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

April 12, 2011 · Comments { 18 }

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.}

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.

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.

Read full story By Cristin on April 12, 2011 in foyers, interior design, Interiors, Kitchen

Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do?

November 3, 2010 · Comments { 37 }

Williams Sonoma Home Cosmopolitan Console Table

House Beautiful has a designer series I enjoy reading called, “What Would You Do?” A handful of interior designers are asked to create a small vignette using the same piece of furniture. Today, I have invited four fabulous interior design bloggers to do the same. As a starting point, Brooke Giannetti of Velvet & Linen, Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home, Scot Meacham Wood of The Adventures of Tartanscot and Michelle Workman of Furnishing a Fabulous Life were given the Cosmopolitan Console Table from Williams Sonoma Home. It is a beautifully proportioned console in a glamorous Regency Revival style of 1930s Paris. With it the designers were asked to design a look by incorporating four or so décor items. Each created something wonderfully different that gives us a peek into their personal style.

designer series what would your do brooke velvet and linen

Los Angeles-based designer, Brooke Giannetti of Velvet & Linen created a relaxed “coastal” entryway using the console table. She places a pair of Leila Chairs from Giannetti Home, slipcovered in a cream linen on either side of the console. Brooke says, “they bridge the gap between contemporary and traditional, just like the Cosmopolitan Console.” A chunky jute Bora Bora Rug in “Sunrise”by Merida grounds the space with warmth and natural texture. Original artwork by Brooke’s husband, Steve Giannetti ‘s water painting series helps set the serene coastal tone and is also available at Giannetti Home. For the “perfect amount of aged patina” she adds a 1930’s copper lantern from The Elemental Garden at 1st Dibs.

designer series what would your do lauren liess

Based just outside Washington DC, designer Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home envisioned the Cosmopolitan Console in the entry of her dream lake house. She used Susanna Kasler’s quartrefoil chairs in blue from Hickory Chair. to flank the console. Theresa Fike’s painting found on Etsy grounds the grouping and adds a sense of age. The llama sconces from Porta Romana are “hysterical” and fun and totally out of left field which is why Lauren loved them. Lauren also added, “I’d love to layer more more and more on the table, but since we’re allowed only 4 items 😉 ” A large potted foxtail asparagus fern was selected to add some life and fresh green to the space. Lauren said, “they’re hard to kill too which is key.”

designer series what would your do scot wood

Designer, Scot Meacham Wood of The Adventures of Tartanscot created a calming, relaxed and stylish entry of the Four Seasons Private Residences in San Francisco {also where Wood is based}. He images, “a beautiful San Francisco skyline glowing with the late evening sunset and the space welcoming homeowners from a hectic day.” The walls are covered in a calming Arrowroot, “Springtime Green” PJ1737 by Phillip Jeffries Wallpaper. Scot flanks the console table with a pair of Macassar Veneered Armchairs, recovered in Apple Green Mohair available at 1st Dibs. The Blue & White Ginger Jar Lamp from Ralph Lauren add just the right touch of Chinoiserie. Over the console Wood hangs original artwork of Daniel Tousignant, available from Geras/Tousignant Gallery.

designer series what would your do michelle workman

Los Angeles-based designer, Michelle Workman of the blog, Furnishing a Fabulous Life created a “New English Study” with the Williams Sonoma Home console table. Filled with books, this very hip study or library would be painted a forest green. To anchor the space Workman adds the Climbing Leopard rug by Diane Von Furstenberg. She also includes a pair of chic canopy chairs in white patent leather from Mogul. For a big of “old” an antique Gilded Running Horse Weathervane from 1st Dibs is added on the console. From the ceiling, Michelle hangs a timeless chandelier – the Aurburn from Arteriors Home.

A big thank you to Brooke, Lauren, Scot and Michelle for participating in this series!

There are elements in each design that I think are brilliant. Which one catches your eye?

Read full story By Cristin on November 3, 2010 in design blogger series, foyers, furniture, interior design, original artwork

Gorgeous Hand Painted Designer Floors by Billet Collins

March 25, 2010 · Comments { 18 }

Do you remember this cover of Veranda January/February 2009? The sitting room features a stunning painted floor by Washington, DC’s most influential decorative painting studios, Billet Collins.

Billet Collins is known for their innovative hand painted finishes and dramatic patterns as shown in the dining room above and previously featured in Designer Dining Rooms and Decorating Tips.

In addition to painting gorgeous murals and textiles, Billet Collins loves to create painted floors and it’s one of their specialties. Kellie Hodges of Billet Collins explains, “The layout is extremely important to us so we use a lot of math and geometry to make it layout, and to make it perfect we practice a little illusion!” The foyer above is a beautiful example of one of Billet Collins’ geometric painted floors.

They do not use stains, but use custom tinted glazes to coordinate with the wood tones that give the artists better control. This allows for the grain to still come through and a natural progression of colors.

In this foyer, Billet Collins painted the wood floor in vibrant colors that are also either sheer colors or opaque for a more painted effect.

The process is easy. First the floors are first “screened” {a light sanding} to provide some tooth. The the floors receive one coat of sealant to keep the glazes from running into the actual wood, which keeps the colors from bleeding and the pattern crisp. Next the pattern is applied {usually a couple of days} and then the top coats go on. Billet Collins also likes to use a water based urethane so our colors don’t yellow.

I am loving this look. How about you?

If you’d like to use or publish any photos or material from this site, please contact me, credit Simplified Bee™ and kindly link back to this blog.

Read full story By Cristin on March 25, 2010 in foyers, interior design

Interior Design Color Trends for 2010 – Purple

October 27, 2009 · Comments { 14 }

It’s royal, healing and eccentric. You may either love it or hate it. But, get ready purple is making a comeback and is a big color trend for 2010.

Trend setting interior designers have already added shades of purple back into their color schemes. New York-based designer, Amanda Nisbet created a dramatic bedroom in purple, brown and white. Loving the Louis XV chair and foot stool in white with brown and white contemporary upholstery! And the throw pillow pulls the color scheme together perfectly.

The master of color, Jamie Drake designs a stunning Manhattan bedroom in magenta, fuchsia and purple. Creating a focal point, Drake adds a dramatic custom button-tufted headboard wall in chenille from Cowton & Tout called Brasilia Lilas. The floral brocade bedspread is also from Cowtan & Tout.

Designer Phillip Sides creates a soothing bathroom in the North Carolina home by using white subway tiles and painting the walls a soft lavendar – Classic Lilac (1002-5C) by Valspar. The cafe curtains in Manuel Canovas Suzon by Cowtan & Tout are hung mid-window to allow for natural light while still giving needed privacy.

Charleston South Carolina’s Angie Hranowsky designed this ecclectic dining room with striking walls in plum. It work beautifully with the white accents – table, chandelier and table lamp and hints of blue – vases.

New York-based designer, Christopher Maya combines shades of purple and pink to create an exquisite formal foyer and vestibule at this year’s Kips Bay Show House.

Maya beautifully fuses new and old decor elements throughout the space making it a perfect place to entertain guest or read alone by the fireplace.

As we head into 2010 you will see more textile and furniture designers launching lines with shades of purple, but here are some trend-setters available today.