SHOWHOUSE READY!

 Here it is! Designing a room for a Showhouse is a little like having a baby and today I'm a proud mama! The room was inspired by my daughter CeCe who is heading to St. Andrews University in Scotland this Fall. I wanted to create a stylish guest bedroom suite for her, a spirited NYC girl with a penchant for exotic travel.  The suite is opulent yet casual, featuring an eclectic mix of bold hues and luxurious textures creating a uniquely Hamptons retreat. 

The grasscloth "Moroccan" wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries is a unifying element to the room bringing the 8'-13' walls together into one cohesive space. The fabrics were all Duralee, a playful yet sophisticated mix of greys, lavender and honeydew green in luxurious silks and velvets.  The carpet, Peony from The Rug Company,  is sculptural and feminine, the perfect compliment to the dark wood floors and wallcovering.  Modern black and white photography gives the room a young, edgy feel.

 Feminine Touches

Because the room was designed for a young woman, I added decidedly feminine touches with a modern twist.  The black and white photo is fun and slightly sexy and the lavender Kelli hide lamp from Arteriors adds a glamorous note.

Adding Vintage Pieces To The Mix

I found the pair of vintage Mid-Century chairs which are attributed to Vladimir Kagan C. 1950's on Ebay. They were in great condition-I had them reupholstered in a soft Duralee Oyster velvet and had nailhead trim added. A classic Bamboo garden stool is used as a table between the two chairs. Behind the chairs, a Vintage Hendredon Console C. 1970's sits below a whimsical Orbit mirror from Mecox Gardens. The sculptural and really fun Ion pendant from Hinkley dangles above the room.

 Consoling Thoughts

The Alexander Console from Clearly Classic at Donghia is the perfect addition to a side wall. The Moorish design echos the wallpaper but the lucite makes it a subtle statement. Personal pieces were added to the vignette-a shell collected and brought home from Santorini and a beautiful black and white photo complimented the Cig Harvey print and tropical coconut plant. Beneath the console I repurposed a pair of Bubble garden vases from Mecox Gardens and filled them with magazines bringing a pop of unexpected color.

Last minute touches-

The boudoir pillows are in a great zig zag silk fabric from Duralee. It's the first fabric I found for the room and really the starting point for the color and fabric selection for the room. The final finishing touch was the addition of a pair of plaster elephant sconces that I found at a thrift shop just days before. I think they look great resting on the Grace and Blake lucite X-bench!

The Result

CeCe loved the room and of course is hoping to see some of the pieces in her room sometime soon!

VISIT TO MECOX GARDENS

 I hope you all had a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend. The weather started out rainy which gave me a chance to open up the house, whip the garden into shape and crack open a few of my favorite shelter magazines.  I also took an hour to visit my favorite Hamptons shop, Mecox Gardens.  

 You're greeted by a gorgeous canopy of wisteria, now in full bloom, and only around for a short time. So beautiful!

 The shop has an incredible collection of outdoor planters, statues and chic outdoor furniture.

 Southampton garden staples privet and boxwood, look stunning in planters.

 A trio of chic garden stools

 Love the curvy appeal of this chair

 Beautiful Anglo-Indian canopy bed and summer pops of color

 This farm table would be perfect for a summer soiree

 This one too!

Nautical appeal-shell console and mirror, perfect for a beach house foyer

 I never tire of linen with nail head trim!

 Super sized carved wood chandelier is a glamorous touch

 Mirror, mirror...bring me home!

TIGHTROPE

I've always been a fan of nautical style-the rustic charm of nature inspired pieces featuring wood, metal and rope has always been a favorite design element for stylish summer homes. But the look also translates beautifully to everyday interiors with sophisticated shapes and designs that add a fresh, modern approach to any room. I've been inspired by the recent "rope trend" incorporating a jute console in a traditional library setting. The rustic jute gave the room a welcoming lightness. 

Art Moderne style bed by John Himmel will work in both contemporary and traditional designs.

Knoop rope table by Josh Urso is a stylish tangle of modern design.

The jute wrapped Ipanema rope console table by Mecox gardens will compliment any decor.

 Restoration Hardware's Rope Panetarium Chandelier is a modern take on a classic globe shape.

Fun extra seating from a pair of jute ottoman from Homenature.

Ready to wrangle some rope in your interiors?

