Hello Again

It’s been a while.  I’m sorry.

I’ve been distracted by, I’ll admit it, Instagram.  It’s so narcissistic and a bit voyeuresque… but for a kid with a little ADD, it’s great.  I still troll design sites, blogs, retailers, vendors, and manufacturers of blog worthy design.  I have a desktop full of images I had intended to say something about over the course of time I have been neglecting this blog.  So here is a deposit of chic white rooms, with black and natural wood tones dominating the aesthetic.

I do love a clean and serene environment but damn if I don’t fill up every table top with birds nests, twigs, stones form trips to beautiful beaches and do-dads I pick up along the way.  These rooms for the most part have a un-designed design to them, intentionally “thrown together” creating an environment that is comfortable, feels organic, and is beautiful to experience.

 I should mention two things: There is not really anything new about black and white in design with the exception that it seems to go along with the quirky anti-design design and feels current and clean and edgy.  2. Black and White was the strongest trend to come out of High Point ( the furniture and lighting and home show in North Carolina).

The rooms shown here are curated, found objects, collections… each item chosen for it’s color, texture, shape value and  visual weight.  A balanced room dosen’t feel like a museum, or shed for that matter.  Don’t over do the amount you decide to display or live with.  Less is typically more (unless however, the pieces used in the simpleset of vingettes must be of stellar quality beauty and form.  Put your best feet forward kids!

James Perse

James Perse Furniture is a natural extension of the brand, with the same essential qualities as the clothing. It is classic, simple, and timeless — the essence of casual living. The collections – Malibu, Nor Cal, Los Angeles and Brentwood – appeal to a broad style of homes, from traditional to modern, and include both indoor and outdoor pieces.
James Perse Furniture is made in the USA and sold exclusively at James Perse Boutiques and the James Perse Showroom in Los Angeles.   For more information, please contact furniture@jamesperse.com or visit the James Perse Showroom.

Brentwood Collection
The Brentwood collection is sleek and sophisticated lending itself to a wide variety of décors. Its design is classic and suits both elegant and casual environments. The collection is available in ash wood with an espresso or white finish, as well as top quality teak grown on an environmentally friendly farm.   The collection includes the Balfour Dining Table, BurlingameTable, Barrington Coffee Table, Hillcrest Console, Concord Desk, and the Helena Dining Stool.

 

 

Los Angeles Collection

The Los Angeles Collection is a modern interpretation of the Craftsman style – warm and rustic with clean elegant lines. Pieces are available for indoors, in rough sawn white oak and can be upholstered in 100% Belgium or Italian basket weave linens or a cotton linen blend. For outdoor use, the collection is available in top quality teak grown on an environmentally friendly farm and upholstered with premium all weather fabrics to ensure lasting outdoor use. The collection includes the Craftsmen Bed, Sofa, Chair, and Ottoman. 

Nor Cal Collection
A collection of upholstered pieces that capture the refined and relaxed quality of the James Perse aesthetic: modern and timeless. Fabrics are offered in 100% Belgium and Italian basket weave linens as well as a cotton linen blend, and express a lived in and laundered look. The collection includes the Sonoma Bed, Sofa, Chair and Chaise, the Napa Sofa and Chair, and the Carmel Ottoman.  

    

Malibu Collection
A collection of classic outdoor furniture updated and refined to reflect the James Perse aesthetic. Made of top quality teak grown on an environmentally friendly farm, the Malibu Collection is upholstered with premium all weather fabrics to ensure lasting outdoor use.  The collection includes the Malibu Sling Chair, Westward Wedge, Montecito Daybed and Chair, Carbon Chaise, Cross Creek Director’s Chair, Colony Chair, and the La Piedra Side Table. 

