In the Pink with Jamie Drake

One of the biggest drawbacks of marriage is that a woman is constantly forced to compromise -- not just in the big, important areas like money, but in more superficial areas as well, like home decor. While there are many joys to sharing your home with a man, it does by default restrict a girl's decorating choices. For example, few men (and Dave is no different in this respect) would sign off on a bold pink bedroom, like the one shown here, which was designed by Jamie Drake for Kip's Bay 2007. Too bad, too, because this room is a gorgeous fantasy for just about every woman I know.

Generally, I'm not what I would consider a "girly-girl" -- I tend to eschew pink in favor of blue, doilies in favor of chrome...and yet, I can't help but feel giddy about this room. It's playful and fun, but it also manages to come off as sophisticated and smart thanks to a fearless mix of serious antique furniture, modern art and a generous dose of gilt. Pink walls aside, this is definitely not a little girl's bedroom. Deep wood tones and pops of black add gravity and rich contrast to a room that might otherwise run the risk of looking (to quote one of my all-time favorite movies) "like it's been hosed down with Pepto-Bismol".

Jamie Drake is a master at using bold colors -- in fact, House Beautiful dubbed him the "King of Color" back in 2001 -- and I think a great part of his success with color is his willingness to keep a room relatively monochromatic. Even bold choices like turquoise or pink can come off as sophisticated and calming when paired with neutrals like white, ivory or even metallics.

I love the visual tension created here by pairing a very traditional and ornate inlaid wood desk with a very modern lucite and pink-upholstered chair. Pink orchids next to a white ceramic snake ups the ante further with the additional contrasts of soft and hard, safe and dangerous.

I adore this amoire -- the black lacquered trim really pops against all the pink in the room. That ceiling fixture is great, too. I think a more typical crystal chandelier would have made this room look prissy rather than edgy.

This is the bedroom of a very, strong confident woman who mixes without fear: vintage with modern, lucite with gilt, and stripes with checks. All in all, I think the room is a very sexy space. The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the gorgeous walk-in closet...or should I say, boudoir:

Be still my beating heart. Floor-to-ceiling wall of shoes? Check. Open storage to display fabulous purses? Check. Luxurious bench on which to perch and stare at all your gorgeous things? Check.

I dream of such a space. Perhaps Dave will agree to a pink closet, even if a pink master bedroom is off the table....

What about you? In what ways do you have to compromise your design style to accommodate the tastes of your spouse/partner? If you live alone, in what ways do you indulge your own design eccentricities?

Win a Blissliving Home Pillow!

Today I am absolutely thrilled to bring you a giveaway courtesy of AllModern.com, an online retailer for all things hip and modern for your home. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller’s popular Aeron Chair to cookware by Rachael Ray. All Modern carries just about all of the hottest home decor brands out there like Amenity Home, ferm LIVING, DwellStudio, Thomas Paul and many more, including modern classics from Knoll and Hermann Miller. In short, they're a great one-stop shop for modern furnishings and accessories. Even better, all items over $69 ship free of charge to the continental U.S.

When AllModern approached me to host a giveaway I suggested that the prize be the reader's choice of one decorative pillow from Blissliving Home, one of my absolute favorite brands for bedding and soft home accessories -- in fact, I featured their modern chinoiserie-style pilows from their Spring 2009 collection in the mood board for my new bedroom. I've selected a few of my favorites in the collage above, but there are many more styles and colors available on AllModern's site.

So here's how this is going to work: One winner will be selected at random to receive a free Blissliving Home pillow (up to $75 in value) courtesy of AllModern. To enter, simply visit AllModern's extensive collection of Blissliving Home pillows (HERE) and then leave me a comment here letting me know which one you would select if you were chosen as the winner. The contest will be open until noon on Friday, July 24, and a winner will be announced that afternoon. This giveaway is only open to residents in the U.S. and Canada and only one entry per person will be counted.

Good luck, y'all!

