A Well Dressed Room

A sofa, chair, table, rug and lamp really isn’t all that different from a jacket, shirt, tie, pants and shoes.  Designers are constantly referencing lighting as jewelry in the room, and that’s because it quite literally IS the jewelry of the room.  Small accents in metal, glass, stone, mirror, ceramic and the like serve a similar purpose to jewelry.  Sure they provide light but they also add a sparkle, a layer of something small and pretty. Paired with a large swath of fabric (sofa or sweater) the two create a beautiful relationship and complement one another.
Much like wearing a suit (pants, jacket, vest),  a room can be furnished with matching sofa chairs and ottoman.  The look is clean and polished, simple maybe… but done in leather, cashmere or linen the vibe can be tweaked to become something extraordinary.  Rooms can also be a lot like a pair of jeans and an old favorite sweater.  A slip-covered sofa in a hard-working twill and a cozy wool  blanket only needs a fireplace, a good view or a reading light and a book to make it complete.  Whats the point? When you’re furnishing a room, think about getting dressed. Start with how you want the room to look or feel – if you were getting dressed you’d be thinking about the weather, the occasion and of course whats clean – So you should start with whats right for this room, apartment, home. Decide on a palette or a vibe and maybe pick an inspiration piece to guide your decision-making – like a pair of shoes you just have to wear! Your room will need underwear, a good foundation aka. paint and flooring. You’ll need the basics… Rug, sofa or bed, tables or dressers, a chair perhaps (and if we were really getting dressed, a belt, watch, shoes and sox, jewelry, tie pocket square and maybe even a hat and coat!) this means lights, pillows, books, art and of course accessories. Each layer is important and will help give your space a finished quality. Attention to detail is key, you’d iron your shirt right?

1/3 of your life is spent in bed

The amount of time you spend sleeping In your life is around 30-35% precent of your daily life, supposing you sleep the recommended 8 hours every day, which is 33% of your day, approximately.  Of course,in some cases,you may have to wake up early for a field trip or something and sometimes you may want to sleep in, and sure we all have a late night every now and then…it really depends on the person, but generally, the range is from 30-35%, assuming you are an average sleeper.  Obviously if you fall into a coma, it could be much, much longer.  Have I made my point? your bed, the room it occupies is important.  The bed in the top image is from Hickory Chair.  I believe it is called the Lakehouse bed.  Inspired by a classic 1840’s acorn post bed, this design features the elegantly scrolled headboard, shapely turned posts, and gracious proportions that distinguished the antique. Instead of executing the headboard in wood, my hero Thomas O’Brien translates the form in curvaceous upholstery with standard nailhead trim. Available in Queen, King and California King sizes along with endless finish, nail, fabric and leather choices. Love the dark wood finish in the custom paneled alcove for this glamorous set-up.  It reads very Hollywood to me, old world and “of quality”.  Swing arm lamps are the perfect detail for reading in bed, looks like there might be some hidden storage just inside the  alcove… everyone needs a place for a bottle of water, an iPad or Kindle and maybe a late night snack. It’s a tight squeeze but they got three twin beds into this room.  A great set up for children and teens, I have fond memories of the bunk room at my families cabin in Lake Tahoe, CA.  We slept in sleeping bags so we didn’t have to do laundry on vacation so this room is definitely a step up from my good ol days, but it was fun just the same.  No room for three traditional twin beds?  No problem… try this fancy set-up, perfect for a coastal home.  Just be sure you get strong rope and that you hit a stud in the wall when you fastening the supports to the wall.  Love the grey white and yellow color story. 
I love a big bed in a small room, so of course I really love two big beds in a small room.  When you really only have the space for a bed… make a statement.  Black was the perfect choice for this cool blue bedroom.  there is a great energy and a nice play between hard and soft. Minimal is always a chic and comfortable look.  Keep your bedroom uncluttered and simple and you will find unwinding and letting go of the day will come easier to you.  Create an oasis of calm, a cocoon for yourself… a place when you emerge from your refreshed and ready to take on anything. Masculine, moody and rich (sounds like a catch!) it also sounds like this yummy paneled wall.  No headboard needed.  simple table, simple light, simple bedding… showstopper wall.  it’s really all you need.  Well that and a very good mattress.  Don’t cheap out.  Spend as much as you can afford, a very good mattress could be 2000 to 3000 dollars.  Test a lot of beds, ask a lot of questions, you might be the Temperpedic type, you might like a pillow-top and you could be an extra-firm.  

 

EASTER! it’s coming…

…and I’m taking a dessert to my hosts for supper.  They are definitely food snobs, so this has got to be good.  I can’t go with average taste and Wham-Bam aesthetics flawlessly executed, that won’t be enough.  This dessert has to be sublime, unique, appropriate, and it has to be pretty.  I tend toward razzle-dazzle.  This has a beauty but its in its honesty, it’s purity… I’ll strive for that if this becomes the winning dish, and if mine looks nothing like this I’ll shave chocolate shavings all over it and add sparklers when I bring it to the table, because everyone likes chocolate and sparklers.  Raspberry, Pistachio and Rose Cake… it has an esoteric ring to it (even the recipe is a little snotty)  I think I’ll try it.

