Some of my favorite posts of 2009

http://www.quatrefoildesign.com/

I started my blog in 2007, and at the end of both 2007 and 2008 I compiled a list of my favorite blog posts from the year. The task was not too difficult in 2007; at that time, there were not many design blogs, and since I did not discover blogs until the middle of 2007, I only had half of a year of material to consider. 2008 was a bit more challenging, and it took me hours to go back and look through my favorite blogs and find my favorite posts.

This year I took a different approach. Throughout the year, when I saw a post that really struck me, I copied and pasted the link into a word document titled ‘favorite posts of 2009’. Of course, these posts only reflect the ones I actually read in 2009. If 2008 was an explosive year for design blogs, 2009 was positively nuclear. So many wonderful new design blogs appeared on the scene, which makes finding new blogs all the more daunting. I am sure I only saw a very small portion of the wonderful blogs and amazing blogs posts from 2009.

My list seems to have petered out October, which corresponds with the increase in workload in my life. As much as I love reading and commenting on blogs, as well as clicking through to all of the blogs that belong to the people who comment on my blog, I was stretched very thin in October – December and could not devote much time to either my blog or the other wonderful blogs out there. Now that I am reflecting on it, this timing also corresponds with the obliteration of my blog list; the list I had carefully crafted over 2.5 years of blogging was wiped out one day, and I have had to slowly but surely recreate it. I depend upon my bloglist to quickly scan what is new with the blogworld; reading through this list of posts makes me realize that some of my favorite blogs were never added back to the list, so I have missed out on many wonderful posts.

So, imperfect though my approach may be, here are some of my favorite posts from 2009.

One of the first posts of 2009 was a guide to collecting art by Style Court; it was the first of many art themed posts that I followed with great interest and anticipation. As Courtney mentioned in her post, it is often the art that we collect through the years that has the greatest meaning for us, much more than a purse or a pair of shoes that quickly gets relegated to the back of the closet. http://stylecourt.blogspot.com/2009/01/collecting.html

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I loved M21’s post on ‘the state of decorating’. It is even more interesting to read his words, written in January of 2009, and see how they ring true even more now after almost a year has past. M21 predicted more ‘champagne taste on a beer budget’…that M21 is one wise blogger. http://maison21.blogspot.com/2009/01/change-change-of-decor-that-is-m21.html

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Live in Full Color created the most amazing post on the color choices of the key players at the Presidential inauguration last January – definitely worth a read! http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/a-conflict-of-colors-in-washington/#more-1347

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Patricia’s post on the impact of large scale abstract art struck a chord with me. I have so many small paintings, and am ready to start looking for large statement abstract art. All of the wonderful images in Patricia’s post show that there are so many placement possibilities for large scale contemporary art (image: Amanda Nisbet). http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2009/02/abstract-art-go-big-or-go-home.html

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My Notting Hill began a wonderful series called ‘DC Designer Series’, in which she featured wonderful designers from DC whose work is magazine worthy. Through this series, I was introduced to several amazing designers; posts like these makes me realize the influence that blogs have on featuring up and coming talent, now more than ever given the demise of so many design magazines. http://mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2009/02/dc-designer-series-elizabeth-hague.html

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I could select at least 10 posts from Colour Me Happy that struck a chord with me, but this one was a stand out as it so perfectly explained why my family room did not look good with a pale color on the wall (all the light to my family room is blocked by a screened porch; I was thinking about painting my family room linen white until I read Maria’s post). http://colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/light-colour-will-never-come-to-life-in.html

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Architecture Tourist (with a little help from me!) found one of the beautiful homes that won the 2009 Shutze awards, and posted about his findings. This home has great appeal to architecture fans in Atlanta; not only did it win the 2009 Shutze award for small renovation, but it was also selected as one of the top 20 favorite classic homes in Atlanta by AH&L magazine. http://architecturetourist.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-shutze-award-winner-dutch-colonial.html

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I first heard about the Penguin Classic bookset through Little Green Notebook; at the time, they were only available through international booksellers. Now they are available through Amazon! http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/02/gorgeous-penguin-classics.html

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Any post about Paris usually captures my attention, but this one happened to combine Paris, color, and neutrals – a color analysis of one of my favorite cities. http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/i-like-parisian-palettes-in-the-springtime-how-about-you/

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I will admit to finding comfort in following a formula or a recipe, even for matters that relate to interior design. When Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper did a post on their favorite formula for the perfect bed, I followed it precisely when selecting the linens for my new bed, and I was thrilled with the results! http://www.mrshowardpersonalshopper.com/mrs_howard_personal_shopp/2009/02/phoebes-rules-for-making-a-bed.html

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This post – about one of my favorite exterior design elements, gas lighting – featured beautiful homes from around the country, including some from Atlanta. http://s-w-design.blogspot.com/2009/06/like-moth-to-flame.html

