Loving Red

I've said good-bye to Alaska and am back in my beloved Massachusetts 

just in time for Valentine's Day 

and our daughter's birthday which is coming up next week.

*****

Love red? You're in good company.

"...the colour of life. I love red..." Christian Dior

First Ladies love red --- regardless of party affiliation.

Michelle Obama via Huffington Post. 
2013 inauguration gown by Jason Wu.

Laura Bush via the White House Historical Association

Grace Coolidge via the White House Historical Association 

Royalty loves red.

The Queen in Ottawa on Canada Day 2010 wearing The Maple Leaf Brooch.
Diplomacy in fashion.

Carla Nice, Alaska's reigning Queen of Real Estate and very good friend of my sister, Patty.
This royal coach is the one and only red Audi in Anchorage,
for that matter maybe within a thousand miles.
Audi should pay her to drive it.

Some reds I love.

Tom Ford's Private Blend Lipstick for Nordstrom.

Fabulous red, not too orange, great packaging. 
Not so hot about its name, Slander at Nordstrom.

Red shoes.

One can dream. Delman "Bliss."
 I love this shoe but not the price.
Nordstrom

Another designer collaboration with Target. 
Prabal Gurung's Apple Red pump at an attractive 39.99. 
Stylish but not me. 

Remember this stellar foyer from my post on the 2012 Kips Bay Show House?

Design by Bryant Keller for the 2012 Kips Bay Show House.
Photo by Trevor Tondro for the NY Times. 
Scalamandre's Zebra was designed in the 1940s. 
It is as popular today as it was more than half a century ago.

Scalamandre teamed up with Lenox and put their iconic designs, 

including Zebra, on dinnerware. 

This smallish plate is a tasteful little splash of red for your desk, coffee or side table. 

An easy way to indulge your sanguine desires at a reasonable price, 

especially if you rent or can't commit to wallpaper or red paint.

Gold rimmed porcelain, 7.5" long, it is neither too big nor too small, 
and $50 is easy on the pocketbook. 
Scalamandre by Lenox at Bloomingdales.

Maybe my favorite red today.

A Japanese botanical woodblock print in the Shin Hanga style by Shodo Kawarazaki. 

Shin Hanga, "new style" is vivid and lush in contrast to 

the restrained elegance of traditional Japanese botanicals. 

And a good value too when compared to European and traditional Japanese botanicals.

15.5"x11" on chain-lined rice paper. 
Watermark appears on the digital image only. Via Panteek

I love everything about the very stylish and red, red, red Muse Cafe at the Anchorage Museum.

I can't think of a better venue for a Valentine's Day lunch, dinner, or maybe cocktails and appetizers. Relax in authentic Knoll chairs while viewing original art hanging in the banquette bays. 

If you live in Anchorage or are planning a visit this summer, 

don't miss the museum's Smithsonian Arctic Studies exhibit. 

The Muse is a pleasant respite after all that looking.

Photo by Linda Pakravan. Furniture by Knoll.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, one of my favorite romantic comedies 

that your guy will actually watch with you. 

The Quiet Man recently released on Blu-Ray. 

Maureen O'Hara as the Irish goddess in John Ford's 1954 classic. 

Set and filmed in Ireland -- with John Wayne. It's not a western. Really.

Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man

See all my red loves on my pinterest board.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This post was entirely unsponsored.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

and if you'd like help designing with red, or any other color, email me!