Wallpaper has been a trend for some time, but I had to share with you some gorgeous wallpaper by Anna French – thanks Erin at House of Turquoise for this fantastic find! It was Anna’s vivid colors and dramatic patterns that caught my eye. Here’s a sampling of my favorites.
Do you have a favorite?
Talk about a room with a view. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s 20th-story penthouse condominium in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood has priceless views – Coit Tower, downtown, City Hall, the Bay Bridge and the crown jewel, the Golden Gate Bridge. Newsom hired San Francisco-based designer Michael Agins of Agins & Associates to transform and update the 1,800 square-foot, one bedroom and two bath 1930s Spanish Revival high-rise penthouse.
Here in the living room, Agins arranges the furniture to emphasis the room’s fireplace and mantel focal point by centering the Holly Hunt sofa directly across and lining armchairs on either side. This creates a cozy and inviting place for the mayor and his new wife, Jennifer Siebel to converse with guests. Not wanting to detract from the period architecture and breathtaking views, the elegant arched windows are kept bare. The asymmetrical decor on the fireplace mantel is beautifully done. It would have been a great example in my recent article, Tips on Decorating the Fireplace Mantel.
The living room is anchored by a chocolate, cream and gold Moorish-inspired area rug by Oscar de la Renta. The rug’s gold accents are beautifully picked up by the stunning mustard Portuguese armchairs from Heather & Company Antiques.
The small galley kitchen was opened up and modernized to accommodate large parties. Here is a view of the bar topped with Calcutta marble – it contrasts nicely with the rich brown walls and cabinetry. Agins brilliantly has the custom shelving behind the bar mimic the arched windows in the living room. The shelves are backed with mirrors – love this look!
In the media room just off the living and dining areas, Agins creates a dramatic statement with white leather lounge chairs from Minotti and sweet Twig table from House 849. Aren’t those lounge chairs fabulous!
Here is a view of the media room from the living area. The dark chocolate-colored velvet Holly Hunt sofa and ottoman melt into the walls painted in Pratt & Lambert’s dark brown. The color scheme really allows the urban art to pop.
The warm and elegant master bedroom is gorgeous in a dark green color scheme. The area rug by Kelly Wearstler and the headboard with nailhead are my favorite elements in the space.
On the wall opposite the bed, Agins hangs a collection of mirrors that reflect city views. A cozy wing chair with nailhead detail by Victoria Hagan is placed in the corner next to a window. The tree stump side table brings organic elements to the space.
With the mayor’s wife in mind, a lighter color palette of gray was selected for the library. The lush velvet Holly Hunt sofa is beautifully framed by the floor length draperies in wool. The orange accents – throw pillow and books – are fabulous too!
But, now I am curious because the Newsoms just had a baby girl – Montana Tessa Siebel Newsom on September 18, 2009 – and where is she going to sleep? Do you think they converted the library to a nursery? In any case, she will have a fabulous view. And congratulations are in order to the new parents!
UPDATE: The penthouse was sold earlier this year for a reported $2,935,000. Read it here.
*images from Luxe Magazine
The first step is to select décor that will convey the kind of feeling you want the room to have – formal, casual, clean lines/minimalist or eclectic/busy. You will need to work with the fireplace’s existing architecture and decide if you’d like to enhance it or subdue it. Another important consideration when decorating a fireplace mantel is to keep the design balanced and proportional.
Symmetrical design is the most popular way to decorate a fireplace mantel. Formal rooms typically follow symmetry when arranging mantel décor, but it works in a more casual setting as well. In this master bedroom above, the fireplace mantel by Norman Davenport Askins is symmetrically decorated with British 19th century botanical prints centered on the wall and antique Chinese vases on either side.
Symmetry is easy on the eye and conveys a sense of calm throughout this formal living room designed by Dana Lyon. The fireplace mantel is also symmetrically designed with original artwork flanked by candlesticks.
Another option is to create an eclectic mantel by displaying décor of varying size. If this is the look you are trying to achieve, it is still important to arrange the objects to ensure it has balance and flow.
In this contemporary sitting room designed by Eric Cohler, the mantel decor is busy, but inviting. It showcases an eclectic mix of art and photography in various sizes and frames. The small sculpture centered on the mantle is a critical element that balances out the frames. This busy style works here because the room already has lots of visual activity throughout, like the Han dynasty figurines atop the gilded bookshelves. Cohler also brings some old world charm by adding an antique English fireplace grate. I must say, the macassar ebony klismos-style chair by Hinson & Company is fabulous!
