Extreme

Living room by Cathy Echols - Photo courtesy of High Gloss

Hmm... Let's see... exotic orchid, tiny skulls, antiqued mirror, loads of velvet, antlers, leaf green medallion-print wallpaper, and four-foot rock crystal chandelier. What, your living room doesn't look like this? Ha!

I personally think it is fabulous and, for this client of Cathy Echols, it is home! I am a big fan of the unexpected in interiors and, apparently, Miss Echols feels the same way.

"My style is many things: eclectic, collected, created by my travels and experiences," says Echols. Exactly how I think a home should be!

Hope y'all are having a good day out there!

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)!

A Dash of Drama

Living room by Charles de Lisle

Hello, all! I am quite excited today, for I am finally posting from the comfort of my own home, at my very own computer! My internet connection was set up mere hours ago and my pretty new desktop has a screen so big and bright, I am practically drooling at my collection of design photos!

So, without further ado, let's get to the pics! Today I wanted to post a couple of photos that exude drama. (I am just in a dramatic mood, I guess!)

I think what sets that tone in the room above is the black/white contrast, the graphic, modern artwork, and the bold pattern on the chair fabric. (Is it Vervain perhaps? They seem to like the fuzzy embellishments!)

Despite the limited amount of furniture/accessories in this entry by Katie Ridder, the space feels pretty dramatic. I think it is due to the color and finishes (i.e., white/black contrast again, bright artwork, polished floor, sparkling chandelier). What do you think?

Design by Delphine Krakoff

Okay, I'm starting to see the pattern here... More black and white perhaps?

Living room by Windsor Smith

I believe that Miss Smith certainly knows drama, but I think the best word to describe her work (especially this room) is "glamorous"!

Our last photo of the day is of a room by the talented Madeline Stuart. I have not been so into red recently, but I cannot help but be drawn to the drama it so delicately imbues in this warm, sophisticated space. Many of her interiors seem to have this mysterious hint of the exotic that takes what would be traditional spaces to a different level. A true talent indeed! (What do you think of that floral wallpaper? I am actually a fan!)

On a side note, some of my friends have suggested that I start adding more personal touches to the blog, such as fabrics I am in love with, furniture I am having reupholstered, etc., so look out for these new topics in the near future. And definitely let me know what you think!

Have a good rest of your week!

Modern Onyx

One wall color I keep seeing everywhere is black. Although I was wary at first, my research for this post certainly gave me a new perspective on how such a sooty hue can be so sophisticated. The amplified drama of these spaces is unquestionable and, therefore, makes them quite stunning visually.

I think the successful application of black has to do with the design's commitment to drama, the availability of light (natural or electric), and/or a homeowner's willingness to live with the almost Victorian formality that the color can imbue into a space.

These first two photos (designs by Tom Scheerer) display that formality I referred to above. The intensity is heightened in the library by pairing the wall color with dark furnishings, while the the intensity is lessened in the living room by painting the area below the chair rail a crisp white.

The bedroom of modern furnishings expert, Troy Halterman (which was featured in Elle Decor's "best of" book, Style and Substance - a must-read for inspiration on chic and fearless interiors), illustrates this color's ability to offset artwork beautifully, creating a masculine and, almost, museum-like quality.

In this lovely bedroom by Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam, the texture of the wall covering and the pale, cool tones of the furnishings provide a soothing counterpoint to the black. 

While furnishings and light may help to dilute the severe effect of this color, one may prefer to limit its use to only one wall, or panel, as shown below in a bedroom by Eric Cohler. (I just love the contrasts here: the white linens against the black panel, and the plush headboard against the sharp lines of the panel squares and Greek key pattern on the linens.) 

In the bedroom above, designed by Thad Hayes, the black and white contrast perfectly to provide a clean crispness to the room. (Hayes' book, Thad Hayes: The Tailored Interior, is on my wishlist of design books.)

In another Style and Substance room, this one created by Matthew Patrick Smyth, black has been used to showcase the daybed area nestled among the wall of built-ins in this office. Again, black does a dutiful job highlighting the abstract art lit by matching swing-arm sconces. (See Smyth's website for more views of this room and all his fantastic projects!) 

These incredible interiors have definitely opened my eyes to the intensity and, yet, remarkable quiet that this inky hue can create, and, I hope, will inspire you to keep an open mind even to the most dramatic of design concepts!