Anyways, it was hard to pick one Nate project and seeing as his own home in Chicago will probably be covered over and over since it’s so perfect, I chose another project.  The second I saw Katie Lee (Joel)’s kitchen in Domino I nearly went blind from the beauty.  While I’m not jealous of her marriage to a man old enough to be her dad (let”s face it, pictures of them together looked hella creepy) I AM jealous of her flippin’ ridiculous West Village townhouse designed by Nate. It’s such a elegant mix of new and old and while mostly traditional, it has such a classic, bright and lived in feel to it.You can see a video tour of it HERE.

Her gold leafed dressing room was featured in Town & Country.  A bit over the top, but I bet it is amazing amounts fo fun to get dressed in and the reflection must make your skin look gorgeous!

]]> http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/nates-best.html/feed 18 http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/ja-pics-a-k-a-so-mad-i-forgot-my-camera.html http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/ja-pics-a-k-a-so-mad-i-forgot-my-camera.html#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:56:16 +0000 Erin Gates http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/?p=4849 I don’t think I’ve dropped off film to be developed in a decade. It was hilarious waiting for my envelope of pictures from yesterday’s adventures to be ready to view. MAN, it’s amazing how CRAPPY they are! How did we ever do it?  They do not do my visit or the offices justice, but I figured I’d post some anyways….

Another “modeling” shot….

Loving the new JA Juniors line!

The showroom at headquarters. Kinds of my version of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

More yumminess.

You can’t see it here, but these turquoise doors were amazing- studded all over! And this JA Juniors chair is scaled for a little girl and is to DIE for (not quite ready to be for sale yet, so stay tuned!)

The dish line!

And at the bar when we got home we met up with friends and I tried to finish up my roll so I could get them developed (another thing I haven’t done in forever).  Mixing cocktails with a trigger happy, high-on-life lady behind the lens means I opened the envelope tonight to lots of shots like this one:

What…the….

Apparently even Andrew’s drinks are so cool they have to wear shades.

]]> http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/ja-pics-a-k-a-so-mad-i-forgot-my-camera.html/feed 13 http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/meeting-jonathan-adler.html http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/meeting-jonathan-adler.html#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:19:22 +0000 Erin Gates http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/?p=4822

I look like I might combust from happiness.

A few weeks ago I had been invited to a show house opening party on what turned out to be a rainy, bleak night. Unable to find parking and in an  uber-cranky mood, I nearly told Andrew to forget about it and take me home to go  drown my bad mood in a nice Pinot Noir. Good thing I didn’t.  At that party I met the wonderfully fabulous Donna, Director of Retail Stores for Jonathan Adler (we just got our very own in Boston). We got to chatting about design, blogging, the industry, etc. and she said “You should come and meet Jonathan!” Well, um, yes please. Jonathan is one of my design IDOLS, not only for his happy, bold, swinging 60’s aesthetic, but also for his sense of humor about the whole thing (read his manifesto if you haven’t). After all, this is decorating, not figuring out how to plug an oil leak a mile under the sea. I have long adored my “gin, puppies, sunshine…” needlepoint pillow, I have been using oodles of his furniture and accessories in my projects and you all KNOW how I feel about the Adler designed Parker Hotel (Disneyland for grown-ups) Anyways, I figured that the chances of such a meeting actually coming to fruition were probably slim. You know how parties are– wine is flowing, the mood is like fabulousness vaporized and circulated through the air vents and lots of plans are made. Well, Donna wasn’t kidding around, and ladies (and you few gents), yesterday I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Jonathan Adler himself in his New York office, one on one.

Pardon me while I go into full on Rachel Zoe mode now….

I die. I die. BANANAS. I die.

Ahem, I’m back. I didn’t even want to breathe a word of it before it happened for fear I would jinx it (I believe in that stuff). Until I was actually sitting down with him I still didn’t believe it.  So yesterday I packed up my laptop, camera and all my junk into a somewhat cute purse and off I went to Manhattan. Oh wait a hot minute, let’s cut to me on the train yesterday morning opening my purse and realizing my camera is STILL ON THE DAMN DINING TABLE!!!! Fan-freaking-tastic. And my train was late. And I don’t own an iPhone to take a picture with nor time to find a place to buy a camera during my cab ride to the offices. So in I go to my meeting with the superfab Jonathan armed with a $9 yellow cardboard one time use Kodak camera. I kind of wanted to die. Pardon me, first I wanted to buy an iPhone, and THEN die. But I made it, in one sweaty, anxiety-riddled piece, to the JA headquarters looking like a tourist from 1995. But in moments like this, there are no room for regrets, only grateful excitement to be able to meet someone you’ve respected, followed and hope to emulate in your own career (take a moment and read his hilarious career timetable) .

