Tina Wilson Should Be In domino

My blog friend the artist James Noel Smith introduced me to a fantastic woman, Tina Wilson, who loves to decorate. Her dream was to have her rooms shown in domino, but alas that ship has sailed.


Though I'm just a humble bloginista, when I saw the fabulous spaces she designed I offered to show her off, and share her talent with all of you. I also asked her 20 questions or my version of The Proust Questionnaire.

From Shabby Chic

VV: What do you do for living?

Tina: I am a photographer, who specializes in modern children's photography.

VV: See Tina's work at www.tinawilsonphotography.com



VV: In which part of the country do you live?

Tina: I live in the beautiful hills of East TN. I've lived here all my life and love it! The mountains, the people, the pace, the quaint downtown areas, old barns, stories...I could go on and on and...



VV: In regards to your decor, how would you describe your style?


Tina: My studio is a 1930s home, and I have a very modern style, so marrying the two without compromising the structure and character of the home was a fun challenge. The space is used exclusively as a photography studio (we do most all of our photographing on location). The studio is a place where clients come to dream and visualize how to use their images transfer the displays over into their own decor.


Tina: Each room has a different flair, designed to connect with each client that comes in. The idea is to inspire them to use images of their family and children as modern decorating elements in their own homes. We selected the overall concepts of Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic, Sophisticated and Industrial to serve as the base to get us started. Each room offers a little something different, but the local designer that pulled it all together (Lorrie Filson) coined the style "Rustic Glam".


VV: Which designers influence you?

Tina: I think Kelly Hoppen was the first "design" book I ever bought. That was the spark that lit my fire for interior design. All of this started because local interior designers were telling my clients that they should not display their family portraits in their living areas. As I would watch these people become emotional in my studio over their images, I wanted them to be able to display them in prominent places at home so they could "feel" the images all the time. I needed to learn more in order to give solid advice that worked. Kelly was my launch pad, and since then I've been blown away by Domino Magazine's collection of designers.

Get Kelly's book HERE

VV: I see you have a blog. Do you read design/decor blogs?

Tina: I'm completely obsessed with designer's blogs.
I stay up waaaaaayyy too long at night bouncing from one to the other.
I wish I could say I have a certain blogroll, but I'm always discovering new and different people.
Just a few of my faves are : you of course, and citified, thehappyhaven, dsharp, designspongeonline



VV: How long did it take you to pull your rooms together?

Tina: I'm a big concept kind of person. I know how I want people to feel and think and move and do when they enter a room. I have a solid understanding of what takes place in each room, who works there everyday, what their mindset should be, and I can verbalize all that.....to someone else!


Tina: I'm comfortable selecting a few main pieces (couch, chair, tables, etc) and I know what I want to go on the walls, but pulling it all together? I have no clue. I beat my head against the wall, it drives me crazy! I have a passion to learn how to do that, and I'm studying right now every chance I get.


Tina: For this home, we basically stripped it down to bare bones and restarted. It took about 7 weeks total to do it all. Lots of helping hands were involved! Lorrie, whom I mentioned earlier, really listened to what I wanted and made all the magic happen. She's amazing.


VV: Which magazine would you like your decor featured in?

Tina: Domino! I'm so sad they have been cancelled! I could cry.


VV: What is something you would never use to decorate your home with?

Tina: Anything purple, primary colors, tassels, feathers or gold plated things.


VV: What advice do you give to anyone decorating or redecorating?

Tina: Inspiration time is key! Think outside the bounds of what your local market sells (furniture/decor wise). If you don't know how to get started or finish, ask for help!


VV: Well Tina I certainly have enjoyed asking you my version of 20 Proustian questions!
Each of the rooms in your studio space are well designed and so cute! Even the bathroom is terrific! I'm sure they (and you) will be an inspiration to many other visual vamps out there. Your photography is also stunning!


VV: I especially love your color choices, and the way you combine your live-work spaces. Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to talk with us about your decor.


Tina: You are so welcome!!!!

