Category Archives: Shopping

Autumn Hues – Brown

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Brown- dark chocolate, dirt, coca-cola, teddy bear, milk chocolate, mink, otter, bronze, caramel, toffee, mushroom, elephant, fig, and bourbon.

Brown is courageous, rich, steady, understated, sensuous, warm, and masculine. Used a the base color of a room the possibilities are endless. I love a deep, velvety, dark chocolate mixed with McClosky’s glazing compound to give it a liquid-like look. I prefer to use this color on walls in a room that is all ready dark. It feels like you have found a secret nook where you can spend hours reading, writing, watching movies, or napping. Brown works as a neutral and you can bring any color in for a pop. Paired with white moldings the rooms has a crisp tailored feel and art work really floats on the wall. The lacquered finish allows light to play off it in the most beautiful way.  A deep chocolate is another wonderful way to ground a room ( and hide stains!).

I love this deep caramel and chocolate brown room.  The painted white faux moldings give the oil painting a nice dose of modernity.

This image is from Elle Decor 2006.  Notice how the deep chocolate walls receed and the carpet, daybed, mantle, art, and drapes become the focal point of the room.

Both rooms above are by Markham Roberts.  The dark wood paneling creates a serious atmosphere and the fabrics he adds lighten the mood.  I love the pop of turquoise in the lamps seen in the top room.

Jeffrey Bilhuber gave this dining room high gloss deep brown/ burgundy walls and kept everything else light with pale blue leather dining chairs and a sisal rug.

Brown is used as the accent in this room in Veranda.  I love the chocolate brown valances and drapes that surround the bed and club chairs.  This room has a clean quiet masculine feel. The white walls, ceiling, and sheets keep the room feeling light.

A fabulous room by Christina Murphy.  The dark brown walls and bookshelves make the space feel bigger than it is.  She keeps it modern with a geometric print wall to wall carpet, an orange sofa, and geometric fabric on the club chairs and throw pillows.

Below are a my picks for paint colors, wall coverings, fabrics, and accessories:

Best Brown Paints as seen in House Beautiful:

Background color is Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate – a personal favorite

1.  Farrow and Ball London Stone- a nice taupey brown for those of you who prefer lighter browns.

2.  Farrow and Ball Buff

3.  Pratt and Lambert Autumn Dusk

4.  benjamin Moore Appalachian Brown

5.  Benjamin Moore Middlebury Brown

6.  Benjamin Moore Tudor Brown – a reddish aubergine brown- very warm.

7.  Benjamin Moore Mink – another personal fave

8.  Benjamin Moore Night Horizon

Brown wall coverings:

When painting or papering a wall with a dark brown it is important to have some gloss or texture.  The two selections above have texture and a bit of sparkle.  This will keep your room feeling inviting rather than a dark pit.

1.  Phillip Jeffries – Glam Grass in Mink- The sparkling silver strands running through this are amazing.  When the light catches it a slight sparkle is cast off. Very chic.

2.  Farrow and Ball- Dragged Paper DR1283.  This is a stried paper which peps up the otherwise classic brown.  While it feels flat the strie gives it the appearance of texture.

Note:  Using a chocolate wool, felt, or velvet as wall upholstery is another great way to envelope a room in a textural chocolate.

1. Lee Jofa – 2009145_8

2. Lulu DK Chant brown w/ cream – also available in wallpaper through Donghia

3.  F. Schumacher 52321844 by Celerie Kemble

4.  Lee Jofa – 2430-GWF_68

5.  Lee Jofa – SC10050_616

6. Martyn Lawrence Bullard Bodrum in dark brown

7.  Lulu DK Peru caramel – through Donghia

8.  Lee Jofa – 2009138_68

9.  Lee Jofa – AM-Dora_3

10.  Lee Jofa- GWF-2643_24

11.  Lee Jofa – GWF-2635_165

1. Carter club chair in bitter chocolate colored mohair through William Sonoma Home

http://www.wshome.com/products/p9359/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C24%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Ccarter&cm%5Fsrc=SCH

2.  Dodi silk throw pillow in brown through Madeline Weinrib

http://madelineweinrib.com/mw/ikat/Dodi-Brown.html

3.  Leather Abbott sofa through Jayson Home- on sale!

http://www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com/product.php?productid=2866

4.  Moses wool rug in brown through The Rug Company

http://www.therugcompany.info/contemporary-collection/suzanne-sharp/moses-brown.htm

