eMag: Lonny March/April 2011

Another great issue of Lonny! Check out my favorite home from this issue:

Note to self: Design a home with black floors and window frames, loads of high gloss white trim and finish with glass door knobs.  A coordinating black dog would be a plus (maybe this should be my home, since I already have the puppy).

And don't miss the article on Miss Kelly Wearstler! 

Still can't get enough of her studio. Sigh.... so fabulous.

House Crush: Barbara Barry Gone Country?

While I was researching another post in progress I came across this home in the Tetons designed by... Barbara Barry????  Not the first person I would have thought of to design a rustic farmhouse since she's more a California modern classicist, but she did an AMAZING job.  Would we expect anything less from Barbara?

 The ultimate modern sophisticate said the clients "...wanted something that would suit the setting and their casual, active lifestyle.  Their intention was to build an unpretentious yet refined farmhouse that would stand the test of time."

"Barry maintains that she does not 'decorate.' Instead, she 'orchestrates sophisticated but practical rooms, keeping the focus on function.' No cowboy decoration for this Wyoming home."

Doesn't this dining room remind you of an updated version of the Draper's kitchen nook?  Just me?  Maybe I've been watching too much Mad Men...

The master bedroom is more of the Barbara Barry we know and love.  I'm drooling over the dark cherry armoire. Who would have thought it would have looked so great in a country home?

When I have my own country home, THIS is how I will design it.  Still city chic, just adjusted for the Rockies.

{images and quotes via Veranda}

House Crush: Jennifer Lopez

I hope all you had a most wonderful Christmas!  Mine was quite good.  I'm currently compiling a post about my favorite gift, white custom frames my hubbie made to go over our nightstands!  Sigh... now back to normal life...

My jaw dropped when I came across these images from the Jan./Feb. issue of Veranda Magazine.  They are of Jeniffer Lopez's Southern California home and I seriously think her designer, Michelle Workman, is my design twin separated at birth!  Does anything in these photos look familiar?

How about this table:

from this post,

and this chandelier:

from this post.  The chairs are very similar, too.  Great minds think a like, I guess!

Check out how fabulous the rest of JLo's home turned out:

The palette of soft taupe, gray and blue was based off vintage black and white movies from the 1940's.  Again, SO my personal style.  True love...

Lucite legged bench from Suzanne Kasler's collection.  Love me some lucite!

{images via Curbed}

Can This Be Made Into A Room? Victoria Bojarskaja

I love this girl. The Lithuanian model, Victoria Bojarskaja, is just so gosh-darn beautiful!  You know me, I had to turn my favorite pic of her into a room!
 

{via FGR}

I started this room by finding the sofa equivalent of Victoria's top. The Celia sofa from MG+BW is the prefect match.  Then for that fabulous necklace- it's such a gorgeous piece!  I interpreted the long antiqued bronze chains as a heavily antiqued mirror and a statement chandelier made entirely of antiqued bronze chains (both from Arteriors).  So fabulous, if I do say so myself!

I was going to turn this room into a living room, but then I thought, why not go crazy and make it a dining room?  I have always wanted to use a full-length sofa in a dining space and where better to test it out than here?  I would add a stunning Art Deco table circa 1940 (1stDibs).  I know I say every style is my favorite style, but Art Deco is my first and foremost love, especially French Art Deco.  It's the perfect transition between traditional and contemporary.  Adore.  For the other seating around the table I would add some upholstered chairs in a linen (Overstock). If you need dining chairs I HIGHLY recommend these.  Amazing quality, amazing price! They are what I have around my own dining table, actually.  Add a sideboard  (Baker) in a parchment finish under the mirror, accessorize with some vintage Dorothy Thorpe glassware (Etsy) and a funky bronze sculpture (Arteriors), and you have a completed statement formal dining room.  Tre Chic!

Dreamin' Of A White Christmas

Sometimes the beautiful crimsons and evergreens of traditional Christmas decor just doesn't mix with certain rooms.  If this is your scenario, don't fret!  The great thing about celebrating Christmas these days, is that you're not expected to always go with the expected.  Don't be afraid of decorating in unexpected colors (like Tiffany blue) and funky accessories (like whimsical woodland tchochkes).  Here are some of my personal favorite non-traditional holiday rooms:



Flocking a tree is a great trick if you want to use a real evergreen in a more serene or modern space.
It makes the dark green much less harsh.

The blue floral is still festive while being an unexpected twist to your holiday table.

Simple, elegant, gorgeous.

I adore this room and it's no wonder-- it's designed by Sarah Richardson.

Nothing is easier and more elegant than filling a bowl full of silver ornaments.
I place my extra ornaments under a large cloche and group them with a pair of  mercury hurricane lanterns.
I love the way the candlelight from the lanterns play off the glittery baubles.

{above images via Canadian House and Home}

{Menorah via Pottery Barn}

And HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!   It only took me 3 days into Hanukkah... my bad. 

The Mark Hotel, NYC

After a horrible weekend of nausea and a foggy head, I'm finally feeling like my old self.  Hallelujah!  Knock on wood that was my token winter illness.  Anyway, back to inspiring interior design!

I was reading Jan Shower's new notebook post about her recent trip to NYC where she stayed at The Mark Hotel on Madison Ave.  Apparently, it is an older hotel that was completely renovated by the renowned Jacques Grange in a style inspired by Paris circa 1930.  You know I had to research this further since vintage Parisian design is so up my alley!  I was not disappointed by what I found.

Grand Entrance
(LOVE the monogram)

Lobby
(You can never go wrong with black and white stripes! Classic.)

Hallway
("Jacques Grange decked the halls")

Jacques Grange hand selected each piece for every suite.
The yellow of the curtains is the perfect accent to the neutral room without being overbearing.

I adore the coffered ceiling and the use of chunky moldings to frame-in the walls.

A perfectly accessorized nightstand.

En Suite Dining with Adjacent Kitchen

Closet

Bathroom with Mirrored Flat-Screen Television

The piece de resistance of the entire hotel, in my opinion, are the bathroom vanities.  They were all custom-made for the hotel in a elegant Tiffany blue with stainless steel accents.  These would have looked as good 50 years ago as they do today and will continue to look just as fabulous for years to come.  This is what one strives for when designing permanent fixtures such as counter-tops, cabinetry, floors, ceilings, etc.  

Black, white and marble decked bathroom for the modern-day Audrey Hepburn.

Custom Vanity Exclusively Designed for The Mark.

Next time you are in NYC, need a place to stay, and have an extra grand or two to splurge, check out The Mark Hotel!  See more at:

http://www.themarkhotel.com/