The Board - MacRae Designs Blog

Duncan Phyfe

2012-03-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854)was one of America’s best furniture designers during thenineteenth-century. He was born in Scotland and moved to New York in 1792to start his furniture making business, which he opened in 1794. Phyfequickly became famous for reasonable pricing, quality furniture, and simplestyle, though he included a broad range of the period’s classical stylesincluding Empire,Sheraton, French Classical, and Regency.

In the early years, hisfurniture was made only from imported mahogany, and after 1830, his furniturewas mostly made of rosewood. Phyfe is also attributed to introducing thefactory method of making furniture to the American cabinetmaker industry. Itcan be difficult to identify some of Phyfe’s furniture pieces, because he veryrarely labeled his furniture. Duncan Phyfe’s furniture can be seen in the WhiteHouse Green Room, Edgewater, the Roper House and Millford Plantation.

Cardtable,1810–20
Unidentified Maker but attributed to Duncan Phyfe, New York City
Mahogany, tulip poplar, brass

Antique Mahogany Card Table Attributed to DuncanPhyfe, New York

www.aileenminor.com

Sidechair,ca. 1810
Attributed to the Workshop of Duncan Phyfe(American, 1770–1854)
New York CiMahogany, gilded brass with yellowpoplar, cherry, ash

www.metmuseum.org

Pair Recamier Sofas with Winged Paw Feet,about 1815-20. Mahogany and ash, painted verde antique and gilded, withdie-stamped gilt-brass mounts and bolster buttons, brass line inlay, andgilt-brass castors. www.artfinding.com

Tina Barney

2012-03-05T15:54:00.038-05:00

Tina Barney, represented by Janet Borden Inc. in New York, is an American photographer known best for her candid snapshots of her family and close friends, many of whom are affluent residents in New York and New England. Her work is shown in many museums in New York, including the Museum of Modern Art. Barney has also produced and co-directed some short films on other photographers and had a documentary of her life filmed which aired in 2007.

She wrote Players a year ago, which includes fashion, performers, actors, and her own friends, and combines many of her assignments dating back to 1988. Barney photographed the 2010 Spring Tory Burch line, which can be seen below, along with some of her other photographs and book cover.

To see more of Tina Barney’s work, click here http://www.janetbordeninc.com/artists/Barney/selected-works.

Tina Barney's Hardcover: Players

Marina's Room, 1987 by Tina Barney (from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum)

Emily Bergl in Wendy Wasserstein’s Old Money, Photo by Tina Barney, Image courtesy of the artist and Janet Borden, Inc.

2010 Tory Burch Spring Line, Photographed by Tina Barney

Pink

2012-03-01T09:44:00.010-05:00

Shades of pink to kick off our month of pink.....

Recipe of the Month

2012-03-01T09:30:00.004-05:00

Sadly, Agnes & Muriel’s restaurant closed in Atlanta in 2009. Agnes & Muriel’s was midtown’s good old-fashioned “Mom food” restaurant for fourteen years. Luckily, we have their fabulous cookbook full of many of Glenn Powell’s southern dishes. One of our favorites is their Baked Potato Soup, which is perfect on a cold night. Hope you will enjoy this soup as much as we do!

Bobby McAlpine

2012-02-27T15:28:00.013-05:00

Fantastic article in the March-April 2012 issue of Veranda featuring Bobby McAlpine’s house, which was designed by Robert Anderson and looks over downtown Nashville. Bobby McAlpine has designed over 500 homes during his career and created two lines of furniture. View our website, MacRaedesigns.com, or come visit us to see the entire collection of furniture Bobby designed and Veranda featured in this beautiful article. To learn more about McAlpine’s work, please follow this link, http://www.mcalpinetankersley.com/book.cfm.

Yellow

2012-02-24T11:00:00.003-05:00

We thought we would go out with a bang for the end of our February yellow celebration. Enjoy the images below!

Elsie de Wolfe

2012-02-23T09:39:00.008-05:00

Elsie de Wolfe (1865-1950) was an American actress, interior designer, author of the 1913 inspiring The House in Good Taste, and a well-known figure in New York, Paris and London society. She was the first woman to make a profession as an interior designer. She believed that the decoration of the home should reflect a women’s personality, rather than her husband’s wealth. Elsie did not care for the dark and heavy Victorian interiors she grew up with, and therefore designed rooms to be light and fresh like the 18th century French style. Elsie’s spaces were always open and colorful, and she enjoyed using faux finishes and animal prints as well.

Keith Haring

2012-02-20T10:01:00.007-05:00

Keith Herring (1958-1990) was an artist and social activist whose work was inspired by the New York street culture of the 1980s. He achieved his first public attention with chalk drawings in the subways of New York, and these were considered to be his first pop art pieces. Haring expressed concepts of birth, death, love, sex and war, and these became widely recognized visual language of the 20th century. He became an Aids activist when he was diagnosed with it in 1988, and he later passed away from complications in 1990. Pictured below are some of his pieces including one recently shown in Brooke Shields Greenwich townhouse in New York, which was a gift by Haring, as seen in Architectural Digest March 2012.

Yellow Products

2012-02-17T11:51:00.006-05:00

A few more yellow images for you to behold this Friday!

