Sunday, May 30, 2010

Meg Ryan In The Movies

In the movies Meg Ryan has wonderful sets designed for the characters she plays. In You've Got Mail Meg plays sweet, determined Kathleen. She lives in a charming NYC upper west side apartment. To reflect Kathleen it is decorated to be comfortable, stylish and feminine.


In Kate and Leopold her NYC apartment is designed to reflect her direct, straight forward, ambitious character. Not many frills but it functions well.




Annie's Baltimore home in Sleepless In Seattle is quaint and nostalgic. There are pink walls and vintage appliances. She's an old fashioned girl looking for an old fashioned life.

In her real life Meg has renovated and designed multiple homes for herself and her family.

Meg Ryan In Real Life

The current issue of Elle Decor features Meg's home on Martha's Vineyard. Meg did the majority of the design work herself. She created a home that is "understated, a mixture of industrial and vintage lighting, hand hewn wood furniture and sofas and armchairs slipcovered in pale linen." One of the smartest design elements in the house is the white paint used on the walls and ceilings. It unifies the beams, and angles in the house.

The kitchen's industrial tone is softened by a well worn wood table and a wide expanse of windows.




The white walls and fixtures of the master bath bring an openness and consistency to the various textures and surfaces in the space.
Meg has found a way to make her house feel expansive and cozy. The perfect refuge.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sex And The City 2

The sets for Sex And The City 2 are amazing. Carrie and Big's apartment is sophisticated and comfortable.The sofa is from Montauk and is covered in a Donghia blue wool mohair. The chairs are vintage mid century.
The dining room features an oxidized metal chandelier over a 1940's mahogany table. The fabric on the chairs is from Lee Jofa. Too wonderful.
The tall gold finished lamps in the entry are gorgeous against the neutral patterned wallcovering.
And then there's the closet. A His and Hers dream come true. Production designer, Jeremy Conway and set designer, Lydia Marks are amazing. The movie is fun. I enjoyed it and will go back again to look at the details of the sets.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

A Beautiful Hallway Perfect Scale


I love the look of this hall/entry arrangement. The mix of patterns is perfect. The reason it is perfect is scale. The scale of the patterns used is in the correct proportion. The toile on the wall, the floral on the table and the stripe on the floor have a cohesiveness that makes the setting work. Another important aspect in scale is how color is used. The neutral background with the strong color in the foreground keeps the mix of patterns from being too busy. A beautiful hallway. What do you think? Is this your look?

Friday, May 21, 2010

Bedrooms Sweet Repose

A bedroom is such a personal space. Whether you like bold colors, strong graphics, soft neutrals, patterns or a bit of shine these rooms will give you something to think about.

The large graphic painting of roses dominates this bedroom. I like the combination of soft grays and the strong red/ fuchsia tones.
This bedroom is beautiful. The combination of the rough beams and the crystal chandelier is wonderful. The collection of framed botanicals is amazing and the neutral palette is the perfect background.

Bedrooms Sweet Repose

The beautiful curvaceous wallpaper pattern wraps around the room making a wonderful style statement.
The bold blue walls of this room are a vibrant contrast to the white fabrics, furniture and trim. The contrasting colors combine to make a peaceful setting.
The lively pink with orange makes a vivacious statement in the bedroom. The strong color against the white walls is dynamic and fun.
The neutrals of this bedroom are highlighted with bits of shine from chrome, glass and lucite. It adds glamour to the tranquil design.

photos from http://www.homesandgardens.com/

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Designer Guild The Power of New Fabric


I found this chair at a vintage shop. It was a bit worn and the vinyl covering was, well, horrendous. I cleaned up the frame and covered the chair in a beautiful floral linen from Designer Guild. Now I love it.