Bookish Dining Rooms

I have longed admired the look of books in a dining room. The library/dining room combination is certainly nothing new, but I think it's a great way to create warmth in a dining room. On the flip side, it gives the book lover an additional room in which to store books. This room multi-functionality is perfect for apartment dwellers and for those with small homes. If you own a large home with a formal dining room, why not take a small den, turn it into a library, and then use it for informal or small dinner parties?



(image at top of Alex and Eliza Bolen's dining room; bottom image is James Andrew's dining room)

Geometric Print Rugs

If you're looking for a geometric print rug that is a little tamer than those David Hicks patterns, you may want to consider one from Elson & Company. The company, which weaves Tibetan and dhurrie rugs, has a very sophisticated collection of rugs. The colors tend to be soft, and the patterns are not at all jarring. What is most exciting, though, is that Oscar de la Renta and Lulu de Kwiatkowski have both designed rugs for Elson. And for those of you who adore Lulu DK's "Chant" (myself included), you can now purchase a rug in this pattern (see image above)!

"Madison" in Sky by Lulu DK

"Manisalez" Dhurrie by Oscar de la Renta

"Pasajes Blu" Dhurrie by Oscar de la Renta

"Caceres" Tibetan by Oscar de la Renta

(All images courtesy of Elson & Company)

Todd Alexander Romano

I'm excited to report that Todd Romano now has a website! I have long admired Romano's interior design prowess. His "look" is what I consider to be updated traditional. He mixes traditional furnishings with contemporary ones, giving a youthful vibe to a room, and the decorative accessories that he uses are always unique and appropriate. I think that where Romano really excels, though, is in his use of color. Bold, clear colors can be found in his interiors, either on the walls as a backdrop or in his choice of upholstery and accessories.

In addition to his interior design business, Romano owns an eponymous shop on Lexington Ave. which is filled with wonderful antiques and decorative accessories. This is also the place to go if you are looking for Christopher Spitzmiller lamps and de Gournay wallcovering.

Here are a few photos of his portfolio that I got from his website (www.toddromanohome.com). And the next time you're in NYC, go to his shop. You won't be disappointed!

(All photos courtesy of Todd Romano Home)

Spectacular Beds

I adore glamorous beds. I'm not just talking about the linens but the bed itself. It seems like the ultimate luxury. While I do agree that one's bedroom should be an escape from the world, a "cocoon" so to speak, most of us tend to be quite practical and focus our energy (and funds) on the "public" rooms of one's house. This certainly makes sense as guests rarely make it past the kitchen, dining room, or living room. I thought I would share some fantasy beds that would truly be the showstopper of any bedroom.

Who does a bedroom better than Miles Redd? This iron bed has been seen in a few of his clients' bedrooms. I like the sculptural aspect of it.

This has to be my all-time favorite bed. Doris Duke bought this bed from Gimbel's, and it was part of the Doris Duke Collection auction at Christie's a few years ago. The Chinoiserie top is simply perfection!



This bed was in a McMillen room from many years ago. Although the bed is quite ornate, it is the canopy that once again makes this bed stunning.

Classic Carpet

Have you ever noticed that there are design elements that pop up over and over in interior decoration? Certain books ("Cabinet of Natural Curiosities" and "Best of Flair" ), fabrics (Lulu DK's "Chant" and Clarence House's "Tigre Velours") and furniture (Frances Elkin's Loop Chairs and Billy Baldwin slipper chairs) have all joined the pantheon of classic design.

There are also classic carpet patterns, too, that are favored by many decorators. One such pattern (and also one of my favorites) is "Antelope" by Stark Carpet. The combination of the subtle animal print and the neutral colors makes it a winner. Todd Alexander Romano learned about the pattern from C.Z. Guest, who told him it was perfect for hiding muddy paw prints.

Room by Todd Alexander Romano



Room by Jan Showers

Leopard print carpet is another classic. Stark makes a great one, although other carpet companies have leopard prints as well. Makes me think of Elsie de Wolfe!

Worn leopard print in C.Z. Guest's estate.

And finally, no post about carpet would be complete without including David Hick's designs (such as those at top). These geometric prints have graced many a floor and are always the focal point of a room.

David Hicks rug in a Steven Gambrel room

Chic Color Combos

In the current issue of House & Garden (March '07), there is a great article about color and how to use it. While bold and bright colors are the current trend, many people are very uncertain about how to incorporate it into their rooms. In fact, San Francisco designer Steven Miller warns that bright colors used with reckless abandon can look like "an angry fruit salad".

The editors write that the safest way to introduce bold colors to one's design scheme is by juxtaposing them against neutral colors and natural materials (shells, plaster, old leather). They also suggest the following color schemes: tangerine and stone; green, black, and white; pink and brown; chartreuse and silver; purple and gray; and orange and gray.