5.  Leather Conrad sofa through Jayson Home – on sale!

http://www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com/product.php?productid=4018

6.  Dorea table linens through Leontine Linens

http://www.leontinelinens.com/index.php/table/product/dorea2/

xo,

S

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Eataly: New York City’s Italian Food Emporium

Cuisine Inspiration Shopping Travel No Comments

Wow… my husband and I visited to the much talked about Eataly on Saturday and LOVED it.  Best not to go in hungry as you will want to explore everything before you settle on what to eat or what to buy.  With all the tempting food bars ( Panini, Gelato, Cappucino, Meats and Cheeses, Oysters, Wine and Beer) and restaurants it is tough to make a decision.

If you haven’t heard about Eataly, let me get you up to speed.  Chef Mario Batali opened Eataly, a 50,000 square foot world of all the best food Italy has to offer in the Flatiron District of New York City.  We loved the cool minimalist design and “oohed” and “aahed” over all the meats, cheeses, pastas, breads, vegetables, and seafood.  With seven restaurants and four food stands there is something to fulfill your wildest Italian cravings.  Batali says, “This isn’t a selection of restaurants under one roof. This is a retail store where we peddle the greatest of Italian gastronomy to people who want to eat it and know how to appreciate it. You ask any Italian and all of the smart Americans where the best meal they ever had in the last ten years was, and it was never in someone’s restaurant. It was always in the house.”

The market (which also includes an on-site bookstore) opened with Batali’s longtime partners Joe and Lidia Bastianich (and Italian investor Oscar Farinetti), features a who’s who of New York and Italy’s top food personalities. Heading up the charcuterie selection are famed New York butcher Pat LaFrieda (who provides the excellent burgers found at the nearby Shake Shack) and Sergio Capaldo, founder of the Razza Piemontese Consortium, and a leader in the Italian slow food movement. Even Batali’s father, a longtime Seattle meat purveyor, is getting in on the act, flying in his famous salumi from the West Coast. Chef David Pasternack (of the beloved Midtown seafood spot Esca) is manning the fish station, while Marco Michelis, a young chef shipped in straight from Torino, will be serving up gnocchi, orecchiette, and other fresh pastas daily.  For wine lovers, the vino section will carry over 1,000 bottles.

Aside from the restaurants and the market you can also shop for cookbooks, cooking utensils, sign up for cooking classes, and plan a trip to Italy through their travel program.

Fresh vegetables… I love the brussel sprouts!

Fresh pastas being made on site.  The ravioli and gnocchi selection looked outstanding.

The imported pasta section in the market has a huge selection.  There are signs throughout the market located above each type of food telling you what to cook or pair the particular item with…very helpful.

The meats all looked amazingly fresh and again, there was a wide selection to choose from.

The seafood counter was amazing and all of the mussles, clams, and shrimp packed into ice is quite tempting.

The cheese and sliced meat selection in the market is perfect for a picnic.

The bread is all made on site ( you can watch through a glass window).  We sampled some and it was delicious.

All the Italian jams, cookies, crackers, candy, and chocolate you could want.

The dessert counter in the market caught my eye. How incredible do all of these look? Perfection.

The signs through out the Italaian mecca help you find your way around.

Above is the central “food court” where we settled on eating lunch.  There are four stations with counter space for you to grab some appetizers and a glass of wine or beer.

Our lunch hit the spot: An order of caprese followed by a selection of five meats and five cheeses paired with honey, figs, jam, and bread.  Paired with a rose wine.

I look forward to my next visit! It is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and definitely worth a trip into the city.  There is nothing quite like Eataly!

Below is a breakdown of exactly what Eataly has to offer:

Wine and Beer

Wine director Dan Amatuzzi worked with Batali, Bastianich and Farinetti to stock Eataly’s shelves with more than 1,000 Italian wines, including Antinori, Ferrari and La Mozza. Meanwhile, beer lovers can take the elevator up to the rooftop to indulge in La Birreria‘s house brews.

