Anatomy of a Home: The Kitchen

Today, we have another fabulous and hilarious "Anatomy of a Home" post from LDV Contributor, Lauren of Semi-Designed Life. Enjoy!

Munger Interiors

At this point, you've welcomed your guests into your house, wined and dined them and they've used your facilities. Let's get down to the 'ness and discuss what everyone really cares about when it comes to your home: the kitchen. It's really true that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Why? It's simple really. We peoples likes foods.

 

Wouldn't it be nice to distract your inner fat kid with other things in your kitchen than croissants and eclairs? This kitchen is courtesy of my girls at Munger Interiors here in Houston. I know the awesomeness that is Munger Interiors personally. These girls have skillz. And their hiliariousness brightens my day each time I see them. My inner eclair eating self would be totally distracted in this beach house kitchen.

 

Anatomy Lesson #1: Distract your inner fat kid with lovely details like paneling, open displays, beadboard ceilings and modern niceties like lucite bar stools.  

Elle Decor

This kitchen will just straight shut you up. I don't think I would have the guts to even open my mouth in this kitchen. This kitchen deserves silence, respect, and worship. Subway tile walls, brass hardware, double sinks, LOOK. AT. THAT. STOVE.

Anatomy Lesson #2: Invest where it counts. The brass hardware makes this kitchen. They've saved by only putting marble on the island and granite everywhere else. The subway tile makes a BIG impact for a little investment. Spend where it counts, save where you can.

Windsor Smith

Oh, Windsor. Windsor, Windsor, Windsor. This goodie has been around for quite some time but she's standing the test of time. The cozy cottageness of this kitchen is too charming to elaborate any further. There would be no need to ever tell your guests, "make yourself at home". They just would be.

Anatomy Lesson #3: Make anyone who walks in your kitchen feel at home. A nice long table with lots of room for early morning coffee or late night wine drinking. The pleated wingbacks just amplifies the comfy coziness.

Elle Decor

This kitchen is the epitome of country charm. A beaten rug, original cabinetry, and kitsch to boot. A kitchen that's been lived in is a kitchen that's welcome in my book.

Anatomy Lesson #4: While an all white kitchen is stark and serene, let an original kitchen show it's scars. There's little you can do to recreate the charm of an old, historic kitchen. Try not to disturb original charm. She'll thank you for it.

 

Elle Decor

And this is the opposite of anatomy lesson #4. This is the kitchen most of us decoristas are drawn to. And you know why? Because she's perfection. The coffered ceilings add a touch of charm that most all white, granite kitchens lack. Which is why she's a lush.

Anatomy Lesson #5: When all else fails, go white. Just not insane asylum white. The sane kind.

A Fashion Blogger’s Dream Office

It’s always such a treat to come across a new designer whose work you truly enjoy which is why I was thrilled to receive a press release on the “sartorially-inspired fashion blogger dream office” designed by Catherine Kwong for the 35th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase. I had the pleasure of attending this showcase a few years ago and honsetly believe that it is one of the best in the country. I only wish I could attend this year! I was not familiar with Catherine’s work before, but this space has made me a fan. Heavily inspired by fashion, this stylish office features several references to some of the greatest designers in history. “I’ve always been inspired by fashion,” says Catherine Kwong. “And, right now, fashion bloggers are my favorite sources for information on the latest trends.  With this type of writer in mind, I set out to create a dream office -- complete with pinup boards for tear sheets and look books and, of course, a custom closet to display a truly inspirational wardrobe. Adjoining the master suite in a lavish, turn-of-the-century classical revival mansion, the office is perfectly appointed for a fashion writer.  Personal style, timeless elegance, color, scale and subtle contrast of form conspire to inspire missives from fashion’s frontline.” Can you imagine working in such a stunning space?

