Tag: favorite things

Favorite Things: Table Lamps

With so many different shapes, materials, colors, and finishes, you have endless options with table lamps!

Everyone needs lamps!  The placement of your table lamps should always be strategic, leaving no dark spots while creating the ideal ambiance.  Table lamps not only make a statement, but can change the whole feeling of a space.  With so many different shapes, materials, colors, and finishes, you have endless options with table lamps!  It’s important for a table lamp to have the right scale and shape for the space, so here are some of my favorite lamps to inspire you!

1.  Brush Stroke Lamp from Bunny Williams

2.  Sophie Lamps from Christopher Spitzmiller, Inc.

3.  Trentham Vase Lamp from Vaughan Designs

4.  Hudson Table Lamp by Dragonette Ltd.

5.  Dunes and Duchess Four Arm Lamp

6.  Clayton Home Concrete and Brass Table Lamp

7.  Tessaras Table Lamp by Pamela Sunday for Studio Van Den Akker

8.  David Iatesta Nantucket Lamp

9.  Diego Table Lamp by Dragonette Ltd

10.  Drum Lamp from Uhuru

11.  Julian Chichester Capri Table Lamp

12.  Stiffel Ceramic and Brass Glazed Lamps

Favorite Things: Brass

Here are some of my favorite examples of using brass in interior design!

Brass was a popular finish in the 1970s on furniture and accessories, and in the 1980s brass fittings, plumbing, and hardware were mainstream choices until the clean look of polished nickel edged it out of common use.  Lately brass has made a comeback, and not in an over-the-top, opulent manner.  Brass can be tactfully done to add warmth and elegance to a space.  It can be chic, lend an art deco feel to a room, and have a visually grounding effect.  Similar to using gold accessories, brass can be that pop of something extra in a beautiful interior.  Here are some of my favorite examples of using brass in interior design!

1.  Clarendon Wall Mirror from Crate & Barrel2.  Kismet & Karma Brass Tiles by Alloy

3.  Brass Coffee Table by Mastercraft

4.  Brass staircase railing by Kelly Wearstler, image via Elle Decor

5.  Brass Console Table by Taylor Llorente

6.  Hardwick Table Lamp

7.  Brass Sink

8.  Iacoli & McAllister Brass Pendant Lamp

9.  Brass Door, image via Fffound

10.  Folded Brass Wall Decor from Dwell Studio

11.  Lumiere Chandelier by Jean de Merry

12.  Brass Door Handle, image via Dwell

Cover image:  Steampunk Panel from Spoonflower

Favorite Things: Upholstered Chairs

Upholstered chairs are a great way to bring a fun, personalized aspect to any room.

Upholstered chairs are a great way to bring a fun, personalized aspect to any room.  By creating your own custom chair, you let the piece take on its own personality.  With a wide variety of sizes, styles, and fabrics, you can make the chair your own.  Combining fabrics and materials and adding details changes the pitch of the furniture.  A traditional wing chair with some modern elements can completely change the mood of the room.  Chairs don’t have to exactly match; there’s a lot of room to play.  I love designing chairs for my clients and seeing the way they really complete the final project!  Here are some examples of upholstered chairs I really like.

1.  Haute House Home Pantages Chair

2.  Wynn Chair

3.  Rapunzel Collection by Kenneth Cobonpue

4.  Kaare Klint Cuban Mahogany Armchairs

5.  Hopkin Chair from Cisco Brothers

6.  A chair I designed for a client — one of my favorites!

7.  The Doria Club Chair from Studio Van den Akker

8.  Great desk chair — I love the arm detail.  By Coddington Design.

9.  This patterned club chair is a great piece in a client’s living room.

10.  Emma Wing Chair

11.  Collection de Columbe Slipper Chair by Richard Misshan

12.  Modern Wing Chair with Chippendale Base from Dennis & Leen

Favorite Things: Lucite

In fashion and design, lucite accents add a modern chic touch.

Lately I have really been loving lucite.  For me it evokes the 1970s, a decade that I could happily live in forever.  In fashion and design, lucite accents add a modern chic touch.  It is strong, crystal clear, and easy to shape into any number of things.  Because lucite is nearly invisible, it brings brightness to a space without visually cluttering up a room.  It can work with any color and, when done correctly, looks so classy.  Here are some examples of lucite pieces that caught my eye.

1.  Brass and Lucite Mirror by Charles Hollis Jones, c. 1970

2.  Great benches from CocoCozy.

3.  This lucite tray from Eclectic Cool is a great accent on a ottoman.

4.  A Place in the Clouds:  Bedroom design by Jennifer Post.

5.  Lucite overload!  Image via Marie Burgos Design Blog

6.  Polished Steer Horns on Lucite

7.  Great hardware from Nest Studio.

8.  Mongolian Lamb Bench by Jonathan Adler.

9.  Clear heels from Le 21eme

10.  George II Chair from Plexi-Craft

11.  Pandora Clutch

12.  Joss and Main coffee table

Favorite Things: Ottomans

An ottoman is such a versatile piece of furniture, able to double as a coffee table or make a statement in the center or a room.

