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Interior Design of the Day: Jennifer Lopez’s LA Home by Michelle Workman

michelle workman j lo staircase

Today I am excited to be blogging about a favorite interior design over at Staci Edward’s {inspired by life} blog.  It was really hard to narrow down my absolute favorite interior design, so I am focusing on one I am loving at the moment: current American Idol judge, Jennifer Lopez’s Los Angeles home by the very talented  designer Michelle Workman which was recently featured in Veranda. {speaking of American Idol – how in the heck could Pia get voted off? Craziness.}
michelle workman jennifer lopez LA home
Originally Jennifer wanted a French inspired interior, but changed her mind and left Michelle just three months to pull the project together. Talk about pressure! The result is a glamorous, home that is fresh and inviting. “Jennifer wanted to go modern and streamlined but retain the sophistication and stylishness,” says Michelle in the Veranda article.
michelle workman jennifer lopez kitchen
Here is a peak at my favorite room, the kitchen. I  typically gravitate to all white kitchens, but I am loving the cool gray-blue cabinets with white countertops. Gorgeous. 
Michelle also designed a West Hollywood condo that I love and think you just might too.
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Read full story By on April 12, 2011 in foyers, interior design, Interiors, Kitchen

Friday Finds: Decorating with Yellow

A burst of sunshine. Fresh squeezed lemonade. Sunflowers in full bloom. These are just some of the images that come to mind when I think of the brightest color on the color wheel, yellow. Adding yellow {in any amount} to an interior design brings energy to the space. The color is often referred to as cheery and who doesn’t want a little dose of that? So today’s Friday Finds are all in the happy hue of yellow.

stylish yellow home decor accessories

1.GiGi Nightstand at Urban Outfitters, 2.Carnaby Hollywood Vase by Jonathan Adler, 3. Ceylon Table Lamp – Bungalow 5 at Tonic Home, 4. Coco Cozy Throw in Cane Yellow, 5. Pair of Citron Foo Dogs at Pieces, 6. Modernist Bowls at West Elm, 7. White Chakki in Maize Spade by Serena & Lily, 8. Ishtar Yellows by Barry Dixon for Vervain.
How about you? Do you decorate with yellow?
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Read full story By on April 8, 2011 in color, friday find, interior design

Design Blogger Series #5: What Would You Do?

Today I am thrilled to have four more very talented interior design bloggers participate in the fifth,  Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do?  Jenny Komenda of Little Green Notebook, Caitlin Creer, Katie Denham of katiedid, Staci Edwards of {Inspired by Life} were asked to design a space using this Louis XVl style slipper chair:

Louis XVl style slipper chair
It’s a fabulous chair circa 1920 from France found on 1st Dibs. This classic chair could go in just about any room, so I was excited about how the designers would use it.

design blogger little green notebook

Founder of interior design firm, Pearl Street Interiors and the blog Little Green Notebook, Jenny Komenda has this to say about her design incorporating the Louis XVI slipper chair: “I have a pair of small slipper chairs that I’m considering using in my entry, flanking my console, so I thought it would be fun to pretend we have two of these gorgeous chairs and also use them in an entry or foyer. I love to mix different styles of furniture and I’m a firm believer that the key to a well-decorated room is finding balance. The slipper chairs are a bit on the delicate side, so I think I would use something bold and heavier as the console. You could find an inexpensive vintage piece to paint out black and add pretty brass hardware, but if you’re not into DIY, this (somewhat pricey) piece by Noir furniture is amazing. Trust me – it knocks your socks off in person. I’d top it off with a Frenchie/Italian looking mirror like this reasonably priced version from Horchow (if the craigslist gods are not smiling on you). Try leaning a framed piece of art against your mirror. I recently found  an old etching of our NYC neighborhood in an antique store. I have it in our entry and I love that it’s one of the first things people see in our home. Sort of an outside meets the inside kind of thing. Even if you don’t live in a big city, try searching for old maps, paintings or photographs of your town on eBay or Etsy and I think you’ll be surprised what’s there. For my Upper West Side friends, check out this pretty painting of Morningside Park. These new lamps from Robert Abbey are going to be a HIT in the blog world. Available in all sorts of colors, they feel like the rebellious granddaughter of traditional ginger jar lamps we all know and love. This spotted tray was absolutely meant to be paired with that lamp. And what entry would be complete without a fabulous rug? If you’re not interested in scouring eBay for the perfect oushak or Turkish number, this rug from Overstock is lovely. See those little bits of blue? Bring it all home with a petite electric blue silk pillows for a pop on one of the slipper chairs.”

