When our furniture first arrived I immediately requested to replace my old desk with the Work Horse. I loved the fact that I could stuff all the unsightly wires into the leg, leaving my work surface neat and clean. I have propped my magazines and books across the back panel which makes them easy to find, and it also looks pretty great. When I came up with the design, I loved the look, but it has surprisingly become one of the handiest, most functional desks I’ve ever had. It’s one of my favorite pieces in the line.

 

Last week was a whirlwind for me and for BeeLine Home. The main events were the opening of the Kips Bay Designer Show House in New York City plus two spectacular BeeLine Home debut parties: one, in Birmingham AL, and one, in Atlanta, GA but more on those in my next Buzz.

I was thrilled to be invited to create a room for this year’s Kips Bay Show House honoring my dear friend and mentor Albert Hadley. The extraordinary neo- Italian Renaissance mansion built in 1922-1923 by the architect CPH Gilbert has gorgeous details and amazing spaces. The room I was asked to decorate, the main salon on the first floor, is approximately 25 feet by 30 feet and has 14 foot high ceilings. I immediately decided to create a modern great room where one could do everything: relax, read, work, dine, watch TV, listen to music, even catch a quick nap! And, of course, my fabulous new BeeLine Home collection provided the perfect furnishings. With the help of Jonathan Preece and Colleen Carney from my office, we got straight to work. We wanted to make the space dynamic, colorful, comfortable, and surprising. Sometime people think the only rooms I create are filled with English chintz. This was my chance to shake things up a bit. We kept the shell of the room intact since the architectural details and floors were superb. We painted the moldings chalky white, the walls a gorgeous turquoise blue from Benjamin Moore called “California Breeze”, the ceiling a pale shimmer of gray, and simply polished the parquet floor. The color scheme is totally unexpected with saffron yellows, olive greens, pale blues, and shots of red all combining in a very cool mix. In addition to the BeeLine pieces, the showstoppers in the space are an amazing 18th century mahogany bookcase outfitted with a flat screen TV, a ruggedly chic planked dining/work table that sits on metal sawhorse legs, a hand stenciled sisal rug, and an eclectic collection of artwork from emerging artists and photographers. I think it’s a happy room and everyone who walks in seems to agree. What a privilege to be featured in the New York Times Home Section the very next day. Wow!

If you are in New York in the next few weeks, stop by and visit the Show House. It runs from April 17th - May 17th. The address is 22 East 71st St. (right off Madison Avenue). It is open every day from 11-5, until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and from 12-5 on Sundays. Admission is $30 and the proceeds support the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. You will have a chance to see one of New York’s most luxurious residences (on the market for $75 million) transformed by some of today’s most talented designers.

Photo Credits: Maria Quiroga
 

I am thrilled to be introducing the BeeLine Home collection, a dream I have had for a very long time. Every room needs the basics but what really makes a space come alive is the addition of a fabulous unexpected piece that instantly adds character. Tracking down those unique pieces is one of the most exciting yet challenging parts of my job. It takes a keen eye, lots of time, and deep pockets. Now with BeeLine Home I have created a collection that is stylish, versatile and well priced. It’s a fabulous eclectic mix and I hope you will approach it with confidence. There is no right or wrong way to use the pieces, they work alone or together, or can be combined with your existing furniture.

The idea of BeeLine has been buzzing in my head for at least 5 years and I seriously began working on it 4 years ago. We have done everything from scratch ourselves with the help of a very small talented team. Maybe I am a bit of a control freak, but rather than licensing my name to a big company, I wanted to manage the creative development myself and be absolutely sure that the product reflects my standards. Some have said I am brave, especially in these volatile times. I certainly have logged a lot of miles and lost a lot of sleep but I am so proud of the results. I am also proud to have partnered with some of the most exciting and well respected design shops across the country who will be selling the line.

So have fun with it. We do every day! Just remember, collection 2009 is only going to be available for one year. So make a beeline for BeeLine!