There was major decor porn inflitrating twitter this past weekend thanks to blogger/photographer Jamie Beck of From Me to You and fashion blogger Kelly Framel of The Glamourai who spent the weekend at Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu beach house shooting a new campaign for Wearstler’s ready to wear collection for the 2012 Resort season. The pair posted several photos of their amazing weekend on Instagram including some beautiful shots of Wearstler’s home. Check it out:
I was so excited to see one of my friend Josh Greene’s design projects recently featured in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens! The 675 square foot cottage he designed for a Manhattan couple might be a bit small, but what it lacks in space it makes up for it with major style! The weekend retreat was designed for comfort and blends classic Americana with a bit of Hamptons prep…think sisal carpets, beadboard paneling, ticking stripes and a color palette of calming blues mixed with neutral hues. Here are the photos and to read the full story click here to read it on the Hamptons Cottages & Gardens site. Congrats Josh!
Right now I’m wishing I could swap places with fashion designer Minnie Mortimer and live the California cool life in her colorful and airy Malibu abode. The home she shares with her Oscar-winning screenwriter/director husband Stephen Gaghan and their young daughter was recently featured on Vogue.com and when I saw the photos I was smitten. Minnie has created a relaxed and eclectic space filled with furniture, accessories and art that she has collected over time which I always say is the best way to decorate. I believe you should fill your home with things you love that have deep personal meaning and that sometimes it’s ok to just let your home’s decor come together organically. Here’s an excerpt from the feature where Minnie talks about about how she has amassed her art collection from a number of unexpected sources and how it has evolved over the years:
“The art has been collected from more expected places like galleries and auctions, but there are some really strange ones in there, too,” Mortimer says. “We have a painting that was a prop from Steve’s film, Traffic, a print made for me by Brigid Berlin when I was 17, a painting by Steve’s great-grandmother, another made by a patient in the psych ward, and we recently added an Aurel Schmidt titled Crap Butterflies. At the moment, that piece is my favorite…When we first moved in I just wanted to get all of the artwork unpacked, so I placed them haphazardly on the wall and tables,” she says. “The arrangement has since grown on me so I left them this way.”
Below are a few of my favorite photos of Minnie’s home. To see more and read the full story on Vogue.com click here.
Meet Amber Lewis – LA based interior designer, wife, mother and blogger. After discovering Amber’s blog earlier this year, it quickly became one of my favorites. I loved reading about all of the uber creative DIY projects she’s tackled in her home and I instantly connected with her eclectic sense of style and her witty sense of humor. She seemed like a ton of fun so during a recent visit to LA I sent her an email telling her how much I loved her blog and the next morning I found myself at her super cute house in the Valley chatting it up in her kitchen and learning all about her journey in design.
Amber always knew she wanted to pursue a career in design so after high school she went off to study interior design at UCLA where she attended until life intervened and brought her straight out of the college bubble and into the real world.”I went to school got pregnant and never finished” she told me. Still, that didn’t deter her from pursuing her career so rather than go back to school she decided to start working right away and got a job working with Malibu based designer Kirsten Marie. She says she received a far better education working hands on in the design world than she ever could have in four years of design school and believes that true talent cannot be learned. As she put it, “sometimes you either have it or you don’t.” After working for Kirsten for nearly six years, Amber left this April to run her own design business full-time.
Nowadays, Amber has a seemingly perfect life. She’s the quintessential pretty girl with a handsome British rocker husband, an adorable baby daughter named Gwyneth and a growing career that she says has really begun to blossom thanks to the exposure she’s gained through her blog. Amber works from home which is a sunny and eclectic space that is layerd with lots of texture, pattern and colorful textiles and is full of affordable finds. She was kind enough to open up her home and I’m excited to share her fabulous house tour. It’s chock full of great DIY and budget decorating ideas!
Amber and her husband Mike puchased their home in September 2010 and before that the couple lived in a Santa Monica rental for 6 years before deciding they wanted buy and gain more space for their growing family. They chose the Valley where they could a better value than they could in the heart of Los Angeles.