Andy Warhol

2012-02-15T10:52:00.012-05:00

Andrew Warhol, better known as Andy Warhol, was a famous American painter, printmaker, filmmaker, record producer, author, and played a leading role in the visual art movement, known as pop art. During the sixties, Warhol began painting iconic American products such as Campbell's soup cans and coca-cola bottles, as well as celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Well, forget the Campbell's soup can, Andy Warhol's illustrations created for Harper's Bazaar are not to be overlooked. Join us in celebrating Andy's work created between 1951 and 1964 for Harper's Bazaar.

"The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet."
-Andy Warhol

Yellow Images Of Beauty All Around Us

2012-02-10T14:38:00.004-05:00

Aerin Lauder

2012-02-09T10:49:00.018-05:00

Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer is the granddaughter of Estee Lauder, to whom she is often compared to in style and business savvy. She has worked for the family run cosmetic company for nineteen years and is now launching her own brand, AERIN, in 2012, which will include a luxury beauty line, home line,accessories, jewelry, and eyewear. Aerin loves the arts and is an active philanthropist, and she serves on several committees for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and Neue Gallerie, which her father opened. She will continue to consult for Estee Lauder and will partner with them to launch her cosmetics line. Below are pictures of her Manhattan Apartment and East Hampton House as seen in the July/August 2009 issue of Elle Decor.

Lord Robert Sackville

2012-02-07T13:55:00.023-05:00

The Royal Oak Foundation, Spalding Nix and Holland & Company are excited to welcome Lord Robert Sackville for a reception and signing of his book, Inheritance: The Story of Knole and the Sackvilles , Tuesday February 21, 2012 at 7:15PM following his lecture in the Holland & Company showroom.

Robert Sackville-West, the 7th Baron Sackville, will discuss the relationship of Knole, an English country house in Kent, England and his family who have lived there since 1604. He will explain how his family furnished and decorated the house, and how the house shaped them in their lives and relationships.

For more English history check out Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece written by Julian Fellowes. Downton Abbey is a British costume drama series which has become extremely popular and includes a cast let by Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dan Stevens, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton and many other leading actors and actresses.

The show takes place in fictional Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and explores the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants beginning in 1912. Highclere Castle in Hampshire is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and is where Downton Abbey is filmed.

Yellow

2012-02-03T13:01:00.014-05:00

Did The World of Interiors read our minds regarding our celebration through February of the color yellow? It appears so! See below to view the power of yellow painted walls!

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

2012-02-02T10:58:00.007-05:00

Nothing compliments a classic dining room setting better than a tasty home cooked meal. Stuffed Peppers is a classic dish, but this recipe has been modified for the vegetarian palate and tastes so good you’ll forget it’s actually vegetarian. The recipe is from Laura Theodore also known as the Jazzy Vegetarian. This recipe calls for quinoa, a grain like crop from South America that is very high in protein.

Fancy Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa and Black Beans
By Laura Theodore
Makes 6 servings

This tempting, hearty entrée is especially well-suited to wintertime, and the festive presentation will grace the table at any holiday celebration. Choose the color of peppers accordingly: orange and yellow for Thanksgiving, red and green for Christmas, or red for Valentine’s Day.

1 cup quinoa, rinsed thoroughly
2 cups vegetable broth
6 bell peppers, any color or a combination of colors
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 jar (about 25 ounces) marinara sauce, as needed
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
6 ounces cremini or white button mushrooms, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1⁄4 cup toasted wheat germ, plus more as needed
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil

Put the quinoa and broth in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is soft but not mushy. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.

When ready to assemble the stuffed peppers, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Slice off the top 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inches of each pepper and set aside (these tops will be used to “cap” the peppers later). Seed the peppers.

Stir the oil into 1⁄2 cup of the marinara sauce. Spread the mixture in the bottom of a deep casserole large enough to hold all the peppers snugly so they remain upright during baking.

Set aside 1⁄4 cup of the remaining marinara sauce. Mix the quinoa with the beans, mushrooms, onion, wheat germ, garlic, basil, and half of the remaining marinara sauce. Stir until well combined, adding more marinara sauce, a couple of tablespoonfuls at a time, until the mixture is moist but not soupy. If the mixture does get a little soupy, simply add more wheat germ.

Spoon 1/4 of the mixture into each pepper, mounding it if need be. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the reserved marinara sauce over each pepper, then top with the pepper tops. (The stuffing will peek out between the pepper tops and bottoms.) Carefully position the peppers in the casserole so they will remain upright while baking.

Cover and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the peppers are slightly tender but not mushy. Serve immediately or let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Put the sauce that has accumulated at the bottom of the casserole in a gravy boat or small bowl to pass at the table.

EPISODE #112, Jazzy Vegetarian on Public Television

By Permission from THE COMPANION COOKBOOK: JAZZY VEGETARIAN, Lively Vegan Cuisine That’s Easy and Delicious © LAURA THEODORE 2011

(www.jazzyvegetariancookbook.com)

Jean-Loup Daraux

2012-01-27T09:21:00.041-05:00

We are continuing our celebrating of the color white by featuring interiors by Jean-Loup Daraux.

Jason Wu

2012-01-26T13:07:00.020-05:00

Jason Wu is fashion designer, located in Manhattan, who has gained more and more attention in the fashion world of late. He was born in Taiwan, and moved to Vancouver, Canada when he was nine. He went to schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where he learned how to sew by designing and sewing for dolls. During his last year of high school, he decided to become a fashion designer and studied at the Parson The New School for Design, and later interned with Narciso Rodriquez.

