Guest Blogger

Nov 6, 2009

The Buzz: Bras De Lumiéres And Other Wall Sconces

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • No comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. A sconce, pronounced “skahnz”, is a wall mount that is fitted to hold a candle or candles. Here’s a typical pair of 18th century Italian giltwood wall sconces: And here is another example, this one an amazing set at our gallery: (more...)

Oct 30, 2009

The Buzz: Eglomisé, Champlevé and Cloisonné

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 4 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Eglomisé, pronounced “ay glow me ZAY”, also called called ‘verre eglomisé’ (”vair ay glow me ZAY”), is a decorative glass technique where the glass is painted or gilded on the underside and then backed wih a metal foil. Shown above is an [...] (more...)

Oct 27, 2009

The Buzz on David Phoenix

Posted in Designer Profile, Guest Blogger, Profiles, The Buzz on Antiques • 13 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. I met David Phoenix in 2002 when he was already at the top of his game in the Los Angeles high-end design market… Back then, I went to LA to see him because many of my designer clients told me “He’d be a [...] (more...)

Oct 23, 2009

The Buzz: Antique Fretwork

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 2 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. In this recession, a lot of us fret about our work or lack thereof. I’d call this “fretwork” but I can’t because that means something entirely different in antiques. So what do I call worrying the day away? Being a “Nervous Nellie”. And [...] (more...)

Oct 16, 2009

The Buzz: You, Glue, & Antique Restorations

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 3 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Museum quality restorations, like those that we do at C. Mariani, increase the value of an antique and return it to its original beauty or at least a period-appropriate approximation. The problem in our business is that most “antique restorers” restore a piece [...] (more...)

Oct 15, 2009

Tile Transitions

Posted in Guest Blogger, Kitchen and Bath • 2 comments

By Saxon Henry of Design Commotion What’s hip is also classic at Cersaie, the world’s largest tile exposition held in Bologna, Italy. Given that Cersaie in Bologna, Italy, is where the world debuts its newest and grooviest ceramic tile designs each year, I was expecting the abundance of bling and ample edginess. But when the five-day fair [...] (more...)

Oct 8, 2009

Fine dining…in the Kitchen!

Posted in Guest Blogger • 5 comments

By Susan Serra, Decorati Contributing Guest Blogger and author of The Kitchen Designer blog. Dining is a very special experience, soulful in many ways. An end to meal preparation, a gathering of loved ones to share the days’ events, a place for celebrations. The casual dining experience in one’s home can feel relaxed, comfortable, be visually [...] (more...)

Oct 7, 2009

The Buzz: Commode

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 7 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. This is an essential and commonly misused word in antiques. A COMMODE (pronounced “kuh MODE”) is a low “chest of drawers” that typically has two or three drawers, and may or may not have a marble top. A commode is not a toilet. Trust [...] (more...)

Oct 6, 2009

The Buzz on James Lumsden: Back to the Classics

Posted in Designer Profile, The Buzz on Antiques • 6 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. The morning I interviewed Los Angeles design icon, Jim Lumsden, I forgot to eat breakfast and had low blood sugar. So when I arrived at his gorgeous home and office in the Hollywood Hills, I was feeling a bit woozy. When I arrived, [...] (more...)

Oct 2, 2009

The Buzz: Cabaret

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 7 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Yes, yes, I’m fully aware of what Liza Minelli sings: “Life is a cabaret!” But that’s just plain Broadway musical baloney. A cabaret (pronounced “ca buh RAY” just like in the song) is actually a porcelain coffee or tea service that usually has [...] (more...)

Sep 24, 2009

The Buzz: Repoussé

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 5 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. REPOUSSÉ is a decorative metal technique that you see on many antiques. In a nutshell, it’s hammering metal from the reverse side to create a relief design on the outside, as seen here on the top and border of an antique Flemish [...] (more...)

Sep 21, 2009

Mosaics: Resurgence of an Ancient Art Form

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James Duncan is a Decorati Partner and author of “A Well Traveled Aesthetic.” Mosaics were one of the first forms of decorative art. As early as the second millennium B.C., geometric patterns in colored stones and shells decorated temples in Mesopotamia. It was in 4th century B.C. Greece where pictorial mosaics were first created. Thereafter, the [...] (more...)

Sep 20, 2009

White Kitchens - A Philosophy

Posted in Guest Blogger, Kitchen and Bath • 8 comments

By Susan Serra, Decorati Contributing Guest Blogger and author of The Kitchen Designer blog. White Kitchens - who among us doesn’t love a white kitchen? White interiors are in our consciousness again. White kitchens are rapidly becoming even more popular than ever. There is seemingly no end to the love of the white kitchen! White kitchens present [...] (more...)

Sep 19, 2009

Valerie’s London: Mayfair

Posted in Guest Blogger • 1 comment

By Valerie Wills “I’ll put the kettle on and we’ll have a nice cup of tea”. That’s what you will be greeted with in any English home. It solves all of our problems. A nice cup of tea! I used to love going to my Grandmother’s house where she’d boil the kettle, [...] (more...)

Sep 17, 2009

The Buzz Word of the Day: Console

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 3 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Ok, so here’s an antique riddle: what kind of table can have four legs, three legs, two legs, or no legs at all? This calls for a hilarious punch line–so if you think of one let me know. But since I can’t think [...] (more...)

