Today I am blogging over at the fabulous Brooklyn Limestone blog where I will be sharing my favorite “nook” in our house.
Here’s a hint…
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Dash of Modern, Pinch of Traditional Interior Design
This sweet modern nursery room was featured in a previous Simplified Bee blog post focused on Girly, Girl Bay Nursery Room Designs. I recently came across the article in Style at Home which featured images of the rest of this Vancouver Arts and Crafts style home and wanted to share them with you.
To help decorated the home, the owners turned to designer, Peter Wilds from boutique, The Cross. His task was to artfully blend the couple’s modern taste with the home’s classic look. A neutral white & gray color palette with blue accents is carried throughout the central living spaces. In the family room which is open to the kitchen, the walls and trim are washed in white. A tobacco leather sofa is paired with the Oly Studio Pico Cocktail table. This round table has a beautiful scalloped shell top and industrial iron base. The spectacled cow hide rug provides wonderful texture and contrast.
Here in the all white kitchen you can get a good sense of how dark the wood flooring is. The classic white kitchen cabinets are paired with white ceramic subway and carrera marble. I love the white wooden stools with gray cushions selected for the kitchen island.
In the dining room, a midcentury style Saarinen table is paired with traditional ballroom-style chairs. Painting the chairs a gray-turquoise is a wonderful way to carry the color palette throughout the space. The full length mirror and crystal chandelier add playful touches of glam to the room.
In the living room, the furniture arrangement emphasizes on the room’s focal point, the traditional fireplace and the painting by Douglas Walker. Again, cool whites and grays are mixed with bright pops of blue. The clear, modern coffee table helps keep the space light and airy.
Across from the sofa in the living sits a pair of white upholstered armchairs with contrasting nailhead trim. They flank an Oly Studio Pipa side table in pierced resin. The side table’s squiggly pattern is repeated in the Elisabeth bedside table also by Oly that features a beautiful woven pattern over an antiqued mirror. The same side table and silver lamp is placed on the other side of the fireplace for symmetry.
In the bedroom, the cool color palette continues, however the cool blue accent color is replaced with warm and rustic reds. Centered above the bed is a modern, white flower mirror. You can find one similar here. Large ikat pillows are a perfect finishing touch on the bed.
Is this modern classic home fit your personal style?
*all photography by Janis Nicolay via Style at Home
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By on February 14, 2011 in bedrooms, dining rooms, family rooms, interior design, kitchens, living rooms
DC Designer Liz Levin’s Kid-friendly, Stylish Home
When Washington DC-based interior designer, Liz Levin became a new mom she discovered few stylish furniture options that were kid-friendly. As a result, she founded Nesting – an all-in-one resource for contemporary, high performance furnishings specifically selected and designed with children and pets in mind. Yippee!
Liz used her own home as a laboratory and many of her furnishings are from her store’s collection. In the living room, Liz mixes design styles and balances feminine and masculine elements beautifully. The table skirt was made custom by Liz Levin Interiors in Rogers and Goffigon {cream texture} with trim fabric by Schumacher. A fun Lucite waterfall coffee table from CB2 serves as a coffee table {note the rounded corners – kid-friendly!}. Liz sells a higher end version on Liz Levin Nesting. The most striking element in the room however, is the stunning wallpaper by Cole & Son behind the dark chocolate sofa. The colorful print {Fornasetti Collection Frutto Proibito} pulls together the room’s color palette brilliantly. The remaining walls were painted in Benjamin Moore’s Manchester Tan and is a nice contrast to the dark remnant wool wilton area rug.
The Murano glass table lamp and round brass vase add just the right vintage touches and were purchased at Sixteen Fifty-Nine in DC’s Georgetown. The red, pink and white t.v. time chair {“deliciously comfortable” as Liz puts it} is covered in a cutting edge, stain-resistant upholstery fabric that uses Nano-Tex technology and adds a punch of color. Stylish and functional – love this!
Above the living room’s fireplace hangings original artwork by Barbara K. Buer. I love how Liz flanks the fireplace with highs and lows – an antique Chinese garden statue from Qi in Old Town Alexandria, VA and a sweet child’s rocking chair found at a local flea market. The fuchsia nesting chair {Hollywood 2} is also made in high performance fabric, yet has a fashion-forward look. {We need to know how she sold her hubby on the bold, feminine color choice!}
In the dining room, Liz opens up the space visually with a large custom mirror and floor length drapes in a fun brown and white geometric print. The dark wooden dining table was a passed down from a family member and looks amazing with the Design Within Reach white leather chairs Liz scored off of Craig’s List. The drum pendant lighting is by Visual Comfort and is available through the trade.
This fun and colorful space is Liz’s “catch all” room. It serves as a home office, play area and guest room so the design needed to incorporate furnishings that were functional and flowed visually. The striking red and white “Merlin” wallpaper by Albert Hadley {through Hinson/Brunchwig & Fils} was a splurge and sets a playful tone. Liz selected the sleek white Parsons desk from West Elm and paired it with an Ikea chair – both very affordable. A fun red bamboo style floor lamp from Arteriors {available through the trade} helps with needed task lighting and balances the space visually. Artwork stacked above the cherry red file cabinet are finger paintings by her daughter and set in frames from Pottery Barn. I love to see children’s art framed and showcased for all to see.
Keeping within a tight budget, Liz selected the children’s table and chairs from Ikea – can’t bet Ikea prices! Liz hung a whimsical poster that beautifully picks up a yellow and white zigzag accent pillow on the West Elm Storage Bed Frame {pull out draw provides more storage options}.