The Food

Le Verdure (vegetable) will serve fried veggies, fresh salads and other vegetarian-only options.
Manzo (meat) will have a menu that features raw beef, steak and anti-pasti dishes.
Il Pesce (fish), headed up by Esca chef David Pasternack, will sell everything from lemon-cooked fish to seafood salads and contorni.
La Pizza (pizza) will dish out delicious fresh mozzarella pies made daily in wood-burning ovens.
La Pasta (pasta), La Pizza ‘s nearest neighbor, will serve dried and fresh pasta dishes, some of which you can find on the store shelves.
Salumi e Formaggi (salumi and cheese) will offer delectable cold-cuts, with favorites like prosciutto di Parma and an array of aged cheeses. At the mozzarella bar, you can watch the cheese being handmade before buying a chunk.
Crudo (raw bar) is where you can stock up on raw delights, while getting a front-row seat to the chef as he prepares dishes.

Retail

Eataly’s shelves are rife with imported Italian olive oils (prices range from $8- $40), dried pastas ($1.75-$20), balsamic vinegars, tomato sauces, honey, and jams. There’s also a selection of linens, kitchen equipment, houseware products, and a bookstore dedicated to wine, food and Italian culture. And if you’re thinking about visiting Italy, talk to AlpiTours and Liberi Tutti, the in-house travel agencies available to help you plan your next trip.

Culinary Stations and School

The stations spread throughout the store will offer food and wine courses, lectures and demonstrations. You can learn everything from how to make fresh mozzarella, to how to roll out pasta dough and bake focaccia bread. At La Scuola (the school), you can take classes with Eataly’s founders, who’ll teach you about artisanal products, seasonal ingredients, as well as healthy cooking.

xo,

S

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Design Books That Are a Must!

Antiques Books Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments

There are several books that have just come out or are about to come out that are a “Must Buy”. I mentioned Bunny Williams’ Scrapbook For Living in an earlier post and these few books fall into the same category:

Out now:

At Home With Town & Country: This is the first book that Town & Country Magazine has come out with.  All the homes I have drooled over the past years are included in this beautiful book.  The book is full of inspiration and advice for creating stylish spaces.  It is fun to take a peek into some of the most fabulous homes in the country!

Purchase At Home With Town & Country through my amazon store:

http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/158816697X

Coming out October 5th:

Mary McDonald’s first design book, The Allure of Style,  is chock full of her amazing designs.  She is a master at mixing traditional and whimsical styles creating unforgettable spaces.  The book showcases more than 250 captivating photographs of lush interior design, complemented by witty passages.

Purchase Mary McDonald’s The Allure of Style through my amazon store:

http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/0847833933

Alexa Hampton, daughter of famed designer Mark Hampton, gives you a very personal insight into her aesthetic and how it has been used to satisfy her clients wishes in her new book, The Language of Interior Design. Alexa provides a tour of stunning residences from her own portfolio.  Eighteen classic spaces illustrate in rich detail the elements that govern cultivated design—contrast, proportion, color, and balance. Among the residences are a landmark 1912 McKim, Mead & White restoration on Fifth Avenue in New York City; an eclectic house by the sea layered in textures, patterns, and colors; a contemporary apartment distinguished by simple geometry and clean lines; and Hampton’s own apartment, filled with an exquisite collection of architectural elements.

Purchase Alex Hampton’s The Language of Interiors through my amazon store:

http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/0307460533

Coming out october 19th:

As the best-selling author of 16 decoration and lifestyle books, the host of her own – and one of the first – television shows on HGTV for eight seasons, the creator of home fashion products that have generated close to two billion dollars in sales, and the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of her multi-million dollar empire, Chris Madden is an iconic name in the world of design. Widely known as the powerhouse who made “personal space” and “haven” household words through her ground-breaking books and products, Chris will now, for the first time, accompany her readers in THE SOUL OF A HOUSE through her own unique homes, showcasing her signature personal style that resonates throughout each room and share the basic steps and thought-processes that can easily turn any space, large or small, into a comfortable and stylish residence. Each room—from the entry foyer, master bedroom and living room to the mud room and greenhouse — will be explored with rich photography by Nancy Hill along with Chris’ styling tips as she chronicles the transformation of both her husband’s and her 100-year-old carriage house on three rambling acres outside of New York City and their mid-century modern getaway tucked in a bucolic apple orchard between the Green and Taconic Mountain ranges in Vermont.

