Category Archives: Decorating

Designer: Ellen O’Neill

24 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Designer

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

 

Does this ever happen to you?  You see a home featured in a magazine and it immediately appeals to you.  You just know you’d enjoy living in a space designed just like it.  Okay, maybe you wouldn’t want to live in the geographical area the home is located in, but you feel a kindred spirit with the designer because the home holds such appeal for you.


That happens to me all the time and while the ‘favorite homes’ file is thick, the feeling is the same.  The furnishings, accessories and details in the design are just the way you like them.  This happened to me (again) with Ellen O’ Neill, one of interior design’s Leading Style Makers, leading lady at New York’s St. Regis Hotel, and the woman behind Ralph Lauren.  House Beautiful featured her Bridgehampton, NY country house and later did a piece on her studio apartment located in Gramercy Park, NY last year and it was love at first site.

 


 

Ellen O’Neill’s country house was featured a couple of years ago by House Beautiful.  The charming home is located in Bridghampton, New York features a country red and white decor and exudes such an inviting atmosphere.  One can rent the home HERE.  ln her interview with Christine Pittel Ms. O’Neill explained that the red and white theme resulted in an old metal factory table with peeling red paint she found at a Paris flea market.  She built the color theme around that.  The designer believes that things that are weather-worn give a room character.  It’s that philosophy that resonates with anyone that delights in flea market finds and antiques.

Her interview by Carol Prisant was entertaining and made her sound so well grounded.  I know, I’m beginning to sound like one of the celebrity fans that feel like they are “friends” with their favorite celebrity.  Guilty as charged, sometimes.

A doggie makes such a nice decorator item!

The faded stripes on the sofa only add to the charm of this space.  This is a getaway house so it shouldn’t be too perfect.

All photos for the Bridgehampton house by John Kernick for House Beautiful

The toile and striped fabrics are inspired.  Ms. O’Neill said she likes it to feel comfortable, not too precious for use! 

Above images are “country mouse” abode, below are “city mouse”…

Ellen O’Neill told HB (Carol Prisant) that when she bought she was ready for a single room studio.  She had purchased a home in the country and felt she only needed a small space in town.  When she saw the ad that read, “One room with balcony overlooking Gramercy Park, fireplace, outstanding views, key to park,” she was sold.  For those of you who didn’t know this (moi), Gramercy Park has its own private park, very much like the private parks in London.  {Remember the scene in Notting Hill when Julia Roberts jumps the fence of a private park, with the reluctant Hugh Grant?}  The area, built in 1830, is described as possibly the most gorgeous square in New York.  One of my favorite parts of the interview with Prisant was when Ms. O’Neill explained that in preparation for the move to the studio apartment she weeded and pared down her inventory of belongings…she said that she lasted about 4 days in her new studio with her minimalist approach.  She explained, “I felt so naket, it was almost like I didn’t have clothes on.  I really needed my paper and things.”  I totally relate, must have my stuff!

 

 

All photos for O’Neill’s studio apartment by Thomas Loof for House beautiful.

Ms. O’Neill says that her studio has actually slept 5 using some blow up beds.    “There’s so much space that I can have a cat and dog living with me, and relatives staying over”.

This quote was one of the reasons I felt sure I’d like this designer, “I like a sense of humanity in a home. I’ve tried not to like stuff, but face it… I just like stuff.”

The bathroom…part of the tour

22 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Misc, Renovating

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

I saved this room for last on my dream-home tour because our sweet little cottage has 2 bathrooms and one is in desperate need of a renovation.  Our master bathroom was remodeled in 2001, I can hardly believe it’s been nearly 10 years!  The guest bath has had cosmetic changes throughout the years but nothing major has been done.  Our renovation, when it happens, will be a simple face lift but we’ll take everything out that is currently within the space so the room should feel a little roomier than its miniscule 5’ x 8’ size once finished.

I might as well start with the largest dream bathroom in my files.  I realize this is a little over the top for most homeowners but wouldn’t it be wonderful?!


