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.

The rug above has a lovely palette of blues, soft rust and khaki. I could do a whole house in that…could you, my little Design Junkies? Here are the colors from Benjamin Moore Paint Company.

If it were mine, I would add a darker bricky-rust and even more saturated deep blue for contrast. Dark colors will ground a color scheme in a very strong way…as you can see the black iron table base does.

Using a patterned rug is fun and convenient

that is…if you like patterned rugs

bhg.com

(an unusually refreshing color scheme but somebody should have steamed the wrinkles out of that flatweave rug…doncha’ think?)

bhg.com

Patterned wallcoverngs give us some beautiful palettes

already built in…just for you. No thinking involved.

Cynthia Mason Interiors

Adi Tatarko 

Art is a great source of stunning color combinations

which you can pick up and use for bedding, pillows, rugs and upholstery

Which cam first…the art or the fabrics? What do you think? As a designer I often work everything at the same time, all the while visualizing my end result

Patterned fabric is an awesome springboard into color

(Wow. It’s pretty but…it almost makes my eyes water)

 …even a teacup can provide a beautiful palette

Don’t get too matchy-matchy

Here’s an delightful color palette using great chairs (from Anthropologie). The orangey-yellow from the art work repeats in the upholstery. The blue on the wall is almost the same as in the chair fabric…but not quite the same (atleast on my screen)…and that makes it even more interesting.

In the room above, the chair fabric and the glass plate echo the orange-red from the painting. The flowers are not red but pink. It’s not an overly decorated room. Very balanced. The painting asks the question. The chair and the glass plate answer it.

Be subtle…you will live longer

You may find that being subtle is much more liveable and just as “memorable.”

Colors from the rug tie in beautifully with the throw pillows, the artwork and even the front door color. The small pops of bright-yellow give this room great energy. But most of the space is a quiet subtle neutral.

Having fun going from pattern to palette, my dear friends.

Walk in beauty…it will change your life.

There are three tricks to creating the illusion of space. One is to use a limited palette. There’s lots of white in this place, grounded by accents of black with shades of taupe and sepia to soften the look. ?Even the floor is painted white. No other colors are inserted to distract the eye.

The second is to arrange furniture so as to create mini rooms. Here you see the seating area on the right, and the sleeping area on the left defined by a custom screen and daybed covered in matching “toile” fabric that is light and airy.

The third is to do a rigorous purge of your possessions. Paring down to the minimum. This process is hard to do and not for the collector. But the owner, designer Ellen O’Neill, ?chose the classy location ?(in the last gated private square in Manhattan) over her “stuff.” The work/office area below blends beautifully in style and feeling. Just enough space to get something done, but not a whole lot of storage. If you love the black wire basket, you can find a similar one at Wisteria.

Notice how carefully the designer edits her choices. The antique farm table and the large leaning mirror keep the area open. The display of framed art and photographs is tasteful and interesting, but not a lot of color. This is a good thing. It stays within the chosen palette.

Below is Ingo Maurer’s Zettel’z 5 Chandelier which supposedly works as a bulletin board. It’s crazy and funky ?and has gotten a lot of attention in the design world. Its spidery openness ?fills the high ceilinged space without being too blocking or heavy.

And finally, a lovely little black and white vignette. An antique daguerrotype setter’s station serves as a bar.

Photographs courtesy of House Beautiful July/August 2010

This dining room is spacious and simple partly because the polished floors are left rugless. This is often considered “cold” but remember, temperatures are warm in Dallas, Texas. And that wood is so darn beautiful. It’s a luxurious backdrop for all of the furnishings as it….you guessed it….continues throughout the space creating a fabulous flowing design element that “pulls the rooms together.” The lovely curved chairs are from Rose Tarlow – Melrose House. Cane back and leather seat. The contemporary painting is an oil on panel by Jeff Bertoncino. Doesn’t it punctuate the bronze/gold elements beautifully though!

There is a running theme here, and it’s hard to miss. That’s why we feel so good looking at it.?Sleek unembellished design that is uncluttered…..not a pattern on any of the fabrics. Neutral color palette with pops of red and blue. And all underlayed with polished hard wood flooring. I think I’m in love!

