Inspired Interior | Christian Bérard

My home office is in desperate need of a little decoration -- no matter how many pieces of art I hang the white wall just aren't cutting it.  I'm thinking about doing a little Christian Bérard homage.  Pictured above are the trompe l'oeil architectural details he designed in collaboration with Jean-Michel Frank for L'Institut Guerlain.  What is often mistaken for as paint is in fact grosgrain ribbon and silk cut to resemble Bérard's brushstrokes.  No, he was not trying to fool anyone with his faux architectural details, but that's the beauty of them- they're whimsical and perhaps not all that difficult to mimic?  New York designer John Barman, took inspiration from the Guerlain interior and used Bérard-style brushstrokes to add interest to the otherwise straightforward bedroom pictured above.  In the third picture, Sara Story painted faux molding in the hallway of the Elle Decor Modern Living Showhouse but kicked things up a notch by using two shades of gold paint to create the illusion of a shadow.  Obviously I love the gold. 

Since I rent and actual wood molding are not an option this might just be the easiest way to achieve my very own Rachel Roy-inspired office. Someone bring me a yardstick and a can of paint!

(Images: 1 / 2 / 3/ 4+5)

Leopard People

In the fall of 2010 The New York Times released a series of images from their 100+ year old archive. To celebrate the occasion they asked interior designers Laura Kirar, Kelly Wearstler, Vicente Wolf, Jonathan Adler and Thom Filicia to each selection of 10 photos from the archive that best reflected their design aesthetic and appreciation for the use of photography in interiors. The collection, called 50 Photographs, was available for purchase at The New York Times Store.  

So where am I going with this?  Well the entire collection was great but my hands-down favorite was one of Adler's selections: "Leopard People, 1966" by Larry C. Morris (first image). It's hilarious, glam, and bizarre all at the same time and it kind of makes me want to makes me want to dress up in head to toe leopard!  The moment I saw it I knew I needed it BUT I decided to wait.  What a mistake.  The collection is no longer available and I just can't seem to get this quirky snapshot out of my mind.  I'm trying to decide if the second image pictured above is a worthy alternative or if I should just hold out and hope that my beloved Leopard People will reappear on the NYT Store website sometime soon.  Thoughts?

Better yet,  if someone could find me a copy I'd love them forever! ;)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

I know, mirrored walls often get a bad rap but their reflective surface instantly opens up a room adding a touch of glamour. I especially like the way smaller antiqued square mirrors look when hung in a grid. The smoky mirrored wall in Todd Romano's old apartment above is one of my all-time favorites! The tiles provide an enchanting background and help define this seating area as separate from the rest of his living room.

Antiqued mirror tiles anchor this chic vignette and create the illusion of another room behind the table. Just look at the way those red chairs pop against the wall. Love it!

This weekend I might just channel Versailles!  With a pack of Ikea tiles, a few decorative pewter stars and this genius tutorial I'll have my very own "hall of mirror" in no time!  What's your plan for the weekend?

(Images via Elle Decor and Nuevo Estilo)

French Favorite | Louis Philippe Mirrors

I've lived in my apartment for a little over a month now and it seems there's still a lot of empty space.  Take the empty wall above my sofa...I could easily run out and purchase a bunch of inexpensive prints to fill the wall but I'm not going to.  I've decided to wait to find pieces that I am absolutely in love with rather than rush to fill my home with meaningless things.  When I moved into my own apartment I made a wish list of items and since then I've been slowly saving and checking them off.

One of the first pieces I knew I needed to have was a Louis Philippe-style mirror - the simple lines, rounded corners and gilded finish really appeal to me.  I purchased the one pictured above at a Leslie Hindman Market Place Auction last year.  I got a little carried away when bidding but I know I will have this piece forever.  In my last apartment  it hung above a console table, now it's the starting point for a gallery wall above my sofa.  This piece is so versatile I know it will always find a place in my home.  Below are a few of my favorite ways designers have used Louis Philippe mirrors to liven up a space. Which one is your favorite?