     

Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90069
Tel 323 606 7660

 

 

 

MANPONCHO

I want one.  NO, I REALLY WANT ONE.  So much so I might just make one.  how hard could it be?  Looks to me like you sew two small blankets together and you’re done, Bata-bing Bata-boom!  But I have to say the above “slicker” style poncho is very cool – harder to make so I might have to figure out who designed this one and buy it.  I don’t remember where this image came from… something makes me think it’s Tommy Hilfiger, I’m not always a fan of his but this poncho rocks.  A Bing or Google search came up with some great alternatives…

This one from - NonnativeThis one from - alpacamall.com
This one from - earthwatch.com…or if this was brown or grey or navy. Don’t care that it’s “for ladies” (also from Alpaca Mall).

Theres even a poncho for people in wheelchairs at buckandbuck.com!

Ponchos for EVERYONE! Look even the cool kids are wearing them…

Who wants to help me sew one? Stay tuned…

PAINT IT

I’m not much for faux finishes, but I have been known to use decorative paint in my work.  I’m typically trying to add architectural interest where there is none when I employ decorative paint, or to add color in a room where I don’t want the color to be the focal point and sometimes I’m “adding visually” to a room where I’m limited by budget and by that I mean I’d rather wallpaper a back wall of a bookcase but a shot of vivid color (paint) usually does the trick.

The other night new friends hosted a dinner party at their home and before I could even ring the doorbell I was smitten with the interesting paint treatment on the glass doors to their turn-of -the-century homes vestibule (regret not taking a picture).  Dark blue mullions were “built-up” with a decorative band of robins eggs blue painted directly onto the glass,  adding dimension and visual interest from inside as well as out.  Inside the first floor foyer, the drywall between the coffers on the ceiling was painted a milk chocolate-ish deep taupe-y color that gave the room a rich and masculine feeling… a wonderful detail, well executed, and an inexpensive way to create a beautiful space.

Which finally brings me to these images.  These clever boys have painted the ceilings of their double parlor with bands of gold that highlight the crown detail and again added richness and detail to a room with just paint. Impressed? um, yeah.. I was in love.  I immediately started thinking about where in my home I could use this pretty detail.  Now on the prowl for more paint details and without  asking I took a peek into the office off the front parlor… more banding only this time it ran up the corners of the room across the baseboard and under the ornate crown.  The effect was fresh and modern and added a spin on the traditional architecture, the modern furniture is largely white, glass and chrome the dark taupe bands really popped and helped the furniture fit into the space…I’m still jealous.

Last room, didn’t really have to go but during dinner I checked out the bathroom and discovered a bold bright yellow medicine cabinet and more taupe banding, these guys got it going on.  the bathroom detail reminded me of the other rooms tying it all together and unifying the rooms.  Clearly they have good taste, and they are clever and come to find out handy…they did it all the painting themselves.

 

 

 

Gift It – Jack Spade

I need one, so I’m guessing that there’s a guy in your life that needs one too.  I think the Swedish Ary splinter camouflage is interesting and the pop of the orange contrast bottom makes a statement. Not sure how long I’d want to carry a tote that looks like this (there’s that bag again) but a travel dob-kit is the perfect thing to take some liberties on.  Jack Spade is the mastermind behind this design, click over and take a look at all the cool things they are offering up.

Borrowed Blog – Beachbungalow8

ROMAN & WILLIAMS was featured on the Beachbungalow8 blog back in November, and some how I missed this beautiful spread.  I was intreged by the first image…

It quickly moved to crushing on the second and I knew it was a reblog by the third.  When you get to the vintage inspired bathrooms… Your welcome.  Beautiful!!!

 Their designs and color use, never feels regurgitated. (and I love the feel of this white kitchen)

There’s a sort of macabre thread that they masterfully weave into beautiful and cerebral design.

 This bathroom…is absolutely beautiful, in a haunting, 20s laboratory way. Gorgeous. (WANT)

 Their website has even more……Here

 photos by Grey Crawford. 

