I was so happy to have my own home included in this feature!
At Home in Fairfield County recently released their Sept/Oct 2013 issue, which features the homes of 5 designers. I was so happy to have my own home included in this feature! With so much of my waking time spent focusing on the design of my clients’ homes, it was nice to take a step back to appreciate my own sanctuary and share it with someone else.
When we visit Block Island for vacation, one of the places I like to stop by is the Jessie Edwards Gallery.
When we visit Block Island for vacation, one of the places I like to stop by is the Jessie Edwards Gallery. Even while taking a break from work, I can’t resist browsing the artwork and hoping to find new artists or just the right piece for a client. On our most recent vacation, my visit to this particular gallery was rewarded with the discovery of three new (to me) artists.
The first is C. Sperry Andrews III. I really liked his scratchboard pieces. These amazing works are actually very tiny. The interesting thing about Sperry’s scratchboard art is the way they are created. He paints over gesso-coated canvas, then scratches away the paint to bring out each image.
Heidi Palmer is another artist I saw at the gallery and really enjoyed. Her paintings are so tranquil and have such perfect colors. I love the abstract vibe of the wave painting.
The third artist whose work I fell in love with is Susan O’Donnell Kearney. She creates these vibrant fish prints using an old Japanese technique. Each print is unique, and her work flies out of stock at the gallery. They are very cool! You can see more of her work at her website, Nantucket Gyotaku.
You can see more of the artists featured at Jessie Edwards Gallery by visiting their beautiful website. You can also find them on Facebook.
I was so saddened to learn of renowned decorator Joe Nye’s death last month. As a designer, he had so much passion and paid incredible attention to detail. I’ve admired his work for years and know his talent and inspiration will be greatly missed.
When thinking of Joe’s work, I remembered reading a great article in House Beautiful about a home he had designed. The architecture mixed with the Mediterranean elements was very appealing and I really admired everything about it. I thought I’d share the article here as an example of Joe’s style and skill.
by Douglas Brenner with photos by Luca Trovato
Another example of Joe Nye’s love of all things beautiful is his book Flair: Exquisite Invitations, Lush Flowers, and Gorgeous Table Settings. For inspiration on making guests feel special and creating an amazing environment for entertaining, Flair is a fantastic resource full of wonderful photos.
One of the happy benefits of today’s online world is that even with Joe’s passing, his work is still accessible through so many photos and articles on a variety of design websites to continue to inspire people for many years.
This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home.
This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home. I love the beach, and it’s always been a big part of my life. In order to fully enjoy a day of sand and sun, there are certain essentials that I always have on hand for beach days. Here’s my list of must-have items for lazy hours at the beach!
1. A big, floppy hat! This Scarf Top Floppy Hat from San Diego Hat Company is perfect.
2. Sunscreen is always a staple. I stick with the basics, like Hawaiian Tropic‘s SPF 30 Sheer Touch Lotion.
3. I can’t live without my Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses!
4. A big, big beach towel like this one from Hermes.
5. An amazing beach blanket. I love this one from Steven Allen. It’s great for both the beach and the home!
6. Letarte is my first stop when hunting for the perfect bathing suit, like this Adjustable Bikini in Navy.
7. A great bag! Mine is from Ralph Lauren‘s Rugby store, which sadly no longer exists. This bag has traveled with me for years.
8. We got these beach chairs from a local hardware store and they are perfect, with a mesh storage pocket and straps so you can carry them on your back.
9. Blistex Deep Renewal: A must before and after the sun.
10. Crinkle Shorts. When you’ve had enough sun, throw these on with a white t-shirt and call it a day!
11. Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, to rejuvenate your hair after a day in the sun.
12. Tory Burch Flip Flops — another must!
13. A cooler for snacks and drinks, preferably something light and portable like this one from LL Bean.
14. A beach wagon is perfect for toting everything from your cooler and towels to the kids’ toys. This Foldable Beach Wagon is easy to pull across the soft sand and carries up to 100 pounds.
