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.

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Often when we meet a “cool and clean” space we feel bored and uninspired.

But not always….and not this time. This minimal sleek space is filled…but not too filled…with character. WON-derful combinations of contemporary and ethnic! Just the right amount of color and contrast to give it a heartbeat, yet keeping it calm and peaceful at the same time. This is exactly what the owner wanted. ?The owner is Hollywood jewelry designer Loree Rodkin and she, her inciteful eye and her ability to travel, pulled this place together with truly a magic touch. Notice the polished limestone floors and macasser ebony bookcase displaying petrified wood pieces.

Neutrals can be so fascinating. How so? This is not simply gray, white and black. This room contains atleast twenty different grays and blacks. And white for contrast. In one glance our eye takes in gold at least four times…the Thai temple fragment leaning against the wall, the distinctly asian mudra hand on the coffee table, warm color elements in the framed photo images and the hanging basket lamps. A good designer will always plan a composition as if looking through a camera lens. ?The repetition of gold and the balance of black, white and gray give this room a tranquil sense of balance.

Isn’t this room beautiful? All pieces are good, but the combination is exquisite. And that’s the key. The carving of the 17th century Chinese daybed brings pattern to the space. The silver silk pillow reflects light. The woven rope stool and large teak Buddha are further reminders of an “artist’s hand.” All floating in a sea of neutral… as the Edward Lentsch contemporary artwork creates continuity by tying all of these colors together.

This is a simple master bedroom. A calm place to wind down. In keeping with the rest of the home, there is nothing too flashy here except for more luscious silver silk pillows set against a luxurious and tactile gray suede headboard. ?The walls are wrapped in striated raw silk. Another fabulous large scale Buddha sits against a pair of inlaid bone Indian mirrors. The huge variety of scale from e-NOR-mous to very very small brings drama to the space and that wow! factor that makes an indelible impression on our minds.

Photos from Elle Decor October 2007

What a lusciously inviting living room this is. And how cleverly accessorized!?Designer Nancy Boszhardt has created quite a statement for her client’s Tudor style home. In this view we see the artful combining of a traditional Persian rug, a French Art Deco style coffee table and French Arte Moderne screen and Danish ceramics. These surprise elements keep us awake and interested. The key here, however, is the way Boszhart uses the rug as a jumping off place.?”Once we found the rug, everything fell into place –the color palette, the mix of antiques and modern furniture.” The colors of the sofa’s throw pillows were chosen because they are the “happiest” colors in the rug.?The blue leans toward turquoise. When combined with apricot, it tells a slightly off-beat color story. The pillows (undoubtedly custom made) are fabulous for two reasons. One -They are generously sized, probably 24″ square. Two – They are filled with a down-and-feather combination….you can tell by the way the fabric bends and wrinkles over the pillow form ?(the inside). This filling conforms to your back when you sit down. Most store bought pillows are not made like this and are very disappointing.

I have never seen this kind of rug treatment on a stairwell. The elongated vine travels up and up, each stair is different. This is the designer’s own creation and the rug is custom made. It has an Arts and Crafts flavor that blends well here in this Tudor style house because, back in the day, those two styles were combined often. ?A cluster of African wood sculptures stand in the entry. Collections are a dramatic way to accessorize. In this case, the statues are all made of the same material (wood) and are more or less the same color (shades of dark brown). That’s what ties them together. However….they are different because some are tall and some are short. This collection uses the same-but-different principle and it’s very effective.

It was decided that the typical dark Tudor kitchen wasn’t bright and young enough for these homeowners, so they chose a sand color for the perimeter cabinets and the island is painted a midnight blue. That amazing cooking range is a La Cornue. The hood was custom designed by architect Radoslav Opacic. The countertops are limestone slab.

The breakfast room features a beautiful huge leaded glass window. The chandelier made from a French “cloche.” Do you know what that is? It’s a glass cover that protects plants from the cold. (I never knew that!) It was purchased from a local antique dealer.

The master bedroom is still another example of skillfully done eclecticism. Notice the straight lines of the contemporary four poster bed…set next to an ornately carved unusually narrow Louis XVI bench. Look up and you will see a pair of wildly fun and whimsical “galaxy” chandeliers.

