Design Like the Pros | Saffronia Baldwin | Interior Designer | Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island

Classy Funky Teeny Tiny Apartment

2012-01-23T19:43:56Z

You wouldn’t think that 450 square feet would allow for much style, let alone breathing room but…miracles do happen in the world of interior design.

There are three tricks to making this iddy biddy Gramercy Park (NYC) ?apartment such a functional stylish place.

One is the willingness to pare down your possessions to the minimum. Two is to use a limited palette (in this case it is white with accents of black and tan). And three is to arrange furniture into mini-rooms so that each area has it’s reason for being. Above the mantel, homeowner and designer Ellen O’Neill has placed some topiary forms in an open arrangement full of character. I suspect she found them at a flea market.

A “long” view of the space describes the incredibly beautiful window wall. The seating area is on the right. The sleeping area is on the left defined by a custom made screen and daybed covered in a pale but elegant toile pattern.

How to Use Leaf Green for a Fabulous Fresh Interior

2012-01-02T21:20:52Z

Yellow-green is wildly popular but can you live with it in large quantity? Take a look at this house all done up in a leaf green and white monochromatic scheme, and let me know what you think.

It’s a country house created by textile designer C.J. Dellatore, using some of his own fabrics. Most of the floors are painted a mossy green, and the stairs treads are painted a light yellow-celadon.

“Green is the dominant color, but contained in a neutral envelope.” All greens are used (mostly the yellow variety) but set against white walls and other white elements, the effect is clean and modern. All I can say is….wow!….very well done!

Ribbon stripes from the C.J. Dellatore collection.

Photos courtesy of ?House Beautiful

Tiny Vintage Apartment Takes the Prize

2010-09-24T08:21:04Z

One wouldn’t think that 450 square feet would be enough to turn around in, much less breathe but….miracles do happen in the world of interior design.

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

How to Create An Authentic Rustic Interior

2010-09-24T08:22:49Z

All I can say is….I want to be here. The hand made rocker and soft pillows beckon to me. The dark primitive shelves of books speak my name. The lampshades made of string charm me.

A rumpled daybed by a cozy fire calls me, especially during a chilly summer thunderstorm. But enough poetry! Rustic interiors are not for everyone. Personally, I love the feel of it for a vacation home. If you want to bring this flavor into your own space, there are simple ways to do it. You will notice that almost every piece of furniture is made from sticks, branches and split tree trunks. The homeowners created this retreat on the shores of Saranac Lake in upper New York State and called it Tapawingo.

Indeed, their veins must be infused with “pioneer” blood. ?By that I mean they actually made most of the furniture themselves. I don’t know about you but I am not so ambitious. If I were creating a rustic cabin look my first stop would be antique stores, especially ones out in the country. But we can also shop for twig furniture online. There are many resources.

I have also seen wonderful rustic pieces made from reclaimed wood in www.wisteria.com and www.sundance.com.??Notice that the all of the fabrics are cotton or linen, soft and worn looking and kinda rumpled. Prewashed fabric is available from dealers. The pillows themselves are not to be filled very tight. I would definitely use down and feather and leave a lot of space inside the pillow cover for squashing.

This dining room captures my imagination. ?Fabric draped over the beams is a great touch.

Two birch four-poster beds are hung with nubby linen canopies.

The welcoming front porch gives us a closer look at the texture of the log exterior walls. When the bark is left on like this, it takes rustic to a new level. To recreate this type of cabin look, you will want to pay attention to your walls and trim. If you don’t have paneling,paint the walls a dark color. Recycled wood anywhere (the mantel, for example) will really make ?that charming rough hewn statement you are going for. Stay away from polished finishes of any sort. Zinc and iron, pewter and tin are best.

I can’t resist showing you a photo of the A-frame chapel, the scene of many a wedding, baptism and ceremony (the owner is a minister). Rustic spaces certainly have their place in the world and in our culture. The extreme informality gives us permission to be ourselves….which is the most relaxing thing of all.

Photographs from Homestyle Magazine

Contemporary Factory Loft in Milan

2010-09-24T08:23:21Z

While the outside shell of this factory building in Milan’s Navigli District is probably rusty steel and darkened stone, the inside is a large sleek white space with minimal furnishings. For me, that is part of the magic of lofts. In geode-like fashion, the outside is a rough and craggy crust but… it opens into a brilliant gemstone that fascinates. Although contemporary interiors can often be sterile and uninviting, this one is not (for me, anyway). Why? It’s the exposed concrete trusses that still exist from the old factory days. Their irregular soot smudged finish seem to say “yes, workers toiled here doing their jobs for the community.” There is a history here and it brings humanity into the interior design. ?Thus sculptural stainless steel chair is ‘Lofty” from MDF Italia. The area rug is a 1970′s Taporso.