Photos from Veranda Magazine September 2009

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

This wonderful old farmhouse on 350 acres can be found in Millbrook, New York…a tiny town north of Manhattan. The owners, celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai and his wife, Shirin von Wulffen fell in love with its charm and simplicity and asked interior designer Selina van der Geest to help express their vision. One thing that distinguishes a great designer from the rest of the pack, is the ability to make a house FLOW from room to room. This designer sees the house as one organic whole and uses repetition of color, style and form tie the rooms together. Let’s take a look and see how it was done here.

These two views of the living room feature a big luscious tangerine colored sofa and an old kilim rug of blues/reds and oranges. These same brights pop out of the bookcase, the flower arrangements and the accessories. It seems that all warm tones are welcome here…no need to match the exact shade of red. Use ‘em all….what the heck! And I agree. Creating a palette of closely aligned colors (such as red, orange and pink)?can really add a great element of surprise and depth.

The original kitchen mantel was saved, stripped and given a nice coat of oil. Tucked amongst the antiques that?blend so well with this old home, inexpensive new pieces were added. For example, the metal dining chairs are from the Sundance Catalog. Other accessories came from the Conran shop, Anthropologie and Design Within Reach. Warm toned dishware and bouquets of cut pink dahlias connect this room to all of the others with a common thread of color.

The dining room is a masterpiece, in my opinion. I wish I could have managed to show you the whole long painting all in one piece, but alas my technical knowledge prevents this. It’s quite impressive as you can see. Using gigantically over-scaled elements within a space is one of the most dramatic ways to make visual impact. I would almost go so far as to say the size of the painting is AS important as the image itself….almost. The antique chairs (Renaissance Revival) certainly have a story to tell…just like the house itself.

The color palette in the room is all neutral except for red flowers ?which tie this room in to the others. Notice the shed antler chandelier. It’s a bold reference to nature (and we know darn well that there are deer in ‘them thar’ Upstate New York woods).

Photos from Elle Decor July/August 2008

There is nothing more romantic than the gossamer drape of sheer fabric, a practical style in this part of the world where insects abound and cool breezes are welcome. This is the Boat Room. The base of the bed is formed from a canoe bought from a Swahili fisherman. The graphic tribal batik is from Ivory Coast. Antique kilims bring rich color to the space.

The ?”tree” houses, which have been crafted from indigenous materials, are practically hidden from each other as they nestle in the thorn trees, cactus and acacia. This land at the foot of the Ngong Hills is just adjacent to the 5,000 acre property once owned by Karen Blixen (pen name Isak Dinesen) and it was there that she wrote her story that became Out of Africa.

Continuity occurs organically within these space and it is one of the reasons these interiors have such impact. The running themes that are repeated again and again are wood or woven grass walls, white netting and woven ethnic rugs. Recycled wood was used for the canopy bed. A metal rocking chair was welded by a local artisan.

A canoe lined with fiberglass makes an exotic bath tub. The metal chandelier was welded on site.

A canvas dining tent is hung with velvet draperies. To me, that is the epitome of the safari life and then some. The lodge and houses feature a variety of pan-African artifacts, fabrics and accessories; batiks, pillows of Kuba cloth, bronze wildlife statuary. We are told that the cuisine is highly reputed with its Kenyan chefs who have studied in Belgium. Ngong House is a sanctuary for many travelers on their way to much rougher wilder adventures.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest

We are gazing through three arches here. Standing outside the office, we look over its’ tile table, through the central courtyard, and into the loggia on the far side. Careful attention was paid to creating the longest possible view. Notice how the painting is centered on the very farthest wall.

Surrounding the border of the library the boldly painted motto “The Eye Sees What the Mind Knows.”?Tile floor, darkened wood, and an drum shaped rustic amber pendant lamp repeat the theme and carries through the finishes with consistency.

The kitchen is a lighter brighter room, featuring a pair of wonderful inverted lampshade fixtures in stitched parchment. I love the oversized cactus in terra cotta pots. Exaggerated scale adds quirky drama to any space. Imagine if the cactus were only half the size…..ho hum, right?

Another great addition to a space is a collection of something…almost anything will work to entertain us. In this case, vintage dishes in bright colors make delicous eye candy.

