Looking towards Living Area

This is a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath condo that we are currently working on. It has a distinct Modern feel to it with the curved walls and sleek minimal trim. I can see Art Deco pieces working so well in this space. We have finished some light remodeling on it and . . . → Read More: Back Bay Modern]]>  

Looking towards Living Area

This is a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath condo that we are currently working on. It has a distinct Modern feel to it with the curved walls and sleek minimal trim. I can see Art Deco pieces working so well in this space. We have finished some light remodeling on it and I wanted to give you a peek.

Entry

The concept for the space was to be high contrast with minimal finishes and an overall calm feel. We did custom walnut cabinetry in the living space that has a rich deep look that is very clean. Also we added deep gray silk draperies at the living room windows for another pop of contrast. The walls and ceilings were all repainted, going with a light, cool palette to neutralize the putty color that was there to begin with. The light fixtures were all replaced with elegant polished chrome pieces.

Looking towards Living Area

Custom Cabinetry

The overall space is quite striking. It would be a great display space for art and really lends itself to the gorgeous views from the living and dining room windows.

Dining Room

View from Living Room

Dining Room View

Here are a couple before pictures for comparison. No more old putty paint color:

Old Entry

Old Cabinetry

Next step will be bringing in the furniture. What do you think so far?

A couple of weeks ago I was in Dallas and had a chance to do some antiquing there.  We were on the outskirts of the city and meandered into several little shops and stores. One thing about antiquing is that there is a fine line between “antiques” and “junk” that is often crossed but if you . . . → Read More: Texas Antique Hunting]]>

A couple of weeks ago I was in Dallas and had a chance to do some antiquing there.  We were on the outskirts of the city and meandered into several little shops and stores. One thing about antiquing is that there is a fine line between “antiques” and “junk” that is often crossed but if you are patient you will come across some real gems.

Here are some of my finds:

An amazing walnut armoire that probably dates to the 1930′s or 40′s. It is such an incredible piece it took my breath away. It has this unique undulating front with book matched walnut veneer and gorgeous handles. The feel of the piece is somehwat delicate because of the smaller size but also masculine with the pronounced wood grain.

Inside it has individual compartments with glass doors and drawers for sweaters and shirts on the right- perfection. On the left is space for hanging clothes.

What a great little piece. The best part about it- it was $295.00! And on sale for another 15% off. In Boston this piece could easily have gone for 10x that amount.

This is a quirky find but it caught my eye because I often see these in antique shops in Boston. It’s an English brass log box to store wood by the fireplace. Another bargain at $125.

Another great find was this walnut bed. I think I have an obsession with walnut- the figuring is just so beautiful. The lines of this bed were simple and elegant. It would be perfect for a traditional or contemporary interior as a way to add rich wood tones to the room. Again, a steal at just under $300.00.

Lastly I can’t help but include probably my best find of the day. This is what I mean by a fine line between antiques and “junk” but if you can’t help but laugh then it makes hunting all the more fun.

Bubba’s Briefcase- looks like they wanted $9.99 for this piece of craftsmanship.

And a Texas sunset to end on…

Here are some of . . . → Read More: Spring Catalog Finds with Graphic Punch]]> Spring is here and who doesn’t love a quick little pick me up for their home? The best place to look for one of those is often a catalog. They have some great finds that are good quality and can be mixed in with more high end items for a well balanced look.

Here are some of my latest finds that all have a graphic punch:

The Giardino Outdoor Collection by Ballard Designs is chic, clean lined, and could work well in a traditional or contemporary setting. The bold umbrella immediately caught my eye.  The collection is made of black powder coated iron and teak which will age to a soft gray over time.

These colorful Dhurries by West Elm would work in almost any interior. Why not throw one of these into a playroom, kitchen, office, a mud room, or even an entire beach house to add a pop of color? They are woven of wool and/or cotton and come in various sizes.

The Monaco Black Rattan Chair from Pottery Barn has a great relaxed 1920′s feel with a beautiful lines to it. The black painted finish gives it an updated feel and it would be great on a summer porch or in a vacation home.

