Sister Act

Recently I posted on a young designer's Manhattan apartment which I felt to be the perfect home for a stylish young woman. Well, the apartment has appeared again, this time in the current issue of Domino. The young woman is designer Nicole Hanley, and she lives in the same building (but different apartment) as her younger sister Merrill. Both women live in 800 square-foot apartments designed by Keith Irvine.

It is quite interesting to see the unique approaches the sisters took in designing their apartments (although there are more similarities than there are differences- after all, these are sisters). Nicole prefers a look of "frayed elegance" with a bit of edginess thrown in. She prefers more unusual color combinations like turquoise and brown. Merrill's apartment is more traditional and WASP-y with the Scalamandre "Shanghai" wallpaper in the entryway and a glossy red living room. Youthful touches in both apartments include lucite cube tables and chairs, Barcelona chairs, and modern artwork, but this is where the edginess ends. To me, both of these apartments possess the traditional look with which they were raised but are tailored to the lifestyle of young modern sisters.

And as the legendary Irving Berlin wrote in the song "Sisters":
Two diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one



Merrill's entryway with the "Shanghai" wallpaper.


Merrill's bedroom with a beige striped wallpaper, blue chintz curtains, timeless Leontine linens, and my favorite "Le Touches" print on the chair.


Nicole's bedroom looks a bit different from the article on which I previously posted. Like her sister, Nicole has Leontine Linens on her bed, but her nod to modernism is the lucite desk chair next to the bed.


Nicole's living room that is arranged off-center. The sofa fabric includes turquoise, orange, and yellow- all colors which Nicole favors.


In my opinion, Keith Irvine is a genius with the color red. Those glossy red walls look fantastic against the classic brown and white zebra print. Merrill's living room is also symmetrically arranged and is "tighter" than the living room of her sister.

Image at top: Nicole in her entryway paper with Brunschwig & Fils' "Gallaudet Diamond"

(All images courtesy of Domino magazine, Oct. 07, photographed by Paul Costello)

The Sideways Bed

My latest fascination (if you could call it that) is with the "sideways" bed, and no, this is not a technical term. The idea is to place a daybed or small bed parallel against the wall and drape it with swags of fabric, usually attached to the wall. Many times the beds, which usually have headboards and footboards, can double as a sofa. This style of bedding has deep roots in French history and was quite popular during the Empire period especially. (And if anyone has any additional historical information to share please do so.)

I could see using a bed like this in a dressing or sitting room. Or, if you're single and sleep in a twin-sized bed, you could try this in your bedroom (I wouldn't advise this if you have a significant other). Personally, I don't think you should try this with any bed other than a rather narrow one as it might look rather odd. But, if space is tight in your bedroom or in your studio apartment, then you might want consider this type of daybed to create some multi-functionality in your home.



A photograph by Horst P. Horst in a 1949 issue of House & Garden. All of the fabrics featured in this photo were made of cotton.


A bedroom designed by Colefax & Fowler. The Louis XVI-style bed is given the English treatment with the use of Colefax "Climbing Geranium" chintz.


This daybed serves as a sofa in this room designed by Colefax & Fowler. In this case the daybed/sofa is placed within a niche, and the same print is used for the wall within the niche, the bedding and pillows, and the tent-like swag.


Although this is more of a canopy than the other examples featured here, I do like this elaborate treatment of a Directoire bed. I can't tell if the fabric is attached to the ceiling, the wall, or the bed, but it certainly creates a cocoon like feeling. Design by David Hicks.

Image at top: An Empire style room in the Morris Jumel Mansion in New York.

Joe Nye- Tradition with a Twist

For those of you who like the chic/ preppy/ feminine/ traditional look mixed with bold colors, then you must check out this Los Angeles apartment decorated by Joe Nye (and featured in the October issue of House Beautiful). Designed for a lucky young woman, the home features a turquoise and raspberry color scheme with a bit of brown thrown in for good measure. The homeowner had inherited some good antiques, and Nye added some fun and funky furniture to keep the home from looking too matronly. What I also thought was very clever was that Nye created a masculine office (painted in a rich brown) as a counterpoint to the femininity of the rest of the home. And the icing on the cake? All of those great accessories! Here are a couple of photos of this fun, feminine home.