My friends thought I was crazy when I installed two white slip covered sofas into our family room. I'll admit, with three kids and a dog whose favorite past time is rolling in dirt, white sofas might not have been the most popular choice, but I love the crisp look and versatility that accompanies a white sofa--its the perfect blank canvas for a myriad of great looks. While the sofa has stayed (going on 8 years and dozens of washings), I've changed up the pillows often--bright yellow one summer, a cool blue ikat print another. Its a quick fix that can really transform a room--and its much easier to change out a pillow than a sofa! 

A blue-and-white scheme is timeless and perfectly updated with wooden bead trim. 

 Design House, Southampton

This weeks article for Hamptons Magazine features a classic white sofa instantly updated with five great pillows looks. You can read the article here. 

This bold and beautiful Ombre Istanbul velvet and linen Pillow adds a dash of drama to your room, Mecox Gardens, Southampton. 


Timeless traditional or boho chic? You can have both! Change up your pillows and transform your room in an instant.

SHIP SHAPE NAUTICAL ACCENTS

It's true,  I'm on a bit of a nautical bend these days--but isn't summer the perfect time to adorn your home with a dose of coastal chic? From greywashed lanterns to knotted napkin rings, there's is an accessory ready to add some seafaring spirit to your summer interiors.

Buoy rope ottoman, Homenature

Seagrass console, Mecox Gardens

You can see more of my favorite marine inspired picks on Hamptons Magazine here-

SUMMER STYLE-GARDEN PAVILLIONS

When looking for serious design inspiration, or when I just need a quiet "zen moment", I head to Mecox Gardens in Southampton. Their vast selection of antique and re-edition garden fountains, planters and decorative objects are displayed in subtle, thoughtful vignettes throughtout the vast property. I made my way through the garden grounds on Saturday and came upon this fantastic Garden Pavillion.  The structure is a stately, masterful work of green-gray painted trellage juxtaposed with a modern concrete table topped with a marble bust and a bright set of Chinorisirie inspired hot pink and lime green garden chairs. The scene was preppy meets princess, and it works so beautifully. 

Here's a little garden folly, perfect for a Monday-

Elizabeth Dinkel

Dar Jamai Morocco

Contemporary Pavillion by architect Robert Gurney

French inspired from Cote de Texas

Boho chic

Draped linen adds drama to this pavillion

Vintage appeal

Timeless classic architecture is always in style

WHAT ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR?

Today I thought I'd share with you a design project I'm currently working on. My clients are a young couple that live in a prewar penthouse apartment that features rooms of cherry wood floors and heavy paneling. The home felt dark and masculine, definitely not the design aesthetic the young couple wanted for their home. We decided to lighten things up by adding modern furniture and fixtures and infusing the space with soft texture and color, starting with the small foyer which is accessed through a private elevator. The foyer was lacking character; drab green curtains and an old black bench framed a large window which overlooked a stunning garden and swimming pool. Unfortunately these gorgeous features were lost in the lackluster entryway.

How did we fix it? 

We brought the color palette of the outdoors in with soft, silvery blues, infused the space with subtle texture and pattern and added some warm metallic pieces for a touch of modern glamour. Here are two of the design boards I presented to my clients. Do you have a favorite? My client's did.  I'll let you know later when I announce the winner of the Exotic Taste-Orientalist Interiors giveaway! 

SPIDER CHIC

I fell in love with this chair the moment I saw its stunning sinuous arms and legs.  The chair is a stylish re-edition of a distinctive chair designed in the 1930's by Frances Elkins.  With an eye for new and innovative takes on traditional forms, Ms. Elkins commissioned a Chicago furniture manufacturer to produce her unique interpretation of English Georgian style. Drawing on 18th century precedents, Ms. Elkins combined the classic Queen Anne knee and pad-foot, Tudor inspired stretchers, shepherd's crook arms and a Spanish influenced shield-back-together these classic forms loosely resembled a very chic spider, hence the name Spider Chair. Though Elkin frequently had her model upholstered in taupe or cognac colored leather, Mecox Garden's re-edition is in luscious asparagus green Italian cowhide with whitewashed maple and aged brass nail-head trim. That's one spider I wouldn't mind in my home!

PRETTY BASKETS

Chic and durable, baskets make wonderful catch-alls around the house.  I keep two sturdy baskets in the mudroom for shoes and boots and several in a variety of sizes in the kitchen for fruits and vegetables.  I love a thick loopy seagrass for holding firewood and would be utterly disorganized without my collection of soft sisal baskets around my desk. My basket collection has grown, but I will keep buying--there's always something that could use a little stylish organization.

My favorite basket roundup includes: