White With Gold Touches

Recently looking at some ornate gold frames, I was thinking about how this color associated with wealth is a great accent. It can go over he top, but when used in touches to outline it looks fabulous, elegant. These examples found on Pinterest just set off the schemes. Above gold is used to outline and define the architectural features.

The contrast of the elaborately carved console and simple frames, satisfying.

Gold framed mirrors are a favorite and always look great, but here again, the contrast of the straight lines of the chair frame and the carved mirror and molding in the ceiling.

And this gold kitchen cabinets, looks gorgeous.... Also notice how all are used with an abundance of white, the color to make the gold stand out but restrained. Add a touch of gold to your white space.

The Classics

The classics, these chairs designed in the early and middle of the 20th century by  the great architects, have become statements of taste and elegance.

One of the enduring reasons they are chosen by many to complement a scheme, is their comfort. They have a wonderful sense of ergonomics about them. They fit the body when seated and they will always fit a space whether a living room, an office, a bedroom, an entrance, great for a library. There is something inviting about each of these chairs, it is as if they say "grab a book and come sit on me."

There are many other pieces of furniture and lighting that were designed in the middle of the 20th century that have become essentials in our design kit when specifying pieces for projects. Some other favorites and always work, an Eileen Gray side table, the Noguchi coffee table, an Eames lounger, their functionality, their lines, their forms always fit.

When finding a supplier for these pieces and there are many, we are sometimes constrained by budget. But, a tip for all needing to stay in budget,  Regency Shop supplies all of the classic pieces of furniture and lighting and if you go here you will get coupons. Now that is classy.

All images via Pinterest

Old and New

Further thoughts on cooking under Gainsborough, there was a mix there of styles and periods in the Adam house and the very elegant Induction Table by La Cornue. It is one of my favorite ways to work with the elements of a space, the mix of old and new. New and elegant furniture in elegant old buildings, it is a mix that is very attractive and many people and most of my clients love. It is easy to achieve as shown here from Pia Ulin photos for Elle Interior Magazine or from the home of Fritz Hansen.

We see often old or reproduction furniture in a older building, or modern in a new building, all are great styles, but the mix and contrast of old and new brings together styles and blends our old buildings with the new ways we live. While the new fits very well in old spaces, the trick is to bring the old in a new space with out it looking out of place....another post.  xx

Color Crush: Indigo

West Elm has a color crush on one of my favorite colors: Indigo. Why is it we can never have enough of this color, deeply satisfying. There are rugs, cushions, curtains and upholstered furniture, enough to have a blue period. Funny yesterday I was listening to some fascinating blues...Muddy Waters Cold Weather Blues, I was having a crush on the other Blues.


The items are from across the top:

1. Bursa Rug
2. Everett Upholstered Loveseat
3. Watercolor Brushstrokes
4.Everett Upholstered Chair
5. Braided Cable Pillow Cover
6. Linen Cotton Blend Duvet and Shams
7. Boro Stripe Printed Jute Rug
8. Essex Upholstered Bench
9. Braided Cable Throw.

Who Has Enough Storage Space?

When you rip everything out of closets and cupboards to renovate you have a few thoughts about your stuff and what you need and what you don't need but another aspect is storage. Who has enough storage living in a city?

It is great to have a big country house with rooms to put all your stuff. Or a house in the suburbs with a garage to store all the things you do not want to throw away. But in town most of us have a little hall cupboard or an alcove next to the chimney wall, so schemes are worked out to maximize the the amount of space you can get from shelves and drawers and poles and hooks and boxes.

Still in the midst of renovating my flat, another thing I ask is do you need that?

Thinking of storage and shelving I took a look at some cupboards, wardrobes and armoires that are available.

Rococo, carved medallion a very pretty armoire from French Finds.

From Oka more of French style with the interior lined with curtains.

India Jane has a wide selection of styles, this one with louvered doors reminds me of Southern Europe or from New Orleans. The louvered doors are actually very practical, they let the air circulate but keeps the dust out.

Room and Board has a more modern aesthetic with a very attractive and simple double wardrobe. No carvings and ledges for dust to collect, just straight lines in good quality wood.

West Elm has some good simple pieces for storage, discrete and would fit into the alcoves or recesses.

A charming single wardrobe from Laura Ashley and a lovely double one with simple embellishment.

And Ikea, who doesn't have something from Ikea? forever useful, forever practical, forever affordable.

A Preview

I had a sneak preview at some of the new products to be exhibited at Design Junction in September:

Dare Studio

Pinch Furniture

Helen Yardly

John Galvin

And looking forward to seeing more at Design Junction.

Table Lamps

One of the most essential items for a living room or bedroom is the table lamp. No need to be elaborate, lovely if it is blown glass, can be a piece of sculpture in wood, decorated with silver leaf or painted and distressed, in bronze it can be edgy. Whatever, it is one of the most essential items in a room, whatever your budget. It is so much nicer to sit next to your loved one on the sofa with a wash of light from the side, shaded through silk or card.

The Architect and The Painter

Case Study House ＃8

Last week with friends from the Design Blog Collective, we gathered at Vitra to view the excellent documentary "The Architect and The Painter" about Ray and Charles Eames. It was the story of how they came together at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, married, moved to California and together designed many of the classic, iconic designs of the 20th Century, a very fruitful and collaborative relationship.

Their work expanded beyond furniture to photography, film, graphics and communication. They had a work ethic that work is play and play is work, their enjoyment came from the close involvement in their many projects. With an initial dream and drive to make well designed, beautiful and affordable furniture using new materials and methods like molded plywood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, bent metal wire and aluminum – offering consumers beautiful, functional, yet inexpensive products and are some of my favorite pieces of furniture:

Furniture became sculpture but using studied measurements of the body, their furniture was comfortable. Their methods brought together art, industry and science.

For this showing that was arranged by Katie, our design geek, a big thank you and another for Jane Thompson of Vitra UK, a supplier and showroom of healthy, intelligent, inspiring and durable furniture.

A Beautiful House

House Beautiful, a favorite magazine of mine and my mothers, has featured a beautiful house in Illinois of designer Annie Brahler and supplier of "Euro Trash" a company that imports old furniture from Europe and not fussing "about fancy-pants provenance," the furniture and accessories that people have used and don't want anymore.

 

The dog looks like Seamus

 A hall of mirrors

Annie's use of mirrors and chandeliers give this house elegance, the use of whites keeps it simple and clean and enables the use of gilt and crystal without going over the top. A beautiful balance of lighting,  color and design.  The use of white with brown, gray and touches of gold. I like how she is not afraid of using mirrors, they always lighten up a space. The hall of mirrors over the stairwell looks fabulous.

Black Rooster Decor

While catching up on some of my favorite blogs this morning, I saw on Automatism some attractive, stylish and smart looking pieces of furniture from Black Rooster Decor, a furniture supplier  and decorating service based in Toronto. And some very attractive pieces, some vintage, some reproduction, some new, all stunning:

Black Rooster Decor

Ideas from New York

 

I spent a lovely time this week in New York getting lots of ideas and inspiration from the streets and new collections.