Antiques and Garden Show: Cinema Style

As you know by now, we are in the countdown to Nashville's Antique and Garden Show 2011.   The accomplished journalist and interior designer, Cathy Whitlock, will grace this year's show as one of the featured lecturers.  Whitlock is the author of the newly released book Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction.  She also happens to have one of the most successful blogs in the biz: wwwcinemastyle.blogspot.com. Whitlock has been published internationally by some of the most influential publications and it was our pleasure to catch up with her and ask a few questions.  

FYI, Cathy Whitlock will be signing her new book at the Antique and Garden Show on February 12 at 2:00pm.  If you live in the area we hope to see you there!  

If you would like a copy of her book, please click on the link above and it will send you directly to the site!  We HIGHLY recommend you do!

You are a local Nashvillian.  What do you love most about our great city?  

Nashville is a beautiful city and it's an easy way of life here and a well-kept secret (although you wouldn't know it with the traffic on West End and Hillsboro). And I love Vanderbilt basketball as my family has had season tickets since I was a child!

What propelled you to start a design blog that centers around design and film?  

I have been covering the subject for the magazines for many years and with the book coming out, I thought it would be a great tie-in.

How would you sum up the influence of film and media on today's design world? 

Hollywood has long been an arbiter of taste both good and bad and has been such an influence on our fashion, design and even mores whether we realize it or not. The cinema has historically set fashion trends -- just look at the popularity of Julia Robert's polka dot dress in Pretty Woman and Katherine Hepburn put women's pants on the map for example -- and interior design has followed suit. The beach house in Something's Gotta Give has been one of the most copied and talked about interiors in movie history.

What film(s) have most influenced your personal style? 

 In terms of fashion, I am a child of the sixties and love anything from that era, particularly the Doris Day films.  I loved Faye Dunaway's style in  the Thomas Crown Affair was pretty memorable. (We are now seeing a resurgence of that period on television with Mad Men).  In terms of film interiors, I could move in to Thomas Crown's townhouse (the sequel), A Perfect Murder's penthouse or the Los Angeles Wallace Neff bungalow in The Holiday. My favorite interiors from older films would include Laura, The Fountainhead and Indiscreet just to name a few.

Do any of the films that are up for Oscars this year stand out in your mind as having memorable set design? 

 The King's Speech sets were incredible as they were done on a shoestring budget and not the typical over the top costume drama designs. I predict the fresco wall in Logue's studio will be copied over and over again. From a technical standpoint, Inception used a combination of live action shots and CGI (computer generated imagery) and made it so believable! 

Your book Redesign takes a close look at the new and expanded role of the interior designer.  What do you see as the biggest difference between the role of the interior designer of today with the role of the designer 20 years ago?  

Designers today are expanding their practices past the tried and true areas of residential and contract. While this has been going on for years -- Dorothy Draper had a magazine column, books and even designed cosmetic packaging and the interiors for the Packard automobile back in the  her heyday -- it is even more important now due to the economy. Today the name of the game is branding and everyone can take a page from Martha Stewart's playbook!

Who are your personal design icons?  

For icons --  Jackie O, Grace Kelly and Catherine Deneuve hands down. For fashion designers - Bury me in Balenciaga and line my coffin in Hermes scarves! And for interiors, Billy Baldwin and David Hicks. I also love William Haines as he was the true designer of Hollywood Regency.

SC's most wanted list: Christopher Spitzmiller Lamps

You are most likely already familiar with Christopher Sptizmiller's beautiful lamps.  They have been around for more than a decade, and in that time have become classic pieces of our design era.  Sptizmiller's most popular style, the gourd lamp, has inspired a myriad of knock-off's, none of which compare to the remarkable workmanship of Sptizmiller's orginals.  We continue to be enamored with these luxurious and timeless pieces and are always watching to see what new styles this talented ceramic artist will create.



In a world filled with mass-produced, mediocre goods, Spitzmiller's couture-like approach, creating one-of-a-kind pieces at a slow and meticulous pace, is edifying and inspiring.  His artistic process is one that gives the utmost attention to detail and maintains the highest standard of perfection.  Sptizmiller and his staff of six artisans create no more than 60 hand thrown lamps each month, at least two of which we are pining away to own!

