Ben Pentreath Ltd.

Posted on | March 8, 2010 | 5 Comments

I came across Ben Pentreath’s flat in the book, Perfect English over the weekend. His style is what I aspire too. Layers of pattern, antiques, and art that is approachable but classic. The small chair in the upper right of the photo is upholstered in men’s suiting. I love the gray field with the red stripe—a color a combo I think would be perfect for my den.

Ben runs a great shop in London offering accessories, art, and furniture with a nod to classicism. The store is filled to the brims but finds flow through patterning and symmetry. For those of us unable to make the trip across the pond, Ben has a great online shop filled with all his favorite essentials.

Ben Pentreath Ltd.
17 Rugby St
Bloomsbury
WC1N 3QT
benpentreath.com

Category: accessories, interiors

Striped Sofa in Green Room

Posted on | March 2, 2010 | 4 Comments

I’ve had this photo on my desktop for a few days. I of course love the green walls. But how great is the blue toned stripe sofa? The colors vibrate off the green walls. Stripes never photograph well but I bet in real life it’s stunning. From the portfolio of Katrine Martensen-Larsen discovered last week.

Category: interiors

Layered Linen and Leather

Posted on | February 23, 2010 | 24 Comments

How do you combine both masculine and feminine styles? For many of us our boyfriends, husbands, or roommates don’t want to live in a world of flowers and pink.

When at my sister’s house last week I snapped a few photos to show how she successfully created a home that combines both her and her husband’s style. Her husband has always had a very vocal design opinion. He began collecting vintage posters and antique rugs obsessively in his early 20’s. They bought their home about 6 six years ago just north of New York City. The house has evolved to become a layered mix of masculine and feminine styles that’s classic and family friendly.

In their living room a handsome leather sofa from Restoration Hardware is deep enough for evening cuddling in front of the fire with the kids. Her husband’s antique rugs layered on the floor warms the space and adds patterning and texture. Vintage French posters and a large abstract painting (by me!) pop off neutral walls. Linen accented curtains, chairs, and a tufted bench infuse softer feminine detailing. Further details such as vintage ceramics, an eagle convex mirror, and brass pharmacy lights gives the room a timeless worn-in feel.

living room linen accents Layered Linen and Leather

4382466196 670c6931c4 Layered Linen and Leather

Category: interiors

Dark Green Walls and White Trim

Posted on | February 22, 2010 | 12 Comments

One of my lovely readers sent me this house last week to add to my green room inspiration file. The dark green walls against the crisp white molding is gorgeous. I still don’t know what I am going to paint my room. I think I need to paint some sample colors on the molding and walls and live it for a few weeks. I don’t think I will be satisfied until I’ve tried out both color combos.

Below more images from a lovely home styled by Katrine Martensen-Larsen. I love the checks and stripes in the bedrooms and mudroom. See more gorgeous interior images at kmldesign.dk.

Thanks Bernadette for the tip!

green walls and molding Dark Green Walls and White Trim

checks and stripes Dark Green Walls and White Trim

Category: interiors, paint colors

Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Posted on | February 18, 2010 | 7 Comments

Sorry for the lack of posting this week, I’m in New York. I’ve been a busy bee working and visiting with friends and family. This morning my sister brought me over to the new Ace Hotel on 29th street in Manhattan. Design group Roman and Williams transformed the space into a hipster Brit infused oasis. Check out the plaid wing chair in the above photo. The back of the chair was upholstered in navy wool decorated with brass tacking. So freakin’ cute.

Attached to the Ace is The Breslin a British style pub run by Peter Cho and the Spotted Pig (my fav place to grab a burger) crew. I walked through pretty quickly but I was struck by the green molding. In the sunlight the wood appears limey in the shadows it becomes a dark olive gloss. Tufted benches, thonet style chairs, and brass accents give the space a cozy feel. Need a little pick me up? Hit Stumptown coffee just off from the hotel’s lobby. I had a latte and croissant—super yum with a nutty quality. Above and below photos from Roman and William’s website.

Ace Hotel
20 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.2222
acehotel.com

The Breslin
16 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.1939
thebreslin.com

7 500x333 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

breslin meat room 500x328 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

ag stumptown3.jpeg Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Category: New York, eating out, interiors, travel

Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

Posted on | February 10, 2010 | 10 Comments

Appeared in World of Interiors see more photos over here.

I’ve asked some of my favorite design friends to help me brainstorm ideas for my den. Lizzie who I met while working at House & Garden was sweet enough to participate. I miss the days of being able to pop over to desk and trade ideas and inspiration. She always had the best fabric samples! After H&G closed Lizzie attended Parsons to study Interior Design. She’s becoming quite the super star. Check out her bedroom at the Hamptons Designer Showhouse. This month her apartment is featured in the new online publication, Lonny. Way to go Lizzie! Below a brainstorm session with Lizzie filled with great tips, products and links.

Hi Katy! Your den is going to be fabulous. I’m loving the colors, materials, and furniture you’ve already posted in your inspiration post. Here’s what I’m thinking about some of your issues and next steps…

The two windows in question.

