A Pied-'A-Terre In The City

I am designing a pied-'a-terre for a client. A place in the city she can use as a second home. This particular client loves beautiful fabrics as much as I do. It is a joy to work with her. I have wrapped her home in gorgeous fabrics from Nina Campbell and Calvin Klein.

 In the living room I am using Nina Campbell fabrics. The top  fabric is Salix, a woven willow stripe for the window treatments. Next is Arboretum a soft linen embroidered and appliqued . It will be used for pillows. The third fabric is Lombardia Chenille which is woven to resemble the bark of a tree. This will cover two chairs.

 

 The Arboretum leaf applique is done in velvet on linen.

 Salix, the window treatment fabric is a woven willow stripe with an ombre' effect running through the leaves.

 Salix and Arboretum are a wonderful combination.

 The fabric for the kitchen window treatment is Delphine. It is a large scale pattern of twin maple leaves printed on a textured woven linen.

 The bedroom will have an upholstered headboard covered in a flax colored Belgian linen from the Calvin Klein Collection through Kravet Fabrics.

 The window treatment fabric for the bedroom is stunning. It is the Petiole fabric from Nina Campbell. Petiole is a tree of life pattern embroidered on a soft linen ground.

There is more to come on this beautiful and fun project.

Window Treatments * Comfort And Style

Window treatments are an important element in interior design. We know longer need heavy layers to protect us from cold winds in drafty homes but window treatments still provide comfort and add style to our interiors. In this post I have included various styles of window treatments and details that add to a beautiful design.

The floral print Roman shades in this setting are a wonderful addition. They provide the necessary coverage on the windows and add to the overall charm of the English cottage style.

Although not a window treatment, I chose this photo to show how using coordinating fabrics on each side of a panel created a well designed room divider.

I think this is a beautifully designed room. What I like most about the window treatments is their height. Installing them well above the windows and close to the ceiling emphasizes the height of the room, which is a wonderful detail to show off.

These silk panels are graceful and elegant. Pulling them back higher in the panel allows more light to flood in to the room.

I particularly like the use of color in this room and the way the window treatments are part of the color scheme. The strong colors on the chair and wall are balanced by the light color of the fabric used for the window treatment.The fabric's pattern has the colors that bring the room together.

The window treatments here have a quiet elegance that are part of a neutral background allowing the accent colors used to be the focal point of the room. A stunning design.

The shade and panels of this window treatment provide comfort and style for the room. A beautiful and functional combination.

The Roman shade in this office provides color and pattern in an otherwise neutral room.

Window treatments are often the element that completes the design of a room while providing the necessary comfort.

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

Designer Finds * New In The Showrooms For Fall

 Designer showrooms are filled with new products being introduced for the fall. This week was Designer Day at Design & Detail and I saw wonderful new product that included fabrics and rugs.

 Kravet has an amazing line of area rugs. There are various groups that include custom made hand knotted wools and the new Tufts, which are wool, tufted and gorgeous.

 Fabricut's latest offerings include printed cotton fabrics in coordinates of modern florals, graphics and stripes.

 The British fabric house, Sanderson, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion they have reissued classic patterns in updated colorways, charming and current.

 Sanderson has also introduced new patterns. A favorite of mine is this cut velvet  floral. A beautiful pattern in great colorways.

 Designers Guild has produced a collection of digitally printed fabrics. The patterns combine florals and architectural elements with vivid colors and extraordinary detail. 

The digital prints are clear,crisp and vibrant.      There are amazing new products in the showrooms. If you are a designer go see them now. If you are not a designer find one so you can see what's new and wonderful.

Where Do You Find Inspiration?

I am in the midst of teaching a class called Inspiration. It is about finding the elements that inspire the interiors of your home, then taking those elements and making them work.
I find inspiration in a lot of different places. Sometimes I find it in the links between fashion and interior design. Inspiration can be found just about anywhere.

This photo of Coco Chanel is a source of inspiration for me. I have it on the inspiration board in my studio. Its very elegant, stylish and the proportions are perfect, like the design of a Chanel dress or suit. When I first saw the chandelier with its miles and miles of pearls it immediately reminded me of the Chanel photo.
                                   These photos were originally ads for Scalamandre' fabrics. I love the strong color, the way traditional and modern are combined and I particularly love the styling done for the photos. On the left the sweater and purse add a touch of fashion to the interiors and on the right the 60's pink phone brings in the mod touch. Great combinations and style ideas.

