Vintage

A lot has been written about the green element of using vintage furniture. Giving furniture an extended life is good for all of us.

Vintage

There's something else great about using vintage furniture.

You get to redecorate.

This vintage chair in a bold stripe takes on a new personality.

New To You

A tattered chair becomes new again in a silver grey chenille fabric.

A chair redone in a soft white velvet.

Whether you buy vintage and renew it or recreate a piece you already own you get new to you furniture for less than the price of buying new.

Renewed furniture

Repainting this table adds a new level of charm and glamour.

A worn out 60's headboard becomes fashionable again with updated fabric and a faux finish on the trim.

Renewed vintage furniture adds an important layer to good design. The classic lines take on a new life with fresh updated fabric and trim or a coat of paint.

Milo Baughman chair

This classic Milo Baughman chair was a classic mess when I found it.

It was ripped, torn, tarnished and it smelled bad. The chair was rebuilt from the inside out. New foam and padding replaced the broken down existing stuffing. A lush cut velvet fabric was used to reupholster. A designer classic was infused with new life.

Mid Century Vintage

The scale and proportion of mid century furniture suits today's streamlined design sensibility.

Renewing and reusing these pieces makes good sense design wise and money wise.

Happy Holidays

The holidays are great wherever you are. Being with friends and family make it a special time. Have fun, enjoy the lights and brights of the season.

Christmas In New York

Christmas In New York

Christmas In New York

Christmas In Paris

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from me and Rosie.

Drawing by latap.

A Legend

A lasting legend becomes an icon of sustainability.

The Empire State Building has gone through an eight month eco renovation. The building's energy consumption had been reduced by 38%, a savings of $4.4million annually. Wow!

www.esbnyc.com

1stdibs Introspective - On Location - Holiday Moments - New York

1stdibs Introspective - On Location - Holiday Moments - New York

Check out these amazing Holiday windows in New York.

Texture

Texture plays an important role in interior design. Varying textures adds interest to a room or setting.

Texture

The varying textures of this room create interest and comfort. The bare room of plaster walls and terrazzo floors was a bit cold. Designing the room was a joy. Starting at the floor, I used a custom designed hand knotted area rug. It is made of wool with accents of silk. A great start for adding texture. The soft, warm rug on the cool terrazzo floor is a wonderful combination. On top of the rug is a coffee table of metal and glass. On either side of the table is a sofa covered in a lush velvet and a bench covered in a thick chenille.

The trim on the windows is painted a glossy black. The sensuous silk fabric of the window treatment plays well against the glass and glossy black trim.

Balance is at work here. The soft textures along with the hard surfaces create a room that is beautiful and comfortable.

Texture

Here you can see how well the various textures work together. Each texture and surface compliments the next.

Texture

A kitchen, by its nature, is full of hard surfaces. Varying those surfaces and adding a bit of soft texture makes the kitchen much more inviting. Mixing the materials used for the hard surfaces added to the textures of the kitchen. The wood cabinets on the perimeter of the room have a granite counter. The island has a counter made of wood. The tiles in the back splash area add another type of texture. The hood over the cook top was painted to create a layered look. The fabric and style of the window treatments bring a soft texture to the design of the kitchen.

Texture

The mix of textures works with the mix of colors in the overall design scheme of the room.

Texture

This living room was designed to have a fresh, modern style. Texture helps to create the look.

The clean lined sofa and chair are covered in smooth linen. The contemporary end table has a glossy crushed shell finish. To keep the room from being too sleek and cold the floor is covered in a plush carpet. The window treatments are made from a soft silken velvet. These layers of texture balance and enhance the design of the room.

Color

Color adds character to our lives and our surroundings. It is life enhancing and stimulating. Having the confidence to use color can give your home the style and personality you have always wanted.

Color

This family room is definitely colorful. The correct balance of neutrals and intense color create a room that is both comfortable and exciting. The neutrals have a calming effect. The intense, playful colors inject life and boldness. The neutral background keeps the color from being too strong. I started with a neutral box. The walls were painted a creamy tan. The floor is a blue/ gray laminate from Pergo. The comfortable sofa is tan with a blue contrast welt. The blue of the welt is used as a border color in the custom designed area rug. The rug also has a tan background. The deep pink of the flowers in the rug is used again in the damask pattern on the linen fabric of the window treatments.Other colors splashed around the room are green, found in the cut velvet fabric on the chair and the sleek, modern coffee table and yellow, used on the chair side chest and accessories in the room. There are also splashes of fuchsia, deep blue, grape and brown.

I designed this family room for the 2007 Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital/ASID Showhouse.The photography is by Alise O'Brien

Color

This bedroom has charming details created by the architecture. The room design includes various wall angles which make for an interesting floor plan. There is a small alcove with a window as well as the perfect place for the bed between two windows. A colorful toile fabric was the inspiration for the palette used in the room. The toile is used for the bed shams and the throw pillows in the room. There are also portions of the toile decoupaged on the bed's headboard and footboard. The colors used are deep red, blue/gray,cream, white and bits of spring green.

I used the colors carefully. Although I was using a lot of color I wanted the room to have a calm, restful, feeling. To quiet the overall color scheme I kept the contrast level low. I used the same blue/gray for the walls and the bed covering. The deep red of the headboard isn't overwhelming against the blue/gray wall. The clear white of the ceiling, trim and window treatments add a brightness to the color palette. The room is a peaceful, romantic haven.

I designed this room for the 2002 St Louis Symphony Showhouse. It was photographed by Alise O'Brien.

Color

This is a display I did for a vintage shop, Francesca's In The City. The strong blue color of the buffet is the focal point of the arrangement. For balance I surrounded it with other items having strong color. The art on the wall and the accessories on the buffet all have intense color. They don't compete with the the blue buffet, they add to the strength and color of the display creating a striking look for the shop.

Balance

An important element in interior design is balance. Balance brings about what you want to achieve in the room; quiet and peaceful, energized and uplifting, chic sophistication. The right balance will get you there.

Balance

There are so many elements I love about this setting. The fabrics and color palette are wonderful. Even more amazing is the mix of traditional and modern. The clean, modern lines of the furniture look very at home with the traditional architecture of the room.

Pulling these elements together are the fabrics and color palette. The striped cut velvet on the sofa has a texture that softens straight lines. At the same time the stripe compliments the modern design of the sofa. The pinks and beige of the color palette play well off the traditional elements. While the soft grey, kiwi green and touches of purple play to the modern aesthetics. The functional element of light is handled with a beautiful traditional chandelier and a modern floor lamp. Striking the perfect balance.

The fabrics and wallcoverings shown are from Designers Guild's Florimund Collection.