Gift It – Cute Undies

Crushing on, and might have to treat myself to, a pice or two from Ramblers Way - available through Cuddle down, an amazing resource for all things Cuddly - 100% American made wool comfortwear. This earth friendly and sustainable company is second major eco-friendly venture from the folks that spent nearly 40 years building Tom’s of Maine.  You owe it to yourself (and maybe a few lucky people on your list) to experience these revolutionary lightweight, luxuriously soft, wool garments.  I just love the look and feel of them and knowing that they are American made and sustainable, is icing on the cake.  

Heaven

I believe in some sort of heaven.  I don’t know what it’s like… how could I? I’m still alive! …and the jury is still out on whether they will let me in when it’s my turn to depart this life, but I sure hope it resembles something close to this: Don’t you just want to put on freshly laundered PJ’s and climb into something that feels the way this bed looks?  I do!

I have studied this image and tried to imagine how I would ask my upholsterer to make something that looks like this.  A boxed frame with knife-edge bedskirt-like layers filled with down attached up the sides, like shingles?  I think the illusion of stacked duvets would be lost if there were splits at the corners where side pieces met the foot board pieces.  Maybe it’s more like a coverlet that simply has a multilayered edge that goes over the box spring but not the mattress and then several more make up the top layers?  that would be the easiest and most cost-effective I’m guessing but how would you ever clean it?  OK, OK … I’ve got it:

lay a duvet (or three) on the floor, set the box spring over it/them… add two or three more duvet covers, add a mattress and then add more duvets… Voila!  That’s a lot of duvets, maybe I should google “discounted duvets” or “duvets-for-less” I’m beginning to doubt this will ever happen for me or a client in this lifetime, so I’ll just have to keep wishing that this is what heaven looks like.

It’s In The Bag!

Hi, my name is Bill Barr and I’m addicted to bags.  Messenger, tote, back-pack doesn’t matter.. If it holds stuff, and I get to think about how it will look with a given outfit or lend style to a look short on style then I’m in!  I have actually wondered if starting a new blog exclusively for bags would make sense.  it would allow me to indulge my obsession… mens and women’s, ones that I covet, ones others covet, ones that should be coveted, whats trendy, whats out… the list could go on and on, there are so many good bags.

I seem to be a fan of the tote.  I like totes for their ease of entrance.  you can find what you need without a flap, zipper or latches, buckles or even a snap.  If I’m on your list, I would LOVE this navy bag.  It would be my “go to” summer bag, I’d wear it with khakis, and white Jack Purcell sneakers and yeah, a navy and white striped D-ring belt.

White Is Right

Sometimes I know what I want to write about, sometimes I have a picture, a room I love and the words just come to me… and, sometimes I’ll pull a few photos from the littered desktop on my laptop and see what stands out.  In truth, this was going to be a White Kitchen (and technically still could be)  but I wanted to post these images too:

So I guess it’s a White on White post.  Everything white is so fresh and clean and cool in the summer months, but it is oddly comfortable in the colder months too.  Autumn and Winter are highlighted by the neutral and simple look, branches of Fall colored leaves on a dining room table or a snowy view blurring indoors and out.  It doesn’t have to be all white mind you, a black floor or a neutral sofa or coverlet adds depth especially if your room is lacking architectural interest, texture or other focal points.  Not that I’m suggesting your coverlet become a focal point! …I simply mean with multiple whites and neutrals the over all palette gives the eye something to discover, layers.

 But then, of course… white on white on white is so pretty.  I’m dying to paint floors white, in my house or someone else’s the problem is my floors are so nice (original quarter-sawn oak circa 1097) and clients are afraid of the maintenance (who can blame them?).  I’m sure the effort is worth it… maybe I’ll go paint the attic floors.  

Custom Map Wall Paper – Borrowed Blog

Came across this great product the other day on Designmilk.com  It was posted on 11.05.12 by Caroline Williamson in Art, Interior Design on their website.  I  had to share…SO COOL.

Maps have always been a fun way to decorate your walls but have you ever wanted a more personal map, like one specifically for your town or zip code? Wallpapered creates just that – custom wallpaper maps for any spot on the globe that means something to you.