For such a huge business, the offices are delightfully modest but as full of smiling, stylish faces and fun as you’d expect. I toured the showroom (complete with items yet to be released for sale) such as leather and metal x benches with chain embroidered upholstered seats (drool)  and various ceramics and textiles. Jonathan himself is as friendly, cool, laid back and hands on with his company as I’d hoped he’d be! Such a warm, funny, charismatic person with absolutely ZERO design diva attitude, he showed me around the office where ideas are developed, crafted (i.e. people hands deep in clay) and sold and then sat down with me to chat about this and that. I was nervous and very aware of how busy he is, so I did not barrage him with the 102 questions I had written on the train ride down, but I managed to snag a few notable quips to share with you all (not word for word, mind you- I was busy listening, not scribbling frantically) So here are a few quick  tidbits (some stolen from the Proust questionnaire a la Vanity Fair):

Current state of mind: Always hungry and restless.

Greatest extravagance: I shouldn’t admit this since I’m a potter, but it’s flying first class.

Greatest achievement: Never having a “real job” i.e. a boss to report to and creating hundreds of jobs for other people!

Talent you’d most like to have other than your obvious god given ones: Mad basketball skills or tv ready hip-hop dance moves. (*my commentary: best off the cuff answer ever)

If you could live anywhere where would it be: I could lie and say somewhere like Paris, but it’s actually NYC. It’s the best place on earth.

If you had to pick another designer to design your own home who would it be: It’s a three way tie between Miles Redd, Delphine Krakoff and Diamond Baratta.

Favorite Fashion label: Paul Smith is my idol. He’s endlessly creative and a seriously nice bloke.

Favorite item you’ve produced: The Dora Maar vase or banana sculpture.  The banana sculpture is pretty fierce. (Being a potter at heart, he loves those works the most, even with all his newer furniture and accessory items) It actually changes every day, I feel very lucky to be as prolific as I am.

Would you ever do TV again? Yes. (Top Design) was really fun because all the judges were good friends of mine. It was a pain being relocated to LA for six weeks, but it was a good time.

Do you read design blogs? Yes, I read yours (I refrained from clapping my hands and squealing like an monkey on ecstasy). It’s actually a bit of a disaster- I feel like I should shut off the internet in my offices because my staff and I are always reading blogs!

Amongst other things discussed was the under-construction new home he and husband Simon (as in THE Barney’s Creative Director Simon Doonan) on Shelter Island and his desire to make it fun and not “heavy” like a lot of designer homes can be. Other than his own home, he’s not doing many interiors these days, as his true passion lies in product design. We also chatted about the ups and downs of interior design,   commentary from haters on the internet and  my desire to permanently reside at The Parker and eat Norma’s blueberry pancakes until I die. I loved having him show me a few not yet released products, such as a series of sea captain inspired mugs and vases one of which is based on a cartoon ad about littering from the 70’s he remembers vividly. I think it is so cool that someone can take little charming details from everyday life or memories of moments past and turn it into a product that’s charming and beautiful.

What I enjoyed the most about meeting him (besides his killer sense of humor) is that he truly “walks his talk”. And I’ve come to find out that is rare in this business of ours, especially at the level he is at. Jonathan clearly still finds such joy in what he does and creates products that have the sole purpose of being fun, charming, beautiful and above all, HAPPY. In a time when there is so much seriousness and stress, stepping into Jonathan’s world is a refreshing escape- whether being as blessed as I am to have met him in the flesh or by having a cute set of bird shaped salt and pepper shakers on your table to remind you everyday to smile. I want you all to know that behind that small product is a man who really loves and believes in what he does and delights in being able to share that with you.

Since I know there is a good chance he is reading this, thank you Jonathan for taking time out of your busy day to sit down with me and make this newbie designer’s YEAR!

Once I develop my ridiculous throw away camera I’ll post snaps of the showroom. In the meantime, here are just a FEW of my personal JA favorites (click pics for links)

]]> http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/06/meeting-jonathan-adler.html/feed 56 http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/03/beacon-hill-beauty.html http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/03/beacon-hill-beauty.html#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:21:10 +0000 Erin Gates http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/?p=3595 The newest issue of Stuff Magazine has my feature on photographer Sarah Winchester’s apartment in Beacon Hill- but we took a lot more images that didn’t get printed that I wanted to share! It’s such a great little apartment and proof positive that you can do A LOT with a rental! She admitted ot getting some of her ideas for this very blog (I love hearing that people put inspiration found here into play) and I absolutely love what she’s done with the place!

The black, glossy interiors of the bookshelves simply make me want to do cartwheels.

Those big, Beacon Hill windows pretty much rock.

The kitchen came complete with a swath of red and cream toile wallpaper as a back splash. I think it’s a darling little addition!

Those big foo dogs, which you just know I love, came from Pieces in ATL!

I love this shot- the Dwell bedding, the light, the kitty. :)

This one bedroom apartment has the biggest closet I’ve ever seen in any Beacon Hill apartment.  So Sarah turned it into an office as well, building a desk in the bay window alcove. It’s such a darling place to work! You can read more about it here.

Sarah has a killer eye and recently shot my friend (and studio neighbor) Jessica Sutton for the New Brahmin blog (my OTHER new studio neighbor- our floor rocks) and she’ll be shooting my new head shots in the next month or so. And just because she loves EOS so much (hee hee) she’s offering a photo session for my readers exclusively at an amazing discounted price!  Baby portrait, engagement picture, head shot- whatever you need, you can have a two hour session plus a CD of images for $300. Email her for more information at sarah.m.winchester@gmail.com.

I was delighted to be asked to contribute my opinion to this great article on eBay’s The Inside Source!  Who doesn’t want to know where to spend and where to save? Find tips from me as well as other bloggers like Habitually Chic, Remodelista, The Goods Design and Desire to Inspire. What fantastic company to be in!

It’s the last day to nominate your favorite blogs for the Apartment Therapy Homies- and if you are reading this I hope that means I’m one of your favorites! So go nominate me already! :) I know it’s a bit of a pain to register, but you SHOULD be reading AT anyways since it’s such a ridiculously baller blog. VOTE HERE!

We’ve all been running around buying gifts and feeling frazzled by the encroaching holiday season lately.  Today let’s get back to what the holiday spirit is really about: GIVING. Several bloggers are coming together today in a collaborative effort spearheaded by Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita ,  in order to make a difference for a very deserving charity. Pencils of Promise is a  wonderful 501(c)(3) organization based in New York, that partners with local  communities and organizations to build schools of early-stage education in developing nations for some of the world’s most impoverished and undereducated children.  Sadly, there are more than 75 million children in this terrible situation worldwide. Last December, the Pencils of Promise team visited a small village in Laos and by July 2009, they had built a new school for the village children who started attending classes on September 1st. This month, Pencils of Promise will be opening their third school and they hope to open the doors to education for more children in 2010.

In the spirit of the holiday season, we are asking for your help today on behalf of these children. Just think of the enormous impact we could have if each person who reads this post donates just $1.00. If you are willing and able to give more (35.00 buys shelves for a classroom, $50 provides pencils for one year, $100 provides a teacher’s salary for three months and so on), it would be greatly appreciated. We are in the midst of the giving season and hope that you will find it in your heart to make a donation to this worthy cause today by clicking HERE.

Watch this video here to get a better idea of what this great organization does and also become a fan on Facebook HERE:

Thanks everyone!!!

-Erin

Paloma over at La Dolce Vita asked if I’d be a part of her “Ten Things I Can’t Live Without” series and mine is up today! What a great idea Paloma!

Lamps from her line Switch (crafted with her husband):

Lamp bases awaiting electrifying!

The studio- love the wall of pottery paint chips. Art in itself.

I got to see the rug in person and it’s to die for. I absolutely love it!

I absolutely fell in LOVE with the chair drawings Jill did and had mounted on her studio wall- genius!

More of her beautiful pottery (with tour guide Oscar):

More lamps in progress and a set of custom designed dinnerware that she is working on with an interior designer based on the colors and patterns in a client’s home:

Also in the same studio are graphic designers Jessica Sutton (mom of Oscar above and blogger herself) and Jennifer Hill. Jessica designed websites for some of my favorite places like Looc, Urban Hound and was previously the in house designer for beauty brand Fresh Cosmetics! Jennifer has a FABULOUS Etsy store featuring her prints, especially enchanting is her “Places I’ve Never Been” series in which she designs a pattern based on research she does on, you guessed it, places she’s never been! I think the concept is stunningly creative and the product equally as beautiful! Also check out her letter prints, perfect for a baby gift!

(There is even a calendar featuring a series of the “places” prints!)

Now here’s your chance to come and have a cocktail with these cool, creative women (and me) on November 12th from 6-11 p.m. at their studio open house! Check this Facebook invite for more details and let them know if you’ll grace us with your gorgeous faces (or leave a comment and I’ll RSVP for you!)

Hope to see you there! It’s a great chance ot celebrate creative, cool women in Boston and see some fantastic design!