We are giddy just thinking of it… spring is around the corner and we can not wait! It has been a pretty mild NYC winter, and I feel like in the past when I’ve gotten excited about spring we end up having some sort of crazy snow in April. But I can’t help but be excited, especially with Spring Fashion Week wrapping up here in New York. I’m ready to wear some pastels!

We are loving the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2012... and it just so happens that we have some new wallpapers and rugs in these colors arriving soon.

Speaking of pastels we were thrilled to be featured in the March Vogue that just hit news stands this week. Doug and Gene Meyer’s Try Angular hand knotted Tibetan rug can be seen on page 595. This luxurious wool rug is an absolute delight for your eyes- I adore the combination of pastel colors. It has the ability to brighten up just about any room!

Another thing that got us excited this week was a box full of new fabrics we received from our friends at Katherine Rally. They have introduced some wonderful new patterns to their line of batiks from Bali. But we are really intrigued by the new colorways they have come up with to add an extra pop to some of these patterns. The lime green and hot pink colorways are just waiting to be used in a summer home! Be sure to check out Katherine Rally’s new website too. There are so many beautiful images of their fabrics installed in various settings- we love it! Congrats Katherine and Rally!!

new Katherine Rally fabrics for spring: Wangi in Lime Green, Kandy in Hot Pink, and Peacock in Lime Green (from left to right)

Katherine Rally's Haveli in Saffron

Katherine Rally's Seraya in Indigo

Like so many others out there, all of us at Studio Four are hooked on PBS’s Downton Abbey. I’ve always been a sucker for period pieces, but Downton Abbey is particularly unique to me. The show is filmed in the beautiful English countryside on the grounds of Highclere Castle.

The exterior of Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey)

Working on Downton Abbey must be a set designer’s dream come true! Highclere Castle was extensively renovated in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by the Carnarvon family. In 1838, the Carnarvons hired architect, Sir Charles Barry, to oversea transforming the castle into the grand mansion that it is today.

The front door of Highclere Castle after Sir Barry's renovations.

The salon was completed in the 1860's. It was designed by Thomas Allom who worked with Sir Barry on numerous projects.

Lady Sybil with some exquisite french silk upholstered walls in the background of the drawing room. The drawing room was designed by Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, in the "rococo revival" style.

A floor plan of Highclere Castle. It's hard to read but gives an idea of how large the castle actually is (keep in mind this is only one floor).

Here is one last interesting detail. In the 19th century, green baize was often used to line swing doors separating the servants quarters from the main house. The brass tacks seen on this door were sometimes used to create a decorative pattern. Baize is a great fabric to use for isolating noise, and it also absorbs kitchen odors. Plus I think this door looks pretty cool!

Pierrepont Hicks is a small haberdashery based out of Minnesota. I discovered them last Father’s Day when I was looking for a gift that my son could give my husband for his first Father’s Day. I know a tie doesn’t really score me points in the originality department, but these aren’t just any ties! They are beautiful hand sewn ties made from the most lovely fabrics, and they are all sewn here in New York. Here are some of my current favorites:

I recently received an email from Pierrpont Hicks promoting an exclusive Woodgrain Necktie they just designed in collaboration with the The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

I couldn’t help but think of how great some Studio Four fabrics would look as ties. Here are a few ideas that came to mind:

The Fence Print in sweet pink from Floyd Home would be the perfect compliment to a summer seersucker suit.

I also think the Nila pattern in golden yellow from Akin and Suri for Handmade Interiors would look very handsome with a navy suit like the one from Billy Reid below:

And then there is the Orbison Stripe fabric from our own Selvedge Handwoven fabric line. The texture of the weave is already incredibly handsome but I think combined with the colorful stripe this would be an extra special tie especially when worn with a grey tweed jacket like the one from Billy Reid below:

We just received these fabulous and exotically beautiful hand knotted rug samples. They are woven with actual Sari Silk to achieve some of the most vivid colors we’ve ever seen. These photos definitely do not do them justice so come see these beauties in person soon before all the samples are loaned out to clients!

Custom handknotted rugs woven with wool and Sari Silk

a closeup of the super vivid Emerald Sari Silk

The Multi Colored Sari Silk

A closeup view of the Multi Sari Silk

Two of the coolest girls we know were featured in the most recent issue of Luxe Magazine. Suysel DePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster are the talented duo behind the much talked about design firm, Tilton Fenwick. Luxe asked Anne and Suysel to pick some of their favorite NYC area spots and we were thrilled to learn about their favorites.

