Red Hot!



Foyer by Alessandra Branca



I think red is such a tricky color to work with on interior rooms. Done right it can be warm & inviting, sexy & glamorous and of course classic. Done poorly, it can look cheap and harsh. The client I've been working with for the past year LOVES red. It's never been at the top of my list of favorite colors, but I thought I'd share some imagines that I've looked to for inspiration during our collaboration. It's hard not to be a little smitten, and what better time to review them since Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

Attic Magazine.
Designer unknown, but I sure would like to know who brilliantly combined red, pink and purple!

Alessandra Branca. Red is her signature color and she always gets it right.



Joe Nye. Gracie wallpaper in red. Swoon.



Unknown source. Fun and vibrant for those who love modern.



Mary McDonald. Never one to shy away from bold color and patterns.



Nuevo Estilo via La Lamp.
 One of my favorite chair styles taken to a whole new level with red velvet only an accent., but still the star of this dining room.



Celerie Kemble. Again just a few hits of red.



Another cozy room by Alessandra Branca showcasing her signature red lamp shades that she incorporates in nearly every one of her rooms!



I proclaimed my love for Tommy last February, but can it hurt to do it twice? I don't think so!



A Lovely room from Cottage Living, if only we could get the kid out of it!!!



Let's Fall In Love With: Colette van den Thillart

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this Toronto native, she is the creative director of NH Design, who has clientele from rock stars to royalty. And, for those already familiar, I know you will happily enjoy seeing anything by such an amazing talent.

Colette van den Thillart
When I saw this picture, not only did I love the image of her, but I vowed to never buy an ugly umbrella again!

I thought it would be fitting on the evening of Downton Abbey's season finale, if we move across the pond for this on-going series of posts and fall in love with the work of London based, Colette van den Thillart.

NH Design
I could see the occupants of Downton Abbey gathering here,
 without even the smallest quip from the Dowager Countess Grantham.


But let's obsess over her Toronto home:

Utterly charming!!!


The living room was the cover shot for this month's issue of Traditional Home.

An amazing one-of-a-kind coffee table with marbleized glass that shimmers in aqua...sigh.



The master bathroom. One of my favorite layouts, his & hers sinks, separated by the tub.
Or in this case, The Tub. Sculpture for the bath anyone?


The dining room from this feature was my favorite space. I ripped out the page and immediately put it on my office inspiration board. Once again, she did me in with the wall color!

The mix of opulent and casual with light-handed unexpected modern touches is why I love her work.
 Although I have this exact rug, a buffet, similar chairs, albeit not 18th century, silvery-aqua silk curtains and a
touch of gilt in my dining room, I think it's her fearless use of  just the right wall color and unconventional
 mix of fabrics that steals the show here! 

A look back at one of my favorite foyers, from her London house:



Who says a small foyer can't be interesting? Everything one needs for coming and going.
Each piece spectacularly unique, an unbelievable greeting for guests! I'd be torn between wanting to stay
and take in every detail and throwing off my coat to see what the rest of the tour has in store!!!

Let's Fall In Love With: Thomas Smythe

No doubt that die-hard Sarah Richardson fans already know this man. And, like me, probably adore him for his personality. If you're a designer, you may also fantasize about having your own Tommy. Imagine daily  collaborations with someone who has such great taste and style? It's truly hard to imagine any project could be difficult to execute with him at your side. I really, really, really want a Tommy of my own!

This library Tommy created for a client was fantastic!

I remember well the first time I saw Tommy Smythe. He was on Sarah's first show Room Service. He was acting as the client, having a guest bedroom makeover. I remember it had a blue velvet headboard, beautiful gray-blue silk taffeta curtains and an antique balloon-back chair that was so pretty.

This client's blue velvet sofa that reminds me of that headboard from his guest room.

Back then, I recall he seemed a bit uncomfortable and maybe even nervous. Perhaps it just seemed that way compared to Sarah's effortless ease on camera. Now we know him as the the casually confident "side-kick" of Sarah's from Design Inc. and Sarah's House. I am a fan of SR as well, and there is no denying her talents, but the fact she has Tommy is what I most envy. Charming, fun and oh so talented in his own right. 

A living room off a clients kitchen with a red sofa! What I really love here is the wallpaper in the Victorian amoire.
 The fun print makes gives it a youthful twist and the black paint, a modern sophistication.
Such a great way to add style to a cherished piece that may be in need an update!


And since I tend to like designs that are more masculine, have a fondness for black and mixing metals, well let's just say every time I see a design he has created, I fall in love.

While I love a twist here and there in a traditional interior, and definitely feel every powder room should be a little jewel box, I must admit I wouldn't have the guts to apply this wall treatment to a client's powder room! On the other hand, the convex mirrors in the small stairwell, well I could pull that off in an instant at my house with my own growing collection!


I rarely see him on television these days, either episodes are not running in the US or I forget to check periodically. Thankfully, Canadian House & Home over the years has highlighted his work, including the interiors of his various apartments. I have many images of his designs saved on my computer, a lot to love.

