But a single quirky piece in a room makes a huge difference. It sticks in our mind and we never forget it. I define “quirky” as different, unexpected, off-beat, out-of-the-box and memorable. Quirkiness gives a room personality.

For example, who could forget this striped ceiling? Following are more examples of quirkiness that will str-r-r-e-e-etch the imagination so that we, the Design Junkie Community, can express our wonderful weirdness

 Random color is quirky

Over sized objects are quirky

Rick Baye

Giant Branch Canopy

Over sized art is boldly quirky

WL Interiors

Wild wall color is startlingly quirky

Michael Penney

A unique chair is energetically quirky

Russell Groves

Quirky salvaged architectural pieces are unforgettable

Brown Cranna / Douglas Callaway

oliveandlove.com

Flea market furniture adds quirky personality

….even a small inexpensive chair

An unusual contemporary light fixture adds quirkiness

Christine Hanlon

Unique decorative painting is delightfully quirky

Animal prints are a great place to start

for those who are shy about stepping out…

Lisa Sherry

Go quirky at Restoration Hardware

It’s like a flea market!

1890 Iron Stag Head and Antlers approx. $289

Dry Dock Pendant $1695

Deconstructed Wing Chair $1995

(notice the back is intentionally exposed as if it’s unfinished)

Watchmaker’s Task Table Lamp $459

I hope this blog post jogged your creative mind. I need to stretch my quirkiness muscles too so….thank you! my dear Design Junkies, for prompting me to explore more fun ways to create eye candy so I can share them with you.

Sign up for this Blog/Newsletter right here.  It will land in your inbox once a week and you will never miss an issue.

Ruby Beets loves white. She loves antique, used, repurposed and shabby furniture.?And she loves using big graphic shapes within a space. For example, look at the pair of white vases that stand on the left side of mantle. Large for that narrow shelf, their curves are elegantly simple. The urn shaped vase at mantle right and the unembellished curved vase on the coffee table echo this theme.

Look how gracefully curved this white canvas wing backed chaise is. The arm shape seems to repeat the lines of the vases. Its’ uncomplicated design element plays off the busier pattern of pealing painted furniture and smaller objets d’arte (lots of shells from local beaches in Sag Harbor, New York).

The dining room features a reproduction table treated with a whitewash to add character. The 1920′s lyre-back chairs once lived in an old hotel in Maine. The black cabinetry came from a local hardware store that went out of business. The designer turned them dark ebony which is a fabulous backdrop for still more white graphically shaped ironstone and earthenware.

The piano is another big curved shape, this time in black to give extra punch to the black cabinets. When a color is repeated like these dark accents, it emphasizes itself. Using a color just once (I call this a “widow” because it’s all alone) can make us feel out of balance. Repeating the color….even in a small way… makes us feel more peaceful somehow.

I just had to show you the daughters’ charming bedroom with it’s Porthault bed linens and wire chandelier holding shells.

The bathroom slipper chair and upholstered bench are two more lovely examples of the dreamy curved shapes that wind their way through the house, holding it together as they repeat themselves in almost every room.

Photos from House Beautiful July 2006

In the photo above we see someone’s creative idea for using a fragment of a corinthian column capital. It was about the same height as the kitchen cabinets and so it was installed as an additional support for the counter. The beautiful thing about most rock pieces is that they blend with just about any style interior. It’s difficult to say what style this kitchen is anyway…but doesn’t it bring memorable character to the space!?!

When you find an appealing artifact made of rock, such as this beautiful goddess, buy it and make yard art out of it. Let Mother Nature do its thing and grow around and upon it. This creates a sense of history that can’t come any other way.

I love this handsome wood archway. As you can see from it’s simple design, it doesn’t need to be carved or fancy to look good. The shape of the arch is absolutely elegant! (with no further embellishment needed). When found it was hidden beneath layers of paint. The homeowner had the vision to strip away the paint and apply some stain which ties it nicely into the rest of the house.

Here is one of the cleverest uses of architectural salvage I have ever seen. Do you see a mantel here?……Did you have to look twice? Yes, you guessed it. It’s the console table. Perhaps some resourceful person with a keen design eye saw the beauty of the wood carvings, but had no need for another mantel in their house. So they cut off the top approximately 20″ (same height as the chair seat) and attached it to the wall. Et voila! Accessorized with a mirror and a vase of flowers, it makes a beautiful vignette in an entry hall.

Shutters abound in the salvage world. And in most cases we can easily understand why they have been discarded and left homeless. However, there are some lovely unusual ones out there and these “wave-slats” are very charming, are they not? The pealed paint finish is perfect for a french country interior. The shutters have simply been screwed to an interior wall of the home. A pot of geraniums beneath gives it balance and creates an attractive composition.

If you hunt, you can easily find wood columns to install somewhere in your home. Some are smooth and round, some are smooth and square…these are fluted and round. A bit of an ancient Greek flavor to them. The best location for a pair of columns is flanking a doorway, either against the wall or within the door frame. If you only find one column, and you love it, buy it and attach it to a wall where one room transitions into another.

Brackets also abound in the world of salvage. I have seen many which are distressed beyond recognition, and just not that pretty. This is a particularly beautiful one and some lucky person had just the doorway for it. What do these things cost? Need I say that this depends upon whether you are buying from a trendy Soho (New York) dealer or from a collector in Independence, Kansas where my friends live. I saw one like this (about 24″ high) last year in Seattle with a pricetag of $475.