Sep 10, 2009

The Buzz: Campaign Furniture

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 2 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Campaign furniture dates back to Roman times but it was perfected by the English during the Georgian and Victorian periods (1714-1901) when the British empire was being built. It’s defined as any furniture made specifically for travel, being designed in such a way [...] (more...)

Sep 5, 2009

The Buzz: Shagreen with Envy

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 1 comment

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. True factoid: Shagreen is just plain chic. It’s one of those truths that are “self evident” (to quote our Founding Fathers who would have loved shagreen if they’d been decorators). But honestly, I don’t know one designer who doesn’t swoon over shagreen. Here’s [...] (more...)

Sep 4, 2009

Linen is beautiful… but oh, the wrinkles!

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Decorati is excited to introduce our newest guest blogger and interior designer, Georgina Rice. As a designer who is in the unique position of having her own workroom I’ve learned so many things over the years that I hope will be of use to other designers. One example is the use of linen. We all love the [...] (more...)

Aug 28, 2009

The Buzz: Antique Feet

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 1 comment

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Decorati Access Magazine recently published my thoughts on How Antique Legs Can Help you Identify Periods & Styles. And it got a really great response. YAY. One of the Decorati readers (thank you, Jenny S.) asked if I would post some comments on antique [...] (more...)

Aug 25, 2009

The Collected Interior: The Buzz on Suzanne Kasler

Posted in Designer Profile, Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 10 comments

Check out Decorati’s Contributing Antiques Editor, Buzz Kaplan’s, tête-à-tête with top Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler. Photography by Frances Janisch. SEE SUSAN’S PORTFOLIO ON DECORATI Describe your design style in five words or less. Inspired. What are three most important elements of sophisticated design? Scale, proportion, and attention to detail. Your interiors are so strikingly different and new. Where do you [...] (more...)

Aug 24, 2009

Embracing Technology Stylishly

Posted in Guest Blogger • 1 comment

By Deborah Flate, Decorati guest blogger and Marketing Consultant, Deborah Flate of Dialogue Consulting . Designers can build their recognition and get more clients by embracing technology stylishly. In previous blogs, I have spoken about niche marketing. By carefully choosing a niche (target market) you can grow your business by being the “go to” designer. Instead of [...] (more...)

Aug 22, 2009

Making the Hearth of the Home Healthier for the Family

Posted in Guest Blogger, Kitchen and Bath • 2 comments

Decorati is excited to introduce guest blogger Robin Wilson. Robin Wilson is a nationally recognized eco-friendly and healthy home interior designer focused on the four principles: sustainable, reusable, recyclable and non-toxic. She is currently designing the interiors for the private residence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and is the first woman to license her name for [...] (more...)

Aug 19, 2009

The Buzz: “Scagliola”

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 4 comments

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Pronounced: “skal YOE luh” (more...)

Aug 18, 2009

Metropolitan Remix- San Francisco Galleries Off the Square

Posted in Guest Blogger • 1 comment

By Patter Hellstrom San Francisco galleries offer smart contemporary art that shines through the fog to heat up summer in the city. The art scene by the bay excites artists, curators and designers alike with a sassy metropolitan style. Geary Street galleries off Union Square offer gems within the summer exhibitions. (more...)

Aug 16, 2009

White: More than Just the Absence of Color

Posted in Guest Blogger • 5 comments

By James Duncan James Duncan is a Decorati Partner and author of “A Well Traveled Aesthetic.” Some people think that white is the absence of color. But that is exactly what it is not! White is produced by combining all of the visible colors of light in equal proportions. While blue is the most popular, since [...] (more...)

Aug 15, 2009

Valerie’s London: Bermondsey Market

Posted in Guest Blogger • 1 comment

By Valerie Wills If you are ever in London for an extended stay, I would highly recommend a visit to London’s East End. I kid you not, this is where the word “entrepreneur” was invented. I have never met a group as innovative or creative as our very own London EastEnders. . There was many a [...] (more...)

Aug 14, 2009

A Few of My Favorite Things for the Kitchen

Posted in Guest Blogger, Kitchen and Bath • No comments

By Susan Serra Susan Serra is a Decorati Contributing Guest Blogger and author of The Kitchen Designer blog. The kitchen, to me, should be a room, an “environment”, with surroundings that make you feel not just good, but wonderful, every day. That’s easy to say, and few would disagree. But, let’s go a step beyond that simple [...] (more...)

Aug 13, 2009

The Buzz: “ORMOLU” and “VERMEIL”

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 1 comment

By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. Pronounced: “OR muh loo” Ormolu is from the French (meaning ground gold) and is a term used to describe gilded brass or bronze. In recent times, it’s been used to describe even ungilded brass or bronze, but technically it should be gilded. Ormolu [...] (more...)

Aug 5, 2009

The Buzz: What’s the difference between Marquetry & Parquetry?

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 2 comments

. By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. . Both marquetry and parquetry are types of veneering. . One comment about veneered antiques generally: most people think of veneering as something cheap or done to save money over wood solids. And this is true if you’re talking about the 1960’s paneling in your [...] (more...)

Jul 30, 2009

The Buzz: Antique Beds 101

Posted in Guest Blogger, The Buzz on Antiques • 3 comments

. By Buzz Kaplan, Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor and author of The Buzz on Antiques. . I don’t sell a lot of antique beds. Why is that? . Maybe I just stink at sales. But more likely, it’s because: . 1. Many antique beds were heavily upholstered or were built right into (and were part of) room paneling (called “boiserie” and pronounced [...] (more...)