I want to renovate our guest bathroom using white tile, white sink, tub and toilet and chrome hardware.  I visualize a bathtub with wood paneling on the side, white Toto toilet and a white vanity with Kohler’s Ladena Undermount Lavatory (sink) and Kohler’s Double Handle faucet.  I’d like to put in Carrera tiles on the floor and white subway tile up the walls to the ceiling in the bath/shower area.  I want to install a new, QUIET fan and recessed lights.  I will most probably install the new Oval Framed  medicine cabinet from Pottery Barn and wall sconces on either side of the mirrored cabinet.

Pottery Barn’s Classic Single Sink Console (or something like it)

Kohler’s Ladena Undermount Sink


Kohler’s Double Handle Faucet

The wood panel on the front side of the bathtub is what I hope to duplicate in our guest bathroom.

I may try to incorporate a built in-the-wall shelf like this…a real space saver.

 

Pottery Barn’s Lattice Oval Medicine Cabinet (don’t you love this medicine cabinet…it looks like an antique mirror while serving as a medicine cabinet as well).

Pottery Barn wall sconce.  The subway tile behind the sconce is what I have in mind for the area above the tub.

You get the jest of what I’m wanting, right?

 

So come along to see some of the larger, more spectacular bathrooms I dream of, but know that our guest bathroom will be a simple cottage loo when remodeled.

For one of the  most spectacular bathrooms I’ve seen in a very long time visit for the love of a house HERE.

This picture of Susan Tully design has been in my file for quite awhile.

Love this toile and love the use of what appears to be a tiny space.

So what do you think?  Any suggestions, comments, ideas? …they would be most appreciated. 🙂

Karen

The naturalist…continued

20 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Designer, Gardens

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

I was wandering around the web this morning in search of inspiration…no surprise, I get some of my best ideas from blog/web sites that share an image or a theory on design.  That often triggers an idea and gets my creative juices flowing.

Sea glass colored jars and starfish, a natural for summer.  I love the old wood shelf.

A few weeks ago I blogged {HERE} about designers that bring a “naturalist” flavor to their room designs.  Rose Tarlow and Tricia Foley are favorites of mine.

The net covered glass buoys are collectibles and so pretty on display with coral and pencil starfish.

So it was with some delight and surprise when I visited the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating site that arrives in my email box a few times a month and discovered their feature on the very topic of decorating with natural elements.  Coincidence?  No doubt.   Still, I found  images, courtesy of BHG, that might inspire you to use some of the abundant natural elements in and around your yard to create a wonderful summer mood for your home.

Natural items can be simple plant cuttings.  Think outside the box, sometimes seed pods and branches with little foliage make for an interesting and attractive display.

 

You don’t have to have a house on the beach to appreciate the beauty of natural sea grass (which has been framed here) and when coupled with a book open to a page on starfish, the vignette is complete and wonderful.

 

This is truly natural…a piece of a tree trunk for the vanity top and what would appear to be the remains of a vine growing on the wall of the bathroom.  Perfect for the lodge or cabin.  The vine remnants remind me of Rose Tarlow’s room in my previous blog.

 

I really like the simplicity of a single stem of greenery in an assortment of bottles…various shapes, colors and sizes make this a study in still life.  I’ve seen this used on tables set for dinner and it always looks so lovely and has a very calming effect.  I believe that is what appeals to me.

Placement of a couple of smooth river stones and a small vase of fern, how simple and still so artistic.  The little tray on the larger try appears to have a shell and maybe a baby pine cone.  It makes me wonder what the story behind these little finds might be.  A nature walk with someone, a discovery while on vacation.  It’s personal touches that make our homes interesting and enjoyable.

 

A grouping of pressed plant material can be impressive and in this neutral palate, the lime green colored plant stands out.

The stone fireplace, natural wood vase and branches and a sisal rug are a trinity of natural beauty.