Interesting glass windows can add a phenomenal amount of elegance to a space. This gothic arched window set above an antique copper tub creates the bathing nook one might dream about. Just a little warning, when installing “found” windows be sure to calculate size. If you are not a professional carpenter, you will want to hire one for this sort of retrofitting project. It’s possible that a window this size may require demo of supporting wall studs and it could get ugly if you attempt it yourself. Another wonderful way to use salvaged windows is on interior walls between rooms. This allows light to pass from room to room in an unusual way.

Vessel sinks are very popular these days. Of course, they are not really new. They are inspired by the old pre-plumbing bowl and pitcher that sat atop the dresser…in your great grandmother’s day. Here’s a salvaged drop in wash basin that has been placed upon a simple marble counter, allowing the chrome drain pipe to be exposed for all to see. The mirrors look as though they were stolen from my son’s diesel pickup truck. Big and heavy duty and mounted within two chrome towel bars placed vertically.

We have merely scratched the surface of the fascinating subject of architectural salvage, which is enjoying even more popularity now that our consciousness has been raised about recycling and reusing old things. There is so much more to show you, more stories to tell and so many exciting things for you to create. I plan to revisit the subject in the future so check back in with Design Like the Pros for more information. Suffice it to say that salvage “yards” exist in most large metropolitan areas as well as many small towns around the world. My favorite spot in Seattle, WA is Earthwise, Inc. Building Salvage. Another one that has attracted my attention is Black Dog Salvage and Architectural Antiques in Roanoke, VA. In the meantime, please send me the names of your favorite salvage yards and I will publish them for everyone to read.

Photos from Decorating With Architectural Details by Michael Litchfield – Friedman/Fairfax Publishers – Copywright 1995

Delightful? Yes! Disorderly? No! It only looks that way. This home is the creation of New York stylist Jacques Dehornois. As we can see, he is a gifted artist — one who is talented enough to understand the art of combining. Designers almost always do this intuitively without actually knowing how they know. It need not have taken much time to place objects in this space…but that doesn’t mean it isn’t drop dead gorgeous. And fascinating! How inspiring to live amongst these massive classical columns and architectural antiques. Note how the freestanding columns stretch toward, but do not reach, the 11 ft. ceilings. Feels dangerous….in a good way. Like a spy thriller with a good ending.

The opposite side of the room carries the blue theme through with its striped Indian dhurrie rug and painted Swedish antique (c. 1760) chairs. Blue is the punch color. The rest of the palette is strictly neutral, sepia toned etchings and warm parquet floors.

How genius to place these particular elements together! Notice they have a certain angularity that repeats. Whenever we can REPEAT a shape….that’s a good thing. A carved and painted gable, and empty antique picture frame, an antique metal step ladder, and a 1760 Thomas Frye mezzotint. There’s nothing functional here. This composition serves not a purpose in the world except to delight the eye and to remind us of the past.

A framed piece of an 1858 Arnold Bocklin fresco leans against a Cy Twombly lithograph, one of the few modern day references. All else is antiquity (though I suspect he must have a computer and a flushing toilet somewhere in this apartment, don’t you think?) More blue and more blue…. this time in the form of Chinese ginger jars. The designer has kept the color scheme clean and uncomplicated so that we can fully relish the texture of these ancient treasures.

Photos from House & Garden June 2003

Scroll down for more cool stuff.

There is plenty of “color” in this neutral dining room, although we are seeing only beiges and browns. Instead of drawing on the traditional color wheel, this designer explored her world for textures. Chunky. Craggy. Splintery. Smoothe. Woven. Wrinkled. Translucent. Rusty. Peely……and etcetera. There is so much to take in that I dare say I might fall over in a faint if she had added actual color. By the way, I’ll bet you think this is a dining room. Actually it’s a free standing structure! A dining house, so to speak. Isn’t that brilliant? The interior was designed by Wendy Owen for her family in Sonoma. California. Fieldstone was collected locally for the walls, and the floor is poured concrete. Those unique paper light fixtures were found at local designer Erin Martin‘s St. Helena shop.

The dinnerware from Astier de Villatte is rustic yet curved and feminine providing a nice contrast to the table made of enormous reclaimed Douglas fir boards and flat backed plank chairs.

The theme is Natural-Materials-With-Muted Palette… in a very big way. Owens was rigorous about sticking to her core idea without getting side tracked by anything that does not fit. “I wanted to keep everything oversize and use texture as color.” The circular piece on the mantel is a salvaged well top.

An antique pine island stands in the middle of the kitchen with chunky antique Brazilian wood bar stools. The breakfast area features unexpectedly two crystal chandeliers hanging over an old baker’s table and two stone benches. This designer really pays attention to continuity. “It makes the space look larger when you use the same materials all the way through.” she says. And I would add to that, it creates visual flow. As I walk through this house I am both inspired by the remarkable selection of furniture and materials and soothed by the repetition of color and materials.?Inspired and soothed.

You’ve never seen this bed before, and I guarantee you will never see it again. Chunky railroad ties make up the frame and antique sugar molds make up the headboard. The splash of color amongst the bed linens is a fun statement and can be changed out so easily.