What are your favorite beach essentials?
I can’t wait to see what the talented designers have done with this beautiful home!
This year’s Hampton Designer Showhouse is in Bridgehampton, NY, and will be open for tours Mondays through Sundays, July 21 to September 2. Presented by Traditional Home to benefit Southampton Hospital, the Showhouse is a must-see event. I can’t wait to see what the talented designers have done with this beautiful home!
Anticipating this year’s Hampton Designer Showhouse has me thinking of last year’s Showhouse and which rooms I most enjoyed. I really loved the dining room, by Mabley Handler, from the previous Showhouse. It was so refreshing, with such a great use of fabric. The overall feel was playful and just very well executed.
Another room I loved was the study, designed by Patrik Lonn. I enjoyed the equestrian nod that wasn’t too literal. It was also great to see photographer Bob Tabor‘s work in this room. The study is masculine without being overbearing and includes so many stunning details, such as the lovely hand-painted ceiling.
I don’t plan to miss this year’s Hampton Designer Showhouse and encourage you to mark your calendars as well! The event kicks off with a Gala Preview Party on July 20. For tickets to the Gala or tours, visit the Showhouse website. You can also find information about the designers on the Showhouse Facebook page.
The July/August issue of Elle Decor includes a feature of a stunning home in California.
The July/August issue of Elle Decor includes a feature of a stunning home in California. The owners worked with architect Bob White of ForestStudio and mother-daugther design team Mary Lynn Turner and Marie Turner Carson of M. Elle Design to create a beautiful home that reflects the gorgeous cliff-side location of the property. The home, and it’s overall design, is a place where I can imagine myself living. I absolutely loved the article and the photos that showcase this incredible house. The one-storey home doesn’t compete with the outstanding view of Salt Creek Beach, but successfully combines a calming, elegant atmosphere with old-world charm. In addition, the landscaping seems mindful of the interior, making this a lovely home, inside and out.
Text by Julie L Belcove with photography by William Abranowicz. Produced by Anita Sarsidi.
ne thing I’ve learned as an interior designer is that people love before and after photos! I am a huge fan of them myself.
One thing I’ve learned as an interior designer is that people love before and after photos! I am a huge fan of them myself. It’s always insightful and fascinating to see the prior space and compare it to the final product. Today I gathered together some informal before and after shots featuring a few of my own projects and hope you enjoy looking at these transformations!
This is a client’s entry before renovations started. The home is a 1920’s residence and some of the decor was rather antiquated.
To update this entry, we opened it up and brightened the area by stripping and lightening the woodwork. We maintained the entry’s architectural integrity but created a much more welcoming area.
In the same home, I also designed the dining room. It wasn’t a particularly large room and had a rather traditional decor.
To create the perfect dining room for this client, we enhanced the simple architecture with the kind of elaborate design the client loves. Replacing the wainscoting with mirrored fretwork helps make the room seem larger. The walls were covered in the same material we used for the window treatments.
In these next photos, you can see how a kitchen can be completely transformed without gutting the entire space.
The original kitchen had two different counter materials, which we kept in place. We added rustic pine beams on the ceiling, changed the back splash, and covered the walls in grass cloth. For the cabinets, we mostly kept the existing structures but painted them. It’s amazing sometimes what paint can do. The finished kitchen is so refreshing!
Also in this home, I worked with the client to redesign the family room. It was a big space with an impressive collection of tribal artifacts.
With the size of this room, we were able to create three seating areas and use the theme of the tribal items to create a comfortable retreat. This room is also a great example of how installing treatments high above the windows and doors elongates these openings and has a great effect on the space.
This last example shows how important a good architectural foundation is. When the client is willing to let the designer and contractor go back to the home’s architectural base and design from there, it makes the finished home look that much better. It’s essential to get those basic elements right, but then everything else falls neatly into place. For this project, we started with a kitchen and family room that were rather separate, but large and full of potential.
