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9 by Design – Benefits Show Tonight

If you haven’t tuned into Bravo’s 9 by Design, tonight is a great night to do so. The husband and wife design and renovation gurus, Robert and Cortney Novogratz of New York-based Sixx Design and their darling seven children {yes! including a set of twins} are behind the captivating reality show. For the past thirteen years, the couple have been renovating dilapidated buildings in New York’s up-and-coming neighborhoods. The images in this post are of a remodel {completed in weeks!} in the Hamptons. Their modern minimalist, urban chic thrifty style has also been published in their book, Downtown Chic.
Tonight’s episode of 9 By Design (airs on at 10PM on Bravo) is special one because it features two fundraising events that are near and dear to the Novogratz family. The first is an event that was held at the Novogratz’s home for Jasmina Anema, a family friend. Jasmina was a “spunky 6- year-old” who lost her battle with Leukemia this past January. The Novogratz family hopes to raise awareness about Leukemia and encourages everyone that can to register to become a bone marrow donor.
The second event featured on the episode is a benefit for ‘The City’, an organization that Robert helped create. ‘The City’ is an amazing group of young players who come from all over New York City. The goal of the fundraiser is to raise money to keep the program running and to start a scholarship fund for the kids who are of need on the team.
Check out clips from tonight’s episode here. I’ve got my TiVo all set!
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Read full story By on May 11, 2010 in interior design

Designer Bathrooms: Vanity and Sink Styles for All Tastes

Updating your bathroom? Today’s bath vanities and sinks are in many cases the focal point in the room, but with so many styles to choose from the selection process can be overwhelming. To help inspire you and narrow down your options, here’s a variety of bathroom vanity and sink styles.  
In this gorgeous master bath, Designer Robert Young features an ivory cabinet vanity with an X-mullion glass-front center door that is beautifully repeated in the transom. The vanity’s soft pewter Corian countertop is a perfect choice with the backsplash tiles in pewter, charcoal and cream tones. Love, love, love!

Fit for a queen. In this opulent guest bath designed by San Francisco-based designer Kendall Wilkinson hangs a stunning  Venetian mirror above a mirrored vanity sink {converted from a chest of drawers?}. The bath’s feminine look is accentuated with walls in a sweet lavender walls. The soft color is carried over from the adjacent bedroom’s wallpaper.
To open up a smaller bath visually, a simple pedestal sink is a great option. In this traditional bathroom featured in House Beautiful, a pedestal sink and faucets by Kohler are paired with clean subway tiles. A recessed Kohler medicine cabinet flanked by Somerson sconces from Pottery Barn helps finish off the clean look.  
Also featured in House Beautiful, this chic bathroom by designer Jay Jeffers showcases a double sink by Waterworks that allows the gorgeous floor to ceiling glass tiles design to take center stage. To complete the retro look, Jeffers adds deco mirrors from Pottery Barn.

In this playful, contemporary bathroom, design Linda Humphrey places a pair of white porcelain vessel sinks atop a zinc covered vanity. The open shelf keeps the vanity from being too visually heavy, while the natural woven baskets help organize bath essentials.

Brooke Giannetti of Velvet & Linen designed this romantic powder room in her home. The vanity was created from a console table {reproduction from Chelsea Textiles} and was topped with a stunning marble sink. The wall mounted faucet was the spout from her garden fountain!

 
This contemporary bathroom by New York-based designer, Amanda Nisbet has been featured on Simplified Bee before – Layer it – Bathroom Lighting Design, but also wanted to include it in this post. Nisbet places two “Chalkstripe” vanities by Kohler side-by-side. For a seamless look, each vanity is covered with “Blizzard” Caesarstone Quartz. The simple cabinet fronts with square keyhole apertures keep the look clean, while concealing the storage area.

In this sweet bath, also by Amanda Nisbet features a contemporary wall-mounted porcelain sink {perfect for smaller sized bathrooms}. Known to mix styles effortlessly, Nisbet pairs the sink with a traditional damask wall paper, sleek modern shelf and contemporary scone lighting.
 
 
In this small bath, designer Victoria Neale selected the perfect sized vanity with bowed front. The petite vanity, painted the same white as the trim, even provides storage under the sink. The elongated mirror echos the room’s window, while the bright green walls and a checked valance coordinates beautifully with the color scheme in the little girl’s bedroom next door. 
In this Moorish inspired bath featured in Traditional Home, the handsome dark wooden vanity is paired with a contrasting marble top. The vanity details are beautifully mimicked in the room’s arches, windows and custom chandelier.
In this light and airy bath Atlanta interior designer Kay Douglass mixes old and new elements. Two modern rectangular sinks were paired with a vintage wood table to create a vanity. It is the gorgeous stand alone tub however, that steals the show in this bath. Love how Douglass converts mercury-glass pendant lights into sconces that hang above the rustic mirrors. 
I first saw this gorgeous powder room by designer Jim Howard on Things That Inspire. The  black stone wall mounted wall sink and faucets are tucked back into the contrasting crisp white walls.
This double sink vanity is featured in a traditional master bath also designed by Jim Howard. The stately vanity with detailed wood carving is exquisite and reminds me of an antique dresser. The twin sinks and mirrors add delicate feminine touches that balance the look and don’t allow the heavy vanity to over-power the space.
Did you find a bath vanity or sink style you love?
 

 
*images courtesy of Velvet & Linen, Jim Howard, House Beautiful,Traditional Home
and Amanda Nisbet
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Read full story By on May 10, 2010 in bathrooms, interior design, lighting, tile

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 NestingThe 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

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Read full story By on May 5, 2010 in baby nursery room, dining rooms, interior design, living rooms

Laura Casey Interiors & Suzanne Kasler’s Inspired Interiors Giveaway

A surprising, yet wonderful result of blogging has been the people I have met along the way. Laura Casey is one such person. Not only is she a very nice, she is a talented interior designer and writes a darling design blog. Based in Charlotte, NC, Laura launched Laura Casey {LCI} Interiors a full-service residential design firm in 2003.

Recently Laura launched a new look for her website and I couldn’t resist posting some of the beautiful work from her portfolio. As you will see, Laura and has a great eye for classics with a stylish contemporary flair.

Be sure to drop by Laura’s LCI blog soon – she is giving away a signed copy of Suzanne Kasler’s book Inspired Interiors.

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Read full story By on May 3, 2010 in contemporary decor, interior design, living rooms