For the fireplace, a simple arch of bricks with a brick hearth makes a modest historically accurate statement. The sofas are actually vintage Monterey pieces. The painting on the far wall is William Ritschel’s 1912 Desert Wanderers.


It’s always fascinating to see the exterior of a house after viewing the interior rooms. This one looks like a big old Spanish mission at festival time. ?Spanish Colonial Revival is one of the most ubiquitous and charming architectural styles in southern California. ?It is easy to spot because of the trademark red tile roofs with (usually) white stucco walls, arches, wrought iron grates, center courtyards, terra cotta tile floors, cactus and bouganvilea. And if they are lucky houses, they will have an owner who treasures them.

Photographs by Scott Frances from Architectural Digest / November 2008

This Soho (New York) pied-a-terre is a long shoe-box of a place measuring only 20 feet at its widest point by 100 feet long with three windows along the street side, and no other exposures. Intruding on that space is a stairwell and elevator shaft. Bottom line…this is less than 2000 square feet. But by the time interior designer Martin Raffone finished working his magic, the place appears to be much much bigger.

Painting the entire space white, including the ceilings and exposed pipes, was a great place to start. White brings light into darkness. Choosing contemporary furnishings was another brilliant choice. The sofa is sleek and deep. If you are looking for a reasonably priced contemporary sofa like this one you might want to check out the Mezzo sofa from Bo Concept.?Could the table pictured above be any more minimal and linear? How about the plain (but beautiful) unembellished kitchen cabinets? Every element is distilled to its most simple form.

Notice that there is no clutter at all. (Can we actually live like that? ….well, maybe for the photo shoot). The only real pattern in the room is the horizontal poplar plank wainscoting which cleverly encloses the seating area as a space divider. Fabrics and upholstered pieces are all solid colors giving the eye a chance to rest. Ah-h-h….rest.

Like we were saying….rest the eye. There’s no need to fill every nook and cranny with “stuff.” Using negative space as a design element is a clever way to create the illusion of large-ness. This fabulous bentwood chair is by Marc Newson.

More empty space with an exposed brick wall painted white. Again…no clutter. It’s elegantly simple.

Another “trick” that expands this space is the neutral color palette. White, black and various shades of tan and taupe. There is nothing loud and busy here. I feel calm and peaceful looking at this sleeping nook and bath. The floor is an ebonized maple. Very sophisticated.

The floor of this master bath is oiled recycled cypress and it extends into the shower with 1/4 inch gaps allowing for drainage. Wherever a flooring material can continue without a break, space will look bigger. In this instance, it is functional as well. The neutral colored mosaic tiles extend floor to ceiling making an interesting quiet little pattern.

The master bedroom continues the minimal theme so beautifully. Although I love the table lamp by?Luc Ramael table lamp, here’s an alternative with a metal mesh shade that will work just as well.

How do you make a small space feel large? Do it with authority! Paint it all white. Carefully place a few pieces of contemporary furniture within (leaving much of it empty). Clear out the clutter. If you aim for that and miss by a little bit, you might still love the results.

Photographs from Interior Design magazine / September 2008

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

Now that’s one beautiful sofa. It’s a Biedermeier….which is interesting to some of us but that doesn’t matter. The beautiful shape of the wood frame captivates my imagination! This is the home of the Fabrizio family, creators of Dedar fabrics, some of the most luscious designer fabrics you can ever imagine. Many are featured here in these photos. Funny story about the sofa. The Fabrizios spied it in a Como antiques store but were told that Versace had already bought it at auction. Within a few days a call came saying that the sofa had suddenly become available again. Asking why, they were told that because of it’s extreme width and length, the sofa had not been able to fit through the doors of the Versace villa.

When I saw this home, I knew I liked it but I couldn’t quite identify the reason. In order for me to feel comfortable in a house it must have a sense of order as well as good design elements. There needs to be continuity of color or style. Does this house have it? Yes, for the most part, it does. The purple chair in the living room threw me for a loop at first. It seemed out of place, somehow. But when I saw a second purple chair I felt more at ease. Don’t be surprised that I am talking about feelings. For many of us….perhaps most of us….interior design is about feelings. We ask ourselves “how do I feel in this room?” Our gut gives us the answer. But why? we ask. ?Sometimes it’s difficult to understand why we feel uncomfortable. It’s even more difficult to know what changes will make the room feel better. That’s where visual people have the advantage, particularly trained professionals. They can usually put their finger on what isn’t working and how to fix it. The purple and chartruse colors in this space make a statement. Look at me, they say! Surprised you, didn’t we? they say.

