BILLblog... no holds BARRed!

got WOOL?

bill barr — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:06:02 +0000

A part two to yesterdays post, not only does ABC do housewares exceptionally well the furniture department is really off the hook! you name it they’ve got it, sofas, arm chairs, occasional chairs, pendants, chandeliers, desks, diningroom chairs and yes… RUGS. An entire floor plus the building across the street, ALL dedicated to rugs. you guessed it, every type of rug you can imagine, Flokati, Oshak, Tibetan, Flat-Weaves and Durrie and many others. A trend in rugs is over-dyed and patch-work rugs. I saw them a the gift show and they have been popping up at the design center. The over-dyed rugs are a fun way to inject bold color into a house that is tradtional or transitional and because they have traditional patterning there is a connection to furnishings that lean that way. Of course they look amazing with modern furniture too.

This antique patch-work was something I bought recently for a client at the Boston Design Center from the Schumacher showroom. It’s perfect in her praire inspired home, a bit artsy a bit arts and crafts antique and modern at the same time, she loves it and it looks amazing in her dining room. We paired it with a modern dining room table and chairs in a deep ebony finish.

These rugs are (for the most part) hand-knotted all wool rugs so they are not inexpensive but they will wear like a good quality wool rug should and give years and years of service. Of course the antique patch-work rugs are probably salvaged from damaged rugs but they are still antique and the labor to sew them together takes time and skill. I love the look.

got WOOD?

bill barr — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:44:39 +0000

ABC Carpet & Home in NYC never disappoints. I could spend a day on the first floor alone. If you haven’t been to ABC on Broadway the first floor is made up of shops within the shop. There are boutiques selling. Clothing, candles, jewelry, stationary, dishes, chandeliers, rocks and minerals and rugs to name a few. This image is a SNAPshot I took yesterday. This particular shop had such a great vibe, wooden platters, bowls and cutting boards were mixed with white enamel cookware and thin porcelain dinnerware. There is a Scandinavian meets modern rustic thing that I love perfect for a farmhouse, beach house or my house!

Why Didn’t I Think Of This?

bill barr — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:20:03 +0000

Cute, right? Made by folks just north of me in Newburyport MA this little ditty is available on ETSY for $25.00. I love the rustic chic thing (as you know) and would love this on my countertop… certainly better looking than the plastic pump top I have there now albeit a great sent from Seda. I could combine the two – Ball jar and Seda soap – for a PERFECT combination!!

Not Quite White

bill barr — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:20:43 +0000

but I love it… How could you not love this masterpiece?! Want to hire them to design my dream home, think they would take a job in Provincetown, MA? This project looks flawless to me, just perfect… and who doesn’t love a subzero in the pantry?

Who’s responsible for this beautiful kitchen and pantry? Schwartz and architecture in San Francisco. Click here: www.schwartzandarchitecture.com to the rest of this beautiful home and other amazing projects they have worked on. Amazingly cool, refreshing and not the same ol, same ol.

ooops, turns out these are two different kitchens… look there’s more great kitchen to love…

Schwartz and Architecture
860 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94107tel
415 550.0430fax
415 550.0431info@schwartzandarchitecture.com

White Kitchens – there’s one for everyone!

bill barr — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:20:50 +0000

So many kitchens this time… all I’m going to ask is:

Can you spot the coffee fanatic’s kitchen? I think I love that person.