Vacation Part Two: Ireland

The last five days of our trip was spent in Ireland, and we definitely took a slower, more leisurely pace through the Emerald Isle than we had in our six days in London. After arriving in Galway following a painfully early flight from London-Luton (not an airport I'd recommend, by the way, as it's about an hour's trip by tube, train and then shuttle from central London) we collapsed at our hotel The G and only made it out again for a traditional dinner of fish, chips and mashed peas. [By the way, The G is every bit as fabulous as advertised. My sole complaint would be their restaurant The Matz, which managed to serve up the worst dinner we had during our trip.]

The next day though, we managed to rally and drive out to Kylemore Abbey (pictured above), which is about an hour north of Galway in a remote region known as the Connemara. Originally built by a wealthy English family in the mid-19th century as a summer house, the house became an abbey in 1920. While the building itself is relatively modern (especially by European standards), the order of nuns that now lives there has a rich history dating back to the 17th century.

The grounds surrounding Kylemore are particularly striking and Dave and I enjoyed a pleasant day of walking around the lake, woods and Victorian gardens. We were particularly fortunate to enjoy sunny weather -- a rarity in Ireland.

Above are the vestiges of a 12th century castle, complete with moat. Today, cattle graze lazily around it. For me, at least, this picture encapsulates the Irish countryside, which is chock-a-block full of ruins set amidst grazing land.

Our second full day in Ireland was greeted with more typical Irish weather. In short, it was overcast with intermittent (though not particularly hard) rain. Undeterred though, we set out to visit Clonmacnoise, a ruined monastery situated about halfway between Galway and Dublin. I should state here that the vast majority of historical sites in Ireland are ruined abbeys, churches and castles, many of which were destroyed first by the Vikings and then by the English. Because of the island's tumultuous history, you just won't find the same level of beautifully-preserved historic sites that you'll find in England or even Scotland.

Clonmacnoise was originally founded in the 6th century by St. Ciaran, but has gone through numerous incarnations through the centuries as it was built and rebuilt following devastating raids by Vikings and even fellow Irishman. The surviving stone buildings date from the 10th century, when the original wood buildings were replaced with more permanent structures. Sacked by the English in the 16th century, the site was reduced to ruins but continued to be considered a sacred site for the Irish, who used it as a graveyard through the last century.

Clonmacnoise is also home to some of the best surviving examples of high crosses and dates (and the only one that remains in situ).

Driving in Ireland is a bit harrowing -- and not just because you have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road. In the countryside, most roads are extremely narrow and have no shoulder as they're surrounded by overgrown hedges. The shot above shows a road that was alleged two-way. We spent the majority of the time praying that we wouldn't meet any oncoming traffic.

Another castle just outside Galway. To be perfectly frank, I can't recall the name, but it was rather lovingly restored by an English heiress in the last century, making it one of the best preserved castles in the Republic of Ireland.

The view from the ramparts was rather stunning. On a clear day (i.e., twice a year) you can supposedly see the Aran Islands.

Dave and I were both amused at how "Irish" he looks. In fact, I'm fairly certain we met several of his "long lost cousins" during our stay. The irony is that I'm actually more Irish than he is.

After two full days in Galway we took Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) to Dublin, which was a pleasant three-hour ride through the countryside. Dublin reminded me a lot of Glasgow, except that it's cleaner and perhaps a bit prettier. All in all, it's a city I could see myself living in as it boasts a number of excellent restaurants [my favorite being The Pig's Ear], good shopping and about 1 million friendly Irish.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is also the final resting place of Jonathan Swift, one of my absolute favorite authors. I took a course on satire as a senior in college and found a new appreciation for Swift [I think high school is actually a bit too early to read him].

Dublin Castle, which is now houses quite a few governmental agencies, so most of it is not open to the public. We did, however, spend a wonderful afternoon at the Chester Beatty Library, which houses the private book collection of Chester Beatty, the late American mining tycoon. I was absolutely floored at some of the outstanding works he had been able to acquire, from third century papyri of Paul's letters and gorgeous Medieval illuminated manuscripts to amazing 17th century copies of the Tales of Genji and a huge collection of Oriental snuff bottles. This is definitely an under-the-radar gem and not-to-be-missed for any bibliophile.

