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

I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely enchanted with this tiny art studio situated on the windy coast of Aquitaine in France.

It is the cheerful retreat of painter Richard Texier and measures a mere 12 square meters. This style of architecture is referred to as a carrelet, loosely translated to square net (filet carre’) which were used by fisherman in the 1900′s who lowered their nets from these little huts right into the sea. Texier’s original hut was lost in the big storm of 1999. Determined to continue his artwork in this magical spot, he engaged engineers and high technology to rebuild it in a sturdier fashion. It’s painted black and “ocean blue” with a zinc roof and naturally weathered 100 meter long teak gangway. “It’s always been an enchanted place, between the sea and the sky…” says the artist.

The round gate was inspired by those the artist had seen in China, a place he often visits. When the red light above the gate is lit it signals that the artist is in his studio.

This is a shutter that can be set at various angles as a shield from the wind and curious eyes of tourists. I like the way the round gate repeats the shape of the round port hole windows. Repetition of shapes is a great way to bring conintuity to a interior/exterior design, even one as tiny as this.

The outdoor work table.

The artist uses his blackboard to develop ideas for his paintings and sculptures, such as the bronze lost wax candlesticks on the table. The hanging red lantern can be moved anywhere.

People walk underneath the jetty when the tide is out, and oyster farmers collect their wares. Bird footprints provide inspiration for art and mythical animal shapes.

The artist’s indoor workbench, upholstered chair and stool covered with a sail from an old tuna boat. Is that poetic, or what?

Careful storage is necessary in the tiny galley. On the right is an india ink drawing upon a nautical map. I’d like to get a closer look at that…..

The painter comes here to “fish for ideas and inspiration…and occasionally for shrimp. It’s fertile territory.”

Photos from The World of Interiors August 2008 Thanks to?Catherine de Moltalembert and Jean-Marie del Moral

This exotic residence on the beach of Manda island, Kenya may have snakes and sand flies, but it has much much more. It has romance! ?Architectural designer Claudio Modola seems to know how to survive and create beautiful durable structures in this wild, weathered area of the world. Giant sized striped lounging pillows are from locally woven organic fabrics.

A huge daybed sits on the veranda with a view to die for….wow! Talk about communing with nature.
There’s even a desk (everyone needs an office!) Notice the muslin fabric stretched around the perimeter. Its functional here, but also has a great look.

There is almost nothing more romantic than draped sheer fabric. In this case, again, it functions as mosquito netting. But it creates a sensuous mood, especially in the late afternoon light.

The bathroom sink is fashioned from a gargantuan clam shell ?that was collected from local waters. What a great idea! A fabric panel stretches across the ceiling. The structure is made of mangrove poles, palm leaves, mats and rope. Maintenance of this organic shelter requires energy and guts. Floor mats, roofing palms and many other things decay with the elements and termites and need replacing fairly frequently. However, there are those among us who think it might be worth it.

Photographs from The World of Interiors October 2008

The dining room features red glazed walls. The paint is applied by hand in layers that allow the white undercoat to glow through. It makes a dramatic dinner setting with candlelight.

The livingroom is softer with a predominance of tan and black for grounding. A sophisticated mixture of Asian cabinets and tables, and a pair of French chairs were included in the room.

This sun room turns out to be everyone’s favorite. The effect of the bright walls is softened in two ways. 1) The extensive use of white. 2) It’s a monochromatic room with green being the only color.

I notice that these colors are not quite true on my computer screen. And ofcourse I don’t have a clue what it looks like on yours but hopefully you can see how delightful this bedroom is. Again, a monochromatic room of green and white that is grounded with the dark bed and nightstands. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore “Mesquite.” The loveseat and shams are Cowtan & Tout’s “Trailing Leaf.” The framed botanical prints are brighter than many that I have seen and for good reason. They have to stand up against this bold color scheme.

Skillfully used in every room, the white paint is a relief. It is used liberally around the house so that we can enjoy the colors rather than get agitated by them.

The raspberry walls in the daughter’s bedroom appear softer because they are glazed (in a cross hatched pattern) allowing the undercoat to show through. I adore the oversized ‘flumpy’ throw pillows. There is nothing like an oversized down and feather filled pillow that keeps a dent when you punch it (rather than bouncing back at you).

Here is the outdoor loggia with it’s sensational view out to the ocean. This gives us an idea of the quality of light in this home. It is a very brilliant light so close to the equator… and it could ever so easily wash away the palest of colors. But the bright reds, lush greens and strong blacks in this home stand up to the sun and seem to thrive in it.

Images courtesy of House Beautiful

In the “painting corner” of the studio we see a fascinating assemblage of objects displayed on a 1900′s french industrial table. There is nothing like the real thing! Good table reproductions abound in today’s world, but the patina of this one is genuine and brings historical significance to the room. The hippopatamous skull certainly got my attention. One doesn’t just run down to the skeleton store and buy one of those things. These homeowners discover some of their most unique finds at the Paris Flea Market. Note that the color palette of the house is neutral….pretty much restricted to white, black and tans. This is a nondistracting backdrop for fascinating pieces in their collection and a continuous thread that brings impact to the interior design.