Amber says her house had a dated 1960s interior when they first moved in so she decided to gut the space and start fresh. Here is a shot of her dining area which showcases two of her proud DIY projects. On either side of the table hangs her simple but brilliant “cloud art“made with photos of clouds that she took herself. She snapped the pictures out the window of her car while out on a drive with her hubby and had them blown up as large scale prints which she placed in inexpensive frames from Ikea. Another fab DIY project is the banquette which Amber and Mike built (see the DIY here) using inexpensive prefabricated kitchen cabinetry from Lowe’s and had a custom cushion made to fit on top.
Her dining table, she says, was a splurge from Restoration Hardware and the mid-century inspired dining chairs were a stylish steal from K Mart! She topped each chair with sheepskin rugs from Ikea and layered a suzani over the banquette cushion for a pop of color. She also incorporated custom throw pillows made from ikat and vintage Asian textiles she found at the the Long Beach flea market. On the floor, a vintage Turkish kilim rug purchased on eBay is layered on top of a natural fiber rug. (Haute tip: Layering rugs is a great decorators trick for adding depth and texture!) The lotus flower pendant over the table was a score from a vintage shop in Pasadena. It was originally a tacky gold color so she painted it bronze and now it suits the space perfectly.
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Amber knocked down a wall that once divided the kitchen from the dining and living areas and created an open floor plan with an 8-foot caeserstone island at the center. White cabinetry and carrerra marble subway tiles lend a classic feel to this pristine kitchen. The stools are from Ikea and the pendant above the island was made out of old tire parts purchased at an antique store. The light fixture above the sink was made from a task lamp.
In the living room a sectional sofa provides a cozy place for the family to lounge. The dhurrie rug is from Ikea and the suzani covered ottoman was the result of a DIY makeover on a thrift store find. The white chair is from Ikea and the assemblage of throw pillows help brighten up the space. In the background Ikea curtains with a hand stenciled pattern frame the windows. (DIY here)
Here’s an opposite view of the living area so you can get a better sense of the layout…
Opposite the sofa is a vintage credenza which serves as a media stand.
The hallway leading to the bedrooms is features a collected assortment of artwork and other memorabilia that Amber and Mike have collected over the years. “The girl holding the bomb is a “Banksy” signed and everything. My Husband bought it in London at a place called Santa’s Ghetto in 2003. We also have some Ashley G prints from 2005 that I still love. Then we have some of my husbands gold records and plaques up as well as some of his touring posters from over the years.”
“I love old photography and have a couple of creepy old photos of other people..the one on the top center is of an old bald guy playing the piano. It’s creepy but romantic. Some wedding photos are up there as well.”
In the master bedroom more beautiful textiles take center stage. Amber draped a brightly colored ikat scarf from H&M over a simple canvas upholstered headboard from Nate Berkus for HSN. The pillows and the quilt are from John Robshaw and she paired them with an Indian Paisley duvet from West Elm and classic embroidered stripe bedding from Sferra. Her nightstand is a simple Ikea chest which she freshened up with new hardware and black paint. The lamps are from CB2
The pair of benches at the foot of her bead were finds from HomeGoods and the artwork above the bed is from one of Amber’s favorite artists named Audrey Kawasaki. The mirrors on either side of the bed were from a thrift store and she paid just $25 for the pair. “They were in bad shape so we sanded them and painted them white. (Haute Tip: painting wood furniture white is a great way to hide distress and make something old and scuffed look fresh again.)
Across the room is a chic rattan canopy chair that Amber found at the Salvation Army. The Chevron fabric on her curtains is from Premiere Prints. The horse head sculpture is from Jonathan Adler.
Thanks so much Amer for sharing a tour of your home with So Haute! To see more stylish DIY ideas from Amber visit her blog here!
I usually don’t like to re-blog content from other sites but I nearly died when I saw these photos of fashion designer Erin Fetherston’s NYC apartment! Her stunning Tribeca loft was beautifully captured by photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue.com and I instantly fell in love with the space. Those high ceilings…the perfectly weathered floors…those gorgeous doors and those enormous windows…it’s all beyond perfection! I remember being equally impressed when I saw Fetherston’s former Paris apartment featured in Domino a few years back. Some of her beloved antiques from the Paris flea made it across the Atlantic into her NYC apartment, where she has lived since ’07, and were mixed with finds from ABC carpet, Holly Hunt and other sentimental treasures. I especially love the way in which the space was captured…the lighting gives this home such an airy, celestial quality and Erin looks graceful and angelic. The space is heavenly! To see more of Erin Fetherston’s apartment, including her jaw-dropping closet and enviable view of the Hudson River, click here for the full feature on Vogue.com!