Here’s a beautiful little vignette composed of a French 19th c. painting, a Chinese table and objets d’arte. The yellow walls and dark woods are the overarching theme of this interior design.

The dining room features a very bold brown and white fabric on the drapes. This is a cotton/linen ikat pattern from the Dedar fabric collection. A Murano 1930′s chandelier hangs above the table. The chairs are handmade in Thailand. What a gorgeous window-door design….now that’s one to remember!

A continuation of yellow walls and dark wood in the graciously curved table. An Andy Warhol painting hangs on the wall above an attractive arrangement of books, collectible boxes, figures and small framed pieces.

I was surprised to see the bold fabric pattern brought in to the master bedroom. This repetition actually makes it easier to live with because it is predictable. Human beings need some predictability in order to feel secure. The headboard is generous and beautifully upholstered. The inlaid chair is Moroccan and it’s brown and white color echoes the printed bedspread.

Here’s a terrific use of black and white. The striped curtains have a very bold pattern, while the pillow shams have a very delicate pattern. So handsome together! To that we add the black and white photo (by Man Ray) and the black and tan serigraph (by Arakawa). And of course the black cast iron canopy bed. This is a beautiful, balanced composition. I am not one to always match art to the color scheme, but in this case it really looks wonderful. I am a bit surprised by the red walls in this room. It seems a bit of an abrupt change from the rest of the house. What do you think?

Here’s a corner of the family style kitchen with it’s collection of copper cookware hanging on a wall of locally made tile. The dark ceiling beams are a continuous theme through out this old home.

The patio of the gray vine covered home stone home in Fino Mornasco is part of a 17th c. villa where peasants raised silk worms and spun yarn for the silk industry in nearby Como. Lush wisteria grows in profusion.

Dedar is a family run business. Here they are in the textile studio amidst their latest luxurious fabric and wallpaper collections.

Photos courtesy of Veranda September 2009

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

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

The other side of the room is dominated by a nicely chosen complement to the James Nares painting. This one is a diptych by Joe Gaffney using bold color and generous amounts of white space. Although the cowhide rug (from Rug Company) stays within the color palette, its geometric pattern is strong and takes some guts to work with. Is it too much? John Barrett, well known hair stylist and owner of this Greenwich Village apartment, asked designer Joan Schindler to help him make the statement he wanted to make.?”My furnishings and my haircuts actually have something in common – they never shout.” Yes indeed, the rug has a bold pattern but… it is balanced well by lots of “negative space” in the room. Negative space is a very important balancing element of design. Not to be underestimated. We all need a space where there is nothing. The eye needs a place to rest. In this case, the negative space takes the form of plain white walls, solid fabrics and sleek tables.

I love the way the salmon color is carried in to this conversation and art nook.

The kitchen cabinets are plain and pale. The color approaches some of the carmel tones of the living room. I absolutely love this e-NOR-mous arrangement of greens. It’s huge and wild, with red berries. The assymetrical arrangement gives it a very casual feel.

The bedroom is simple and sleek. The Stafford bed from Crate & Barrel is the simplest possible design. Here’s another abstract painting by Joe Gaffney.

The seating area in the bedroom features a pod coffee table by Kelly Hoppen. Burlap pillows are thrown onto the sofa. A silkscreen by Eric Watson on the wall.

I am intrigued with this desk and assymetrical bookshelf. We are told that it was purchased at auction but I don’t know the manufacturer or even the era. My hunch is that it’s mid century modern. Any thoughts out there in reader land?

Here is John Barrett in his tiny but exquisitely designed patio.

