I am so happy to have one of my projects featured in the most recent issue of New England Home Connecticut!
I am so happy to have one of my projects featured in the most recent issue of New England Home Connecticut! This article focuses on a gorgeous new home in New Canaan, CT, built by The Kaali-Nagy Company. The client’s beautiful and traditional home was truly deserving of a warm and sophisticated interior composed of carefully layered details. I hope you have the opportunity to pick up the magazine to read about this project and get an up-close look at the many gorgeous photos!
The color yellow makes me think of summer and the warmth of the sun.
The color yellow makes me think of summer and the warmth of the sun. It’s an energetic and vibrant shade that, I have to admit, I’m just lately being drawn to. It’s not a color I typically present to clients, maybe because I grew up surrounded by it in my mom’s house. I feel good when I’m wearing yellow, I just don’t often design with it. Now, however, I find myself liking yellow more and more. Not a pale yellow, but a bright, saturated hue ideally suited to long summer days!
1. Vionnet Spring/Summer 2012
2. Gracie Studio Wall Panel
4. Stenciled Staircase via the style files
5. Little Angel 318 from Benjamin Moore
7. Yellow Field by Vincent van Gogh
A few days ago while shopping for fabric in NYC, I found myself stopped short by a window display in the D&D building.
A few days ago while shopping for fabric in NYC, I found myself stopped short by a window display in the D&D building. The display included a stunning arrangement of vintage glassware and I had to know more about it. I learned that the display featured items from a shop on Hudson Street called The End of History.
The End of History opened in 1997. Since then, owner Stephen Saunders has amassed an amazing international collection of mid-century glass and ceramic ware. In fact, The End of History boasts the world’s largest collection of 50’s and 60’s glass in the world. Hand blown glass and rare ceramics All this vintage glassware is beautifully categorized by color, making shopping here a real experience. The store is impressively curated and staffed by friendly people who are more than happy to welcome shoppers drawn in by those glowing window displays.
In addition to the store, the End of History maintains a blog to showcase their glassware and describe where each piece originates. The blog features writing and photography by Daniel Petix with input from store proprietor Stephen Saunders. It’s a great way to browse the store’s offerings and learn about the history and styles of various glassware. The pieces range from funky to stunning, from unusual to sophisticated.
If you’re in New York, you can stop by The End of History at 548 1/2 Hudson Street or call them at (212)647-7598 to inquire about hours.
One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995.
One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel, was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995. Gambrel studied architecture at the University of Virginia and has had his designs featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House and Garden, New York Magazine, and many others. He also recently published his first book featuring his own design projects titled Steven Gambrel: Time and Place.
S.R. Gambrel’s designs are bold and masculine with no reservations. His work’s unexpected grandeur comes from a flair for pulling elements together. He uses an eclectic mix of pieces for dynamic results. I’ve found that seeing things from Gambrel’s architectural view makes me a better designer.
Steven Gambrel’s incredible interiors often include his own custom designed furniture, rugs, and lighting. He carries his love of modern married with traditional to his furnishings. Gambrel’s designs show careful attention to the impact of details. Each piece could be an antique or found item. Urban Electric recently launched a collaboration with Steven Gambrel featuring a collection that celebrates hand-made American craftsmanship. The line is elegant and modern with pieces that are functional and practical but still exhibit interesting scale and attention to detail.
Turquoise is a summery hue that really resonates with me.
Turquoise is a summery hue that really resonates with me. It’s clean, fresh, and works great as a little accent or a bigger splash of color!
1. Gracie Studio hand painted wallpaper
2. Rhys Chair from Anthropologie
3. Turquoise necklace by Alexis Bittar
6. Turquoise seas in Tekek, Malaysia. photo credit
8. Christian Louboutin 20th Anniversary Unzip 100 Suede Sandal
9. Ceramic Vase lamp from Vaughan
I’m currently working on a unique project for client who loves to tend his beautiful gardens: a potting shed!
Just before this past Father’s Day, I met with a client whose beautiful home I’d been contracted to accessorize. The home itself is really lovely and well done, and only needed to be enhanced with further details. While we were discussing the house project, we started talking about the beautiful gardens surrounding the home. The gardens are completely tended by the husband and he has created just a spectacularly gorgeous environment.
Looking at the set up of the garage area, I saw a potential use for the space that just begged to come to life for this particular client. The home has three garage bays, one of which is separated from the others by a breezeway. This space had only a small bench for a workspace and my client expressed his wish for a true potting shed. As we talked about the possibilities, I could see my clients becoming excited by the idea. In the end, they gave me carte blanche to transform this garage into the ideal working potting shed for a enthusiastic gardener. Creating renderings of the space with a layout designed to cater to an avid gardener was the first step in this exciting project.
We then worked out what features should be part of the perfect potting shed. A large bench for work space, plenty of storage, light to work by and grow lights for germinating seeds, drainage in the floor, and a deep sink large enough for watering cans and large pots. Aesthetically, I wanted to incorporate a lot of texture and take advantage of the high ceilings. With these things in mind, I decided to sheath the walls and ceiling in reclaimed oak and install a beautiful, deep soapstone sink with a really tall back splash. The potting bench will have a zinc top and back splash for a touch of an industrial feel. As for the lighting, I really love the idea of using beautiful sconces. Can we get grow bulbs to fit these great lights? I don’t know, but I certainly plan to do whatever it takes to make that idea work!