Living room by Carrier & Company (Photo: Courtesy of Elle Decor)
On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending the opening of ELLE DECOR’s Modern Life Concept House at the new +Art condo development in Chelsea. The showhouse was comprised of two neighboring apartments with rooms designed by 10 of Elle Decor’s A-List Designers to Watch. Each designer offered their own unique take on modern living and I especially loved the living room, shown above, designed by Carrier & Company and the adjacent kitchen/dining area designed by Katie Lydon. The well appointed spaces flowed seamlessly together and felt fresh, effortless and totally livable. The ELLE DECOR Modern Life Concept House is open to the public over the next three weekends so you can have the opportunity to check it out for yourself! If you’re not able to make it to the Concept House in person, below are a few photos of my favorite spaces to watch a video tour of the entire showhouse by Elle Decor editor-in-chief Michael Boodro click here.
Here are the details on dates and hours and for more information or a link to purchase tickets, visit www.elledecor.com/showhouse.
Elle Decor Presents: The Modern Life Concept House
May 20 – 22; May 27 – 30; and June 3 – 5
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
540 W. 28th Street
Admission is $30 and all ticket sales benefit Housing Works.
One of my daily reads for fashion inspiration is the celebrity style site Who What Wear Daily. The site’s founders, Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr are two cool LA girls with exceptional taste who induce serious style envy whenever I see them photographed! Needless to say, I was excited to catch a glimpse inside Katherine’s Hollywood Hills home on Refinery 29. The stylish home she shares with her fiance, photographer Justin Coit, is relaxed, bohemian, and full of personal touches Have a look below and to see more click here to see her full house tour and interview on Refinery 29!
Although LA based interior designer Kristen Panitch is a traditionalist at heart, she loves turning tradition on its head. A hallmark of her design style in an ability to seamlessly integrate an unexpected mix of color combinations and patterns into a traditional setting to give it a modern edge and her spaces always exude a sense of comfort and refinement. Kristen is a designer whose work resonates with me personally so I was excited to have the opportunity to meet her during my recent trip to LA. I paid a visit to her home in Santa Monica where she also works and was lucky enough to get a first hand look inside her world. Her home is to-die-for beautiful, filled with moody colors, eclectic patterns and the most gorgeous kitchen I’ve ever seen! (It’s being shot by one of my favorite shelter mags so you’ll be able to get a peek inside soon enough!) Kristen began designing a little more than 20 years ago and recently she added another layer to her business with the launch of her new collection of stylish indoor/outdoor upholstered and wicker furniture. Read on as Kristen shares the scoop on her new line, her design career, plus gives us an exclusive tour of her pretty-in-pink office!
Tell us how you got your start in design…
I was in college working in a real estate office and one of the people in the building knew I was in school to become an interior designer and asked me if he could pay me to help him with his place. I think I was 20 at the time. It turned ot great and from there he referred me to another young person who had just bought a condo…and so there were all these little jobs that I started out doing and by the time I graduated I had a pretty good business going! Another early client was an agent here in LA and had great word of mouth and things just spread…I think I got really lucky!
What was it that initially drew you to this career path?
I think my whole life I’ve been puttering around with design. I would decorate my own room as a kid and I was always decorating my friends rooms. And I was feverish about design magazines since I was really young. After high school I went to Paris for three months and that really solidified that this was something I wanted to pursue in a real way. Also, my mother’s very close friend was an interior designer and I didn’t realize that was even a job at that time and I just thought to myself ‘wow, that’s it!’ and I went from there…
So what were the early days of running your business like?
Oh my God! Oh, it was awful! Thank God for getting a client who knew I’d never done it before because I got to apologize all the way through! I was very up front. I’d tell clients not to pay me a lot because I needed this as much as they did. I think I just got lucky to with a lot of young people who really couldn’t spend a lot of money so they were willing to just let me screw around and see what happened. And we weren’t sure how it was going to come out because, you know, they were also very young and didn’t know what they were doing so they were willing to take the risk so to speak. Luckily I didn’t have any major screw ups! I really learned on my feet…it was way better than school frankly. And I was working with tiny budgets! I was at Salvation Army and the flea markets really trying to make it work…
I actually think it’s more challenging to work with a smaller budget…
Yeah, you really have to be creative! And that original client was a huge collector so we had tons of stuff to work with. He had just moved here and his mother had tons of these beautiful porcelain dishes that we hung all over the walls and we just got to have so much fun with that project…And again I think him knowing that it was my first time out he was just happy to go along with me so it worked out.
