COTE DE TEXAS: MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!

COTE DE TEXAS: MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!

 

 

I am wild crazy over chandeliers.   One of the happiest days in my own home design history was when this chandelier was installed in my living room.   I love this style of chandelier – it’s one of my favorites.

 

Another good day was when I bought this chandelier from a friend who was redesigning her house – taking it from English to totally Swedish.   This was in her bedroom and this Italian style light fixture didn’t mix with her new Swedish design.  Good thing for me!   This style is another favorite of mine and has gained greatly in popularity these past few years.

 

 

 

There are few makers of chandeliers who get it right – consistently - and Julie Neill is one of them.   Her designs are based on the classics, yet she adds a youthful twist to each fixture.   I would have trouble picking one favorite – I love so many of her chandeliers!   She designs and crafts all her light fixtures from start to finish in her own New Orleans workshop.   Everything is customized to the job.   In fact, all the designs in her portfolio started life as a custom commission.    Julie is so creative – she began her career as a painter, then moved on to painting things for the home instead of canvases, next she tried interior design which lead her to this very successful career in 2000.   Her retail shop is on Magazine Street – one of America’s best streets for antiquing.  If you’ve never gone antiquing on Magazine Street – you should include it on your Bucket List.  

Besides designing chandeliers, Julie also creates sconces, furniture, and accessories.   New Orleans heavily influences her designs – a crown is an oft used element in her romantic and decidedly feminine creations.    Julie’s stamina and creativity is boundless.  Not only does she run her own successful retail store and workshop, she has employees and two children to watch over, and she maintains a charming 1800s shotgun house.    I first met Julie on the blogs – of course – where she writes The Bayou Contessa, a beautiful glimpse into New Orleans design.  If you are planning a trip to NOLA, a stop at Julie Neill is a must.  If you are in the market for a chandelier, give Julie a call.   She works with each client to create the exact fixture they desire. 

 

Julie has just redesigned her web site and it’s gorgeous!  Here is a small sampling of her product.   Each fixture can be customized to any specification.  Her range is from traditional to contemporary.   All the finishes are hand applied and painted.

  

Here is the glamorous Cinderella chandelier in a dining room. 

 

 

This bedroom’s chandelier is a more contemporary design mixed with traditional elements.  Leontine Linens.

 

 

Julie designed this lantern with matching sconces for Tobi Fairley’s Richmond Symphony Designer House.   I love this room!!!!  The red of the chandelier is picked up in the trim of the table.

 

 

Seen in this month’s Elle Décor magazine – this fixture is one of the many Italian styled chandeliers that Julie makes.  Shown is the entry hall of Jane Scott Hodges’ house in Kentucky. Jane Scott is the founder of the fabulous Leontine Linens   Note:  the pillows are by BVIZ.    Just beautiful!

 

The Sheldon Chandelier is reflected in this trumeau.  

 

 

One of her most popular designs is the graceful and romantic Elizabeth chandelier.  Named after this client, the chandelier is great for lower ceilings – as it is more horizontal than vertical.   This couple commissioned several chandeliers from Julie and an article on their house appeared in the New Orleans Home magazine.   Shown here.

 

 

For their dining room, Julie created the Denise chandelier.  I love the combination of the chairs and the bench around the square table.

 

 

The Ingrid fixture is another popular design – more contemporary than Julie’s crystal chandeliers.  Room designed by Jeffery McCollough for the Acadiana Symphony Decorator Showhouse.   

 

 

 

These charming Beatrice hanging fixtures and Beatrice sconces designed by Julie made the cover of House and Home.

 

 

Julie Neill’s shop on Magazine Street is filled with her creations – chandeliers and sconces - along with the pieces of furniture from her line. 

 

Here’s a close up of two chandeliers from the shop, one French and one Italian!   The trumeau and the cabinet under it are also in Julie’s line.

 

 

Julie’s team hard at work – the chandeliers have to first be constructed, then hand finished, before they are able to be installed on the sales floor.   Each fixture goes through a long and laborious process to be ready for sale. 

OK.  OK.  OK.