Images courtesy of Elle Decor September 2007

Stylish. Masculine. Bold. This is the library of Moon Stone Farm, a 15 acre estate deep in the heart of Kentucky horse country. This timeless interior was created by its owners, Mark Badgely and James Mischka, whose other life revolves around New York’s glamourous fashion couture industry. The 1920′s stone home’s interior has been done almost entirely in black and white, with bare wood floors and no window treatments. But it is rich with tradition and it’s luxurious finishes invite comfort.

Leather sofas and barrel backed chairs are from?Restoration Hardware.

Here is the kitchen with its mismatched cabinets. While it is important for designers to be aware of current trends, and mismatched cabinets are indeed something that homeowners are asking for now….the purpose of this blog is to take a look at classic, timeless design and what makes it last and last over centuries and over continents. There are certain fundamental design principles that, when used, always end up with a fabulous result. The most important one is continuity. Carrying a theme throughout a home, from room to room. This kitchen uses white carrara marble atop dark wood cabinetry. Across from that we see polished black granite counters on top of white cabinetry. The retro subway tile backsplash surrounds the room and reaches almost to the ceiling line. Mismatched cabinets are charming because they seem to say “we used to have that look, but we like this better now…so we put it all together in one room.” It feels more “vintage”…as if the kitchen has been around for awhile and has seen a thing or two.

I love this corner of the kitchen. Isn’t it charming the way the cookbooks are arranged by color?

The master bedroom continues the running theme of classic black and white, with leather and dark woods. The pillow shams are from Leontine Linens. Although monogrammed linens are very much in keeping with this strongly traditional look….I would have had it done in a paler shade, like carmel lettering on a white field to pick up the color of the leather chaise. What do you think?

The bathroom tiles are floor to ceiling carrara marble. Extremely traditional and lovely. The pair of huge antique roof finials are a great touch. I try to use a couple of way way oversized pieces in every interior I do. That unexpected size is a jolt and adds energy to a room.

This photo reminds me of my childhood. I could look at it for hours. It’s my desk top photo right now. The blanket is vintage Ralph Lauren Home.

Just to give you a feeling of the magnificent property, here’s the black painted stable, riding ring and tack room.

Photos from Elle Decor September 2009

This beautiful piece of custom designed cabinetry makes a classic statement. It’s cornice is inspired by Paladian styles, and the white paint keeps the room pale. I really appreciate the well edited choice of books and accessories displayed in the shelves. Clean and uncluttered. The exquisite barrel-back wing chairs are genuine antiques…..that is to say, one of them is. The designer found one and wanted a pair, so she had the other one made to match. Many people who are not professional designers don’t know that you can actually design your own furniture and have a skilled upholsterer make it up for you. First a frame is built out of wood, and the shapes and curves are created with webbing, foam, cotton, down and springs. This chair is graceful and sculptural with a slim profile that gives it a sort of contemporary feel. Notice how the edge of the sisal rug is cut to run around the cabinet.

I love how the corner ceramic lamp echoes the deep red of the Scully painting.

Silk draperies are used here with simple pleats that are sewn on to the rings. The classic chandelier was found in pieces in a London antiques shop, purchased and reassembled for this traditional space.

This apartment is 2,200 square feet. Not huge. Efficient use of space and storage is important. Here is the guest room with it’s built in canopy daybed. The drawers beneath the cushion hold a multitude of essentials, and a trundle bed hides behind the baseboard. The pale colors and bare floor gives this small room a very open look. ?As you will see, every room in this apartment continues the running theme of a neutral color palette and the highest quality finishes. Continuity is the key to successful interior design. While this traditional style may not be your particular cup of tea, I hope you can see how well the designer accomplished a flow of color and design from room to room.

The master bedroom is luxurious but not over done. Beiges and whites don’t have to be boring, do they? The fabrics are very high quality, but quiet. Monogrammed euro style shams on the bed are a nice touch. I don’t think I have ever seen a chair pulled up to the desk at the foot of the bed. It looks great in this photo. The walls appear to be grasscloth…a great way to incorporate texture into a neutral room.

A small sitting area occupies the other side of the bedroom. Again, we see beautiful fabrics. Neutral chenille upholstery on the sofa next to an “airy acrylic table that takes up almost no visual space.” Large contemporary painting by Sam Samone.

Photos courtesy of Decor Magazine Late Summer 2009

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

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