Resolutions: Silver and Gold, Part IV

THE MAVEN'S NEW YEAR'S PARTY TIP:

 Instead of going to the time and expense of making many different hors d'oeurves, concentrate on a handful of big, lovely trays and several nibbles. 

For example, a great cheese tray with a variety of cheeses and crackers, an antipasto platter, and perhaps
one hot dish with small dishes of nibbles all about.  
Nibbles are nuts (I especially love shelled pistachios), olives, cheese straws (again!), etc. 

As the New Year tilts into full swing, our last, but certainly not least,  group of divine designers and design bloggers has arrived at the party . . .

Barry Dixon

Designer, Barry Dixon, Inc. 

Warrenton, VA

http://www.barrydixon.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

I want to always tether my interior designs to the view outside the window, creating one harmonious element.

2012 COLOR

My color for 2012 is what I call "Agua",

the color you see when you fill

 a white bathtub with water,

 a light pale blue green.

 

And I ALWAYS love my

optimistic, happy yellows.



Barry Dixon for Vervain, Ishtar in Yellows



Barry Dixon for Vervain, Ishtar in Grey and Lemon



Barry Dixon for Vervain, Gene Stripe in Yellow Maize

    



Barry Is Toasting In The New Year With

Dom Perignon Champagne

It, of course, is always delicious on it's own,

but sometimes I add a bit of Italian blood orange spritzer for a little

 Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail

Nancy Price

Designer, Nancy Price Interior Design

Design Blogger, "The Room Blue"

(launching January 26, 2012)

Jackson, MS

http://www.nancypriceinteriors.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

I resolve to not be intimidated, to be more embracing, of using a more saturated palette in creating a soft, serene and soothing environment for my clients.

2012 COLOR

 A great saturated French blue with just the barest hint of green like Benjamin Moore's

Classic Color 762, Pacific Palisades

 

I am using this color in my new collection for Design Legacy.

It is beautiful paired with white and soft neutrals.

Nancy Is Toasting In The New Year With

LaMarca Prosecco

I cannot resist the blue!

Kathryn Greeley

Designer, Kathryn Greeley Design

Design Blogger, "The Collected Room"

Author, The Collected Tabletop

Waynesville, NC

http://www.kathryngreeleydesigns.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

My 2012 design resolution is to use as many exquisitely designed and manufactured products made in the USA as possible!

 Hickory Chair samples, including the pictured Elliott Chair, Artisan Curved Front Chest and the oversized Sophia Wall Mirror

I love Hickory Chair's products, and they are entering their second century of manufacturing furniture in North Carolina.

 

2012 COLOR

My color choice for 2012 is

cobalt/indigo blue. 

My second choice is tangerine, also known as orange with a touch of red!

Kathryn Is Toasting In The New Year With

My favorite beverage for toasting in the new year, or about anything else, is Veuve Clicquot champagne. 

And if anyone is a champagne drinker like me, I highly recommend the book,

The Widow Clicquot!

(Read a review HERE)

Raji Radhakrishnan

Designer, Raji RM and Associates

Washington, DC

http://www.rajirm.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

 I want to explore more deeply other aspects of design including writing, photography and new products/product design.

2012 COLOR

Bronze

Raji Is Toasting In The New Year With

A fine champagne or Irish coffee

Carolyn Espley-Miller, aka Slim Paley

Design Blogger, "Slim Paley"

Santa Barbara, CA

http://www.slimpaley.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

My Design Resolution for 2012 is to actually carve out the time to sit and enjoy all of the beautiful coffee table books I have accumulated over the past few years. 

That's "Savage Beauty; Alexander McQueen" on top

 As much as I like the internet, I feel I'm missing the tactile pleasures I used to derive from real books, not just design books, but gardening, art, travel and cookbooks as well. 

2012 COLOR

 

I'm drawn to "jammy" colours for the new year- aubergine, deep plums, mangosteen; tones that are dark & mysterious.

I'm loving these hues mixed with old reclaimed wood and more masculine materials like slate and oxidized metals.

Slim Is Toasting In The New Year With

Normally, I prefer savory drinks to sweet,  but my new cocktail for ringing in this

 New Year is definitely the

"Toasted Marshmallow Martini"

we perfected over the holiday!

Recipe

2 parts Smirnoff's marshmallow vodka

 2 parts heavy whipping cream

1 part white creme de cacao

 Shake in ice filled cocktail shaker

Garnish with roasted marshmallow

And that, dear Slim, sounds like a perfect nightcap for our final toast.

Happy, happy New Year again my dear friends of silver and gold!

And thank you again my friends 

Alisa Tarver Berry

Gloria De Lourdes Blalock

Beth Collier

Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

Barry Dixon

Mary Douglas Drysdale

Kathryn Greeley

Greet Lefevre

John Lyle

Mary Helen McCoy

Kevin McLaughlin

Patricia Hart McMillan

Slim Paley

Lissy Parker

KathySue Perdue

Nancy Price

Raji Radhakrishnam

Joe Ruggiero

Gaye Tapp

Mona Thompson

Irene Turner

for your sharing your bounty





 
 

Resolutions: Silver and Gold, Part II

THE MAVEN'S NEW YEAR'S PARTY TIP:

 Place a tray or two of cheeses or pick up hors d'oeuvres on a console or table in a hallway or other unexpected area.  This will help with the flow of the party and
 effectively utilize more of your space.

