In the Style of Saarinen

Nantucket beach house dining via Elle Decor

I love to see a mix of modern and traditional pieces in a home. That tension, as some decorators call it, helps give balance to a room the same way pairings like warm and cool tones, and smooth and rough textures do.

Living room by Jesse Carrier of Carrier and Company

The Saarinen, or Saarinen-style, chair was really one of the first mid-century modern items that I was interested in. The undulating lines of the chair are a perfect foil for the straight legs and sharp edges of dark metal bookcases (like those above) or wood tables (like the one below). The smooth lacquer finish contrasts perfectly with nubby linen or wool boucle.

Via Nuevo Estilo

I could see that the chair was a piece that could not only fit in myriad settings, but give that setting a twist, a fresh slant to the design.

Via Apartment Therapy

Kitchen design by Ashley Putman via Lonny

The pictures above and below touch upon how I would style these chairs in a room. I love the sleekness of the chairs mixed with the rough-hewn wood of oak tables.

Via Fashionably Living

This is a gorgeous version of an oak table I saw in a local Birmingham, Alabama shop called At Home (not the junky big-box one).

Zurich dining room by Steven Gambrel

This combination of pale wood with black tile is fantastic! And adding some greenery and plants is always a good idea. It brings life to a room.

Via Elle Decoration UK

I am not a minimalist by any stretch of the imagination, so I would have to go a bit further with furnishings: adding things like paintings and candlesticks, pretty cushions and rugs.

Chairs / Dinnerware / Artwork / Curtain Fabric / Foyer / Table / Succulent Arrangement/ Rug / Flooring

The Saarinen-style chairs shown above are part of my collection for Chairish. The cushions that come with them are actually the original red-orange corduroy, so I would update them in an interesting new fabric like this faux shagreen:

Faux Stingray Vinyl in Quartz

From all white minimalism to French flair, there are so many decorating approaches you can use to combine pieces of different styles and eras. How do you all handle mid-century in your mix?

I hope you enjoyed the post and will visit back soon!

Sparkle

Photo courtesy of the late Southern Accents (designer unknown)

I am a bit of a girly-girl so, when I see a room layered with mirrors, crystals, silver, and chrome, I swoon! Isn't the room above just delightful? Those feathery pink pillows, the gorgeous Venetian-style mirrors, those silver Christopher Spitzmiller-looking lamps, and that totally glorious chandelier give the room a lightness and formality that provide quite the contrast!

Dining area by Aman & Carson

The snowflake pictures in this room by Steven Gambrel are appropriate for the 30s temps we've been having around here! They are well-complemented by the faded silver lamps and glass and mirror coffee table. Even the velvet on the couch gives off a wonderfully sparkly sheen!

Gambrel keeps the color palette simple and pale in this lovely dining room. Despite the whitewashing, the room maintains a warm, comfortable feel.

The folks over at Martensen Jones Interiors know the way to cool, shimmering rooms! Their website is full of rooms that have such a freshness and glamorous modernity to them. You must check them out!

Below, they pair a mirrored console, below a curvy mirror, with a glowing stone lamp. What an interesting piece!



Design by Kelly Wearstler

Wearstler is truly a master of glam. Some call her work "Hollywood Regency", but I think it has that hint of old-world combined with a collector's eye, that make the interiors feel so much more complex and multi-dimensional than that label can impart.

Ahh, Tom Scheerer. Talk about refreshing interiors! I love how he combines styles so seamlessly: the curvy Panton chair, the polite settee, the silk curtains, the earthy tabletop planters, and, again, that sparkling chandelier!

Our last photo of the day is from one of the fabulous homes of Mark Badgley and James Mischka. It is astounding to me how their talents apply not only in the fashion world, but in the interior design realm as well. I guess they simply know beauty, and can create it in whatever form they wish!

Just look at all that glimmering silver! This room is fabulous from top to bottom!

Here's to a bit of added sparkle to your day!