Double clerestory windows distinguishes this factory building from most others. This is called a doppia columbina, or ‘double dove’ in Italian. The owner and designer of the space, Toni Meneguzzo, recognized the great gift that these windows provide with the extraordinary amount of light that will enter there. Meneguzzo is a fashion-turned-interior photographer and, as you can see from these photos, has an eye for composition.

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

A Sleekly Polished Interior Can Be Warm and Inviting Too

2010-09-24T08:24:14Z

The interior design of this home is the epitome of continuous flow (some readers know that this is my favorite subject!). Whether you like this style or not, It is an absolutely text book example of successful decorating from the point of view of establishing a theme and sticking to it. Neutral colors continue from room to room to room, with accents of bronze, gold, rusty red and blue. It is clean and uncluttered, but we are not bored. No….there is enough eye candy assembled on shelves and tabletops to keep us interested while still allowing us room to breathe. Luscious expensive fabrics and simple, classically designed furnishings. This is the home of Dallas designer George Cameron Nash and his partner Mark Williams.

A sensational bookcase display is created by mirroring the backs of the cubby holes. ?One or so well chosen objects is placed in each compartment with lots of “air” around it. Not too chock-a-block full. There seems to be a running theme of collectibles from the Far East mixed with red and blue coral to establish that color palette into the room.

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

The Tea House – A Minimalist Sanctuary

2010-09-24T08:24:45Z

This Japanese style teahouse is in Hungary, of all places… nestled in the foothills between Hloubetin and Prague. What an beautiful sanctuary for mediation or quiet conversation. Designed by architect David Mastalka of A1 Architects, this little space ?is covered with a circular dome roof and has a tiny sunken hearth in the floor to prepare tea. That’s it. The only furniture is a teapot. The epitome of minimalism. What a relief from our crazy material world!

This next teahouse was designed by well known architect Terunobu Fujimori who includes a tea room in many of his residential designs. This one perches on a tree top. Find more photos of his amazing work in Dwell Magazine.

Photos from Furniture Fashion

Interior Design With Boldness and Balance

2010-09-24T08:25:27Z

I was excited to pick up the August issue of House Beautiful magazine because it asks the question “What Makes a Room Great?” This beautiful bright turquoise room designed by?Bunny Williams for New York’s Kips Bay Showhouse is a wonderful example of “great.” It’s a show stopper full of gorgeous color and interesting furnishings. All well and good….and easy to say. But, the question is why? Why is this room so fabulous?

In my opinion, it takes guts to paint a wall a color like this. (Benjamin Moore’s California Breeze) and to have the room still be livable. The reason we can live with it is because it is balanced out by lots of neutrals and darks. There is plenty of white in this room. This cuts the turquoise like tonic cuts gin. The golden area rug, deeper golden leather ottoman, and rich brown velvet sofa are neutrals that pale out that big turquoise statement. The room has symmetry, and we all love that. Two large paintings on the wall, pairs of objects on the mantel, and more. But the designer has surprised us by interrupting the circle of chairs with a single red contemporary chair (the famous Egg Chair). Unexpected? Totally! Are we thrown off balance? No! One reason we are not thrown off balance by this is that the red color is repeated elsewhere. The back panels of the chairs are upholstered in a red ikat pattern and a vase of red flowers sits on the table behind the chair. This keeps the color in balance.

The pair of artichoke paintings are by Sarah Graham. I don’t know the exact size but I am guessing 42′ wide by 54″ high. Bold of scale. This designer is not afraid to go there, and it certainly creates drama. I encourage people to use larger scaled accessories than they think will work. Take what’s “appropriate” and double the size. Do this once or twice in each room and see how it makes you feel.

A front view of the brown velvet sofa with its nail heads and narrow arms, shows a display of loved appliqued fabrics. The wall color is repeated here, which enhances both the wall and the fabric. The other major bright color in the room is this lovely mango/orange. Notice the very high oversized urn behind the sofa, and the large contemporary metal sculpture on the wall to the left. The brown picks up the sofa’s color. This kind of color repetition makes us happy (I’m not joking) and is one of the reasons this room is so great.