ON TO THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

o, you ask – what is the giveaway?!??!?!?    I have been bursting at the seams keeping this a secret for the past month or two.   One day Julie emailed me asking if I would like to host a giveaway of her product.   What a silly question – of course I would love to!!!!   I thought maybe she would be donating a sconce, or a small accessory from her shop.   You can imagine how my mouth dropped to the floor when she so generously offered a CHANDELIER for a giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Yes!!!   An original, Julie Neill Chandelier will be given away to one lucky winner!!!   Oh My Gosh!!!!!   Unreal.   Seriously, y’all, I am SO excited about this.  It’s the biggest giveaway ever here on Cote de Texas and we’ve had some great giveaways in the past.   Read on for the deets (details to those of you over 30.)

 

The winner will have their choice of either a traditional or contemporary fixture.   The ELIZABETH Chandelier is the traditional choice.   I was so excited about this choice because this fixture is one of my all time favorites of Julie’s.   Can you believe this giveaway?    Seriously!!!!!!   You can win this!!!!!  Retail value is $3,800.00

 

Or, if you are a more contemporary person, the Ingrid Chandelier will be the second choice for the winner.   The mirror and table are also from Julie Neill.   Retail value for this chandelier is $3,495.00

Are you an Elizabeth or an Ingrid Person????

OK – HOW TO ENTER AND WIN EITHER THE ELIZABETH OR INGRID CHANDELIER:

Go right now to the Julie Neill Design web site  www.julieneill.com and look under the Chandelier, Sconces, or Lanterns sections.   Pick out your favorite item that is for sale.  Come back here and leave me a comment on what your favorite item is and explain why you like it so much.    That’s it!!!!

You have until Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.   The contest closes at that time.   One person will win either the Elizabeth or Ingrid chandelier – their choice.  BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU POST ANONYMOUSLY!!  And please, only one comment per person!!! 

  

 

Your choice:  The Elizabeth

 

Or the Ingrid!!!   Good luck to everyone!!!

And finally -  a huge, huge thank you, kiss and hug to Julie Neill for her generous giveaway.   From the bottom of my heart, thank you Julie!!!!!

*********************************************************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Becky Vizard and Ann Connelly at Watkins Culver this Thursday and Friday!!

NOTE:  Houstonians – I wanted to let you know that BVIZ and Ann Connelly Fine Art are back in town at Watkins Culver this Thursday and Friday.  Becky Vizard has the most wonderful pillows – many of which have been featured on the pages of the best design magazines (including the Elle Décor picture previously shown!!)   Her good friend, Ann, has a wonderful art gallery in New Orleans.     To read all about these two talented ladies from Louisiana, go HERE.  For details on when and where, call 713-529-0597.

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COTE DE TEXAS: MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!

COTE DE TEXAS: MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!

 

 

I am wild crazy over chandeliers.   One of the happiest days in my own home design history was when this chandelier was installed in my living room.   I love this style of chandelier – it’s one of my favorites.

 

Another good day was when I bought this chandelier from a friend who was redesigning her house – taking it from English to totally Swedish.   This was in her bedroom and this Italian style light fixture didn’t mix with her new Swedish design.  Good thing for me!   This style is another favorite of mine and has gained greatly in popularity these past few years.

 

 

 

There are few makers of chandeliers who get it right – consistently - and Julie Neill is one of them.   Her designs are based on the classics, yet she adds a youthful twist to each fixture.   I would have trouble picking one favorite – I love so many of her chandeliers!   She designs and crafts all her light fixtures from start to finish in her own New Orleans workshop.   Everything is customized to the job.   In fact, all the designs in her portfolio started life as a custom commission.    Julie is so creative – she began her career as a painter, then moved on to painting things for the home instead of canvases, next she tried interior design which lead her to this very successful career in 2000.   Her retail shop is on Magazine Street – one of America’s best streets for antiquing.  If you’ve never gone antiquing on Magazine Street – you should include it on your Bucket List.  

