Visual Vamp Report

I imagine by now most of you who are still reading magazines, have seen the latest issues from the big three that are still left standing: House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and Veranda. Architectural Digest is still here too, but it is not really as relevant most of the time due to its stagnant, but well financed editorial view.

Of the big three, House Beautiful is by far the best of them this month. Elle Decor fell flat again, and seems to really be struggling with content. Veranda fell ever flatter.

Maybe the big shake-up of moving Stephen Drucker to Town and Country, and replacing him with Newell Tucker will be good for T & C, because this the last Drucker issue is another great one in a series of them that he has been producing lately.

Veranda is getting ex Domino star Dara Caponigro at the helm of the luxury brand Veranda, though I have no issues with the stellar Leslie Newsom's excellent stewardship . I hope she is going to bigger and better projects. You just can't have a knock-out issue every month can you, and maybe this being Newsom's last issue gave it that "I'm over it" vibe.


The cover story from House Beuatiful is girly gorgeous. You can see all the photos and read a terrific back story about at The Style Saloiniste HERE

I was especially delighted because I have the same mid century chest that wunderkind Mellisa Warner has in her posh and pretty apartment!

I snapped a quick photo of mine for you this morning and styled it in the same vein.

I grabbed some flowering branches outside my door. They are so cool. I don't know waht they are. They look like mini passion flowers, but they are growing on a huge tree like bush instead of a vine.

For a moment I wanted to repaint my chest! The white and blue looks so fresh.

My piece is actually three of these chests hooked together, with a long pecan wood top. I have often thought about separting them, and making three new tops so I could use each of them in a different way.

The piece is vintage Baker, and when I bought it in a thrift store years ago, no one was attributing these Baker pieces to the pedigree they are now enjoying on sites like 1stdibs.

I repainted mine, but it is still close to the original color. I aged it a bit which fits with the faded decadence that is New Orleans. I think if I painted it a slick white (with possibly lime green insets) it would not work for my room. The beautiful hardware on my piece is also not modern like Melissa's, but more baroque.



Other news is that Amanda Talley just sent off the painting to the winner of the first The Visual Vamp Giveaway.

I think it is going to look wonderful in Kristen's space, don't you?! Amanda actually did TWO paintings for her! I thank Amanda again for her generosity!!!!


Via the giveaway, Amanda was commissioned by The Zhush to do a painting!
Contact Amanda if you would like her do one for you HERE

I hope they both post soon and show us where they are hanging their fabulous ATs!


Lastly, we are dog sitting our next door neighbors' dog Coconut. She is adorable and Cholo is smitten.

Readers Projects: The Amanda Talley Reveal!

What a blast! Yesterday Amanda Talley came over for lunch. Alberto made Gumbo. After lunch we sat down to look at all the photos you sent in, and to read all the comments in conjunction with the giveaway of one of Amanda's paintings.

Vicki A. sent a photo of her romantic bedroom in France
We were mesmerized by the shoes!

It is alot harder than you think. Should we choose on the basis of the eloquence of a comment? Or should we choose because of the wit and humor of a comment?

Victoria Art also has a very romantic bedroom

So many of you are wonderful decorators! Should we choose the prettiest room?

Tara sent a photo of her bedroom viewed through the mirror in her bathroom -
Amanda and I love this color

Some of you are involved in the process of creating your spaces, and even unfinished we could see how fabulous your vision is.

Rebecca tells us: "I would put it on a fabulous small easel
that I already own on my favorite piece of furniture in my foyer!"

Some rooms looked like they needed some love, like a beautiful little painting.

Gina's current project is her pretty master bedroom, and the painting would be perfect

Should we choose the pretty or the needy?

Ms. Smart has an awesome art wall and the painting would be a fab addition

Back and forth we went, getting more confused, and wanting to give each and everyone of you a painting.

Missy would love the painting for her living room: "We do not have an entrance hall
and the front door opens directly across from the fireplace.
The Amanda Talley painting would be the first thing you would see."

There were entries from all over the world, including the Cayman Islands.

Michelle is an excellent New Orleans artist herself, and would love to have an Amanda

Readers from New Orleans entered, as well as New Orleanians living elsewhere wanting a bit of something beautiful from their hometown.

Mid Century Meg thinks an Amanda Talley painting would look swell in her house

Large expanses of wall space, and little nooks beckoned one of Amanda's paintings.

Renae told us, "I adore AT's work and have her on my 'go to' list next time I'm in NOLA!"

We loved this headboard in Mae's bedroom, who said, "A small AT painting would look fabulous over my little nightstand (and a fun restyling of that whole area)."

Amanda was so touched by the response to her work that she became inspired to create the painting for the winning space.

Linda has this lovely credenza - wouldn't an Amanda look smart here?

Finally she said: You decide.

Kwana sent a photo with Jack in it! No room is complete without Jack!

And I said: No, you decide.

Kristen hates her candles

I know some of you, and tried not to let my blog crushes cloud my judgment.

Kim wants a painting for this very nice office

I couldn't decide. Amanda couldn't decide.

Katie has the best entry hall table - how pretty would an Amanda look here!

Lunch segued into the cocktail hour.