{In the entry to the office, guests are greeted with Andy Warhol’s iconic “Chanel No. 5” Print.}

{Like any good office, this space offers plenty of storage, but these closet doors are made extra special with inset panels lined with classic Hermès scarves.}

{There is plenty of fashion inspiration in every corner of the office. I especially love the abstract fabric used to cover the pinboard on the left. Does anyone know who makes it?}

{The space could also be ideal for a fashion stylist. Check out the shelves lined with designs from Manolo Blahnik’s latest collection—love!}

{An Assortment of Beautiful Fashion Tomes}

{Lovely Details—Every item in this office is quite covetable in my book!}

{Catherine selected the glamorous Julian Chichester’s “Cortes” desk for the office. It has a gilded steel base and is wrapped in hand-dyed black vellum.}

{The desk hosts a chic black and brass lamp along with a classic arrangement of white peonies.}

 

{Image Credit: Bess Friday, Courtesy of Catherine Kwong Design}

Photo of the Day 05.02.12

I am currently beyond obsessed with this ultra-chic, all white look from the stunning Elle McPherson who has not aged in the last 20 years. Sure, anything would look great on a tall, thin, gorgeous model, but I really love this outfit. It is white done right. She looks polished and elegant, yet completely relaxed. The embellishments on the cardigan and the edgy cuff really tie the look together for me. Does this look strike your fancy? Would you dare to wear an all-white ensemble or do you prefer a little more contrast?

 

{Image via Pinterest}

Design Under the Influence: Bertoia

"If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them." - Harry Bertoia

Hello, it's Erika from small shop with our 14th edition of "Design Under the Influence"! Today I wanted to share a little bit about the man behind one of the most iconic chairs around: the Bertoia chair.

Like Saarinen, Bertoia was a sculptor by trade. It comes as no surprise that he taught metal working and industrial design at an art college in Michigan. He was often brought in to collaborate with Eames and Saarinen on their projects as well. And you probably didn't know that he also was a jewelry designer, even creating the wedding rings worn by Charles and Ray Eames.

But he struck designer gold with his introduction of industrial wire mesh in his collection for Knoll in 1952. So much so, his commissions allowed him to devote himself fully to his first love: sculpture. He eventually went on to explore how metal can affect and produce sound, creating "sounding sculptures" like large wind chimes. His pieces can be found at museums and sculpture galleries in Chicago, Brooklyn, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Dallas, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, and the Smithsonian American Museum of Art in Washington D.C. Go check them out for yourself — I hear the installations at Chicago's Aon Center and the Chicago Botanic Garden are supposed to be quite an experience!

Bertoia received awards from the American Institute of Architects in 1973 and the American Academy of Letters in 1975. Yet even today, we are still using his innovative forms in so many types of rooms. Like the Platner and Saarinen collections, these iconic pieces can stand alone or be paired with just about any furniture style, creating an instantly eclectic space:

lily.fi

lily.fi

lily.fi

via wit and delight

JL Designs for 944

JL Designs for 944

(source)

Marie Olsson Nylander

Stephan Jaklitsch

via Mid-Century Modern

Peter Pawlak via Elle Decor

Photographed by Douglas Friedman

Alexandra Angle

small shop* for the Glitter Guide

via Marie Claire Maison

via Martha Stewart Living

via vtwonen.nl

Photographed by Pierre-Jean Verger

Jenna Lyons

Atlanta Bartlett

Don't you love the kids' chair version too? Easy way to add this chic piece of design history to your space (*like I did!).

For more on the man and the legacy he leaves behind, please visit: www.harrybertoia.org

Top image: Mikel Irastorza via Nuevo Estilo

Love it or Leave it: Cork Walls

I recently came across this image of a space by the fabulous Miles Redd. Now, I LOVE Miles’ work and he really can do no wrong in my book, but I am pretty certain that the cork wallcovering he used in this room is going to elicit a pretty visceral response from all of you. It’s one of those things that you either love or you hate, wouldn’t you say? Personally, I really like the idea of using it in a less formal space like a kids’ playroom or home office. What are your thoughts? Love it or leave it?