Besides designing chandeliers, Julie also creates sconces, furniture, and accessories.   New Orleans heavily influences her designs – a crown is an oft used element in her romantic and decidedly feminine creations.    Julie’s stamina and creativity is boundless.  Not only does she run her own successful retail store and workshop, she has employees and two children to watch over, and she maintains a charming 1800s shotgun house.    I first met Julie on the blogs – of course – where she writes The Bayou Contessa, a beautiful glimpse into New Orleans design.  If you are planning a trip to NOLA, a stop at Julie Neill is a must.  If you are in the market for a chandelier, give Julie a call.   She works with each client to create the exact fixture they desire. 

 

Julie has just redesigned her web site and it’s gorgeous!  Here is a small sampling of her product.   Each fixture can be customized to any specification.  Her range is from traditional to contemporary.   All the finishes are hand applied and painted.

  

Here is the glamorous Cinderella chandelier in a dining room. 

 

 

This bedroom’s chandelier is a more contemporary design mixed with traditional elements.  Leontine Linens.

 

 

Julie designed this lantern with matching sconces for Tobi Fairley’s Richmond Symphony Designer House.   I love this room!!!!  The red of the chandelier is picked up in the trim of the table.

 

 

Seen in this month’s Elle Décor magazine – this fixture is one of the many Italian styled chandeliers that Julie makes.  Shown is the entry hall of Jane Scott Hodges’ house in Kentucky. Jane Scott is the founder of the fabulous Leontine Linens   Note:  the pillows are by BVIZ.    Just beautiful!

 

The Sheldon Chandelier is reflected in this trumeau.  

 

 

One of her most popular designs is the graceful and romantic Elizabeth chandelier.  Named after this client, the chandelier is great for lower ceilings – as it is more horizontal than vertical.   This couple commissioned several chandeliers from Julie and an article on their house appeared in the New Orleans Home magazine.   Shown here.

 

 

For their dining room, Julie created the Denise chandelier.  I love the combination of the chairs and the bench around the square table.

 

 

The Ingrid fixture is another popular design – more contemporary than Julie’s crystal chandeliers.  Room designed by Jeffery McCollough for the Acadiana Symphony Decorator Showhouse.   

 

 

 

These charming Beatrice hanging fixtures and Beatrice sconces designed by Julie made the cover of House and Home.

 

 

Julie Neill’s shop on Magazine Street is filled with her creations – chandeliers and sconces - along with the pieces of furniture from her line. 

 

Here’s a close up of two chandeliers from the shop, one French and one Italian!   The trumeau and the cabinet under it are also in Julie’s line.

 

 

Julie’s team hard at work – the chandeliers have to first be constructed, then hand finished, before they are able to be installed on the sales floor.   Each fixture goes through a long and laborious process to be ready for sale. 

OK.  OK.  OK.

ON TO THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

o, you ask – what is the giveaway?!??!?!?    I have been bursting at the seams keeping this a secret for the past month or two.   One day Julie emailed me asking if I would like to host a giveaway of her product.   What a silly question – of course I would love to!!!!   I thought maybe she would be donating a sconce, or a small accessory from her shop.   You can imagine how my mouth dropped to the floor when she so generously offered a CHANDELIER for a giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Yes!!!   An original, Julie Neill Chandelier will be given away to one lucky winner!!!   Oh My Gosh!!!!!   Unreal.   Seriously, y’all, I am SO excited about this.  It’s the biggest giveaway ever here on Cote de Texas and we’ve had some great giveaways in the past.   Read on for the deets (details to those of you over 30.)

 

The winner will have their choice of either a traditional or contemporary fixture.   The ELIZABETH Chandelier is the traditional choice.   I was so excited about this choice because this fixture is one of my all time favorites of Julie’s.   Can you believe this giveaway?    Seriously!!!!!!   You can win this!!!!!  Retail value is $3,800.00

 

Or, if you are a more contemporary person, the Ingrid Chandelier will be the second choice for the winner.   The mirror and table are also from Julie Neill.   Retail value for this chandelier is $3,495.00

Are you an Elizabeth or an Ingrid Person????

OK – HOW TO ENTER AND WIN EITHER THE ELIZABETH OR INGRID CHANDELIER:

Go right now to the Julie Neill Design web site  www.julieneill.com and look under the Chandelier, Sconces, or Lanterns sections.   Pick out your favorite item that is for sale.  Come back here and leave me a comment on what your favorite item is and explain why you like it so much.    That’s it!!!!

