Accessories D’Art – Items that can be used as accessories or art pieces can be fun to collect and display, either alone or as a collection.  I like these pieces from Blackmancruz.com.  These original antiques items make for nice art and conversation.  The one thing I love about these items besides their simplistic statement is the ability to evoke depth and history.  You can’t help looking at the items without thinking about who once wore them.  I think these items would look nice in any style room, mixing old and new is a way of highlighting antiques.  Think about how nice antique art items look in museums.

mounted chain mail 20th Century

helmet and liner with gold and sliver inlay, india 19th Century

guatemalan colonial madonna crown

Solar Lamps from IKEA

Thanks to Tech Style for turning me on to these new Solar Powered Lamps from IKEA.  I love the idea of Solar Powered items, and these lamps are decents looking enough to find a use for.  I am thinking maybe kids rooms, or I could see a black and white patio lit up for summer evenings.  The future is upon us.  So run out and get one and try it out, I will. 

Runs on solar cells that transform sunlight into electricity; helps you save energy and reduce your environmental footprint.
Solar cells transform sunlight into electrical energy – requires no electrical connections.
Uses LEDs, which consume approx. 70% less energy and last 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs

I was looking for a logo design for my blog header today, and came across some great hearts.  So being Valentine’s Day is just a skip away, here are some heart images to share with you.  Happy Heart Day! P.S. If you have any great ideas for a logo design for me send them my way.  I was thinking of a heart, hence the heart searching.  Enjoy!

Like the real estate and stock markets, the market for fine art and antiques also took quite a dive in 2009.  The good news is that now is a great time to buy and invest in some quality pieces.  Investing in fine art and antiques is a great way to diversify your portfolio.  Although you may not get similar returns as other investments, the joy of having beautiful art and furniture around is a value in itself.  Whatever your tastes, be it mid-century modern to to Louis XV gilt-wood, consider buying an investment piece to enhance your decor and lifestyle.  While you may not make much profit even if your investment appreciates, these are pieces that you can hand down from generation to generation.  The things that are the most valuable to my heart are items that I inherited, it is a way to stay connected with your history. 

When buying Antiques and Art always buy from a reputable dealer.  The most important thing to remember when investing, is buy only what you love.  Unless you have the storage and are buying with the intent of reselling rather then passing them on, don’t buy pieces solely because they are a good value.  To make sure that you buy pieces that work well with your interiors, take along an Interior Designer with you on your buying trip, that way you don’t end up buying that piece of furniture on impulse that you have no where to put when you get home.

One fun way to buy art and antiques is from an auction house.  You can also usually get the best deal there as well, and sometimes you even get a steal.  Some reputable auction houses such a Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco, and Chrisie’s and Sotheby’s in New York, hold auctions several times a year.  If you can’t make it to New York you can sign up to bid by phone, but that kind of takes the fun out of it in my opinion. 

When looking for Art to invest in, consider some of the undervalued works of Bugiardini and van Baden.  And don’t forget about Prints and Photographs.  Several good-quality Kertesz prints sold last fall for in the $5,000 to $12,000 range.  And according to Stephen Perloff, editor of the The Photograph Collector, the number of collectors interested in them is growing.  If you do plan on buying pieces for investment, stay away from anything that is not in excellent condition or needs reupolstering or refinishing, as doing so could considerably lower the value of the item.  For more information on how to buy at an action house check out my blog on How to Have Fun and Buy Furniture and Art at an Auction House.

If you have never been to an Auction House to bid at a live auction you are missing all the fun.  Forget ebay, buying Fine Art and Antiques from an Auction House is a fun and easy way to shop and invest your hard earn dollars.  Here are a few of my tips for beginners for buying from an Action House:

1.  Always buy from an reputable dealer or auction house, the most popular in the States are Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco, L.A., N.Y.; and Christie’s and Sotheby’s in New York.  They hold auctions several times a year, and can request catalog via mail in advance or view sales online.  Bidding by phone or online are also available, but unless you are a dealer or have previewed the inventory, I would not recommend it, plus the live auction is quite fun and exciting.

2.  Once you decide to go to an auction, always go to the advance preview, preferably a day or so in advance if available.  This gives you plenty of time to do some research on the pieces you are interested in, such as market value; and to set your maximum bid in advance of the bidding start time.  It also prevents you from impulse bidding.   A good tip is to bring a laptop with you, so you can take a break and do some research on the items you would like to bid on. 