A view of the bedroom with a French settee from Chapman Radcliff and window shade in Manuel Canovas's "Bragance".


The rich brown office with some fun animal prints.


The dining room. Don't you love that painted chair?

Image at top: A view of the living room where the turquoise/raspberry color scheme is most evident.

Creative Framing

I was catching up on my 1st dibs browsing last night and came across these parrot prints from Chapman Radcliff (see above). Don't you like how the prints are mounted on the fabric covered mats? So clever! Of course there are certain types of prints that are best displayed in plain mats, but here the fabric adds a real flair.

Framing is one of those design details that is often overlooked despite the fact that it can add to the look of the artwork (and the look of the room). Some art, especially photographs, look best in simple frames with plain white mats. However, if you have some prints, drawings, or paintings that could stand a little pizazz, why not consider an unusual frame or mat? There are so many wonderful frames from which to choose, however, framing can be terribly expensive (I can't tell you how many times I've come close to having a heart attack when I got framing estimates). If you're on a budget, perhaps a colorful or textured mat may be just the thing.


These small Chinese Export paintings are framed in blue rice paper mats in gilt frames. Available at Heather & Company Inc.


Animal prints in striking frames and mats- in the Maher home, Elle Decor Aug '07 (photographed by William Abranowicz). I don't know which I like better- the prints or the frames.


Textured, neutral mats in the former apartment of designer Kelly Wearstler. The frames and mats look great against the aubergine walls.


I added this red mat on a delicate etching to draw attention to it.

Bye Bye Summer!

Summer's coming to an end and soon we will be dreaming of fireplaces, woolens, and sweaters (although here in the South this won't be a reality for a few more months!). So, in honor of this waning season, here are a few breezy homes that capture the spirit of summer.


Kemble Interiors

Steven Gambrel


Meg Braff


Eric Cohler Design

Katie Ridder


Miles Redd


Christopher Maya

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Some designers feel that one of the best ways to create a cohesive look in a small space is to repeat the same print throughout. I recently found these photographs of the late designer Greg Jordan's apartment, and I think he certainly adhered to this tenet.

Jordan's apartment had a living room that was 13' X 16' and a bedroom which was 10' X 15'- rather small. Jordan's solution to making the space seem larger was to use the same fabric on everything- walls, windows, upholstery, bed. By employing this scheme, the boundaries of the room seem to disappear. The fabric he chose was of his own design: a chain-link fence print. Obviously done tongue-in-cheek, Jordan wanted to create an "urban version of those eighteenth-century English trellis patterns."

To me, the effect is not necessarily overwhelming. I think that the other objects in the room- books, antique furniture, and other bibelots- soften the severity of the chain-link pattern. They also seem to take center stage against this unified background. I actually find the whole look rather charming.

That said, I don't think this look is for everyone. You would have to make sure that the print you choose is one that you love (and one that you will love for a long time!). Also, might one feel claustrophobic being surrounded by one print everywhere? In a quest to "eliminate" borders might you feel a bit caged in?


Jordan's living room


Another view of the living room


The bedroom with more of the chain-link print

(All images and quotations taken from "House Beautiful- Decorating for Small Spaces")

Graphic Classics

My post yesterday made me think about classic color combinations, and in my mind there's nothing more classic than black and white. Think black and white marbled floors, black and white striped awnings, and even black and white silhouettes. This graphic color combination is always crisp, tailored, and elegant. You may not want to design an entire room entirely in black and white, but perhaps these black and white items might inspire you to add a little graphic punch to your home.


"Tess" chair by Chair Couture


"Black Aves Platinum" by Royal Crown Derby


Black and white striped ottoman, one of a set of 3, at Dragonette Limited


Black and white obelisks at Biggs Powell


Chevron patterned black and white tray by Oscar de la Renta for Lunt


"Black and White Story" stationery from Kate Spade

Image at top: Hampshire House, New York, designed by Dorothy Draper. One of Draper's favorite color combinations was "dull white and shiny black". One of her trademark looks was black and white checkered floors- beautiful and stylish then, still so today!