The antique black painted chest grounds this room and echoes the other black including all of the window trim. The black kitchen cabinets are painted in automotive enamel which adds a reflective quality to the space. Sheet rock has been torn off the ceiling exposing fabulous wood joists and creating a loft/warehouse feel. Appearing in each room are animal objects, skins thrown across a sofa, a stuffed sheep’s head, turtle, falcon, skeletons of all shapes and sizes. Some may consider this politically incorrect but my take on it is that it represents their respect, fascination and awe of nature.

This corner features a vintage drafting table, a 1940′s folk art pole and a shiny black collectible surfboard to further punctuate the bold black color theme.

Where the walls are not painted white, they are overlayed with unfinished tambour material (kind of like a roll top desk). Very architectural and minimal in feeling. We are told the intention was to reference “cheesy 1970′s boardroom panelling.”

Featured here is a 100 year old whale shoulder bone. It’s a sculptural beauty! What glorious stories it has to tell of the briny deep, sea creatures and sunken ships.

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The dining table sits underneath a mammoth factory light which hangs from the exposed beams. No doubt the scratches and stains are obvious, prompting us to wonder….what factory? who worked under this light? what were they making? Do we consciously ask these questions? Maybe not….but the inquiry hovers beneath the surface and profoundly affects our “feelings” when we are within such an eclectically fascinating space.

Photos from The World of Interiors August 2008

The enormous living room incorporates the same floral print (in Etamine cotton), mint and white stripe and solid saturated orange. It’s a fool proof way to mix fabrics…always! Sticking within the color scheme, using something curved (the floral), something geometric (the stripe and the check) and a solid. It works every time.

The bright green found in the living room (pillow trim) was carried into the guest bedroom and paired with a blue of equal intensity. As you will see, each room in this home features a different color scheme. This could ordinarily be an accident waiting to happen. Each room different is usually nothing short of chaotic. BUT….not in this house. Why? Because the running theme is white. White appears in every room as the backdrop…a plain white canvas against which splashes of green, coral, red and blue are thrown. It works beautifully.

The adjacent guest bathroom echoes the bright green to tie the two rooms together. That flat backed basket is a great idea for a towel holder, isn’t it?

The boys’ bedroom is classic boy. Knotty pine beds. Nautical prints. Ofcourse we all know the room doesn’t always look this neat….let’s face it. But it cleans up pretty well for the photo. And it flows so well with the rest of the house because of the white back drop, and the brightness of the colors.

No ?stone was left unturned. Even the spare sheets for the cot fit into the theme.

This almost all white bedroom features quite a phenomenal inviting bed…yes? White matelasse for bedding and bed curtains. So lovely and soft and sort of quilted. Wonderful for sleeping. Accent colors in this room are chocolate brown (his) and bright pink (hers) against white. Florida can be hot and sticky. Just looking at this interior design keeps my temperature down.

Photos from Veranda July-August 2008

The light and serenity of this Florida home pulled me like a magnet. I want to be there, breathing in the pale blues and greens, kicking my sandy feet up and sipping minted iced tea. All is well with the world! Welcome to a beachfront plantation style home designed by Rod Winterrowd.??Despite his New York address, this designer definitely has a feel for “place” and for what makes an inviting warm weather interior.?”The work I do is steeped in tradition,” explains the designer, “but it is contemporary in feel and comfort.” This incredible entry hall stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t even need to see the rest of the house (but of course…I couldn’t resist). I would have been perfectly comfortable right here. Notice the reclaimed brick floors with it’s antique Persian rug. New construction…genuine old materials. That’s a great way to telegraph that unmistakable sense of history. A pair of large down filled softly printed pillows brings this traditional 19th century styled bench into today’s world. (Back in the day the pillows would have been tiny, decorative and stuffed tight).

The huge oceanic vistas cry out for repetition within the house so the palette was limited to pale blue, slate, celadon and all the darker and lighter variations on that theme. It’s the narrow quiet palette which makes us feel so calm when we’re here. Calm, yes! Bored, no! ?We are entertained by the endless?texture of woven grasses (rattan and sisal), the softly colored yummy fabrics, botanical and photographic artwork and a few carefully chosen antiques.

Grounding shots of black keep this pale celadon dining room with its soft batik fabrics from floating out to sea. A black iron french styled chandelier hangs above a?Pierce Martin dining table whose base is crafted from dark rustic railroad ties. The black fireplace surround and the graphic black and white mirror frame (notice mirror leaning upon mirror) add more punch.

A lovely bedroom vignette features a unique port hole mirror and framed birds nest prints, all bathed in a continuation of the theme…soft blues, greens and crisp white. Easy. Breezy. And absolutely beautiful!