Thank You to The Style Side of Life!

I just received a lovely surprise. Shelly from The Style Side of Life visited the shop on her Key West trip and just featured some pictures she took.

Here are a couple:

See the rest HERE.

Shelly's site is new to me and I'm looking forward to reading more. She's going to be renovating her darling 1930s bungalow this year and I couldn't be more jealous. Can't wait to see the finished project!

Do you have any big renovation plans for 2012?

Las Benditas de Key West

This week, Terry and I attended an art show featuring a portrait of me!

The artist, Michael Philip, is a dear friend of mine. He and his partner, Doug are members of our wine group and we've known them as long as we've been in Key West.

Michael did a show like this with portraits of, I believe 14 women in New Orleans with great success, and he decided to approach the director of The Studios of Key West (TSKW) with a similar idea for a fundraiser using their space. TSKW is a large, beautifully restored armory building now housing small studios for artists and several gallery spaces.

He proposed that they invite 21 women, Las Benditas, to be models for portraits in a specific style. The "subjects" would pay a fee, and then the night of the opening they could buy their portrait or someone in their "entourage" (oh yes - I left out that part. each of us had to invite ten people to attend the opening) could buy it for a certain price. After that, the show became public and anyone could purchase a portrait for a higher price. They loved the idea and their board approved the choices.


I was selected to be one of the 21.

Needless to say I was truly honored to be included in this group of women, most of whom do a lot of charitable work and contribute to the community in other ways that I don't.

I was pretty nervous the night of the exhibition since I knew the style of the portraits was to be "Cubism and Neo-expressionism." We had had an initial interview and picture taking here at the house and talked about things that were important to me, inspirations, colors I love. All kinds of things to help him portray me not as just a face but also as an inner person. It was a fascinating process. He did this with all of the women and then proceeded over the next six weeks to produce 21 portraits. A monumental achievement!


The opening was a huge success. The gallery was so packed with people you could barely move. Luckily the "Las Benditas" were allowed in first to have time to find their portraits and be photographed. In case you're wondering, the name means "the blessed ones" so you can see why I feel so honored.

I can't thank Michael enough for including me in this spectacular event. And in case you were wondering, we did purchase my portrait. I have already selected a place of honor for it in my home.

High Gloss Magazine Premier Issue

Have you had a chance to page through the premier issue of High Gloss?

We've only just started to peruse...BUT we had a lovely surprise when we turned to the staff pages! One of our personal favorites did one of the feature interviews:


We love Averill (who doesn't?) and couldn't be more thrilled to see her byline in a pub that will be on everyone's must read list this week.

Here are a few images from the article:







Can't wait to see more - the initial "flip through" (of course we did!) provided some spectacular eye candy...

First Thursday Featured Guest: Key West Artist, Eric Afinson

For the First Thursday Holiday Open House last week, Style Key West was excited to host Key West artist, Eric Anfinson, who shows at Lucky Street Gallery. Eric's haunting portraits tell a story of a spiritual evolution, both of the artist and the subject.


Eric's own story is as inspiring as the work he exhibits. At 16, he suffered a football injury causing paralysis and minimal use his limbs. But in his thirties, he began painting. Thanks to some flexibility in his right arm and shoulder, he found that he had enough movement to put paintbrush to canvas. And the successful career that followed tells the rest of the story.

This year, in addition to his collection of five boxed note cards, Eric has created a 2011 wall calendar. The calendar is a "red balloon project," and 10 percent of the proceeds goes to the Just For Kids Art Program in Bahama Village, here in Key West. You can visit his website for more information about Eric and his Etsy shop if you are interested in purchasing his calendars and note cards.

Another Art Form For Anne

I'm having some computer issues today, so it looks like I'm only going to be able to do something short...

But I saw something very exciting on Annechovie today and thought I'd pass it on.

As you know, we're all big Anne Harwell fans at Style Key West. The bright cheery colors in her water colors and prints fit right in with the shop design aesthetic. So we love the idea of transposing those prints onto needlepoint patterns.


Art Needlepoint is a company based in Boston that provides needlework enthusiasts with the finest canvases and threads to create heirloom quality decorative cushions and accessories for the home. And they are now carrying several of Anne's most popular designs!

Here are a few that I would love to buy:





Of course, first I'd have to learn how to needlepoint at a level of expertise that requires years of practice...and at this point, I'd say that I've clocked about, oh...ZERO hours with a needle and thread... So I may not invest just yet. But if I did know how to needle point, this would absolutely be my next project!

For those of you in the U.S., hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend. And for everyone else...hope you enjoyed your average two-day.

Outdoor Entertaining at Mary Ann's

Our friend Mary Ann Davis has one of the prettiest properties in Key West and it's perfect for outdoor entertaining. The house is approached down a long brick walkway that is completely hidden from the street and lined with palm trees and orchid plants.

As the house comes into view you find yourself in a lovely courtyard bordered by the main house, the guest house and the pool.




Very often this courtyard is the cocktail spot.

The house itself is very gracious and welcoming with steps going up to a wide veranda - comfortable seating to one side and a large dining table on the other.



Mary Ann loves entertaining and does it with great artistry, always setting a beautiful table with colorful coordinated linens and tableware, always different and always gorgeous.



What a treat to be dining outdoors on a sultry Key West evening with palm blade fans circulating the air. It's paradise!

Key West Outdoor Living

After a very chilly few weeks here in Florida, it's finally started to warm up. And everyone in Key West can once again enjoy their outdoor living spaces.

From the largest of Conch mansions to the smallest of island condos, every home has access to an outdoor living space.

A perfect example is our friend Wesley's adorable Conch cottage:


Even this tiny house has a backyard equipped for lounging, dining and entertaining:


Wesley worked with us at Style Key West until recently when she had her adorable baby girl:


Sadly - she has left us yet again! Her little family just moved for her husband's work, and we miss them terribly. On such a small island, friends quickly become family - and it's going to take some time to get used to not seeing our girls' beautiful faces every day. Love you Wesley!

Kate's Key West: Congratulations Friend!

I know that I'm supposed to write something about my own Key West stories and favorites on Mondays - but today I have to hijack this feature to congratulate my good blogging friend, Anne Harwell.

Her wonderful Annechovie blog features her work as an artist as well as her own Internet finds and design features. And she recently posted a still from the movie, It's Complicated in which you can clearly see one of her fabulous chair prints in the background!


Mom mentioned this print in the post about her love of chairs.


We were just talking yesterday about how the house in Something's Gotta Give was her all time favorite home interior in film. And it struck me that the It's Complicated movie set will probably be just as carefully scrutinized by anyone studying, working in or amateurly admiring design. And they'll see Anne's print!

Pretty amazing. Congrats Anne - we're all so proud of you.