A final shot of Dave in Dublin near the River Liffey. Our last night in Dublin was spent on a literary pub crawl. I'm not sure how "literary" it actually was as we only went to one bar with any literary connections (Davy Byrnes, which Joyce's main character Leopold Bloom frequents in Ulysses), but we had a great time. Such a great time, in fact, that we boarded our flight home to Houston a wee bit hung over.

Vacation Part 1: London

So I've finally narrowed down my pictures to a manageable number and I thought I'd divide them up between our time in the greater London area and our time in Ireland. We arrived at London Heathrow at 9:30 in the morning after a long overnight flight from Houston. We spent the first day in a state of somnamublance, managing to rouse ourselves after a long afternoon nap just in time for dinner at Awana, a Malaysian restaurant near our hotel that was positively delicious.

After a good 10 hours sleep, we woke up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer London. Our first full day was split fairly evenly between the British Museum (a "must-see" by any standards) and shopping along Regency Street (which Dave was a great sport about). We started up at Oxford Circus and made our way down Regency to Piccadilly Circus. Of course, my first stop was Liberty:

Liberty's Tudor facade is matched only by its exquisite selection of very "of the moment" designers, both in fashion and in home decor. In fact, browsing through the store was a veritable "who's who" of trendy, ever-so-slightly under the radar designers. Highlights of the home accessories department included a wonderful selection of pieces by John Derian, Jonathan Adler, Marimekko, and Fornasetti. Of course, these are all items that you can buy here in the States but it was still a treat to browse such a well-curated selection. In addition to bringing in big name designers, Liberty has its own brand and its famed art deco in-house patterns (available on scarves, bags, bedding and more) are absolutely irresistible -- I left with a lovely makeup bag and peacock-inspired shams. I did a bit more browsing at home stores like Zara Home, Habitat, and The Conran Shop, the latter being by far the most impressive, but all of which are worth a drive by next time you're in London.

On Saturday we decided to venture outside London and hopped on a tour bus that took us to Windsor Castle, the Georgian town of Bath (also home to the famed Roman Baths) and Stonehenge. While rain threatened most of the day, we were thankfully spared. While I've visited all three of these sites before, I most enjoyed revisiting Windsor, which was even more glorious than I remembered thanks to its newly-renovated State Apartments (when last I visited, these rooms had been closed due to a tragic fire that seriously damaged this part of the Castle back in the mid-90s). The gardens and St. George's Chapel are also highlights.

Next up was Bath: a charming Georgian town in southwest England, not far from Wales. Built along the river Avon, the city itself is charming and would be an excellent destination for a long-weekend. Bath has long been a destination for wealthy Londoners looking to escape the city in the summer and it is where Jane Austen wrote many of her famous novels. Today, celebrities like Johnny Depp continue to retreat to the charming town.

Of course, the major tourist attraction to Bath (and the source of its name) are the Roman Baths, which is one of the best-preserved examples of their kind remaining in the world. As a Classics major in college, I have a particular interest in all things Roman, but I think they're of sufficient general interest to be worthy of a place on just about everyone's hit list.

Our final stop for our second day was Stonehenge, which Dave had been particularly keen on seeing (having seen it before in high school though, I could take it or leave it as it's definitely a "once you've seen it, you've seen it" type of site). The area around Stonehenge (known as the Salisbury plain) has a certain magical quality, and it's easy to see how the ancient Britons thought that the area had a special, religious importance. Of course, the throngs of tourists that now flock to the site daily certainly detract from this feeling, but despite the Japanese and American hoards, it's still worth the stop if you haven't been before.

On Sunday we decided to sleep in, but we still managed to spend the entire afternoon at one of my all-time favorite stops: The Tower of London. Between the engaging Beefeater tour guides, the Crown jewels (housed in the building above), the ravens, and just the incredible amount of important events (i.e., executions) that have gone on here, it's just a wonderful way to spend a day -- particularly one as glorious as we enjoyed that Sunday.