In the bedroom, Liz covers the bed in dark brown bedding by DKNY. The turquoise and white circle print accent pillows were made custom while bolsters were from West Elm. A sweet Lucite tray table from Alba Interiors Lambertville, NJ is the perfect bedside table. Framed artwork from Liz’s travels to Brazil and Hong Kong are stacked, while a larger “For Like Ever” print hangs above the bed.
Liz mixes styles and adds ethnic touches on a dresser. The vintage turquoise Chinese Foo Dog from Qi in Old Town Alexandria, VA is handsome next to the modern Paris lamp from good old, Target. The rrom’s walls were painted a soothing Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore.
In the baby’s nursery room, Liz keeps it bright and cheery with the walls painted in Farrow & Ball Hound Lemon. She placed a white classic spindle crib from Land of Nod {before many of the crib recalls of this type – please make sure if you are given a crib it has not been recalled} centered between a glider and toy bins. The sweet and sassy curvy side table in white is one of my favorites and is available at Liz Levin Nesting. It is perfect for any room in the house!
Floor length drapes in yellow with a green panel nicely frame the windows. While large, colorful stuffed animals in the green and yellow color palette add to the playfulness of the room’s decor. Liz keeps the amoire and changing table {Land of Nod} neutral white and consistent with the other furnishings in the room.
I am still drooling over the Cole & Son wallpaper in Liz’s living room? What caught your eye?
Be sure to check out Liz’s lovely design portfolio and visit Nesting for kid-friendly furnishings and great design advice.
*images courtesy of Liz Levin Interiors
Designer Dining Rooms and Decorating Tips
Although similar in function, dining rooms can vary greatly from home to home. Dining rooms may differ in formality, size and style. However, when decorating the dining room there are several basic design elements that remain the same. Here are some tips for decorating your dining area.
The Table – When selecting a dining room table, it’s important to determine what shape, size, material and style would work with the space, budget and your families’ lifestyle. For example, a round table is wonderful for conversation, but can’t accommodate as many guests as a large rectangular table. The table’s material (i.e. glass, hardwood, marble, etc.) should also be taken into account and will further communicate the room’s mood. An elegant mahogany dining table would be a good choice for a large, formal dining room, while a round glass table would be a nice choice for a smaller dining area because it would promote a sense of space. Each material has its pros and cons as well. Hardwood tables will be durable and long-lasting, glass will attract dust while marble, if not kept sealed, will stain.
In the formal dining room above, San Francisco-based designer Kendall Wilkinson anchors the room with an elegant oval dining table. The dark wood beautifully contrasts the room’s neutral color palette. The fabulous pearl mosaic wallpaper and glass chandelier again add a sense of formality to the room.
The Chairs – It is best if you choose a table first and then chairs {but, of course there is really no rule when it comes to design}. Ideally chair backs should be higher than the table. A standard table height is 29” or 30” and seat height is 18”. If possible, test a chair out for comfort before buying. A bench (without a back) can look great at a dining room table, but may not be relaxing enough for a long meal.
San Francisco-based, designer Kimberly Ayres selects crisp white Chinese Chippendale arm chairs with citrus cushions in the dining room above. The chair is one of my favorites because of the fretwork back, comfy cushion and ethnic flair. It looks like it is from Jonathan Adler, but I am not 100 sure.
The Lighting – Generally the bottom of a hanging fixture should hang 30” to 34” above the table. A traditional crystal chandelier is always elegant, but you may want to also consider other styles such as pendants, lanterns and modern fixtures in a variety of materials (i.e. wood, metal, plastic). Adding wall sconces and table lamps are a great way to layer the room’s lighting and create some drama. Also, consider putting all lights on dimmer switches so that you can adjust the room’s mood.
It is also fun to mix up styles as in the dining room above by designer Tami Wassong. The whimsical vintage chandelier is a wonderful juxtaposition to the traditional table and chairs. Wassong layers the room’s light by adding sconces flanking a mirror.
The Buffet – A buffet table, sideboard or storage console can be another beautiful design element in a dining room and a very practical one. Many store dishware, linens and table decor. In addition they provide a place to display fresh flowers, ceramic vases and table lamps.
The stunning dining room above by New York-based Parlor Design (featured in this post), showcases a gorgeous custom credenza with metal inlay from the Parlor Design furniture collection. The silver floral wallpaper and ice blue upholstered chairs are exquisite.
For a classic look, consider hanging a mirror or piece of art above the buffet. In this lovely dining room, designer Billet Collins hangs a large rectangle mirror above a sideboard table. The hand painted landscape mural is a beautiful addition to the room.
The Rug – If you have a hard flooring surface and want to help define the dining area, adding an area rug is a good option. When selecting an area rug make sure when the chairs are pulled back to accommodate guests while seated, that the entire chair rests on the area rug. You want to avoid having the back legs on the hard surface and the front legs on the area rug.
In this beautiful dining room by California-based designer Erinn Valencich the black and white rug demands our attention and helps define the space. The rug’s pattern also echos the more refined black and white pattern in the drapes. I love the fact that this room is not matchy-matchy and that Valencich selects a chartreuse geometric fabric to cover the dining chairs.
Remember these are simply decorating tips, not rules. There is no right or wrong when it comes to interior design. So, have fun with it!
* images courtesy of Decorati and Marnie Rose Agency
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By on March 10, 2010 in chinoiserie, dining rooms, furniture, interior design, lighting
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