The Hollywood Regency design trend has been back with us for a minute, spearheaded by the likes of Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler. It is a luxurious look that features high shine and glam details. While the original offshoot of Art Deco style worked around a palatte of blacks and creams, this recent revamp injects bright color. One landing spot for this color is on faux bamboo pieces, such as the Jonathan Adler etagere shown here.
Night and Day Sleep Sofa $588 I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive and stylish furniture sources. I had read on some design blogs about the furnishings sold by Urban Outfitters with more than a few reservations. I can't even go into the store without feeling old--probably because everyone who works there calls me M'am. Those of us looking for furniture for "the grown and sexy" would normally stick to (big) sister store Anthropologie. Imagine my surprise when I browsed online and found a really nice selection of sofas and tables--all at really reasonable prices. In the past few days I've found several articles online about decorating with blankets. And you thought they were just for practical purposes like napping on the sofa? Today's NY Times had a "shopping with" feature about different ways to use blankets in rooms to create interest. Blankets, much like pillows, are a fast, relatively inexpensive way to change out the look of a room. This is Eddie Ross's window for Elle Decor as part of the Bloomindale's Window Challenge. He used a pink cashmere shawl as a throw blanket to brighten up the neutral sofa. Apartment Therapy also had this and this posting about creative uses for decorating with blankets. I received a question the other day from a reader who needs to purchase new bedroom furniture. Like most of us, she has a limited budget, but wanted to get something sturdy for her very large wardrobe. She's ready to upgrade from Ikea and really wants solid wood. One last caveat, she'd like to see the pieces in person before buying. Here's my advice: So I've been on this kick to get the apartment in shape and looking good. For months I've been browsing on craigslist to find pieces to suit the new apartment and my lifestyle. I have finally pulled the trigger on a few pieces (still gloating) and just this week found an adorable coffee table. I was so excited when I saw the ad. 32" wood round table with clean lines and a somewhat indecipherable style. Shelter magazines use the word "transitional' a lot, but this table really could transition to a bunch of different looks. Plus, at $60 it was sweet deal. Saturday I finally took the trip over to the BIGNYC warehouse in Astoria to check out the scene. It's a bit off the beaten path but the directions on the site are perfect. Overall, I left with the impression that it's a good place for building materials (tons of doors and windows) but a little light on the furnishings. The staff is friendly and helpful--loading items into cars, answering questions, etc. Those of you planning to do some construction around the house would be wise to take a peek. I updated the Redesign Projects section of my Portfolio to include an accessory homecall I did today with a designer I work with at the day job. The client had some great pieces but the room felt a little bland. Some items she owned were not being shown off to their fullest potential and other areas lacked color and interest. This simple redesign shows how just a few additions can make a big difference. I am the proud new owner of this lovely Mid-Century Modern buffet and china. I was doing my regular Craigslist browse and when I saw this piece for under $200, I pounced. I'm guessing they just really want to get rid of it because they probably could have gotten double the asking price. Seriously, the credenzas alone are rarely under $300-$400. By the way, the owner followed my Craigslist posting rules, which made my decision much easier. And I showed up at the agreed time with a deposit, which I'm sure made her life easier. I am now faced with the dilemma of exactly how to use this piece. The plan was originally to buy a credenza with storage for clothing and have the TV on top. And since the buffet and china do separate, I can proceed as planned. But at just shy of 6' tall, it's an excellent height for my tiny apartment. Plus, it just looks really good just the way it is. This question came in from a reader the other day. It's about dormered ceilings in bedrooms and how to design around them. Having grown up in a room with dormered ceilings, I could definitely relate to the question. I have a quick design question for you, from my friend at work. Her son’s bedroom has slanted walls. They go straight up vertically for about 4 feet, and then they angle toward a peak at the ceiling. She’s basically left these walls bare, since it’s hard to hang anything on the angled portions, but she’d really like to try to do something more interesting with those walls. Her son is a big sports fan, so I suggested maybe putting up a Fathead or something, but I thought you might have some more interesting ideas. This weekend I hit up the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market again--the outdoor one on Saturday (where I picked up an adorable tray table that will need some TLC but was a solid bargain) and the indoor annex known as "The Garage" on sunday with my sister. The indoor flea market is actually not in Hell's Kitchen at all but further south on 25th St. and was much more pleasant for browsing on a cold, rainy sunday. |
AuthorChristine Schwalm is an Interior Designer and Visual Merchandiser based in Los Angeles. This space will keep you updated on what's going on with CSD along with some ideas to inspire you. Go here for more information about pricing and services and here to make an appointment. Archives
January 2017
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