The master bath has a pair of sinks made out of old horse troughs. The mirrors above each sink have been created out of ceiling tin showing off the texture of peeling paint.

This designer has been very much inspired by the work of legendary designer Michael Taylor (1927-1986) who broke new groundwith his California Look by using overscale furnishings ?and natural elements. He also championed the idea of making the interior and the exterior interchangeable.

The free standing dining house with its other structures and the surrounding fields.

Designer Wendy Owen. As you can see the chartreuse used in the master bedroom is a color she wears very well. This is always a great way to develop a color palette for your home. Select colors that flatter your complexion and hair color. It works!

Photos courtesy of Western Interiors October/November 2007

Red painted siding with chalky white trim. Brilliant orange maple trees. Is the year 1905 and we’re in a time warp? No indeed, it’s 2009 and this charming old barn is the same as it always was…on the exterior, that is. Its interior, however, has been remodeled into an unpretentious but very classy gathering space for holiday entertaining, board meetings, extra sleeping and gallery for a fabulous art collection. Let’s take a look…

The maple leaves in this part of the world do turn this spectacular in the fall. ?I grew up there and I know. The designers made a beautiful choice by carrying the red and golds into the interior space. Here’s the theme: Leather. Flannel. Velvet. Wood. All placed together in a very unfussy way to reflect the owners simple, down-to-earth yet refined values.

This view through to the kitchen gives us a chance to admire the luscious red and caramel throw pillows.?Behind the sofa is a billiard table with it’s typical English-style billiard hall chandelier custom designed out of plumbing pipes and tin snooker fixtures. Sliding cedar panels divide the seating area from the kitchen displaying enormous works of art. The kitchen features soapstone countertops…durable, dark and handsome. They are usually charcoal greenish gray with scattered veining.

An antique oak table provides a surface for a simple arrangement of exquisite objects. Orrefors vase by Niles Landberg. A fruitwood pitcher and plate. The 1990 painting called “Happy New Year” is by Russian Eric Bulatov.

This painting is by Australian Steven Bush. Madoura 1940′s ceramics. The photo makes a beautiful still life, doesn’t it? One way to accessorize your home is to create a vignette with three or four objects. ?In this example the designer uses three ceramic objects and one organic. The three vessels are all made out of the same material. Two are white and one is green. They “tie together” because their common element is the fact that they are ceramic. The cabbage is not ceramic but….it is green. It is a different material but the same color as one of the ceramic pieces. It’s fun to play with this concept creating arrangements of things that are the same yet different!

The fieldstone fireplace is flanked with a pair of steel drafting lamps, a perfect choice for this kind of eclectic simplicity.?”We captured the essence of this simple, vernacular American building form using authentic, natural materials that blend seamlessly with the original structure and the country landscape.” say architect/designers?Lee Mindel and Peter Shelton.

A collection of framed art pieces surround the perimeter of the ceiling. Without even knowing what they are, the repetitive frames and mats make a fascinating statement…as most collections do. The frames and mats are all exactly the same, but the object inside the frame is slightly different.

A comfortable sleeping loft with it’s sleigh bed and copper lamps, shows off the refinished pine floors, which have been left bare throughout the entire space, emphasizing the sparse “puritan” look so typical of of New England.

An old factory table with benches is a good spot for summer time picnics.

A wild boar sculpture overlooks the creek.

Here is the beautiful couple with their equally beautiful children. As a running theme throughout the apartment, the rich dark wood floors are played against brilliant jewel toned fabrics and extremely gutsy yellow walls. Fabrics are lavish. The couple very much admires the orientalist interiors of French decorator Jacques Garcia and so we see his influences in their choices of furnishings from India, Turkey and the Middle East. We also see a large black-and-white photography collection featuring works by Bert Stern, Mario Testino, Ellen von Unwerth and Thierry Le Goues in addition to Mel Hennessy’s own professional work.

This view of the living room features a Syrian game table in front of a clock which Atlas hoists on his shoulders. The fireplace and mirror are Indian. A pair of chairs by the windows are upholstered in tiger fabric which beautifully echoes the yellow walls and continues the theme of rich exoticism. I appreciate the naked floors. Though I am a big fan of beautiful area rugs, the expanse of “negative space” gives the eye a chance to rest.

More exotica in the dining room: Moroccan cabinets, antique Murano vases, Napoleon III candelabra, and a 19th century painting by Jules Tornai. This is more ornate than I could live with…but what I do very much appreciate is the continuity from room to room. Each space carries the theme into the next space. As we walk through we say “yes, this feels right.” Many people have difficulty making a consistent design statement within a home. Each room is different and the over all effect is hodge podge. The key to great interior design is continuity.

Here is a detail of the other side of the dining room. Did you know red walls are good for the appetite?

Now….here is a sexy bedroom. Wrapped in violet. The wall color is intense, but not much of it shows because of the enormously generous purple silk draperies and the oversized painting (by Gustav Wertheimer). A Chinese cabinet sits by the bed and a Murano chandelier hangs above. We are told this was a gift from Kilian Hennessy’s godmother, the legendary Barbara Hutton. An Indian textile lays across the bed.

The bathroom is sexy too with it’s deep brown painted walls and indirect lighting. The collection of boxes inlaid with bone add so much to the room. Anytime a collection can be displayed it becomes a point of fascination for everyone. Collections are a delightful and entertaining way to accessorize.