I think it's safe to say that pink and brown has been a perennial favorite amongst decorators (and us bloggers!) for a while now. H&G uses the photo at top (room by Tom Scheerer) as a great example. And I adore the combination of orange and gray- so clean and chic. There are certainly other color schemes where the bold color/neutral contrast would apply. What about bright yellow, black, and white? Or turquoise blue and white? I even think that chartreuse or apple green looks great against a very soft blue/gray. I would love to hear what others think about these color combinations. Which one is your favorite?


Bedroom by Albert Hadley- tangerine/coral walls and headboard with neutral trim, floor, bed linens, and furniture


Nick Olsen's command of the green, black, and white color scheme

Bright purple accents against a soft background by Jamie Drake


Bedroom in yellow, black, and white by Jamie Drake

Threshold by Kendall Wilkinson

Threshold is a fabulous design shop located in San Francisco. The spacious shop, owned by decorator Kendall Wilkinson, consists of lively tableaux that feature furniture (both antique and new), accessories, candles, books, and other chic items for the home. Wilkinson has a knack for mixing the traditional with the contemporary, but her real forte is her use of boldly colored accent pieces. Fortunately, much of the shop's wares are available for purchase on the website.

That Touch of Red

Albert Hadley once said that there should be at least one red accent in every room. I couldn't agree with him more. Red is such a powerful color and can add such energy and drama to a room. Red walls add sizzle, while red furniture catches your eye. Red can be used sparingly, if you choose, through displays of books with red dustjackets or bunches of red roses, for example. Below are some photos of rooms designed by various decorators. Some use the color proudly, such as Miles Redd, while others use it in a more subtle way. However you choose to use it, perhaps you might find some inspiration.

Miles Redd


Steven Sclaroff & Kate Spade

Sam Blount

Woodson and Rummerfield



John Loecke

Lampshade Chic

In the February issue of House Beautiful, Miles Redd mentions that bad lampshades can ruin both a good lamp and a good room. I think he is so accurate. So many times lampshades are an afterthought. How many times have you seen a beautiful porcelain lamp topped by a boring beige shade? Or a crystal lamp wearing the wrong-sized shade?

The fun thing about choosing a lampshade is that you can create an impact with your choice of shape, color, and material. Good quality and well-made lampshades can be quite expensive, but you can find chic shades at a decent price. And don't forget the finials- they are like jewelry for lamps! I recently bought shades for some plain candlestick lamps. In order to give the lamps some pizzazz, I bought some black pagoda shaped shades. But what really gave the lamps that added flair were shiny, bright, Chinese red ball finials. It was like an exclamation point at the top of my lamps.

White ceramic lamp with Brunschwig and Fils toile lampshade by Woodson and Rummerfield

Orange shades by David Netto

Houndstooth lampshade and black lamp at Balsamo


Lampshade by Oriental Lamp Shade Company

Feather shade available at Gracious Home

*Image at top courtesy of Edgar-Reeves, Atlanta

Celerie Kemble

I was looking through my files today and came across an article on a Philadelphia house decorated by Celerie Kemble (House Beautiful Feb. 2003). While the overall look is traditional, I think Kemble added some youthful touches (mainly through her use of color) to keep it from looking stuffy.

I'm crazy for the living room- I especially like the moss green grass-cloth covered walls (see above and below). The green is repeated in the green velvet ottoman and the green and cream striped bergere. I think the red floral Bergamo fabric that Kemble chose for the corner banquette adds some punch to the room and keeps it from looking too serious.




The dining room walls, strie painted and glazed, are such a rich brown/ochre shade. It's the perfect backdrop for the red Chinese Chippendale chairs and the red beaded chandelier.




Kemble created a tranquil bedroom by using soft green and cream as the color scheme. But what I love best are the bed hangings- so luxurious!

Todd Alexander Romano

Todd Alexander Romano is one of those well-known designers who still manages to fly under the radar. It had been a few years since I had seen his work profiled. Fortunately, his Manhattan apartment can be seen in the current Elle Decor.

Romano's work is characterized by touches of the traditional and the urbane. I like that while his apartment is formal, it is also quite comfortable. I think he "warmed" things up with his use of sumptuous velvets in shades of brown and red. At the same time, he adds a crispness to everything with the antique mirrored panels, the mirrored garden stool, and the wonderful Queen's Ware displayed in the black bookshelves (very graphic).

Romano has a fabulous shop on Lexington Ave.- it's filled with wonderful antiques, and I believe he also carries de Gournay wallcoverings (reason enough to visit). The next time you're in that neighborhood, you should definitely check out his shop!