As you recall, I had the great pleasure of attending lunch last week with oh-so-lovely Tobi Fairley. I gushed about her glamorous work and mentioned that I would prepare an entire sketch book post devoted to only her interior designs. I only showed you one or two photos from her portfolio last week – which was certainly not enough for you to get the full impression of how truly talented Tobi is! Without further ado…


Little Rock based Tobi Fairley has a signature look that is fresh, yet simple. She combines colorful, large-scale geometric prints with classic furniture styles to create a timeless feel. Tobi was named by Traditional Home Magazine as one of the Top 20 Young Designers in America for 2009. Most recently, her work donned the cover (and fetched a several page spread!) in House Beautiful’s All About Blue issue. Want more? (I thought so!) You can read recent project updates and inspirations on Tobi’s blog or follow Tobi Fairley on Twitter.

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Oh, life. So funny how a little bit of bad leads to something good. Strange how you can exepirence a blatant omission of your creativity -you blink- and then you receive a wonderful recognition of your ability. I am delighted to share with you that Jan from Poppytalk gave some love to my most personal creative expression- the interior design I did on our last home. What an honor to receive a wink and a nod of recognition from Poppytalk on her oh-so-amazing blog!

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The glamorous industrialism of John Pomp Studios really spoke to my aesthetic. Their booth at the show was painted smokey grey. They had their glass making and metal smith tools hanging on the wall, displayed as a collection. Each piece was perfectly worn, rustic, and arranged as if it too was a product to be sold ~ it was so well done, I thought perhaps I should start a collection of my own tools! The furniture was impeccably made. I adore the mix of materials; cool, modern metal with the warm, rustic leather handles. The lighting, please! They’ve stricken a balance between masculine/feminine, modern/rustic - it’s hard for me to explain, but I am certain John Pomp will be at the top of my mind the next time I’m in the market for a chandelier.
The hand-painted wallpaper and decorative painting by Design RED Studio left me breathless. The booth was full of wall paper and decorative painting samples. They’ve some some decorative treatments on mirror that absolutely knock my socks off. One piece in particular was inspired by a 1920′s style powder-puff. It was hand-painted on mirror with gold-leaf, burnt orange, black and cream. It would be pretty incredible to use that finish in a ladies dressing room. If you saw it, I am sure you’d agree!


Last but not least, we have The New Traditionalists. The line is inspired by traditional furniture silhouettes, exceptional clothing, interesting objects and history. They marry old and new in a way that connects the traditional with how we live today. Their motto says it all “If you believe that “traditional” and “cool” are not mutually exclusive, you are one of The New Traditionalists.

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Okay, so I hadn’t planned on doing another blog post about Dining by Design until I I’d finished my “blogging and tweeting” at the NYDC’s Connected table this afternoon, but oh-my-goodness-me! Cocktails by Design may have been one of the most fabulous events I have ever been to. Now that’s saying something – I have been to a lot of events. The skinny: Designers put together a tablescape in their designated spot. They provide the entire atmosphere – from walls/room dividers to furniture and mood lighting. Many designers are teamed up with a vendor. For instance, Vicente Wolf partnered with Artistic Tile to create an atmosphere. The entire floor and table was built out of gold tile.The designers carry the design of the room onto the tabletop. No holds barred – the theme of the space created is carried into the linens, flowers, dishes, candles, crystal – basically all the tabletop fixings that a girl who grew up with the last name Cupp could ask for! Can someone say feast for the eyes? Seriously, I am without a doubt a die hard tabletop person = my heaven!Not to mention, you should have seen the crowd at this charity event… puuuullease! I had the wonderful opportunity to rub elbows with interior designers I could only dream about meeting. I will most certainly do a complete review of the event after I snap more photos and finish tweeting from the NYDC Connected Table this afternoon.

If you’re not on Twitter and you want to get involved, ask questions, or interact this afternoon – or anytime for that matter! – email me or submit your design and social media questions via formspring.

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Jan Showers work is all about understated glamour. In each project, she works with a variety of design periods and styles. Her skill at mixing traditional furnishings with mid-20th century modern design allows her to create comfortable and inviting rooms. She says “Decorating is never successful if it is not personal. We always strive to reflect our client’s lifestyle and personality. I tell my clients that they need to look great and feel comfortable in their own rooms.” A woman after my own heart! I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment.
Besides running a successful interior design business, Jan Showers has her own line of furniture. Many of the designs are based off of antiques ~ they’re inspired by originals she found on buying trips in Paris. These pieces she collects come from many different eras in time. What’s the common thread, you ask? Each piece reflects a modern and glamorous aesthetic. I am particularly drawn to her collection of lamps.

Pop by Jan’s Notebook for a glimpse into what inspires her. She did a great post about top design trends for 2010 that is worth checking out. I especially love that she thinks skirted tables are back “in.” (Remember what our dining table looks like -YAY!) You can also do what I do and follow her @jshowers and become a fan on facebook.

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