 

I love the pendant lights, the Windsor chairs and the antique pitch fork on the wall…very country, very pretty.

 

This display made me think of a summer project with a child…collecting and placing items in interesting jars could be fun.

 

Put a birds nest on any table or hutch and instantly I think of spring/summer.

 

I’m thrilled to see the re-emergence of the antique cloche and various table top green house displays I’m seeing in so many of the design books and blogs.

 

Do you dress your home for spring and summer?  What items do you pull out for the season and then put away for fall/winter?


xxx

The Man of the House

15 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

With Father’s Day come thoughts of men and boys and the rooms they live in.

Captain Frederick Gustavus Burnaby, Tissot

I thought that since Father’s day is this Sunday I’d feature some rooms that I’ve saved in my files, rooms that have what I consider (in my humble opinion) a masculine vibe.

So pack your bags…and hop in the car…

I lean towards the look of what is so often, in the design world, referred to as club or lodge look.  I also associate those two words with a masculine leaning.  I confess the club look I lean towards makes me think of an imagined London men’s club complete with dark oak, raised panel walls, over-sized club chairs and/or wing back chairs and lots of leather, paisley, plaid and tweed, and campaign furniture.

Image via Slim Paley

My very first visit to London Hubby and I visited Harrods where there used to be a little dining place called the Trafalgar bar…it was a spot for shoppers (probably the men who accompanied their wives) who wanted to sip a pint and enjoy a tea sandwich.

Image via Domino

It was furnished with high-back wing back chairs that were upholstered in a wool flannel plaid fabric and there were dark oak round tables with dark oak paneled walls.  I loved it. We were there in March and the room felt warm and cozy.

Image via Elle Decor

It was probably just after that vacation that I felt I had a clear idea of how I wanted our home to be furnished.  I’ve stayed pretty true to that vision for the most part.

I realize that a lot of the images I’ve included are bathrooms.  I guess that’s because our guest bath is in need of a renovation and that has been on my mind during my search. 🙂

What could be more manly than an explorer and a map?

Wouldn’t it be great to have a bathroom large enough to have a comfy leather chair to rest in?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via Slim Paley

Image via tumblr

I could imagine a man enjoying cooking in this kitchen!

Image via Vignette Designs

All you guys out there, have a wonderful week!  We’ll keep you in our thoughts when we design…maybe.

Bedrooms…the tour continues

10 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in Decorating

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Tour of room #5, the bedrooms, of my “dream” house.  Most of the images posted are rooms that I’ve admired and thought that IF we ever moved or built (which is highly unlikely) I would do this (fill in the blank with whatever great design idea I have observed).

I like our bed and bed linens but I would like to change the paint color in this room.  It is currently painted a Martha Stewart “Tea” and it’s a little more green than I would like.

Close-up of left side of the bed.

Close up of right side. (Note to self, hide the lamp cord better).

This is the dresser/TV area of the room.  As you can tell it’s a pretty small room, but we mostly just sleep here so it works.

In our house the master bedroom is the first room off the entry.  I have thought this an advantage most of the time…as a light sleeper I could hear our boys come in during their teen years and knew if they had honored their curfew or not!

Board and batten walls, what’s not to love? (Image via House Beautiful)

I like the size of this room and the mix of periwinkle and apple green are very pretty.

I love the beams in this room.  I also like the toile wallpaper but I know Hubby would draw the line there.

One of our 3 bedrooms serves as an office and the remaining bedroom is our guest room.

This conveys the current “feel” of our study, very masculine since Hubby spends weekdays there. (Image via Nate Berkus)

This is all I would need (space wise) in the study.

Back to comfy beds that guarantee sleep, right?

Love the painted floors and the old, chippy wicker hamper and the red and white.

Very nice.  Sunny yellow paired with soothing blue, I feel relaxed already.

I hope to one day make room in the office for a day bed so that little Olivia (grand daughter #1) will have her very own bed when she visits grandma and grandpa.