Images courtesy of ?Elle Decor October 2008

“My objective was to create an eccentric garden in a setting of fantastical Mediterranean antiquity,” says the owner. The columns, though stone in the original Italian villa, were carved out of redwood with resin capitals and fiberglass bases. The finish was aged with a mixture of plaster, lime and spray-painted moss.

The portico features informal red and white striped cotton upholstery. In the center stands a 17th century mantelpiece from Antwerp (this one’s a real antique) above which hangs an aged mirror from Studiolo, Shapiro’s own home furnishings line.

The property was wrapped in 20 foot high ficus trees and giant Japanese timber bamboo to create “complete seclusion and mystery.” The exotic undulating hedge was inspired after a visit to Chateau de Marqueyssac in the Dordogne region of France. Once again, the designer brought his ideas home to Los Angeles. He ripped up the manicured lawn, imported hundreds of mature boxwood plants, and laid out a snakey pattern of rounded hedgerows separated by gravel paths.

Clipping these bushes seems like it would take a team of gardeners, but we are told that Shapiro does most of the work himself in just a few hours every two weeks. Indeed, he never lets anyone else touch the boxwood hedge!

Behind the neo classic portico is an airy 275 square foot space that is used often. A Northern Italian table sits near the windows surrounded by 19th c. rustic chairs.Here is where morning coffee is sipped and newspapers are read. A fire is lit and more creative ideas are dreamed. The Chinese drum coffee table sits atop a Turkish kilim. The gilt wood mirror is antique. The contemporary lettered diptych is by Shapiro.The workbench is the owner’s own design with a pyramid shaped lamp from his Studiolo line. The marble capital is 19th century.

A view back to the main house featuring a pair of 17th century Florentine marble lions and a 10 foot tall Spanish oil pot.

A rusted sculpture by Anthony Caro sits in front of a bench from the Studiolo line.

Here is Mr. Shapiro. ?”I view the garden as a vast abstract canvas.” says this serious artist….with a wink and a grin.

Photos courtesy of Elle Decor May 2009

There is nothing like beige and taupe linen upholstery and slipcovers to complement the elegance of French country antiques. The fabric is simple and natural. Easy. Casual. It can be slouchy as you can see from this sofa. The tapestry pillow thrown into the mix has the feeling of being handmade….because it is. The seagrass rug is is also simple and casual. This is a perfect backdrop for the antiques because these materials don’t compete with them. The antiques can take center stage, as well they should.

The other end of the kitchen / sitting room shows an graceful blending of top of the line stainless steel appliances with antiques, such as the 19th century Franch store counter that is turned into an island. The linen skirted table is a fabulous country touch. Notice the almost primitive hanging system of exposed iron rings…and wrinkled as if a farmer’s wife had just stitched it up by hand before she scurried out to milk the cow. The vintage wine cage is a great storage piece. I like the way the gray color echoes the stainless steel appliances.

More beige and taupe linen. A wrinkled table skirt. It’s a pale house. The finishes are worn paint and worn wood. A faded Agra rug. Antique french shutters flank the fireplace. Calligraphed manuscripts tumble from a large seashell on the table. The accessorizing in this home is so beautifully done. Each piece is chosen with love and attention. Because there is just enough and not too much, the impression is uncluttered. A gilt framed oil painting hangs in front of the window…very nice. Probably suspended on wire.

Here is a clever way to camouflage the stairway. Make it into a wall of sorts with a tall sheer curtain panel. The placement of framed art gives the illusion of a solid barrier, and you hardly know the stairs are there.

I love this little vignette full of hand made vintage baskets, a sturdy French table and a small chair with a slouchy uneven slipcover of white linen. Seagrass rug. The bolts of fabric in the corner looked like French baguettes at first glance:-) The designer has been careful to use continuity of color and of style from room to room, making a dramatic statement. Again, this is the key to great interior design. Carry at least one strong theme throughout a house.

The oversized arrangement of hydrangea on the bedside table really catches my eye and makes this whole bedroom scene much more interesting. Using very large and hugely out of scale things in choice places brings energy to an interior. Break the ‘Rules of Proportion,’ I say!

The guest bedroom with it’s linen bedding and rough hewn beams. The window seat cushion is also linen, with throw pillows made from French grain sacks.

I was about to say, if there was anything I would change about this French country home, it would be to add a few contemporary pieces. Et voila’! Here they are. A contemporary lamp and a modern piece of framed art on the wall. To my mind, it makes this space a little less homogenous and much more interesting.

Photos from Veranda Magazine January-February 2009

You can call it eclecticism. Or you can call it mixing but not matching. Or you can call it crazy. But whatever you call it, Vicente Wolf does this thing with the eye of a master. As many of you may know, Vicente Wolf is a Cuban born New York dwelling interior designer / photographer and renaissance man. The seating arrangement above is in his Hell’s Kitchen loft. It’s a bold combination of very diverse styles and…it works! The 19th century gilded Russian chair sits across from a mid (20th) century acrylic chair, which is in turn, having a conversation with the contemporary custom designed sofa. “You try to have a dialogue without words,” says Wolf. “A visual dialogue between pieces…It is a thinking process, not just a decorative selection. These pieces have real personalities.” And to that I would add this explanation. This combination of diverse objects works well because of a continuity of color. The taupe leather which covers the gilded chair matches the wool fabric on the sofa. The yellow gold of the chair frame is echoed in the leopard cushion of the acrylic chair. And the arrrangement is set against an expansive white floor, with white walls almost like an art gallery.

