chic color

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of not only viewing a sampling of Betty Thalheimer's most recent works (while sipping on champagne at Oak, I might add), but of meeting the artist herself. I first read about this talented woman on Charlie and quickly decided that we are destined to be the best of friends! Full of spunk with a knack for color, Betty doesn't disappoint. I particularly like her combination of pink and citrus orange, one I've been trying to use myself. If you're in Charleston, stop by and see her at her new King Street studio! For more information, click here. Have a great weekend!

happy colors

I am so happy that Taco Boy is downtown these days. Where else can one get delicious flights of tequila and a healthy dose of fun color all in the same place? If that doesn't spell out a remedy for recession, I'm not sure what does. In addition to good food and good friends, Taco Boy deserves a shout out for their creative bathroom decor--I love a good surprise when I walk into a bathroom! These contained little spaces are very often mundane, so anyone that gives them a little attention gets an A in my book. Most of you have probably noticed the uber cool Mexican maps in the main restrooms, but have you ventured to the ones outside? If there is an award for the most creative use of marmoleum, these people should get it. The walls are covered in brightly colored tiles made of this earth-friendly material. I might not recommend it for your home, but its definitely worth a trip to take in the fun colors! Lucky me, I'll be there tonight!

'tis the season

...for turkeys, mistletoe, and unexpected house guests! Be prepared for the mysterious re-emergence of dear old Uncle Joe Bob without wasting valuable floor space (that would be better used for air mattresses or small children anyway...) by stocking up on some exciting and versatile folding chairs! The image above is from anthropologie, and though I truly love the chairs, they are a little on the expensive side at almost $200 apiece... yikes! You could have the same thing, customized for less than half the price; and the possibilities for adding cheer are virtually endless. Think fabrics in different (yet coordinating) colors, patterns, and textures brought together by a bold color enamel--I don't know about you, but this gets me excited for the holidays and ready to plan for some festivities! The more the merrier with extra folding chairs!

burlap: revisited

After last week's post about burlap, my sister and I decided to give this industrial textile another look. Has the potential to bring the burlap out from the bottom of allora chairs been there all along? After further investigation, we decided: yes. Lauren came to town with the supplies, and we got down to business for our "craft weekend." Between her post-consumer, green coffee bean filled burlap sacks and my pillow form collection and sewing machine, we were pretty busy! AND happily surprised to see that the natural burlap (i.e. pre-dyed) is much softer on the skin. The pillows are everything we hoped they would be and then some! We also worked on some chairs this weekend (surprise!) that are different than the rest of the allora collection... you might be seeing more of the burlap soon!

babies rock

Aside from eating, a baby's only other priority is sleeping. Conveniently, this is often a priority of both parents as well--particularly after a few nights of restless, cry-awakened sleep. For this reason, no nursery is complete without a rocking chair. Rocking chairs come in a variety of styles, fashioned to about any taste and can truly become a feature of your baby's room! New parents might also have an old rocking chair that has been passed on to them by siblings or grandparents that only needs to be updated to match the nursery's decor. Reusing a chair that has meaning is not only thrifty, it adds sentiment and provides a special story. It is amazing how the most outdated looking chair can be updated with a coat of paint and an interesting fabric to achieve that something extra in your baby's first room! An allora gift certificate for a mom-to-be is also a great gift idea to help with the nesting--as well as assisting in getting the little one to sleep! I can't wait to meet all the sweet babies that are on the way! "Peanut," "Strawberry," Kate, Wright, and Ra--happy rocking!

haute chair

It is only reasonable for one to assume that following the wedding season of your generation of friends that the baby season will not be far behind, however, I assure you, it has taken me by surprise! Don't get me wrong, I am THRILLED--more than thrilled--for all of my soon-to-be-moms-and-dads friends; it has just taken me a little off guard! I feel quite educated on folic acid regimens and trimester timelines, but lets be honest. Part of the fun of these blessed little people is in preparing for their arrival (namely, while they are still quiet): decorating the nursery, stocking up on clothes, wandering through aisles filled with such exciting finds as desitin and bottles...

Once the baby arrives, life consists primarily of eating and sleeping, so these two functions quickly begin to fill the minds of soon to be new parents (at least in my experience). So in honor of the first of these two activities, I give you... haute chair.

While the nursery is the child's exclusive domain, your kitchen and/or dining room will still (hopefully) remain pleasantly civilized and adult, with one exception: the highchair. So why should it be boring or basic? There are so many great options... all waiting to be customized, not just to match your existing space but to accent it! What better way to celebrate the new one's arrival? What a great and thoughtful gift! Fun for the parents and good for the child... as I recently learned that high visual contrast helps with brain development. Tomorrow, we'll focus on a baby's other favorite activity: sleeping!

urbanSHED arcade

I know that I've mentioned that September was a crazy month, and I feel certain that in the same breath, I mentioned, among other things, deadlines. One of these deadlines was the urbanSHED competition that Alicia and I entered on behalf of Liollio. Our scheme, ARCADE, is built around over-emphasized structure which is secured by water ballast via q-drums. These q-drums roll on site easily before being filled (again, easily) with water. They not only serve, however, as efficient connections, but as street furniture for passers-by and regular pedestrians, as a place where they can read the paper, talk on their cell phones, rest their feet, or wait to hail a cab. Seating at its best!

got ikat?

Alright, so I know that we are all familiar with the lovely textile that is ikat. It had quite a run of popularity in fashion last spring, and several of you probably even own a garment made from its distinct weave; have you, however, considered ikat for your home?

I must admit, until recently I thought of ikat as a great fabric for dresses and skirts, but I have quite suddenly been overwhelmed with requests and/or suggestions for allora chairs upholstered in it. Typically ikat comes in a melange of earth tones and muted hues, but there are also several bright patterns and bold, dichromatic versions available in broad ranges of color. If it is appropriate to refer to this ancient weave's aesthetic as pixelated, I am not sure, but the playful variance of focused and blurred patterns truly provides a visual treat and can be a classic, yet subtle way to add some oomph to your room! Have a great weekend!

allora on facebook!

Did you know that allora is on Facebook?? Before the website, before the blog... allora was participating in this wonderful social media. allora has her own profile, so you don't have to join any groups or fan clubs--just search "allora home" in Charleston. You can find updated albums of allora.signature and custom chairs as well as other updates and access it all via your favorite website! Lets be friends!

allora for friends.

If you're like me and have been on a wedding marathon for the past couple years, you might be looking for something unique and original to give to your friends in celebration of their marriage. Though towels are arguably interesting, the odds of a couple picking one up in two years and remembering how thoughtful and touching a gift it was are probably slim to none. While melding two styles, weeding out "college furniture," searching for new peices and planning a wedding all at the same time might be some people's cup of tea, others return from their honeymoon and begin the nesting process amidst white boxes and bundles of tissue paper. Why not give them the opportunity to design their own chair--one that will fit in perfectly with his leather sofa AND her Danish coffee table? allora home gift certificates are available for just that! contact marymac@allorahome.com for specifics.