This is a view of the other end of the room. The golden/mango fabric on the dining chairs beautifully echoes the sisal rug and throw pillows and even the honey colored floor. Of the size of the bookcase, Williams said “You’ve got to get your proportions right… I had the fireplace and the big strong botanicals, so I wanted the other end {of the room} to have the big strong bookcase.” The room itself has great bones including an extremely high ceiling which the designer wanted to show off to its greatest potential. Hence, the large scale and tall furnishings and the pale gray paint above. This next view shows us another angle of the dining table with its extraordinarily tall planters.

Pulling off an interior like this really takes confidence and vision. Extreme color. Extreme scale. And a fascinating combination of furnishings, antique and new.

Photos from House Beautiful August 2009

Interior Design Using Big Graphic Shapes

2010-09-24T08:26:11Z

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

Using Collections for Interior Design Impact

2010-09-24T08:27:17Z

What is a collection? A group of things that are the same….right? Sometimes they are exactly the same. Sometimes they are the same color, but a different shape. And sometimes they are the same shape but a different color. ?Regardless of which type we are looking at, I have found myself completely intrigued with collections. Maybe you are too.

I want to introduce you Shokusai Ishikura ?whose design firm?Super Potato produces unique “hospitality” spaces (hotels and restaurants). ?As you will see, Ishikura gets an A+ in Collection Design. They are the theme that runs through a restaurant design project in Kirishima City, Japan (called Myoken Ishaharaso).?The cool thing about this gracious private dining space pictured above is that it is entirely “zen” and uncluttered. Peaceful. Inviting. And yet the whole right wall is a tidy assemblage of antique clocks and hard backed books, organized tightly together in a beautiful composition.

Here’s a head on view of the wall. Each clock is different in some ways but the same in others. Repetition and variation. That’s the key to an interesting collection!

Each private dining room is set apart from the next with a partition made up of one or more collections.This one features red laquerware .

Bowls and trays stacked up…all the same delicious color. Lovely shapes, aren’t they? I have always admired the elegant simplicity of these everyday dishes. And… they are in no way expensive collectibles. They are ordinary garden variety dishes that make an impactful design statement, especially when grouped together.

This partition is made of a collection of clock innards on the left and building materials and scraps on the right, all held in place by a pine wood frame.

Here are yet more common objects. A large grouping of antique tools seem to float in the air. Actually they are hanging upon metal pegs attached to a glass panel for a see through effect.

In the lounge guests gather around a stone hearth which warms their tea in an iron pot. The wall to the right displays a collection of glass bottles of varying shapes and sizes.

Simple wooden shelves hold earthenware jars, urns, pitchers, vases and pots of similar shape and size. Consider how the repeated shapes add impact to the display.?Most of the partition components were gathered locally within a few miles of the inn and by the restaurant owners. It is easy and fun to make collections out of common and uncommon objects. Buddhas, buttons, pine cones, beaded purses, vanity mirrors, old hockey sticks and tennis rackets, terra cotta dishes, antique metal toy trucks, shells, crystal candlesticks, copper things, silver things and more.

For lots more interesting information on making your own collections click on these other Design Like The Pros articles:

Accessorize With Collections
The Mother of All Collections
Accessorizing With Wow!

Photographs are from Interior Design Magazine June 2008

Minimal to the Max

2010-09-24T08:28:01Z

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

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

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

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

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

Above from Shelter Magazine – July/August 2007.

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Fishing Hut Turned Art Studio on the Coast of France

2010-09-24T08:29:17Z

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

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

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

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

The outdoor work table.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Happens When Rustic Meets Industrial?

2010-02-17T00:48:09Z

Behold the “no color” home of designer Jill Sharp Brinson in Atlanta, Georgia. Brinson is also known as the Creative Director of Ballard Designs (catalog) which is famous for it’s tasty other world European flavored home decor items. If you don’t know Ballard, you really should check it out! The living room pictured above is a graceful and curious mixture of rustic beams, high warehouse style ceilings and french curved furnishings. The color palette throughout the home is a variety of mushroom tones set alongside crisp white. the touch of magenta seen here in the flowers and throw can be easily changed out to another color accent. A clever way to add ?color to an otherwise neutral landscape. A good rule of thumb is to never use a color just once. Always repeat it once or twice as the designer does here, to create balance.

Here is one end of the European flavored dining area. The metal divided pane windows which look like they could have been salvaged from a turn-of-the-last-century factory provide a running theme through the house. The industrial table is covered with a large cowhide of all things. Not something I would have thought of….that’s for sure. The cabinet finish is a multi layered mix of white and gray glazes creating a limed or pickled look that echoes the taupe-y wood floor finish. Seeing dishes through chicken wire conjures up ?a country French marketplace.