Do you have any mentors or designers that influenced you in those early days?
At the time here in LA Michael Smith was quite well known and he had sort of a great classic, disheveled look that he was doing. I also loved Victoria Hagan back then. I’ve always been so much more driven by the architecture of a space and I still am and that was usually what informed my work. That was a period of time when I was working a lot of big, classic, traditional homes…a lot of Paul Williams and other really beautiful architecture in Hollywood which I loved and that was such a huge influence. Tearing it all back and going back to picture of where that home came from and working from that place is what I love.
When did you know you had arrived as a designer?
Wow…I guess It would have to be when I would meet people for the first time and they’d say ‘oh I love your work.’ Also I stopped for about a year to start having children and I thought maybe my moment was over. In this town if you don’t work for a year you think you’re over and forgotten but I remember people continuing to call me. They would ask when I was available again and how could we make things work and I thought to myself, ‘Gosh, I guess I’m for real!’
How would you describe your aesthetic?
Understated, elegant and comfortable. I’m definitely a traditional designer but I think I give it a modern edge with the furnishings. I stick to the classics architecturally but with the furnishings I like to loosen it up a bit.
Speaking of loosening things up I always think that LA based designers have this very organic quality of comfort and livability in their work. Is that something that’s intentional?
Absolutely! I try not to over decorate! I don’t like it when someone walks into a home and says ‘Oh who was here?’ Obviously my spaces looks done but they also look personalized by the client…it’s welcoming, it’s inviting, kids are there, dogs are there and it doesn’t just look like it’s straight out of a magazine and that is something I absolutely strive for. In fact, I’ll even tell clients that if they’re not going to use a particular room then they have to do something else with it. Everything has to get used, everything has to get lived in or it just doesn’t feel good…
What inspires you most?
Traveling is a huge inspiration. But for me it’s more about the way they live than the actual interiors. We were in Tokyo and I was crazy over the organized style of their lives. I love the way everything is compartmentalized…I really love that sensibility over there. We also went to Rome recently and while I’m not particularly inspired by their interiors, the colors and the sunlight and the gardens were so much more inspiring…And the way they live so comfortably. It’s not about ‘oh I like that chair or that piece of fabric’, it’s more about a lifestyle. We also spend a lot of time out east and I love being there. We have a house in the Berkshires and I get a lot of inspiration from that area architecturally. I’m doing some work in Maine right now and also in upstate New York and I just LOVE that area and the design there. It’s got a really good sensibility.
What projects are you working on right now?
My project in Maine is a little tiny lake cottage that’s just beautiful….and I’m doing a house in Brentwood…and I have some wonderful long time clients that just don’t want to let me go and I’m working on their house in Santa Monica. I don’t usually take on more than 3 projects at a time. That’s been the max that seems to work really well for me with kids and if I want to be around and be a mom then three jobs at a time is it. My kids are 13 and a 10 years old. There are times when I think that maybe I’ll hire an associate designer and expand but I really like to be hands on and be intimate with the projects. I also tend to start jobs from the construction level so I get to be a part of that phase and a project can last a year or more. I like having that full process so being a part of more than 3 full processes involving construction would just be too many.
What are some of your favorite places to shop?
Brimfield is my favorite! I go once a year and pack a couple of trucks. I really really love it! I definitely have my stores that I love to go to here in LA too. I’m in Hollywood at Home a lot. Peter [Dunham] happens to be one of my closest friends as well. I love Nicky Kehoe on Highland and for really special pieces I love this store called Blackman Cruz. There’s also an antiques store in Massachusetts that I love called Berkshire Home Antiques. And 1st Dibs is just fantastic! I’m always searching on 1st Dibs…
Pieces from Kristen’s outdoor furniture line.
