JEIDesign Blog

JEIDesign’s Very Own “Favorite Things”
For This Holiday Season

Soft supple satins and exquisite art sightings,
Rugs with rich colors and cloths so inviting,
Sumptuous sofas just fit for a king,
These are a few of our favorite things.

The team at JEI spent more time that they should have discussing, debating, and generally just being giddy over each selection for this special Holiday edition. It was horribly fun. And, since I am just the writer here, I made every effort to lay low and absorb the interior design element deliberation. But, as literary destiny would have it, I also found myself fully engaged and contributing. And, alas, after careful consideration and a pot of coffee, we managed to narrow our preferences down to nine items in five categories.

And so, we present to you… The entire JEIDesign Team’s Favorite Things for your Holidays ‘09.

Luscious Linens

We simply could not choose only one linen product to be crowned our favorite this year. So, with little reluctance, we called it a tie.

If you haven’t been wrapped in a Matouk Towel, you just haven’t pampered yourself properly. Even the most towel-skeptic of our design team can’t say a single thing about these heavenly cloths that is not synonymous with fabulous. They are glorious in texture and weight, they are Egyptian cotton, of course, and they are even remarkably absorbent, to boot. So, if you thought you would have to sacrifice practicality for luxury in your towel cabinet, we’ve just made your day!

This article would be amiss without the inclusion of Sferra’s Grande Hotel Collection Sheets, since every last one of our team here sleeps on them each night. 100% Italian Egyptian Cotton Percale, these Sferra sheets are crisp but ductile and are tailored in double rows of satin stitching. It’s hard to believe these linens are affordable because they feel as if they’ve been custom-made for a luxury hotel. 5 out of 5 design team members agree… You must have these sheets.

Take-out Lunch Location

Since the team at JEI is devoted to quality and meeting deadlines, we often have to have someone run out to pick up a quick lunch so that we don’t lose our working pace. However, we are all also very health conscious (or try to be) and selecting a speedy mid-day meal is not always an easy task.

But we have found just the spot! Since we office in West Lake, there is cafe just down Bee Cave from our studio, Wild Wood Art Cafe, that offers ready-made salads, tamales, baked goods, and so much more that are fresh, packed with nutritious ingredients, and mostly gluten-free! The best part- it is all delicious!

Anomalous Accessories

This Global Views Accent Rug in coral and white is one of our assistant designers’ “most excellent rugs ever.” Its classic lines create compatibility with almost any décor genre, but the contemporary edge and fresh, upbeat color sets a fresh and vogue vibe for your living space. Making it even more fantastic, it’s 100% wool, which means it’s naturally soil-repellant and environmentally peaceful. It is also available in 4 different sizes, up to as large as 9×12.

As with our linens, we could not stop at one item in our accessories category. We love this one, too, because it’s unique but versatile, understated but classy. We find ourselves wanting to use Jan Barboglio’s Ballin Firescreen and fire tools in almost every den or patio with a fireplace. Did you think “rustic” could meet “chic” and not be contradictory? Well, here, not only do they not clash, they are unequivocally clever together. If Coco Chanel had lived in Texas and created a fireplace accessory line… well, you catch our drift.

image of Jan B fire screen at Julie’s home

Felicitous Furniture

The choice for our favorite furniture was a fight to the finish. And, we finished with, again, a two-way tie.

The best Pearson Sofa ever is my very own contribution for the sofa category. Although, Julie deserves more credit for this “favorite thing”, since it was originally her Pearson couch that set the standard for all other sofas that would ever be. She refers to hers as the “healing sofa”, and, despite an occasional attempt to replace said sofa, she inevitably finds herself putting the same 21-year old adored piece back into her living room every time, without fail. (With some updated upholstery now and then, of course.)

Pearson has been known for over fifty years as a producer of fine, custom ordered upholstery furniture. And so, I, too, now spend my evening writing sessions, movie viewing, cat cuddling and midnight snack eating on my very own Pearson sofa. Those of us who own or have ever owned a Pearson know precisely what I’m asserting here. It’s sort of like a secret sofa society. Join us!

Reminiscent of 1940’s French interior Design, this Hickory Chair Secretary is another adamant designer’s top personal pick for case goods. This dapper davenport in Antique Ivory will speak to your inner fashion fiend, saying to you in a sophisticated but coy voice, “my richly toned kingwood and classic-finish interior is surpassed only by my leather-insert desktop and adorable Hepplewhite knobs.” If only all furniture would be so frank about the integrity of its conception and composition.

Adored Art

Our favorite local artist this year is painter, Christopher St. Leger, of Lockhart, Texas. Christopher is known for his manipulation of environments by “washing out further any dangling details.” What he sees in an esoteric metropolitan landscape, he transforms into “urbanscapes”, using both bold and subtle elements, which ironically establish tranquility in chaos.
His works are now available in galleries in Austin at Davis Galleries, as well as in Houston and New York City.

Loved Local Charity

You have heard us go on about Well Aware
before, but nevertheless, we could not leave them out of our list of favorite things! Founded here in Austin in 2006, this group of young, passionate philanthropists have been demanding attention to the struggles of the Maasai in rural Kenya and their dire need for water.

Well Aware captured the attention of local and national media last summer with their (now annual) Shower Strike. JEI was tickled to be a part of this shocking fundraising stunt for such a good and necessary cause.

Relying on the “viral” nature of internet social media, they are making their mark on how fundraising is achieved, and we are proud to be a part of this growing group of inspiring people who give all of their free time to help others in need.

For more about Well Aware, visit their website, www.wellawareworld.org

And, so, the aforementioned, ladies and gentlemen, are our “favorite things” this Holiday Season. We hope you enjoyed our selections and appreciate the fervor with which we present them to you.

If you would like any additional detail on an item mentioned here, please just give us a call and we would be delighted to go one some more…

Happy Haute Holidays!