Bust a Move: Part I

Design by Michael S. Smith

I love accessories that have a weathered and sort of historic appeal to them, and busts certainly achieve that look. They seem regal and serious, bringing a stately mood to just about any interior.

A few months ago my mother bestowed upon me a bust that had been recently, well, busted. It was dropped by some movers and, she felt, ruined. But I liked the aged look it gave to the poor guy (seen in the photo above with his broken nose) and took him in as my own.

I'd say he fits in quite well with my random assortment of things!

Living room by Martensen Jones Interiors

I kind of like this smaller, more modern variation of a traditional bust. It suits the clean, bright interiors well, don't you think?

Photo courtesy of Cote de Texas

Conversely, the bust above seems right at home in this dark, opulent, and masculine library.

Foyer by Delphine Krakoff

Miss Krakoff gives the foyer above a touch of Hollywood glam with this intense and gilded model.

Design by Steven Sills

This vignette exudes a warm, but museum-like, feel. Is it me, or do the bust and antique mirror totally steal the show here?

Home of Tony Baratta courtesy of NYSD

I love the collection of busts and other sculpture displayed on these amazing shelves. So grand and, yet, so modern!

Design by John Saladino

This last photo for the day is from one of my favorites: John Saladino. His use of silk, stone, and architectural elements big and small, make him the most elegant of minimalists, giving his interiors the "aura of a Renaissance painting" (says one author).

Have a wonderful weekend and look out for more to come next week!

The Various Incarnations of Cozy



A welcoming foyer by Katie Brown


It is a bitterly cold and irrepressibly wet night here in Alabama. It looks like we are in for some snow after the sleet gives us a good chill. So, sitting here in my innumerable layers of clothing, I began thinking of how cozy my little house is and the methods I used to create that feeling. I am a fan of layers: layers of art, books, fabrics, styles. I love finding something new to throw in the mix, and seeing how it creates a new dynamic among the objects with which it's placed.

Vignettes create an attractive display while also providing an intimate look into a home's occupants and I think those kinds of personal touches are great way to make a house feel more cozy.

My most recent purchase was this vintage, painted ice bucket. I could not resist the pattern, colors, and texture of this unassuming little piece. I do not have many vintage items, but I do like the way they add playfulness to more serious traditional pieces (such as the marble-top, Empire pier table on which it sits).

I love this table. The color of the wood and the veining in the marble are so lovely and the curve of the legs so simple that this piece never fails to charm me when I look at it.

This little vignette is still evolving, but, since I do love having pictures casually set on the table top this way, I think the photos will stay. The largest photo on the left was taken by my very talented sister, the docking station was a Christmas present from her and my brother-in-law, and the mica shade was a happy find from my new favorite lamp store, Baker Lamps and Linens. I still need to properly plant the orchid in the ice bucket (doesn't that sound funny), but I think the items set in this manner have an overall pleasing look so far.

So what do you think "coziness" is?

Guest room by Eric Lysdahl

Is coziness... a daybed with fabric softly draped over its sides and plenty of pillows on which to recline? (I think the wall and ceiling color complements well the mood set by the elegant, yet comfortable furnishings, and creates a restful cocoon.)

Design by Sean McNally featured in Lonny magazine

 Is coziness... layers upon layers of color and trinkets and collections?


Design by Sean McNally



Bedroom by Delphine Krakoff

 Is coziness... a warm fur blanket to wrap up in at night and a plush surface under your feet when you wake?

Landing design by John Peixinho

Is coziness... lots of cut wood at the ready for a roaring fire on a snowy night? (Isn't this pinky-lavender wall color pretty? Lavender is a growing favorite of mine.)

Design by Michael De Perno

Is coziness... coming home to the pups you love?

Home of photographer William Waldron and his wife Malene

Is coziness... a roaring fire in a chunky stone fireplace?

Library photo courtesy of Cote de Texas

Or is coziness... being surrounded by the beautiful things you love? (What an incredible library!)

However you define coziness, I hope you are staying warm and cozy out there!

Well read

Hatfield House library

Since I was a small child, I have loved libraries. Maybe not the 1960s, public version that exists in my home town, but those in English manor houses and, now, those commonly found in private residences. Perhaps my admiration is genetic: my father modeled the two-story library in his law office after the libraries from the Hatfield House in England, and the Château de Groussay outside Paris (which was reinvented as Henry Higgins' library in My Fair Lady).

Château de Groussay library

I love that now, using built-ins or simple bookcases, many designers are recreating the wonderfully cozy, cerebral feel of these larger, more formal predecessors.

Room by Raymond Boozer

In the room by Jay Jeffers above, a lovely peach color defines the space, complete with a traditional library table. I love to see these more feminine incarnations of, what used to be, traditionally masculine rooms. Muted pastel tones, floral fabrics, and gleaming accessories recreate and reinvent truly useful, homey spaces.

Lavender library by Angie Hranowsky

Library by Aman & Carson

Although I love how the rooms above come off fresh and modern with their mixture of colors, textures, and more modern furnishings, I admire the elegant, timeless versions as well.

Home of Charlotte Moss

Room by Brockschmidt & Coleman

Some designers give tradition a twist by adding graphic, modern elements to the room. Above, Tracey Garnet uses modern art, cubic bookshelves, and bright colors to keep the room contemporary while, below, Jeffrey Bilhuber subtly uses yellow book bindings (or are those, perhaps, National Geographic magazines?) to create a color-blocking effect in this otherwise neutral room.

I think, if you are truly an avid reader, cozy and comfortable are your two primary goals for a library. This beachy room by John Barman (above) is as inviting as it is bright, whereas the snug room by Todd Alexander Romano, below, is perfectly packed with artwork, pattern, and personal mementos that create a warm, eclectic air.

Whether traditional, modern, or even exotic, libraries can become a sanctuary within a home. With these fabulous images filling my brain, I can't help but fantasize about having my own literary retreat someday...

Happy Hump Day!