National Arts Club Collectibles

Gramercy Park is a private, tree-lined area in Manhattan that's actually a private area. Only properties around the park are allowed keys and access to the gated greenspace. We recently visited an exhibition at the National Arts Club, located on the south side of the park, and shot some footage of their wonderful pug collectibles. Note the great John LaFarge stained glass window on the ceiling, one of many LaFarge masterworks in this stunning building, formerly the mansion of a noted politician (watch the video and learn more).

 

Verona Palazzo

 

Italy is an adult traveler's Disneyland, filled with great food and drink, history galore, and amazing architecture. In a recent visit to Verona, we scoped out the tiny church Santa Maria Antica that used to house worship for the thirteenth and fourteenth century Veronese rulers. Check out the elaborate outdoor funerary monuments around the church and the Palazzo degli Scaligeri - with the beautiful swallow-tail battlements - in our video. Even the rain, which was the tail end of the downpour that flooded France in July 2010, didn't dampen our enthusiasm for the romance of Verona.

 

Last-Minute Designer Showhouse Prep

 

The 2010 Hampton Designer Showhouse, in Sag Harbor, NY, is located in a brand-new construction $5.5 million shingled home on a wooded lot. We were fascinated by all the last-minute rush on the final week of the showhouse before a Saturday-night gala and Sunday official opening to the public. Join us as we video some of the many activities that went into getting rooms (as in Brady Design's guest suite in the photo above), house, and grounds prepared for the grand opening.

 

Italian Neoclassical Villa

 

The beautiful Reggia di Colorno is an arcaded neoclassical Italian villa that was once a castle. Its 1660 facelift transformed something ponderous into a stately home of just over 400 rooms, often referred to as a "miniature Versailles." Bourbon rulers of nearby Parma spent much time here as did Marie Louise of Austria, the famed Duchess of Parma and Napoleon's second wife. We arrived to see the villa on a day trip, miscalculated our timing and missed the only afternoon indoor tour, but took advantage of market day and strolled around the surrounding town of Colorno, Italy and had a delightful meal of local favorites.

 

Update on August 9, 2010 by Design2Share

Super King Size Leather Beds: We just found a great collection of sleek leather bed designs. They add sophistication, whether your bedroom decor is traditional or modern.

Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard

Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.

Paint Your Own Headboard

Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.

Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.

Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!