This dramatic arched kitchen window reaches 14 feet high and dominates the kitchen….in a beautiful way. Though the metal table looks antique, it is actually a?Martha Stewart design which came with a cherry wood top that has been swapped out with a piece of white polished marble. Again, the happy color accent of bright orange flowers and repeated with the bowl of fruit can be instantly changed to something fresh and new when the spirit moves you.

In the kitchen, upper cabinets were eliminated in favor of the garden view. This house is infused with light through oversized industrial style windows in every room.

The living room features one door trimmed out in the traditional style and the other in barn beams. In the designer’s words “It’s wonky, and it looks like a million bucks.” I agree. It’s a fascinating idea that’s assymetrical but balanced!

The tub looks like a trough surrounded by old barn siding complete with it’s retro style faucet emerging from the wall. Just the look they were going for.

The custom made bathroom vanity is modeled after a French draper’s table complete with Rohl‘s Bridge faucets in Tuscan Brass. That nifty mirror is from Target and works like a charm next to the vase of the same polished pewter finish.

Photos courtesy of House Beautiful / December-January 2010

A New Generation of Fireplaces

2010-01-12T19:03:42Z

Sleek and sculptural, many of the new gas fireplaces on the market today are also portable, smokeless and environmentally friendly. There is nothing that adds atmosphere to a room more than a warm flame. Candles are excellent. Fireplaces are divine! It all falls under the category of “lighting”…the sexiest part of interior design.

Thanks for?Furniture Fashion (one of the most fun design websites I know) for these great photos. Please click the link for sources.

Old Country Charm

2009-12-29T12:25:00Z

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

Asian Interior in Sophisticated Silver

2009-12-03T10:15:00Z

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

How to Use Architectural Salvage in Interior Design

2009-11-20T14:16:25Z

One of the quickest ways to add personality and drama to an interior is to incorporate a piece of architectural salvage into your design. What is architectural salvage? It is something that has been torn out of an older building, scooped up by a collector or dealer, and made available for sale….often for very little money. Architectural salvage pieces might be made of rock, wood, glass or metal. They include mantels, doors, windows, brackets and korbels, banisters and railings, exterior friezes, columns, sinks, faucets, doorknobs, and all sorts of other things that were built in to the old place. They are often decoratively carved or displaying an interesting finish, such as layers of paint that are partially pealed away. Frequently these unique finds have barely escaped the wrecking ball when a house or building was torn down. Take from the old…and install in the new(er). That’s the game, and no rules apply. You can install anyTHING you want, anyWHERE you want. However, there are some helpful guidelines that will make the most of your precious find and keep you from getting into too much trouble. This article shows you beautiful examples which will inspire you to go out hunting… perhaps next Saturday morning. It’s a great big cut above garage sales and can turn your house into a place that you love and that visitors never ever forget.

In the photo above we see someone’s creative idea for using a fragment of a corinthian column capital. It was about the same height as the kitchen cabinets and so it was installed as an additional support for the counter. The beautiful thing about most rock pieces is that they blend with just about any style interior. It’s difficult to say what style this kitchen is anyway…but doesn’t it bring memorable character to the space!?!

When you find an appealing artifact made of rock, such as this beautiful goddess, buy it and make yard art out of it. Let Mother Nature do its thing and grow around and upon it. This creates a sense of history that can’t come any other way.

I love this handsome wood archway. As you can see from it’s simple design, it doesn’t need to be carved or fancy to look good. The shape of the arch is absolutely elegant! (with no further embellishment needed). When found it was hidden beneath layers of paint. The homeowner had the vision to strip away the paint and apply some stain which ties it nicely into the rest of the house.

Here is one of the cleverest uses of architectural salvage I have ever seen. Do you see a mantel here?……Did you have to look twice? Yes, you guessed it. It’s the console table. Perhaps some resourceful person with a keen design eye saw the beauty of the wood carvings, but had no need for another mantel in their house. So they cut off the top approximately 20″ (same height as the chair seat) and attached it to the wall. Et voila! Accessorized with a mirror and a vase of flowers, it makes a beautiful vignette in an entry hall.

Shutters abound in the salvage world. And in most cases we can easily understand why they have been discarded and left homeless. However, there are some lovely unusual ones out there and these “wave-slats” are very charming, are they not? The pealed paint finish is perfect for a french country interior. The shutters have simply been screwed to an interior wall of the home. A pot of geraniums beneath gives it balance and creates an attractive composition.