The flooring presented it’s own challenge. We needed something durable and appropriate to the space, but also with a look suited to the rest of the elements in the potting shed. I explored ceramic stone and antique pavers, but ultimately concluded that a blue stone floor would be ideal. It’s a simple, worry-free element with great texture and large scale. It also echoes the use of blue stone from the nearby pool.
All of these grand designs will be built by my clients’ amazing handyman. The gardens around this home are so divine, my client truly deserves this space and I am really excited to watch this project take shape. Stay tuned for a future update when I’ll post a final reveal of the finished potting shed!
A couple of weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to have lunch with Barbara Sallick, owner of Waterworks.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to have lunch with Barbara Sallick, owner of Waterworks. It was really nice to meet someone so inventive and to be able to pick her brain. I found sitting with her and talking woman to woman to be so delightful. As someone who focuses on creating interiors, it’s fascinating to me to speak to someone who instead focuses on creating a product. What Waterworks does is very specific, constructing items that must be precise down the the millimeter while maintaining the high standards of elegance for the product. They really must think of everything throughout this clever process.
Waterworks was founded as a plumbing supply company in 1925 by Sam Grogins, Barbara Sallick’s father. In 1978, Barbara and her husband Robert set out to bring their vision of beauty and perfect performance to a part of home design that often lacked attention. Their son Peter later joined the company and Waterworks became an industry leader with a well-deserved reputation for craftsmanship and design. With the growth of Waterworks, the company hasn’t lost its vision or mom and pop feel. They truly listen to designers and have honed in on an ideal balance of functionality and gorgeous design, inspired by history rather than trends.
What I love about Waterworks is the diverse styles they offer. They don’t just offer fittings, they offer an entire bath experience that truly has something for everyone. The Studio Line, for example, is very accessible and well done. The Henry line is designed so beautifully, with so many different facets. Honestly, I can see uses for Waterworks elements in the kitchen and beyond.
If you want to also pick Barbara’s brain about her thoughts on design you can access her excellent ideas through her blog, The Perfect Bath. Barbara is also the author of two books: The Definitive Guide to Designing the Perfect Bath (self published, 2006) as well as Waterworks: Inventing Bath Style (Clarkson Potter, 2001).
COCOCOZY is more than an excellent daily design blog. It’s certainly worth reading in its own right for functional and stylish design material, but what really caught my eye about COCOCOZY is the Shop.
COCOCOZY is more than an excellent daily design blog. It’s certainly worth reading in its own right for functional and stylish design material, but what really caught my eye about COCOCOZY is the Shop.
The COCOCOZY shop offers textiles, from pillows to throws to table linens, gifts, vintage accessories, and other unique items. I especially like the textiles. The patterns are fun, quirky, and fresh with a simple graphic concept. Items like the pillows and table linens make great gifts; they are quick finds without being mainstream.
COCOCOZY featured a blog post a while back about the entire process of making a pillow, from the progression of the idea to the final product. This behind the scenes look at how a product is developed is just fascinating. Starting with a sketch, the blog follows the steps involved in bringing a design into being.
The photos only tell half the story. Visit COCOCOZY to view the full progression and read all of the details about how these beautiful pillows came to be. You can also find COCOCOZY on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
We all grow up with our own Fourth of July traditions, but for me, the holiday meant a long celebration that never seemed to end.
We all grow up with our own Fourth of July traditions, but for me, the holiday meant a long celebration that never seemed to end. My birthday falls right near July 4, so as a kid the two events were so intertwined in my mind, I always expected the fireworks to spell out my name in the sky! That never happened, but spending the Fourth with my family still had to be one of the most special memories of summer.
Each Fourth of July, we’d take a boat trip to Port Jefferson for the weekend of the fireworks display. We’d enjoy local festivals, shopping, restaurants, and, of course, the fireworks. From the boat we could often see the fireworks from a few different towns. Being out on the water at night, rocking with the waves while the sulfurous smell of exploded fireworks mingles with the salty air, is about as perfect a way to watch a fireworks show as I can imagine. They may not have written my name in the sky, but that fireworks show was always the culmination of a fantastic family weekend.
Now that I have my own family, I still love to keep up with the traditions I knew as a kid. Boating to Port Jefferson, enjoying a favorite restaurant like Pasta Pasta, and those spectacular fireworks out on the water. I’m not one for going all out with the Fourth of July decorations around the house, but for a cookout or family party, a thoughtfully dressed table or collection of eclectic images goes a long way toward setting the patriotic mood. Think of adding a Fourth of July flair to your picnic basket for the beach, your table at home, or even your clothing or accessories!
Whatever your traditions or plans, I wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July!
One of my favorite interior design blogs truly has something for everyone.
One of my favorite interior design blogs truly has something for everyone. Material Girls was founded by Emily Johnston Larkin of Dallas, Texas. With a team of contributors from across the country, readers can focus on trends near and far with a healthy dose of pop culture thrown in for good measure.
Material Girls also features tips on the best places to shop as well as great deals specific to certain cities. Dallas, Houston, Chicago, LA, and New York are all beautifully represented by contributors from various backgrounds, experiences, and design styles. In fact, Material Girls is like five fabulous blogs all rolled into one. With press and mentions by literally dozens and dozens of magazines and websites such as House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Apartment Therapy, La Dolce Vita, and countless others, Material Girls has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation as a great source of design inspiration. From textiles and furniture to hidden courtyards and stunning artwork, everything relevant to interior design from coast to coast has a place at Material Girls.