All images courtesy of the January 2012 issue of Canadian House & Home. Photography by Angus Fergusson. 

Let's Fall In Love With: P. Allen Smith

If you're an avid gardener you already know this gentleman. Some of you may have seen him on his show or segments he does on other programs such as the Today Show. And, some of you may read his books or have attended one of his gardening lectures. I missed my chance in Charleston, SC  in March of 2009.

Boyish good looks and southern charm make him irresistible!
 Photo from his book Living in the Garden Home.

 My husband and I were there for the annual Festival of Houses & Gardens and the Charleston International Antiques Show. Mr. Smith was one of the featured luncheon speakers for the Charleston International Antiques Show. Had tickets, lost track of time, missed it. Sigh. But at least I can regularly peruse the pages of Living in the Garden Home.

The book has incredible pictures and also lots of inspiration  for
many manageable projects. The best for me? It's broken down by seasons!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name (the P. stands for Paul) P. Allen Smith, he is a gardening and lifestyle expert. It was exciting to see his house featured in this month's issue of Southern Living.

It's a new house that feels like an old house. A Greek Revival  in Arkansas! For some reason, I did expect Mr. Smith to live in Arkansas, but as he says in the article, even though he's located in the middle of nowhere, he has everything he needs and when you see the photos of his beautiful home and stunning views, you understand perfectly.

This is not a painting. This 650 acre estate is is where Mr. Smith has called home the past 6 years!
Photograph by Roger Foley



Come fall in love...

Welcome! I dream of foyers like this. Actually, I obsessively fantasize about having
a foyer with multiple pieces of furniture that is truly a place to receive guests.

The living and dining room.
His friends include the great Albert Hadley and the late Nancy Lancaster. Mr Smith says of furniture
 "if you sit on it should be new, and if you don't, it should be old". Could not agree more to do this whenever possible!
 He has exquisite taste in antiques, because each piece looks modern and yet the character they exude is undeniable.

Some kitchen huh? A lot of lights for sure, but he needs all that illumination to tape television segments.

Oh, he's also a very talented artist. Who knew!?
 Working on a piece in his studio behind the house with his cute dog, Lucky.
The paintings on the back wall of the dining room were also done by him.

A copper soaking tub with a curtain to pull closed. I hope it comes with a tub pillow,
 because I think I'd be lulled right to sleep on a breezy day!

The master bath.
Mirrors, mirrors on the wall, who besides me,  loves those aqua walls?
 A collection of interesting mirrors, aqua, white and hits of black...so much love!

The perfect way to kick off the month that celebrates love. I'll have a feature for you each week in February highlighting some of my favorites.

All interior photographs by Helen Norman.

Contemplating Great Style At Any Age!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I wonder why when certain people age, they not only lose their sense of fashion style, but also their interior style. You know, that creepy combination of polyester pants and doilies on the chair backs! 


The foyer/dining room. The  pale gray walls and creamy white trim make it modern.
 My scans do not do any of these pictures justice!

In case you missed it, in the May-June issue of Veranda there was a great reminder that we have a choice to live beautifully everyday....at any age! I have looked at the images of Furlow Gatewood's house so many times, I almost feel like I've been there.

Left side of the living room.
 Shutters are all that are needed since the furniture and objects are of such quality.
 Of course, I would love to know what book titles are on those shelves!



Right side of the living room.
The antique pieces with their white upholstery and slipcovers look so fresh.
The blue accents and geometric pillows on the sofa make the room feel modern.

Clearly at first glance, this was the home of someone with incredible style and a great appreciation for antiques, but the rooms didn't come off as stuffy. They have a fresh feel to them. I was surprised to read Mr. Gatewood is 90!!! Turns out he's John Rossell's associate and antiques buyer in the south for past 40 years. And, they travel to India together quite often. I couldn't help but admire this man's zest for life and passion for great design!


The guest bedroom.
This two-toned 4 poster bed was designed by Gatewood and Rosselli.
The simple linens and the leaf pillows on the bench give it a youthful touch.

 So it got me thinking about what's the secret to living with what you love and have collected, without living....well like it's grandpa so-and-so's musty attic?

I thought Mr. Gatewood's home, if you look closely at the details, was like a free design lesson for the enthusiast and a great reminder for those of us who often work with pieces clients have already acquired. It demonstrates that whether you're just starting out or have a lifetime of possessions, the components of pulling a great room together are the same. Classic pieces, antiques and collections, a great paint color and updated fabrics, plus disciplined editing, can make any room beautiful...at any age!

Oh, did I mention the beautiful garden Mr. Gatewood designed....full of hydrangea's? I would absolutely love to take a walk down this lane. Sigh.

Million Dollar Decorators: My Favorite Scenes!

I am so glad you all enjoyed my last post of my little recap of the MDD. Just for the record, like many of you, my favorite is Kathryn. I would love to spend a day with her chatting about design, difficult clients, projects never completed, teenagers, dealing with being a D cup and how in the hell she came to know the fabulous Jacqueline. Although, I'd  probably be afraid to meet for cocktails knowing she'd drink me right under the table and I'd be the one asleep on some random chaise lounge or possibly the ground!

