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Retro 70s Decor – Scottsdale Arizona Condo

My grandfather was from our nation’s heartland – Omaha, Nebraska. During the harsh Midwestern winters, he and his wife would migrate south to the Arizona desert. They purchased a condo in Scottsdale in 1973 and because it was the “model” it was professionally designed and furnished.

Recently the three bedroom / two bath condo was sold, but photos were taken of the interior and I thought they would be fun to share. My grandparents never remodeled and therefore it’s a time capsule back to the 70s.

Dark red 12″x12″ tiles floored the double door entryway which led to a small atrium.

Here is a view of the atrium from the living room. The retro shag lime green wall-to-wall carpet was installed in the living, dining and bedrooms.

The living room’s bright, yet cool mix of yellow, green and white was a very popular color scheme in the 70s. The brick wall and fireplace were all painted in neutral white allowing the colors to really pop. Floral patterns were also dominant during this era. The lovely yellow and white floral sofa was purchased for $819 – almost 40 years ago. And the green wing chair green was $219.

My favorite element in this room was the leather top writing desk in a Mediterranean Cherry. It cost $339 back in 1973. The handsome brass and alabaster bookends were $29.

Here is a view of the dining room that was open to the kitchen and living room. I am not positive, but I think the chairs were reupholstered at one point in time.

The round game table in a dark antique finish was in a third bedroom that served as the den. The lighting in this picture is not ideal, but these chairs with nailhead trim are upholstered in a fun retro crushed velvet orange are fantastic – the color is making a comeback.

The guest bedroom had two lovely twin beds each with matching floral quilts. I just loved the faux bamboo headboards in brushed lemon with white. The sweet night stand is also in the same finish.

The masterAlign Left bedroom showcased a beautiful king size bed in a gold and lime throw spread – gotta love the trim! I found it interesting that the stone wall was kept natural. My favorite elements in the room were the matching Italian Faience white table lamps and tufted yellow bench. Both are popular today.

Hope you enjoyed this retro condo tour – can’t you just hear John Travolta singing Stayin’ Alive?
*images of Simplified Bee
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Read full story By on August 25, 2009 in bedrooms, dining rooms, interior design, living rooms, vintage

French Inspired Kitchen Design by Beverly Ellsley

Westport, Connecticut designer, Beverly Ellsley has been in the business for over 40 years and designs houses from the ground up. She is best known for her beautiful kitchen designs and most recent projects feature fine woodworking produced in her own cabinet shop.

Recently I read a wonderful interview with Ellsley on Decorati and fell in love with this French inspired Connecticut kitchen. The small splashes of blue in the tile, rug and dining chairs (in a lower photo) in this neutral color palette add to the kitchen’s tranquility.

The light and airy kitchen includes an incredible floor-to-ceiling French carved limestone fireplace which is beautifully centered between the cooking and dining areas. The romantic chandelier above the island coordinates nicely with the dark wood of the French woven rush seated barstools.

The dining area has a casual, yet elegant feel. Notice the cabinetry behind the dining table – it’s hiding a refrigerator and freezer. The panel of latticework houses appliances that need ventilation. Ellsley states in Decorati that she likes to hide appliances, “Not just because they say kitchen, but because they date one. Stainless steel may be the harvest gold of tomorrow, but the right cabinets for a home’s architecture are always right.” In fact, 30 years ago she designed her own kitchen and has no plans of remodeling.

The large kitchen island evokes charming antique qualities with ornate corner pilasters with shell carvings. The gorgeous top is made from salvaged French parquet flooring.

The farmhouse sink is framed by elegant cabriole legs from Ellsley’s Villa Collection for Enkeboll.

After looking at this gorgeous kitchen for the past few hours, I am ready to book my next vacation to the South of France. And if you need more white kitchen inspiration click here.