Image via Content in a Cottage

This (above) youngsters’ room is very clever.  Space saving too!  Maybe this would be doable on one wall of our study.

Another built-in bed for some lucky child. (via)

I love the mountain feel to this room.  (Image via House Beautiful)

http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen/2010/07/our-bedroom-a-small-redo.html/

I love the ceiling in this room but more than that I love the bookcase.  I could see swing arm lamps mounted inside the headboard area.  It’s a very cool idea, don’t you think?

Wood paneled walls are always cozy but the push out windows above the bed seals the deal for me.  Such a sun-filled room would certainly give anyone a good reason to wake up with a smile on their faces.

This is the beautiful, grown-up bedroom of the talented Brooke of Velvet and Linen.  So very French!

I really like the neutral palate and the wood walls.

This would make a great teen room with the mantle for a headboard.

Is your bedroom inviting and a place where you can get the rest you need?  Pleasant dreams.


Pull up a chair, have a seat

06 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in Antiques, Collections & Accessories, Decorating

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Chairs are common in homes today but it was only during the Renaissance period (early 16th century) that the chair became a standard item of furniture for anyone who could afford to buy it.

This cozy setting is inviting and as an professed anglophile, I love the union jack rug.  The chairs look plush and comfortable!

This Chelsea wing chair from Williams-Sonoma Home is beautiful.  I believe the nails are silver plated and the legs are black {sigh}…alas, with dogs and a cat I don’t think I could manage to keep it white for very long.

I love the two French chairs along with the wicker chest.  Cote de Texas


My dear friend Carla loves ♥ chairs.  She admits it’s a weakness, I wouldn’t agree with her and you wouldn’t either if you saw how her chairs contribute to the design and comfort of her lovely home.  This one’s for you Carla…

A Country Farmhouse (image (left) Tracery Interiors (image right)

The above chairs are two ends of a spectrum, the sweet, simple wooden chair in the garden with a lilac infused back drop and the French side chair in the raise-paneled entry.  I love them both.

Most of us have particular tastes and likes where chair design is concerned and today, because I’m sitting in a chair, at my desk, trying to come up with a blog post idea, I’m going to share some chairs I really like…

Image Dan Carithers  via(Veranda or Traditional Home, sorry, can’t remember which)

What I think is wonderful about interior design today is the chairs in Dan Carither’s living room (above) can just as comfortably serve in the kitchen (below) designed by the Atlanta designer.

Kitchen designed by Dan Carithers.

The chairs above could just as easily be comfortable in a living room or library as the dining room they adorn— Pamela Pierce designed room.

This is Randy Boyd’s fabulous dining room…love the toile chairs and nail head studs.  More about Randy Boyd can be found HERE.

This is the Plantation Wing chair from Crate & Barrel…I could see this anywhere in the house, including a covered patio.

This is another Pamela Pierce design.  Isn’t it pretty?  It’s covered in linen, very comfortable and so suitable for French influenced design.

Love these wicker chairs which are sold at Pottery Barn or Cost Plus World Market.  I would use them indoors or out.

Antique chairs via Veranda (a Saladino feature).  They are probably not extremely comfortable but would add interest to an entry or flanking a dining room piece.

Light industrial with an appealing design going for it.  Interested in buying? visit HERE

There is nothing quite like the French cafe chair. (Image via Brabourne Farm)

Food just tastes better served in a setting such as this.

Lastly…there’s the rocking chair.  Whether indoors or outdoors, a rock is always soothing.

Do you have a favorite chair at home?  Are you addicted to chairs?

 

A living room by any name

23 Monday May 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Personal Information, Renovating

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

As I continue to tour you around my dream house…code for  showing my reader(s) rooms that I really like, I now enter the living room.  The living room in recent years has been called the great room, the family room, the bonus room, the parlor and a few other terms.

I love the sunny, fresh feel of this living room.  I’m not sure I could ever paint my wood floors white but I love the look.