Each lamp is drenched in  a vibrant glaze that give the lamps an luminous, dewy look when lit.  The ceramic forms are placed upon gorgeous gilt bases and adorned with beautiful custom hardware.  

The end result...?  Perfection.

Spiztmiller's designs are staples in designer Todd Ramano's uber-chic shops.  We spy a pair of the new Villa lamps designed by Charlotte Moss for Spitzmiller's collection flanking the sofa in Romano's LA shop below!

A few years ago, Spitzmiller teamed up with the talented ceramic artist Clare Potter to create the most gorgeous pieces that we are sure will become the heirlooms of tomorrow.  Spitzmiller hand throws the lamps and vases, creating a perfect canvas on which Potter works her magic, adorning  them with intricate ceramic botanicals and other natural elements.



These gorgeous pieces of art are at the top of our "most wanted" list.  A girl can always dream can't she?

pics: New York Social Diary, All the Best, Elle Decor

And the Oscar goes to....

The Oscar Nominations for 2011 have been announced! The best costume nominees were all well worth the nod.  Johnny Depp has never looked so good...well maybe he has but he always looks great.   We were a bit suprised that Natalie Portmans' Rodarte designed swan attire was not included but are certain she will have a great night regardless!  We are particularly partial to Tilda Swintons' wardrobe in I am Love, CLASSIC.  The craftsmen that work tirelessly on these ensembles are truly some of the most talented in the business.  

Take a look at the nominees...

Alice in Wonderland

I am Love

The King's Speech

The Tempest

True Grit

Be sure to tune into the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27, 2011!

Foodie

There is nothing better than a yummy pot of chili on the stove during these winter months.  If you are hosting a Super Bowl party or have just have a large crowd coming for dinner this season, here is a recipe we tweaked from Food.com that leave our guest clamoring for more!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

5 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1-2 teaspoons chili powder (depending on desired spiciness)

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 chipolte chile en adobo, coarsely chopped, with 1 tablespoon sauce (optional -- omitting the chili will reduce the spice)

1 pound ground beef

1 (12-ounce) bottle beer  (Mexican lager -style beer is the best but any beer will do)

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juice

1 (15 1/2-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Optional Garnishes: Sliced scallions, cilantro sprigs, avocado, sour cream, grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar Cheese, and/or tortilla chips

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, chili powder, and oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and the chipotle chile and sauce; cook 1 minute more. Add the turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat loses its raw color, about 3 minutes. Add the beer and simmer until reduced by about half, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes--crushing them through your fingers into the skillet--along with their juices and the beans; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 10 minutes.

Serve with the garnishes of your choice.

An Apple a Day...

And a little help from this guy!  

My times have changed!  The world seems to be at a faster pace than it was 25 years ago when our friend Richard Simmons was all the rage.  Gone are the days of leg warmers and wristbands...at least for the moment.

These days the time seems to fly and we squeeze in our workouts as quick as possible!  We want to encourage you to get out and move...it's not so easy on cold dreary days but consider this your motivation and STAY HEALTHY!

Gisele Bundchen

Christy Turlington

Elle McPherson

Jennifer Aniston

Kate Hudson

You do need to take the plunge and order Tracy Anderson's workout videos...GUESS WHAT?  They really work.  Check out some of her adoring clients.

Gwyneth Paltow, Tracy Anderson and Madonna

We both love to go for long jogs and crank our music as loud as the volume control will allow but regardless the number of songs you have downloaded, we all get tired of the same old tunes.  Here is a great playlist to help you get moving.  We would love for you to share some of your favorites with us!

Grab your shuffle and GO!

Elevation - U2

Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Stronger - Kayne West

Amnesia - Mozella

Creep - Scala and Kolacny Brothers

A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

Here with Me - Dido

Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys

Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen

Bonkers - Dizee Rascal

South Side - Moby and Gwen Stefani

Forget You - Cee Lo Green

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

Chic Retreat

There is one thing for certain..it is January in Nashville!

We have enjoyed an unusually white season thus far which made us think of our favorite winter wonderlands.  There is really nothing more magical than being out west and realizing how small we are in the grand scheme of life.  There have been so many amazing homes that have been built to suit an rustic lifestyle.  The mountaintops make such a beautiful backdrop for a cozy interior.  If our husbands had it their way, we would be living in tents in the middle of Colorado...OPPOSITES really do attract!