Month: July 2014

Thinking Small

The August edition of House Beautiful arrived a while ago, I am behind on my reading. The cover story is about living in small spaces. Obviously I am not the only one thinking about living in reduced square footages. The articles prove you don’t have to give up style and function .

Customize - Bespoke built-ins, storage nooks, and furniture tailored to your exact needs can utilize every available sliver of space. Design by Brockschmidt & Coleman

Customize – Bespoke built-ins, storage nooks, and furniture tailored to your exact needs can utilize every available sliver of space.
Design by Brockschmidt & Coleman

Use bigger - fewer things. It may seem counterintuitive, but outfitting a small space with just a few large-scale pieces (rather than a mishmash of pint-size furniture) can actually make it feel grander. That said, don't be afraid of filling up the space. When a room is populated with furniture, it actually appears larger. Designed by Mona Hajj

Use bigger – fewer things.
It may seem counterintuitive, but outfitting a small space with just a few large-scale pieces (rather than a mishmash of pint-size furniture) can actually make it feel grander. That said, don’t be afraid of filling up the space. When a room is populated with furniture, it actually appears larger.
Designed by Mona Hajj

 

Choose furnishings and decorative elements that offer maximum functionality in minimal square footage. "Use two small round tables instead of one big coffee table," designer Ken Fulk says. "They're better for traffic flow than one of those huge knee knockers, and easier to move." Designed by Ken Fulk

Choose furnishings and decorative elements that offer maximum functionality in minimal square footage. “Use two small round tables instead of one big coffee table,” designer Ken Fulk says. “They’re better for traffic flow than one of those huge knee knockers, and easier to move.”
Designed by Ken Fulk

 

Think Vertically - Exploit the often under-utilized space between the tops of furniture and a room's ceiling with hanging or high-mounted elements. They'll draw the eye upward. Take bookcases and cabinets all the way up. Designed by Summer Thorton

Think Vertically – Exploit the often under-utilized space between the tops of furniture and a room’s ceiling with hanging or high-mounted elements. They’ll draw the eye upward. Take bookcases and cabinets all the way up.
Designed by Summer Thorton

 

 

The articles demonstrate how to live large in small spaces. Some where apartments and others where diminutive homes. I am posting some great ideas from House Beautiful’s website.

How to Live Like a Princess

Love this.

The first step in creating the home of your dreams is to know who you are at your core.  I’m not talking about what you do for a living, what your hobbies are or even what you are most passionate about.  I’m talking about which Disney princess you most relate to.  You heard me right! Don’t deny it, you know you have a favorite (and if you are a guy reading this then I guess just go with the prince in the corresponding fairy tale).  This is completely scientific and studies have shown that you will be much happier if you decorate for your inner-princess.

1.  Do you fancy living in a cottage in the middle of the woods, fresh flowers in vases, charming but casual furnishings, and are not afraid of having a few roommates? I believe Snow White is your go-to muse:

CottageDesk Image Source

cottage_interior

Image Source

stone wall dining room via missdesign.com (2)

 Image Source

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Itty Bitty in the City or Country

 

Example 2 - 1014 square foot home by Mr. Rowan

Example 2 – 1014 square foot home by Mr. Rowan

Example 2 - My redesign. I added a small vestibule with storage, created an open living, dining and kitchen wing, a study/bedroom with built in cabinets. I love builts in small spaces because it keeps the space visually organized. I expanded the deck to incorporate more living space.

Example 2 – My redesign. I added a small vestibule with storage, created an open living, dining and kitchen wing, a study/bedroom with built in cabinets. I love builts in small spaces because it keeps the space visually organized. I expanded the deck to incorporate more living space.

this is a 912 square foot cottage. The living area is open, however the furniture plan is terrible. tons of open space in the middle of the room. Furniture doesn't have to cling to the walls.

My re-design of example 1. The entry features a table for mail, keys etc. The living room can actually be used for entertaining or relaxing. Galley kitchen with long work island. Two bedrooms with buill

My re-design of example 1. The entry features a table for mail, keys etc. The living room can actually be used for entertaining or relaxing. Galley kitchen with long work island. Two bedrooms with built-in dee

I recently checked out Compact Living by Gerald Rowan. The book feature home designs 1400 square feet and under.  As interior designer I think you can live well in any size space. It takes planning and creativity to make a small space work. Storage, privacy and feeling cramped are issues or perceived issues in living in a small space.

Once I started reading the book I noticed how many design opportunities were missed in Mr. Rowan’s plans. Now I am going to plug the benefits of being an interior designer and NOT an architect.  Architects are not trained to think about the interiors and how they function which is a very important factor in homes and work spaces. People live and work in the interior space. I am amazed at how little planning goes into planning the interior.  I could go on for a while on the benefits of working with an interior designer, but I will save that for another posts. Annoyed with the designs found in the book Compact Living  I took it upon myself to redesign the interior space with in the same foot print.  I just hand sketched a few ideas.   The plans in the book are awkward, wrong proportions on furniture and rooms sizes. Clearly these plans were designed by someone not trained in interior spaces. I am thrilled that Mr. Rowan is championing smaller living spaces, however I think

Clutter Control Week 2 – Desk Armoire

I love the work accessories!