Tell us about your new outdoor furniture line…
It all came out of really the need for finding great outdoor furniture for clients. I couldn’t really find any outdoor wicker that I liked so I finally just started to have pieces made. There were 9 pieces that I was repeating constantly on projects and pretty soon it became sort of a line. In the last five or six years I’ve done so many outdoor rooms…everybody’s either putting in outdoor fireplaces or covered porches and that’s really how people live here in California so much of the year. People really want to be outside. Now I have pieces in Hollywood at Home and its going to be up on the website by May for people to order.
A vignette featuring Kristen’s furniture inside Hollywood at Home
Is there anything else in your career you haven’t accomplished that you’d like to try your hand at?
I really would love to do a textile line! Its a lot of work and a lot of time but I’d really love to do that one day. And I want to build on the furniture. After the outdoor furniture I think I’d like to do some upholstered pieces. And maybe open up a shop.
Finally, give us the scoop on your lovely office and what a typical day here is like for you…
Because I’m at home I usually just take my computer and answer my emails as soon as I wake up with my coffee. And then usually at about 10am I get in here and I’m either with my assistant or on the phone with him and were starting the day trying to figure out what the week is going to look like.
“Sometimes I’ll meet with clients here going through all my fabrics when were at that selecting phase….And then the rest of the time I’m on the road.”
“The wall covering is Cole & Sons India Papers. I LOVE their papers and use them constantly. I went with the pink because I really didn’t want to play it safe. It’s been 5 years an I still love it!”
“The desk I had made and I wanted it big and chunky like a kitchen island. It’s great for two people and I’m sort of a mess so it works!”
“Inside the cabinets I’ve got fabric samples and wood samples…most of the drawers are different kinds of samples. I’ve also got client folders, resource folders and things like that. The amount of things I store is actually getting smaller because of the computer now. I don’t have the kind of bulk samples that I used to and it’s not overwhelming anymore.”
“I rip out every magazine! It’s usually something small that I’m drawn to.”
“I have a client who had given me a picture of this bookshelf [she points to the tear shown above of the color coordinated bookshelf] so I gave the picture to one of my guys who’s a really talented organizer and he color coordinated all of the books in my clients house and it turned out great! It was like a rainbow!”
“I love working from home, it’s great. I definitely have to shut down though. As much as I love my office I have to close the door and not come back in here in the evenings.”
My uber stylish friend Linda has been raving about how beautiful the Finn Jewelry showroom is for quite some time and recently I finally had a chance to check it out and as promised, the space is stunning! Here’s a little sneak peek and be sure to check back later for the full tour!
A growing trend in Manhattan real estate is for developers to hire A-List interior designers to transform model residences in condo buildings in order to drum up buzz and help sway potential buyers by allowing them to envision what their future home could look like. Such is the case with Manhattan House – a landmark luxury condo development on the Upper East Side which features three beautiful model apartments decorated by Rita Konig, Celerie Kemble and James Huniford which are part of the building’s “Modern Collection” residences. The three sprawling apartments are equally fabulous but it’s Rita Konig’s space that really speaks to my sensibilities so will kick off this house tour trifecta with a look at her space…
The Modern Penthouse by Rita Konig
Photo: Simon Upton/New York Magazine
Rita Konig is the incredibly stylish former domino magazine editor whose quirky and unfussy design style is always a hit with the youthful, domino-loving generation of design devotees. She was given the task of decorating this sunny, 1,151-square foot, one-bedroom 1.5 bath corner penthouse that also has an enviable wraparound terrace with sweeping views of the New York City skyline. The casual sophistication and breezy colors of the space struck me immediately…I could easily move in and feel right at home. The bedroom shown above has subtle ethnic influences with its Moroccan inspired headboard and vintage suzani that really capture’s the eye’s attention. The entry, also above, features a bright green wall color with a large Hugo Guinness floral painting above a modern parsons table.
Photo: Simon Upton/New York Magazine
The living room has such a layered, lived in feel to it which to me evokes a sense of warmth and comfort. Another decorative feature I love are the stacks of books impeccably styled on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and on the coffee table. An eclectic mix of understated furnishings, arranged for conversation, includes vintage and antique pieces from London and New York, textiles from India and lust-worthy artwork borrowed from the Sears Peyton Gallery. Many of objects seen here and throughout the apartment are Rita’s own, collected from her travels, and the library of books was assembled with help from Lorin Stein of the Paris Review. A few more photos of the living space are below. I also really love the window seat which provides an amazing amount of additional seating for entertaining.