Serves 6-8
For the sponge:
6 large organic eggs
180g caster sugar
180g plain organic flour (sieved)

For the filling:
500ml organic cream (preferably Irish single-estate, such as Mossfield)
1 to 2tbsp good quality rose water (to taste)
4 heaped tbsp. raspberry jam
2 punnets of raspberries
75g shelled pistachios
Dried rose petals (I use Steenberg’s organic)

The sponge layers of this cake are very light as they don’t contain fat or raising agents, the rise is achieved purely by the whipping of air into the eggs. This is a very quick and simple cake to make and its merit is directly proportional to the quality of ingredients you use to make it. Ensure you use the freshest possible organic eggs, duck eggs if you can get them.

Recipe by Kate Packwood.

The Metho 

Preheat the oven to 170°C.

Break 6 eggs into a very clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk the eggs gently to break them up, then add the caster sugar and whisk on medium high speed until the ‘thick ribbon’ stage is reached. This means the mixture will be light, have increased substantially in volume and be of a moussy consistency. When you lift the whisk the mixture should fall slowly in thick ribbons.

While the eggs are whisking, grease three (22cm diameter) cake tins and line the bottom with a disk of parchment paper.

When the thick ribbon stage is reached, add the sieved flour and fold in very gently to fully incorporate without knocking the air out of the mixture. Very carefully apportion the mixture between the three cake tins and pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes, turning two thirds of the way through the cooking time. You will know when they are ready as they should be golden brown and coming away slightly from the edges of the tins.
Remove from the oven and cool in their tins for 10 minutes before carefully turning out and leaving to cool completely on a wire rack.

Whisk the cream in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Be careful not to over-whisk it, you want it to be in soft peaks and full of volume. When the correct volume has been reached, add the rose water little by little to your taste.
Chop the pistachios so that you have a good mix of larger chunks and nut dust.

When the sponge is completely cooled, remove the parchment disks from the undersides and place the first sponge on the stand on which you plan to serve it. Spread the sponge with a thin layer of raspberry jam and then generously spoon on about a third of the rose water cream. Arrange raspberries across the cream remembering to evenly arrange them around the very outer edge, as these will show when you sandwich the layers together. Sprinkle a third of the chopped pistachios, again remembering that the ones on the very edge will show.

Place the second layer of sponge on top and repeat with the jam, cream, raspberries and pistachios, then add the final layer of sponge. Don’t add jam to this layer, but add the cream being more careful as all of this layer will show. Arrange the raspberries and pistachios artfully and then sprinkle over the dried rose petals.

recipe found on: www.donalskehan.com

Newport

Hi everyone.  I had a great weekend that started on Thursday actually.  We braved a snow storm (really) to drive to Newport Rhode Island for a lecture on public gardens, landscape architecture and Olmsted put on by the Newport Preservation Society. Wow, what a serious collection of antique homes they have acquired… truly amazing and major treat for the architecture aficionado.   I take out-of-towners to this treasure-trove and it never disappoints.  An exhausting list of their properties looks like this: The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, The Elms, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House, Kingscote, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Rather than rant on about the houses themselves, I think instead I’l give the hight praise deserved for doing such a good job presenting these properties to the Newport Preservation Society .  Thank you.  And, I’m going to let them tell you about each of their beautiful properties.  click on the link to be taken to the Society’s web page.  Please do the stories behind each house are fainting.  This magnificent structure is the Breakers.

The Elms is not to be missed.Something for everyone Kingscote is one of the few wooden structures in the collection. Here is where we were for the lecture, Rosecliff. Oh and here is Chateau-sur-mer.

the VICEROY Anguilla – Borrowed Blog

I had to “borrow” and re-post this blog from BAD (Blog About Design) because It’s so beautiful and you know I’m a big Kelly Wearstler fan!  AND, having just come back from Mexico… I’m an missing and “jones-ing” for more beach weather!!!  I give you the Viceroy Anguilla.

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla

The Viceroy Anguilla is located in West End, Anguilla. The property features fantastic living spaces as well as beautifully manicured grounds and great places to eat, designed by Kelly Wearstler. (ABOVE) The architecture of the hotel is quite modern. It’s clean and smooth like that of the sand. With just a few short steps from the water, it’s the ideal location for the beach bum! (BELOW 1) The hotel features breezeways that one passes through to get to their suite. The tiling is modern, and gorgeous! I love the armchairs, they have that beach feel, but are very chic. (BELOW 2) The infinite pool is a phenomenal place to kick back and relax. It’s definitely a great place to swim laps or sip a drink and look at the views! (BELOW 3) One can relax on a lounge chair or one can have a seat at one of the seating areas and read a great book. The seating areas or wonderfully designed. (BELOW 4) Half Shell Bar is a great place to enjoy a drink or a quick meal. With fantastic views of the sea and cliffs, it’s a must visit while at the hotel. (BELOW 5) The Ocean Villa’s are detached large size homes. The Ocean Villa’s are three and four bedrooms. The Living Room of the villa is bright with floor to ceiling windows. The villa’s have an infinite pool! What do you think of the hotel?