And lastly these Morrocan Pendants from Pottery Barn are quite beautiful and would add elegant mood lighting to any setting. They perforated bronze metal would cast an amazing pattern into the room when lit.

What are you thinking about for the spring?

“Beauty, not luxury, is what I value.” I recently read an article about the late designer Tony Duquette in Harper’s Bazaar and found his thoughts on design and design philosophy to be very refreshing. According to his long time design partner, Hutton Wilkinson, he “had absolutely no snobbery.”

He was known for his more-is-more aesthetic with over . . . → Read More: Inspiration: The Mind of Tony Duquette]]>  

“Beauty, not luxury, is what I value.” I recently read an article about the late designer Tony Duquette in Harper’s Bazaar and found his thoughts on design and design philosophy to be very refreshing. According to his long time design partner, Hutton Wilkinson, he “had absolutely no snobbery.”

He was known for his more-is-more aesthetic with over the top and avant garde designs. He had a real gift for pulling whatever was in his mind and making it come to life, whether it was jewelry, costumes, or interiors. His creativity overflowed and pairing that with a sensibility to work with any material (he reportedly would even spray paint skateboards and hot dog baskets gold) is true originality.

Emerald and Diamond Brooch set in Gold, from 1st Dibs

Beauty can be found anywhere, from the most expensive bauble to a simple cut flower or view out to the ocean. I think at any moment of the day you can find yourself stopped by a scene or thought or feeling that can be beautiful. The seemingly uncensored creativity of Duquette’s mind is my inspiration of the day- it seems like he really let himself be free in his designs which is admirable.

Multi Stone Necklace, available from 1st Dibs

Necklace worn by the Duchess of Windsor

The studio of Tony Duquette recently did a collaboration with Coach and created some relatively affordable jewelry pieces. The Duchess’ necklace (with real jewels) originally cost around $850.00. You can now buy a similar piece from Coach for $498.

Coach's Bib Necklace

Chatham marsh

Here is a shot of . . . → Read More: Interior Design Inspiration: Chatham]]> For Labor Day weekend my husband and I went to Chatham and spent four days there with several other couples. We walked along the dunes and took pictures of the beach. Some of the colors are just incredible- these pics were taken with my blackberry and still look pretty good:

Chatham marsh

Here is a shot of the beach- who can’t get inspired by the waves crashing onto the shore:

Beach

All along the beach was the most magnificent seaweed that was a deep acid green. Plus there were many horseshoe crab shells that created a great color combo. As I said, inspiration can come from anywhere:

Seaweed and shells

Here are some selections I would put together off of that:

Anjelica Sofa

Jayson Home

Vintage Glass Bottles

Jefferson West, Inc.

19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers

L’Antiquare

What do you think? Do you enjoy the beach as a source of inspiration?

This is the exotic Zambia bed with turned wood posters in a rosewood finish by Artifacts International, available at M-Geough. The intricate carving is amazing, offset by the . . . → Read More: Friday Faves: Canopy Beds]]> Almost time for the weekend and what better thing to think about than a beautiful canopy bed to sleep late in tomorrow morning. These are some of my favorites:

This is the exotic Zambia bed with turned wood posters in a rosewood finish by Artifacts International, available at M-Geough. The intricate carving is amazing, offset by the smooth headboard.

Zambia Bed

The Cornell bed by Gerard, which is part of Dessin Fournir, is done in mahogany with a brass canopy. It is available at the Martin Group. This is such a sculptural piece that really makes a statement. It would be great in a loft or large bedroom.

Cornell Bed

This Italian Campaign canopy bed from Anthropology is one of my all time favorites. The lines on it are so elegant and it is a timelessly beautiful bed. I’ve seen this in several bedrooms and one of my favorites was a tropical island location. It had sheer panels attached to the canopy which draped all around the bed. Can you imagine laying in that and listening to waves crashing outside?

Italian Campaign Canopy Bed

Lastly we have the Antonia iron canopy bed from Pottery Barn. It also has an upholstered headboard covered in a champagne linen and cotton blend so you get the best of both worlds. This is a great no-nonsense bed with simple detailing.

Antonia Bed