Punch in the location you desire, the radius you want covered, then you customize the size and colors to your liking, and you’ll have your very own, one-of-a-kind mural.

Read more at Design Milk:

http://design-milk.com/custom-map-wall-murals-by-wallpapered/#ixzz2BvGSE6eQ

almost WHITE KITCHENS and a few other rooms

Yummy rooms.

Love the colors, the ease of the spaces and natural elements mixed with paint.

Antique Stomp… What I almost bought.

So I mentioned in my last post that I enjoy poking though the antique store in my area on my day off… I often will buy things with clients in mind, hoping they might like what I’ve found and secretly hoping I’ll be forced to keep it if they don’t share my vision.  Well this week I found a few things I – they – couldn’t live without, and many things I wanted to buy, but left behind…  I’m wondering if there isn’t some web-based business where I could post the things I didn’t buy and offer to buy them for someone should they want it, and deliver or ship it to them.  That business model probably already exists but I’m thinking it could be a slow winter project – assuming I’ll have time over the winter… it’s already shaping up to be quite busy.  Anyway, here are the things I let slip by…

9 plus feet long, $400.00… I know it’s a crazy deal, I just don’t have a need for it.

Orange and White, great condition… $875 for the pair.

I might go back for these… $500 for the pair!  Crazy right?!?

Black glass, needs shade (duh) but it was $59.00 Wish there were two.

If I had that G.D. summer house I could install these in the showers… forget how much, but they were pricy.

Borrowed Blog – Wild Ones

Wild Ones: Gentler Pocket Knife Has Animals, Not Blades as found on dornob.com and it’s too cool not to share…

The Swiss Army knife is a beautiful example of simple but elegant design – but it isn’t exactly meant for play. This Animal Pocket Knife was a 3rd year design school project created by David Suhami as a lovely alternative to the classic knife.

Suhami’s goal was to invent a toy for adults who enjoy playing with small objects. The safari “knife” is completely harmless, yet still beautiful enough to be appealing to discerning adult minds. The object features interchangeable heads, legs and tails for three animals: a rhino, an antelope and a giraffe. The pieces fold out just like those of a Swiss Army knife, creating multiple animals which all share a torso.

According to Suhami it is also possible to mix and match the animal parts to create some fascinating new hybrid animals. The animal parts are made of stainless steel (to represent modern technology) and the knife’s body is made of Tabebuia wood (to represent traditional craftsmanship).

the Farmhouse Wing Chair & Other Favorites

So I guess it’s been awhile since I posted product.  I mostly focus on the overall aesthetic of a room so today I’m going to post a few of my favorite pieces from vendors I use with some regularity…  Starting with the Farm House Wing Chair from Hickory Chair. It’s got great style and its a comfortable sit, it looks good in traditional and modern settings and you can order it from 28 inches wide up to 120 inches wide!  I’ve seen it upholstered with a “racing stripe” down the middle and that is a great look, breaking tradition further and adding to its modern sensibility.

Random I know, it’s a mixed bag today… but I’m just loving the Vincent table from Oly.  Inside or outside I love this table in pairs, flanking french doors, a fireplace or a sofa.  Available in several finishes the organic look of the faux-wood table adds interest to a space, plays well with traditional furniture and the dash of whimsy isn’t “too cute”… the table has sophisticated polish.  A great foyer piece too, I like it in white with a mirror above it.

This is the Cabrillo Nailhead Chest from Bernhart.  It’s gotten a lot of attention since it’s debut, and why not? It’s a stunner and Bernhart is known for good – not great, but good – pricing.  This chest probably isn’t “cheap” but well worth the cost, just look at the detail.  The chest is linen wrapped and the decorative nailhead details are most likely applied by hand, that’s some serious labor.  The piece itself is a show stopper.  I’d love this chest of drawers as night stands in a big bedroom against a dark wall. POP!