You have until Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.   The contest closes at that time.   One person will win either the Elizabeth or Ingrid chandelier – their choice.  BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU POST ANONYMOUSLY!!  And please, only one comment per person!!! 

  

 

Your choice:  The Elizabeth

 

Or the Ingrid!!!   Good luck to everyone!!!

And finally -  a huge, huge thank you, kiss and hug to Julie Neill for her generous giveaway.   From the bottom of my heart, thank you Julie!!!!!

*********************************************************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Becky Vizard and Ann Connelly at Watkins Culver this Thursday and Friday!!

NOTE:  Houstonians – I wanted to let you know that BVIZ and Ann Connelly Fine Art are back in town at Watkins Culver this Thursday and Friday.  Becky Vizard has the most wonderful pillows – many of which have been featured on the pages of the best design magazines (including the Elle Décor picture previously shown!!)   Her good friend, Ann, has a wonderful art gallery in New Orleans.     To read all about these two talented ladies from Louisiana, go HERE.  For details on when and where, call 713-529-0597.

Read More

Home and Garden hosts Suzanne Kasler

Home and Garden hosts Suzanne Kasler

What do you say about a store that is brimming with beautiful things?

That has the best selection of Julie Neill Chandeliers, Aidan Gray accessories, and Hickory Chair upholstery and case goods? A store that is full of edgy accessories, new ideas in garden decor, and lovely Swedish and French reproductions.A shop that tops it off with a talented in house staff, an excellent relationship and appreciation of local interior designers and owners with great business sense and even better taste? You call it Home and Garden in Covington, LA.

Just a short drive over the Pontchartrain bridge from New Orleans and you arrive at a mecca of fabulous home design all under one roof. Home and Garden is owned by: John, Kenny and Jennifer Rabalais. With their outstanding taste and excellent business acumen, they have a created a wonderful environment for designers and homeowners, alike, to create beautiful interiors.Home and Garden houses the largest display of Julie Neill lighting, outside of Julie's own shop, and the largest selection of Suzanne Kasler's line for Hickory Chair in LA. Above notice the Julie Neill Juliette chandelier and the Suzanne Kasler Choate Dining Table.

With so many wonderful lines available here, and so much inventory to choose from, Home and Garden creates some fabulous vignettes. Here is a wonderful dining room! Notice how the Julie Neill Ingrid Chandelier Pendants echo the lines of the dining chairs.

As promised in my previous post on New Orleans, meet Jeffrey McNeely, Director of Retail Development and the namesake of Julie Neill's new Jeffrey Chandelier above. Jeffrey works exclusively with designers to help them create the perfect look for their clients. Notice the Julie Neill Madeleine chandelier to the left and the Artemis toward the middle bottom, and the Jeffrey on the right- Suzanne Kasler Prado Bookcase in the background.
Home and Garden has literally hundreds of interesting accessories. Above is an impressive display of metalware by Beatriz Ball.

Here is a summer beach tablescape complete with Aidan Gray candlesticks.

Lovely slipcovered ottomans with incredible ribbon detailing and an Aidan Gray lamp.

They also carry several slipcovered lines. I loved this sweet chair with embroidery.

Home and Garden also has several vintage items and antiques - Here is an antique lantern, the patina on this piece was amazing.

Millie, Kenny, Suzanne, Gina

So imagine my excitement when Kenny Rabalais invited Millie and I to come to Home and Garden and meet famous designer, Suzanne Kasler! For my readers who may not know, Suzanne has been named by "House Beautiful" magazine, one of the top 100 designers for 2005 and one of the top 125 designers for 2004; "House & Garden" named her one of 50 Tastemakers in March of 2006; and Suzanne was the 2003 Southeastern Designer of the Year!

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Since her launch of her line for Hickory Chair last year, Suzanne has been visiting premier retail locations and sharing her visions of design. Home and Garden hosted a luncheon in Suzanne's honor and invited local designers meet her and learn more about her design inspiration and philosophy.