Here is the elegant master bath done up in marble (that is no longer available). The architect’s placement of the black veining really shows off the stone to its best advantage. It’s a delicious and cohesive house that flows so beautifully from room to room.

Photos from House Beautiful June 2008 and Boszhardt website

Their work and the interior of their home have a lot in common. Informal and unrefined, each piece reflects a true passion for color, design and age. There seems to be an overriding respect for the process of making something in stages. Notice cabinet panels that are partially painted leaving a patchwork of earlier layers of paint and no paint at all. Is this a work in progress? or do the artists call it complete because it pleases them to do so?

Not to say that we all would be happy living with this level of unfinishedness…if that’s a word. But there is something to be learned here. Something to reflect upon. The haphazard combinations are eye catching indeed. Perhaps I am a bit too uptight with my design approach. I can learn a thing or two from the Squires. I happen to love the black and white checks thrown in to the mix. And here is the other half of the kitchen…

The tiles that surround the stove were designed and made in their studio. The wall features earthenware plates from around the world.

As with their rustic pottery, their home’s design seems to have its “roots in rural cultures all over the world, from Romania to the Islamic world, from Morocco to Alsace.” Notice the colorful fabric panels hanging in the livingroom… and again, attached to the wall under the pictures like a woven wainscotting. The door features a stained glass panel depicting a wild boar, the animal for which this house is named. Maison des Sangliers.

In the bedroom, plywood was pulled off the cupboard doors revealing panels of vintage wallpaper. The look pleased them so much that they varnished the doors to stop the decay just exactly as it was. The wall were stripped too and given a light wash of pink.

A roll of 1980′s Laura Ashley wallpaper decorates a corner of the bedroom. One gets the feeling the owners like it just as it is…not attached in the traditional wallpaper way but rather, hanging as a piece of art with the slight rounded bend in the paper, casting its shadow upon the wall.

Here is the exterior of the 500 year old house. Maison des Sangliers on the Place du Marche’ au Ble’

and here are Andy and Claire Squire in their garden.

Photos courtesy of The World of Interiors October 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

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

Are you ready for the black walls……?

The reason the darkest-of-all-colors works so well here is because there is black in the adjacent foyer….so we kind of had a hint it was coming. And because the white fireplace, polar bear print and other accessories lightens it up and makes it not so heavy. The bright blue ping pong table top does not seem to relate to anything else in the house. For that reason I would have slapped a coat of paint on it and called it good (such as a lime green or the tan of the rustic bench).

The airy open kitchen is painted a midnight blue which is, indeed, another dark color. But the white tin ceiling and white marble mosaic flooring provides a crisp contrast that turns what could have been a heavy room, into a light room. The white linen wing chairs are a wonderful touch in this kitchen. You kinda want to settle in for wine and conversation, yes? Reflective hotel silver upon open shelves makes a bright glamorous statement.

I love the seafoam green of the fabric upholstery (again, from Smith’s own fabric collection for Kravet) and the jute rug.

The next room is pink. Take a look and tell me what you think of it.

Does it relate to the rest of the house? The white woodwork does. The jute rug does. But does the room need some black to ground it to the adjacent rooms? In all fairness, it is sometimes difficult to tell from photos in a magazine article. The upholstery is beautifully detailed.

Here is one side of the master bathroom with it’s elegant white marble walls. The skirted sink is so-o-o romantic.?I am happy and somewhat relieved to see black and white again, after the big statement made in the other rooms. Sconces are from Pottery Barn and that is an antique French repousse’ mirror.

The other side of the master bath shows us a lovely example of great accessorizing. Of course the orange is…pow! Repeating it three or four times in different ways holds the entire picture together….and it even trails into the next room in the form of a throw over the chair arm. The console table is Louis XVI gilt.

I am always interested in people’s closets. Are you?

Our last photo (below) is the master bedroom. A gold embroidered fabric was used to enclose the canopy bed, creating a “little jewel box.” A more tender pink velvet covers the chaise at the foot of the bed creating a sort of Hollywood Regency look to the room.