Ahhh… McGuire.  a San Francisco based company  that has been around forever, just keeps putting out chic product that feels fresh and holds up to the test of time (never trendy, always timeless).  The Barbara Barry designed Caned Lounge Chair is designed for comfort. The square back offers a delicate pattern of square mesh caning framed in rattan and accented by the collection’s signature half-oval, cutout detail… and it looks good too!  Click over to McGuire to see more.

And finally, I would be remiss if i did not include a rug from my favorite rug vendor Asmara.  This rug in particular is so elegant and so beautiful and so easy to design around and live with.  Silk, cotton, linen, leather… Eveything looks good with this rug.  I work on many coastal homes and the pale color palette is perfect to compliment beautiful views and maintain a balance between whats going on indoors and out.  Using ancient French Savonnerie dyeing and weaving methods and fine hand spun wool yarns, this hand-knotted Oushak pile rug has subtle shade and texture variations rivalling the best antique Oushak rugs.  If you want the best, start with Asmara.

THE DARK SIDE

 

For those who live on the edge of what is current or in vogue the idea of painting a room a deep dark color is nothing new.  The trend started a few years ago but is now being completely embraced by the mainstream.  People have become comfortable with creating a room full of mystery and drama even in more traditional homes and modernists love the white Eames chairs, Saarinen tables and the like against a dark back-drop.

It seems as though trim work, doorways and bookcases are also getting the treatment.  No longer is the typical white trim!  We have moved into making architectural details really stand out and make a statement by accenting them in greys, browns, blues and blacks.  Now you know me, I love an all white room (ok all white house) but I do love the idea of a dark, cool study or TV room to get away from the heat of summer or the chill of winter.  and I love the idea of the high-contrast room within a house… a surprise if you will.

A great room to try this tend in is the bedroom.  A room typically darkened by night and a place you spend the majority of your time in sleeping, a dark cozy room is like a cocoon.  I adore this tufted headboard and think the colors here are beautiful.

Dark can go totally glam, and I love it…

…and dark can go rustic.  No matter your look there is a dark that you can make work.  Coastal house? Try Navy.  Uber-traditional, try Chocolate.  Modern? Go black!  It’s really a few gallons of paint and a weekend… trust me it’s worth the risk.

 

I’m Back! …and I’m loving “real” seaside style.

Thank you all for hanging in there with my two-week (plus) absence.  I had an amazing time with close friends in Provincetown, MA.  Of course, I can’t wait to get back there and of course I am loving all things seaside inspired.  I happen to think that you don’t need bright colors and seashell print fabrics everywhere to create a seaside inspired home… in fact, it’s more authentic and genuine if you don’t.  An anchor coffee table or a ship’s wheel fire screen will give off an even better vibe.  I love the layered up boat and ship prints in this space, I love the mix-matched furniture and I love the neutral palette.

Here is where I spent my vacation…

The view from our wharf, never get tired of the beautiful light on Cape Cod.

the other side of the Wharf… this view isn’t too bad either.  We had a second floor private deck the first week, love!

Week two we were lucky enough to share the end unit with close friends.  Do I really have to say anything else? How about a few more shots of our room…

Candle light cocktails before an evening out.  The room was a mix of blue and white stripes, Ralph Lauren meets sea shanty = perfection.

With the extra-large window open sea breezes blew through all day and all night.  Every window had an amazing view and the attitude was easy and relaxed and quintessentially seaside… and not a seashell print in sight.  The season for seaside style is coming to an end ( goodbye summer ) but I’ll be busy all winter long creating beautiful and neutral spaces for clients and I’ll hold this vacation in my heart… true seaside style.

