CAMEO CRAZY

Our girl knows what she likes. A touch of George III hangs from Mouse's collar and if she had her way, she'd use the same cameo decoration on our walls. Oval bas reliefs, ribbon-tied bow knots, and berried husk wreaths... this collection of wall moldings inspired by the pattern books of Robert Adam would look correct in a Charleston townhouse remodel, and surprisingly modern used solo on a smooth lacquered wall. All are by The Rotshchild Collection, and surprisingly affordable averaging around $125 per piece retail. And, oh, of course, all are found on Decorati.com!

VACATION'S OVER! LIFE MOVES ON

It's been a few weeks since our yearly break and we have so much to fill you in on. I'm readjusting to architecture school and dreaming up new things to post on Decorati. And Mouse is gaining speed to weigh in on the remodel of our new home, closing date October 1st. Here's a sneak peek of our little gem, pictured in a 1974 Des Moines Register insert reporting on the "new" uncluttered look in design. It looks essentially unchanged today. Even when it's modern, our girl hunts the classic.

SLEEP WELL, BABY

Another momentous occasion to catch up on: Friend and fashionista, the beautiful Maggie MacK, has blessed us with a new follower below who brings a host of design issues to bear on this blog. What color should his sheets be and how cuddly? What style of crib? His first chair? And as he's resting those beautiful cheeks against any of these, will toxins to permeate his perfectly soft skin or damage his small yet mighty lungs?True, it's difficult to think about this little fellow leaving a zero carbon footprint while measuring his daily number of disposable diapers. (Judging from his photo, even he's worried). But we've all got to start somewhere. Protecting his health today is protecting our future. But the best hemp hammock is just not a precious enough gift to send Baby. So we went hunting. And here are the contenders.

Since he lives in L.A., we began with AFK who recently opened their first flagship boutique on Wilshire Boulevard (see twin cribs above). Their classically styled, bench-made furniture features solid wood construction and artfully applied handwork, from intricately carved appliqués to exquisite, multilayered water-based non-toxic paints and finishes. Dreamy, but Baby's parents lean much more modern. And our budget leans more, well, lean.

Q Collection is a favorite of ours, their Abigail bench on our home's wish list for several years running. We checked their Junior Collection and found some super cute stools in our price range as well as a beautiful winged-back glider. And we learned even more about baby-safe construction. There's no formaldehyde in the glue that holds their wooden furniture together, no polyurethane in their foam bedding and plush toys as well as their wood stains and paints. This company goes so far as to consider whether pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers were used in growing the cotton of their generous-thread-count sheets. (Note: In California it is illegal to feed the leaves, stems, and short fibers of cotton to livestock because of the concentrated levels of pesticide residues. Meanwhile, this same residue is commonly used to make furniture, mattresses, cotton swabs and cotton balls).

Mouse, however, took one look at Mom and Dad and came to another conclusion. "This boy will be a chick magnet. He needs a chick chair from the ever eco-conscious Roebuck Studio. Maybe a few in different colors to share with his many future fans and friends." Look out, Hollywood. She could be right, but I'm still searching. (Forgive me Maggie). We'll let you know the fabulous result soon.

MATERIAL WISDOM

How do bloggers go on vacation? We throw each other a helping hand. Recently, while the talented kitchen designer Paul Anater was soaking in some Caribbean sun, we had the opportunity to post on his informative site,KitchenandResidentialDesign. Although tempted to take our "we only had a staycation" envy out on someone, we resisted and stayed on topic with kitchen wisdom. ...But.... this is the voice of a girl and a dog who wear matching jewelry, so a little fashion had to play into the topic as well. I reprint it here while Mouse and I take a long awaited break this weekend. Thanks for the soapbox, Paul, much obliged!

*****

You know the expression "It's not the clothes you wear but how you wear them?" Well it's the same with kitchen design. Materials only make the difference if you know how to parade them, play with them, and, ultimately, push them to your best advantage.

