Fabulous Room Friday 08.30.13

I think that this week’s fabulous room is the perfect space as we bid adieu to summer this weekend. This living/dining space is part of a chic Nantucket cottage designed by Jeffrey Alan Marks. You may remember seeing it on the last season of Million Dollar Decorators. It was the house that Jeffrey had initially freaked out about because his client wanted everything to come from—gasp!—catalog sources. The final result looks like a million bucks! I love the polished, but laidback vibe. It’s chic and captures a modern seaside sensibility so beautifully.{A Lovely Desk}

{Is there anything more perfect for a beach house than director’s chairs? The zig zag pattern adds a fun touch.}

Do you have any fun plans for the holiday weekend? I have a sneaking suspicion that I will end up working quite a bit this weekend as I get everything ready before our big trip to London next Saturday. Have a fun, safe Labor Day weekend and stay tuned for another gorgeous project from Jeffrey Alan Marks next week!

Just Run With It

I’m working on a big design project right now that is going to turn out to be quite the transformation! It is a large custom home that belonged to an older couple and it definitely felt like “grandma’s house” with peach-colored pickled wood moldings everywhere, a country kitchen, and several other details that needed some updating. To say that we are giving the place a facelift would be a major understatement! The contractor has made some major progress lately and the transformation is really starting to take shape. One of the things I’d love to do to add some texture is add a runner to the staircase. I recently found a bunch of inspiring images on Pinterest that run the gamut from classic, simple seagrass to bold, graphic runners. I have a one story home, so I don’t have a runner, but I’m curious to hear if you love yours. My client has two small children and I can’t help but think it would keep them from slipping. What are your thoughts on stair runners? Do you like the look? What about the functionality?

  {A Runner in a Home designed by Suzanne Kasler}

{Classic and Elegant—This look is hard to beat!}

{A darker runner works well in this hotel setting designed by Michele Bonan.}

{I love Greek key, so naturally, I was drawn to the border on this stair runner.}

{How fun is the nailhead detail on this one?}

{I love these stripes! They’re clean and modern and would work just as well in a modern townhouse as they would in a coastal house.}

{Leopard print adds a bold touch!}

{If you like the idea of animal print, but prefer something just a tiny bit more subdued, there’s always Stark’s antelope print which works as a great neutral.}

   {If a graphic statement is more your speed, Stark has great options like this hexagon pattern by the great David Hicks.}

{This Greek key pattern packs a punch!}

Are you in favor of stair runners? Which of these is in line with your style?

LDV Top 10: Stylish Work Totes

{Gwyneth Paltrow carrying her Monogrammed Goyard St. Louis Tote—Can you say “dream bag”?}

Since starting my design firm and focusing my time entirely on my interior design/consulting business and blog, I have been spending a ton of time in my car and find that I am always on the go—heading to client meetings, project site visits, showroom appointments, etc. Because I am always running around and need to carry all of the tools of the trade with me, I have found that large totes have become my go-to handbag style. Instead of carrying a purse and a tote, I prefer a great bag that is stylish and polished enough for me to carry to client meetings, yet versatile enough for me to stuff it with file folders, notebooks, fabric samples, paint decks, a tape measure, and all of my other tools of the trade. I have been carrying my orange Teddie Tote by GiGi New York all summer. It’s the perfect size and has my monogram in gold foil and has been great this season, but as Fall approaches, I will be swapping it out for the black Annabel Ingvall tote I just got at A Bientot in Houston. I am so in love with this bag! It’s such a great size and the leather is so supple and buttery! 

Before my “LDV Top 10” round-up of stylish work totes, I’ll leave you with a few other dream bags! Maybe I’ll get one of these babies for myself once I achieve a few more of my professional goals.

{Krystal Schlegel’s Monogrammed Louis Vuitton Neverfull Tote}

 

{Bradley Agather’s to-die-for Leopard Calfhair Celine Tote}

 

{Chiara Ferragni’s Gorgeous Monogrammed Bottega Veneta Tote}

{A Chic Valentino Rockstud Tote}

    

{ 1. GiGi New York Teddie Tote (available in many colors) | 2. Large Annabel Ingall Tote | 3. Louis Vuitton Neverful MM Mon Monogram | 4. Tory Burch Marion Tote | 5. Madewell Transport Tote | 6. Alexander Wang Prisma Tote | 7. Cinco Powell Classic Tote | 8. J.Crew Goodwinn Tote | 9. Joie Edie Tote | 10. C.Wonder Printed Stripe Tote in Black Leopard }

What is your go-to handbag style? Do you prefer small or large bags? Which of these particular totes is your favorite?