Also included will be a sampling of those historic spaces that have served as an inspiration to Chris— from the early works of the legendary Billy Baldwin, Elsie de Wolfe, Nancy Lancaster, John Fowler and Thomas Jefferson – through lessons gleaned in the great rooms of designer showcase houses (including those of Mario Buatta, Mark Hampton, and Albert Hadley) and her travels to such architectural treasures as the summer dacha of Czar Nicholas II in Russia, Coco Chanel’s Paris apartment and Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Washington home and museum, Hillcrest, to her hands-on design work at the homes and offices of Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric and Toni Morrison.

Purchase Chris Madden’s The Soul of a House through my amazon store:

http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/0847833704

Owner of Hollyhock, Los Angeles’s renowned antiques and decorative arts mecca, Suzanne Rheinstein is known for her relaxed, elegant style. Style maker and interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein has a keen appreciation for special luxuries. She is a master at taking an eclectic mix of furnishings from the past and arranging them in a fresh, inspiring way. Elegant simplicity and attention to detail are the hallmarks of her look. A timeless quality pervades every room she designs. Rheinstein feels that how you live your life every day is much more important than getting your house together for a special occasion. Beautifully photographed, this inspiring volume shows examples of her work, ranging from a brick farmhouse in the Virginia countryside and a sophisticated rustic getaway overlooking the Big Wood River in Sun Valley to a year-round shingled residence on the beach in Newport Bay, as well as her own homes—a gracious Georgian Revival in Los Angeles and a New York City prewar pied-à-terre. They exemplify her talent for creating attractive homes that make living and entertaining extremely pleasurable.

Purchase Suzanne Rheinstein’s At Home through my amazon store:

http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/0847834093

xo,

S

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Bunny Williams’ Scrapbook For Living

Books Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments


In Bunny Williams’ third book you are lead room by room through homes she has designed and along the way she gives tips on ways to organize and personalize your home.  All of her suggestions are timeless, classic ways to make your home welcoming.  For those of you who are not familiar with Bunny Williams, she is a master of detail and comfortable living.  In her book she dissects the design process and enables readers to take on the various rooms in their homes: dining rooms, lighting, entertaining, bedrooms, and furniture layouts are all discussed.  I just received my copy and it is one of those books I will turn to time and time again for advice.

Visit my amazon store to pick up your copy:  http://astore.amazon.com/trafordes-20/detail/1584798599

xo,

S

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Autumn Hues – Purple

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Purple- eggplant, aubergine, plum, lavender, lilac, violet, mauve, lilac, mulberry, orchid, grape, amethyst, twilight. Purple represents royalty, creativity, romance, power, nobility, luxury, ambition, and sophistication. Dark purples lend a warm, sexy, quiet feeling to a room while light purples add a touch of romanticism. I love pairing deep aubergines with crisp apple greens, oranges, and silver or brass. While light purple leads me to blue and white china, grays, yellows, and mirrored furniture.

This room is so warm and feminine with soft lavender/ mauve walls, silk drapes, and french chairs.

A living room by Kelly Wearstler showcases a lavender geometric print rug with a deeper purple sofa and yellow and gold accents.

A room designer by Windsor Smith pairs up both light and dark purple with chocolate brown, crisp white, and pale teal.

Katie Ridder punches up the lilac walls with green, ivory, and bright orange.

David Kaihoi wraps his dining room/ living room entirely in purple.  The red chair and tiger print throw pillows mix it up a bit.

Amanda Nisbet takes the plunge into purple with a deeply tufted headboard set against a deep aubergine wall with hints of pink and chocolate brown.

Aerin Lauder’s dining room as featured in Elle Decor.  I love the deep dark plum walls and trim with the soft grayish plum zebra print table skirt.  The pale wood chairs work beautifully in the room.

Touches of purple:

Keeping the rest of the room neutral lets the focus fall on the table skirt of Janet De Botton’s library.

A tufted chair by Jeffrey Bilhuber upholstered in Malabar’s Carom

Two chairs upholstered in Madeline Weinrib’s purple luce silk ikat bring this living room to life.

