The House that Plastics Built

While at ICFF in New York we met Grace Jeffers, the Manhattan art historian and Formica Expert at the Wilson Art booth. Although they were highlighting the student chair competition ( which was impressive ) I was more interested in the back drop, a glimpse of a mid century motif. 

When asked about the backdrop Grace told us of the story of the Ralph and Sunny Wilson home in Temple Texas. Ralph Wilson was the founder of Wilson Art then names Ralph Wilson Plastics. He created this home as a test and showcase of all the laminates could do. 

When hired by Wilson Art to help build their corporate archives she was invited to see the house before they tore it down. She begged them to save and renovate the property which now stands as a supreme example of 1950's architecture and products. It is the youngest house on the National Historic Registry. 

Check out the images of this home so Brady Bunch! 

Some of these images remind me of homes in Richmond that I have worked on. It is a remarkable save and one of the highlights of the Modenus Blog Tour NYC.

All photos from Wilson Art

Watch this video for more information on this home: 

Finding the Right Products for a Kitchen Project

It is always a challenge to find the right products for a job. Sometimes we end up going to the same manufacturer over and over. What I love about these blog trips is being introduced or reintroduced to brands. 

Blanco was one of our sponsors for Blog Tour NYC with Modenus. 

A family owned company since 1925, making sinks and kitchen faucets. Love the picture! 

I am working on a new kitchen renovation project so I decided to take a look. So many new ideas that I loved….

Love the faucet and the stainless lip sink. I think I'll use this in my new project. I'll post a pick when I'm finished. 

Love the white  - I would love to see a grey. Hey Blanco - do you hear me! 

Look at this gorgeous fireclay sink

This was a great video on how to incorporate green ideas into your home. Easy ideas ….





Thank you Blanco for a wonderful trip! I'll being keep your products on my go to list from now on. 

Beauty Bag Find at ICFF

I love when I find a Beauty bag find in an odd place. While on my Blog Tour NYC trip with Modenus I found a new beauty product. If you follow my board on Pinterest Beauty Bag, you know I love to pin the latest and greatest in beauty products. 

This new find came from the ICFF show

We were there as press - bloggers with a badge! 

This find came from one of our sponsors - Mr. Steam 

These are exclusive Mr. Steam products called Tala - made from Argan oil and Beldi Black soap ( derived from the paste of black olive pulp ) 

photo by Chasen West

This is our hostess - Martha Orellana, vp of sales and marketing

 photo by Chasen West

She showed us all the latest and greatest in the steam technology. I love the more digital systems. 

The remote - 

The wall pad - 

You can add aroma therapy to the steam unit

An in the shower wall pad

Music, smells and steam - it was full bathing experience and now with the addition of their own products, the Tala line. What an experience it will be. The products will come with the purchase of a unit. 

Here is Regina from Toronto testing the products. 

Look at this black paste scrub - it was divine. I can't wait to use some of these products. The whole set had lotions and  scrubs. 

Mr. Steam has been in the feel good business since 1917 and this is just another wonderful complement to their already incredible shower products. 

We all enjoyed their hospitality and all the goodies in the swag bags! 

Happy Shopping and Bathing……

Loving A Good Show House!

Welcome to the 42nd Annual Kips Bay decorator Show House in NYC. Special treat to go inside the Villard Mansion at 457 Madison Ave. right next to the Palace Hotel. Originally designed by Stanford White in 1884 in a Neo-Italian Renaissance style 

My take aways from this house were the details: 

Let's start with the powder room off the living room by Young Huh

I loved her door treatments

The drapery treatments in the main rooms were fabulous. I loved the idea for the sheer roman shade lit from the top between 2 beautifully constructed panels. 

Ingrao's room

Inlayed steel table design

Juan Montoya's room

Everyone's favorite million dollar decorator Martin Lawrence Bullard in the Foyer - lots of talk about how those panels did not line up under the chair rail. 

Modern sculptural tables in the William Georgis room

Beautiful hand painted stripes - looked like Fromental to me but I was corrected. 

Loved the embroidery in the middle of the drapery panel. 

Cullman & Kravis

These tables were killer!!!  and that blue bed….

Absolute favorite room was Carrier and Company. Loved the wallpaper, the mix of styles, use of mirror and color. 

Patterns and colors

 Vincent Wolfe's room - breakfast/lounge area. Lacquer orange walls are always good. 

2nd favorite space was the kitchen - creative details and well crafted. 

Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria from the ATL

Look at the stainless doors - custom made with brass details. 

Tube pieces as window dressing to mimic the organ pipes at St. Patrick across the street

Mullion details again taken from the church facade

Suede finish on the Silestone. Brass hardware and faucets

Can you see the tubes? 

Bulter's pantry in blue again like the DC Designer house.

Beautiful 1stbids vintage french press set

Loved the leather flooring detail in this very small room. 

Stairwell hand painted by Robin Sacks

Blue suede walls with fab ceiling treatment. Can you see the hidden door? 

That ceiling treatment  … WOW!

I had seen Alexa Hampton's room online and didn't love it but in person I found things I really loved..

Detail of the wallpaper

trim on the arm of the sofa - it was big at Highpoint too

Nailheads on the cornice

Daryl Carter's room

daybed floating in the room

What a treat to visit the NYC show house 3 years in a row. I love it! This was only day 1/2 of day 2 in NYC with the Modenus group. 

Happy Decorating…..