Thinking about 'Fixer Uppers"

Let it never be said that we shied away from a project. As far as we're concerned the more of a ruin the more potential for a fabulous reveal. And so we came across a couple of sofas by John Saladino and that got us started thinking about ruins in Merida. We visited last February and fell in love with the colonial architecture, which immediately brought back memories of my grandmother's house in Santiago. Big rooms with high ceilings and of course those glorious courtyards where you can spend hours reading or painting. So here's our Saturday daydream......a smallish house with some stylish interiors. Who knows, the universe has a way of making things happen.

Saladino sofas. I like that they're updated versions on Knole sofas, but I think I'd make them longer.

Interesting Turkish lantern

Nice Center table. I like the ironwork and that it's so stylized.

Tall chairs, maybe not for sitting hours and hours, but a good perch.

This could make a nice dining room, tho maybe the chairs need to be a bit more modern.

Interesting 'smalls make a room.

Always and only, antique mirror. The silver is tarnished and dappled and subtly reflective rather than that glow in the dark newness of modern glass.

These are Anglo-Indian but they're super comfy and great in a patio

A few over the top tables always work when the rest of the spaces are kept simple and quiet.

How can you go wrong with space like this???

I think we need a minute to sit and reflect.

Two of Saladino's famous interiors.

Fantasy: A Grand Classical Room

Greetings All,

Every once in a while I like to play at doing a 'period' style in a new way. 

I recently saw a post on Facebook, someone was 'building themselves a mansion from the gilded age", they'd bought columns and an urn and were well on their way to, in my opinion, creating Cesar's Palace. Well intentioned, but we've all seen those houses that are trying much too hard to be Downton Abby....Now there are many ways to put a room together and while there's no such thing as 'bad taste', there is such a thing as using elements and objects inappropriately, it's very easy to go over the top in a bad way.  For me I'd say that you never want to seem ostentatious. There are ways to, while  using even the most obvious pieces make them look unexpected and appropriate to how you want to live. Perhaps our fantasy client has a high-rise or as the person from that post,  lives in a simple suburban house. How do we go about making a fun, grand interior that doesn't look tacky.

My suggestion. ALWAYS GO BIG. What are hallmarks of ancient spaces? Columns, but let's don't use any, too grand and perhaps the space only has standard ceiling heights. Keep the background clean and simple. Let's get two life-size plaster casts of ancient statues [I just saw a these from Caprioni brothers, so they're on my mind], also a staple of classical interiors, they can live on either side of a door or the sofa. Place them on plain white plinths and they'll draw your eye up. They'll cost as much as those 7' columns once you factor in your contractor and give you a much grander feel.

If you're not up for statues maybe a pair of high stands could flank the sofas or the main door, perhaps they stand in front of your windows. Leave them bare or place simple terra-cotta pots with rosemary or orange trees on them, or perhaps cylinder lamps with big shades.

A large case piece will anchor a wall and you can fill it with books or if you don't have any, a collection of shells or perhaps just a few simple items. I don't hide TVs anymore, but maybe this houses one, you can always decide to use it as extra storage and have plain curtains made to hide the contents.

Add a couple of antique chairs or modern versions of Klismos chairs, it's always a good idea to use different types of seating. I prefer the antique versions as they're better quality and you won't see them anywhere else.

Keep the upholstery modern and clean lined and it won't look like you're living in a museum. Simple linen and solid colors keep you fresh. You want comfort above all else, there's nothing worse than an unsuable room. 

Long and simple lined cocktail table

A few terra-cotta pots and moss, maybe a small bowl and a candle, done.

Gueridon tables to chose from. These come in various shapes, sizes and price points depending on age and quality. No need to break the bank. A few nice things and it's easy to mix in lesser items as long as the lines are good and they're honestly made.

If the tables are wide enough we can use Argand lamps if not, simple standing lamps will do the trick. maybe the lamps live on the cocktail table for a warm glow. It's always nice to have different types of lamps in a room.

All you need is one large painting, it could be modern, but let's use a 16th c Italian scene of Persephone, it is a fantasy interior, let's say it's an inherited piece or a huge splurge.

Or maybe we take an image you like and have it made to cover the entire wall as was done in this handsome bed room.

Keep your floors simple, why not use rush matting. The more modest the material the better. 

