Why so blue?

Living room by Peter Dunham

I really like the color blue (even more so now that my two-year-old nephew goes around declaring that "bwoo" is his favorite color). It really is suitable in a range of interiors, but its soothing effects are universal.

When paired with a neutral color scheme, it creates an atmosphere of cool and quiet....


Bedroom in home of Katie Couric by Eric Hughes



Dining room by Dan Carithers

But, when paired with gold accents, it is the epitome of sophistication.


Living room by Lisa Sternfeld



Living room by Robert Couturier

Whether streamlined traditional....

Design by Angele Parlange

..... Or fresh and funky (love that Frances Elkins chair!)....

Bedroom by Sara Tuttle

... Glammed up with Hollywood-regency style....

Vignette by Robert Couturier

.... Or punctuated with drama-inducing colors like black and red....

Seating area by Robert Passal

This leopard actually can change its spots!

Have a happy Thursday, everyone!

The Dark Side

Dining room by Markham Roberts

I am growing more and more fond of chinoiserie and the flair that that style of fabric, furnishings, and accessories can bring to a home. However, it seems to me that a lot of the styles we see right now are brightly colored, festive sort of pieces. Since I am girl who likes a bit of moodiness in my interiors, these black chinoiserie pieces strike the perfect balance between the dramatic and the exotic. They are dark and glamorous and fit in such a wide array of spaces.


Living room by Amanda Malson and Jolene Ballard

What a great combination of elements in this room: Moroccan rug, mid-century Eames lounge chair, large chinoiserie cabinet, neutral upholstered pieces, colorful accessories. Doesn't black ground a room just perfectly? I like that Malson and Ballard balanced the cabinet with the Eames chair, setting them opposite each other and using them to create a nice contrast with the paler-hued items in the room.

Bedroom by Timothy Whealon

Here is another large cabinet used, this time, in a bedroom. The size of this piece works so well with the scale of the room and other large furnishings (like the grand canopy bed).

Vignette by Phoebe Howard

I love all the textures in this arrangement! Wicker, chrome, wood, glass.... Just fabulous!


Photo courtesy of Southern Accents


Here, again, this painted piece is providing a lovely contrast to the delicate wallpaper and curtains, as well as to the painted armchairs and glass side tables. Light, dark, large, small, colorful, neutral: it is all about that tension.

Study by Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald is well versed in chinoiserie style, but, here, uses only one dramatic cabinet which she then contrasts against decidedly different styles, such as the baroque-style desk and Louis XV armchair. I love all the black accents in this room, especially when paired with the unexpected grayish-teal and magenta curtains.

Vignette by John Robshaw

Robshaw uses this amazing chinoiserie find as a bar (above), while Couturier (below) uses the subtle hint of black from a desk to contrast with the dark hues of the tapestry over the bed.


Bedroom by Robert Couturier


Our final pic of the day is from one of my favorites, Mr. Miles Redd, and this photo shows just why. Combining grand and, often, glamorous pieces (such as this mirrored canopy bed and oversized chinoiserie screen) with more traditional elements (like the diminutive side table and creamy linens), Redd creates unforgettable, truly one-of-a-kind interiors.

Bedroom by Miles Redd

Here's to a great week ahead (and, hopefully, no more Blogger technical difficulties)!

Calm and Collected

Living room by David Easton

Don't you just love rooms that look like they've been assembled over time: built, piece-by-piece, with objects loved and treasured by the owners?


Sitting area by Jill Morris

As I was just telling a new friend of mine (who inspired the addition of some David Easton, above), I adore eccentric accessories and this tiger rug and bird display are no exception!

Design by Muffie Faith of Elizabeth Stuart Design

Doesn't this picture just glow? It has a feminine touch, gilded and pretty, but, with a limited color palette, it stays serene. 

Bedroom by Stephen Sills

Design by Fiona Weeks

I love the deer skin pattern on this carpet. What a neat way to bring neutral color and subtle texture to the room.

Dining room by Jeff Woosley of Interiors 2

This room is part of one of my favorite homes ever. I think it was featured years ago in Southern Accents (my old favorite shelter mag).

Living room by José Solís Betancourt

What a mix this room displays: lucite, moire, velvet, oriental rugs over sisal/jute.


Vignette by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Living room by Robert Couturier


This room is so warm and inviting with its golden and coral tones, plentiful seating, lots of pillows, and intricate tapestry fabrics. Just lovely.

Design by Dan Carithers

What can I say? Deep, dark, warm... and beautiful.

Vignette in home of model Laura Ponte - Photo courtesy of Nuevo Estilo

I think this is possibly my favorite vignette ever. I can't stop staring at the fabrics (faded gray-lavender, mauvey pink, and bronzed yellow) and the stacks of books and objects on the shelves.

I hope you are having a relatively calm day wherever you are!

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!

Wallflower

Foyer by Eddie Ross

A recent comment by the lovely Miss Regina of Fauxology made me realize that walls are just as valuable a palette for creativity as the rooms they surround. I tend to stick to paint alone to create a mood in a room, but these designers (and the wallpaper or artists and artisans they utilize) show that decorative wall finishes significantly enhance the beauty of a space.

Bedroom by Miles Redd

I love how shimmering and ethereal this space is - perfect for a bedroom! Redd makes sure to ground the space, though, with a few traditional wood pieces and the rich green fabric on an accent chair.


Vignette by Todd Gribben of Gris


I love this vignette set against the painted wallpaper: all those lovely warm tones!

Design by Robert Couturier

Look closely and you will see the diamond pattern on the walls. What a great way to add texture and a subtle hint of geometry to a room.

Design by Elaine Griffin

I love this room: the tables, the chair, the lamps... the walls!

Design by José Solís Betancourt

Where would you use these finishes/wallpapers in your home? Or would you?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Black and White

Design by Robert Couturier

I have to admit, I am a girl who is all about color, but, looking at these warm and elegant interiors, I can begin to see the benefits of such a bold color scheme.

Photo courtesy of Matters of Style blog

I love how cozy this room is, despite the graphic ottomans, rug, and toile-covered couch! (Isn't that Louis Philippe mirror above the mantel just gorgeous?)

Vignette by Windsor Smith

Creating bold yet stunningly glamorous rooms, Windsor Smith does not disappoint with this soft and gleaming vignette.


Photo courtesy of Nuevo Estilo


Melding modern and traditional pieces in this combination living/dining room creates a space that is breezy and fresh.

Photo courtesy of Nuevo Estilo

Living room by Kemble Interiors

I love the texture and scale of the pieces in this room: plush velvet, towering lamps, shimmering mirror, etc. Another example of how black and white can still be cozy.... but in a decidedly luxurious way, though!

Design by Michele Bonan for the J.K. Place Hotel

A final, shimmering example of how glamorous this color scheme can be!

Come sail away

Design by Robert Couturier

The wet and cold of the last couple of days are making me long to get away somewhere. I would love to be on a sailboat (in the Caribbean, preferably) with the warm, balmy wind in my hair and sun on my face. Well, a girl can dream....

Living room by India Hicks

Design by Eric Lysdahl



Living area by Phoebe Howard

Perhaps I am just longing for some adventure... on the high seas?

Dining area by Tom Scheerer

Try to stay warm out there! (And, if you are somewhere warm now, I am quite jealous!)