Above the Sofa: Nate Berkus + Anne Coyle incorporated a Louis Philippe mirror into the gallery wall of this study.  I wish I could buy everything in this room, especially the Michael Hainey bird painting!
Above the Sofa: Jodi Webb shared this gorgeous Louis Philippe mirror on her blog, Cote de Texas.
Above the Fireplace: A Louis Philippe mirror hung above the fireplace reflects the surrounding room.
In the Living Room: Laurann Claridge hung a Louis Philippe mirror over a 19th-century Biedermeier chest to create a beautiful tablescape.

In the Bedroom: Palmer Weiss paired a Louis Philippe mirror with a vintage chest of drawers and various silver picture frames.
In the Entry:  A Louis Philippe mirror hung above a console table reflects light from a chandelier and makes the perfect place to take a quick peek before heading out.
In the Dining Room:  A floor mirror layered over a wall of mirrors adds depth.

Fashion + Furniture

OPTION 1:  Keep It.  I'm not sure what you'd call this color but according to Chloé it's "sunflower- yellow" ...love the color but not sure how I feel about the crushed velvet.

I inherited a pair of these chairs from my Great Aunt and have been contemplating reupholster them.  At first I didn't really like the color but now, after 2 years of living with them, it's really starting to grow on me.  Most of the furniture in my apartment is neutral - light grey linen sofa, jute rug, carrara marble tulip table, chocolate brown leather ottoman - so these chairs add a nice dose of color to the space.  I 've decided to keep the walls of my apartment white (thanks to your great comments!) so now I need to focus in on a design scheme and color palette.  For that I turn to fashion.... OPTION 2: Go (charcoal) Grey.  This look from the J. Crew Fall 2011 lookbook pretty much sums up my style.  A classic blue tailored oxford, a textured coat and an amazing chocolate brown leather bag (the same color as my ottoman).  I like this option BUT it might be too safe.

OPTION 3: Go Green!  A bold choice but I love it.  To break it down, white shirt = white walls, green skirt = green velvet chair, black shoe straps = black lampshades...you get where I'm going? 

So now I ask you, dear readers, which look do you prefer?  Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Beautiful + Bubbly

I’ve been hunting for a chandelier to go over my new dining room table for a few months now.  I've scoured thrift stores, flea markets, craigslist and ebay but nothing affordable or amazing enough to warrant purchase has popped up.  While I was on the hunt I did, however, fall in love with the incredibly expensive work of Lindsey Adelman Studio.  Her Bubble series, with its stunning hand-blown glass globes and custom metal fittings, has both a contemporary and vintage vibe.  It's exactly what I'm looking for, minus the huge price tag. 

Fortunately, the lovely designer has posted a DIY version of her chandelier on her website.  The instructions include a detailed parts list with sources.  Isn't that just about the nicest thing you've every heard?  I looked up all the parts and I think the total cost for the project will come in around $120...not too bad!  I consider myself quite handy so I'm going to take a stab at creating my own chandelier this weekend. Does anyone have any pointers?  I figure if I completely screw up I can drive out to my parent's house in the suburbs and have my dad finish it. Wish me luck!
Everything about the kitchen pictured above - the chandelier, backsplash, table and chairs - is perfection.
Despite the chandelier's contemporary design, it works well with the traditional millwork in the foyer pictured below. Lindsey's Knotty Bubble series, pictured below, is inspired by Japanese maritime culture and packing.  Wouldn't it look great in a beach house?
Images: Lindsey Adelman Studio

Black Magic

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I didn't have time to take pictures of my guest bathroom but I did buy black shades for all the lamps throughout my apartment.  I must say, it was money well spent!  There's something to chic about a black lampshade, don't you think?  Just look at the lamps in these rooms - I swear the black shades are like a touch of magic. Do you have any black lampshades in your home?
Lauren Gold's living room
Living room designed by Jennifer Dyer

Living room designed by Angie Hranowsky

Living room designed by Callie Jenschke

Eddie Ross' layered living room

Bedroom design by Pereira Associates 

Bedroom design by Celerie Kemble 

Bedroom design by Ryan Korban

Images: 1 Nuevo Estilo via This is Glamorous, 2-11 Lonny

Black, White + Leopard

J. Crew has done it yet again.  Their fabulously styled Fall 2011 lookbook is, well, beyond.  I'm completely inspired by this look - it's how I want my apartment to feel.  Masculine yet feminine. Classic yet modern.  Tailored yet casual.   I love the varying textures - wool coat, patent shoes, crisp white shirt.  Gray, black, a dash of pink...and, of course, a touch of leopard.

