, Amanda Nisbet and Ralph Lauren Home, will be sold off at bargain basement prices.

These pieces are also, happily, part of how I would tackle a small space and design plan. The coffee table is large enough for TV dinners, but glassy and open (so the Niba rug will share the spotlight). The side tables double as stools and give me a lovely play on symmetry, letting me play my very favorite game of "Compare and Contrast." And the three pieces, as different as they are, share a common finish to keep things from getting too busy.

So, knowing these pieces are in the mix, any thoughts on which art or rug you would choose?

about Design on a Dime... Laying the Groundwork: NIBA Rug Collection.

Cubist

Although the design process preparing for Design on a Dime is a bit unconventional, there are some happy parallels to how I typically put together an interior project. I often suggest that clients build a room from the floor up, and start with a beautiful rug. It's an area where I am quick to encourage an investment, if not a real splurge.

So I was delighted at the generosity of NIBA Rug Collections, providing me with a selection of plush and stylish wool and viscose rugs on which to build my room vignette. This is the second time CEO Beth Arrowood has extended her generosity (the first was when she hosted a design industry screening of our "It Gets Better: NYC Designing Men" video).

Marrakech Express

I am, as many know, a sucker for chocolate (in color and Kit-Kat form), so the Marrakech Express was a quick frontrunner, and once I received wool samples, I realized the color would be a perfect match to a wallcovering I was considering (stay tuned!).

But then again, with its room-filling size, relaxed geometry, and cachet of the Doug and Gene Meyer design, the Cubist rug (pictured at top) seemed too good to pass on.

Gumbo Limbo

Then there's the Gumbo Limbo, deep, rich and exotic, with a name that reminds me of my native South Florida and trips to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens (I am also a sucker for an evocatively named product). Hmmm. I'll admit, this is a nice problem to have. Maybe the answer lies in my upholstery options...

Which rug would you choose? And which artwork by Babette Herschberger would you pair with it?

about Design on a Dime.

I've posted before about the rare-but-unique challenges of designing without a client, and striking the balance between practicality and theatricality in designer showhouses, when designers are vying for press, attention and clients. I faced a bit of that challenge when I had the opportunity to participate in Apartment Therapy's first annual Big Window Challenge, a thrilling chance to be seen in the windows of Bloomingdale's legendary Manhattan flagship.

I have a chance, once again, to ask some of those same questions when I create a room vignette for the upcoming "Design on a Dime" to benefit Housing Works, a remarkable charity here in New York City that I'm honored to be part of, alongside some serious design heavy hitters.

Each designer has to secure all the items for the rooms (like they do in showhouse rooms), but this challenge is a bit different. Unlike Harry WInston necklaces after the Oscars, this merchandise doesn't go back. Nope. The chairs and setees, lamps and artwork all get sold, for Housing Works' benefit. So convincing some of my favorite people, vendors and companies to permanently part with merchandise, especially in this tight economy, is just a little bit of a challenge.

Luckily, I know some lovely, generous people, and over the next few weeks, I'll be showing your their contributions, and give you a sneak peek into what the room will look like as it comes together, donation by donation.

I'll be working with what I can get, while trying to keep it true to my style: high and low budget pieces, a dark masculine style, a mix of modern and traditional. It's an opportunity to be brave with color, and I'm planning on it!

And, to celebrate this wonderful honor and opportunity, and to spread the generosity I'm hoping for from so many, there is a PRIZE for you, readers! My 100th follower will get two tickets to the opening night gala! Must be able to get to New York City the night of May 6th. Prize is the tickets only.

Wish me luck! Stay tuned!

about Design on a Dime... Getting Started with Art! The Work of Babette Herschberger.

Yellow Door, Winter Day

For anyone who has ever dismissed abstract or color block paintings with an offhanded "I could paint that," I present Exhibit B: the work of Babette Herschberger. Babette was the very first to say yes to donating an item to my upcoming room vignette for Design on a Dime, and these are the works that I am delighted to consider as my jumping off point.

Linescape 48

Her canvases are deceptively simple... they command a room from far away, gorgeous blocks of color, strong and vibrant. Up close, they are layered, interesting, and with bits of colorful surprises. Subtle geometry reveals itself as you come closer, and the surface is remarkably worked, just as captivating from inches away. The pieces seem built to their current (considerable) depth from layers of color, and are remarkably narrative, despite their simplicity. They are (mostly) happy, but never frivolous.

Waterworld

Her palette has always pulled from her lovely tropical surroundings and a life lived among Miami Beach's deco treasures. When I see Babette's work, I see tropical skies (sunny, and afternoon shower), Ocean Drive neon reflected in dark waves, turquoise swimming pools, and the heart of a friend who has long supported and inspired me, and has become a great ambassador for the South Florida art community.

Tidbit #36

Tidbit #37

Tidbit #29

She's also created a series she call "Tidbits," found, worked and painted paper assemblages. And in her infinite generosity, has offered me, and the Design on a Dime shoppers, a Tidbit as well.

Our paths crossed in past lives when we shared Graphic Design as a profession, and Babette's work then, like her canvases now, was nuanced, chock full of thought, carefully considered, and always offered reward for the reader or viewer's extended attention.

She is a vibrant, hilarious, bubbly woman (we'd often get laughing too hard to work) and I am beyond thrilled we have stayed in touch, and that her work will grace my room vignette. I can think of no better work, energy or person with which to start this design journey.

Ah, but which one?? Stay tuned!

Which one would you choose, to build a room around? And which canvas would you pair with which Tidbit?