Older homes usually have a living room space and a family room or den space.  In Southern California the newer homes were designed with a “great room” instead of the 2 separate spaces traditionally carved out of the floor plan.

Image via Apartment Therapy.  This is a small space but I love what they did with it and have always wanted brick wall.

Our home was built in 1968 and is a fairly smallish tract house.  We originally had a living room and a family room and fortunately our family room was designed in such a way that it is adjacent to the kitchen as well as the fireplace.

This is our mantle…it looks like I was listing a little, sorry about that.

So as I explained HERE we switched the living room with the dining room and renamed the space “library” or reading room, since that is where I most often sit to read.

This used to be our living room…

This was our dining room

If I could make one change to my family room it would be to make it about 5 feet wider…since the wall we would push out (if that was even a possibility) has the fireplace on it that won’t be happening.

This is such an open and airy room with an amazing view.  {Sarah’s Summer House, HGTV}

It’s a cozy room and I like it most of the time.  I thoroughly enjoy the fireplace in the cooler months and we use the room daily.

Isn’t this gorgeous?  I love the crisp, clean feel of the black and white.

Image via Traditional Home

One of my favorite accessories…a doggie!

Image via Tracery Interiors

I love this living room.  It’s inviting and looks like it would be comfortable.  Maybe that’s the advantage to keeping both a “living room” and a “family room”, there wouldn’t be a need for a television and you could arrange the furniture for comfortable conversation without concern that the chairs and sofa are facing an entertainment center.

Isn’t this clever, an over-mantle where no fireplace exists?  I think this is a sweet vignette for the corner of a living room or family room or library.

Image via Michael Whaley

Paladin windows {sigh} Is there anything more to say?

I have always thought a day bed was something that would serve a library or study well…I mean doesn’t reading make you sleepy sometimes?

I hope you have enjoyed my tour of living spaces.  What items do you feel are essential to the well dressed living / family room?

 

 

 


Nod to Bold Color

20 Friday May 2011

Posted by in Decorating

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Easter Sunday Son #2 and his lovely girlfriend, Sarah, entertained both families by preparing a wonderful, festive feast of Honey Baked Ham, glazed carrots, roasted asparagus bundles and all the trimmings.

This was my first visit to Sarah’s home and I was thrilled to see her decorating style in person.  Sarah and I (as well as her mother for that matter) share an interest in interior design.  I knew that Sarah liked bold colors such as black and purple and was very interested in seeing how she used these colors.  Unfortunately I forgot to grab my camera but I will tell you her home is stunning.

So that I could share this post with you all I searched for some rooms that reflect the colors above.  As a fan of black it was easier for me to find images that use black but there were some fun images of purple that I’ve thrown in for fun.  Enjoy!

I thought I’d start with a small beverage and treat before your tour begins…

Cupcakes from Planet-Cake bakery

Sarah’s kitchen is charcoal with a beautiful gray granite…I love the glass fronts on these cabinets and the steel bar stools.

This image from British House Beautiful isn’t anything like Sarah’s living room, but the wallpaper pattern reminds me a bit of the bold purple and black pattern Sarah used on a wall in her living room with great effect.

Image by Thomas Loof, House Beautiful

Image by Tim Street-Porter, House Beautiful

I love the crisp contrast of the black and white stripes on this terrace.  The green plants makes a beautiful, serene setting for an outdoor space.

Image by Victoria Pearson, House Beautiful

Black lacquered walls with white contrast, stunning.

What’s that…you finished your drink and need another, no problem…

While you sip your Lavendertini I’ll show you some of the non-room designs I found while search the world of purple and black…

Sarah, you could pull these off with style! 🙂

 

To wrap up our tour of bold colors today…

Image via Slim Paley

 

This was fun, wasn’t it?  Its surprising what you find once your world is open to new color!


Catalog Inspiration

16 Monday May 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Trends

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

 

I’ve always received more catalogs than I could possibly order from or want.  I admit that the recent recession cut the number of catalogs I received by quiet a bit…my post man seems so much friendlier!