To renovate this area, I worked with the contractor to change doorways and openings, making a more open environment with better flow between the kitchen and living room. Now the homeowners can enjoy family and guests while cooking. The finished project makes ideal use of the home’s architecture to give the family their perfect living space.
What’s the most dramatic renovation you’ve done?
While we still have plenty of work to do, I thought I’d take the time to post an update on how the office is coming along!
A few months ago, I shared the plans for my new office and studio space. Since then, a lot of progress has been made! While we still have plenty of work to do, I thought I’d take the time to post an update on how the office is coming along!
We’re in an interesting stage right now — so exciting, because I can see the foundation for the space really taking shape. We’ve had a lot of supplies delivered and the mock-ups are done. The sheet rock and plywood have been installed and prepped for the entry’s paneling. Next week the majority of the cabinetry gets installed, so we are definitely getting to a stage where I can see plans becoming a reality!
As we progress with the plans, it’s inevitable that things should change. What works on paper sometimes isn’t quite right in the reality of the space so you have to feel things out, adjust, and be open to adapting plans as you go. Once I actually saw the space and the lighting coming together, there were elements that had to be changed. For example, I originally wanted to install two lighting fixtures over my work table. Once I saw the mock up of the table in the space, I knew it wouldn’t work and the light fixtures were nixed.
It is so exciting for me to see the basis of my new office and studio coming together! I am really looking forward to sharing the final results of this project soon!
If you haven’t heard of Savant Systems, it is definitely worth checking out!
If you haven’t heard of Savant Systems, it is definitely worth checking out! Imagine having a control panel at your fingertips that allows you to manipulate just about everything electronic in your home or business. Using your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or HDTV, you can control lighting, climate, security, and entertainment. If it has an on/off switch, it can be integrated with Savant Systems. You don’t even have to be home for the system to work!
I recently visited the Savant Experience Center in NYC. The overall interior design at the Experience Center was done by the amazing Thom Felicia. His design combined with the Savant technology really gives you the full impact of the system’s potential. The integration of style and luxury with this level of easy control is just so cool!
The various areas of the Experience Center demonstrate how seamlessly the technology interacts with the beautiful decor. From any point, you can instantly adjust the lighting or temperature or select options for home entertainment. If you’re away from home and want to turn lights off and on to make the home look occupied, Savant makes it possible. More than that, Savant gives your home the ability to think ahead and plan for you. Imagine pulling into your driveway late at night. The garage door automatically goes up, lights turn on to guide you safely through the entry and hall, and the home security system engages behind you, all without you having to press a button or flip a switch. Remotely close blinds, lock doors, and turn on exterior lights. Receive alerts when the kids get home from school or if the garage door has been left open. Savant includes options to limit access to video systems for children and allows you to remotely view home security cameras. While managing this technology might seem like a daunting task, Savant has worked hard to create a system that is free of frustration and simple to use.
Savant Systems have a lot of appeal for businesses as well. Being able to manage lights, media, and security gives business owners a level of control that helps with efficiency and lets them focus on other tasks. Just like in a residential setting, the Savant System doesn’t interfere with amazing design.
Here are a few photos I took myself when I visited the Experience Center. It was great to see first-hand how the system works and how easily it can be incorporated into a home without compromising on the interior design.
To learn more about Savant, visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook!
The finished potting shed gave my client the ideal space for spending time on his favorite hobby.
Last summer I shared my plans for a potting shed design that was a work in progress. Looking back on those initial plans, it’s interesting to see how many of those details were incorporated into the final design. And yes, it is possible to use grow bulbs with sconces! The finished potting shed gave my client the ideal space for spending time on his favorite hobby and has now been featured by Connecticut Cottages & Gardens as a Project of Note. To see photos and read about details of this project, pick up a copy of the magazine today!