Sensational Lady - Sylvia Weinstock

Recently I posted something about my birthday HERE.
Besides getting birthday greetings and good wishes (thank you!), I got a few inquiries about my "celebrity" girl friends (Maria McBride, Marcy Blum, Sylvia Weinstock) visiting from New York. In particular, I was asked about Sylvia Weinstock.
Sylvia Weinstock is the grande dame of cake design, one of the first to use imaginative forms for wedding cakes—introducing butterflies and bees, for example, to brides who had previously known only flowers. Her 30-year-old company, located in New York City, has created cakes for the Clinton White House as well as numerous celebrity weddings.
Weinstock’s cakes have been featured in publications ranging from Modern Bride to the New York Times. She lives in Manhattan. For those of you who don't know Sylvia, you can go HERE to read a pretty nice overview of her career. And of course you can pre order her new book coming out in October HERE.

In Sylvia Weinstock’s Sensational Cakes, Sylvia who is America’s most famous cake designer gives you an insider’s tour of her world: the fabulous fêtes where her cakes set the scene and the artisanal workshop where she and her assistants bake and embellish the confectionary masterpieces that have made her signature—including her trademark eyeglass logo—so sought after. Best of all, she reveals some of her secrets: recipes for cakes, frostings, and fillings that will make your own guests stand up and applaud.
Sylvia was a colleague of mine some years ago when I was doing business as Valorie Hart Designs. Prevailing on her kindness and her regard for my good old days, I asked her a few questions on behalf of you gentle readers, and threw in a couple of my own too.
Syliva is the quintessential New Yorker. She loves New York, she works and lives there, she has style, and she recently appeared on Gossip Girl! So cutting to the chase, I ignored a lifetime of accomplishment to ask her the burning question of the day:


VV - How did you get cast in Gossip Girl?
SW - Just a guests at the wedding. We actually did the wedding cake for the series. They thought it would be cool for me to just appear.

VV - When did you start your business?
SW - I started my business 30 years ago.

VV - Do you still enjoy it?
SW - Yes, I still enjoy it. Love meeting the clients, overseeing the designs that are so beautiful.

VV - Do you and Ben ever think about doing something else? And who will the business be passed onto? Family? Sell it to a huge conglomeration for big bucks?
SW - When I am finished with it I will probably close it. The business is really me.
Note: Ben is Sylvia's husband and partner in the business.
VV -You have incredible style. Your glasses are your signature accessory. I have only seen them on Carrie Donovan, and maybe on Carol Channing. I love them. Where did you get them?
SW - My glasses have become my logo and represent me. It is my look. I have them over 20 years.
Note: Sylvia's glasses are tortoise shell and cost $1500. She has one pair! You have to love a woman who spends that kind of money on the one fashion accessory that became her signature piece (and she has her wits about her not to lose the ONE pair she owns!).

Read more about Carrie Donovan HERE

VV - I also love all the big necklaces you wear, art pieces really. Can you
tell me about your collection.
SW - I like drama in clothes, jewelry and I guess in life itself.

VV - You are very fit. How is that possible for someone who is around sweets
all day?
SW - I live a life of moderation, watch the diet and walk. I do not exercise.

VV - I love your hair. Did you ever color it? Where do you get your hair
cut?
SW - As for my hair, I never dyed it, I like the grey. Gets lots of respect.

VV - What part of New York do you live in? Do you like to decorate anything else besides your fabulous cakes (like your apartment)?
SW - I live in Tribecca, over the store, just as Andrew Goodman. My home is comfortable, filled with stuff collected throughout the years.


VV - Who is Andrew Goodman?
SW - . Andrew Goodman owned Bergdorf Goodman the store on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue. Shame on you!! Not to know my favorite store.
VV - Oh yes of course! I have been away from New York too long!

More about the fabulous Bergdorf Goodman HERE
Andrew Goodman died at age 86 in 1993

VV - As you know I gave it all up and ran away with an Argentine tango dancer. We wrote a book, and we teach all over the world. You told me you would love for you and Ben to take tango lessons with us. Let me ask you a question that I ask all of my new students: Why do you want to learn to dance the Argentine tango?
SW - Tango is so sexy!

VV - Anything at all that you would like to say?
SW - I was never able to chill out as they say. I need the action. Perhaps that is why I love NY, my business...