Office Space

Design by Kelly Wearstler

Many people work from home these days or, if not, they at least end up taking work home with them. As such, it seems that the need for a home office has risen, leading designers to create individualized spaces for their clients that marry style and function.

Design by Melissa Rufty

Some don't need a whole room designated as an office, merely a small space to sit with a laptop.


Space by Phoebe Howard


The talented Mrs. Howard shows her versatility with these two workspace incarnations.

Office by Phoebe Howard

Design by Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design Interiors

I love this accent wall covered with this brilliant Rousseau-esque mural. (One of my favorite painters!) Sometimes an office needs to bring inspiration to the owner and what better way than with colorful artwork!

Office in home of Yves Saint Laurent - design by Victor Grandpierre

Maybe it is all that fuchsia, but I am loving this very French interpretation of a home office above. Tres beau!


Design by Jay Jeffers

Jeffers shows us how to go totally mod with this neutral office.

Design by Windsor Smith


Absolutely gorgeous... Typical Windsor Smith.

Space by Kemble Interiors



Design by Martensen Jones

Home of Melissa Warner of Massucco Warner Miller


How cheerful is this home office? A Louis Ghost Chair and tailored tablecloth keep it light and airy, while the wallpapered closet doors add some fun.

Design by Gary Spain

I love Gary Spain... I mean LOVE him.

Office by Keith Johnson of Anthropologie

Great combination of elements here: rough wood, muted tones, mod lamp, Mac computer.

Design by Sara Gilbane

One of the looks I love is a big, cozy wingback chair pulled up to a desk. So here is where I currently sit... My vintage flared wingback, with Greek key throw and custom silk pillow, sits next to my antique, leather-inlaid desk (which has been my desk since I was a child). The mint julep cup holding my colored pencils is from One Kings Lane and the other pencil holder is from House Parts in Atlanta.


My very own workspace

Do you have a home office or workspace? Or do you hang out on the couch with a laptop? I'd love to know or see pictures!

Here's to a great week ahead!

Everywhere I look.... Zebra!

Foyer by Luisa Olazábal - photo courtesy of Nuevo Estilo

I thought I would start a series that features finishes, styles, and items that keep popping up everywhere. I can't really say these things are trends, as design seems to be a big, swirling pool of ideas, where things come and go and come again. These are merely things I see and that I like. I hope you like them too!

Living room by Deborah Lipner

I love the look of layered rugs, and, here, Miss Lipner has done it beautifully: laying the exotic hide (the only pattern in the room) over a neutral Stark rug.


Living room by Keith Johnson of Anthropologie

Ever the fervent collector, it is hard to imagine Keith Johnson not having a zebra hide in his home!


Living area by Eric Cohler

I like how stately, yet warm and serene, this living room seems to be.

Design by Cindy Witmer - photo courtesy of Cote de Texas


I guess the same could be said for the room above. I love how zebra gives such traditional rooms a twist, and keeps them from being too formal or fussy.


Design by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

 Love the banquette, love the wingback chair, love the wall color... love the zebra!

Design by Ethan Feirstein and Ari Heckman

Totally cool!

Bedroom by Hernán Arriaga

Totally exotic!

Sunroom by Todd Alexander Romano

How many textures and patterns can you fit in one room? A lot! Romano shows us that plaid and florals, wicker and chrome can all live happily together in a sunny room like this one!

Design by Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar

From fresh to modern or cozy to grand, zebra can run the gamut of styles!

Going Goth

Dining room by Joe Nye

I love a little touch of the unexpected, a beautiful room with a few pieces thrown in that are a bit... off. I think it gives a home character, displays the personality of the home-owner, and relaxes the interior by showing that beauty doesn't have to mean predictable!

So, with that said, I am a fan of items that are striking in some way, such as the intriguing Gothic-style pieces in these photos. For instance, Joe Nye uses that dark, Goth armchair to anchor the bright and glittering dining room above.


Dining room by Eleanor Cummings courtesy of House Beautiful

Miss Cummings amplifies the warmth of this room with heavy wood chairs and dining table (and that gorgeous terracota wall color).

Bedroom by the late Gaser Tabakoglu

Another option for your Goth pieces: paint them a bold and unexpected color! I like how the color of this bed blends with the striped walls, while the silhouette remains prominent.

Powder room by Joe Minton

Joe Minton mixes it up by combining the Gothic vanity with Italian linen walls, a French mirror, and a framed Chinese needlepoint.

Dining room by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Here, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard gets playful by contrasting a visually heavy dining set against funky Majorelle curtains from his own fabric line.

Dining room in home of Keith Johnson and Glen Senk of Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters

And, last but not least, we can always rely on the keen eye and inventiveness of Anthropologie's Keith Johnson to create rich and engaging rooms, like the dining room above where a Gothic cabinet mingles with an Irish dog statue, French lantern, Chinese building blocks, and dreamy Cole & Son "Lily" wallpaper.

In today's world of cerused oak and white-washed, dainty settees, I love that some of these designers have stayed true to the warm and staid appeal of this mysterious and wonderfully ornamental style.

Rooms to inspire

Design by Eric Cohler


I am a bit short on time today, so I figured I would just post a few pictures that I have been pouring over recently. Whenever a photo makes me stop in my tracks, I will spend countless hours staring at every inch of the featured room, trying to figure out what exactly makes it so great.

I am a big fan of Eric Cohler. His style can range from Park Avenue ladies-who-lunch traditional to misunderstood-and-underappreciated-artist eclectic. He is a native New Yorker, and you can see his lifelong exposure to, and passion for, art in his home. (I will post more pics from his home featured in NYSD later.)

Eric Cohler's living room

I also love his perspective on a home: "I want to feel enveloped and cosseted. To me that’s the ultimate luxury: to feel not only secure in my own space but enveloped, with wonderful things around me." I totally agree.


Entry by Eileen Boyd


There is something so warm, yet modern and artsy, about this entryway. I love the pattern on the chairs and the arrangement of the artwork, but there is something else there, something that makes it not just good, but great.


Bedroom by Phoebe Howard

I love this little vignette by Howard: the delicate bamboo stool, the tiny nautical painting, the gorgeous lamp, and shimmering bud vase.   


Living room by Anthropologie's Keith Johnson


I can't even tell you how many times I have stared at this room by Keith Johnson. Cozy, layered, and elegant, this room encompasses all of what I want my home to be.

Here's to finding interiors that inspire you!