Pierre Deux catalog

Note to self…I’d love to have a taxidermy pheasant.

Images above via Pierre Deux catalog

There are 4 catalogs that I thoroughly enjoy, not because I order from them, but because I get inspired by some of the room decoration.  They are Williams Sonoma Home (I love Williams Sonoma/cooking as well but I’ll save that for another post), Pierre Deux, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn.

Williams Sonoma Home has a host of some of the best names in design now offering their ideas to create “your room your way”.  Names like Bunny Williams, Mary McDonald, Joe Nye and Carolyne Roehm.  I realize there is more at stake for these home stores/catalogs so it makes perfect sense.

The above 2 images Williams Sonoma Home catalog

I believe some of the catalogs raised the bar as far as room display some years back.  In fact, Pierre Deux and Restoration Hardware started advertising in several of the nesting magazines with full page ads that are very impressive.

Pottery Barn gets a certain amount of scorn from certain home enthusiasts but you have to admit, they truly have something for everyone.  Even if you don’t care for their furniture, their ability to accessorize is pretty amazing and you can use your own treasures and just borrow a little inspiration from their catalog for your own home.

The above 6 images via Pottery Barn catalog

Restoration Hardware took a new direction in 2008 when Chairman and Co-CEO, Gary F. Friedman decided to rock the boat…when other companies were lowering their prices due to the recession, he and his team raised the quality and subsequently the price of their furnishings.  I have heard people say they love the new look and some that find it dreary.  I’m somewhere in the middle.  I must admit I love the gray tones and the light industrial look of many of their furnishings.  Its fun to look at their store and I hear they opened a gallery in San Francisco that is pretty impressive…see what I mean, the bar has been raised!

So what catalogs do you enjoy, if any.  Do you buy very much from them?

Rose Tarlow, Tricia Foley…stirs the naturalist in me

13 Friday May 2011

Posted by in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Designer

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

When I first saw this room designed by Rose Tarlow (Architectural Digest, 1991) I fell in love with its uncomplicated beauty and with the live vines growing in the room.  I hadn’t seen vines (attached to the wall) growing indoors before and thought it was such a wonderful concept.  During my high school years I visited a friend of a friend whose parents had built their house around a tree.  I thought that was pretty cool as well.  Joni at Cote de Texas did an extensive post on Rose Tarlow HERE.

The Rose Tarlow room reminded me of the “naturalist” trend in design that took place in the late seventies,  something I was always attracted to…being the nature girl that I am.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to rough it…ask my husband!  I just mean I’ve always taken to nature in a more broad sense of the word.  I love gardens and forests and butterflies and most harmless insects and animals.

Besides the vines growing near the window, I love the ceiling.

Notice the earthiness of the logs stacked sky-high?  I love this room, it looks like something John Muir might have lived in.

Tricia Foley is another designer whose rooms always evoke a sense of nature and as a result, feel very comforting and comfortable.  Maybe the truth is, the simpler we keep our furnishings the more freedom we experience.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my “stuff” and can’t imagine not having it displayed in various rooms throughout our home, but I have to admit there is an allure to simple, uncluttered rooms.

This might have a natural flavor but it’s a bit too jumbled for me.

 

This above image is a shot of  The Graphics Fairy living room vignette

When rooms are decorated using natural elements there is a sense that  the home is in the country somewhere and that maybe you would harvest your own vegetables from your garden and gather wild flowers for the vases instead of hothouse flowers.  Much like Willoughby (Greg Wise) in Ang Lee’s, Sense and Sensibility in the scene where he gives simple wildflowers to Miss Marianne (Kate Winslet).

Another home that gives me the sense of simple, natural elegance is the home featured in the blog site A Country Farmhouse.

This blog is appealing in the way that you imagine a simpler life might be.  I believe the farm house is in Oregon and the seasons play a huge role in the activities around “home”.  Visit if you haven’t before!

Are you a country mouse or a city mouse?  (Remember that book?)