Flipping through this month's Traditional Home magazine

I've been reading Traditional Home for centuries and just about always find a room that I love within it's pages.  The April issue is no exception.  Here's the room:

Oops!  This is the "Before" shot.

Here's the "After."

And this.

The color on the walls is brave and perfect.  I looked for the name of that orange in the Resource pages, but it was a custom color.  However, Sherwin Williams' Robust Orange/6628, is a similar rich hue.  Benjamin Moore's Corlsbud Canyon/076 is another delicious, saturated orange.  Blue is the complementary color to orange, so the huge vase of delphiniums on the table was a brilliant stroke.  The chandelier, the window treatments, the clean lines on the upholstered pieces--so well done.  This room is filled with many details that add up to great design and a space that I'd feel very comfortable and downright happy in.  While this is a very traditional room, the use of color and fabric give it a gorgeous update.  Gerald Pomeroy of Boston did the interior design and the photographer is Francesco Lagnese.  

There was another good "before" and "after" in the magazine.

The bathroom before

Lots of good ideas in this photo, don't you think?  Also by Gerald Pomeroy Design Group.  

I hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Ciao,

Anne

Will there be paparazzi?

I've been contacted by 2 reporters for different print media in the last 24 hours.  They want a designer's perspective on light bulbs and color.  The word is out--I talk a lot!  Did you know that when a reporter calls you and says "do you have a minute?" they don't mean they want to schedule a time to talk about their subject matter?  Oh no.  They ask a question, and as you answer you can hear furious typing on the other end!  No time to formulate something wise or witty.  You are ON.

This picture has nothing to do with anything, it's just from the yard last year and I thought you'd like to see it--kind of a break from me blabbing about my (non existent) rapport with the media.

 I've had this happen several times now and should be better prepared.  Couldn't I at least ask what the topic is and then say I'll call them right back?  Nope.  Not me.  So I spout off and then wonder what the heck I'm going to sound like when it's in the paper.  Luckily (I think), they don't really quote you exactly.  So if I said something dumb, I have the comfort of knowing that it's not exactly what I said.  Ok, small help.

If I sound wise in the article, I'll let you know about it.  Otherwise, this will be our last discussion on this topic.

Ciao,
Anne

2010 Kips Bay Show House

Every year, top name designers descend on a home in New York and turn it into the Kips Bay Show House, a major fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.  It's a fantastical event with amazing rooms.  I found the following pix on the New York Times slideshow page.  While the rooms can sometimes be over the top in terms of finishes for an active family, they are chock full of great ideas and design lessons.  Enjoy!

Entrance by Kate Ridder

Look at the saturated color in this tiny space!

Dining Room by Cullman and Kravis

Photo from Habitually Chic

I think the drapes are what make this room. They warm it up and keep it elegant.

Eve Robinson kitchen

Large scale wallpaper pattern in purple!

Mural by Nina Helms

Mural made of rubber and plaster--wow!

Noel Jeffrey bedroom

That little bench at the foot of the bed is unexpected.  Not something I would do, but I applaud the effort.

Verdi and D'Elia landing

I'll bet that ceiling is painted in a high gloss finish.  Look how it reflects the light!

J. and J. Michaels room

Whisper as you read this--so quiet, so calm.

J. and J. Michaels room

This is another wall in the previous room.  Keep whispering.  The blood pressure is lowering...

Ciao,

Anne

Great design is in the details

The following pictures show great example of the importance of attention to detail in design.  I love details.  They're the magic secret and who doesn't love magic secrets?

Kathryn Scott

What I'm lovin' about the above room is that there are a LOT of lines in the room, so the designer made sure that there's some curves to balance things out and make the space feel comfortable.  No curves would have made it stiff and overly formal.  And look at those accent pillows on the sofa to the right.  That little pop of blue really does it for me. 

Miles Redd

Oh, that blue lacquered wall!  Wow!  I could eat it with a spoon.  And I can see some lacquer on the bottom of the beam across the wall, too.  Details!

David Lawrence

The detail I want you to pay attention to in this blue room is at the top of the drapes.  That litle border of gray silk (or whatever it is) brings the eye up from sofa.  Nicely done.

Eric Cohler

This beige sofa (my favorite color for a sofa) is brought to life with those pillows, especially the bold introduction of primary colors right smack in the middle.  The green vase full of fat peonies on the coffee table is nice, too, although I'll bet that's just a staging accessory.  The peonies (is that spelled right?) are exactly the same color as the sheer drapes!

These photos come from House Beautiful, a lovely magazine.  Hope you have a great weekend.

Ciao,

Anne

Eye Candy

The good people at Thibaut sent me these pictures along with some fabric samples.  They are so lovely to look at, I thought I'd share them with you.  At the same time I'm practicing scanning and uploading with the new equipment.  Always something to learn, even after I think I've already learned it.

So we go from soft and calm to eye popping and energetic.  I love them both!  How come when I take a photo and the window comes out so bright it looks bad?  When Thibaut does it, it looks better somehow.  Hmmmm.

What makes both of these rooms look so good to me?  I think it's the excellent use of texture and color AND the mix of pattern with solids.  No easy feat!

Ciao,

Anne