The White Tower is the oldest part of the Tower, dating back to William the Conqueror. Inside was a special exhibit on Henry VIII, whose coronation was in 1509, exactly 500 years ago this year. Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, was executed "in the French fashion" (i.e., by a sword instead of an axe) just steps away from where I took the picture.

Dave and I on the ramparts, overlooking Tower Bridge.

Sunday evening we dined in Hyde Park and then walking from the park up to Buckingham Palace, which is just a 15 minute walk away in Green Park. Since the Queen was enjoying her holiday in Scotland while we were there, the flag flown above the palace is the Union Jack (when the Queen is in resident, her royal standard is flown instead).

The monument to Queen Victoria just opposite the Palace. I'm a huge fan of Queen V. and the size, scale and artistic merit of this monument makes it truly breathtaking in person.

On Monday we decided to spend our day in the city of Westminster. Our first stop was Parliament and Big Ben for a quick photo or two. Then we were off to Westminster Abbey, which rivals (and arguably surpasses) the Tower of London for its history and cultural importance.

This was my fourth time to visit Westminster and every time I see something different and learn something new. Just about all the great men and women of English history are buried here, from Edward the Confessor and Elizabeth I to Isaac Newton and Geoffrey Chaucer. In fact, there are so many people buried here that it takes great care to not constantly stumble over graves. I would imagine that worshipping here would feel rather like communing with the dead, many of whom are memorialized with lifelike statutes and portraits, which only heightens the sensation that you're sharing this space with another world.

This brief prayer is outside the exit to the Abbey, and has been a favorite of my family's since my first trip to London in 1996.

We then pressed on to St. Paul's Cathedral, which is an absolute architectural marvel. This is a shot from the very top of the Cathedral, which Dave took as I declined to take the last 300 or so steps from the Whispering Gallery to the top (the narrow, steep steps are a bit claustrophobic and I'd made the trek before). Our final stop that day was the Museum of London, a hidden gem among the more popular museums in the city. I highly recommend it as a great rainy day activity that won't be overly crowded.

Alas, we awoke on our last day in London to steady rain, which forced us to cancel our plans to visit Hampton Court (an impressive Tudor-era palace just outside London). Instead, we decided to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is dedicated to the decorative arts and includes just about everything from priceless blanc de Chine and Victorian silver serveware to exhibits on hats and fashion.

This picture of the pagoda-style bed is for my friend Beth of Chinoiserie Chic. Its size and detailing in person was magnificent and was the highlight of an impressive collection of 17th and 18th century Chinoiserie furniture and art.

The exhibit on Islamic art was one of my favorites. I was amazed at how modern 16th-century Ottoman pottery and tiles could look, but then again, a derivative of Moroccan style has been trendy in the design world for quite some time now. This gorgeous fireplace is huge, and absolutely stunning in person.

The entrance to the Victoria and Albert is as lovely as its many, many exhibits. I particularly love the modern, Venetian-inspired glass chandelier hanging in the rotunda. The contrast between new and old is striking and illustrative of the array of objects (which range from ancient Chinese to Victorian to modern, cutting-edge fashion) inside. [Update: You guys are spot-on: this gorgeous glass installation is by famed Seattle artist Dale Chihuly. Go HERE for more information on his exhibitation at the V&A where you can also download gorgeous desktop wallpapers and e-cards of pictures of his work.]

Dave will kill me for posting this picture (its admittedly not particularly flattering of him), but there are precious few pictures of us together, particularly in London. Our final stop on our last day was Trafalgar Square, where a chilly rain drove us indoors to the National Portrait Gallery, which has an amazing collection of...you guessed it -- portraits, but its collection of Tudor portraits is my favorite.

Our final night in London was spent dining at the Boxwood Cafe, a restaurant operated by the celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey and attached to the famed Berkeley Hotel. After a delicious meal, we retreated to The Berkeley's Blue Bar (pictured above) which was suggested to us by Beth and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. All in all, it was an excellent finish to a wonderful stay in London.

