In bloom

Design by Chris Barrett

Spring is underway here, and everything is blooming! From my front door, I can see azaleas, violets, wisteria, and dogwoods displaying their beautiful blooms. So why not bring some of that color indoors, with lush arrangements like these!

Dining room by Jennifer McGee Design

Tulips are so lovely, but tend to drape and bend. McGee deftly tackles this issue by using a large grouping, tightly packed in a ginger jar.

Seating area by Philip Gorrivan

Gorrivan adds even more lively color to an exuberant seating arrangement with these tall yellow blooms.

Table setting by Eddie Ross

What a fragrant arrangement this must be: daffodils and grape hyacinths!

Design by Robert Couturier

I love the contrast here of softness (from the flowers and the warm velvet on the armchairs) and graphic rigidity (from the black wall and metal furnishings).

Study by Milly de Cabrol

What a fabulously towering arrangement! It works so well with the scale of the table and the room as a whole.

Vignette by Kelly Wearstler

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Pattern at play

Design by the fabulous Hal Williamson

I may experiment with color, but, for some reason, piling on the pattern has always intimidated me, whether in fashion or interior design. It is a shame because, as these designers show, that layered look creates warm, engaging, and, often, dramatic rooms.

Design by Omniarte

Whether using a bold pattern like the wallpaper above, or a combination of prints, the effect is really dynamic and interesting.

The pic above is from decorator Milly de Cabrol's New York apartment as covered in New York Social Diary. I love how she piles on the printed fabrics (and books and art!) in this room, draping the table and settee in hand-blocked prints, giving the room a really cozy feel.


Bedroom by Katie Ridder


I love the subtle patterns Ridder uses above. Isn't that headboard just lovely? The room feels so airy, but textural too.


Den by Raymond Boozer from Apartment 48

I am a huge fan of a chevron pattern. Doing the couch in tone-on-tone greens keeps it from being too bold, while still mimicking the pattern in the rug.

Dining room by Schuyler Samperton

Schuyler Samperton combines traditional and trendy patterns here perfectly, using an ikat on the dining chairs over a gorgeous oriental rug. (Check out the beautiful wall panel in the background!)

I really can't get enough of Phoebe Howard's designs! She is so talented! The vignette above is so well-composed: the splash of color, the textural tortoise shells, the mirror, the avian prints. Look closely and you will see that the wallpaper has the most subtle pattern on it, giving even the walls a woven effect.

Our last two photos of the day come from designer Stephen Sills.

Now this is the way to bring energy to a room by using pattern! Love the rug, love the throw on the back of the couch, love the stripes on the ottoman. (And I totally love that leather chair!) This room is warm and comfortable, but artful and stimulating as well.

Another space by Sills is featured in this month's Architectural Digest (which is newly helmed by ex-Elle Decor editor Margaret Russell) and the interiors are so amazing, you must go get a copy immediately! It looks like Russell is really going to up the ante and makeover AD in the best possible way. I can't wait to see what's next!

Here is a taste of Sills fabulous AD-featured design.....

Heaven!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!