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This home, featured by Willow Decor, really spoke to me – even though it is far more casual and rustic than the homes that usually catch my eye. Perhaps it reminds me of some of the beautiful homes in New England that were a part of my childhood. Perhaps it is the porte cochere that is one of my favorite features of a home. Whatever it is, this post was a pleasure to revisit, and I think you will like it too! http://willowdecor.blogspot.com/2009/06/coffey-creek-farm.html

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This post, on the perfect design of a mongram, came at just the right time for me, as I was contemplating ordering some monogram pillows for my bedroom. Alas, the pillow project got set aside, but I still remember this wonderful post… http://pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com/2009/04/skinny.html

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Sally Stephonkus – possibly my best interior design discovery for 2009 – all due to the Washington DC designer series posted by My Notting Hill. http://www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2009/05/dc-designer-series-sally-steponkus.html

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This post, filled with pictures that utilize all different shades of green, really captured my heart. In case you didn’t know, green is my favorite color! http://theoldpostroadblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/green-is-me.html

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Going back and reviewing this post on consoles, one of my favorite pieces of furniture, was such a pleasure. This post waxes poetic on the beauty of the console, and includes many beautiful images that I had never seen before. http://s-w-design.blogspot.com/2009/06/bit-of-consoling.html

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Tara’s post on ‘vanishing threshold’ was absolutely pivotal for me this year. I have always sensed that a connection between the inside and the outside is a key element in a successful house design, but Tara's phrase ‘vanishing threshold’ is the perfect description of this key element in design. http://taradillard.blogspot.com/2009/03/coming-home-vanishing-threshold.html

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In this magnificent post, Southern Chateau pulls out some of her decades old Southern Accents to analyze what is truly timeless in design. This picture, from the late 80s, passes the test; others definitely do not! http://southernchateau.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-makes-room-timeless.html

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So many of the houses that are featured on the blogs are huge and unattainable. In a refreshing cange of pace, Cote de Texas featured some small and beautifully designed homes, proving that style matters over size . http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/08/small-stylish-houses.html

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Although I am still waiting patiently for the #1 and #2 installment of the Cote de Texas ‘top 10 designers’, Joni came out with another top 10 list that is very interesting and entertaining: the top 10 design elements. I found #4 to be fantastic – a primer on curtains. http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/08/top-ten-design-elements-4.html

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I have such a love of houses, and seeing this house in Sweden, built in the 1700s, reinforces my appreciation for classic architecture. http://livingartandinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/08/country-homes-tourstola-herrgard.html

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The artist hidden deep within me secretly longs for an artist studio like this…although I love each and every one of Brooke’s posts, this one touched me like no other. http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen/2009/09/219-north-cliffwoodthe-pool-house-turned-into-artists-studio.html

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Simplied Bee created a beautiful post on decorating fireplace mantels. I have had a long time fascination with fireplace mantels, perhaps because the fireplace was always such a central gathering place for my family growing up. This post contained many beautiful images that were new to me, a real treat in the blog world.

http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/09/tips-on-decorating-fireplace-mantel.html

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In September, I finally had the opportunity to meet the blogger behind the Peak of Chic. Not long after, she created a great post on an emerging trend in design: the dark room. These pictures beautifully illustrated her post, from designer Courtney Giles’ own home. http://thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/2009/09/go-dark.html

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Odie et Amo is a blog I found this year, and I have told her time and time again that her writing style is one of the sharpest and most intelligent in the design blog world. Her post on colorful backdrops in bookcases caused me to look at rooms in a whole new way. Averill’s influence will definitely be felt in the home that I am building…http://odietamoblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/colorful-backdrops.html

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Clearly doors have a huge impact on me, and this post on doors was particularly interesting. I am longing to paint my front door green, but since I will be putting my current house on the market within the next year, I am playing it safe and keeping it neutral. This post makes me want to run to the closest paint store to find the perfect shade of green…maybe for my next door…http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/10/colorful-designer-front-doors-and-paint.html

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Laura Casey Interiors was another one of my favorite new blogs this year. Her posts are finely crafted and so beautiful. This one particularly spoke to me, an informative post on Palladian interior influences. http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/09/28/palladian-interior-influences/

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One of my favorite new blogs, Limestone and Boxwoods, recently did a post on ‘fire balls’, an unusual and interesting alternative to wood in a fireplace. I must admit that I had never noticed this design element in fireplaces, even though many of the images in this post were very familiar to me (and I had even used some of them in my own posts). http://www.limestoneandboxwoods.com/2009/12/great-balls-of-fire.html

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Willow Decor’s post on the framed intaglios that she ordered from my company, Quatrefoil Design, was definitely a gratifying post for me. Gina and I emailed back and forth about the perfect intaglio design for her 100 year old Belgian linen, and the result was simply spectacular. http://willowdecor.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-conservatory-framed-intaglios.html

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I hope you enjoyed my selection of favorite posts from 2009! I look forward to reading many wonderful posts in 2010. I encourage you to post a comment if you have a blog, particularly if you have a new blog; it is the best way for me to learn about the new voices of the design blog world. As always, thank you for reading my blog, and best wishes for a wonderful 2010!

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