If you hunt, you can easily find wood columns to install somewhere in your home. Some are smooth and round, some are smooth and square…these are fluted and round. A bit of an ancient Greek flavor to them. The best location for a pair of columns is flanking a doorway, either against the wall or within the door frame. If you only find one column, and you love it, buy it and attach it to a wall where one room transitions into another.

Brackets also abound in the world of salvage. I have seen many which are distressed beyond recognition, and just not that pretty. This is a particularly beautiful one and some lucky person had just the doorway for it. What do these things cost? Need I say that this depends upon whether you are buying from a trendy Soho (New York) dealer or from a collector in Independence, Kansas where my friends live. I saw one like this (about 24″ high) last year in Seattle with a pricetag of $475.

Interesting glass windows can add a phenomenal amount of elegance to a space. This gothic arched window set above an antique copper tub creates the bathing nook one might dream about. Just a little warning, when installing “found” windows be sure to calculate size. If you are not a professional carpenter, you will want to hire one for this sort of retrofitting project. It’s possible that a window this size may require demo of supporting wall studs and it could get ugly if you attempt it yourself. Another wonderful way to use salvaged windows is on interior walls between rooms. This allows light to pass from room to room in an unusual way.

Vessel sinks are very popular these days. Of course, they are not really new. They are inspired by the old pre-plumbing bowl and pitcher that sat atop the dresser…in your great grandmother’s day. Here’s a salvaged drop in wash basin that has been placed upon a simple marble counter, allowing the chrome drain pipe to be exposed for all to see. The mirrors look as though they were stolen from my son’s diesel pickup truck. Big and heavy duty and mounted within two chrome towel bars placed vertically.

We have merely scratched the surface of the fascinating subject of architectural salvage, which is enjoying even more popularity now that our consciousness has been raised about recycling and reusing old things. There is so much more to show you, more stories to tell and so many exciting things for you to create. I plan to revisit the subject in the future so check back in with Design Like the Pros for more information. Suffice it to say that salvage “yards” exist in most large metropolitan areas as well as many small towns around the world. My favorite spot in Seattle, WA is Earthwise, Inc. Building Salvage. Another one that has attracted my attention is Black Dog Salvage and Architectural Antiques in Roanoke, VA. In the meantime, please send me the names of your favorite salvage yards and I will publish them for everyone to read.

Photos from Decorating With Architectural Details by Michael Litchfield – Friedman/Fairfax Publishers – Copywright 1995

Kenya Beach House

2009-11-13T10:23:34Z

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

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

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

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

Photographs from The World of Interiors October 2008

Masculine in Manhattan

2009-11-04T20:28:00Z

I am blown away by the dark richness of this town house designed by Brown Cranna and Douglas Callaway, partners at New York design firm Studio Luxe. Although the walls are a pale cream, the rugs and upholstery feature deep rich blues, earthy bronzes and delicious caramels. Why do these rooms work so well? And why do they telegraph masculinity? Like many of the favorite rooms I blog about, the color palette is extremely limited and it continues through the house as you will see when you scroll down. The use of just a few colors frees up the visual energy to engage more interesting textures. This is important. The overall effect is restful…not chaotic as it might have been with more colors. The entire color scheme appears in the quietly designed wool rug (Odegard’s Youngtse Ropes) as if it were a springboard to the rest of the room. There is nothing ornate here. Solid slate lamps set upon limestone side tables, walnut herringbone floors, woven wools, coffee brown leathers and velvets. The homeowner wanted a “dark, smoking club feel” and it was successful. Unembellished. Solid. A beautiful room to sit with a brandy and breathe.

The dining space features a substantial octagonal deco dining table with simple lines, more subtle blue fabric and a large contemporary painting in textured honeys and browns. The arrangement of laurel greens is very tailored and masculine. It looks as though it might have been cut from a shrub in the garden (although….maybe not…it’s Manhattan after all).

The bedroom. Hmmm. I could go there. How can something be so minimal and yet so luxurious?
The wall color is slightly deeper than the livingroom but stays within the palette. Fine smoothe fabrics in rich dark royal and taupe make up the bedding. And, the piece de resistance…an antique carved wood panel above the headboard (was it torn from the mantel of an 18th century italian villa?). Because very few ornate items have been used in the space, this carving provides a powerful counterpoint to the otherwise simple elegance.

Interior Design Out of Africa

2009-10-31T00:28:14Z

In the highlands of Kenya, 6,000 feet above sea level, stands a lodge with a cluster of stilt houses that have become a hotel of sorts. Ngong House was built by a Belgian engineer, Paul Verleysen who imagined it as a “soulful alternative to the hotels in town” which are modern air conditioned high rises.

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