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

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.

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.

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.

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

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