A few months back, I shared the plan for a living room setting in my Hamptons location. There are still a few details to finish (new rug on order, drapery to be installed, etc.) but it's getting a great response. A complimentary color scheme of tangerine and turquoise is grounded by neutrals. We're still waiting for a fantastic turquoise writing desk to go behind the sofa to really make the room exciting.
Some things are so ahead of their time, the look modern even when they're over 250 years old, like these gourd shaped bottles circa 1736. Invest in beautiful classics and you'll always have style.
I visited Detroit a few summers ago as part of my quest to hit every MLB park. I was curious about the city, especially after hearing all the reports of urban plight. I found some beautiful architecture, very nice people, tasty Coney dogs (All American is the way to go) and an oddly empty city. It was the height of the economic downturn and Motown was hurtin'. But if those Chrysler ads are even only a little true, perhaps there's some hope for the Motor City. One area with some development is Midtown and one notable business is Hugh. Joe Posch took a $50,000 prize to turn his pop up shop into a lifestyle store featuring "bachelor pad style", mostly accessories and furnishings for the well-appointed man. Something tells me Hef (a Mr. Hugh Hefner) would approve.
I took this picture a few weeks ago at the Metropolitan Museum of Art because I found it inspiring. I love the idea of a feature wall done in wallpaper. You could even do wallpaper panels, framed out and painted in gold of a coordinating color.
I bought this tray table at the Hell's Kitchen flea market about two years ago for $30. I negotiated the price down from $40 because the trays were in a little bit of disrepair. It was an easy enough fix since they have dovetail joints that needed to be reglued. I really liked the simple lines and functionality. The frame was originally wood and the bottom of the trays a fairly awful laminate. I'm sorry I didn't get a before shot because this gal really needed some makeup to look so pretty. I spray painted the frame a satin black from Rustoleum and lined the trays with some textured grasscloth wallpaper that has tones of black blended in with the tan to tie in the frame. I could cover the bottom of the trays with plexiglass but I'll probably just paint on a coat of sealer to keep the grasscloth looking sharp. Despite my procrastination, this was a really easy project to pull off and now I've got a great place for keys, mail and other small items when I walk in the door. I spotted this shower curtain in Elle Decor magazine a while back and keep going back to it. Like many Queens NYC residents, I have the ubiquitous pink tile in my bathroom. Thanks for nothing, Mamie Eisenhower. Rumor has it her penchant for pink cursed everyone dwelling in post War construction. Like we weren't cursed enough. I have pink tile, with black accents in my bath. As such, my shower curtain options are somewhat limited. I've had my current curtain for about 4 years now, and she's had a good run, but it's time to put her out to pasture. I wanted to share a few pictures for a room setting I'm working on. It's for my showroom in the Hamptons. We've already got the Nantucket look covered out there and it's very popular. I wanted to bring in something a little more Bermuda. By that, I mean moving away from the more traditional nautical look of blue and white, instead integrating bright pops of color. The main pieces will be fairly neutral (ivory sectional, light wood coffee table and media unit) to stay in line with what actual clients would choose to do in their own home--and to keep all of the pieces useful for the designers to use. It's time once again for some changes in the showroom where I spend my days. I'm lucky that my location is a bit larger so I have a little more flexibility. I pulled this bedroom together using black furniture with lots of cream and tan fabrics to keep it from getting too heavy. A few bright splashes of color, inspired by the floral fabric on the windows (detailed shot below) and pillows, keep it lively. Alicia's living room featuring MGBW sofa I've written several times about the fantastic work Beth Kushnick does as set decorator for The Good Wife. Her settings are always designed to be beautifully tailored to the characters that live in them. But what if you want to have some of the style (and maybe not so much of the drama) for yourself? Well, now you can. One of the hardest things about being a designer is that when you know how many options are out there, it's nearly impossible to make a decision in your own home. Every time you think you've landed on the right thing, you see some cool new thing in a store or magazine or blog. One style I've never grown tired of is Frank Lloyd Wright's Crafstman design. What makes his architecture and furnishings classic is that they're adapted to their surroundings. Even in the room at the Met is built into a hill so when you look out the expanse of windows you see rolling fields of green. |
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
Categories
All
|