....or use a faded old rug, almost threadbare. There's enough grandeur in the room and if we start piling on it will look like we're trying little too hard to look 'rich'.

So this, I think would be a good solution for a grand room in the classic style, even in a simple house. 

How? Knowing where to shop, what to buy and who to call for help......

That's all I have for today.

What am I Looking At Today: Fun and Decorative Items

Greetings All,

Today we're looking at antique decorative items that have a lot of style and will easily cary a space with minimum effort. People sometimes think that 'modern' is only contemporary furniture, while that is a style of furnishing a house,

 modern is in fact a point of view. By mixing items and elements from different eras and in different styles one can create a truly modern and cosmopolitan interior.

A console table like this can act as a center piece in an entry, a dining room or as a side table in a living room. Pair it with a modern painting and a small bowl and you're halfway there.

Delicate colors make this mirror perfect for a sitting room or better yet over a bed room fireplace.

Antique lighting can be seen as jewelry in a room. I don't care much for lampshades or high hats, but strategically placed uplights or pin lights and wall washers will give ambient light, while antique pieces can give a subtle glow thru candles or dimming.

Note the Argand lamp on stand and the simple stick lamp for reading. This was a room for Holiday House NY 2014. At first glance one would assume this was a period room, but on further inspection it  is a very modern space. Remember 'modern' is a point of view, not a 'style'.

Two disparate styles, baroque and Empire, unexpected and effective. This a room in house designed by Edward Durell Stone in North Salem. We did the decoration about 20 years ago and while this photograph is all that remains of the project, it shows how effective antiques can be in a modern room.

Faux columns can be placed strategically around a room

An unexpected color on an 18th c Italian table would look lovely in a modern room.

Garden ornaments can live anywhere, inside or out.

Aways remember that none of these items will break the bank, but they will add immeasurable glamour to your interiors.

How? All it takes is a little imagination, some trust and a phone call.

That's all I have for today.

Working on a Budget: The Living Room.

Greetings to one and all,

It's been a long while since I've written a blog, mainly due to time and work but also because to be honest, I haven't much been in the mood for writing. But here I am thinking about various things and I've recently met with a lovely young couple who were looking to put together a house, on a limited budget [FYI ALL budgets are limited] and so as an exercise I am working on finding high style items and decorative elements that won't break the bank. So look forward to a series of affordable and high style rooms done if not on a shoestring at least on a shoe.

After the kitchen the 'Formal" Living Room is often the most expensive room in a house, sadly it's also the least used room in a house, reserved for Sundays, holidays and company. I've never understood why people continue to have them, no one, or almost no one lives formally anymore and it certainly isn't needed  for show when you're building an enormous house, But there they are, always in the front and always wanting to be decorated first....so everyone can skip right thru to the kitchen!

The look is classic transitional, you can do this in various style houses from a white box interior to a period room and it will work beautifully.  Keep your colors subtle and patterns minimal and it will look modern, or use patterns for a more eclectic feel.

An nice pair of slipper chairs in old leather. Just leave them as they are, the patina will give the room added depth.

It helps if you already have a Braque or Picasso, but if you aren't so lucky a Venetian mirror would be a good touch, OR you could commission Ric Best Art to paint something for you.

It's aways nice to have a few low tables, why not choose some that are like small pieces of jewelry

Lighting is important and you could decide that a little drama might lighten up the mood. Venetian sconces fit the bill.

Add some strategically placed uplights and your lovely, freshly painted walls will glow. I'm liking lampshades less and less, so the ambient light will declutter your visual sight lines.

If there's room, why not add center table.  A simple vase with branches is all you need in front of tall windows.  You could also decide to use this as a side table between armchairs.

A long and low slung sofa will give the room height and scale

Let's throw in a couple of other chairs as well....different types of seating ....always important.

Under foot? Why not a beautifully worn rug. Muted colors and a little texture will unify the room and give you that not store bought feel.

Nothing like a place to sit and write, or just browse online. Why not this French cartonnier. These Louis XVI chairs are always easy to find new, vintage or antique and if you buy a set for your dining room you can use a pair in the living room.

Yes, this could all be achieved for what one would expect to pay for a new high end reproduction dining table.... How? Knowing how to shop, where to shop and making a phone call.

Look for the dining room next!!

And that's all I've got for today.