Sunday, February 28, 2010

Objects de’ Art…….Artfully Displayed On The Walls

Art and mirrors are not the only thing that can be displayed on a wall.  If it’s an object, whether it be old, new, a family heirloom, large, small, asymmetrical, symmetrical, flat or three dimensional, more than likely it can be hung on the wall to create a an interesting element to a space.

Nautical: from ships, to sails to sea (coral).
image Phoebe Howard

image Phoebe Howard 

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Kay Douglass beach home Coastal Living

Hung in a series, everyday items create a graphic focal point on an architecture-free wall,” Kay says. “When I am shopping for wall art, I’m initially drawn to the shape of an object, but I also look for woven textures and pay attention to the object’s former life.” Baskets, oars, and even hayforks the designer is also drawn to old shutters and wheels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

image S.R. Gambrel

Objects add interest and can be displayed in bedrooms, foyers, stairways, kitchens, barns, living rooms, powder rooms, nurseries, porches or anywhere there is a vertical space to which to hang something.

Found Objects: image Eric Cohler
image S.R. Gambrel

image Phoebe Howard 

Antlers:
image image
                              Image source Nest Egg                                                                       Phoebe Howard

In The Barn & Barn Implements
image  Erin Martin Design in a party barn…..how fun.
FF5 image
Coastal Living

 Architectural Treasures: a great way to give some interest to a room that is lacking in architectural detailing.image Brooke Giannetti of Velvet & Linen added a beautiful  Italian wood piece above the bed.

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                                         Coastal Living                                                                           Windsor Smith

imageBrooke Giannetti hung old doors with vintage paintings.

Plates:
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                          Phoebe Howard                                                                        Martha Stewart

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Ready-made ceiling rosettes are lightweight and easy to hang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hats & Masks:
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Erin Martin Design

Unique elements for display can be found in many places such as Etsy, 1st dibs, antique stores, your closet, your mother’s closet, galleries, markets and more….let your imagination go wild.  Repurposing items is also a great way to recycle.
image image
1stDibs: China 19th Century 
Black lacquered contemplation panels with marble inserts

Which ideas inspired you to take a look at something you have in a different way in where you might want to display it on a wall?  What is it and where shall you hang it?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Delightful Dining Rooms

Delightful, opulent, casual, formal, light & airy, bold & beautiful, refined & relaxed…..dining spaces at their best.  By exploring some of the elements in these rooms you may find yourself wanting to linger just a little longer, savoring the meal, the company and enjoying the atmosphere.   
image  Erin at House of Turquoise introduced us to this stunning home of one of her readers, Desiree Ashworth who has an inspiring blog, Decor de Provence. This lovely home is in Provo, Utah and the amazing photography from Ashlee Raubach.  The room has a natural ease that soothes the spirit, with a stunning sparkling chandelier, cream upholstered nail head accented chairs against the rich herringbone wood floors create a vibe that is elegant yet rustic.

Dining areas seem to lean towards more casual today, mixed with a touch of elegance creating a relaxed setting can be achieved by mixing styles and finishes, along with adding pieces that have a warm patina.imageThe super talented Brooke Giannetti on her blog, Velvet & Linen shows us how she spruced up her dining area with a new lantern, a zinc industrial table, and a mix of fabulous eclectic chairs (custom, new & family heirlooms) which all sit on top of a jute rug create a calming, yet fresh and inviting atmosphere. 

LAYERING: with linens
 sweden7 ElementsofStyleblogSwedishinspirations 
This dining space evokes the spirit of a French farmhouse that is rustic in nature, but with a sophistication all it's own.  Draping the table with it’s relaxed layers and the slips and cushions on the chairs and lovely crystal chandelier will find their guests waiting around for seconds. 

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John Saladino Willa Dilemma CDT

 

 

 

 

 

John Saladino layers the table in luxurious linens which imbues a classic look that is both refined and glamorous in both of these stunning rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 image Eric Prokesh uses an opulent layered skirted table surrounded by gorgeous French Louis XVI chairs is a recipe for a classic elegant dining room.

SLIPS (and not the ones for under your skirt) for the chairs:image Amelia Handegan created this formal dining room with it’s crystal chandelier, gilded ornate mirror, and stunning statue,  is made to feel a little less dressy by slip covering the chairs with a short pleated skirt and button details. 

image  Solis Betancourt used restful colors in this dining room along with wonderful detailed slip covers, rich wallpaper and an elegant chandelier creating for a very soothing comfortable feeling.

 LIGHTNG: A dining room provides a welcoming ambience for guests. Like pieces of good jewelry, a chandelier complements the room and helps set the tone.
DavidIatestaDecorativeCenterCDTlightingblog David Iatesta ‘s amazing products show off beautifully with it’s elegant lighting in this stylish space.  This is a fresh take on a classic clean look blending modern and traditional nicely.

image  Stephen Shubler Design, dining in San Francisco style with it’s bold fresh pattern accented with black, along with an eclectic mix of furnishings make this room feel classic with a contemporary edge. 
 image Christina Rottman  creates an old-world Mediterranean sensibility, with a rococo chandelier from Formations and an 18th-century Italian baroque wall hanging. House Beautiful 

DINING TABLES: If you are in the market for a dining table, whether it be classic, French, Swedish, vintage, Italian, casual, refined or distressed, below are a few favorites. 

image image Hickory Chair Collier Table Suzanne Kasler's

imageGustav Round Table from Hickory Chair, available in custom finishes and designs you can personalize it to create: 
  image or…image

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BAKER   French Provincial table with a deeply recessed apron, a volute hexagonal base with scrolled feet.

