New House Love

I just got an email from my cousin's wife. She, my cousin, and their sweet one year old have moved to their dream town and are starting to make this house their dream house.

I am struck by New House Love.

New House Love is that joy/enthusiasm/envy/curiosity/promise that you feel when you hear someone is starting out in a new place. The canvas is (almost) blank, save a few details left by the owner and some items making the trek from their old home. This is when the promise can be inspiring, or downright frightening!

For me, I knuckle down with room boards, a general color board, furniture layouts, and inspirational images. These surround me as I build a new space.

A client is also having New House Love and here's a color plan that we have just started for their colonial.

Entry and Hallways Shaker Beige



Living Room Powell Buff



Dining Room Whitall Brown











Kitchen Coventry Gray



Powder Room Van Duesen Blue



Playroom Wethersfield Moss









Master Bedroom Gray Huskie



Master Dressing Room Coral Gables



Boys' Room Nantucket Fog









Ceiling Linen White


Trim Decorator's White










Ain't New House Love Grand!

Geometric Inspiration

I was once walking in Prague and was struck by the geometric patterns that surrounded me.


























They were beautiful--exacting and visually appealing. Each new pattern led me further along the road throughout this beautiful city.

I also love this chair.

Overlapping-Squares Side Chair

Simple geometric patterns can be so alluring.

www.westelm.com

Fresh--A Saturday Afternoon Project

This felt a little stale. It was a lovely piece that had been acquired a few years ago. I loved it and it worked so well in its first house, but in this new space it needed an update.

So, we pulled off the Chinoiserie fabric.

We pulled off the background wallpaper from owners even before.

We measured the shape of the background and used the older fabric as a guide.

After attaching the fabric with a glue gun, trim was added.

And the glassware was returned to show a cabinet with a fresh face.

What would make this even fresher would be to paint it with a high gloss white...but that would take more than 1-2 hours on a Saturday.

The Power of White Paint

I once worked with a woman who stood by the statement,

"Never underestimate the power of white paint."

A quick reminder:

Dining Room Table Settings

Mark Hampton wrote, "We should all remember that dining rooms are really stage sets." I love this idea on so many levels. I love the notion that gatherings in this room are planned with lots of details and provide a bit of an escape--just like an ideal dinner party. I also love the idea that the dining room can be a little outside of the realm of the everyday. For some clients (myself included) this means some less durable furniture, and even breakables! Finally, I love to really set the stage in the dining room. I can't begin to tell you how fun (and I mean FUN!) it is to go through a client's china drawer/cabinet/box/garage corner and put together a beautiful place setting.

I have long been inspired by Carolyne Roehm who does beautiful work at the table (even has a cutting garden specifically for bringing flowers inside for these vignettes). And, it seems that every designer who publishes, ends up doing some version of an entertaining book. I completely understand why--this is the best part of having a welcoming, comfortable, and beautiful home! So, perhaps some of you are planning a special dinner party in the next few weeks. And, while every other part of the country gets to be outside, if you are in Seattle you may still be using that dining room.

As you plan your party, here are some schemes by Carolyne Roehm that make me happy.









Green Glasses! Colored glassware is a great way to bring in some fun--or history if you are using something antique. While these look great with the green plates, feel free to pair with another color, maybe white china with a blue band, or a paper plate in a basket for a more casual feel.


















Put your flowers in Pottery! And, repetition is wonderful.











Stripes and sunflowers look so great together. Considering using an even stronger table cloth or napkins--bold black and white stripes would look amazing. Makes me think of August...










And, above, is one not from Carolyne Roehm, but from a lovely baby shower thrown by a friend. I love the white linen placemats and crystal goblets juxtaposed with the natural eggs and fluffy flowers.

I think we need to throw a party!

http://www.carolyneroehm.com/

Living with Matisse

I have always been drawn to Henri Matisse, with his cut outs being most appealing. As a child I loved the idea that an artist was someone who could "cut and paste." Of course, his work is so much more than that, but I love that his works start from such a simple place.














Loving Matisse, I adore this chest from Bungalow5. (Matisse Large Cabinet in White Lacquered Oak.)













I can imagine having this in a room, possibly even storing construction paper and scissors so that someone can do a cut out of her own.

www.henri-matisse.net/paintings/cutout_a.jpg
http://www.bungalow5.com/

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

which is the fairest of them all?

There is much to choose from when selecting accessories, and mirrors are no exception. Mirrors are a versatile piece of wall decor. They provide beauty in themselves, and they can also enhance the space by reflecting warmth, expanding views, and projecting space.

These three caught my eye this week.

















West Elm Antiqued Tiled Mirror
Lets stand a tall wall mirror in the hallway. The tiled border adds to the visual interest, but still keeps it clean. Perhaps it is reflecting some vibrantly colored room or outdoor garden at the other end of the hall.

















Brissi Louis Phillipe Mirror
This is the mirror I want in my bedroom. This Louis Phillipe Mirror is a great copy, and easily accessible...if you live in London. Boo.














Arteriors Nikita Mirror
I am drawn to these panels and often think about separating them and placing them in between furniture in a dining room or entrance hall. The finish says formal, but the shapes are quite playful. That would work in any number of design schemes!

West Elm www.westelm.com
Brissi www.brissi.co.uk
Arteriors www.arteriorshome.com/