 

Spanish Dream House

I know I have a lot of dream houses, and the two room cabin on the ocean is still number one on my list but if I was to have multiples I’d add one like this to the list.  I love tile roofs (see yesterdays post) and the thick walls of  spanish style homes.  White slip covers on everything and a big collection of pottery from the 20′s, 30′s and 40′s sounds good to me as the interiors starting point.  The intricate patterns, deep rich colors and heavy beams of a home like this would be complimented by easy relaxed shapes in sold neutrals and give the architecture a chance to really shine.  The light and relaxed upholstery would also lighten up the aesthetic as these houses can be dark ( cool in the summer – warm in the winter ).  Nothing more boring that walking into a Spanish style house and seeing nothing but dark carved wood furniture and heavy trimmed drapes, I like the idea of an unexpected interior.   Here are a few more houses I love  and some interior shots that help articulate the style I’d like to see inside…

Love the littleness of this one and that giant window up front, yes please!

This is close, maybe a bit dark but love the rug in this room…

This one really puts the colonial in Spanish Colonial Revival!

This is a good color palette, missing a bit of pizzazz?

This is a good color but I prefer the traditional creamy white exterior.

Yes, yes, yes… this is the look.  Clean, bright, fresh.

Awnings, too cute. House great, yard… not so much.

This space – if you ask me – could use a tiny organic touch… just a bit sterile for me.  love the floors!

Edgartown Continued

House after house after house, each more charming than the next.  There is such a look when it comes to homes in Edgartown.  Much like Nantucket there are historic restrictions regarding paint and other details historic homes can and can’t have but it’s the consistecy of the look that grabs you.  ”Edgartown Style” is clean and sharp and well taken care of … and I love it!  This is Edgartown…

Here’s some history…

The Edgartown Harbor Village Historic District covers an area of about 150 acres and contains approximately 500 buildings, exhibiting a mix of commercial, residential and industrial land uses. The vast majority of the district’s buildings are wood-frame houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries designed by local builders and carpenters, as well as shipbuilders and whaling captains. Only five masonry buildings exist in the district, all of which are constructed of red brick. Architectural styles that are well-represented include vernacular timber-frame houses and cottages, the Federal style and the Greek Revival style. Less common, but equally significant are examples of later styles such as the Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Arts and Crafts. The district possesses significant historic associations with the early settlement of Martha’s Vineyard visible in the Captain D. Fisher House (circa 1704) on North Water Street, the Coffin-Dunham House on South Water Street and the Thomas Cooke House (circa 1765) on Cooke Street.

Edgartown was the island’s center for whaling activities, reaching its height between 1820 and 1865. Between 1835 and 1845 alone, 110 whaling captains built homes and lived in Edgartown. Other maritime-related industries, including fishing, salt manufacturing and candle making also strengthened the local economy during this period. The largest single maritime-related enterprise which grew up around whaling was the production of whale oil and candles by Dr. Daniel Fisher & Company. This company became Edgartown’s largest industry in 1850 and the success is evident in the elaborate Greek Revival dwelling built for Dr. Daniel Fisher on Main Street. The affluence and influence of the area’s ship captains is apparent in the extensive number of captains’ houses, public buildings and churches that also were built during this period.

At the time the whaling industry was in the last stages of decline, Martha’s vineyard’s popularity as a summer resort was beginning in earnest. The first “summer cottages” appeared in Edgartown Village in the early 1880s, although the largest number and most lavish examples were built between 1895 and 1920. Edgartown and all of Martha’s Vineyard gained widespread recognition as a resort community between the late 1920s and the early 1940s, when bungalow cottages and Colonial Revival style buildings began to appear as infill among the earlier buildings in the district. The Edgartown Village Historic District remains a popular resort area today.

Welcome to the Dream House

Each image is a different house, but if could combine them all my dream house would look like this… 

I realize the size of the structure might not allow for everything, but come on it’s a dream blog…

White paint, beams, board ceiling, white floors, vintage, modern? Check, check, check, check, check, check!

Make my picnic table 12 feet long so i can have double the guests!

Some shaker meets modern moments inside would be cool, the sparseness…

…and of course a clean simple pool out back.  That’s all I need.