Wu launched his first full collection of his ready-to-wear line of clothes in 2006 and won the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star award in 2008. Wu received more recognition in 2008 when Michelle Obama bought and wore four of his dresses for several important occasions. Wu will debut a women's clothing and accessories collection at Target between February 5 - March 6, 2012.

Chinese New Year

2012-01-25T15:23:00.005-05:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

The Chinese year 4710 began this week and is the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes breathing fire into the year and is good luck. In celebration of the New Year, we have upholstered our Donald Side Chairs in this fabulous Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon Aquamarine fabric.

Three interesting traditions of the New Year….
1 – They clean their houses thoroughly on New Year’s Eve to “sweep out” the bad luck and bring in the good luck.
2 – They have a reunion dinner including items such as dumplings, which symbolize wealth as well as duck, pork and fish.
3 – Children wish their parents and elders good luck and a happy year, and in return children are given a red envelope with money.

Charleston White

2012-01-20T10:56:00.006-05:00

Charleston is a place like no other in the South. Continuing our celebration of the color white through January, we thought these images were worth sharing. Each image below sets a historic tone only Charleston can sing.

And, we could not resist again sharing a few interesting facts about the color white.
- A white flag is the universal symbol for truce.
- The word "white" comes from the Indo-European root kweit meaning "to shine".
- The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams.
- It's considered good luck to be married in a white garment.
- "White lightning" is slang for moonshine, a homebrewed alcohol.

Elizabeth Taylor

2012-01-18T10:31:00.017-05:00

Elizabeth Taylor was born outside of London and had dual citizenship between the United States and the United Kingdom, as her parents were originally from Kansas. Her personal life was always publicized and included eight marriages to seven husbands. Liz Taylor had a passion for jewelry and designed her own line and created three perfumes. She stated, “Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells.”

Liz Taylor lived in several estates and describes her interiors in a couple of quotes below.

Elizabeth once described her home as “such a cozy, sweet place with bits and pieces around - bits and pieces of Renoir - and, you know, things that make it homey.”

On her Beverly Hills estate: Elizabeth also recalled that “You really couldn’t distinguish between the outside and inside. And all the colors I loved - off white, white, natural woods, stone, beigy marble. The pool was so beautiful. There were palm trees and rock formations – It looked like a natural pool, with trees growing out of it. It was the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”

The Moccasin

2012-01-16T16:38:00.005-05:00

Moccasins are slippers made of leather and consist of a sole and sides made of one piece of leather and stitched together at the top. The Plains Indians wore hardsole moccasins, because their territory was mostly rock and cacti. The eastern Indians wore softsole moccasins, because they walked on leafy ground through the forests. The pattern and design of beads sewn into the front of a moccasin indicated one's tribe.

Moccasins are typically all brown. They became popular in the 1940s when Americans began to stop along roadside at Native American stalls or shops near reservations. They truly are works of art and highly collectable now. For modern day moccasins, see below for some ideas. And, if you are interested in learning more about Native American people, there is no better place to start than with any image from Thomas Curtis life long work.

Darryl Carter

2012-01-13T10:38:00.004-05:00

In keeping with our theme of white, meaning a fresh start, for the month of January, we wanted to share some of Darryl Carter’s white interiors as seen in his book, The New Traditional. Darryl Carter is based in Washington, D.C., and he has a knack for pairing contemporary objects with antiques. He uses a particular color palette, along with wood patina, aged textures, and symmetrical design. In 2001, he launched his first furniture collection for Neiman Marcus Home. In his book, he shares his own philosophy on design, so others can use his advice to design their own home in their own style with certainty.

Hugh Acheson

2012-01-12T16:22:00.017-05:00

Hugh Acheson is the Chef and Partner of Five and Ten and The National in Athens, as well as Empire State South here in Atlanta. Hugh is a five-time James Beard nominee for Best Chef Southeast and was named Best Chef by Food & Wine. He was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada and began cooking at a very young age. He started working in restaurants at age 15, and decided to make it his career.

Hugh’s cooking incorporates flavors of the South along with a European flare. His new cookbook is called A New Turn In The South: Southern Flavors Reinvented For Your Kitchen, and offers great recipes for seasonal vegetables, soups, salads, fish and meats, as well as libations. Hugh will be signing his new cookbook in our showroom next Thursday January 19th starting at 11:30. Please join us!

Gloria Vanderbilt

2012-01-10T10:33:00.007-05:00

If you grew up in the 80's, then you too had a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. This icon is much more than the name behind the jeans. She is an artist, author, actress, heiress, mother, businesswoman, and fashion designer. Gloria Laura Vanderbilt is a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family of New York and is the mother of Anderson Cooper on CNN. Anderson Cooper's father is famed writer and screenwriter, Wyatt Emory Cooper. Here are some of Gloria Vanderbilt’s most famous photographs courtesy of the November 2010 issue of Town & Country.

Thomas O'Brien

2012-01-06T11:00:00.011-05:00

We love his use of white and layered items, small and large. Enjoy the power of white. No one layers better than this man and he keeps interiors timeless for years to come.

New Julian Chichester Furniture

2012-01-04T11:00:00.007-05:00

We love how Julian Chichester keeps everything fresh and new! If you were lucky enough to see them at High Point in November, then you know about their new pieces. Stop by our Atlanta showroom soon to see Julian's new arrivals.