design blogger caitlin creer

Salt Lake City, Utah designer Caitlin Creer says, “The moment I saw this chair I was instantly drawn to it’s classic elegant feeling. I don’t get to do a lot of teenage rooms but I dreamt up a stylish and sophisticated space for a teenage girl. I’d use our beautiful chair as a desk chair and pair it with this beautiful desk from World Market. Against the main wall I’d use this amazing A-Twitter wallpaper from Schumacher (it can be purchased from Decorator’s Best) for some impact. Four our bed, I’d go for something simple that will really let the wallpaper be the start of the show. I’m thinking this maison canopy bed from PB Teen should do the trick. I’ve also had my eye on these gorgeous striped panels that would play beautifully off of the wallpaper.
Just because this is a girl’s room and it needs some feminine touches, we’ll throw in a pretty floral pouf, and a sparkly lamp. Now I just wish this room was in my house!”

design blogger katie denham katiedid
Designer Katie Denham based in Sacramento, California says this about her design, “I have put together a Dining Room which combines a bit of modern with a bit of moody fantasy from times past. I love to use modern furniture in a traditional setting or traditional furnishings in a modern setting. In this case, the setting would be a traditional wood paneled room with old oak floors. I imagine one wall punctuated with large Palladian multi-paned arched windows. I took a cue from the blue velvet fabric on the chairs and expanded on a color scheme using a darker blue paint for the paneled walls from Devine Color. I wanted to create a shell of darker tones and contrast that with punches of white. So, to begin, I picked oak floors with a brushed black stain to keep the background darker. They add texture and have an aged quality. For the contrast in mood and color, I picked the white marble topped Saaranin table from DWR.  And around which would be six of the Louis chairs Cristin picked. (Lovely!) White Paper Chandelier from Moooi available  through Lumens. I think it is a witty take on a more traditional chandelier…very fun. For the walls, a large white plaster looking mirror…total fantasy….from Oly Studio. And for art, a monumental piece from Cosgrove Art. This piece is so dramatic and another nod to fantasy, ad the velvety blue colors are perfect. I also added these black and white onyx vessels from Oly Studio en masse for on top of the table. Oly Studio is available through Ruby Living or Jayson Home and Garden. There are also lots of retail stores available from the Oly Studio.
Thanks again, Cristin, for including me! It has been a pleasure.”

design blogger staci edwards
Ontario-based interior designer, Staci Edwards explains, “As soon as I saw this beautiful slipper chair I thought: seeing as I will probably not have my dream dressing room anytime in the near future, it would be fun to create the look here! The room would have warm white cabinetry throughout, and the back wall would be a feature wall, where these items would be… First, I would get the chair refinished by painting the show wood in Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black, and reupholster it in this stunning ikat inspired print called Peacock by Trina Turk. Keeping with the 1920’s French feel of the chair, I chose this darling Avery Bombé Chest from Crate & Barrel {a cute feature to this piece is that the drawers are lined with hand-silkscreened paper, that would make me smile each time I opened them}. This stunning fashion print by David Downtown would be hung directly above the dresser with major matting in an oversized frame. Hanging from the center of the room would be this stunning Morris Ribbon Pendant at Studio B, the diffused light will create a very feminine feel, and I like how the ribbon pattern mimics the shapes in the fabric – a perfect “tie” in {pardon the pun}. Underfoot will lay this beautiful Faux {because it’s more friendly that way} Faux Zebra Hide from Jayson Home & Garden, which would ground the look while creating visual interest. And there you have it: my dream dressing room using the slipper chair provided – I hope you enjoyed it, and thanks to Cristin for inviting me to join in the fun!”
A huge thank you hug to designers, Jenny Komenda, Caitlin Creer, Katie Denham, and Staci Edwards for participating in this series. I love what you created and all very different spaces. Brilliant!

