High Point trend prediction: Color will come back.

On the first day of market, Benji and I continued on our path through the Hamilton district. Hickory Chair's new space was our primary destination. Jay Reardon, president of the company, discussed his passion for making furniture in North Carolina, designed by the luminaries of home decor.  Alexa Hampton, Albert Sack, Thomas O'Brien, Mariette Himes Gomez, and Suzanne Kasler, create and define their aesthetic with the vocabulary of wood, stone, marble and fabric. We are posing with Kathleen of High Cotton.

This Alexa Hampton girl cave, is a bedroom any man would be happy to share. 

Or perhaps you'd rather take your morning coffee here? This is Suzanne Kasler's vignette.

Alexa Hampton continues the family tradition of classic elegance. What could be better than going to the source, to learn balance, harmony and color combinations. Alexa discussed inspirations for her line, and we couldn't wait to page through her new book: The Language of Interior Design.

Wesley Hall, who also manufacturers in North Carolina and creates the Bunny Williams line of furniture,   demonstrates this new, fearless use of color, in their own, beautifully proportioned line. It is a wonderful antidote to the miles of grey scale seen in InterHall. 

We love a bit of it, as it has been a welcome respite from the sea of mahogany, and brown stains that was the single paradigm for case goods for many years.

However, I predict that color is returning to the home. 

I am starting to crave clutter, colors and layers. I feel the warmth of generations in my friend's happy summer refuge. What do you think? Is the new old world of color returning? 

Take Fun Seriously

My friend's house in New York City is seriously fun. Color and mirrors, myriad animal paintings and figures combine with mystical Mayan rubbings to forge an environment for homebodies that love company.

East meets west in the entrance hall, with a tropical twist. Peaches, yellows, greens, and reds create the anticipation of fun. The pool room beyond is a bodacious red and the thin screen t.v. over the fireplace invites guests to roll up their sleeves and relax with sports or movies.

Adjacent to the front door, the bar is the first stop before relaxing in the seating area. This house has a clubby feel and might be my favorite in the world.

This fun toile banquette is a study in mixed metaphors--it is a feminine touch in a manly pool room and has little antique racing cars winding down curvy vistas. It is a great afternoon spot for a toes up and a good read.

Looking down from the terrace, there's a great spa pool where friends and family gather for a cool down.

All the stair halls are unified by the melon colored walls, green stair risers and red spindles along the banister. I love the oriental lanterns.

This guest room is a quieter refuge. The murphy bed folds up to expand the party space for foose ball and bowling!

3 boys!!

Oops! Its hard to stay out of the picture with all the mirrors. This Mayan rubbing adds a magical era
to this modern bright space.

Across the hall, there is room for four square, yoga, indoor ball games, and fun play dates for the children. Do you see what I mean about homebodies? With a pool, exercise rooms, billiards, games, they spend a lot of time here, inviting friends and family to share in the activity.

On the fourth floor you can sneak away for some quiet time on the hammock. The glass under the coffee  table provides natural light in the bathroom below, dividing the exercise areas.  

Or have a cat nap on the sofa. 

Four floors down on the garden level is the dining room with a continuation of the peach and green combination, using high gloss exterior paint. 

This is a fun twist on Elsie de Wolfe's dining room at the Colony. I couldn't include a full room shot, as I was struggling with the light. We have had some great meals in this room cooked for us by the kids, complete with a legendary Bananas Flambe. I wish I had that picture--plenty of flambe!!

There is nothing like ground breaking work, in any field of invention. Elsie de Wolfe was the iconic pioneer of interior design.

Has anyone mentioned the girl cave? If anyone has a girl cave, send us photos. Who actually wants to see the perfect man cave? It is deliberately ugly. Send us pictures to liz@dovecotedecor.com and we will cover your refuge!! Thanks again for stopping by, commenting, following, tweeting. You guys are the best!!

Love this Mayan entity, who ever he is!