Wide open patterns as if they were painted with a broad brush

Splashier…

 Just Scandinavian

…not like grandma’s roses

In colors we are loving right now!

Combined with geometrics and stripes in a whole new way

Samantha Plyn

Even a little floral makes an impact

Flowers unleashed…if that’s your thing

Tara Seawright

Stylized flowers in brighter palettes

Z3 Diseno

Kathryn

In classic black and white

Watercolor flowers

 Fiona Douglas

Suzani inspired floral shapes for an ethnic look

Lindsay Buckingham

Nikki Papadopoulos

Floral rugs are staging a comeback. They look very different in today’s colors, don’t they?

Nicole Rubens

Floral paintings are favorites right now but in all-over random compositions

Erin Feasby

Kim Parker

Flowers are as old as dirt but we never tire of them. We just need a new fresh spin every once in awhile.  am excited to start using these fun flowers. Girls just wanna have fun, right? Boys too!

Walk in beauty…it will change your life.

Perhaps a little concrete goes a long way. The concrete truss that extends down the center of the room has been covered over with plaster board in a prism shape and painted white. Steel bookcases flank one of Meneguzzo’s large photographic creations. The enormous mustard sectional called ‘Bora Bora’ is by MDF Italia.

A bright red table and chairs from HP Haus plays against a black (possibly steel) floor and white walls of the small entry/office space. I love the collection of Japanese Godzilla figures on the left shelf. Hanging above the table is a net basket which actually functions as a lift for heavy photo equipment and bulky objects that need to go up to the main living space. As you can see, the stairwell is very narrow and steep so….this seems like a workable solution which harkens back to the old basket on a rope.

A clean minimal bedroom continues the theme of mustards and reds found in the other parts of the loft, bringing balance and flow. The bed is covered with a suzani tapestry purchased in Turkey.

A streamlined polished stainless steel sink makes an elegantly simple bathroom. But where does he hide the toothpaste and shaving cream? I think there’s a door on the left to hold the clutter of actual living. When I see places like this I always wonder what they look like on a daily basis. Are there newspapers strewn on the floor? Does this morning’s half eaten bowl of granola destroy the impression made by the sleek kitchen counters in this photo shoot? Is the whole effect ruined? Well….let’s not think about that. I’m crazy about this place and would love to see it in person sometime.

Photos from The World of Interiors May 2009

Featured here is a sumptuously minimal, sensually textured desert home near the San Jacinto Mountains of California. The interior designer, Sam Cardella, is clearly someone who appreciates architecture (the work of Ana Escalante). The furniture, accessories and colors do not interfere in the least with the low profile but majestic one-story structure. Instead, they are there to provide warmth and comfort, and to complement the homeowner’s art collection. In the entryway above, the polished concrete floor is left bare creating a dramatic stage for the quirky sheep that graze there. The home’s neutral color palette is that of rocks and rattlesnakes, occasionally accented by bold blues as seen in this enormous Charles Arnoldi painting.

There is something so pure about this ab-so-lute-ly simple outdoor hearth. I am swept back in time to the cooking fire of a plains indian when life was about what to eat next and how to stay warm. The unique pebble stone ledge (yes, it’s an ottoman) with it’s basket of tangerines create a vignette which is not just beautifully composed, but speaks to our deeply primitive level of survival.

The colors of the natural environment reappear in this seating area overlooking the pool. Asian accents are sprinkled throughout, such as this 6-paneled piece of Japanese calligraphy and shoji screen sliders…blending beautifully with the minimalist style.

The bedroom is effortlessly eclectic. It combines contemporary and mid century modern. But the element that brings this space to life is the natural bleached tree root pedestal. It says “I’m real and I’ve been around for a long time.” There’s something comforting about that.

A cantilevered desk in the master suite features mid century lamp and vintage armchairs.
All-together a remarkable home. All is comfortable. All is peaceful. All is serene. And oh….how I would love to live there!

Above from Shelter Magazine – July/August 2007.

Scroll down for more fun stuff.