Photos from House Beautiful September 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

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

This bedroom lives in Paris in a four room apartment in the 7th arrondisment. It is the home of Vincent Darre, a designer’s designer. His resume is long and impressive including the likes of Yves St. Laurent. Prada and Karl Lagerfield. Creative director of L’Uomo Vogue. Darre decorated “thousands” of parties and dressed thousands of party goers. Now in mid life he has embarked on a new phase of creativity which includes furniture and lighting collections for his brainchild Maison Darre. Here you see the “Vertebrae Chair,” his own design from a new collection of furniture inpired by bones.

The dramatic blue canopy bed is flanked by tables with tibia legs upon which icons, votive plaques and cow skulls. The wing lamp is a Darre design.

I am not posting these photos because I understand the design. In this case…words escape me.?Try as I might, I am unable to get into this designer’s mind. However, I really admire his freedom. I admire his ability to follow his quirky ideas and see them manifest into unique pieces of furniture. This liberated creativity is what separates “artists” from “others.” Notice the pelvis coffee table. It holds Yayoi Kusama’s copper colored shoes under glass bells. I love velvet sofas. I can definitely relate to velvet sofas.

This end of the room is a wild mixture of gilt scrolls, contemporary chairs by Knoll, glass tables and a 1950′s rug. The scrolls look like they were salvaged but we are told they were copied from a Sicilian chapel frame. I don’t know why they are there but I think it is good for all of us design junkies to expose ourselves to extremes. How do we feel when we see this room? Are we suddenly inspired to cover our upholstered pieces in jewel toned velvet?

The hall features Darre’s skeletal folding screen. The walls are lined with natural-history illustrations. And here is a photo of the man himself, Vincent Darre.

Be sure to check out Apartment Therapy’s post on Vincent Darre which includes other photos of the bone inspired furniture.

Photos from The World of Interiors November 2008

If clients asked me to design their interior with an orange theme, I would do it like these designers have done. Sparingly. Orange is a beautiful color, but an intense one. When you walk into a room that contains even just a little orange, that’s the color you remember when you leave that room. The lively woman in this French poster above is dressed in oranges and rusts. It packs such a big punch that little more is needed. But a little is indeed needed. ?It is important to tie the orange to something else in the room so it is not all alone. Et voila’ – the designer has repeated the color (or something close enough) in the throw pillow and the coffee table book cover.

In the adjacent study a few bright touches of orange appear. The Pierre Cardin lamp with it’s orange silk shade makes a stylish statement. It nicely complements the other contemporary ?lamp with it’s brown velvet shade. The soft orange wool throw, vase of orange flowers sitting atop an orange book and just enough orange. No more is needed.

This interior is a combination of traditional and contemporary. The architecture is remodeled Spanish style bungalow so popular in Los Angeles, California. Enormous doors imported from France connect many of the rooms, and angular streamlined geometric art adorns the wall of the hall.

Deep rich brown is the the color that grounds all the orange. In the kitchen the cabinets, brown subway tiled back splash and long narrow island table all serve to keep those rust terrazzo tiles from “floating” up off the floor.

The dining room features a graceful Kneedler-Fauchere round table, custom designed drum shaped iron chandelier, and botanical prints with a touch of orange. This house is relatively small…less than 2000 square feet. But the ceilings were raised during the remodel giving it a more gracious and spacious feeling.

An antique Gothic chandelier hangs dramatically in the master bedroom, it’s drum shape echoing the
one above the bath tub. No orange in sight here. Did the owners think it might keep them awake at night?

Here’s a photo of the terrace and gardens at dusk. I love the stone columns made from reclaimed limestone. The plantings are lush. The fountains play their music. Who would have known this was formerly a simple backyard behind a plain little bungalow?

Photos from Western Interiors & Design June/July 2007

How would this fireplace look if it were breathing flames? Fascinating! This big mouthed god of sorts is the creation of internationally influenced artist Pedro Freideberg who is of German heritage but has lived in and studied in many of the world’s cultures. Hence, he has absorbed the dreams of others and has given birth to many visual fantasies of his own. The fireplace lives in Casa Diana, a bed & breakfast/gallery in the small artsy colony of San Miguel de Allende, north of Mexico City. It’s owner, Carmen Gutierrez, has created rooms around her former husband’s art and it has become a gallery of much interest.