Chinese New Year

2012-01-03T11:00:00.009-05:00

The Chinese year 4710, begins on January 23, 2012 and is the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes breathing fire into the year. The Chinese New Year is one of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar, and festivities usually start on January 1st and continue until the 15th, when the moon is the brightest. Chinese months are calculated by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. In China, people may take several weeks off from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve animals met him so Buddha named a year after each one. He said that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Are you a monkey or a rat, clink the link below to find out....
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2012.htm

Interesting facts about green....

2011-12-30T11:00:00.006-05:00

The word green is closely related to the Old English verb growan, "to grow".
It is sometimes used to describe someone who is inexperienced, jealous or sick.

You may hear someone say "green around the gills" to describe a person who looks ill.
Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors.

Green was the favorite color of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

And lastly, here are just a few brands who picked green for their logo . . . . Starbucks, BP, Heineken, John Deere, The Masters Golf Tournament, and Rolling Rock.

Mind The Gap

2011-12-23T11:00:00.004-05:00

Mind the Gap - like you, we will be with our family and friends enjoying the holidays. See you soon in the new year!

Boxing Day

2011-12-21T16:19:00.008-05:00

Ever wonder whist our friends across the pond do on the 26th of December? Well, here you go - Boxing Day is whist they celebrate.

Boxing Day is a public holiday that is celebrated on December 26th or the first or second weekday after Christmas in the UK. It began in 19th-century England under the reign of Queen Victoria. One belief is the legend of clergy opening the alms boxes on the day after Christmas to hand out money to the poor. Another opinion is that the name came from merchants handing out boxes of food or clothing to their workers the day after Christmas as a Victorian-era bonus. Today, Brits associate Boxing Day with Christmas leftovers, family gatherings, and shopping. This custom, too, can be tied to Victorian England, when servants who worked on Christmas day, headed home to their families the next day, with boxes full of their employer’s family's leftovers.

Christ Church, Oxford

2011-12-19T16:21:00.013-05:00

Does this remind you of a Harry Potter scene perhaps? This is actually an interior view of Christ Church, which is part of one of the largest colleges in England, the University of Oxford. Christ Church was established in 1546 - when Queen Elizabeth I ruled. The Great Hall was inspiration to the set directors of Harry Potter movies. In addition, Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland was based on many situations and buildings in Oxford and at Christ Church.

Rose Tarlow

2011-12-16T09:28:00.006-05:00

To keep the celebration going with our month of green, we thought we would feature another one of our favorite artist, Rose Tarlow. No one in the industry has inspired us more year after year. Below are two ways this iconic designer uses the color green, in a simple but strong way. Rose Tarlow began R. Tarlow Antiques in Los Angeles in 1976 which later became Melrose House - a must see when visiting LA. In 1997, she introduced her own line of textiles to compliment her furniture including sheer, velvet, and outdoor fabrics and later leathers, trims and wall coverings.

Bobby McAlpine

2011-12-14T16:34:00.013-05:00

We love seeing and being inspired by elements of nature all around us in design and architecture. We thought you too would enjoy seeing what inspired architect Bobby McAlpine to design two chairs for our McAlpine Home collection. He looked around at two popular staples in most Southern landscapes, ferns and oak trees. See below our fern knuckle chair, inspired by the fiddlehead fern, and the oak leaf wing chair inspired by the profile of an oak leaf.

Here are a few quotes we found worth sharing regarding nature.
* Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
* I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau
* The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown
* I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

Tartans

2011-12-12T15:46:00.013-05:00

Tartans have long been close to our hearts. Check out our MacRae tartan below as well as other popular tartans such as the Black Watch and Royal Stewart. Tartans are linked to ancient Celtic populations from 400 BC to 100 BC. The use of Tartan as a means of Scottish clan identification began during the 19th century - much later than many realize. So, if you are in need of a holiday outfit see Town & Country's recommendations below and dress your man in a kilt!

Green Finds

2011-12-09T15:45:00.005-05:00

Quatrefoil Design

2011-12-08T13:32:00.006-05:00

We love all forms of quatrefoil in architecture, table tops, mirrors, jewelry, and furniture. We have seen others do as well of late! Quatrefoil means "four leaves" and is representation of a flower or leaf with four petals or leaflets, which is a symbol of good luck. This design detail became popular during the Greek Revival and Renaissance.

A few interesting facts about the Quatrefoil:
* This detail can be seen on the doors of the Baptistery in Florence.
* It is a decoration on U.S. Marine Corps officers' uniforms.
* It is the national symbol of Phi Mu sorority.
* In Celtic culture the quatrefoil symbolizes "the wheel of being".
* In Native American culture, the four leaves of the quatrefoil symbolize the four ends of the earth. This represents Native American prayers to the North, South,East and West.

Suzanne Kasler

2011-12-06T16:23:00.027-05:00

What better combination - Suzanne Kasler, Lee Jofa and New York! If you are heading up to the big apple anytime soon, take a peek at the recently created room in Lee Jofa’s New York Showroom. Thank you Suzanne for featuring MacRae's furniture so beautifully!

Suzanne was recently featured in this month's Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. In 2009, Suzanne’s first book Inspired Interiors was published - a must read for any of you who have added this to your library!

December Means Green

2011-12-02T10:33:00.005-05:00

Welcome to our month of green. As you know we pick a color every month to celebrate, and this month is a traditional, old school, avocado green leaning towards emerald green for lack of a better description. Pratt & Lambert calls our green #17-16 Green Ravine which is catchy. Away we go . . . . .

