Monday, August 31, 2009
China Pattern
Saturday, August 29, 2009
You Say Tomato, I Say "Have a Seat!"
Friday, August 28, 2009
Comfort Food Friday
No last-harvest marinara this year though. Or fresh pico de gallo chopped up in a jiffy because company's coming.
a cheesy tomato tart,
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Do You Let Sleeping Dogs (or Cats) Lie?
. . .on your bed?
getty images
photo by peggyvverybusy via Flickr
via timesunion.com
photo by veganmichele via Flickr
getty images
Catnap interrupted. Kitty on Katey's bed.
A very uncomfortable (but obedient) Bob on Katey's bed where she posed him for a sketch. His natural, preferred habitat is wherever dirt and leaves and little sticks that cling to his coat can be found in our backyard. We should have named him Pigpen.
So I was just wondering. Do you or don't you?
Up top, American artist Andrew Wyeth's 1965 watercolor, "Master Bedroom"
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Comfort and Luxury Bedroom Style
The caramel cocoon below was designed by Harry Heissmann who is currently establishing his own design firm after nine years working with the legendary Albert Hadley. The use of a monochromatic color scheme and the small pattern of the wallpaper make this room feel calming and cozy. Luxury comes in the form of golden shimmer: visible only up close in the subtle iridescence of the wallpaper, and more obvious in the antique gold finish of the iron canopy bed. Fine linens, soft fabrics and textured carpet add comfort both visually and to the touch.
A good mattress and an upholstered headboard are the two essentials of a comfortable bedroom. So says designer Peter Dunham. This particular bedroom of his design, below, has the added luxury of an en suite bath with a fireplace. Actually, the fireplace is in the space meant to be the bedroom and the bed is in the space meant to be the bath. During the home's redesign, Dunham swapped the use of the rooms and of the new design he says "In a rather plain way, it's extremely sexy and luxe, isn't it?" Yes and yes.
Everyone's favorite Country French designer Charles Faudree has very specific ideas about bedrooms. "Because we usually begin and end our days in a bed," he says, "a bedroom should be especially beautiful, comfortable and relaxing--a place that truly soothes the soul." The room below from Faudree's book "Country French Living", is a glorious example of just such comfort and luxury overflowing with the designer's signature French accent. The brown floral carpet and toile wallcovering envelope the room in femininity that, because of the color, doesn't come off as too sweet. A generous bedskirt that puddles to the floor and layered patterns and pillows add to the bed's luxurious yet cozy appearance. Dark finishes on the antique bed and other furnishings add warmth to the room and lend an overall groundedness that appeals to both men and women lucky enough to stay as guests in this lovely room.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
In My Dreams
Next, a beautiful French-inspired bedroom by an unknown designer pulled from an unknown source. Many of the tear sheets in my ideas files were put there long before I started this blog, so my apologies to any source that I am unable to identify and to any reader who wishes I could. By now it should be obvious that it's the color and pattern I love here.
This photo is from a Meredith Specials publication called Country French Decorating. You'll see them on newsstands with the magazines a couple of times a year. This image is from their Fall/Winter 2007 issue and it stops me every time I see it. The timeless combination of yellow and blue is one I have loved since childhood. Add in French antiques, blue and white checks, vintage florals and beautiful art, and I'll take it!
This room with its small size and window at the head of the bed is the most like my own, structurally speaking. And while I like the idea of a canopy or poster bed, I'm afraid I would tire of it. And I do like the headboard I have. The quiet colors here with just a touch of pattern in the needlepoint pillows appeal to me and make me think that I might, maybe, be happy with less pattern.
This room is just so cheery, I had to include it. I also like the juxtaposition of black lamp shade and dark windows with the white walls.
Phoebe Howard is one of my favorite designers and I love her use of soft, muted colors in rooms like this bedroom, below. I get my blues and yellows but in pale, creamy shades instead of the more vibrant tones in the pics above. Further inspiration for me to "tone it down" a bit.
But if I took the Phoebe Howard room and added a few more patterns and just a pop of brighter colors, like in the art and center pillow in the room below, I think I'd be happier. I also like the modern lamps in combination with the largely traditional elements in this room.
This beautiful blue room I love for its use of mixed patterns in a quiet color scheme. What I like most though is the burlap bedskirt!
I've included the photo below because of the window treatments. A few months ago, I bought panels very much like these for my bedroom. Same golden color, same linen-like texture, they even have brassy rings sewn into their French pleats. I wondered if I could combine the bright brassy rings with a dark antique brass rod, and this photo answered that question for me. Yes, I can.
The bedding below is new from Pottery Barn. They say the pattern was inspired by a vintage American fabric from the 1920's. If it's as pretty in person as I think it is on their website, it might have to come home with me. So much for my quiet bedroom!
Finally, this image begged to make an appearance! Isn't it pretty?! The home of this young designer, Rosie Winstead, was featured in the Spring 2008 BH&G Special Interest magazine called Decorating. Her entire home is just as fresh and fun as this bedroom. And while this level of fearless exuberance is not likely to happen in my space, I'm very inspired by it nonetheless. The painted furniture, bed-framing window treatment, vintage art and cheerful mix of pattern and color will all, I'm quite sure of it, find their way into my room.
As I was preparing this post for publication this morning, I noticed that the ladies of the Skirted Roundtable (link to it here or from my sidebar) have focused their newest podcast on bedrooms. What they like to put in them, whether for clients or themselves, and why. Something Joni (of Cote de Texas) said during their conversation reminded me of a design principle I read somewhere many years ago and have used in my own master bedroom decorating ever since. It explains why I'm all for decorating a room that I share with my husband in such a feminine way. Joni attributed this philosophy to design icon Charlotte Moss (I did not know that, thanks Joni!) and it is that the bedroom shared by a man and woman should appear to be the woman's "boudoir" that the man has been invited into. I love that! And, lucky for me and my flowery bedroom, the man in my boudoir gets it and appreciates it and is more than willing to assist in its long-awaited transformation. I'll keep you posted on our progress!