Julie says: "In my little house, which I am renovating,
I have an open kitchen and I think the wall with the sconces is screaming for something
bold, graphic, and amazing...like and Amanda Talley painting!"

A rain and wind storm howled outside. We were ready to settle in and make a night of girl talk and cocktails.

JT has a show stopper of a room! We love the windows!

We thought about sleeping on it, but I said no, I've got to post the result.

Jennifer writes: "This is the hallway off of my great room and it definitely needs something."

Everybody wants to know.

Jamilyn's living room is so elegant. We could see Amanda's painting here!

We made a list with everyone's name on it.

Hana's living room is so stylish! She writes: "I would hang Amanda Talley's painting in my living room, above my sofa, as part of a grouping of art and photography.
This gallery wall is (obviously) a work in progress!"

Linda Lime In The Coconut sent this wee picture, but we could still see how great her space is!
She says" I love small pieces...and would love to create a spot
near the desk in the LR for her beautiful work."

Amanda tore the paper into strips, each piece with one of your names on it.

Gwen thinks her Keeping Room would be a wonderful place for an Amanda Talley

In our heart we had agreed on a favorite.

Talented Dianne writes: "Your Amanda Talley give away is very generous.
I too am a painter and would so adore owning one of hers.
Please consider this dining room. Something contemporary in there would be fabulous.
I did the self portrait you see hanging."

But we wanted to be fair, so we put all the strips of paper in a white ironstone bowl.

Courtney's bedroom is wonderful, and the painting would be surrounded by all this beauty

You pick. No you pick.

Christine would like the prize for her cute dining room

We were pathetic!

Cassie tells us, "I'm a Louisiana native.
Your blog helps me stay connected with the city-- thank you!"
PS Amanda and I love this rug!

Let's get Cholo to pick!

Carey doesn't want any more place holders! She wants the good stuff! She wants Amanda!

He sniffed the bowl and walked away.

Camilla would upset this perfect grouping to make room for Amanda!

We had a cup of coffee, and chatted some more. Did you know Amanda lives in the carriage house that belongs to the big house Anne Rice once lived in? The house that was the back drop for The Mayfair Witches? And that Nicholas Cage rents the big house?

Beth's bedroom is cool, chic, and modern. We loved the mirror nightstands.

And that her across the street neighbor is Julia Reed?

AK from the Cayman Islands sent this photo of this gorgeous dining room,
and we were transported there!

Okay we're just stalling.

Amy's classic living room really has the wow factor

We picked this name out of the bowl:

Congratulations Kristen!

And thank you all for making the first Visual Vamp Giveway so much fun.

I Can't Make Up My Mind

The first Visual Vamp Giveaway is well underway.

The response to winning an Amanda Talley painting has been wonderful. Amanda and I are getting together on Monday to look at all your photos, and to pick a winner.

If you would like a last chance to win, please leave a comment on this post, go to the AmandaTalley web site and choose your favorite fantasy-if-money-were-no-object painting, and e-mail me a photo of the space you'd like to hang an Amanda Talley painting in your home.

The winner will be announced as shortly after our Monday meeting.

In the meantime, Happy Weekend!

And think of Amanda and me as we're trying to choose a winner!

Bench Pressed

The dining room bench.

I'm in the last stages of my dining room revamp, and it has been suggested to me by my imminent peers that I might try a dining room bench in the mix.

My dining room is rather small, a glorified pass through room in a New Orleans shotgun house.

I acquired four grand Parsons chairs that are awaiting some slip covers. The dining room table without the leaves opened, can seat 6 t0 8. It is rectangular. However with the grand Parsons chairs, and the size limits of the room, I can use the four Parsons chairs, two on each long side of the table, without host chairs at the ends in order to be able to walk through the room.

The idea of a bench on one of the long sides of the table is appealing, for obvious space saving reasons - it can be tucked in and under even further than chairs.

Visually it would add interest, it seems a matched set of chairs is just so hum drum, and mixing up styles of seating is all the rage.


I for one, would not like to be the one seated on the bench for dining. Small children seem to like benches, and since we have none, I doubt that our adult friends invited to dine would find the bench commodious.

But the visual possibilities are irresistible.


One of my favorite combinations of seating (pictured in the image below) comes from Gina of Willow Decor. I love the Louis inspired side chairs, the upholstered slip covered Parsons host chairs, and the French style bench sporting a jaunty feedbag sort of dress.


Settees offer a another version of the bench, but it's not much of a space saver in the case of my room.

Rustic or ethnic style benches are terrific for adding texture.


Simple and pared down benches are a bit too spartan for me.

You can bring in a picnic table and a bench and style it up to look very elegant.

Two dramatic upholstered host chairs and dramatic color can elevate the humble bench.

Rustic with modern warms it up.

Well there you have it. The great bench roundup. Dining benches - yes 0r no?

I ordered one. Stay tuned to see how it looks. I can always ditch it for the comfort of chairs for the dinner party.

PS Thank you for all the great comments and photos for the first Visual Vamp Giveaway.

Amanda Talley is thrilled and the two of us are going to look at the photos and choose a winner.

I hope to have the post up next week to show your photos and announce the winner.
You can still enter HERE with a last minute comment and photo.