How's it hanging: Part I

Did I mention that I love art? Well, do I ever! As you will see in this two-part series, I cannot get enough of layer upon layer of portraits, paintings, prints, and other picturesque paraphernalia! (Apparently, I can't get enough alliteration either!)

Jay Jeffers knows the way to layer color, art, and furniture styles, as you can see in the photos of this dining room above. I love how this room is a twist on traditional with a combination of oil portraits, mid-century mod dining table and side chairs, sculptural hands centerpiece and glass chandelier, and the fresh, graphic look of the armchairs and console.

Study by Robert Passal

Stairway by Steven Gambrel

Some keep the groupings on a strict theme, perhaps using the same style of art. Passal features nude sketches in the study above, whereas Gambrel displays a collection of painted portraits that lead you up the staircase.

Some prefer to unify their collection with similar frame colors or styles. Tori Mellott, the former decorating editor at the late Domino magazine, created this fabulous display above her sofa using dramatic black frames to unite the pictures and contrast them against the neutral Farrow & Ball wallpaper.

Philip Gorrivan uses the same technique, framing a variety of paintings and prints in shimmering gold. The effect is more subtle, reflecting continuity, and also adds a bit of polish to the black-and-white banquette and the neutral finishes on the tables and chairs.

Personally, I love to mix up the styles and colors of artwork, mats, and frames. As Joe Nye put it best, I love a room that is "heavily layered with lots of pretty clutter!"

I love the mix of colors and textures in this living room by Ashley Whittaker. Those cozy green walls, woven side tables, flashy red concert poster, and flame stitch and zebra-print chair cushions combine perfectly to create a comfortable and thoughtfully personal space.

Unknown from Domino

I will leave you today with a photo of a stairwell by John Loecke Inc. I think this design well illustrates the medley of artwork that I find so attractive, and figuratively leads us into the next post where we will delve even more into the art of hanging.... art!

Here's to a - in the words of my sister - glorious week! :)

Lustrous Lacquer

Hallway by Steven Gambrel

As I may have mentioned before, I love lacquer! The effect of this wonderful finish is sleek and watery, and light can't help but bounce around in the space.

Living room by Melissa Rufty

The polish of the lacquer sheds the walls' flat, rigid appearance, and they suddenly become three dimensional, acting almost like a mirror would by creating depth.

Miles Redd discussed this entryway during his Antiques in the Gardens speech, saying that he wanted to offset the owners' dark, inherited furnishings with playful color and shimmering surfaces.

Faye Cone took out a hefty staircase here, replacing it with this floating model, and then lacquered the adjacent wall to create even more airiness and fluidity.

Room by Melissa Rufty

Nate Berkus opts to lacquer only the ceiling in this bright Florida poolhouse, contrasting the warmth of the chocolate color with the watery coolness of the lacquer's polish. Below, he goes all out with a deep blue in a New York library.

Hallway by Todd Klein

Goodness, how I would love to come home to this entry hallway every day! The color and finish are ethereal and, to me, sheer perfection!

If you're going to go with lacquer, why not go all out, as Thomas Britt does in this rich, sultry living room. The contrast of purple and green is opulent, and the lacquer acts as the sparkling jewelry on this regal ensemble.

Although achieving the lacquered finish in these photos is no easy feat (generally requiring the work of a seasoned professional), the effect is priceless: creating space and light and.... well, luster.

Listening to the fire crackle and the cat purr...

Design by William Hodgins

Just kidding. I have neither a cat, nor a fireplace, but this cool September morning is making me wish for the latter. I love, love, love lighting a fire on cool days, not just for the warmth, but for the glow and the ambiance it creates.

Design by Jay Jeffers

A fireplace, to me, epitomizes luxury and lounging (two of my favorite things!) and creates a cozy (or opulent) focal point in the room.

Steven Gambrel added this amazing deco fireplace surround in a bathroom. Oh, the extravagance! It is so unexpected and so perfect with that marble. Classic Gambrel style.