Even though the shows intro was a nauseating grand stand from each designer, and first impressions not the greatest, the series ended up being an entertaining home-run for me. That's a lot coming from someone who generally does not like reality tv.  The stars personalities were as varied as their decorating styles and they did seem to grow on you as the weeks went by...some more than others.

Overall I liked something about each designer.  KI's house had the most inviting atmosphere, MM is a pro at glamorous decorating. I'd like to see more of her style that is reflected in her book as well as something other than just the living room and office shots of her house. I loved the design and decorating in the upscale beach house JAM, Ross and dog, Chessie call home. MLB has such a devilish grin it would be almost impossible not to like him, besides I love his breathy Brit accent and want him to call me dahling!  NT we just didn't see enough of him and I really hope they show his house next season.

That said, before I deleted the series from my DVR, I snapped some pics of my favorite scenes that I thought would be fun to share with readers!

Martyn:

As a fellow chocoholic, this scene made me laugh, out loud!



Martyn shared exactly one chocolate with design assistant, Leura.
 She seemed to have second thoughts about finishing the chocolate.
Or at least until she was alone.




Close-up. Some things are just meant to be done in private.

Martyn dahling, can we just clarify that your client, JT,  is not a celebrity by any measure.
This is a creepy guy who made a fortune taking video of girls on the beach,
 mostly too drunk to realize they were half naked and being filmed.
He is however,  "famous" from too many lawsuits to list...but hey, Google does!

Mary McDonald: 

Being MM's client can result in bodily harm as she explains in this scene.

MM's associate Nancy. She loves to disagree with MM and annoy her by not following instructions.
 Not to mention, she has quite the repertoire of expressions too. Remember this scene when she had the movers
place the furniture how she wanted it....completely opposite of what MM said? Crazy.



Sometimes MM gets steamed at her staff and clients.  Is that a horn on the right side of her head?



Whew, it's just a flyaway.



But, it was enough to make these two stop and listen. Anyone, know who the girl in red is?



Was anyone else surprised to see that her staff worked in a black, windowless room?
 Thank god for the monogram on the floor, otherwise on a bad day they might think they landed in hell.

JAM: 

Sometimes JAM is just a bit like dry toast. Two modes: whining and body obsessed. 



 Cute boys taking a shower. AKA 2 golden pats of butter for JAM's dry toast.



But Mr. Torso obsessed can surprise you....with a bang on Will Ferrell impersonation. Minus the funny.



Or a cute baby bonding moment. Did you catch that full on smile that did not involve admiring his physique?

  NATHAN:

Mr. Nice Guy.
Seriously, how many of your best girlfriends would go to the trouble of making you a boob cake based on a favorite fabric design! I can not wait to see what Nathan does for BF Mary's birthday!!!  Let's hope he gets more camera time in season 2.  Check out Jacqueline in the background.  I wish I could rent her for one week  just to up my cool factor.

Not that she deserves a present from her BF!!! After all the times he has been called upon to stroke her ego, she didn't think to name one stinking lamp after him???!!! Well, let it be known that his favorite lamp is also my favorite
lamp. So if I end up buying it from her new line for Robert Abbey, I most definitely will call it Nathan.

KATHRYN:

Kathryn in her sexy black birthday dress. I wore a similar dress for my birthday earlier this month and my cleavage was on full display too. However, it wasn't nearly as glam or expensive as this YSL dress. I needed a sale and a coupon! I think one of the most appealing things about KI is despite her design notoriety,
she seems quite normal...and interesting....and fun!



Ross liked Kathryn in her dress. JAM too. Secretly I bet he thinks he has better breasts.
 See him intuitively checking?  I feel confident he'll let us know next season. Although no one
made this gesture to express their excitement about my dress/breasts,  I still felt sexy and was able to enjoy my birthday.
Just saying.



KI's client Shannon in her signature glasses and outfit. It was perplexing and interesting, other than red lipstick, this spouse to the heir of Max Factor cosmetics, wore almost no make-up. However, she did wear plenty of black, which obviously qualifies her as a designer thus explaining why she no longer needs Kathryn's help. I wonder what the color scheme is for her baby nursery???



Shannon's "overflow" room. I called it the OMG room and wished more than anything,
 the moment I saw it, I wished that she was my client or that I was Kathryn's design assistant.



When clients say, I want to work with things I have,  it's not like this!



I just wanted to whip out my check book and start shopping!!!



Truck day. I literally gasped when I saw the other "stuff" she had. But, fav Kathryn was less than excited. Even though most designers don't like working with all the items/mistakes clients have purchased, this would be the exception!
KI saw it as a jumping off point to re-do an old beach house SF just purchased.  And just when we were all so excited to see the completion,  SF has absurdly blamed KI for structural issues and fired her. Denying us of seeing KI's work. Dammit!