The loft space is designed to show case Wolf’s extensive photography collection, some of which are propped upon his vintage chair collection. It’s a whimsical way to show off and enjoy both things. In a sense, the white and the photos are running themes throughout the apartment. The seating arrangement above features one of the designer’s favorite things, the antique Monk’s bench from Thailand. It holds an interesting beaded neckpiece from South Africa. The metal daybed was custom designed.

Large photo on wall is by Michael Rovner, Chairs hold photos by artists such as Alexander Rodchenko and Man Ray. Ones on the ledges include Weegee, Harry Callahan, Richard Avedon.

Featured in this little nook is a 19th century loveseat and an Italian 18th century chair around a unique flea market table with a twisted base. Charming, I think. The designer often sells his own things to clients, but he is very attached to this little table and declares that it’s a “keeper” along with the Monk’s bench and his bed. The eye catching color photo above is by Damien Hirst.

Ah….the bed. “It’s like a boat, perhaps a gondola, that takes you on travels while you’re asleep. A bed should feel protective. Cradling you.” The upholstery is a mohair blend by VW Home. The soft blue gray color echoes thoughout the space in throw pillows and cushions.

Here is another fascinating juxtaposition that works well. The gilded ornate french table sits next to a classic 1960′s Hans Wegner chair. Sometimes it’s all about color. Certainly the repetition of black details within the framed photos helps to tie in the black chair.

More white. More taupe. More gray blue. More photos. And more of that wonderful “negative space” that makes us feel so peaceful. Empty space is one of the most important design elements of all.
More about that in future posts.

Ethiopian chairs. Art by Georges Hugnet, Edward Weston and Franz Kline. Buddhist ceremonial shells.

Vicente Wolf with his camera.

Photos by Vicente Wolf for Veranda Magazine July-August 2009

There is nothing so serene as a farmhouse. Especially if it is surrounded by green fields and grazing horses. And especially if it’s interiors were designed by Brussels/Antwerp based antiques dealer Axel Vervoordt. When it comes to pure timeless eclecticism, Vervoordt is a master.

Against a backdrop of neutral walls, some of which are colored by earth found on the property, furnishings and antiques have been placed sparingly and with great intention. Vervoordt’s taste “spans centuries, continents and economic strata.” ?The rustic is paired with contemporary. Antique objects from simple origins become art. This vignette pictured above is composed of a vessel vase and dog statue from China, a carved piece of stone from India, and a table which the designer created an 18th c. tabletop and his own design for the base.

An arrangement of exquisitely simple Khmer ceramics sits on top of a 17th century Italian cupboard. Through the door in the room beyond is an interesting hunk of metal. It appears to be a rusty old steel plate from some industrial use, no doubt. It makes great “art,” don’t you think?

Every view is a perfectly balanced composition. Here, for example. The graceful little Ming chair tilts to the left of our “picture.” It feels a bit unstable (in a good way). The black door frame is a stable rectangle in the center. ?The two chunky wood sculptures in the right foreground provide a solid balance against the chair. It’s fun to go around and make balanced pictures out of objects in your home. Geometric things complement round things, and they can look very beautiful together. It’s almost as if they “need” each other.

Here is another example of geometric played against curved. The table is very angular and squared off. The Ming chairs that surround it are curved like long horns. Together it’s a wonderful combination. The sandstone head and the terra cotta horse are Chinese. Speaking of sand, this whole house feels as though it has been dusted with the color. It’s a theme that repeats from room to room, creating a serene color flow.

A French stone table sits under the windows. French dining table and chairs. Spanish earthenware dishes.

Below is a photo of the upstairs living space which….surprises me. It is all white! Although it is beautiful and inviting, it needs some sort of visual reference to the downstairs rooms we have just walked through. I think I would have left the ceiling beams natural, rather than whitewashing them. The floor and door would have been better natural as well. But that’s just my opinion. Perhaps I’m a bit of a design nazi that way. What do you think?

Photos from Veranda Magazine October 2008

Here is a decorator’s dream come true, especially if that decorator loves history and antiques. The ingredients: A huge 19th century white stone building. 13,000 square feet of peeling paint, tall ancient windows and character galore. Gorgeous French countryside. Two antique purveyors with remodeling skills and a great eye for possibilities. The challenge for owner/antiquarians Claude and Alain Fassier, was to restore this run down building (that had a former life as a girl’s boarding school) into both a home and a place from which to market their fabulous collectibles. My mouth is watering. What a great project! Imagine clusters of chattering schoolgirls in white blouses and plaid skirts pushing through these doors to their classrooms. This sweet little child pictured above (a Fassier grand daughter) sits at a French sewing table.

A work in progress as this photo was taken. Layers of paint were carefully peeled away to reveal handsome trompe l’oeil fluted columns. The painted Louis XV table holds red tulips.

Through the doors we catch a glimpse of the library?with its miles of brand new bookshelves that are made to blend seemlessly with the old walls. A large work table from an electronics atelier is covered with old engravings and posters, globes and a glass bell displaying a papier mache’ algae plant. With vintage mannequins and glass cases housing stuffed birds, the whole room has an “air of wit and scholarliness” which is so appropriate for this former place of learning.

