Offices with Style

Most of us have home offices- places where we pay bills, use the computer, and possibly even blog. Offices have to be functional first, but this does not preclude one from injecting style and beauty into them. Here are some of my favorite offices (all are home offices with the exception of the office of Mary McDonald); my little desk looks nothing like these, but perhaps this post will inspire me to get my act together!

Gorgeous and feminine office of designer Mary McDonald


Nick Olsen's chic little tented office area in his chic little apartment.


Aerin Lauder's office in her Park Avenue home (that fabulous desk is a Gabriella Crespi).


Ruthie Sommers snappy striped office


Barclay Fryery's office tablescape


Emma Jane Pilkington's classic office

Image at top: Ultra chic office in the home of Charlotte Moss

Miles Redd's Solution for Cramped Quarters

I recently came across "House Beautiful- Decorating Solutions for Small Spaces" at the bookstore, and what did I find inside? None other than the former apartment of Miles Redd. The 550 square foot apartment, located in the East Village, was absolutely tiny, and Miles was forced to create spaces that performed double duty. The bedroom, with its suspended bed, also served as a den; the living room acted as a dining room and office; and the bathtub was in the kitchen (covered with a slab of wood, it served as a cutting board). As you can see, the apartment is chocked full of objects, something which Miles said made his small space seem larger. And of course, his use of mirrors everywhere also helped the illusion that his home was more spacious than it really was. What I find most interesting, though, is how Miles' style has changed and matured over the years. Many of his treasures seen in this apartment now reside in Miles' more spacious, and more formal, townhouse. The seeds of his glamorous style are visible here, but what I think you see in his current home is a more mature and tightly edited version of it.

Half of the living room, with the other half below




The bedroom/den/library


The bathtub in the kitchen, and a view of the bedroom dresser

(All photos courtesy of House Beautiful Decorating Solutions for Small Spaces)

Old Fashioned Prints

For a few years now, certain prints have held our attention; graphic prints, prints with that 1960s/70s vibe, and exotic prints have reigned supreme. This is certainly not a criticism because I too have used many of these. That said, wouldn't it be nice if some of the "old fashioned" prints made a comeback? There are beautiful floral prints that were designed many, many years ago that are still just as charming today. Or what about document prints, which are reproductions of historical prints and patterns? Here are a few designs that truly are vintage (such as those from Secondhand Rose), some that were inspired by old prints, and others that are new but look old.


"Barley Twist" fabric by Robert Kime


"Sunburst" wallpaper by Robert Kime


"Marblehead" wallpaper by Tyler Hall. This print was inspired by an early 19th c. American document print.


"Nosegay" wallpaper by Tyler Hall, inspired by an 1850 English document.

Vintage sea creature wallpaper from Secondhand Rose


Vintage bird wallpaper from Secondhand Rose

Photo at top: "Shannongrove Blue" fabric from Carleton Varney

Ballroom Bling

One of my all time favorite chairs is the ballroom chair. They have such grace and style, and most importantly, they can be moved around quite easily. These little gems are the perfect size and shape for all rooms- in the hall, against a wall in a living room, or in a dressing room especially. I am lucky enough to have a generous friend who gave me the classic, bamboo-style wooden ballroom chair with green and gold paint; it's perfect for my dressing table. The beauty of a wooden ballroom chair is that you can paint it to match your room. That said, if you really want to turn up the glamour, you might want to consider a vintage brass one- these are really quite elegant. And are you wondering why so many of these chairs are called "Chiavari" chairs? Well, I did too, and from what I have been able to determine, this style chair first originated in a town in Italy called Chiavari, where they are still manufactured today. (If anyone knows any additional information about this, please let us know!)


Vintage brass Chiavari chair at Coleen & Company


Pair of wooden Chiavari chairs at Chez Camille


Wooden ballroom chair from Source Perrier


More brass ballroom chairs at Thomas Brillet

Photo at top: Ballroom chair in the home of designer Krista Ewart

Katie Ridder Style

I've long admired designer Katie Ridder's work. Her rooms are always tasteful yet never boring. There is always a sense of adventure and fun to her rooms, but there is also an intellectual streak that runs through them. Ridder never seems to employ any gimmicky decorating tricks, which in essence truly make her rooms timeless!









