Park Slope Brownstone Project - Progress Shots

Well, I have not blogged in a really long time.  It has been an insanely busy few months and I'm excited to have a minute to get back on the blog and share some of what's been keeping me occupied.  I've been working in collaboration with Sarah Coleman Interior Design on the interiors of a brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  This space has absolutely beautiful architectural detail, and we've begun to source furnishings and decorative accessories to make the space feel more finished and welcoming for the family who lives there.  

Here I'm sharing some progress photos of the first phase of the project: the parlour.  These spaces are meant to be where the adults of the house can unwind and entertain.  We've divided this long space into a drinks area and a tv/lounge area.  Still awaiting some upholstery pieces to flesh out the seating areas, plus the all-important window treatments, but I think we're really on our way to a gorgeous finished space!

Just look at the difference!  How amazing is the George cocktail table from Oly Studio?  Sarah and I both had our eye on that piece and were excited to have the chance to use it in this project.  It's such a great counterpoint to the traditional styling of the sofa.  The table on the right-hand side of the far end of the room will eventually be moved downstairs to serve as a bistro table, and this beautiful, mammoth cabinet that the homeowners already had will move to that spot and serve as a bar cabinet:

And here's one final progress shot of the fireplace.  We added some height with this great carved bone mirror and étagère from Ballard Designs.

Stay tuned for more shots of the space with in all its finished glory, as well as updates on the progress of the next stages of the project: dining room and family room.

Instant Attraction: Manhattan Apartment of Nate Berkus

The November 2012 issue of Architectural Digest ran a great before and after article featuring Nate Berkus's gorgeous Greenwich Village apartment.  I love the neutral color palette and the mix of graphic and rustic elements.  Nate is always amazing with giving his spaces character.  I've included a couple of my favorite shots here, and there are loads more over on the AD site.

Love the way he super cleverly disguised the oddly placed and proportioned windows in the office (above) (see the "before picture below).

Good Idea: Hanging Bedside Lamps

I love how these bedside reading lamps are strung up with their wires onto the canopy bed frame.  I'm very into flexible furnishings, so the idea of hard-wiring lighting fixtures into the wall doesn't have much appeal to me.  In that case if you wanted to move the bed, you'd have to patch the holes and re-wire, but not with this solution!  Also, I've spoken before about celebrating the wiring as part of the lamp and not being afraid to show it.  After all, it is what makes the lamp work!

Image from House Beautiful June 2012, Create a Sense of Time and Place.  Interior design by Ken Fulk.  Photograph by Ngoc Minh Ngo.

Sourcing: Made Goods

Made Goods has some pretty amazing home accents with a big nod to nature.  Trays, shagreen boxes, lamps, stools, tables, mirrors, baskets, objets.  This would be a great source for those pieces that give the finishing touch to a room.  Those less than practical treat yo'self pieces.  Here are a few that stood out to me on a quick trip through the site (which has great, clean product photography, by the way).  All images from www.madegoods.com.

1. Tanek Stool - that is a little Japanese stool CAST IN RESIN!  2.  Adrian Mirror - handmade to look like barnacles and hand painted.  Nature never goes out of style.  3.  Raylan Basket  4.  Tekla Faux Coral Objet - love the color.  5.  Arron Lamp - that base is formed out of metallized rocks.  6.  Cobus Stool - gaps in the wood have been filled with resin and small mirrored squares.  Love the juxtaposition of natural and man-made in this piece.

Emily Summers' powder room

I love the simple, clean luxury of this powder room (especially the wallpaper!) from the home of Emily Summers, as featured in Architectural Digest, April 2012.  Photo by Nikolas Koenig.

Wallcovering by Cannon/Bullock; pendant light by Gunther Leuchtmann, from Plug, vintage mirror, Kohler faucet.

Sourcing: Plantation

Plantation is a GREAT source for lighting, furniture, and loads of other luxe decorative touches (fur pillows and throws, hide rugs, etc).  Materials wise, there's lots of nice metal work, carved wood, glass, and beautiful inlay details on their decorative boxes.  Lots of nicely crafted stuff here.

Top row, L - R: Barcelona Chandelier (wooden beads, cerused white oak, oil rubbed bronze); Victor Iron Side Table (iron base with gold leaf finish, glass top with gold leaf edge); Hues Clear Bottle Vases #1 (hand blown glass, other colors available).
Bottom Row, L - R: Redmond Brass Pendant (antique brass finish); Bongo Wood Table (teak and sheesham); Dominic Sconce - Antique Brass (antique brass, mirrored glass).

All images from www.store.plantationdesign.com.

Instant Attraction: Ole Sondresen Architect / The Castello Plan

Photo from http://olesondresen.com/

Over the weekend I had the chance to revisit The Castello Plan, a small wine bar/restaurant in Ditmas Park in Brooklyn.  I'd been before for a drink, and really enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the cook miraculously on just a few small hot plates.  So we went back for brunch and I'm really glad we did.  We got to try the excellent food and then were easily convinced to try the AMAZING homemade ice creams.  My favorite was the rosemary olive oil sea salt.  OHMYGOSHWASITGOOD!  Go there, and get it.