Overscaled patterns are a wonderful way to add a statement to a room. What I like about these rooms are the color palettes and the the way the patterns are used. In both rooms the patterns add style but do not  take over the room. The grey, yellow and white palette is striking and comfortable.  The tans and white with accents of pink and fuchsia create a beautiful room.                                                                                                                                                                              

Color. I find inspiration in the paintings of Matisse. His use of color is extraordinary. Strong colors working together create works of art. Along with the strong colors are areas of light  that keep the color from becoming overwhelming.  The photo of the sitting area also shows strong color combined with areas of light. The art work, light colors of the fabric pattern and the area rug bring balance to the intense color of the room.
Inspiration is all around us,
Where do you find inspiration?

Ralph Lauren The Heiress Collection

When it comes to traditional design nobody does it better than Ralph Lauren. In the Heiress Collection he has combined traditional design and Bohemian style to create a look that is comfortable, usable and gorgeous. I love this collection.

From the perfect crystal chandelier to the curved arm of the sofa this living room is stunning. The collection is overflowing with style. It can be used in a variety of settings. It looks wonderful in the traditional room shown. It would also look great in less formal settings. Maybe even better. I always like something a bit unexpected.

The dining room is sumptuous. I love the styling . From the soft swag of the treatment framing the window to the neutral palette highlighted with a burst of flowers and a table set with sparkling crystal, the room is perfect.

And the chandelier wrapped in a soft sheer fabric is so very RL.

A bedroom with two chandeliers, of course I like it. RL bedrooms are elegant, comfortable and inviting. A dream whether you are awake or asleep.

The Striking Sets Of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

When I saw the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps I knew it was time for another post on movie sets. The sets in this movie, as in the first Wall Street, convey a lot about the characters that inhabit them. Gordon Gekko's New York apartment this time around is sophisticated with a clean, edited design. The living room has a neutral palette punctuated with abstract art and wide open expanses of window looking out (down?) onto the city.

The architectural detail includes high ceilings and straight lines. The upholstered furniture has (again) straight lines, covered in light neutrals and softened with pillows and a throw. Nothing out of place, very controlled.

The production designer for the film is Kristi Lea and the set decorator is Diane Lederman. Well done.

The sets for the 80's Wall Street are bold and striking. The production designer here is Stephen Hendrickson. The bedroom has strong textured golden walls and unconstructed window treatments.  The furniture is a mix of deep curves and straight lines on the hard surfaces of marble and metal.

Gordon G's office is a mix of styles. The contemporary architectural details and leather sofa are in contrast to the bold green French inspired chair and artwork with a heavily carved gold tone frame. A dramatic design statement. Again, well done.

I enjoyed this movie and will watch  it again to see the wonderful sets.

photos from Cinema Style

Brooke Astor's Country Manor

The estate of the late Brooke Astor is for sale. This astoundingly beautiful home reminds me of how wonderful traditional design can be. The main house of the estate is a stone manor. The manor is located on sixty-four acres with views of the Hudson. Not bad...

When I look at the rooms I can easily imagine the life, the parties, the relationships, the business deals that began and ended all in this house, this stately, elegant home.

This staircase area is my favorite.I love the curve of the staircase, the white and black tiled floor and the wonderful wall of art.The living room is large and very charming. The traditional details on the walls, the wide expanse of window and the groupings of furniture arranged for conversation all add to the charm of this room.The dining room with its needlepoint rug and detailed architecture is is wonderful. But... I wonder what happened to the chandelier?

I love libraries whether its private or the public one in my neighborhood. The beautiful upholstered furniture and elegant window treatments make this library truly special. Here we have two of the ten bedrooms in the house. Each is filled with the gracious details of  traditional design. Its easy to imagine a guest having their morning coffee sitting on the loveseat enjoying the view.

And we knew there would be a canopy bed... Right? I love the way it almost skims the ceiling. What a wonderful, comfortable room.                              .

The sunroom is another favorite. I like everything about this room. The walls of glass, the cool tile floor, the mix of fabrics on the furniture combine to create a comfortable, bright room.                                                And then there is the view. A stunning combination of rolling hills, beautiful foliage and the Hudson in the distance. A truly wonderful setting for a gorgeous traditional home.photos from http://www.houlihanlawrence.com/

Is traditional your style?