Hugh Acheson

2011-11-30T15:52:00.022-05:00

Driving on the left?

2011-11-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Ever wondered why the British drive on the left side of the road?

Well, during the Middle Ages, everyone kept to the left in case they came across an unfriendly stranger on the right, and needed to draw their sword easily. Keeping to the left became official in 1300 A.D. and continued until the late 1700s, when the US and France used wagons carring farm products pulled by several pairs of horses. The driver had to sit on the left rear horse in order to keep his right arm free to lash the horses, and to make sure he could see to stay clear of other wagon wheels passing. The first known keep-right law was enacted in Pennsylvania in 1792.

In England, however, they didn't use horse drawn wagons with a driver riding one of the horses. The driver sat on the right side of a seat mounted on the wagon, so the whip wouldn't get caught in the load behind him when he lashed the horses. Keeping left became English law in 1756,with the enactment of an ordinance governing traffic on the London Bridge.

Orange Super Friends

2011-11-25T09:00:00.018-05:00

Today we thought we would provide you with a bit of serious and a bit of not so serious.

We love the pop of color both Jean-Philippe Demeyer and Kathryn M. Ireland used with orange. Can you image each room without this color now?!

And, for the close of our orange celebration we thought we would have a bit of fun. We could not resist sharing some of our favorite characters who wear orange day after day. Enjoy and thank you for helping us celebrate this month's dynamic color. Behold our super characters!

Missoni

2011-11-22T09:44:00.004-05:00

Looks like we are not the only ones who love Missoni. Just ask Target - in September they offered a low cost collection by Missoni. Most everything sold out within 24 hours, as long lines of people waited for items to be restocked, and Target's website crashed frequently due to interest in the collection.

Missoni was founded by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in 1953 in Varese, Italy. The company is famous for its exclusive knitwear in a variety of colorful patterns including stripes, geometrics, and floral designs, and many different fabrics including wool, cotton, linen, rayon and silk.

Rhodia Orange Notepads

2011-11-18T15:39:00.015-05:00

Need a stylist notepad?

We highly recommend anything from Rhodia, oui, oui! A bit of history for you . . . The paper company, Rhodia, was founded in 1932 in Lyon, France by two brothers, Henri and Robert Verlhac. In 1934, the company moved to the French Alps and the production of their notepads began. The name “Rhodia” comes from the Rhone, a river that flows by Lyon and divides the Alps from the Massif Central. It has been said that the two fir trees on the cover symbolize the two founding brothers. The orange cover dates back to the 1930s and the design has never changed. The notebooks and pads are popular among artists, designers, and writers who love the grids, smooth paper, and the iconic cover. Personally, we think these brothers had it going on!

Ikat Fabrics

2011-11-17T16:52:00.006-05:00

Ikat fabrics are everywhere these days and we cannot get enough! Look at what we found - The styles below are the Kaltacha which is a tunic style top with a slim waist, and the Kurta style which is a tunic style dress. Both are made of silk and cotton, and were traditional clothing worn by Uzbek women during the 5th-20th centuries, for casual wear or for celebrations. We think these would make smashing holiday attire this season!

Angel Tree

2011-11-17T15:26:00.006-05:00

Here are some pictures from the IFDA’s 26th Anniversary Angel Tree party we hosted Tuesday night here in our showroom. Angel Tree is a wonderful project that brings holiday cheer in the form of presents to DFACS children, who would otherwise have none. We still have several “angels” who need sponsoring. Please come by our showroom if you are interested in helping make a child’s Christmas a joyous occasion. Wrapped presents will need to be returned to our showroom by December 2.

John Derian

2011-11-15T13:17:00.014-05:00

John Derian is America’s master of decoupage, which is the art of decorating an object by cutting and pasting paper images. In 1989, he opened his own studio in New York, where he began piecing color reprints of the 18th and 19th century under glass, thereby producing a product line of plates, vases, trays, paperweights, desk accessories, cachepots, wall hangings, and many other items. John Derian launched a environment friendly furniture line with Cisco in 2008, and created an accessories line for Target in 2008 and 2010.

Orange In Design

2011-11-11T16:21:00.004-05:00

In our opinion, no one uses the color orange better than Charleston designer, Amelia Handegan and Atlanta designer, Kay Douglass. Here are a few images to feast your eyes upon. Enjoy our continued celebration of orange.

Guy Fawkes Night

2011-11-09T11:20:00.028-05:00

Did you remember the 5th of November?

Guy Fawkes Night was held this past Saturday November 5th in the UK. Guy Fawkes was a good Catholic who fought for the Spanish and organized the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, which failed. They wanted to get rid of Protestant rule, due discrimination against English Catholics, and sought to blow up the Houses of Parliament, while King James I, the whole Protestant, and many of the Catholic, aristocracy and nobility were inside. Guy Fawkes night is a celebration of the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Participants burn an effigy of Fawkes and fireworks are displayed to celebrate - sound like fun?

Orange

2011-11-04T11:06:00.004-04:00

November means orange for us! We are kicking off with two images below of how stunning orange can look in any room. Enjoy.

Louis, Louis, and Louis

2011-11-02T12:34:00.017-04:00

The furniture made during the reign of French kings Louis XIV, XV, and XVI is considered to be the royalty furniture of the world, but how can you tell the difference from one Louis to another?