Amazing as the ice cream was, the real treat for me was the space, designed by architect Ole Sondresen.  The palette of painted wood, rustic wood boards, cork tile floors, red brick and dark metals is lovely.  The travertine (I think?) bar top was really special and beautifully crafted with a black metal edge.  Then there were the layered on details, like the simply striped cloth napkins, coffee served in clear glass mugs, and brightly colored artwork that served as a great counterpoint to the muted and natural palette.  Sondresen's other work is also very nice and well worth a look on his site.  My other faves of his are Bird Boutique, Stuart & Wright, and the Sohn Residence. 

Some more pics of the space after the jump...

Guy Brown Reel Light

Reel lamp by Guy Brown.  Another example of the trend of embracing and celebrating the cord as part of the lamp.  Love it! 

Images from www.guyandbrown.com.

Sourcing: Pendant Lighting

Coco Pendant fixtures by Coco Flip are like the lighting equivalent of chocolate dipped strawberries.  

The Stealth pendant by AAREVALO is like an unfolded origami shape that lets the light peek out from within.

Good Idea: Killer Lighting by iCrave

Super, super cool lighting system designed by ICRAVE for Carte Blanche at the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking district.  Here's what the designers have to say about it:

Leather cables – gathered on some nights and hanging loose on others – create a seductive filter for the building, reminding guests that they are in a distinctly branded environment but part of a larger hotel beyond. The counterweight at the end of each cable is a custom glazed ceramic light fixture finished in bronze and handcrafted by a local potter.

Images and text from www.icrave.com. 

Instant Attraction: Anthropologie Reading Nook

Saw this image in the Anthro catalog and thought I could definitely spend a few hours sitting in that corner.  It also made me want to listen to Fleetwood Mac's Rumors.

Image from Anthropologie.com

Sourcing: CB2 Standouts

Dylan Dining Table:  I love the simple materials used to create this dining table (shesham wood planks, powdercoated, sandblasted iron) and the graphic look of the base.  A nice departure from a standard vertical leg, but still simple and easy on the eye.

After the jump, a roundup of more furniture, fixtures and accessories that stood out to me while flipping through the latest CB2 catalog.  All photos from www.CB2.com.

Instant Attraction: Jessica Helgerson

I love, love, love this attic bedroom by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.  It's the perfect secret hideaway: rather spare and basic, but with plenty of little comforts like the giant beanbag chair, bookshelves, and shaggy handmade rug.  The bed being low to the floor makes it feel like a permanent sleepover, and the chandelier keeps the interior from feeling too camp-like.

Photo from www.jhinteriordesign.com.  Project: Glamorous Four Square.

Sourcing: lighting roundup

Three light reflecting sconces.  Left to right:

   Shell candle wall sconce by Rockett St. George.  Photo from http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

   Ous hanging candleholder by Ayush Kaliwal for CB2.  Photo from http://www.cb2.com

   Faceted mirror sconce by West Elm.  Photo from http://www.westelm.com/

Heracleum chandelier by Moooi.  Typically I'm not a fan of LEDs, but this fixture softens the edge a bit.  I like how they've included the modern fixture in this romantic bedroom scene.  Photos at left from http://www.moooi.com.  Photo at right by Katya de Grunwald.  Styling by Amanda Koster.  Image scanned from Living Etc. January 2012.

Spar floor light.  Jamie Mclellan for Resident.  I love that the cord in this cantilevered lamp plays more than just the role of providing electrical current.  It also supports the lamp as well as provides a decorative element.  Photo from http://resident.co.nz.

Sourcing: West Elm roundup

I really love the West Elm's aesthetic of clean, fresh, classic lines combined with lots of natural materials.  Here's a roundup of a few of my favorite things from their latest catalog.

Rustic chairs and glass jar pendant lights.  So much beauty in the simplicity of that chair.

Wood tiled 3-drawer dresser.  The wood tiles on the front remind me of bone.  I love the pairing of the intricate wood tiling detail with a simple shape, hardware, and frame.

Floating wood floor mirror.  I love the reveal between the edge of the mirror and the wood frame.  Such a refreshing change from a regular old framed mirror.

Y-base coffee table.  Again, simple, clean lines and beautiful materials.  Marble is one of those materials that has the potential to look very tacky and overly extravagant.  Cut with a simple flat edge and paired with this simple raw steel base, it looks understated and classic, and could fit into a wide variety of decorating schemes.

Large curved basket.  Ohmygod I luuurve a chunky, well-made basket.  I love the curve to this one.  It would be great holding firewood, blankets, kids' toys, loads of flowers...just about anything.

Instant Attraction: Timber-framed home

This home was featured in Living Etc, Dec 2011.  Images scanned from the magazine.  Styling by Anna Molvik.  Photos by Matthew Williams.

I love that hard materials are mostly natural, rustic, and muted while the super luxurious and often brightly colored soft materials and a few shiny lacquered hard surfaces add just the right contrast.  That staircase is beautiful, and the hammock pulls up and out of the way on a pulley system when the family needs space to entertain.  How cool is that?  

More photos of this home after the jump...

Sourcing: Two modern chandeliers

Left: Crown chandelier by Jehs+Laub for Nemo.  In polished die-cast aluminum.  Love the red cord.  Image from www.nemo.cassina.it

Right: Intersection chandelier by Downtown.  Oil-rubbed bronze.  Image from www.downtown20.net

Laura Ashley large spiral chandelier.

well, i just loved the way this whole page looked so I scanned it all in.  I always love shades of white with natural wood tones.  I particularly love the mirror, pendant light, and flask.

Tom Dixon.  Beautiful furniture and standout lighting.