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 1

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 2

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 3

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 4

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 5

TARGET’s Look-A-Likes

I slipped in to our local Target store yesterday to buy some Champion brand gym clothes that they have on sale.  I needed more high performance clothing now that I’m performing at a higher level ; )  My trainer and gym membership have been working – even with an occasional, ok frequent, cheat.  Since I was already there, of course I had to see what they were pedaling in the house-wear and garden centers.  Now you might not be quite as shocked as I was to see these cute little side tables but let me tell you after having sold this table to a client I WAS SHOCKED to see a look-a-like in Target of all places.

This little table is a design from OOMPH, and is clearly a knockoff.  I’m a bit torn about this.  On one hand I love that the masses get this great design for a fraction of the better made side table from Oomph… good design for all!  But, It makes me sad that with all the resources Target has, they couldn’t have designed their own cool table and not taken design ($) from a small company like Oomph.  The bottom line is it’s good for you.  This table is 39.99 and available at Target.  It is a chic little table that would look great next to a slip-covered swivel chair, and the end of a sexy settee or even alongside your bathtub holding am iPad and glass of wine. Jonathan Adler has become a household name in recent years.  We went from obscure pottery artist to world-class decorator and retail giant but marketing a look we really haven’t embraced since the days of Merimeko, Vera and other 60′s Modish designs.  And, do you know how you can tell when someone has made it really big?  They get knocked off by a big box chain like Target ( and in this case Nate Burkus ).  Yeah, Yeah tortoise shells have been used in interior design for decades but this white version I’d something Adler has really made iconic.  Bad for Adler… diluting the market and creating a trend so strong it’s bound to be over-played, but great for you because it’s only $19.99 at Target.  Now I may be wrong here but I’m 99% sure this is an Arteriors original design.  And yep, you guessed it… now available at your local Target.   It’s nearly $800.00 from online retailer Zincdoor.com  was it really only $24.99 at Target?  Wow, crazy cheap.  This table is not as well made and they changed the proportion of it a bit from the original – taller and a bit more delicate looking – but come on it is so a copy.
Jamie Young is my “go-to” lighting resource.  They have up to the minute, white-hot lighting at prices that are fair for the well made and well designed quality products they produce.  This white floor lamp from Target is so a Jamie Young KNOCK-OFF.  Bad for Jamie Young… Great for you.  I don’t think it’s nearly as pretty as one of Jamie’s – the high gloss looks cheap and this lamp isn’t made nearly as well – but for the cheap price $69.00? I might be able to live with it.  click here to see the Jamie young version.

Caramel & Cream

I should warn you… I’m dieting, hence the title  I’ll try and keep food references to a minimum.  What I did for today’s blog was just go through some unused pictures on my desktop looking for a common theme.  It’s no surprise that I’m a major fan of whites, off whites and creams all used together.  Well is seems I really like a dash of caramel mixed in with my whites.  

Even though it is a “neutral” I like to use caramel as well as tan, camel, light brown, and other warm mid-tones as I would a color.  In a white room with tonal upholstery, those rich warm colors can be the accent or the “punctuation” in a space.  But there is more than just a strong color story here.  The furnishings are transitional to modern – in a mid-century meets 70′s bohemian mixed with Scandinavian leanings type thing.  The look is decidedly masculine, yet appropriate for either sex.  I love the simple and clean look of these spaces with the extra dash of exuberance in the layer of found/collected/layered accessories.

Art has a great way of really taking center stage in rooms like this.  If you think you’re going to try for this type of vibe I suggest you pay strong attention to the walls.  If you can’t afford statement pieces, found and collected groupings of interesting small pieces will work, but you can’t put multiple groupings on every available wall, so plan ahead!  I’m a sucker for a four-post bed, but in white in a white room with the warmth of the wood floor and doors, perfection!  The softness of the drapery header, the easy matelasse coverlets and the simple bedding are classic, simple and just perfect.  The hide rug really sums up the prefect color palette white and tan dash of black… the percentages of colors is right on.

You can knock it out of the park with this color palette in the kitchen too.  I’ve helped many clients create kitchen palettes with cabinets in both whites or creams mixed with a yummy pecan, fruitwood or other warm stained mix.  They are the perfect compliment and reinforce the “furniture” feeling in some kitchen design that is still so popular today.  The mix works with traditional, country, as well as shaker, contemporary and modern.  I love the open and random boxes used in this kitchen.  Found object meets function for a look that is easy, not too precious and fun to be in.  I WILL USE THIS IDEA in my beach house.
I’m mixing in this shot because I love the room and because It proves that this “look” can work with any style.  The glam of the gold mirror and sconces and the deeper tones of the wood pieces suit the white and camel upholstery and elevate the textures in the space to becoming the pattern.  A room with no pattern is not as easy to produce as it sounds.  Texture becomes very important… the crown moulding, the basket, the books, that great mirror! even the legs of the stool all become the details your eyes see.and just because I love the feeling of these images…

They all seem to suit the idea or vibe of the spaces I’ve highlighted today.