Louis XIV's furniture was the Baroque era, rather grand and had rounded forms and curved lines, and included motifs like cornucopias, sphinxes, and architectural elements. Most of the woods used under his reign were ebony, walnut, and oak.

Louis XV's furniture was the Rococo era, much softer and feminine, and
included curves and chinoiserie, flowers, seashells, and gilt-bronze
ornaments. Many woods were used during this time and included beech,
walnut, and cherry.

Louis XVI furniture was the neoclassical era, light and simple, and included straight lines and fluted legs and was much less ornate. The furniture was typically finished in natural wood with mahogany.

Oxford Castle

2011-10-31T12:03:00.020-04:00

Happy Halloween! In honor of Halloween today, here is a scary fact for you . . .

Oxford Castle is a very large and slightly damaged Norman medieval castle located in Oxfordshire, England. This castle was used as a place of incarceration from 1071 until the closure of HM Prison in 1996. The buildings have been preserved and are now open to the public. It is thought to be one of Britain’s most haunted buildings, and therefore frightening events, including Ghost Fest during the month of October, are offered.

Aubergine

2011-10-28T13:19:00.013-04:00

Celebrating Aubergine...

Oyster Veneer

2011-10-24T15:32:00.027-04:00

Have you ever wondered what Oyster Veneer means? Well, it is a labor intensive technique that was used to enhance exquisite furniture during the 17th Century. The technique resembles the cross cut wafers of a whole oyster shell, and therefore it is called Oyster Veneer. Oyster Veneer is produced by cross slicing or sawing wooden twigs or stems. The slices of this sewn veneer, show the year rings of the wood. By placing these slim stems in a uniform way, interesting patterns can be formed.

Fashionably Aubergine

2011-10-21T12:43:00.007-04:00

We have two things to share this Friday. One, is if you are not familiar with the wonderful fashion blog, The Sartorialist, you should check it out! And, two, this amazing photograph came from this blog and highlights well our color of the month. Enjoy!

High Point, North Carolina

2011-10-19T13:37:00.010-04:00

Ever wonder why you hear so many people in the interior design / furniture world speaking of traveling to High Point, NC . . . . . well, here is a little history behind why.

High Point, North Carolina, often called the “Furniture Capital of the World” is located in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. High Point’s first furniture factory began in 1889 and in 1905 the High Point Furniture Exposition Company was created. Today, the High Point Market is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world and measures over 11 million square feet in about 180 buildings. As of 2010, approximately 115,000 people reside in High Point. When the market is held, close to an additional 100,000 buyers and exhibitors from around the world arrive and visit the city. Amazing!

Papier-mâché

2011-10-18T14:59:00.005-04:00

Can anyone guess what the French call 'chewed paper'? Papier-mache of course. Papier-mâché consists of paper bound with either glue, starch, or wallpaper paste.

A few historical facts:

Papier-mâché has been used to make doll heads from as early as 1540.

In Egypt, coffins and death masks were made from cartonnage.

In Persia and Kashmir, boxes, trays and cases were manufactured by using papier-mâché.

In Europe in 1725, gilded papier-mâché began to appear as a low cost alternative to similarly treated plaster or carved wood in architecture.

In 1772 Henry Clay of England, came up with a process for treating laminated sheets of paper with linseed oil to produce waterproof panels. In 1847, Theodor Jennens invented a process for steaming and pressing these laminated sheets into different shapes, which then could be used to manufacture trays and chair backs and was usually laid over wood or metal for strength.

Enjoy chewed paper friends!

Aubergine

2011-10-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

We seem to be stuck in Jeffrey Bilhuber again! See his beautiful room created around our color of the month. Enjoy!

Fish n' Chips

2011-10-13T10:29:00.002-04:00

Ever wonder why the English are obsessed with their Fish & Chips? Well we are not sure either, but here is a little information we hope you find interesting.

Fish and chips became a very popular meal among the working class in England during the late 19th century, due to the rapid development of trawl fishing in the North Sea and railways connecting ports to cities. In Britain, cod and haddock are the most commonly used fishes in this dish. Traditionally, they are deep fried in a batter of flour and water, and sprinkled with salt and vinegar before serving. The first fish and chip shop opened in London in 1860. Today, there are roughly 8,500 fish and chip shops in the UK, and on an interesting note, the waste fat from these shops has become a useful source for biodiesel!

Chinoiserie

2011-10-12T11:51:00.010-04:00

Chinoiserie is a French word signifying “Chinese-esque”. Chinoiserie is a design inspired by Chinese or Asian-themed appearances, but the actual pieces of furniture, paintings, and interior design have a European flare. Chinoiserie dates back to the mid to late 17th century and became very popular around the middle of the 18th century, when it was easily assimilated into the rococo period. The popularity later declined when Europeans realized it was contrary to neoclassicism. However, Chinoiserie has been making a comeback since the late 20th century. We are routing for you Chinoiserie!

Aubergine

2011-10-07T15:26:00.005-04:00

The month of October is already here! We have picked Aubergine as the color to celebrate.

Webster defines the color below to kick us off.