Image: Style Caster

White Out

To paint or not to paint, that is the question and currently my new home dilemma.  I moved into my apartment almost a month ago and I'm starting to think I could live there until I'm ready to buy a place. When I signed the lease one of the first questions I asked was if I was allowed to paint the current white walls (seen here). The owner said yes, as long as I repaint them white when I move out....what a hassle, right? Who wants to live with white walls...Not I! Or so I thought until I saw this gorgeous home designed by Ted Tuttle.

He used Benjamin Moore’s Super White on all the walls and trim and it looks incredible. This particular shade of white, he believes, has a lot of depth and is “still as rich at night as it is in the morning.” So what's a girl to do? Do I keep the white walls and add depth and interest with things I can take with me when I move or paint and have it repainted when I move out? That whole temporary 'I'm-not-going-to-change-a-thing-for-the-next-three-years' thing drives me nuts but so does the thought of having to pay someone to paint twice. What do you think? I'm torn!

Photographs by John Granen for Elle Decor July 2011

Brace Yourself

I'm trying to decide what to do with the large wall behind my dining room table. The space isn't big enough for a piece of furniture and there isn't much room in the budget for a large/expensive piece art.  I want something with big impact so I'm thinking a grouping of wall brackets might look nice. I like the look of Miles Redd's design pictured above. He used plaster wall brackets to display Celadon vases from Middle Kingdom. I like the repetition and how the monochromatic vases add depth to the wall. Steven Gambrel also used plaster brackets in his design pictured below.  Although nice, there's something about the arrangement that is throwing me off...maybe the lack of symmetry.

Celerie Kemble used acrylic wall brackets from plexi-craft to display a group of small potted plants.  I like how they sort of disappear and make it look like the plants are floating.  Plexi-craft sell these shelves in a variety of sizes on their website.  At $12/each, it would be fairly inexpensive to recreate this look, I'd just have to kind a way to keep the plants alive...

(Images: 1, 2, 3)

My Topiary's Twin

I bought this topiary at Jayson Home and Garden a few weeks ago and it seems to be holding up quite well considering my fellow forgot to water it while I was in Maine. I think it adds the perfect dose of sophistication to my kitchen counter. I've had a thing for topiaries since I was a kid so I was pretty pumped when I spotted my topiary's twin in the new issue of Lonny.  Great minds think alike ;)

A Blank Canvas

I'm back! We moved into our new apartment over the weekend and I couldn't be happier with the space. I have great plans for this place and I thought it would be fun to post these "before pictures" then share our progress.  So here it is...

When you enter the front door there is a long hallway that all the rooms are attached to.  You immediately notice the 10 foot windows and the beautiful view. 

The guest bathroom is first.  It is really nice having a second bathroom with a shower.  This is actually larger than the bathroom in my old apartment.

Across the hall is the spare bedroom, which technically isn't a bedroom because it doesn't have a window.  We plan to use this TINY room as an office and possibly a dressing room/closet.

The kitchen is open to the living room and dining area.  Not sure how I feel about the cabinet color but on the bright side it does look like Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen.

The living room is narrow and long.  A little awkward but I already drew up a floor plan and luckily all of my furniture will fit.  I love the space but the vertical blinds must go!  I'm trying to figure out a way to reuse the silk curtains from my last place - they weren't terribly expensive so I might sew a contrasting color to the bottom to make them long enough for the 10 foot windows.

My new dining room table will go in the space next to the kitchen.  I've been stalking Craigslist for a vintage chandelier.  Cross your fingers for me.

The only real downfall to the master bedroom is the carpet...oh and the vertical blinds.  Lots of potential here.

And finally the master bathroom!  Double sinks and a medicine cabinet!  It's everything I could ever want and more!

All in all we are very happy with the apartment and I can't wait to make it feel like home. I didn't think we'd end up in a high rise but I have to admit I'm starting to like it.  I mean having your doorman run down the street to catch a cab is pretty amazing.