This room is on the ground floor of the building, and is part of the antique shop La Maison Fassier.?The large multi drawered chest is from a seed merchant’s storeroom. And the Persian rugs are from Ikea…do you believe it? This is a perfect example of using any and all resources to pull a room together. I will often find great pieces at Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel that blend beautifully with more expensive furnishings.

I love this mixture of contemporary and antique. The classic Le Corbusier chaise lounge sits in front of some old roof finials, an abstract painting, a dried pumpkin and a resin sculpture. Putting an old relic up on a stand (that any gallery or metal fabricator can make for you) calls attention to it in a special way. It’s a popular thing for designers to do, and any appraiser will tell you that it adds value to the object.

The owner inserted these beautiful old doors into the room. They are especially lovely because of the unique stained glass panels of butterflies and flowers, and they look as if they were original to the building.

The guest bedroom continues with the magic of more vintage treasures. The carousel horse is 19th century German. The headboard is an 18th century painting on canvas.

Looking like a greenhouse of sorts, this is the schools open air glass roofed play area. It has become a useful veranda for the family. The eating table is covered with vintage linens. There are comfortable upholstered chairs for reading and lounging. Interesting old wicker chairs, iron stool, a doll house and all sorts of other goodies.

So…the next time you’re in Paris, drive southwest about 90 miles (how many kilometres would that be….anyone?) to the popular and newly chic town of Remalard. Stop in to La Maison Fassier and let us know what surprises your discover.

Photos from House & Garden July 2007

This home is located in New York state’s romantic Hudson River Valley, and was created by Juan Montoya, well known architect/designer originally from Columbia. The iron canopy bed and book towers are Montoya originals. The laquered table at the foot of the bed is 18th century Chinese. The floors are polished ebonized wood. Everything ?fits within the virtual design container called “white and dark.”

What a spectacular chandelier. Perhaps some of you design junkies have seen it before, but in case you haven’t, it’s a vintage piece made of goatskin, and can be obtained through Blackman Cruz or your favorite interior designer.

The contemporary print on the wall is called Milky Way by William T. Hillman. Its large black field provides a dramatic background for the crisp silhouette of ?white porcelain lamps.

This room really takes “texture” to a museum like extreme. I am drawn into it, though…I find myself wanting to examine each unique object. The window arrangement is quite wonderful. The 19th century South Indian waterwheel forms a backdrop for two large art glass plates.

It’s always fascinating to see how a designer makes a transition from interior to exterior and visa versa. This outdoor fireplace patio is created out of granite found on the property. The pool tiles are patterned after a ballroom floor from the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Inspiration can come from anywhere!

Photos from Elle Decor June/July 2004

Ahhhhh. What a sensational picture.?I can smell the lavender… and I can feel the warm sunlight bathing my skin.?This outdoor room features a single solitary piece of furniture. It’s a 10-foot-long 17th century cast iron table with a slate top. It stands alone beautifully and provides a generous amount of “negative space” around it. Using empty space in interior design is a good rule of thumb because we humans need a place to rest our eyes. This view is of St. Helena in Napa Valley, California in a home designed by architect Wayne Leong and interior designer Erin Martin.

This kitchen really got my attention. The decorative painting, done by San Francisco artist Michael Dute’, is really extraordinary. The designs swirl across the vaulted ceiling and down the walls in a large open pattern. Backsplash blue and white tiles are French but with a Moroccan flavor. The countertop is classic white Calacatta marble.

Wait. Am I in an ancient castle? The stone walls in this room create that feeling. ?But remember…we don’t have to live in an old stone house to have stone walls. We can easily apply stone to our sheetrock walls to create this effect. The over-scaled antiques from France, Spain and Italy are chosen precisely because they bring perfect balance to the massive wall stones. Blue (the favorite color) is carried from the kitchen into the dining room.

Blue appears again in the bedroom. What lovely continuity. Other than the neutrals, it seems to be the only color in the house. The hand stitched French needlepoint headboard came from a flea market and is paired with a canopy bed from Ironies. The settee from Dennis & Leen is a wonderful reproduction. Stone floors travel throughout the house enhancing that old European feeling.

The guest bedroom with it’s large French armoire also has a little Spanish writing table with it’s classic spiral turned legs and Spanish Colonial chair.

The guest bath features an antique marble double sink. Is that blue marble?

I had to show you this gigantic bee-hive pizza oven on an outdoor patio. It blends consistently with the style of the house, yes? It’s European looking with it’s rustic stone. And it’s over-scaled. “All of it shaded by native oak trees and manzanitas in the summertime – the trees that were there before time began.”

Photos from House Beautiful May 2007

When this still life first caught my eye, I was enchanted! What an interesting collection of exotic pieces! Ancient Chinese (Han Dynasty) porcelains and bronzes. Impressionist drawings as a backdrop. How artfully arranged! I immediately wanted to know more about the rest of the house, and the person who created the arrangement.

It turned out to be a townhouse situated on the Upper East Side of the island of Manhattan, New York. The Big Apple….but I would have sworn it to be in one of the classier arrondissements of Paris. ?”Architecture speaks to you and can tell you what it needs,” says West Palm Beach interior designer Jack Fhillips. “This place was not an English cottage or a contemporary space.” This duplex apartment just begged to be decorated as a European pied a terre. With handsome woodwork, a limestone exterior and a walk in garden entrance it had all the classic energy of Europe.

