Archive | living rooms RSS feed for this section

Charlotte Moss and A Flair for Living Book GIVEAWAY

Last month I had the pleasure of attending an event featuring New York-based interior design legend, Charlotte Moss at Gump’s of San Francisco. In addition to designing high-end residences throughout the United States, Moss has published six books and teamed up with fine retailers such as Haylcon Days, Agraria, Brunschwig & Fils, Seibert & Rice and Pickard China. In the Fall of 2010, she will launch a new line of fabrics, wallpaper and trims with Fabricut.

Gump’s is graciously giving one lucky Simplified Bee reader Charlotte Moss’ book, A Flair for Living. In this delightful book, Moss tours every component of a home, exuberant entertaining and couture home accessories. The images are simply gorgeous and very inspirational.

Known for her traditional and opulent sense of style, Moss did not disappoint when designing a Tuscan inspired two bedroom unit at The Laurel, a luxury condominium in New York City’s Upper East Side.

With a church terracotta roof as the home’s view, Moss creates an elegant room with warm colors, rich textiles, picturesque art and hand-picked antiques. She has a brilliant way of fusing color, pattern and texture. The living room features gorgeous wallpaper by Schumacher and an antique lamp on a side table by Niermann Weeks.

The inviting living room showcases stunning oil paintings of Italy from Charlotte Moss Interior Design. The persimmon sofas, striped chair, lemon pillows and skirted table are in Schumacher fabrics.

A carved antique mirror placed above a console is perfectly centered between Vaughan lamps. A beautiful twisting urn is perched on books under the console. Loving this symmetrical look, but will have to wait until the little ones get a little older!

Moss fills shelves in the living room with gilded frames, urns and artwork depicting Italian scenes.

Here’s a view into the dining room. The chandelier from Vaughan is hung above the dining table by Niermann Weeks. The brown leather chairs, china and linens are all from Charlotte Moss Interior Design. Moss differentiates the living room from the dining space by adding a sisal carpet from Stark and antique mahogany screen.

In the master suite, Moss selects a soothing color palette of blues, turquoise and beige. The opulent canopy bed by Niermann Weeks is draped in silk toile fabric from Fabricut.

The armoire with coordinating fabric by Rogers & Goffigon is stunning – my guess is it’s hiding media equipment and the armoire’s design prevents it from overheating. It’s topped with a pair of Chinese urns and flanked by side chairs from Charlotte Moss Interior Design. The room’s aqua textured wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries is simply gorgeous next to the chairs covered in velvet by Vervain.

A pair of chairs and ottoman from Charlotte Moss Interior Design are upholstered in gorgeous Fabricut fabric. The floor lamp – wow – is by Vaughan lamp.

The study is chic, urban and cozy. The walls are painted a warm Bronze by Ralph Lauren. And you know I love the glass-top desk from Williams Sonoma Home. The wingchair, cashmere throw, sisal rug and drapery panels are also from Williams-Sonoma Home. The room’s paintings, desk accessories and custom marble-top coffee tables are from Charlotte Moss Interior Design.

To enter to win Charlotte Moss’ beautiful book, A Flair for Living:

Leave a comment (include email if you are not a blogger).

• Extra Entry – become a Follower of Simplified Bee (by adding yourself to the follower group on the sidebar)

• Extra Entry – mention this giveaway in a post with a link back and leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so.

• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.

• Entry period closes at midnight PST, Sunday, November 15, 2009 and the winner will be announced Monday, November 16, 2009.

**Note: The winner will be drawn randomly using Random.org, notified directly via email and listed back at this post using first name only.

“What makes a room wonderful is nothing you can see. It’s something you feel.” ~Charlotte Moss, A Flair for Living

* images from Veranda
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Read full story By on November 9, 2009 in bedrooms, Giveaways, interior design, living rooms

Charming Stone Cottage in Lake Tahoe

High in the Sierra Mountain range sits breathtaking Lake Tahoe. Known for its clear, fresh water and beauty, this area attracts tourists all year around. Even though I don’t live there today, for me Tahoe is home – it’s where I grew up.

So, I am thrilled to share with you a lovely Lake Tahoe stone cottage that was recently renovated by Elise Fett & Associates Architecture and Engineering of Incline Village, Nevada.

The home, which was built in 1927, is made of beautiful gray and silver granite mined from the Cave Rock tunnel which sits on the East shore of the lake. Like many empty-nesters today, the new homeowners downsized when they purchased the charming 1,200 square foot stone cottage. They choose to expand slightly by adding 550 square feet – a bathroom, laundry room and master suite upstairs. The home’s integrity however stayed the same. In fact, the original single-paned metal windows were kept despite the freezing winter temperatures. The homeowners instead selected insulated Roman shades to keep in the heat from escaping.

The “L” shaped main living space features the beautifully remodeled open kitchen, living room and dining room. The small, yet gourmet kitchen features a center island in pine and topped with butcher block. It offers seating for guests, storage and of course, a food prep area. To the left of the island sits a simple, yet elegant custom china cabinet and refrigerator covered in red antiqued wooden paneling – both coordinate with the cabinets. In this image, the back double-dutch door is open to the backyard.