Studio apartments and small flats can present a problem when it comes to incorporating sleeping spaces into the rest of the furniture arrangement. This solution from a Swedish company called Compact Living is a fabulous one. These beds are utilitarian and sparse in their Scandinavian style design, but they appear to be sturdy and strong. And what a good idea! It’s like a top bunk without the legs…hanging from the ceiling joists instead. If your taste runs more traditional and you don’t care for the galvanized or metal finishes, wood trim could be installed to completely conceal the metal frame. And if it isn’t practical to order from Sweden, a metal fabricator could engineer the same idea for you wherever you live.

Thanks to Furniture Fashion for the great ideas.

Loft spaces intrigue many of us. One of the biggest reasons is that people have made a dwelling out of a space that once had an entirely different purpose. Was it a leather shoe factory? Did blacksmiths hammer metal into railings there? Did ladies sit at sewing machines stitch up army jackets and then leave at 5 pm and take the bus home to make dinner for their hungry families? This loft is in the historic LoDo District of Denver, Colorado. Built in 1905 it was the former warehouse for the Spratlen & Anderson grocery company. This particular 2,200 square foot space was redesigned by David Hintgen and John Moinzad with “texture rather than color… and a bit of urban sparkle.”

The overall theme of this interior is the existing architecture. Gigantic steel posts rise 16 feet or more to support monstrous wood beams. Brick walls are everywhere. Metal duct work and raw concrete have been left exposed. These elements appear in every room creating a continuity throughout. It’s a monumental space! Those handsome dining chairs are from Bernhardt. Hanging above are Schonbeck pendants made with Swarovski crystals.

Placed within that space are over scaled upholstered furniture pieces in solid neutral tones (as opposed to pattern). The designers chose to use texture alone to complement the architectural container. I agree with this choice. Patterned fabric would have competed with the brick. The eye needs a place to rest, and a solid beige sofa is a good place to do it. Large upholstered chairs and sofas provide much needed sound proofing for loud loft echoes. The high backed Suzy Wong chairs above are by Kenneth Cobonpue.

The spiral staircase came with the territory. Notice how rough this doorway to the wine cellar is. There has been no attempt to smoothe over the transitions…and it has great character!

The sliding metal door between the bedrooms was custom made. It’s a great blend with the rest of the industrial style. The hide rug and leather ottomans make a luxurious statement set against the painted brick walls and exposed beam ceiling.

The bathroom is floor to ceiling mosaic glass tiles. No one cut corners here and there is nothing skimpy about these finishes. It sends a message of stylish high end living. The sink is a custom designed 9-foot concrete trough with contemporary hardware. Very sleek and stunning. A wonderful complement to the other design elements.

The kitchen is also very clean and sleek, with pickled wood slab front cabinetry and leather pulls. Concrete countertops. Barstools also from Kenneth Corbonpue.

The red brick exterior of this 1905 building complete with original signage painted on.

Photos from Western Interiors February-March 2009

The buildings provide an ideal nest for Lopez’ collection of rare 20th century furniture. Bold panels of color, reminiscent of “Constructivist collages,” accent the large space as the original pitch-pine floor weaves a continuous thread throughout the space. Refreshingly, the floor has been left untreated and where floorboards needed replacing the designers tore out the old and installed industrial looking metal panels with no pretense to creating a symmetrical design…only where needed. Romantic images of oak barrels and wine tasting sessions are, no doubt, conjured up by all the old wood which is left bare on the ceiling as well.

A honey colored stone wall is left exposed behind simple furnishings. I am enchanted with the composition of these photos (by Jean-Marc Palisse) as much as with the interior design. However, it is a good reminder that interiors are nothing more than a series of views. Stand at the south door….what do you see? Stand at the north wall…what do you see? Stand at the archway between the hall and the living room..what do you see? Whatever the eye takes in should be balanced and pleasing. A great rule of thumb for interior designers.

A unique table is fabricated out of cross cut rounds of elm and a plank of glass for the top. The curtain is made of chain mail found at the St-Ouen flea market. There is an industrial /art studio feel to this space where intelligent curious people live…don’t you think?

Here’s the second story pool……

and here’s the family car parked beneath the pool’s u-shaped bottom.

Other exterior images give us an idea of how beautifully the inner and outer design blend the old with the new.

Photos from The World of Interiors August 2009