Here in the dining room is a Philippe Hurel table and chairs which belong to Konig and above hangs with a timeless, oversized Noguchi pendant.
I really love the bold black and white floral wallpaper from Studio Four seen here.
Perhaps the apartment’s most coveted feature is this lovely little terrace that wraps around the apartment, decorated with a quaint wooden bench and teracotta planters filled with greenery.
The Moderne9 by James Huniford
Interior designer James Huniford designed an urban oasis for his three-bedroom, three-bath 3,351-square-foot model apartment at Manhattan House which is an homage to famed architect Gordon Bunshaft who designed the building in 1950. The space feels incredible calming with a neutral color palette and modern, tailored furnishings that invoke a sense of refined simplicity.
Much of the furniture in the space was designed by Huniford. I really love the subtle contrasts of textures used here – from bark wall covering, patterned hardwoods and nickel hardware to upholstered pieces covered in linen, distressed leather, horse hair and alpaca. I also love the selection of modern, abstract art which was sourced through Creative Growth - a California based organization and gallery that champions the the work of artists living with disabilities. This airy, serene space is truly a picture of luxury and elegance.
The Modern Manhattan by Celerie Kemble
Glamorous, and a whimsical are two words that define the signature style of designer Celerie Kemble and it’s obvious the Manhattan House model apartment she designed has no shortage of either. The 1,861-square-foot, floor-through residence has three-bedrooms, three-baths.
The space is filled with vintage textiles and eclectic 1960s furniture like these uniquely shaped rattan chairs that were likely a find from Kemble’s hometown of Palm Beach where she shops often. The chairs are the piéce de résistance in this swanky space that features a dramatic black lacquered strié on the walls, floating mirrors and lucite bookcases flanking a wood burning fireplace. The glossy black walls contrast nicely with the color palette of smoky grays, cream and soft blush pinks.
Even the childrens’ room gets a stylish touch with vibrant apple green accents and hand painted done by Alpha Workshops on the upper walls and ceiling. The fun bunk beds, designed by Kemble, fold up to reveal a chalkboard on the underside…fun an chic! When can I move in?!
All photos by Jason Schmidt unless otherwise noted.
Artist and textile designer Lulu deKwiatkowski’s chic Upper East Side apartment is for sale and it can be yours for a cool $1,999,000! The prewar two bedroom apartment which has been featured in publications like Elle Decor and the now defunct House & Garden and Domino, features a spacious open layout and unique details like Moroccan style archways and built-in bookshelves. deKwiatkowski recently took to her blog to spread the word:
“Great doorman building on 64th Street between Park and Lexington. Two bedrooms, huge kitchen, terrace and loft-like living room all re-constructed by me. Asking 1.999. I have lived and grown, developed my company, painted every collage on the floor of my kitchen here in this apartment for the last 14 years. I loved every day of wonderful solitude in this magical space. I leave only good vibes, which is oh so important in a home. In any case, feel free to contact me if you are truly interested.”
Since the full house tour of my apartment was recently revealed on Apartment Therapy I thought you might like to see some before and afters of my space. I’ll start with the bedroom and show you how I transformed it from a boxy, soul-less space into an inviting and elegant retreat.
This is what the bedroom looked like when I moved in three years ago. It had zero character and was also quite small at approximately 11 1/2′ x 12′ with just one modestly sized closet. Aside from creating an elegant sleeping room, I also needed to design a layout with plenty of functional storage…a must in any small space.
Here’s the floor plan I came up with. My bed is the focal point and is centered against a wall opposite two windows. I incorporated a pair of chests on either side plus an armoire for additional clothes storage.
This was my inspiration board that illustrates my initial creative direction for the space. My goal was to create a beautiful bedroom that exudes comfort and sophistication. The key elements are the Chonioiserie floral pattern (inspired by the walls in the Miles Redd designed bedroom shown on the top left) a soothing blue color scheme, bright pops of turquoise, an upholstered headboard in a graceful shape and just a touch of ikat.