I'd also like to thank both Beth and Christy (from A Lil' Welsh Rarebit) on their excellent suggestions on what Dave and I should do, see and eat while in London. Your suggestions were spot-on and greatly appreciated, ladies!

Next up is Part 2: Ireland!

Odi et Amo Discount: Emilia Ceramics

Today, I'm thrilled to share with you all an interview with Emily Brown, the owner of one of my favorite online stores, Emilia Ceramics, which offers unique, beautiful ceramics handcrafted by artisans in Italy and Mexico. Not only though has Emily been gracious enough to offer me the opportunity to chat with her, but she's also extending a great discount offer to Odi et Amo readers. From now through July 31, you can receive 20% off the purchase of any product in the Vázquez collection (a small sample of which is shown above). Prices on pieces in the collection range from $18 (for the small jewelry boxes) to $185 (for the lamps). To take advantage of this great offer, simply enter the discount code "odietamo" at checkout.

OetA: How do you decide what to buy for your store?

Emily: A lot of my decision of what to buy is made because of the artists themselves -- and I work solely with artists who create and paint every piece by hand, have small-scale productions, and export minimally. I'm not just selling vases and lamps and bowls, I'm supporting and promoting these artists [and] helping their beautiful work to be discovered. So I choose to work with people I really genuinely like. Not only can I feel good about helping them, it also makes it a lot more fun to call them, email them, and visit them. It was later that I learned that Vázquez is a 4th generation family-run business and that its founder wanted to push the envelope on traditional ceramic design. I think that founding idea is still reflected in their work. I love the way they put a contemporary and fun twist on traditional patterns - using bold colors and unique designs to combine authentic Mexican flavor with modern sophistication.

OetA: What's the process for creating one of these pieces?

Emily: All of the ceramics I sell are majolica, which is a ceramic technique in which earthenware is covered with an opaque glaze of tin oxide and then decorated with all-natural mineral-based pigments. Arabs invented the process in the 6th century, when they discovered that glazing ceramics with a mineral oxide mixture and firing them twice, made them stronger and more water-resistant. The earthenware clay is first bisque fired at around 1900° F. It is then painted or dipped in a creamy, oatmeal-colored glaze, made from silica, tin, calcium, and clay. Once dry, artists paint designs over this base glaze with pigments made from minerals. The pigments are absorbed into the base glaze, which is a porous surface similar to watercolor paper. Just like with watercolor, once applied, the pigments cannot be covered over or blended together, meaning there is no margin for error. When the piece is fired again at a higher temperature, the glaze melts and fuses with the pigments. Because the end result is a product of chemical reactions between metal oxide colors, the glaze, and a precise firing temperature, it often takes the artist many trials before a new design is perfected. While extremely time consuming and difficult, this process is what gives completed Majolica a distinctively warm look and feel. That’s because instead of the color lying under a clear surface, the color is actually in the glaze and of the glaze. Sometimes referred to as “fat glaze,” the result is more luscious and vivid. It’s what draws us to Majolica, both visually and physically – making it difficult not to reach out and touch the surface of a beautifully glazed pitcher or bowl.

Talavera Vazquez Black Tibors (aka Ginger Jars)

OetA: Tell me a little bit about the Talavera Vázquez collection. How did you come across it?

Emily: Talavera Vázquez is a family-run business in the town of Dolores Hidalgo (in the Mexican state of Guanajuato). The town itself is famous for ceramics made in the "talavera" style (which actually originated in the Spanish town of Talavera de la Reina, outside of Madrid). I visited Dolores Hidalgo because of its reputation for pottery, but I really didn't know what to expect. There are tons of workshops there, mostly creating very standard Mexican pottery -- none of which got me very excited. Then I came across Talavera Vázquez. Their beautifully-painted and creatively-designed pieces totally stood out. When I started talking to the woman working there, I was sold -- I quickly realized I would love working with them. I bought a lot from them that day and have repurchased 3 or 4 times since. I went back to visit a second time this spring and once again was astounded with the array of original designs and styles in their collection. It's definitely one of my favorite working relationships.

