The Designer's Muse: February 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Darkly Dramatic

Steven Gambrel

Dark rooms seem to be all the rage now. Personally I like living in spaces with lots of natural light. But these dark rooms have a lot of drama and glamor, I can definitely see the attraction. Add a pop of intense color, like with the peonies below, or a shimmery ceiling like the butler's pantry below, and these spaces really sing.

The projects above are by Kara Mann

The photos above are of a project by Andrew Skurman in San Francisco. So many things to love about this project! The silver ceilings, the feather chandeliers, the pops of bold color, the continuous drapes, the mix of modern and traditional elements. So glamorous!

The photos above are of a project by Steven Gambrel, who does a very fine job creating beautiful dramatic rooms with a palette of dark neutrals.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Clouds in My Eye

Constable 1822

There was an article in the New York Times about a new show at the Frick Collection in New York City. It's a small show which includes a beautiful cloud study by Constable. The painting above is not the one in the show, but it's similarly beautiful. Apparently he was sort of a meteorologist, and actually studied different cloud conditions, painting them not necessarily for their beauty, but more for their scientific qualities. I just love these beautiful cloud studies. I also love the ones that JMW Turner painted later, and the ones Sargent painted after that. It's a beautiful tradition. I would die to have one of these beautiful paintings in my home. These paintings were all painted before the impressionist and well before the abstract expressionist paintings. But in a way they are, for the most part very abstract.

Constable

WJM Turner

John Singer Sargent 1897

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Tory Burch: I don't know how she does it

Tory Burch's newly renovated home in Southampton was just published in Vogue Magazine It was renovated and decorated by architect Daniel Romualdez and Designer Eve Hood, in a beautifully fresh, up-to-date manner. It has a vacationy feel without screaming beach. But the thing that impresses me the most, is how the mother of 3 teenage boys, and the head of a multi-million dollar company, is able to find the time to decorate home, after beautiful home; not to mention many beautiful boutiques around the world. I don't know how she does it!!! Maybe she doesn't sleep. Anyway every home I've seen of hers is just beautiful....stylistically they are all a little different, but all very lovely in their own way.

The above photos are by Francois Halard and Norman Jean Roy for Vogue Magazine

The photos below are from Tory's New York city apartment. This "house is decidedly much more formal than the Southampton home. There are many things I like about this apartment, particularly the green living room, love the green velvet sofa and the oil painting behind. If the house above has a bit of the feel of Great Gatsby, the apartment in New York feels a bit Edith Wharton.

The Tory Burch Stores have a bit more glitz and glamour.

The store on Madison Avenue

Monday, February 20, 2012

Bathing Beauties

Drummons

What's better than a beautiful bathtub. Drummonds UK makes some lovely ones, they also photograph them in fabulous spaces. Waterworks also makes some beautiful tubs.