• Rock Star

    There are some people who rise above the ordinary and show us what real talent is.

    One of those rare finds is Bobbie Medlin.  Bobbie’s eponymous shop in Georgetown is a treasure

    trove of gorgeous goods from around the world.  Her one-of-a-kind necklaces blur the line between

    jewelry and art bringing a sense of mystery and allure to the woman who wears them.

    She is a rock star!

     

     

     

     

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    Jewelry as décor. 

    I draped one of Bobbie’s pieces on a bust in a 2007 installation.

    The turquoise beads were the perfect finishing touch.

     

     

     

     

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    Bobbie Medlin just relocated to the corner of M & 29th in Georgetown. 

    The perfect spot for this gorgeous gallery-style shop.

     

     

     

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    A beautiful vignette at the shop's foyer.

    The rose quartz necklace features a 19th c. pendant

    depicting the Hindu deity Ganesha.

     

     

     

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    A west African strand of yellow resin beads is accented by

    an antique shell from Mauritania and silver bauble from Turkmenistan.

    The black fireplace is a great backdrop for this colorful, dramatic piece.

     

     

     

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    One of the artfully arranged display cases.

     

     

     

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    Bobbie and I discussing her work in front of a protective amulet strung from faceted rock crystal beads.

    This 19th c. example from the Yomud people is especially rare because the tribe was quite small.

    It's made of gold, silver and cornelian and was meant to be worn on the back between braids.  Awesome!

     

     

     

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    Ms. Medlin could teach us designers a thing or two about staging.

    A 19th c. Naga headdress, silver serpentine neck chain from India and Yemen bangles.

    The bracelets contain tiny pebbles that make a delicate sound when worn … magical.

     

     

     

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    A surprise in every corner.

     

     

     

     

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    Every piece tells a story.

    Strung on Soo Chow beads is a carved pendant of a monkey on a peach.  This Chinese

    symbol represents longevity and success and makes for a beautiful good luck charm.

     

     

     

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    Great minds think alike  ; )

    This shaman necklace sits atop a mantle in the Huntley & Co. office.

    Bobbie has a similar one for sale in her shop.

     

    BOBBIE MEDLIN

    2900 M STREET NW

    WASHINGTON, DC 20007

    202.333.2630

     


     

     

     

  • Bigger is Better

    At least when it comes to jewelry … and a few other things  ; )

     

     

    LV cuffs 2 

    Louis Vuitton cuffs stacked for impact.

     

     

     

    David webb

    Christmas list?

    David Webb lion & ram bracelet and vintage gold, black enamel & rock crystal ring.

     

    David webb ring

     
     
     
     
     
     
    Armani prive 

    Armani Prive chandelier earrings for the girl with sturdy earlobes.

     

     

    Necklace portrait FINAL 

    This necklace is heavy, but worth the weight.

     
     
     
     
    My ring 
     
    I discovered this ring in Paris 10 years ago.  My favorite find of all time.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Eva mendes 
     
     

    The best red carpet moment of 2009.

    Eva Mendes, white dress, vintage Van Cleef & Arpels turquoise necklace.

     

       

    Just because bigger can be done, doesn’t mean it always should be.

    The good and the bad of big below.

     

     

    FOOTWEAR

     

    Devil wears prada 

    Chanel thigh-high boots

    Red patent ???

    Red boots 
     

      
      

    LIPS

    Scarlett 

    Scarlett Johansson

     Amanda Lepore

    Amanda

     

     

    FOYER

    Sledmere

    Sledmere House in East Yorkshire

     

    Celebrity residence

    (Can you guess who?)

     

    Cage

     

     

     

    HAIR

     

    Brigitte 

     

    Brigitte Bardot

     

    Phil Spector – 'nuff said!

     

    Spector
     

     

    NEXT WEEK

    A Luxe & Lucid feature on Bobbie Medlin, owner of the eponymous shop in Georgetown —

    a woman who rocks "big" like no one else.

     

  • Before There Were PDA’s

    I was a holdout.  I loved my daily planner and my stationary.  I never thought I would do all

    my writing via email and keep my schedule on a computer.  But I do.  To be honest, I couldn’t

    live — professionally at least — without Outlook and my iphone.  So although I’m highly organized,

    I miss the days when embracing your type-A meant a little more beauty and a little less technology.