Alessandra Branca keeps it traditional in this lovely living room. Notice the way she manages the monumental scale of the room: accenting it with a tall mirror, bringing it down to residential scale with the large vases and floral arrangements, and arriving at human scale with the cozy seating surrounding the fireplace. 

Eric Cohler illustrates here, in his Charleston home, that he also knows how to manipulate scale in a room. I love the huge etageres standing guard on either side of the hearth. I also love the way he casually leaned the photos and artwork on the mantel, as opposed to hanging them, giving the room a more modern, breezy feel.

As usual, Melissa Rufty wows us with bold, playful colors that, here, act as a perfect contrast to the classic marble mantel.

As you can imagine, I love the color of this room in the home of Jared Goss, a curator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I also love how the room, designed by Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman, has a fabulous blend of styles: the traditional portrait, the dark - almost Victorian - mantel, the antique mirrors, and don't miss those lucite "ghost" chairs!

Room by Kristen Panitch

Love the wallpaper, love the ikat, love the tiny lamps, and LOVE that roaring fire! Contemporary cozy at its best!

Of course, Charlotte Moss knows how to pull off cozy elegance. This room is so classic and even grand, yet, as always, Moss manages to make it a comfortable retreat, perfect for curling up by the fire.

Another fabulous example of the work of Eric Cohler. This room seems soothing to me, perhaps because of the muted blue and green palette, but there is really a lot going on: the checkered floor, the tufted settee, the ornate mantel, the collection of sunburst mirrors. I find his work is truly a treat for the eyes!

Well, the sun has come out, the temperature is back in the 70s, and so my fireplace fantasies must be put on hold for now. But I will leave you with one last superbly cozy fireplace....

Unknown from House Beautiful

Over the moon for overscale art

Room by Philippe Starck

Artwork says a lot about a person. (Like that they're a huge Dirty Harry fan perhaps?) I love collections of artwork (as you will see in an upcoming post), but, sometimes, one overscale piece makes a much bigger impact than even a hundred separate pictures could.

I absolutely love this room in the home of Victoria Pearson. It is cozy and earthy, and that wonderful picture of a hawk is the perfect addition. Although it is the only piece of art on the walls, the room doesn't feel like it's lacking in artistic expression. Between the wooden floor lamp and the oversized hawk, the room feels engaging and interesting, while keeping a calm, minimalist air.

Room by Todd Alexander Romano

Sometimes overscale art can be used to bring a new color into the space. The flowers in the picture above tie into the pale blue/lavender of the pillows, while the green in the background adds a new element of freshness and depth.

The black fabric panel and lampshades in the room by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard below add drama to what would be a rather neutral, airy space otherwise.

Room by Darryl Carter

Room by Eric Cohler

Overscale art can also bring a graphic element into a room. I love how the pattern in the artwork above contrasts with the ladylike bench and cozy pillows. The same effect is found in the living room at the home of Philip Gorrivan, below. The linear shapes in the photo by Michael Wolf complement the chevron striped curtains, but contrast with the plush sofa and classic console. I love the creative tension these pieces can create!

Rooms above and below by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

In this gameroom at the home of Windsor Smith, a polar bear overlooks the space, bringing some depth to the endless black walls, but creating a bit of playfulness as well.

Space by Miles Redd

Miles Redd and Peter Dunham both have a handle on playful. I love all of their richly textured and brightly colored work. Their creativity is endlessly inspiring!

Room by Peter Dunham

Room by John Saladino for Veranda

Even a traditional landscape painting can have the same impact as a more graphic piece when it's done in a super-large size.

Home of Charlotte Moss

Our last picture for the day features an artist I just love (and dicussed at length in a previous post), Massimo Vitali. His prints are always amazing in larger sizes because you can make out so much of the detail that makes his photos so fascinating. 

You don't have to buy artwork from a gallery to achieve this style. I took a photo from a trip to Italy and had it blown up to almost four feet wide! I had it done at FedEx Kinkos and it was not expensive at all! Perfectly artistic, but perfectly personal as well!

Here's to living large!