The red stove by Heartland is darling! It includes an exhaust system and therefore frees up space above the range for additional storage.

The perimeter countertops are slabs of Carrara marble with a crescent edge detail. It is a nice contrast to the red antiqued cabinets.

The hammered copper farmhouse sink by Counter Culture in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is stunning and my favorite element in the kitchen.The faucet is Bridge by Cucina. Best yet, the kitchen window has incredible views of the lake below.

The stunning granite fireplace is original and is the focal point in the cozy living room. The natural sunlit room is open to the balcony upstairs and showcases gorgeous pine beams.

The quaint dining room sits off the the living room.

A soft leather armchair with nailhead trim sits in front of the living room’s fireplace. Above hangs a fun vintage Lake Tahoe poster.

Makes me want to pack up the family and head to Tahoe!

*images from Simplified Bee

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Read full story By on November 5, 2009 in interior design, kitchens, living rooms

Preston Bailey – Fabulous at Designing Events and His NYC Apartment

Preston Bailey is world-renown for producing fabulously one-of-a-kind, opulent events surrounded in dramatic vibrant blossoms, exotic textiles and theatrically lit crystals. After struggling at first in NYC Bailey’s best friend, interior designer Vicente Wolf, suggested he create floral arrangements for his clients. It wasn’t long before Bailey was designing parties for A-listers like Oprah, Donald Trump and Bill Cosby.

Bailey is also a bestselling author and his latest book, Preston Bailey: Celebrations (Rizzoli September 2009) showcases a sampling of his stunning work. With all this success, he still seems like a down-to-earth guy – love this! And I really like his advice from an interview in the New York Social Diary about throwing a party at your home, “You really have to let go of it – and let them help cleaning up.”

No, this is not another one of Bailey’s events; It’s his dining area in his cozy and colorful NYC apartment. Once part of a wedding by Bailey, the glass ball ornament is beautifully reflected in the enormous floor to ceiling mirror – great design element to visually enlarge a small space. The furnishing throughout the apartment was by designer and friend Vincent Wolf.

Bailey’s galley kitchen is simple in black and white. Again, the large mirror helps expand the small space visually. The white urn and flower arrangement is fabulous!

The round tufted leather ottoman is a perfect addition to this small living space. In a pinch it acts as additional sitting and my guess is it allows for storage within. The metallic copper color is a great juxtaposition to the dominate chartreuse sofa, walls and rug.

A pair of orchids and sea shells bring organic elements inside. We can also see a peek into the bedroom and Bailey’s racing bike. He is also an avid tri-athlete – go Bailey go!

A beautiful floor to ceiling curtain in teal divides the living area from the sleeping nook. And it’s brilliant how he used an easel to hold the TV.

Are you inspired to redesign your small space or throw an over-the-top party? I am.

* images from Preston Bailey and NYSD

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Read full story By on October 12, 2009 in dining rooms, Entertaining, interior design, living rooms

Opulent Beverly Hills Estate by Interior Designer Karan Brady

Designed by architect Paul R. Williams, this stunning 21,000 square foot estate in Beverly Hills includes the main house, guest house and grounds. The renovation of the 1930s colonial revival took three years, but the result was worth the wait. Interior Designer, Karan Brady of Ralph Lauren Home helped deliver the homeowner’s vision of a home fusing styles of a classic Hamptons estate and down-to-earth California chic.

The entrance hall showcases the home’s gorgeous ebony wood floors and neutral walls in linen wallpaper. An antique canoe Brady found at a Parisian flea market hangs high on the wall. The designer adds organic elements to the space with petrified wood pieces from Holly Hunt hung over a bench from Kathleen Clements Design and a cowhide rug.

The home’s earthy-toned great room is luxurious, yet inviting. The stone fireplace is flanked by an ebony grand piano and 1930s-inspired Duke Bar, by Ralph Lauren Home. The milk white Murano glass chandelier is pure opulence and is balanced by the rustic beams made from reclaimed railway ties.

The all white kitchen is simply gorgeous. Brady again mixes new and old elements. The Parisian antique lamps over the island are brilliantly paired with modern stainless steel appliances. And what I would do for two farmhouse sinks!

The romantic master bedroom is also in warm earthy tones. The French doors are beautifully framed by golden silky puddle drapes that are paired nicely with the walls covered in a textured wallpaper. The contemporary bed and chairs are by Ralph Lauren Home.

My husband peeked at this media room and said, “This is the way it should be done.” I too like the laid-back leather sectional with square woven ottoman. Comfortable elegance. The bar of course is magnificent.

Even the two-story guest house was gutted and remodeled. It too has a relaxed, yet luxurious style. And if swimming isn’t your thing, how about a game of tennis, golf on the putting green or reading by the koi pond? This estate has it all. I don’t think I would ever leave the grounds. How about you?

*images Luxe Magazine

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Read full story By on October 5, 2009 in bedrooms, interior design, kitchens, living rooms