So let's stop thinking what comes next after stainless steel. Because the answer is more: More stainless steel, more wood-stain cabinets, and more stone. Knowing this..Can we be as innovative as the Romans? or Corbusier? Some of the greatest contributions to architecture, after all, owe to rethinking the most traditional materials. The art lies in the application. So let's take a closer look at the most commonplace kitchen materials, one at a time.

WOOD

Wood is easily cut, carved, pierced and joined. So why not manipulate the same wood in different ways, as seen in this highly textural kitchen by Jim Livingston of Livingston Kitchens in Deer Park, Illinois? Lattice work, decorative aprons and baroque corbels are lively layers when harmonized with the same wood stain.

Grain is another consideration. The fewer seams, the stronger its graphic impact. Try matching long expanses

of grain from surface to surface, as seen on this zebrawood island by Zack Simmons of CKS Design Studio in Durham. Or consider how distinct grains can be artfully combined with shape and volume, as on this complex edge profile by Craft-Art wood countertops.

MARBLE

Anyone with deep pockets can impress their neighbors with a huge slab of beautifully veined

marble. But who would think to bookmatch smaller slabs into a butterfly pattern? The cost of the material is often less and any extra installation time minimal. But as Bethesda MD designerBradford Creer proves in this marble-clad kitchen, the return makes a one-of-a-kind pattern out of a naturally varying material.

Now up the ante a bit more. Marble isn't quarried by the slab. It comes in blocks that can be cut into several slabs of the same grain.

Karen Williams ofSt. Charles of New York shops this way, always on the hunt for blocks of stone that can be cut into slabs of different shapes and thicknesses and installed one luxurious layer over another.

Combine the potential of nature and technology, and you haveStile Artistic Designwho create intricate inlays of aluminum in marble using laser-jet technology.

STAINLESS STEEL

As restaurants have known for years, this cool industrial surface is virtually impenetrable, easily cleanable, and therefore both safe and hygienic for use on hardworking countertops and appliances. But why lay it flat only? It can be quilted (as seen in 1950s diners), woven in strips, or manipulated in more painterly ways as seen on the Coquille hood byCheng Designs. Here a 16-gauge stainless steel is hand burnished with a ribbon finish that brings hard steel the look of streaming water.

Another cool option is to juxtapose machined steel with its thermal opposite—natural, warm-stained woods. The pairing is even more striking in the kitchenbelow, another bySt. Charles of New York, where the choice to wrap wood cabinets with a steel toe kick makes every use of the material appear purely decorative.

And speaking of decorative, the ever-practical stainless steel sink is also available with couture touches. Among the many new customizations offered by Elkay is a new etching technology. Choose a greek key border design or your own monogram—however the surface is etched, its smoothness (as well as durability and longevity) remains the same.

Some may say what's old is new again. Cliché or truly unique, even when using the most common materials, the choice is up to you.

ROCK ON LITTLE DOGGIE

It's advertised as "15 karats of unconditional love..." from I Love Dogs. Granted, Mouse would look radiant in such a collar. But really now, a girl does have her limits...

KITCHEN FAIRY TALES

It's time for another kitchen post. Click HERE to link up with Karin's latest contribution to DECORATI and meet Beverly Ellsley, a Connecticut designer who ups the dream factor for residential kitchens. And while you're there, check out other kitchen designer profiles new to the site including the ever-talented Mick De Giulio, Karen Williams, Matthew Quinn, Scott Grandis, and Fu Tung Cheng.

IRON WILLED

I've loved this company's masterworks in iron since the day I first spied their marble-topped French Bistro work table used as the island in a St. Charles of New York kitchen showroom display. A new discovery, however, is their brilliant website. Every piece, every chair, rotates on screen as if on a lazy susan. With designs this intricate, it helps to know each piece's impact at every angle of aproach. Kudos, O'Brien Ironworks!