How did they pull off this great example of eclecticism? An over-the-top ornate guilded mirror next to a cow hide upholstered loveseat . What makes the loveseat work is the fact that it’s frame is ornate…similar to the mirror. This creates a graceful transition that we always seek in interiors. The cow hide is a wild idea. Who would have thought of it?! But it works because the colors are all from the same section of the color wheel in the white-gold-brown range…another graceful transition. This is a beautiful mixture of “same and different.”

The artist is often asked to explain his repeated use of hands. Hands everywhere. What do they mean? But he does not explain this. It is his surreal visual expression. Did Picasso explain his guitars?!?! The Louvre has one of his hands and we are told that his work is followed by many a discerning collector.

The exterior of Casa Diana is “alive” with Pedro’s art. He has framed the windows in slithering snakes, and an Aztec looking mask with his signature hands has the personality of Mexican folk art.

Atop the building, a cast head of Michelangelo’s David stands watch over the town of San Miguel.

Here is another beautiful plaster fireplace in an equestrian theme. The dynamic horses are Italian Renaissance inspired. And scroll down to see some other pieces that are housed at Casa Diana. Art commentators observe Indian iconic forms and colors as well as Hebrew, Islamic and Chinese symbols in Freideberg’s work. Regardless, it is obvious that this artist knows how to use visual language for a powerful impact.

It would be quite an adventure to stay in this B&B/Gallery but we are told that there remains only one room for guests because all of the others have been crowded out by the art.

Photos from The World of Interiors March 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

….but it’s in London, of all places. This is a four storied residence of Victorian proportions, with one high ceilinged room after another. The designers here are the Real Deal. Both from Italy, Laura Sartori Rimini specializes in historic preservation and her partner Roberto Pregalli apprenticed with the famed italian interior designer Renzo Mongiardino who designed movie sets for Franco Zeferelli among others. I am mentioning this to point out how the apple does not fall far from the tree. This London home is filled with historic references of theatrical proportions.?The homeowners asked for “very homey, very cozy” and….by golly….they got that in spades.?How is “cozy’ created in such an enormous mansion of a home? Well, let’s look at the above dressing room. The chestnut paneled walls are one of the coziest finishes one can possibly imagine. Into this space is placed a capacious and inviting Empire bed with a patterned spread and various pillows literally thrown upon it. The seasoned antique rug and dark framed late 19th century seascape add more to this sense of history. The lighting?….soft, ofcourse.

The drawing room features hand painted wall motifs inspired by similar ones in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. ?The patterned rug, and antiques from Russia, France and England combine to create that lived in look of coziness.

The master bedroom is an Ode to Pattern….layers and layers of it. The antique paisley coverlet plays beautifully against the multiple patterned walls. Ordinarily the use of this much pattern feels chaotic to me. I literally cannot wait to leave the room. ?But this does not feel that way at all! Why? Because everything is muted and antiqued. The patterns are not full of contrast. They are softened, as if they have been washed thousands of times. I love being in a space where things have been well used and well loved.

Isn’t this a stunning bathroom!? Bold yellow and black striped walls set against a bold yellow and black marble floor. 18th century engravings and contemporary rattan baskets soften the edges.

One of the libraries features a parquet floor, faux painted books within the custom bookcase, and what looks like decorative hand painted border in the ceiling cove.

The second library, pictured to the right, features patchwork curtains of all things. Also a gilt wood sofa covered in red silk velvet and an 18th century Ottoman portrait. In this eclectic London home, the designers achieved their goal of creating a space that “resembles a Pall Mall gentlemen’s club.”

Photos from Elle Decor /April 2008

What makes this vignette so powerful? So dramatic? New York designer Bunny Williams has combined a number of fascinating objects with genius and flair. The giant scale of the tortoise shell takes guts, does it not? However, it works when balanced against the graphically bold black mirror frame. The curve of the apron on the Italian table softens the look. Further softening happens with more delicate fabricates and inlaid chairs from India. Notice that the palette is neutral. It spans the range of black to caramel to brown…all played against a crisp white wall. There’s lots of texture here!!! I can’t take my eyes off this picture.