Au*ber*gine

1. chiefly British: eggplant
2. eggplant

Floral Design by Malee Rauscher Helm
Photography by Casey Sills

Dining Tables

2011-10-06T15:38:00.004-04:00

Ever wonder how certain things came to be? How did the dining table evolve is the question at hand today -
The history of dining tables dates back to the Middle Ages when upper class Britons and European nobility lived in castles, palaces, and manors and would eat in a large rectangular room called the Great Hall. The family would sit at the head table on a dais, and the remaining members of the home would sit in order of diminishing rank away from them. Tables in the Great Hall were usually long trestle tables with benches. Over time, this upper class population began to desire more intimate gatherings in smaller rooms called Parlors, just off the hallway. This was mainly due to political and social changes, including the Black Plague and religious persecutions under Henry VIII. Eventually dining in the Great Hall was only for special occasions. In the early 18th century, ladies of the house would leave the parlor or dining room and head to the drawing room, known as a living room today, while the men would stay and have drinks at the table.

Blackberry Farm

2011-10-04T15:54:00.011-04:00

Sometimes you just pinch yourself to be so lucky to work with certain people. That is how we feel about the folks at Blackberry Farm. We are honored to have our furniture throughout the guest rooms of Blackberry Farm. If you don't know the history behind this magical place, go to Blackberryfarm.com to learn more. Today Kreis & Sandy Beall's son, Sam continues the beautiful vision his parents started over 30 years ago. Thank you Blackberry for allowing us to be part of such a special place and thank you Beall + Thomas Photography for these beautiful pictures!

British Poster

2011-09-30T12:25:00.003-04:00

Celebrating the month of red continues with this popular poster.

Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced in 1939 by the British government, during the beginning of World War II, to raise the morale of the British before invasion. This poster was the third in a series of three. The first two were, “Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might” and “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory”. A copy of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster was rediscovered in 2000, and now that the copyright has expired, the image is public domain and can be seen on all kinds of paraphernalia.

Serenbe

2011-09-27T16:39:00.013-04:00

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city? Serenbe is just minutes away from downtown Atlanta and offers a weekend get away for anyone interested in fantastic wine, great food, and a beautiful surrounding. Check out House Beautiful's spread on the people who made Serenbe happen.

RED

2011-09-23T12:23:00.004-04:00

We introduced you to Jeffrey Bilhuber yesterday. We selected this photo to highlight our red pick of the week. We love his use of this long red table!

Jeffrey Bilhuber

2011-09-22T16:37:00.008-04:00

May we introduce to you one of our favorite designers, Jeffery Bilhuber. If you are not familiar with his work, check out the current issue of House Beautiful to learn more about this talented designers philosophy. And, if you are traveling through New York City anytime soon, check out the City Club, where he worked his magic on this boutique hotel.

The Caretakers

2011-09-20T15:16:00.028-04:00

We love all things Southern, and there is nothing better than the recent feature by Garden & Gun on Rinne Allen and Lee Smith. In case you missed it, take a look at these two special people with a whole lot of talent and heart. See more of Rinne's incredible insight and photography on her blog, beautyeveryday.com. It will make you smile for certain.

http://beautyeveryday.com/

Fashion Week

2011-09-16T12:59:00.008-04:00

To celebrate Fashion Week in New York, we thought we would share some of our favorite red picks from Tory Burch's new Fall collection. Enjoy!

BOXWOOD

2011-09-14T14:59:00.022-04:00

Need any inspiration as to what to plant this Fall? We are obsessed boxwoods which are a main part of any formal English garden. Here are a few interesting facts about our green friend. Boxwood was introduced to North America from Europe in the mid-1600s. The most common forms of boxwood are “American” and “English” and there are about 90 species and over 150 varieties. It is said to be nature's oldest garden ornamental and boxwood fossils have been found in Europe dating back over 21 million years old. The first planting in the U.S. occurred around 1652 at Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island, NY. The American boxwood has leaves that are very pointed and grows much faster and taller than the English boxwood, which is much more dense and has rounded leaves. The ideal time to plant boxwood is in the fall, and winter is the best time to prune.

Robert Brown Home

2011-09-13T10:27:00.007-04:00

MacRae Designs is now featuring more than twenty pieces of Robert Brown Home available off the floor and in custom sizes and finishes. There are a variety of painted finishes and wood finishes to choose from, as well as unique hardware. Come see Bob's entire collection currently featured on our showroom floor.

Bob Brown
Robert Brown Interior Design
Biography

After nearly two decades in the fashion and textile industry, Brown launched a career in interior design and quickly made an impact in his own right. Respected for his unique sense of color and attention to detail, Brown's interiors are classically based with a nod to modern functionality. He was named Southeast Designer of the Year by the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center and Veranda magazine.

Current projects take him to California, Washington, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, in addition to work in Georgia. Brown's focus is fine residential design, but he also has completed commercial and hospitality projects. Recent work also includes a large motor yacht and The Ritz Carlton Residences in Atlanta.

A recipient of numerous ASID (American Society of Interior Design) Design in Excellence awards, he has served as a board member of the Georgia chapter and been awarded the President's award. He currently serves as a board member of Atlanta's DIFFA chapter and has chaired the Dining by Design gala with Margaret Russell of Elle Decor. Brown has served on an advisory board for Robert Allen fabrics and will launch a furniture collection for Holland and Company this fall.

Brown's designs have been featured in many publications. These include House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional Home, Southern Accents, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Atlanta, Better Homes and Gardens, Ranch and Coast.

Ploughman's Lunch

2011-09-09T13:36:00.004-04:00

Ever heard of a ploughman's lunch?