Probably the most interesting part of meeting Suzanne was learning about many of the pieces in her line and what inspired her to have them recreated by Hickory Chair. I learned that many of her pieces were recreated from antiques she had personally collected over many years, or had found for her elite clientele. She spent over a year and half working closely with the craftsmen at Hickory Chair to create what she believed were beautiful pieces that would fit in with both modern and traditional styles. Let's have a look:

The Frederica Bench is a beautifully proportioned, delicate, hand-carved reproduction of an antique French bench from Suzanne Kasler's home. Though beautiful, the original, like most antiques, was bit too narrow and uncomfortable. She deepened the seat and softened the cushioning and now, its the perfect marriage of beauty and comfort. She couldn't find a wide enough stripe for the bench, so she used solid fabric cut to width to create the wonderful striped effect. Anasthasia bench, Antoinette side table and Alexandra chair also pictured. Suzanne has known the Rabalais family for many years and helped decorate John's home in Rosemary Beach, Florida. The slipcovered Nanette chair was actually inspired by a chair Suzanne found for John. She fell love the oversized shape and scale and convinced him it was perfect for his home. Also pictured are the Auburn ottoman and Ainsley chairs.

The original Campaign Desk, actually sits in Suzanne's home office. It was a bit too narrow and also quite warped, as antiques tend to be over years of use. The Hickory Chair Campaign desk has a wider proportion for a laptop and of course no warping. The metal work on the original was painstakingly recreated. Suzanne commented that she was thinking of switching out her original desk with the new one, simply because it looked identical and lived much better! One of Suzanne's favorite pieces in the line is her Anasthasia bench, a Russian antique that she found in Paris. The original, above, sits in Suzanne's living room. She said she missed the bench, as Hickory Chair had several of her pieces for months and months, while they meticulously recreated them down to the most minute detail.


And here they are recreated at Home and Garden. I love Suzanne's signature stripe upholstery. Also shown is Suzanne's new Emory skirted sofa.
Here are the Anasthasia benches upholstered in plain linen.



Comfort is very important to Kasler. All her upholstered pieces were designed with comfort in mind. Here is the Emory chair.
But when we think comfort we so often think unattractive; not so with this line. Suzanne is famous for her dressmaker like details. Here is the Emory chair at Home and Garden. Notice the flange welting and pleated skirting.

She is inspired, she says, by the French antiques and French modern pieces she collects. This inspiration is then personalized by the addition of signature details like grosgrain ribbon trim and dressmaker skirts (blending dressmaker details into upholstery is a favorite Kasler technique).
The result is refreshing, a little witty, and versatile enough to work in environments that range from informal to elegant; evident again in the slipcovered Nanette chair

Other items recreated by Hickory Chair from Suzanne's home include:


The Choate Dining Table which was inspired by Suzanne Kasler's antique Regency table.
The Piedmont table, a great wooden, farm table inspired by the original which sits in Suzanne's kitchen. Also pictured is the new Carlisle Credenza, which Suzanne explained is better because the doors are not warped like her original. And the Chastain Chair, which comes slipcovered or with bare legs, which was inspired by a wicker chair Kasler slipcovered for her office.



She also has a wonderful line of lighting made by Visual Comfort.
This chandelier is a copy of the one that hangs over her kitchen table.


Here is her brand new Thornton lamp, just released at market. I love this!! It is modern and classic at the same time.
Her lights are available at Circa Lighting.



She also has the Suzanne Kasler rug line available from Safavieh. A wonderful collection of 10 to 12 hand-knotted wool or combination wool/silk rugs.
For more information about Suzanne Kasler see this wonderful post by Things That Inspire and this interesting and very comprehensive post by Cote de Texas.
Suzanne mentioned that as a designer she was so clear on what she wanted to create, but she did not know what to call her "signature style". Her publisher mentioned they were very inspired by her interiors and hence came the name for her new book: "Inspired Interiors" , which will be released in October 2009. I am sure it is going to be fabulous and chock full of wonderful information.

I had an unforgettable time in New Orleans, meeting Suzanne Kasler, and of course the Rabalais family, and their exceedingly talented staff. If you get to New Orleans, do not miss visiting Home and Garden. You will be thrilled and astounded, as I was. Oh, if only I could have stayed longer...

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