I love using ottomans when designing a room.  An ottoman is such a versatile piece of furniture, able to double as a coffee table or make a statement in the center or a room.  The ottoman doesn’t have to be confined to the living room, either — it can look great at the foot of a bed or under a console table in the entry or hall.  Ottomans are useful for layering a room and come in such a wide variety of sizes and materials.  The ottoman can soften a room or dress it up with just the right details.  Here are some of my favorite ottoman designs:

1. I never get tired of zebra print!

2.  Luther Quintana :  Tailored style and always a classic.

3.  Kenton Ottoman by SR Gambrel

4.  Ernesto Ottoman

5.  Drake Ottoman by Jay Jeffers

6.  Tray Chic Ottoman:  Great for family rooms.

7.  I love the Moroccan influence!

8.  JS Raccan Ottoman

9.  Nikki Ottoman, Bjork Studio

10.  Michael Berman Ottomans

11.  Clubcu Reclaimed Elm Ottoman

12.  Pella Ottoman, another great zebra example.

Favorite Things: Dining Chairs

Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room.

Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room.  They add a sculptural element that can be very present in the room without competing with the rest of the space.  I like to mix and match the chairs, using one consistent style for the side chairs and another, complimentary, design for the host chairs.  I also like to add layers to the chairs by using different materials to cover the seat or back, depending on what works for the shape of the piece.  Comfort is an important factor in choosing dining chairs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also look great!

1.  Royere Armless Dining Chair from Mattaliano.  Love this art deco inspired chair – so chic.

2.  A recent dining room project, where I used host chairs from Hickory Chair Furniture Co.

3.  Greek key infusion, from 1st Dibs.

4.  Vendome Side Chair from Jasper.

5.  Poliform Grace chair.

6.  Another dining room, where I installed these beautiful Queen Anne chairs from Jasper.  A very classic and traditional chair!

7.  Matahari Home Chair – for a more informal and casual dining chair, this one is perfect and so comfortable.

8.  Martin Host Chair with Loose Cushion – great as a header chair.

9.  Gothic Chair by Moooi

10.  1940s French Upholstered Barrelback Chair From Restoration Hardware – Think about using two different fabrics, one for the front and the other for the back.  Stain the legs darker and it is a totally different chair. I just did it for a client and it is an amazing transformation!

11.  Great combination with the rush back, from Dering Hall.

12.  Robsjohn-Gibbings Klismos chairs.

Favorite Things: Coffee Tables

Coffee tables come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and materials, but here are some of my favorites!

The coffee table makes up one of the key components in any room.  It’s a grounding element, a piece that can make a big statement or be a subtle anchor for the space.  Coffee tables come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and materials, but here are some of my favorites!

1.  Anders Table by Jan Showers

2.  Montpelier Coffee Table

3.  Vanguard

4.  Maharaja Coffee Table by Martyn Lawrence Bullard

5.  WY – Architect Table

6.  VH – Stuart Coffee Table

7.  Hollyhock Acrylic  Coffee Table

8.  Baldwin Coffee Table by David Iatesta

9.  1950’s Vintage from Caira Mahdaglio

10.  Ralph Lauren

11.  Inset bamboo from Dessin Fournir

12.  Zinc Top Coffee Table from 1st Dibs

Things I Can’t Live Without!

We all have our favorite day-to-day items, our go-to gadgets and accessories that help us stay organized, keep us on track, or simply make us feel good and lift our spirits as we get through the day. Here’s a list of things I simply can’t live without!

We all have our favorite day-to-day items, our go-to gadgets and accessories that help us stay organized, keep us on track, or simply make us feel good and lift our spirits as we get through each day.  Here’s a list of things I simply can’t live without!

1.  My Camera

I love my camera!  Photography is definitely an art form and I love photos.  I’m not a sentimental person at all, except for my family photographs.  If my house was on fire and my family was safe, I would run back inside to rescue my photo albums; they mean that much to me.

2.  My Watch

I wear my Cartier Roadster watch every day.  It’s a piece of feel-good jewelry for me.  I don’t need to wear any other accessory, but without this watch I’d feel naked.

3.  The Beach

Being at the beach, any beach, simply makes me happy.  We sometimes vacation at Cabo San Lucas, and the beaches there are so incredible.

4.  Lip Balm

I must use Kiehl’s Lib Balm twenty times a day.  I’m never without it.

5.  My Hermes NotebookI have two of these great Hermes notebooks that I use for work and, of course, in my favorite shade of orange!  I’m a bit old school; I still prefer to write things down instead of using my phone or a tablet.  I keep one notebook for my own notes and one for my calendar.  I use them every day!

6.  Helmut Lang

I wear Helmut Lang almost every day.  It’s functional but looks chic and stylish.

7.  Picasso Etchings

Picasso’s etchings are inspirational to me.  They helped me navigate my own development with sketching and drawing.

8.  Tom Ford – Black Orchid

My signature scent!

9.  Ochre Chandelier

Love this!  The Arctic Pear Chandelier by Ochre in any size, any color.

10.  Amalfi Coast and My Italian Heritage

My Italian heritage definitely defines a bit of who I am.  Being able to visit Italy as a child also exposed me to traditions that influence my family life.

11.  Jeans

Love these wide legged jeans – they remind me of the 70’s!

12.  High Heels

High heels are a signature of my everyday dress code.  I am crazy for shoes!  Contractors are used to creating planks and walkways for me to get around when I enter a construction site. I am not practical by far!