Charlotte By The Yard

  "...live passionately, decorate luxuriously, entertain beautifully and always maintain a sense of humor through it all." ... "Decorating is about breaking all those silly rules" Charlotte Moss

I could get lost in Charlotte Moss' world forever.  Her Blogs Tete-a- Tete, C'est Inspire, and A Flair for Living are all about Charlotte's inspiration-the world she sees through her camera, her gardens, her travels...a world of grace and style.  

via CharlotteMoss.com

  

I read a lot of blogs of course but it is Charlotte Moss' glorious and gracious scrapbook boards and posts  that I would be lost without.  Known for her interior design and philanthropic endeavors Charlotte Moss has partnered with several companies to create collections with her signature "Flair for Living" including a new collection of furniture debuting in May from Century Furniture, Halcyon Days-(see my post), Pickard China,  and even iTunes iMixes...and now Charlotte Moss can color your world  by the yard through her fabrics for  Fabricut which can also be found at retail at Calico Corners.

 “There is a place in all of us where creativity brews. Tap it, let it go, don't fear it; I promise it will never let you down.”

One of my favorite things to do on any day is "play with fabrics" and Charlotte Moss has created a joyous playground for me.  There are no rules on Charlotte's playground, you are free and encouraged to mix and make it your own -"Use your imagination. Be creative. Create a fantasy-anyone can do a floor plan."   

 Each pattern in the collection comes from a personal place -Charlotte Moss' own treasures, her textile collections, her travels, her gardens, her library, her antiques and extensive images and collages culled from her own camera.  

  “Give me atmosphere – rooms that have soul, seduction and serenity.”

  The Charlotte Moss Collection for Fabricut encompasses a group of over 100  prints, wovens and trims for what Charlotte terms the 'the transitional traditionalist".   

"I approached this collection of fabrics and trims almost as if it were a wardrobe for rooms," says Charlotte. "I feel fabrics should be instantly appealing, elegant and comfortable — and adaptable to different rooms and uses."   "Trimmings are the finishing touch that can take an ordinary piece and turn it into something extraordinary..."

 Of course I head straight for the Blue and White and a big bold pattern called-Caroline, reflecting Charlotte's collection of American basketry with a nod to David Hicks I would imagine. I can see a skirted table or as Charlotte did a skirt!

 “Our goal was to create a collection that was fresh and livable for today, but also possessing the comfort and familiarity of time-honored traditions,” Charlotte said. “Most importantly, remember this: Decorating is about breaking all the rules…”

 Each pattern also has its own muse, named after women Charlotte admires -"...women travelers and explorers who defied tradition and set their own path "...you knew what these women stood for, they had a mission, and as a result, left us legacies that inspire. They are like guiding lights." much the same as Charlotte is for me.

"You must learn how to live, 

play, wander,dream, see, explore.  

Then creating beauty is just like breathing."

All images via Fabricut

A Signature Flair-Charlotte Moss' Halcyon Days

The silent muse does speak. She speaks to me everyday, an inner voice coaxing prodding, pushing urging. "live for today...today is all there is." Learning how to really live, to cultivate a flair for living in all you do, is a lifelong process. Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss: A Flair for Living

When Charlotte Moss closed her West Village shop she did not leave us high and dry without her "Flair for Living". It seems that you cannot open a design magazine without seeing her featured and she has just been included on Traditional Home's 20 Top Design Icons of our Time List.

Pickard

The Charlotte Moss style and signature is now showcased through her partnerships with homeware manufacturers such as Brunschwig and Fils and Fabricut for fabrics and wallpapers, Pickard for China and table accents, and Seibert-Rice for Garden accents.

Seibert-Rice

Brunschwig and Fils


All of her design work starts with the people and places that have been inspirations to Charlotte Moss throughout her life. Her travels,a good book, gardens, special treasures she has found for her collections... are all reflected not only in her design work, but also her philosophy for living.

Just introduced is her new Muse Collection for renowned enamel treasures retailer Halcyon Days, suppliers of "Objets d'Art" to the Royal Family and specializing in antique and current collections that are created in the same manner as 18th century English enamels. Halcyon Days is known for their precious hand painted enamel and gilt edged boxes and clocks. Charlotte Moss' Muse Collection is a group of "forever" items that belong on a dressing table, powder room, bedside chest, entry table and even in an evening bag. I love these for perfect gifts as each piece expresses an individual personality.

