This or That: Upper Kirby Estates

The other day, I was perusing Houston real estate listings for fun and came across two new homes that were very similar in their layout, but very different in style. Both of these homes are part of a new, exclusive enclave called Upper Kirby Estates, located in what Houstonians refer to as “inside the loop”, or the heart of the city. Both homes are 5,000 square feet and they both share a $1,395,000 price tag. So, considering the fact that they are nearly identical in many ways, it comes down to taste. Which would you choose: the first house or the second house? Both homes are really lovely, but if you’ve read La Dolce Vita long enough, you can probably guess which home gets my vote.

 

 

 

So, which home gets your vote?

This Week’s Quote

 

{Image Source}

Fabulous Room Friday 10.08.10

Today’s fabulous room is the office in the Manhattan apartment of Amy Fine Collins. I have loved this room since first laying eyes on it in ELLE DECOR a couple of years ago. The antique desk is stunning, as are the dark, glossy walls. I love the way the various portraits are displayed on the wall without being totally symmetrical, along with the graphic punch from the zebra rug. It seems like such a great place to be productive. Check out that rolodex!

It’s been a busy week of playing catch-up after my trip to Southern California last week and preparing for my trip to Napa next weekend, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

The Style Files: Jamie Meares

What can I say about Jamie Meares? Let’s see, she’s talented, has fierce style, and is hilarious! You’ve got to love a girl who can churn out fantastic design work with the best of them without ever taking herself too seriously. Jamie writes the blog, I Suwannee, which is usually filled with lots of eye candy and seriously funny anecdotes. She is also the owner of Furbish Studio, a retail shop with a fabulous variety of furnishings and home accessories. As if that weren’t enough, Ms. Meares also works as an interior decorator. Do you know what I love about Jamie? Aside from being a fun Southern girl, she has the vision to really create a signature style for herself. Sometimes I feel like I am all over the place, but when you look at Jamie’s store, you can totally see her personality in it. That my friends, is the definition of style.

Name: Jamie Meares

Occupation: Interior Decorator/Store Owner

Hometown: Winston-Salem NC

Current City: Raleigh NC

 

LDV: What inspired you to begin your career as interior decorator and shop owner?

JM: Getting a pink slip from my big girl job.

 

LDV: What do you love most about it?

JM: Going to work each day and getting to do exactly what I want to, with whom I want to do it.

 

{New Custom Trays Available at Jamie’s shop, Furbish}

LDV: What is the most challenging aspect?

JM: The most challenging part is remembering it’s a business, and not all fun and games and in the end design has got to be profitable in order to be sustainable.  If people want to continue to use interior designers they have to accept that not all facets of design can be democratized or we’ll all be out of jobs. Whoa, that just got preachy.

 

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

JM: BLOGS, Keila - my co-worker (having someone to bring a new perspective to the table is invaluable), the walls of Furbish’s bathroom, mags, visiting friends homes

 

{Bedroom Designed by Mary McDonald}

LDV: Who are some of your personal style icons?

JM: Tory Burch, Mary McDonald, Nick Olsen, Lady Gaga

 

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

JM: loud, graphic, southern, sometimes masculine, current

 

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

JM: a sense of humor

 

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

JM: I can be very quick to judge (but that’s also an asset).

 

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

JM: Quit while you’re ahead.... no, just kidding.  =)

LDV: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

JM: Taking a huge leap of faith to give doing what I love for a living a shot.

 

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

JM: Having a beach house that all of your friends can go to every weekend with approximately four dogs, lots of margaritas, clean sheets, some sort of rope swing over water ... or maybe a trampoline in the water, lots of bookcases, and really nice handsoap and guacamole.

 

{Photo by Max Wanger}

Bloom: Peonies because they are big and pink.

Food: Mexican

Drink: Coffee

Thing to Wear: big ridiculous shoes

Destination: Barnes & Noble

Season: Fall

Meal: something at a fancy restaurant

Musician: Blink 182

Television Show: The Jersey Shore

Book: The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

 

Texture: Rowdy’s fur

Fabric or Pattern: loud chinoiserie

Color: pink

Scent: mahogany candles by nest     

Extravagance: Rowdy, lampshades, and monogramming everything

Quote: “You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to learn how to deal with it.”

 

{All Images via Jamie Meares and Furbish Studio Unless Otherwise Noted}

California Dreamin’: Juxtaposition Home

One of the highlights from my trip to Southern California last week was the fact that I was finally able to visit Juxtaposition Home. I was one of the first people to blog about the store a couple of years ago and had been dying to see it in person ever since. Let me tell you folks, it did not disappoint! First of all, the owner, Michele and her colleagues, Ellen and Lynn could not have been more delightful. They were so gracious and sweet and made us feel right at home. Let’s just say that my friend and I were in the store for two hours, if that gives you any idea of how well we got along with the wonderful Juxtapostion team.

Aside from the amazing hospitality, the store is an absolute feast for the eyes! Each vignette is more stunning and inspiring than the last. The store is filled with unique furnishings, textiles, and accessories. They have everything from gorgeous bedding and beautiful lighting to vintage artwork and one of a kind casegoods. Part of Juxtaposition’s mission is to offer authentic, unique pieces that add character and sentimental value to one’s home and they have truly succeeded in doing so. There were so many things that I wanted to take home with me, but alas, I wouldn’t have been able to fit it all in my suitcase. I did, however, score some Hicks’ La Fiorentina fabric for an amazing price ($31/yard)! Juxtaposition is the type of store that we should all be supporting. Not only for their wonderful merchandise, but because of the passion Michele and her team feel for good, unique design in a world that sometimes lacks originality. While you’ll have to pay a visit to the Newport Coast, California store for some of their textiles and smaller goods (it’s worth the trip, trust me!), you can find some of Juxtaposition’s more substantial pieces on 1st Dibs now.

  {The Amazing Juxtaposition Home is a Veritable Treasure Trove for Design Lovers}

{London Calling}

{So Many Lovely Details}

{I love the bed, mirrors, lamp, and bedspread in this beautiful vignette.}

{Juxtaposition is at once chic and eclectic.}

{Fun Accessories: Vintage Letters, Coralie Bickford-designed Penguin Classics Books, and Tin Can Candles}

{I love the group of portraits on the wall here. I was with my friend, Jeni all of last week and we kept seeing these Ficus Lyrata trees everywhere and were soon obsessed with them. Does anyone know if they would work in Houston’s climate?}

{The whitewashed color of this bed is so striking against the soothing grey wall. I am also in love with that convex mirror. It is such a fabulous size!}

{An Assortment of Fabrics Available by the Yard}

{Juxtaposition is home to a wonderful selection of design books.}

{John Derian}

{This series of portraits from Amsterdam was even more amazing in person. They are each so charming. I also love the Visual Comfort lamps.}

{Not only does this sofa look incredibly cozy, it also looks fabulous in the surroundings!}

{A Lovely Array of Accessories and Books}

 

For more information on Juxtaposition, please visit their website.

 

{All Images by Paloma Contreras. Please do not use images without written consent.}