Don’t you love all the variations in designs incorporating the same slipper chair? 

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Read full story By on April 4, 2011 in chairs, design blogger series, furniture, interior design

Built-in Designer Breakfast {or Kitchen} Nooks

With the kitchen being the heart of the home, more and more homeowners want to incorporate breakfast or kitchen nooks in the space. To maximize space and storage, adding a custom bench may be the best option. I am currently finishing up a project where we added a custom built-in bench and cushions and I hope to show it to you soon. Meanwhile, here are examples of some beautiful designer kitchen nooks.

designer breakfast nook saarinen table nate berkus{photo credit:  William Waldron  via Elle Décor}
Designers, Nate Berkus and Anne Coyle featured a custom table with stainless-steel top on a Saarinen base in this sleek modern kitchen. A pair of vintage side chairs are paired with an “L” shaped built-in beach covered with custom blue & white nautical stripe cushions and pillows. A contrasting light fixture from Lucca grounds the space.
kitchen nook yellow celerie kemble
Florida’s Celerie Kimble creates a light and airy breakfast nook in this Palm Beach home. The custom bench is topped with a boxed style cushion with a contrasting welt in citrine. The simple round table {with green top?} is paired with yellow bamboo chairs. The vintage chandelier adds just the right touch of whimsy.
designer breakfast nook ikat print weiss
San Francisco-based designer Palmer Weiss creates a cheery, retro breakfast nook in this kitchen. The banquette seating is upholstered in a sunny yellow and white ikat fabric and is topped with solid lime green and lemon motif pillows. Weiss pairs Bertoia chairs and a white rectangular table with a Saarinen base. The clean white Le Klint pendant is a great complement to the table. Don’t you just love the retro poolside photo?
designer breakfast nook nautical house beautiful{photo credit: Karyn R. Millet via House Beautiful}
Designer Kari Cusack creates a nautical feel in this breakfast nook with a blue, white and yellow color scheme. Overlooking the San Francisco Bay and passing sailboats,the nook features an eight-sided peak “tower” from which a chrome-plated chandelier is hung. The dark and chunky table adds a nice contrast to the white built-in bench.
built-in bench kitchen nook nisbet
In this coastal-inspired breakfast nook by designer Amanda Nisbet, a picnic style table and bench are paired with a custom “L” shape upholstered bench. The fabric in the bench’s cushion & pillows picks up the sea blues and lime green in the painted furniture. I love how a darker shade of blue was applied to the spindle chair – the varying shades of blue adds more visual interest. The darling artwork also picks up the color scheme beautifully. The coral chandelier adds to the “beach” theme without being too cutesy. 

built-in bench breakfast nook ridder

New York-based designer Katie Ridder creates a  cozy breakfast nook with a bright red tufted banquette.  A 1950’s style table and wall art give a nod to the retro ice cream parlors. Ridder mixes it up by pairing the bench and table with cane & woven chairs. I love the built-in bookshelf as a backdrop – perfect place to house cookbooks, pottery and treasures.
 
contemporary breakfast bench banquette{photo credit: Joshua McHugh via Elle Décor}

In this kitchen, designer J. Randall Powers selects chunky Biedermeier chairs, a contemporary Christian Liaigre table, and a sleek custom upholstered banquette seating. The large scale  artwork is just the right size to frame the space.

Are you a fan of breakfast nooks?

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Read full story By on April 1, 2011 in interior design, kitchens