It orginated in the United Kingdom and is served in pubs usually with beer, lager, or cider. This cold meal is composed of cheese, bread, butter, and pickles. Additional items can be included such as: green salad, green vegetable, celery, spring onions, radishes, carrots, apples, pate and eggs. A comparable meal, popular prior to World War II, was also known as 'ploughboy's lunch'.

The Oxford English Dictionary records that the first mention of a ploughman's lunch is to be found in the Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, the 18th Century author, where it is described variously as a sandwich, albeit with an unnamed filling, and a ploughman's meal of boiled beef and Scotch broth.

Give it a try one day this fall and you will not be disappointed.

Recipe:
· Loaf of crusty bread thickly sliced
· Unsalted butter
· Chunk of good English Cheddar
· Thinly sliced ham
· Jar of pickled onions
· Jar of chutney or pickles
· Crisp apples sliced
· Bunch or radishes or grapes
· Tomatoes
· Baby carrots
· Spring onions
· Soft hard-boiled eggs

The British Phone Box

2011-09-09T10:07:00.004-04:00

We are celebrating RED this month. Any guesses as to who turned 75 years old on August 25, 2011? No other than our friend and iconic Kiosk no. 6.

The British phone box of course was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1936 to celebrate the silver jubilee of the coronation of King George V. By the end of 1968 there were 70,000 across Britain. Today, 11,000 Kiosks remain, as the need for public phones have dropped 80 percent in the last five years.

Behold Kiosk no. 6 and all its glory!

Peachtree Hills Garden

2011-09-08T16:40:00.006-04:00

Neighborhood gardens are catching on everywhere. What amazing sights to see around town - old vacant lots turned into a colorful garden full or flowers and vegetables. And the great thing is most gardens donate their surplus to local food banks. We looked around last week and found one in our own backyard. We asked Kathleen Moriarty who runs the Peachtree Hills Community Garden a few questions.

1. When was the garden started? 2008
2. How did the idea originate? A couple of Peachtree Hills residents were looking for a place to grow veggies and working with Park Pride approached the City for permission to use the land at the park. Park Pride is a non-profit that works with, and advocates for, city parks. They have a community garden program. The Atlanta Community Food Bank also helped get the garden started through their community garden program.
3. Who volunteers? Volunteers are pretty much just the gardeners and their families.
4. How many members/volunteers do you have? We have 24 gardeners, plus a waiting list
5. Has the economy affected the amount of members? I don't know the answer to that. I think most gardeners participate for the "fun", because they love gardening and for quality fresh veggies. Saving money is a bonus.
6. How do you decide what foods and flowers to plant? Both seasonal and favorites. Each gardener plants whatever they want in their plot.
7. What kinds of foods and flowers do you have right now? Summer veggies - tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash, okra, eggplant, cucumbers, melons. Sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, bee balm, and herbs.
8. Do you plant from seeds or small plants? Both. Park Pride rules require that all gardens be organic or "natural" - no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
9. Who do you feed or where do you sell? Each gardener owns the harvests from their garden plot. Under the City and Park Pride rules, nothing can be sold.
10. Do you have an overstock of food that you give to a charity? We have a Plant a Row for the Hungry program through The Atlanta Community Food Bank. Two plots are dedicated to the Plant a Row program and gardeners also contribute from their plots. We deliver to the Buckhead Christian Ministry (BCM) once or twice a week depending upon the amount of veggies available. The veggies are put out in their lobby where their clients who come for food, rental or other assistance can help themselves. (Last year we delivered directly to the Food Bank - 160 lbs.) We've made three deliveries to the BCM so far this year for a total of 68 lbs.

Barley Twist

2011-09-06T15:36:00.011-04:00

Twisted sticks of Barley Sugar were originally made in the 17th century by boiling down refined cane sugar and barley water. The hardened result was cut and twisted, making a pretty and tasty treat, also known for it’s soothing medicinal value. Furniture makers of the time took their inspiration from this treat to make one of the most popular turnings in history - the barley twist.

RED

2011-09-02T11:45:00.008-04:00

RED

Each month we are going to highlight a color. We have deemed September as the month of RED. We looked outside our front door this morning and found a few really interesting objects in fantastic shades of red. Check out our favorite neighbor, South of Market's, sign post. Who would have thought we could go six steps outside our front door and be overwhelmed with great views of RED.

Interesting facts for you -

Did you know RED is the color often worn by brides in China?

In boxing more RED gloves are worn more than any other color.

Who does not recognize Target's RED bullseye logo? In 1967 Target changed its bullseye logo to look more modern and is similar to the one used today.

In classic Feng Shui teachings RED is considered stimulating, passionate, activating, exciting and powerful.

Ask Tiger Woods what he thinks about the color RED, and he may say it helps him win. He has been known to wear a RED shirt on the final day of golf tournaments.

The Start

2011-09-01T10:40:00.002-04:00

Why, why, why is there a need for another blog I ask . . . . . . .well, what we hope to offer is a quick reminder of what is all around us but often missed because of carpools, schedules, the line at Starbucks, work demands, family demands, and let’s face it just trying to get out the door on time every day. Our hope is to provide a quick moment of reflection for something inspirational, humorous, educational, or just plain entertaining. Out of the thousands of interesting images and people we encounter through our work, we decided to slow down a bit, smell the roses if you may, and take a chance that some of what inspires us may motivate you as well to create, laugh or get to know our extended Holland & Company - MacRae family a bit more. May our words find you and offer insight into our incredible world of design and amazing people.