*images from Decorati

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Read full story By on August 23, 2009 in dining rooms, interior design, kitchens

The King of Color – Jamie Drake NY Upper East Side Design

New York-based designer, Jamie Drake has been creating high-end interiors since his firm, Drake Design Associates launched in 1978. His A-list clients include Madonna and NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg. Drake is the king of color.

Drake’s designs are world renowned for use of sophisticated color schemes and eclectic furnishings. To achieve harmony and balance in a room, he uses at least three colors.

Here’s a tour of a luxurious skyrise home in New York on the Upper East Side designed by Drake. The living room and adjoining dining room’s vivid color palette of orange, hot pink and blues is stunning.

The multi-color animal print rug grounds the room and pulls the color scheme together brilliantly. I love those throw pillow – orange & hot pink – yum!

Wow, orange walls. Orange is a “hot” color and promotes energy in a room. You typically see orange or red & yellow combinations in fast food restaurants because they want high turn-over rates and it encourages patrons to dine quickly. Here Drake boldly paints the dining room walls a bright orange. He adds blue and white to bring balance and promote a calming feeling.

An office fit for a queen. The color purple is associated with royalty. This intriguing color is the combination of opposites hot red and cool blue. In this room, Drake adds splashes of warm coral, neutral white and playful gold to the myriad of purples for a more feminine appeal. And my heart is racing – that glamorous white lacquer and lucite desk is a dream!

Drake uses a tetrad complementary color scheme – four colors that are equidistant on the color wheel – in this very playful child’s room. This design is stylish and above all highly functional. Storage above and below the bed. I love it!!! The rainbow of colors painted in back of the shelves and in the “number” throw pillows are the best.
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Read full story By on July 27, 2009 in boy's bedroom, dining rooms, interior design, living rooms, office/study

Do What You Love – Designer Philip Gorrivan’s NYC Home

Life is too short; do what you love. New York City self-taught designer, Philip Gorrivan does just that. Before designing, Gorrivan worked at Hearst Magazines, an Internet start-up and a venture capital of sorts. The tragedy of 9/11 made a profound impact on him and he then decided to do what he loved – interior design. And aren’t we glad he did! 
Here’s a tour of his beautiful NYC home as seen in an interview with Gorrivan in New York Social Diary last year. The first photo (above) is of Gorrivan’s living room with a rich color palette of chocolate browns and golden yellows. I want that gorgeous glass top and gilded base coffee table!

The beautiful Duncan Phyfe sofa is upholstered in a Clarence House striped silk – it’s a family antique from Maine and looks stunning in front of the staircase original to the apartment.

This colorful and eclectic room serves multiple purposes – it’s a dining room when the family is entertaining and a family room when not. The Hexagon Dining Table is one of Gorrivan’s designs and it expands into an octagon when open, seating ten. I love the color and texture variation on the Jansen Dining Chairs – upholstered in Kidd Leather from Edelman and leaf motif embroidery by Elitis.

The sweet banquette is covered in Bergamo multi-striped velvet and the lovely wallcoverings are custom tinted by China Seas.

The master bedroom is my favorite room in the apartment and I originally saw it on Erin’s blog – House of Turquoise. It’s richly sophisticated, but not stuffy. The color palette sets a soothing, tranquil tone. The chocolate brown tufted headboard looks great with the complimenting lavender tufted bench at the foot of the bed. The muted turquoise seagrass wallcovering is extraordinary.

This chaise – in the style of Jean Pascaud – is Gorrivan’s favorite reading nook.

The daughter’s bedroom is fit for a princess. The soft pink & white stripes in the canopy, bedding and Roman shade look great with the contrasting bold brown & white houndstooth bed-skirt and roll-neck pillow.

The focal point of Gorrivan’s young son’s room is the gorgeous 18th century French bed framed by a beautiful striped canopy. I’ve never seen a canopy in a little boy’s room, but it looks fabulous here.

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Read full story By on July 24, 2009 in bedrooms, boy's bedroom, dining rooms, girl's bedroom, interior design, living rooms