 

 

 

 

 

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Lillian August for Hickory White  reproduction trestle table of reclaimed lumber.


image Century Furniture 

What elements wet your appetite in a dining room?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

ZEBRA, ZEBRA, ZEBRA…….Everywhere

Over here, over there, on top of there, under here, up there, it’s the timeless zebra print, it’s lovely and happily it’s in all places you look.
It’s in………..
THE FAMILY ROOM:
image  Windsor Smith Home Collection.  Both elegant and practical, the collection is inspired by Windsor’s extensive travels.

It’s in…….
THE BEDROOM: 
imageimage 
In Darryl Carter’s D.C. Townhouse, he uses stunning antique bordello doors behind the bed which compliment the zebra patterned rug with it’s black edging across from the bed under the curved desk  ELLE DECOR

It’s in……..
THE LIVING ROOM:
image  Jan Showers. Photography by Brian McWeeney.

Using a touch of a zebra pattern in a space can add a bit of whimsy, a touch of class (maybe a bit of a stretch for some) and a nice pop that most rooms can certainly use a little of.   You don’t need much, for a little bit of zebra goes a long way.

It’s in…..
THE LIBRARY/LIVING ROOM:
image  Dan Carithers, Regents Park Show house; Southern Accents May/June 2008

It’s in…..
THE LIBRARY
image Alessandra Branca in this red library upholstered the walls in a rich wool paisley.  House Beautiful

It’s in…….
THE DINING ROOM : 
image Ann Selke Home for Vanguard

It’s In……….
THE BATH:
beth-haley-zebra-kitchen_eBeth Haley

It’s In……….
THE POWDER ROOM:
Canadian House annd Home small bathrooms photo Angus McRitchie April 2008 Canadian House and Home April 2008  photography: Angus McRitchie

It can be used on many different objects…….

On……..
THE FURNITURE: image Joe Nye, the black and white contrast nicely with cocoa-brown color of this study.  House Beautiful

On….. 
RUGS: imageModern Design

On……. 
PILLOWS:
imageimage
Fashion designer
Monique Lhuillier’s gorgeous living room grey sofas have pillows which are covered in a zebra print by Edelman Leather  Elle Decor.

It’s on…….
STOOLS:  image Paul Marra stool zebra-print cowhide  Elle Decor. 

It’s on…….
COFFEE TABLES:
image image Flickr

It offers up a completely different look when mixed with an array of colors.
With PINK:   image 
With RED: 
image BY: Miles Redd

With CHAMPAGNE, PEWTER, GOLDS, & CHOCOLATE:
image image
Designer Patrik Lonn created a a warm bedroom using a mix of finishes, colors animal skin rug and zebra ottomans. 2009 Estee Lauder Show house, New York City, New York.

With GREY, CREAMS & SPICE: image Skye Kirby of Lillian August in Norwalk, Connecticut, uses just enough to offer up a pop in this family room with it’s lived in look.

It’s far and wide & it looks fabulous!  Don’t you agree?

Some of my favorite attention grabbing products in zebra that are small enough to inject into a space, but yet are capable of creating a big impact are: 

image These benches OHT, are versatile enough to go in almost any room in the house and are one of my absolute personal favorites.
image For an office, this lovely leather desk chair would make coming to work fun.  Accented w/zebra and nail head trim it’s a show stopper from OHT.

Oly Studios offers up in my opinion some of the best faux zebra products around:

image image Oliver Faux Zebra Mirror from Oly Studio would certainly make an impression in a foyer or look just as sharp in a powder room as shown above. 

imageimage 
Hilary bench from Oly Studio is available in a short or long version and is stunning in either length.

image Sophie Lounge Chair - Oly Studio  (as seen in: Joe Nye’s Room)

image image WS Home offers a chocolate zebra pattern luxurious throw blended with cashmere & wool that would compliment a mix of upholstered pieces, from that comfortable reading chair, to that cozy chaise lounge in the bedroom.

Hide rugs are offered up by an abundance of sources, for one option in a dark and lighter version there is: image  WS Home  Pony Hair Zebra Hide Rug

image FAUX ZEBRA PILLOW stamped cowhide

There is also an array of different sources for fabrics and leathers with a zebra pattern, from silks, to velvets, to chenille, to suede, to linens and much more, here are a few options:
image    image  image 

Whatever you do, have fun and do not be afraid to throw a little animal pattern into a room, especially zebra. 

Professional advise and services are always recommended when designing and putting together your space.  So if you are ready to infuse a little animal into your life and are looking for professional advise, Interior View design services can assist you.