P1000191_edited-1Do you remember, before flat screens, how humongous TVs used to be?  We had one of those ridiculously large televisions and it was impossible to find an entertainment center big enough to hold it.  After searching and searching for something that would work and not finding anything, my husband decided to build it himself.  I found a picture of an armoire that I liked and he re-created it exactly, but to the dimensions we needed to fit our TV.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed with his handiwork.  It was way better than anything I had looked at and was completely custom.  The armoire was built to last, but the TV, not so much.  When it finally bit the dust, we upgraded to a flat screen, which of course did not work with the armoire.  I hated to get rid of it.  He had put so much work into it and it…

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Classic Design?

Bunny Mellon - NYC Socialite and garden contributor.

Bunny Mellon, at Oak Spring Farms, her 4,000-acre estate in Upperville, Virginia, in the 1980s.
The heiress, who died on March 17th at age 103, was known for her design acumen. She gave so much attention to what she wore, how she lived, and what she planted; she even had her gardening apparel custom made by two favorite couturiers: Cristóbal Balenciaga and, after his death, Hubert de Givenchy.
Photo: Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times/Redux

Bunny Mellon’s bedroom at her 26-acre estate in Osterville, Massachusetts, which is now owned by businessman William I. Koch. The enameled-metal bed with a ruffled canopy was a model that she specified often for her homes; several were kept in storage for future use. Regional expressions were frequent in her interior decoration, including the seascapes, swan figure, and boat models shown here.

Bunny Mellon’s bedroom at her 26-acre estate in Osterville, Massachusetts, which is now owned by businessman William I. Koch. The enameled-metal bed with a ruffled canopy was a model that she specified often for her homes; several were kept in storage for future use. Regional expressions were frequent in her interior decoration, including the seascapes, swan figure, and boat models shown here.

The Oak Spring Garden Library at the Mellons’ Virginia stud farm was designed in 1980 by modernist architect Edward Larrabee Barnes to hold Bunny Mellon’s thousands of rare garden books and horticulture manuals. In this corner, a flowered rug is laid on the diamond-pattern painted floor, and a library ladder stands at the ready. The library is open to scholars by appointment.

The Oak Spring Garden Library at the Mellons’ Virginia stud farm was designed in 1980 by modernist architect Edward Larrabee Barnes to hold Bunny Mellon’s thousands of rare garden books and horticulture manuals. In this corner, a flowered rug is laid on the diamond-pattern painted floor, and a library ladder stands at the ready. The library is open to scholars by appointment.

French artist Fernand Renard painted trompe l’oeil scenes on the storage cabinets that line a room at the Mellons’ greenhouse complex in Virginia. One cabinet door includes an image of a ring hung on a ribbon. Once the door was opened, there was a hook with a ribbon, onto which Bunny Mellon safely threaded her wedding band before gardening.

French artist Fernand Renard painted trompe l’oeil scenes on the storage cabinets that line a room at the Mellons’ greenhouse complex in Virginia. One cabinet door includes an image of a ring hung on a ribbon. Once the door was opened, there was a hook with a ribbon, onto which Bunny Mellon safely threaded her wedding band before gardening.

 

I was flipping through Architectural Digest and came across this article about Bunny Mellon. Her fashion sense, gardens and interiors are always in style.  A classically tailored interior can always be fresh by updating the accessories and tweaking the paint color.  One of the reasons for starting this blog is discuss the idea of a “Collected Home”. A home reflects the lives of the homeowners. I think Bunny Mellon’s home reflects her style and life.

2 of 11 Paul Mellon’s study at the couple’s townhouse in New York City, decorated with the help of several interior designers, including John Fowler, Paul Leonard, Billy Baldwin, and Bruce Budd. Gilt-framed antique landscapes fill the walls, which have been painted a rich coral.

2 of 11
Paul Mellon’s study at the couple’s townhouse in New York City, decorated with the help of several interior designers, including John Fowler, Paul Leonard, Billy Baldwin, and Bruce Budd. Gilt-framed antique landscapes fill the walls, which have been painted a rich coral.

 

A classically designed interior transcends the trends. Trends can be applied to the interior but not dictate the feeling of the room. I have clients who are so concerned about what’s the style or color of the season. It doesn’t matter if the color of season is radiant orchid, if you are not of fan of radiant orchid just because it’s the color of the year you are not going to like it any better in 2014 than you did in 2013. However if you want to add it your home do it by adding the color in small doses – a few throw pillows, a glass vase or a real orchid.

Any hoo – here are a few images of Bunny Mellon’s home which was designed and furnished in the 1980’s which items from her previous home.  I hope you enjoy looking at these photos as much as me.

 

photo credit: Architectural Digest

A DIY Project

Here's the $2.49 frame before.

Here’s the $2.49 frame before.

I picked up Martha Stewart gold metallic paint and started by multiple layers of thin gold paint.

I picked up Martha Stewart gold metallic paint and started by multiple layers of thin gold paint.

The final piece. The artwork is illustrations of fabric designs from Maharam.

The final piece. The artwork is illustrations of fabric designs from Maharam.

First I want to thank my followers. When I started this I didn’t think anyone would read my blog. So thanks again.

I really don’t have a lot of time for DIY, but I love doing creative projects for my home. Lately I have been determined to frame all the bit and pieces of art I have been collecting for many years. Our local frame shop is having their buy one frame get one for a penny sale.

However the frames I am highlighting in this blog are from Michaels. I picked these up for $2.49 each! I love a bargain and didn’t care about color, because paint can transform almost anything.