Happy New Year again,

my silver and gold friends!

More wonderful guests are arriving at our virtual New Year's party and

 bringing delicious design inspiration.

Mary Douglas Drysdale

Designer and Creative Director, Drysdale, Inc.

Washington, DC

http://www.marydrysdale.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Only work with clients who are sincerely interested in achieving interesting work and who do it for the right reasons.

2012 COLOR

Hmmm . . . 

So many delicious colors.

Lipstick Pink?

Or perhaps Federal Green?

Mary Is Toasting In The New Year With

Fiji water with several slices of a fresh cut peach, a handful of raspberries, and a few slices of Mango with several perfect blue berries for color. Squeeze in a half of a lime into a large pitcher let the water and fruit sit in the refrigerator for a hour or more to allow the fruit juices to be absorbed in the water.

Mona Thompson

Designer and Blogger, Providence Ltd, Design

Little Rock, AR

http://www.providenceltddesign.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Get organized.  I used to be much better with this… but our business is growing so fast.  I've been caught off guard.   

2012 COLOR

Benjamin Moore China White...

it's a warm white that pairs beautifully with grays and blues...

Mona Is Toasting In The New Year With

A yummy chocolate martini

 1   (1-oz.) square semisweet chocolate, melted
          3 tablespoons   vanilla-flavored vodka (Absolut Vanilla)
          3 tablespoons   Irish cream liqueur (Bailey's)

          2 tablespoons  half-and-half 

1/3 cup coffe flavord liqueur (Tia Maria)

        1/3 cup  chocolate-flavored liqueur (Godiva is best )

       Dip rims of 2 martini glasses in melted chocolate on a plate to form a thin layer. Place glasses in refrigerator until chocolate is firm.

       Combine vodka and next 4 ingredients in a martini shaker filled with ice. Cover with lid; shake until thoroughly chilled. Remove lid; strain into chocolate-rimmed martini glasses. Serve immediately.

John Lyle

Designer, John Lyle Design

Manhattan, NY

http://www.johnlyledesign.com/



John, his five year old nephew Gates, and a Rat Pack Manhattan.
Gates does NOT want a sip!



The Gates Andirons from John Lyle Design

DESIGN RESOLUTION

I resolve to reach out to more high end design firms and give them a personal touch. 

In the past I have let my showrooms do this for me, but now I find it beneficial to communicate with the designers directly. This way they see the entire scope of what I can do….that is how something truly creative happens.

John aka Louis XIV with Moliere, working out every detail with many designers

2012 COLOR

Blue Green to Dusty Teal

John Is Toasting In The New Year With

The Rat Pack Manhattan,

a Perfect Manhattan with a

Little French Twist

Created in 2000 by Wayne Collins at

 High Holborn, London England.

Forsooth all members of the Rat Pack (apart from Joey Bishop) were dead by that time.  Probably Wayne liked the Rat Pack and named the cocktail after them.  As Simon Difford supposes, originally Wayne used different whiskies to represent each of the Rat Pack crooners.  The wash of Grand Marnier was for Sammy Davis, the wild card of the bunch.

15 ml Grand Marnier (for washing)
45 ml bourbon
20 ml vermouth sweet
20 ml vermouth dry
3 dash Angostura bitters
Coat a chilled cocktail glass with the liqueur and discard. Stir whiskey, vermouths and bitters with a lot of ice. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.

Gaye Tapp

Designer and Design Blogger, "Little Augury"

North Carolina

http://littleaugury.blogspot.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Resolutions are so tricky. As a rebel at heart I immediately balk at the thought. A design resolution for me personally is to pare down my possessions. Will I? I’ve accumulated so much “stuff” - good stuff- but too much, none the less. 

Bill Blass Interior

The late fashion designer Bill Blass edited his interiors much like he did his fashion collections - to a razor sharp edge. If only I could create a hint of that clarity in my own interiors as the year moves forward. 

Bill Blass Interior

2012 COLOR

I can’t think of a color I’d rather work with or use in my own home than a celestial blue.

 Think Blue Boy by Gainsborough.

In all shades, it dominates my wardrobe.  As to specifics, Pantone’s Blue Moon or Turkish Sea both do very nicely, paired with soft champagne – like this Monique Lhuillier gown- it is blue heaven.



http://moniquelhuillier.com/



Gaye Is Toasting In The New Year With

A drink of choice for toasting this year will be a hot toddy, but I’ll likely celebrate by sleeping in the New Year.

My hot toddy recipe is from Bon Appetit.

    2 tablespoons honey

    1 cup hot water

    6 tablespoons bourbon or Apple Bourbon

    2 3x1/2" strips lemon peel

    2 cinnamon sticks

Preparations for the toddy are at

 http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/12/honey-bourbon-toddy

Irene Turner

Designer, Irene Turner at hOMe 

Interior Design Blogger, 

Irene Turner "Little Bits of Beauty" 

Sonoma County, CA

http://www.ireneturner.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

My design resolution is to update my video process for my blog,

and to finish my book on Reflective Living! 

2012 COLOR

 My color choice for 2012 is teal.

It DOES pair quite well with tangerine tango from Pantone.

Irene Is Toasting In The New Year With

I love to toast in the NY with my husband and a bottle of Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee...Iron Horse is a local winery with fabulous wines, both sparkly and still.

Cheers until tomorrow, dear silver and gold!