     
     
     

    Southern accents nov-dec 04 - Copy 

    Remember when we used to sit at our desks and correspond? 

    I’m feeling so nostalgic — this is what my desk used to look like when

    I was a jeune fille.  Southern Accents Nov/Dec 2004.

     

     

    Smythson of bond street 

    I am IN LOVE with the new Malachite Collection from Smythson of Bond Street! 

    The classic stationer from London has taken a fashion-forward step and designed

    a collection that looks like it just came off the Balenciaga runway.

     

     

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    The Hermes journal I keep at my bedside. 

    It’s available in several gorgeous colors.  Mine is aubergine.

     

     

    Cards 

     Two graphic, modern selections from Simplesong Design.

     

     

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    Il papiro

    I picked up this notepad at Il Papiro in Florence.  I like to keep it with me, so I can

    jot down thoughts on the run — which is easy since it’s about as small as my eyeglass case.

     

     

     


    Buffet
      
    I installed this buffet at a client’s penthouse in May and discovered the inside was lined with

    hand-made paper!  It was a magical detail and an amazing surprise.

     

     

     

     

    Stationary signature

    What a great idea.  Send Dempsey & Carroll your signature and they will

    engrave their Classic Correspondence Card with your own personal John Hancock.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Paper goods (and memories) from my archives.
     

     

     

    Calligraphy

    If I could, I would write long letters in calligraphy to friends and family.  In another life.

     

     

     

    Nannette brown mrs john l strong pic by brad paris

    The end of an era.  Mrs. John L. Strong closed its doors in May after 80 years. 

    Nannette Brown said it best, “We don’t do trendy.  We do good taste.” 

    A girl after my own heart.


     
     
     

  • The Gold Standard

    I'm a gold girl.  Bronze, silver, not even platinum gives me the rush that gold does. 

    It’s warm and sexy and adds a little magic to any material.  I love gold fabric, furniture, lighting 

    and especially jewelry and hardware.  I would plate everything in gold if I could.  Now for you nay-sayers

    who think gold is a finish that belongs in the 80s, take a look at the images below and get ready to swoon.

     

     

    Fabrics

    A few of my current favorite gold fabrics.

     

     

     

    Vogue nippon

    A glamorous gold face in Vogue Nippon.

     

     

     

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    At the Washington Design Center's spring 2007 design house I painted the walls

    India Yellow by Farrow & Ball and added gold David Iatesta sconces.

     

     

    Jere

    A vintage Curtis Jere wall sculpture.

     

     

     

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    I'm saving this image in my inspiration file for a future project. 

    The layers of gold could inform an entire color scheme.

    Vogue December ‘08

      

     

    Grand central

    Some of the amazing metalwork at Grand Central Station.

     

     

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    What artist celebrated the brilliance of gold more than Klimt?

     

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    Sooo gorgeous … LOVE this gold and citrine pin!  I would wear it with a [faux]

    fur vest layered over a grey cashmere sweater, jeans and a sick pair of heels. 

     

     

     

     

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    Some of my favorite jewelry piled in a gold tray.

     

     

    Chloe purse 

    I get a ton of compliments on this Chloe purse.

     

     

     

     

    Bilhuber_elledecor 

    Nancy Lorenz added graffiti-esque gold accents to Jeffrey Bilhuber's scenic

    paper-covered bedroom walls.  A gutsy move by the interior design genius.

     

     

     

     

    Columbina

    I'm seriously considering switching my flatware over to gold … so much sexier!

    Columbina Flatware at The Moma Store.

     

     

     

     

    Brass knuckle mug 
      I love this mug!  The perfect glam/punk combo.

     

     

     

    Louboutin the bag snob 

    Where better to wear gold than on your toes?  Louboutin heels from the 2005 collection.

     

     

     Gold facial

    Looking for a gift for the woman who has everything?  Yes, there is a gold facial

     

     

     

     

    Paperclips 

    Gold paperclips – A Huntley & Co. office standard!