Below is an image from the article:

After seeing this we were inspired to share a few of our favorite neighborhood spots with you. So here are the places and things that have been getting the Studio Four gang excited these days:

The first on our list is an obvious: The Flatiron Building. We think this is one of the most interesting architectural structures in New York.

Eataly is AMAZING! We particularly love late lunches at the Seafood restaurant after the big lunch crowds leave.

For a quick delivery lunch Rhong Tiam Express is a current favorite- We love the Roti Wraps and the Tom Kha Soup

Eisenberg's is the quintessential NYC sandwich shop. A quick lunch at Eisenberg's counter can totally turn your day for the better. Two thumbs up for the Rueben with a fountain soda.

Flo loves visits to Madison Square Park. It's one of our very favorite NYC parks! And for those of you nature enthusiasts there happens to be a Red-tailed Hawk that is currently calling it home.

The bar at Gramercy Tavern is a wonderful spot to unwind after work. Home to delicious martinis and quite possibly the best non-alcoholic beverage ever invented, the Ginger Swizzle (pregnant Kate was a big fan of this mocktail).

Now that all of the holiday chaos is behind us I am very much looking forward to some relaxing reading time. It’s January in NYC and needless to say it is COLD outside. So I have spent my first few days of the new year by the fire absorbing the magical interiors of two of my favorite interior designers: Muriel Brandolini and Katie Ridder.

These women are incredibly talented and both books are BEAUTIFUL! I am already feeling inspired to make some design updates to my home in 2012. Happy reading!

"Katie Ridder Rooms"

"The World of Muriel Brandolini: Interiors"

The hand beaded version of Muriel's amazing book

We are big fans of The World of Interiors! In the most recent January 2012 issue they feature a beautiful Notting Hill mansion with one of the most interesting stair runners I have ever seen.

Alot of people seem to think that stairs are too complicated to use crazy patterns or repeats. But that is totally not the case. I once installed a faded ombre rug on a curved staircase. It faded from dark brown at the top of the stairs to a taupe shade in the middle and then it went back to dark brown at the bottom (too bad I don’t have a photo!). I won’t lie- it was not easy, but it was AMAZING!

Luckily we have Stacy to help us figure out how the patterns will lay out on each step or how the stripes runners will turn with angular staircases. Stacy is the master of all floor plans here at Studio Four. Without her we’d be lost!! And then we can not forget about our master installer, Richie. He was the genius that installed my faded ombre stair runner. So if any of you are in the market for a marvelous stair runner, have no fear Stacy and Richie are here to work their magic!

Here are a few runners that I am particularly fond of these days:

Love the pop of color in this runner from The World of Interiors, Jan 2012 issue

Striped runners are always classic and timeless!

This chevron runner is so fun and chic!

Here are some fun painted stairs designed by the fabulous, Muriel Brandolini

We may sell textiles here at Studio Four, but lately we have been obsessed with light switches and plates. But not just any old light switch! We are particularly loving the fabulous products of Forbes and Lomax.

A client of mine recently used these elegant switches in a design project, and they immediately caught my attention when I visited the residence. A week later I traveled to the UK and learned that Forbes and Lomax is a London based company that is loved by many a designer and architect worldwide (these switches are used throughout the Number Sixteen).

The Invisible Lightswitch is absolutely perfect for rooms with wallpaper! One of the downfalls to living in NYC is lack of space. I am always trying to find ways to make my apartment feel bigger. I’ve been known for rearranging the living room furniture when my husband goes out to run a few errands. I’ve also been known for throwing out some of his favorite cooking utensils for more aesthetically pleasing and poorer functioning versions. But I learned my lesson when I threw out our handy can opener for a sleek, stylish and totally useless can opener. So dear husband, I promise I have done my research and these light switches are not only sleek and stylish but they also work!

That being said unfortunately, all of the light switches in my apartment are pretty new and working perfectly well so it doesn’t look like Forbes and Lomax is in my immediate future… but maybe one day!

Here are a few of my favorites:

All of us at Studio Four are incredibly thankful for our wonderful friends and clients!
We hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday!
And in case anyone is looking for a little post Thanksgiving feast humor, here is what I plan on doing…