The Bold and the Beautiful

If the dark colors of yesterday's post were too dramatic for you, then perhaps you may like these bright, vivid colors more. Why not drench the walls of your dining room with some bold, bright color? It will certainly make an impact in a room that is not often used. My current favorites are bright blue (teal might even look rather daring), lavender, and that old stand-by red. One of my all-time favorite dining rooms, however, is the one above in the Paris home of Mathilde Agostinelli. I know I've shown this image numerous times, but doesn't this photograph make you want to paint any room this glorious shade of pink (or at least find some shocking pink table linen)?

Perhaps with colors like these, you may just start dining in the dining room on a regular basis.

Suggested shades:
"Blue Ground" by Farrow & Ball- a great light blue
"Chinese Blue" by Farrow & Ball- a deeper blue which looks fantastic when paired with red accent pieces
"Scarlet O'Hara" by Pratt & Lambert- a true red
"Peace and Happiness" by Benjamin Moore- a beautiful shade of lavender
"Coral Reef" by Sherwin Williams- a coral shade of pink




I've always been taken with this dining room designed by legend Frances Elkins. Yes, a red dining room may be a bit predictable, but who can deny the timeless allure of it?


I think that this shade of purple, chosen by designer Steven Gambrel, would look great in a dining room as well. A little unusual but very striking!


I love vivid blue dining rooms- think about how great some red accents would look against this shade of blue. Designer- Jan Showers


A "wow" shade of pink chosen by Mary McDonald. I could definitely see this used in a feminine dining room such as Agostinelli's dining room above.

A Little Dining Drama

Loyal reader Laura recently asked me to post about my favorite colors for dining rooms. Well, I have a lot of favorites so narrowing them down was a bit tough. I favor bold and dramatic colors for dining rooms, and why not? After all, dining rooms tend to be more formal (this is the room where we use our best flatware and china) and are used predominately in the evening (at least this is the way I use mine!). My latest obsession is with deep, dark and glossy walls for this room (think dark brown, aubergine, and even black). How beautiful these colors look at night by candlelight! So, here are a few examples of dark dining rooms done right. And stay tuned for tomorrow's post in which I'll post images of vivid and bright dining rooms!

Suggested colors:
"Bittersweet Chocolate" by Benjamin Moore
"Mahogany" by Farrow & Ball (especially dramatic in a high gloss)
"Brinjal" by Farrow & Ball- a nice eggplant shade
"Noir #24-16" by Pratt and Lambert- a midnight blue shade. A great option in lieu of black.



No, this is not a dining room, but I adore this glossy aubergine room by Mario Buatta. This room served as inspiration for my parents' lacquered aubergine dining room. This is a gorgeous, rich nighttime color!



Here is a chocolate brown dining room by Tom Scheerer (walls are Benjamin Moore Chocolate Candy Brown and trim is Atrium White). According to Scheerer, "Any house can use a chocolate brown room". I couldn't agree with him more. (Photo and quotation from House Beautiful)


Is this not a gorgeous room??? This dining room at "Harbourside", the Bahamian home of The Hon. Lady Baillie, was designed by Maison Jansen. The walls are a deep, glossy dark green with white Chinese Chippendale-style trellis overlay. This room is making me rethink dark green! (Photo from "Jansen" by James Archer Abbott)


Another crisp dark brown dining room, this time by Bunny Williams. The combination of chocolate brown and white trim is truly a classic!

Striking Tablescapes II

Aren't weekends a great time to rearrange your tchotchkes and bibelots? Of course, you could also rearrange the furniture, but that's an awful lot of heavy lifting! So, in honor of today being Friday, here are some terrific tablescapes that might inspire you to fluff away the weekend. (Does anyone else regret that the word "tablescape" has been adopted by Sandra Lee from the Food Network?)

(You may also be interested in Striking Tablescapes I)

A classical tablescape designed for a New York apartment by David Netto


A chic, steel gray tableau designed by Barclay Fryery


A bar is perfect for weekend tablescaping! Design by Joe Nye.

Image at top: No post on tablescapes would be complete without a vignette from the maestro himself David Hicks.