Regarding the windows. I almost always love a floor length panel but in this case I do think that hanging drapes is problematic because you can’t install a rod above the header due to the moulding (which sits right on top of the window). Your walls are already getting truncated into 2 planes because you have this (amazing) chair rail/millwork and wood paneling below, assuming these will be painted a color different from the walls. In terms of paint colors, I definitely prefer the idea of all the trim green as opposed to the (more expected) green on the walls and creamy trim. Plus, I think a darker color on the bottom 3rd will anchor the room while keeping it airy which is nice since it’s on an upper floor of the house. I wonder if putting green on the upper portion of the walls and a paler hue on the woodwork below could feel top heavy? Then again I’ve seen this done to great affect – sure your readers could offer many instances to prove me wrong here! So I say go for green on the trim + paneling. Maybe wall color is a paler green? Loving Farrow & Ball Breakfast Room Green for trim and Tunsgate Green for walls.

green painted library simon watson 500x395 Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

Photograph from Simon Watson’s portfolio

So back to windows – is privacy an issue? Or is it more about finishing the room? What about doing a kind of cafe curtain hung halfway down the window (on a nice, skinny brass rod) in a pretty sheer? I’m thinking of something with a paisley-esque motif like one of those smaller scale Robert Kime prints (know you love them!):

robert kime curtain fabric Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

From left: indian pear white, sweet pea, and montpelier from Robert Kime.

But I’m not sure if any come on a sheer ground and I think would work well here. So perhaps something hung halfway up the window that would only go to the window sill. Or you could hang at the top of the window just under the moulding (or even inside the window frame) a sheer – would love to see some pinch pleats at the top (like the image you sent me tonight.)

6a00e55225716d883301156fcf34c0970b Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

Image discovered via Bliss

This was a room I lusted after in the Hamptons Showhouse this summer. You can see on the smaller window off to the left side of the french doors there’s a simple but elegant sheer hung right at the top of the window frame and pulled aside:

sheer curtains Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

Sheer curtains spotted in Ellen Hamilton’s room at Hamptons Designer Showhouse

This could be a nice treatment for your two windows so each could be pulled away from the center beam/pillar that separates them. Still I’d stick with something sheer and not necessarily plain but with a small print and a print with some space between the design – keep it airy and a little organic (not geometric). Bernard Thorpe also has beautiful prints (available through Stark showroom here in NY) that come on a very wide variety of grounds including sheers. Not sure about price (probably expensive!) but if you’re not doing floor length drapes you won’t need as much yardage so maybe worth a splurge if you find one you love!

I would reserve one of these great faded florals you’ve found in your inspiration file (love!!) for one of your comfy armchairs or pillows – wouldn’t it be great to pile up a few of different scales and patterns in a bunch of pillows all together? And some stripes thrown in there somewhere for a bit of geometry? Loving these:

pillow fabric ideas Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

From top: Peter Dunham, Muriel Brandolini, Carolina Irving, and John Robshaw.

On to furniture! You can’t go wrong with the classic roll arm and the armchair from Lee is a great silhouette too (similar one in Ellen Hamilton’s showhouse room – did you see it’s pink?) In addition I’d love to pepper in something with caning on the sides for some added texture. There were some great ones in Adam Sandler’s house in Funny People (terrible movie by the way but his house was very California Michael Smith – anyone know who did the production design?). Anyway can’t find pics but here’s the idea:

side chairs with canning Expert Design Advice: Lizzie Bailey

From left: 1stdibs.com and Baker

This could be a great place to put your floral upholstery since the wood frame and caning would temper the flowers a bit? Alternatively, a great distressed, beat up leather chair would also be a nice addition to your scheme and add some masculinity Obsessed with this one in Ali Wentworth’s house featured in Elle Décor.

Love the distressed leather chair!

This is kind of nice from Oly. But really I’m thinking of something higher like a wing chair or barrel-back:

From left: 1stdibs and 1stdibs.

This combines both materials: leather + the wood/caning combo I’m going on about. Doesn’t have quite the sink-into-it inviting comfort that you might want in a den though…

Leather Seat Arm Chair, $1,200, English Country Antiques.

So on another note, i’m also craving for you some sort of spindle-y item:

From top left clockwise: 1stdibs, Ikea, Jayson Home & Garden, and Mecox Gardens.

I’m spent, and sure everyone but you and I got bored reading this so will stop. But maybe we can do another installment (lighting + accessories + flooring?!) Oh my!!

And you are going to invite me over for tea/drinks in this den once it’s done right?

Thanks so much Lizzie for the fun inspiration. If you need help decorating a room, house, or apartment you can contact Lizzie at elizabeth.m.bailey@mac.com.

Category: expert advice, interiors

Green with Red Accents

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | 15 Comments

Amanda Peet’s bedroom from domino.

A few months ago my hard drive crashed and I lost all my favorite inspiration photos. I keep having visions of forgotten rooms. I search for hours—cruising blogs, flickr groups and google image—I am usually at a loss and feel totally frustrated.

One of my favorite interiors of all time is Amanda Peet’s bedroom from domino. The greens in the Cole & Son wallpaper are perfect. A dark headboard mixes effortlessly with whitewashed antiques. The red chair in the corner seals the deal.

The lovely Anne from The City Sage sent over these gorgeous interior shots showcasing one of my favorite color combos: green with red and pink accents. It seems every time I across a green room that I really love it always has a little pop of red or pink. Sometimes the pop comes on curtains, chairs, or even just a pillow. Some great interior inspiration from Anne below.