We are already seeing a consistent color scheme here. Warm white walls, contrasting deep brown wood treads, guilded picture frames. The art within the frames does not have a lot of color either. It is mostly a collection of 18th-20th c. etchings, drawings and architectural renderings.

That’s a wild bed, is it not? It’s a 19th c. piece and my hunch is it’s from France. It sits on a Savonnerie rug, which is a french weaving technique.

These are formal rooms, and not everyone’s choice of lifestyle. However, it is a beautiful example of how to create “flow” and “continuity” within a space. This is one of the basic principles of great design. Pick a theme and stick to it. This does not mean we can’t be eclectic. But eclecticism is not simply random….there’s usually some reason that an oddball choice works well. It could be about scale. It could be about color or texture. That’s a big subject and I will write more in future blog posts about how to pull off an eclectic interior.

Here we see more of the same color scheme, with liberal use of deep caramel. We are told that one of the designer’s “signature touches” is to place a desk in every room. Desks are great places for staging arrangements of things and…

this designer has a wonderful eye for doing just that. There are interesting vignettes on many surfaces combining art, books and flowers amd more. It’s a bit of eye candy to stimulate the imagination.

Photos from Veranda magazine March 2008

This eyeful of color is the rainbow staircase created by designer Muriel Brandolini for her guesthouse in Long Island, New York. ?The vision includes richly colored wall fabrics (the designer’s own), richly colored woodwork, richly colored carpets, and richly colored painted floors. Did I mention that they are all richly colored??There’s not much white in this house. The Mid Century Modern light by Venini hovers above a glossy green floor, but is one of the few things in the whole space that is white.

Brandolini has many ties to Italy, not the least of which is her marriage to an Italian count. Perhaps it is her love of that culture which caused her to select a series of sepia photos of Venetian palazzi for the living room. Neutral colors like beige and gray are included in this every-color-in-the-whole-wide-world house. That’s a Hapsburg empire chair next to the Liz O’Brien ‘blanc de blanc’ lamp.

Have you ever seen a headboard like this? or a bedroom like this, for that matter! Brandolini designed the padded headboard to mimic the cheeky silhouette of a 17th century Venetian bench back. Another white mid century modern lamp in the form of this well loved Saarinen piece provides a unique contrast to the other more historical references in the room. Cotton candy woodwork. Wow.

The downstairs bedroom is a medley of reds and oranges, violets and purples, turquoise and pea green. “I consider it a gift to be free from constraints,” says Brandolini. “My only rule is to have none.” This takes guts and I admire it. It’s not a color scheme that I (personally) could live with every day…but that’s just me. I’m more of a neutral bedroom creature because it induces sleep, I guess. It’s peaceful. But I am showing you these photos because the rooms are nothing short of amazing and I think we will all be delighted and inspired by them.

A white German porcelain mirror c. 1905

This graceful Arne Jacobsen “Giraffe Chair” continues the theme of playing crisply designed Mid Century Modern accents against a colorful luxurious European backdrop. It takes a genius to pull off this kind of interior design. And I think we have met her right here.

Photos from The World of Interiors July 2009

Most of us don’t have the challenge of creating intimacy in a big space. But whether big or small, the same principles apply. Use of wall coverings and flea market furniture makes it cozy and inviting. There’s a wide variety of furniture styles and color. We’re not intimidated at all by the large home pictured here because it is unpretentious and relaxed. With the help of interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, this old shingled farmhouse in Bridgehampton, New York was restored and enlarged. Let’s take a look at how the intimacy was achieved. For starters, the walls of the master bedroom pictured above are covered with grasscloth that makes the room literally glow with warmth. Bookcases soar high and are filled with sets of leather bound volumes. Natural fabrics, a woven chair and artwork remind us that the creative hand of real people went into this space.

The dining table was purchased at a flea market and a Victorian server displays a variety of collectibles. And look….there’s a sofa in the dining room. This is a great way to close in the space and create an informality that most dining rooms don’t have. It’s a place for a neighbor to plop down while the family is eating dinner. There’s a wonderful mixture of fabrics and colors that appear very “undesigned.” I love the dark wood floors.

Oversized very soft pillows in a mixture of fabrics make up a casual sofa scene. Frameless art makes an informal statement….and is nicely displayed in a grid against more grasscloth.

These bookcases are eye catching, yes? What to do with old National Geographic magazines……now we know!

Aren’t these walls gorgeous? A chocolate brown textured wallcovering from Maya Romanoff makes a striking contrast with the white woodwork. That’s a Jeffrey Bilhuber tufted back sofa.

Take a look at this double sided sofa! It’s about the size of a small boat, wouldn’t you say? Of course it is the focal point of this room and serves to divide the space into two comfortable seating areas creating a more intimate feel within this large space. The massiveness of the sofa (Bilhuber’s design) is softened by the lovely faded linen print upholstery and throw pillows of differing natural fabrics. Each conversation area sits on a different seagrass rug with the space between the two lined up perfectly with the spine of the sofa. The four little reading lamps make the sofa more usable too.