Founded in 2007, New York-based and internationally acclaimed design firm, Parlor Design strives to create designs that fuse “formal technicality and aesthetic sensitivity.” Focused on exceeding expectations and staying within budget, the firm develops a thoughtful collaboration between the design team and client.
One of Parlor’s recent projects was this pre-war six story NYC townhouse. It’s truly a gem. The firm’s husband and wife design team, Dylan and Nicolette Farrell focused on the history and aesthetic of the home. Even though most of the townhouse’s guts were removed, the soul remained. The design team approached the project with exquisite ornamentation and panel and ceiling detail consistent with neo-classicism to assure the space did not feel unjustly manipulated and to allow the soul to shine through.
In addition to the home’s history and architecture, the interior designers were influenced by two things; First was Austrian design legend Dagobert Peche (1887-1923) and the Weiner Werkstätte (est. 1903, Vienna Workshops for a community of visual artists) and the quirkier aspects of Viennese turn of the century design. Second was the of-the-day styles coming out of Belgium – specifically the clean lines and high contrast architectural finishes. Farrell says, “These design influences worked well with our clients, considering the husband’s preference for adapted modernism and the wife’s love of traditional ornamentation. So we set off to truly and honestly explore the term “transitional.” We did not want to make the common mistake… jamming a Louis XV leg onto a case resembling a creation by Corbusier. Instead, we wanted to attempt to create a seamless melding of time – an interior that is just as fresh and comfortable while it reminisces on the days past as it is stepping into the days to come.”
On the townhouse’s parlour floor, the focus of the formal living room is the custom mantle by Chesney’s. It’s beautifully framed by original portraits by various artists from auction. The furnishings are exquisite. I particularly like the klismos inspired contoured legs supporting the mahogany coffee table by Troscan. The sweet nesting tables by Emile Galle are antique. The calming blue and white custom wall, ceiling and trim paint by Benjamin Moore contrasts beautifully with the masculine dark wood furniture and flooring. Adding feminine touches, the elegant multi-armed chandelier was purchased at Remains Lighting. The Farrells struck a perfect balance and created a room that both genders would feel comfortable in.
Rich custom millwork shelving with sliding doors in ebonized mahogany and antiqued mirrors set the perfect stage for an intimate sitting area just off the formal living room. The curves of the Emma Lounge Chairs by Madeline Stuart and walnut Osterly side tables by Dessin Fournir soften the space that is dominated by strong lines in the display unit, flooring and crown molding.
A flooring detail in a custom dark stained French-cut Peruvian walnut and a tufted navy blue chair by Baker welcomes guests into the formal the dining room.
A round mirrored table from Neirman Weeks surrounded by chairs from Baker take center stage in the dining atrium, which is also on the parlour floor. A gorgeous Murano glass chandelier in white from La Murrina is shear elegance.
The ceiling tracery details in the dining atrium are worth a closer look. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is extraordinary. Who would guess this is new construction!
Then the soft white and blue color palette continues in the home’s kitchen. The custom millwork cabinetry is painted in Benjamin Moore. The professional grade range is by Viking and the stunning back-splash in hand-cast glass tiles is by Ann Sachs.
The breakfast alcove is the sweetest room and the natural light is inviting. The homeowners have several children and this is the perfect space to casually bring the family together for a meal. I particularly like the juxtaposition between the colorful large upholstered wing chairs and the smaller painted carved wooden chairs. The chandelier from Summer Hill and leaf and floral motif wallpaper from Osborne & Little give the room a more feminine feeling that balances the masculinity of the table and chairs.
The custom vanity topped with calacatta marble in the powder room is a standout and surrounds a gorgeous nickel undermounted sink and faucet from Waterworks. The fabulous mirror is by Baker.
The master bath is really a work of art. Here is a view of the vanity and shower. The mosaic floor with blue accent tiles is my favorite design detail.
The master bath is also a peaceful retreat with the sunken Jacuzzi tub surrounded by a calacatta marble slab and hand-cast white glass tiles from Ann Sachs. The three vertical marble insets add visual interest and mossy plants bring hints of the outside in.
Here’s a closer view of the faucet by Kallista, hand-cast white glass tiles from Ann Sachs and calacatta marble.
For more beautiful pictures of this home and others in their portfolio, please visit Parlor Design.
Do you have a favorite room in this lovely NYC Townhouse?
*images from Parlor Design and Erik Goldstein Photography
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