September 2012 Archives - Fresh American

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Frozen Nirvana

Sep 28, 2012

On a recent trip, Annie and her intrepid staff came across something so good, so original, so unforgettable, they had to share it with all of you, our dear readers. What was this life-changing product? Ice cream. Not just any frozen dessert, mind you, but the small-batch, handmade-from-local-goodness, total deliciousness of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. With flavors like Bangkok Peanut, Brambleberry Crisp, Queen City Cayenne, Whiskey & Pecans, and Juniper and Lemon Curd, we knew that we...

Annie’s Got (Domino) Style!

Sep 27, 2012

Like most of you, we wept bitter tears (and consumed copious amounts of chocolate) when Domino magazine announced that it was closing up shop in 2009 . . . and then cried tears of joy (and ate even more chocolate—it was a celebration, after all) when it rose, Phoenix-like, and was transformed into a series of special editions. The latest, Fall/Winter 2012, is chock-full of all the goodies you’ve come to expect from Domino, plus a new feature: the Style Council. The Style Council is made...

Wordless Wednesday

Sep 26, 2012

Welcome to (almost) Wordless Wednesday, where we feature an inspiring new photo each week.

Dangerously Cool Curves Ahead

Sep 25, 2012

If there’s one item that can add instant and undeniable wow factor to a home, it’s a piece of bespoke furniture. These days, we’re flipping over one of the amazing, curvilicious tables, seats, and cabinets from Angus Ross, former industrial designer and furniture wiz. Since the 1990s, this Scottish innovator has been featured in a variety of niche publications and a handful of big newspapers, but he has yet to gain mainstream recognition. So consider this our public service announcement...

Peek Show: Annie’s Design Chat...

Sep 24, 2012

On September 14, Annie hit the bricks to Richmond, Virginia, for Designed for a Cure, a special event sponsored by one of our favorite home decorating stores, Williams & Sherrill and held at the ridiculously majestic Country Club of Virginia. The all-day event, proceeds of which benefited the Virginia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, featured a decorating Q&A, a luncheon, workshops, and a special presentation by Annie. In her talk, Annie looked back at how she started her...

Annie’s Color Crush: French Bl...

Sep 21, 2012

Annie’s become pretty famous for her color sense, her innate ability to pluck just the right hues from massive paint-chip or swatch books and assemble them into unexpectedly amazing room palettes and textile patterns (even if she does occasionally agonize over them for a while—check out her recent post on choosing just the right wall color for her house). So when she mentioned French blue as her current color obsession, our minds immediately started turning with the possibilities . . ....

Rock This Town

Sep 20, 2012

What do you get when you combine a pair of artists with and fresh flowers and a bit of rock-and-roll aesthetic? Steven Bruce Design, a floral design company that believes no home, restaurant, retail venue, gallery, or special event can’t be jacked up with some truly memorable arrangements. Owned by Melissa and Steve Bruce, Steven Bruce Design is the talent behind original floral décor for everything from the Guggenheim to the Vera Wang flagship store and Saks Fifth Avenue. They’ve...

Wordless Wednesday

Sep 19, 2012

Welcome to (almost) Wordless Wednesday, where we feature an inspiring new image each week.

Welcome to Our Worlds: Neutral...

Sep 18, 2012

Not-So-Blank Canvas

Sep 17, 2012

Who doesn’t love a clean, white space decked out with some well-placed accents? That’d be a big yes from us. . . . But we also know that when it comes to white rooms, it’s easy to tip the scales from stylish to stark. Not so with this beautifully appointed dining room in Mallorca, courtesy of Nuevo Estilo. The walls and ceiling may be a simple, flat-finish white, but this room is all about texture—from the grainy, white-washed wood furniture to the marble floor tiles and the smooth...

The Decorated Dog

Sep 14, 2012

We’re suckers for cute dogs, and even bigger suckers for accessories that make our canine companions look cuter. Our latest obsession? Handmade dog collars, in everything from braided nylons to crackly leather (dig those bow ties!), recycled plastics, and coated oil cloth. Here are just a few of our faves. Now it’s your turn. Where do you shop for handmade dog...

So You Want to Be a Design Blo...

Sep 13, 2012

. . . And if you’ve talked to friends and other bloggers about it, you’ve probably heard a variety of discouraging comments like: “There are so many design blogs out there already.” Or “It doesn’t pay well.” Or our personal favorite, “Why?” To which we answer . . . “Why not? Go for it!” After all, no one ever accused the world of having too much creativity, and as Annie often says, inspiration is everywhere. So why not share a bit of yours? That’s why we adore the...