Under the bamboo pergola by the pool house, I am counting at least three conversation areas.
That’s a generous space. Absolutely! But again, the organization of the various sofas, club chairs and wicker pieces makes us feel comfortable…. it all seems just the “right size” for being alone with your iced tea and a novel….or hanging out with a group of friends. Throw pillows of a single batik fabric dot the chairs and sofas, tying them together with a running theme. It’s an easy, inviting outdoor room in a classic home.

Photos from Elle Decor July-August 2007

“Out of Africa with a twist” are the words used by interior designer?Martyn Lawrence-Bullard to describe his client’s Mediterranean style home tucked into the hills of Malibu, California. Fascinating photographic images and unique artifacts from Africa wind through the home as one continuous theme. White walls are the backdrop for neutral informal furnishings with an occasional “pop” of bright color… like the vintage Turkish red and yellow horse blanket (which echoes the antique rug colors so beautifully).

In the kitchen, antique French lanterns hang above a beautiful old console table. This is a great island idea and has a lot more character than the predictable cabinet island with granite countertops, don’t you agree? I love the medium dark cabinet color and door style which compliment the (what looks like recycled) wide plank wood flooring.

Dramatic photographs by Leni Riefenstahl are displayed above the seating area. Not only are the photos absolutely remarkable, but the very large scale of the images creates a powerfully exotic mood in the room.

I love this bathroom. The Hundi hanging lamp and charming English Windsor chair have great personality. Never underestimate the power of a well chosen antique! ?It can turn a” ho hum” room into a memorable room.

Photographs from Elle Decor July-August 2009

Here is another view of the same room. The designer, Nate Berkus, ?has created a beautifully balanced composition using neutral colored furniture. Note how the jet black of the firebox echoes the black of the rug. Squared off geometric shapes are also repeated in the mirror frame, end table and even the squared off shape of the chair.

In the entrance hall a chunky 19th century Belgian chest of drawers creates a square dark mass against the white walls. It is interesting to observe this designer’s combinations. Next to a heavy piece he unpredictably places an elegant curved leg stool. “I’ve always cared about what things look like and how they work together,” says Berkus. “I’m more interested in creating relationships between things than I am in sticking with an overall concept.” ?The striped rug from Morocco carries the geometric theme through and brings a punch to this space.

What? More stripes? Yes, but in a different pattern. A variation on a theme. The hanging artwork (on the silver leafed wall) is actually a vintage game board. Imagine this room without the rug and the artwork…..it’s not the same, is it? Not nearly as wonderful!

This appears to be a sitting room with still another high contrast geometric rug. This one is a window pane pattern and was designed by Berkus. The pair of black leather chairs and much of the furniture in this Chicago apartment are vintage finds. The designer loves to scour flea markets and antique stores. “To me,” he says “it’s all about the hunt.”

The master bedroom features a geometric rug by Markham Roberts and a throw pillow which echoes the pattern. Also note the striped bed pillow which, although not large, is bold enough to make a subliminal reference to the stripes throughout the house.

?

Photographs from Elle Decor / September 2008

Eddie Holler and Sam Saunders, designers from Nogales, Arizona demonstrate how to do this with remarkable flair. These guys have been touched with genius and a great eye. You can do it too! Here are photos of a bedroom created with the “too much is never enough” approach. Earthen jars and amphorae, for example. There are no less than eleven in the room pictured above.The contents of the room are mostly Spanish colonial in style with antiques and artifacts imported from Philippines, Bolivia and everywhere in between, it seems. Granted, these are not pieces that will go on sale at Macy’s next week. You have to hunt for them. While some of you may be in a position to purchase expensive imports from high end dealers, others have a bit of a tighter budget. If that is the case, take a look at Wisteria, which offers lots of things that are heavily influenced by this look. This wine cabinet made out of recycled Indian gates appears authentic; this pine butcher’s console is actually a century old; and this rustic weathered urn has great character for this type of interior design.

These green chairs might be antique, but maybe not. They are painted and appear to have a coat or two of darker glaze for the aged look. There is a strong blue – green color story going on here as it all ties into the artifacts on the table. But when I stop and look, I also see lots of golden earth tones and browns that are so typical of antique collectibles. When objects live for centuries they acquire a scrumptuous patina that is hard to duplicate (though some reproductions come very close).

Dark wood (often teak) is typical of Spanish colonial, along with bare wood or stone floors because the countries were near the equator and hard woods were plentiful.

The white plaster walls repeat through this hacienda….a beautiful continuous thread that makes each room feel like it really belongs.

This is the third four poster bed in the home that is draped with soft sheer fabric. So inviting! One feels drawn into the cocoon like space. (I think it’s nap time).

Well…I lied about the continuous thread of white walls. But, as an honorable design editor, I am committed to full disclosure. This cobalt blue reception area seems rather sudden after all of the white walls. Frankly, I love the color and the room itself is absolutely stunning. But why (I ask myself) did the designers choose it and does it “work” in the house? So… I scroll back up and I begin to see that there are, indeed, other things for the blue walls to “converse” with. The blue walls are not alone. There are blue urns. There are blue plates. There are blue diaphanous fabrics on the bed posts. And that’s just what is shown in these photographs. Blue is a key accent color in this home. Whew! I was almost knocked off balance there.

As wild and free as we love to be in interior design, balance needs to be somewhere in the mix.

Photographs from Phoenix Home & Garden