Beautiful Entryways

{Amanda Peet’s Stunning Los Angeles Entryway}

Your entryway is the first impression that you give to anyone who sets foot in your home. Like brushing your hair or applying some lipstick before you go out in public, having a beautifully designed entryway is just good manners in my opinion! your entryway or foyer should be stylish, but more importantly, it should be rather inviting, beckoning your guests to stay longer and enjoy the rest of your home. I love entryways because as a designer, they offer me the opportunity to make a big impact within a relatively small space. You’ll notice throughout this round-up that there are a few key elements for creating a beautiful foyer, regardless of your personal aesthetic—a lantern or smaller chandelier (unless you have soaring ceilings), a great console, chest, or cabinet, an ottoman or two, a pair of great lamps or sconces, something to make a statement on the wall like a mirror or a few pieces of grouped artwork, occasionally a rug, some decorative accessories, and cut flowers or a potted plant.

{Modern meets Traditional in this Foyer by Colleen McGill}

{I love the chic mix of modern and traditional in this foyer.}

 

{Mary McGee’s Beautiful Beverly Hills Entryway}

{This entryway by Melanie Turner is clean and simple, yet it has a big impact.}

{Is there a more statement-making foyer than this gorgeous one by Lily Bunn Weekes? I love every element from the lacquered walls and gold-leafed ceiling to the urchin chandelier and ikat stools. This foyer is not for the faint of heart!}

{Clean and Classic}

{The entryway can be a great place to experiment with bold, patterned wallpaper if you’re working within a smaller space.}

{Mary McDonald pulled out all the stops in this dramatic foyer featuring hand-painted deGournay wallpaper and a geometric painted floor.}

{Though the individual elements in this entryway by Christina Murphy are rather bold and dramatic, the composition in which she arranged them is refreshingly simple.}

{An entryway can also be a great place to experiment with pattern on the floor as seen in this space also by Christina Murphy.}

{Thom Filicia chose to go bold in this entryway employing a patterned chevron floor, dramatic urchin chandelier, and bright accents like the turquoise lamp and orange chairs.}

  {Nate Berkus opted for a great pair of lanterns rather than traditional sconces in this foyer.}

{A Glamorous Entryway by Celerie Kemble—I love the skirted table.}

  {My Friend, Mark D. Sike’s Beautiful Entryway}

{Rather than feeling imposing, this large, beautiful foyer feels warm and welcoming.}

{This relatively simple entryway feels special thanks to the uniqueness of each piece within it.}

{Another Charming and Welcoming Entryway}

{And finally, my own entryway. My entryway, formal living room, and dining room all open onto one another, so I love using this vintage buffet in the space. I have plenty of space to store everything from table linens and extra flatware to Tate’s leash and accessories like his Thunder Shirt and bandana collection.}

What do you consider to be “essential” in an entryway or foyer?

 

Book Review: Tom Scheerer Decorates

One of my favorite perks of being a design blogger is the fact that every now and then, I’ll get an advance copy of a book I am eagerly anticipating. This happened most recently when Vendome Press sent me a copy of Tom Scheerer’s new design tome, Tom Scheerer Decorates by Mimi Read with photography by Francesco Lagnese. I had heard that this title would be available in September and was really looking forward to it. Then, the September issue of House Beautiful came out with the feature on one of Tom’s recent projects and by then, I was officially dying to get my hands on the book! Luckily, I wouldn’t have to wait long.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but in the case of Tom Scheerer Decorates, you absolutely should. When I lifted the jacket of the book, I was delighted to find this stunning cane pattern underneath. So chic! As fabulous as the cover might be, the book itself is fantastic as well. Divided into three sections—City, Country, and Tropics, Tom Scheerer Decorates takes us into Manhattan high-rises, seaside country homes, and beachside cottages that exemplify the style Tom has come to be known for. Sophisticated yet relaxed; bold yet restrained, modern yet timeless, each of the homes featured is beautiful and inspiring. I think Miles Redd may have best described Tom’s style when he said “The thing I love best about Tom’s work is its wonderful polarities. It’s spirited and reserved. It’s exuberant and quiet. It’s never, ever vulgar, thanks to his Yankee understatement, but you always notice it.”

  {The Glamorous Lyford Cay}

{This bathroom features one of Tom’s signatures—Quadrille wallpaper.}

{A Dramatic Hallway Swathed in Quadrille Wallpaper}

{Stunning Staricase Landing covered in Clarence House’s “The Vase”; Part of the Scheerer-Designed Home featured in the September 2013 issue of House Beautiful}

{Modern and Chic}

{You’ll often find a bentwood chair or two in Tom’s projects.}

{Cuban Floor Tiles used as a Backsplash in this Kitchen make a Bold Statement}

{A Beautiful Example of “Modern Traditional” Style—The classic architecture of the room is met with gorgeous chocolate grasscloth walls, traditional upholstered chairs, a mix of modern furniture and art, along with floating bookshelves. It’s such a great combination!}

{Another Example of Floating Bookshelves, this time in a more Relaxed Island Setting}

{A Chic Bedroom}