Here’s the result of my bedroom transformation. My headboard is custom, upholstered in a pattern called Sestina from Kravet. My Baker campaign chests which I found on eBay are vintage from the 1950s and have deep drawers for storing clothes. The turquoise egg shaped lamps are by Haeger Potteries from Lamps Plus and provide a much needed pop of color that adds a touch of whimsy and makes the space feel youthful. To me one of the things that makes a bedroom feel polished and pulled together is beautiful bedding and I’m particularly a fan of crisp white bed linens. My duvet set is from Pottery Barn and the monogrammed shams elevate the level of sophistication. The ikat pillow was fabricated with a pattern from Kravet that I had my upholsterer use on the reverse. The white bedding combined with loads of down filled pillows really makes the bed look inviting!
My rug is Madeline Weinrib’s Mimm print wool rug which I scored at the ABC Carpet & Home outlet in the Bronx. I have several favorite pieces in my bedroom but by far the most special and most personal are the reverse glass Chinese emperor and empress paintings shown on either side of my bed which I inherited from my grandmother. I believe strongly in surrounding yourself with things you love that have deep, personal meaning like family photos, souvenirs from your travels or items inherited from loved ones. Those are the things that will give your space a sense of your own personality and history…and will make your house feel like home.
My Chinese antique armoire seen here was another eBay find and provides plenty of extra space to store clothing & accessories. I keep my collection of blue & white porcelain as well as all of my clear glass vases on top. The Japanese scenic painting to the left of the armoire was an auction score that I got for just $25! My chandelier is from eBay and the soft bronze color and delicate vine and leaf motif really compliments the space. It was fun pulling this room together but, of course, a decorator’s work is never done! I plan to re-paint my walls at some point, most likely a soothing blue-gray, and I’m constantly on the lookout for new bedding. Stay tuned!
Marie Claire’s Style & Accessories Director Taylor Tomasi-Hill might arguably be the most photographed fashion editor in the industry. Known for her fiery red hair and penchant for combining feminine pieces with edgy, rocker-inspired accessories, Tomasi-Hill has created a style of her own that’s effortlessly chic and totally cool. Her look has incited style crushes all around the world and has made her a favorite subject of top street style photographers like The Sartorialist and Tommy Ton. She recently gave fashion site Refinery 29 a peek inside her her apartment in New York City’s West Village and it it’s no surprise that her home is just as stylish as she is!
Above photos: Kava Gorna for Refinery 29
To see more of Taylor Tomasi-Hill’s chic NYC apartment and hear her style secrets click here to read the full feature at Refinery29. And as a bonus, below are a few of the photos that have made Tomasi-Hill an internet street style sensation!
Francine Turk inside her gallery at Chicago Art Source
During a visit to Chicago earlier this year I made a special trip to the Chicago Art Source gallery to check out the latest from Francine Turk, an artist whose work I adore. Turk is best known for her graceful charcoal drawings and paintings of nude figures and her work strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and drama. When she first opened her studio several years ago, business was off to a slow start so she decided to participate in Chicago’s Antique market to boost her visibility. On her very first day at market she was approached by a set designer for the film “The Break-Up” who instantly fell in love with her work and purchased a large quantity of Turk’s pieces to be prominently featured in the apartment of the characters played by Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, which is where many of the movie’s scenes took place. And so “The Break Up” became Turk’s big break and from that point on, her drawings and paintings were in high demand and serious collectors, top interior designers and celebrities began gobbling up her work. Below are a few of the snaps I took at the Francine Turk Gallery inside Chicago’s Art Source. And a bonus…a clip from LXTV where Turk gives an inside look at her fabulous Chicago townhome. I found it interesting that she says much her inspiration is originates with interior design! Enjoy the photos and the video clip below!
Elle magazine recently featured photos of singer Sheryl Crow’s New York City loft which I found quite charming. The loft is open and airy and evokes a feeling of cozy comfort and simplicity. The interiors take on an industrial meets vintage feel and is filled with many quirky treasures that Crowe has collected over time during her frequent flea marketing and vintage shopping excursions.
“I grew up going junking, as we’d call it, with my family, and I’ve been addicted to it ever since,” Crow told Elle. “It’s a totally therapeutic pastime for me. I can spend hours going through flea markets.” She gestures in the direction of a nineteenth-century prosthetic leg leaning against a wall. “I’ve got some real weird stuff.”
Below are a few photos of the space and you can see more here at Elle.com.
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