3.  You will also need to plan extra time to register, which must be done in advance, if you do decide that there are items you would like to bid on.  Bring your I.D. and a credit card.

4. Once you register, you will be given a bidding pad with your bidding number on it. You will use this to bid on items once the live auction starts.  Don’t leave it lying around amongst the inventory when you are browsing, think of it as your credit card.

5. The two best rules to remember when at auction are always buy things that you love, and always decide your maximum bid before the bidding starts and then stick with that.  With that said, sometimes it is a good idea to keep an eye on the things that you might not otherwise consider bidding on but still like, simply because once in awhile you can get something really nice for a bargain, just because no one else was interested or they were sleeping. This can be a nice surprise, especially when you don’t get the item that you were originally trying to bid on.

6.  Always factor in other costs such as the house fees, commissions, taxes and shipping and insurance charges.

7. Look at some of the under valued Artists and Designers or period pieces, you can usually get a better value, and you never know when they may suddenly become popular and increase in value.  But don’t purchase anything that is not in excellent condition, unless you like it the way it is, as refinishing or reupholstering an item could lead to a huge decrease in its value, with the exception of fine art paintings.

Yesterday was one of those unbelievable hectic but exciting days.  Getting ready for an Interior Design photo shoot, it seems there are always too many things to do in too little time.  Running around San Diego looking for the right flowers, vases, making sure everything is cleaned and polished, and checking all the last minute details.  If only I were in San Francisco, I could get an early start and head over to the Flower Mart and pick out stunning flowers in one stop for dirt cheap prices.   All this running, is great for the wasteline though, too busy running around to eat, and can’t eat on location for fear dropping a crumb.   And even though it was frustrating when the shoot was postponed for another day, it is a welcomed and much needed respite time; so I am trying to sneak in a little blogging and a lunch today.  Check back soon and I will have some new photos to post and you can hear all about how the shoot went.

You might think that hiring an Interior Designer is only for the rich and famous, but actually hiring an Interior Designer is a smart way to go at any budget.  Here are some of the tops reasons.

1.  Hiring an Interior Designer will save you money.    How many times have you purchased something and have no where to put it, or purchased something and it doesn’t fit or look quite right and you end up getting rid of it shortly there after?  Hiring an Interior Designer can help save you money by suggesting purchases that will work and fit into your home decor.  A Designer will help you purchase quality items that will last longer and can transition with moves or changes.   Designer’s also have trade access and discounts that are often passed on the client, so you can purchase higher quality items for the same or lower than you would pay buying retail.  An Interior Designer can help you get it right the first time.

2.  An Interior Designer has access to trade only showrooms and products.  Buying retail is like have a choice of vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry ice cream.  But buying through an Interior Designer opens the world to a whole rainbow of colors.  When you purchase through an Interior Designer you have access to a fabulous world of fabrics, furniture, and other products that cannot be found in retail.

3.  Designers have an array of associates.  One of the biggest challenges facing homeowners and business when deciding on a new project or remodel is how to find quality craftsmen and trades.  Designers work with the trades daily, and they often know the best of their craft, from general contractors to upholsters to custom woodworkers, a Designer has contacts that will help ensure your project is done professionally.

4.  Coordination and Project Management.  Projects such as renovations and remodels can involve a lot of different processes and a lot of different people working on the same space.  A Designer has experience coordinating such projects, and can facilitate the work flow and timing of the installation.  A Designer can also act on your behalf to manage and oversee the project, and ensure that the work is proceeding according to schedule and most importantly correctly.

5.  Fresh ideas and perspective.  Sometimes it doesn’t matter how talented you are and how good your taste is, when you live in a home for a while, you can lose the ability to have an objective perspective.  Bringing in a Professional can give you a new and fresh perspective of the space.

6.  You’ll get more use out of your furniture.  A Designer can help you make quality choices in furniture that will last decades.   With such quality and classic pieces, you may only need occasional reupolstering to refresh your look.

7.  You’ll get more use out of your space.  A Designer can help you get more use of out of your space by designing a space that is functional and useable as well asesthically pleasing.

Handcrafted Tin Star Lighting for the holidays

These beautiful handcrafted tin lighting are imported from Mexico, they come in pendant and star shapes in various sizes.  If you would like info on how to purchase these contact:  de la Cerda Interior Design

Housewives of Kravet Holiday

This retro glam window display at Kravet in Manhattan, is a real hoot.  I love it, creativity is alive and well at Kravet. Even the photos look vintage.

Click on the photos to go the Kravet site and see more.