OetA: What are some of your favorite pieces from the collection?

Emily: My favorite pieces are the lamps, especially the zig-zag ones. When I'm shopping for pottery in Mexico I stay at a friend's beautiful house in San Miguel. She has lamps like these all over the house and they create such a warm, truly authentic vibe that is pure Mexico. When I look at these lamps my mind goes automatically to fresh margaritas and pico de gallo. I love them for their hacienda charm, but also because I believe they fit really well in contemporary homes that are not hacienda-style. My second favorite is the Burnt Orange Striped Vase.

Thanks Emily for taking the time to share with me a little bit about some of your amazing ceramics and for extending such a generous discount to Odi et Amo readers. As for me, you better believe I'll be purchasing two Olas Tibors I'd been eyeing for my new dining room!

Knock, knock...

So I'm still sorting through the several hundred pictures I took while on vacation, but I thought I'd whet your appetites with some pictures of beautiful doors that I saw while traveling. While it's rather popular to photograph doorways right now, I've never been particularly drawn to them myself....that is, until I saw what is perhaps the most charming street in all of Dublin: Upper Merrion Street, nestled right in the heart of Dublin, and within steps of two lovely parks (Merrion Square Park and St. Stephen's Green).

These two photographs are just close-ups of the first picture. Note how lovely the round top transomes are with their intricate sashes. I particularly love that, while all of these doors share common architectural features (Ionic columns, round top transomes, elaborate sash work, solid paneled doors, etc.), they also manage to show-off the individuality of the owners.

A few shots of the doors across the street, which are equally charming. Which doorway is your favorite? I'm torn between the bright pink and the robin's egg blue myself. If you love this street as much as I do, you might consider staying at the swanky Merrion Hotel next time you're in Dublin. Fun Fact: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band stayed there last weekend while they were in town for their concert. We even saw their tour bus pull up to the hotel!

And finally, here are a few pictures of an absolutely stunning house (from street-level anyway) that I saw while in London. Not only is the location stellar (it's between Sloane Square and South Kensington), but it's also beautifully maintained.

I love how the gray door pops against the white stone walls. A few boxwoods [would that they could thrive in Houston!] and some gorgeous ironwork complete the picture. I wish I had been able to snap a picture of the entire house in one frame, but unfortunately traffic was so awful that evening that I couldn't take a picture from across the road without being completely blocked out by cars.

And the winners are....

Well y'all, Dave and I flew in from Dublin yesterday afternoon and, after a much-needed 11 hour sleep, I'm back in the saddle today. Once I've sorted through the many, many pictures I took, I'll be sure to share a few here later on in the week. For now though, I'll just say that we had an absolutely marvelous time. Our time in London and Ireland was inspiring, restorative and even romantic. I haven't had that much fun since our trip to Hawaii in May of 2006.

As with all good things though, vacations must come to an end. But in many ways I'm thrilled to be back and begin a few very, very busy months of major changes. While away on vacation our house was completed (!!!) so I need to start organizing the move immediately. On the work front, I'm transitioning to a different division within my company and I'm excited at the opportunities this move presents -- even if it means I will be working for my fifth boss in less than 18 months. And, on the personal front, my sister and her boyfriend got engaged in Germany last week! I'm so excited for them both and I'm honored to be serving as Jane's matron [ugh...hate that term] of honor. Congrats Jane and P.W.! Stay tuned for more wedding-related posts in the coming months.

But down to business, yes? I'd first like to thank all of you who entered -- 89 comments is definitely a record number of entries for this little blog and I'm thrilled at the participation level, especially in light of my absence. Sadly though, I can only pick three of you and, after randomly selecting three comments (via ramdon.org), I'd like to announce the following winners:

Laura

Christy

Casie Rachele

Congratulations, ladies! And thanks to each of you for your enthusiastic participation. Please e-mail me your addresses as well as your choice of book. I'm excited to be back blogging regularly again and have some great new posts in store for everyone so stayed tuned!

Photograph courtesy of Amy Atlas Events.