(Photos from Katie Ridder's website)

A Fashionable Fruit

The pineapple has gone glam! Long a symbol of hospitality, the pineapple motif has been part of the American decorative arts for centuries. And, for many years, the poor pineapple has been relegated to second rate design and Williamsburg inspired kitsch. But no more! This exotic fruit that hid its light under a bushel is stepping out and is ready to take up the mantle of chicness for the 21st century.


"Pineapple" wallpaper by Studio Printworks


"Isadora Silver" crystal pineapple by William Yeoward


"Harbour Court" fabric at Lewis & Sheron


Pair of Pineapple Lamps, circa 1950-60, attributed to Maison Charles; available at Tom Thomas


Pineapple basin set at P.E. Guerin

Photo at top: The Pineapple, an architectural folly in Dunmore Park, Scotland

Thank You Lockhart Steele and House Beautiful!

Many thanks to Lockhart Steele for his kind mention of The Peak of Chic in the July House Beautiful. Steele, who has created the popular blogs curbed.com, eater.com, and racked.com, has written an informative "Blogging 101" article for the "Technophobia" feature in HB. For all of you bloggers out there (and those who are thinking about blogging), check out the advice from blogmaster Steele- he knows what he's talking about!

Let's Talk Books!

Attention all you design bibliophiles: I hope you'll come visit my new blog "Biblio Style" (http://bibliostylebooks.blogspot.com/). Stylish books on design, decorative arts, style, entertaining, and cooking will all be featured. It will be all books, all the time. I hope to see you over there!

Doris Duke's "Shangri La"

The July issue of Town & Country has a great spread on Doris Duke's exotic Hawaiian estate, Shangri La. Calling it her "Spanish-Moorish-Persian-Indian complex", Duke was inspired to build her Islamic-influenced home upon returning from her honeymoon in Asia and the Middle East. She commissioned architect Marion Sims Wyeth to design her retreat, and construction was completed in 1937. In addition to the Eastern architecture, Duke outfitted her home with treasures from her travels- furniture and accessories came from Syria, India, Morocco, and Iran. Duke continued to collect Islamic art and furniture throughout her life, and upon her death this collection became part of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. What I find most interesting is that Duke's fascination with Islamic art and culture began at such a young age and never waned throughout her life. And to think that the poufs and suzanis that adorned Duke's home are just as popular today!

(For a virtual tour of the property, visit the Shangri-La website)


Shangri-La, designed by Doris Duke and Marion Sims Wyeth



View of the living room with the amazing Moroccan carved ceiling, designed by Rene Martin


The doors are framed by glazed tile made in Iran in the 1930s.


The ornate dining room with an 1840s Baccarat chandelier, Iranian mosaics on the wall, and the family silver on the table.


The Turkish Room. Much of the interior is 19th c. Syrian, particularly the carved stonework.

Photo at top of Doris Duke in 1939, taken by famed photographer Martin Munkacsi.

(All photos from Town & Country)

Elegant Embellishments

Hand & Lock of London is one of the premier embroidery houses in the world. The company has quite a rich heritage. Both Hand and Lock had been two separate businesses, with Hand having been established in 1767 and Lock dating back to 1898. The two firms joined forces in 2001, and fortunately their handiwork is still with us today. Much of their business comes from military regalia- shoulder cords, sashes, sword knots. They do however have a thriving business supplying to couture houses and interior designers. Their customer list includes John Stefanidis, Nina Campbell, and Colefax & Fowler. The embroidery is so beautiful and intricate- can't you see using their designs on pillows, curtains, and table skirts?

Patriotic Decorating

Small spaces can be tricky to decorate, so keeping a cohesive color scheme is a must- too many disparate colors can look choppy. Designer T. Keller Donovan was faced with a challenge when he decorated his three room apartment, but in order to keep some continuity between the rooms, he chose a very tight color palette- red, white, and blue. If this all seems quite patriotic, it is- Donovan was born on the Fourth of July.

Everything in the living room is red and white. All of the major furniture, especially the upholstered pieces, are red. Even the accessories- the picture frames, fire screen, bowls, and vases- are red too. The kitchen with its soothing blue and white color scheme is a nice counterpoint to the snappy living room. Again, the kitchen accessories such as the Spode china are all blue and white. I'm quite taken with the blue and white African print fabric on the kitchen chairs- it looks rather Alan Campbell-ish, but if anyone knows what it is, please let me know.

Finally, the bedroom is blue and white, but in reverse from the kitchen. Calm white dominates here. And don't you love the books behind the bed? They definitely add a lot of visual interest to what would otherwise be a rather boring wall!