The creation of this group of Travel or "Bedside" clocks, Compacts (Love that someone is making compacts worth pulling out of your purse a la table!), Atomisers, Ring Boxes, Spill Vases and Accent Trays reflect the "spirit" of women who have been "muses" for Charlotte, and for many of us! Women who will forever be icons of style, grace, intelligence and vision-Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn,Jacqueline Kennedy,and Elsie de Wolfe.

Hollywood is a bow to Audrey-all pink and pearls with great with words of wisdom to carry with you---"Dreaming is underrated" and Life is a daily Event...Live in the Present...just make sure to live" Keep these by the bedside to see them first thing when your eyes open

The Nantucket Collection is a an embrace of Jackie Kennedy's legacy---styled with Nantucket baskets and Daisies. I love this compact...carry Summer with you all year round.



The words to cherish from this group---"If it is worth doing,it's worth doing right" and one to sit by my desk-"Enthusiasm, passion,determination and a dash of fearlessness, will generally result in something original."

The Paris Grouping---Coco Chanel of course! Thanks to Coco "...simplicity became the new luxury, and perfume an absolute necessity!" Charlotte Moss

Reflecting a Chinoiserie theme and expressing that "Living is a Luxury" I can see these pieces on any desk.


Last but not least The Muse collection celebrates New York and Elsie de Wolfe. Elsie de Wolfe and I believe in "plenty of optimism and white paint!"- she has always been an inspiration for me as well.




This collection expresses the de Wolfe esprit with her love of treillage and gardens. Keep this group in a sunroom or garden room and always remember...to do it Elsie's way "Decorate luxuriously...live passionately...entertain beautifully, and always maintain a sense of humor..."

In Design Circles

(Walker Zanger)

Do you ever feel like you are going around in circles?? That seems to be a perpetual state for me these days, but that is a subject for another time. Going in circles can be a good thing sometimes and apparently the design world agrees because we are seeing circles everywhere! Fabrics, wallpapers, furniture, rugs, lighting...all sporting the circular feel. Sure many of the circles make me think of Twiggy and Go-Go boots...but retro is fun and when you can use the same motif with crisp or bold new twists then you are working with an element that fits in pretty much any style room. So let's jump in the circle and go for a round...

When you think circles in design you first think bold...and of course Marimekko does it best...

You don't have to live retro or mid-century or in an industrial loft to go in circles...garden, classic contemporary, cottage,traditional...all will get a lift from the fresh geometric of circles...don't think circles are just for contemporary retro- chic tastes...circles mix in anywhere...

Start slow-toss a pillow like this one from Koo de Kir or place an accent lamp like this Madison Lamp from Williams Sonoma Home one from next to a reading chair or bedside

Place this great side table next to a classic chair or by the entry

(Horchow)

Hang this perfect mirror pair in a dining room or stairway

(Shades of Light)

I love this "Twiggy" chandelier from Horchow in a breakfast room or kitchen for a taste of circles but it would work in an entry hall or high stairway too

...or cover an accent chair in a great circle inspired fabric like this Elysee velvet from Calico Corners

Speaking of chairs, these are favorites and are at home by a Chippendale armoire or a glass desk...love this Frances Elkins chair from Downtown20 pulled up to a writing desk, as an accent dining chair or in a bedroom

and this chair is coming home with me! From McGuire Furniture it is the ideal corner chair ,even by the most traditional fireplace, and I love it in a study or garden room and of course pulled up in the dining room. A simple cushion and it works in any space.

and this Daybed from West Elm will be fabulous in a study or guest bedroom

Maybe you have a large space or high ceiling and you want to warm the room or ground the space but still maintain openness...circles work for that like in this rug from West Elm

If you still are not sold that circles will work for you think garden! yes, garden! Circles are often incorporated in garden design. This perfect Elsie pattern(yes after Elsie de Wolfe)dinnerware from Charlotte Moss takes a classic trellis look

like this one from Walpole Woodworkers

and these wonderful garden maze prints I love in a sun room or breakfast room

(William Sonoma Home)

I adore this coffee table from Z Gallerie reminiscent of a perfect garden seat...LOVE!

and if you still just only want to put a toe in the circular pool...go for this sweet "Molly"dotted look for the bedroom from Neiman's