Purple paint:

1. Benjamin Moore Grape Hyacinth

2.  Pratt and Lambert Autumn Crocus

3. Benjamin Moore Galaxy- deep dark purple

4.  Benjamin Moore Caponata

5.  Farrow and Ball Brinjal- I have used this many times and it is beautiful…especially in a high gloss finish

Purple Wallcoverings:

1. Osborne and Little Bedlam W5557/01

2.  Osborne and Little Maharani W6022-01

3.  Katie Ridder Attendants in purple

4. Fromental hand painted and embroidered chinoiserie in lavender

Purple Fabrics:

1.  Katie Ridder Moonflower in purple

2.  Peter Dunham Pasha- KT03

3. Amanda Nisbet Fabric on linen Francesca in grape fizz

4. Osborne and Little Papini F5851-03

5.  Carolina Irving Andaluz in Viola

6.  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Sultan’s Suzani on linen in lavender

7. Edelman Leather Royal Suede in dusty rose

8. Scalamandre Rio 26676-007

Purple Accessories:

Using the painting breakfast by Pierre Bonnard as a jumping off point I selected the above accessories.

1. Pierre bed linens by Julia B.

http://www.juliab.com/product-details.aspx?id=11

2. Pierre Bonnard Breakfast circe 1930’s

3. Purple samarkand area rug by Doris Leslie Blaue through 1st dibs

http://dorisleslieblaullc.1stdibs.com/store/furniture_item_detail.php?id=331849

4. Tub chair by Peter Dunham Hollywood at Home

http://hollywoodathome.com/products/view/Tub+Chair

5. Vanderhurd rug pattern dew drops in amethyst

http://www.vanderhurd.com/abstract.php?t=abstract&p=0&id=46

6.  Set of 4 shagreen coasters in faux shagreen color amethyst through Sara Gilbane Interiors

7. Silk ikat throw pillow in purple luce through madeline weinrib

http://madelineweinrib.com/mw/ikat/Luce-Purple.html

8. Pair of antique suzani throw pillows through 1st dibs

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=440687

xo,

S

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Autumn Hues- Blue

Fabric Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments

Blue- sapphire, azure, aqua, teal, turquoise, sky, ocean, blueberry, chinese blue, baby blue, Lanvin blue, cobalt, haze, royal blue, Mediterranean blue, slate, denim, navy, marine, sea foam, robins egg, Tiffany blue.

Blue is contemplative, meditative, and depending on the shade can be energizing (deep blues) or relaxing and light ( pale blues). It conjures thoughts of water and sky. I often paint ceilings in the palest blue to raise the height of the room. Whether you go with a textured grasscloth on your walls, several slick shiny coats of paint, or just blue accessories it is hard to go wrong with this color.

Light Blue:

Cristina Cuomo’s house by Emma Pilkington features a study with pale blue walls ( and a fab etching by Cy Twombly)

Getting deeper….

This soft blue bedroom has a cool, feminine, eclectic feel.

A beautiful country house decorated by Miles Redd stays true to form with blue on blue stripe wallpaper in the hallway.  Hallways are important spaces through out a home and a great chance to try a wallpaper.

High gloss slate blue walls in a room decorated by Steven Gambrel look like water.  This is the perfect backdrop for all the dark wood furniture and brass fixtures.

Cadet blue walls look warm and inviting with saffron yellow drapes, a pickled/ bleached floor, and tortoise shell moldings. Delicious!

Deep Dark Blues:

This room, recently featured in House Beautiful, is grounded by the deep blue grasscloth on the walls.  I love the texture and color.

This blue is amazing! It seems to glow.  Anytime blue and red are together they make they other color feel richer. Room by Christopher Maya.

In a room by Ashley Whittaker we have a deep blue wall and bookshelves paired with pale orange and a rusty red. I love blue in a library.  It is totally enveloping.

This small galley kitchen is handsome in lacquered navy.

Another blue library featured in the recent Elle Decor ( Patricia Lansing’s) is fabulous.  The navy lacquered walls seem to recede and make the room bigger ( dark colors do this!) while the white sofa and blue and white zebra linen upholstered chair pop out at you.  I love this room!

Paint colors:

1.  Farrow and Ball Chinese Blue

2. Benjamin Moore Paddington Blue

3. Sherwin Williams Verditer Blue

4.  Dunn Edwards After The Storm

5.  Benjamin Moore Patriot Blue

6. Pratt and Lambert Blueberry Myrtille

All colors shown in House beautiful

Wall coverings:

1.  Phillip Jeffries Juicy Jute in Tantalizing Teal

2. Neisha Crossland through Stark Berry Flower in Marrakesh Blue

3.  Farrow and Ball Ringwold Paper BP1650

4.  Manuel Canovas through Cowtan and Tout trellis

Fabrics:

1. Gracieux through John Rosselli Serrano in Cobalt on Oph

2.  Chapas Textiles Safari in Sapphire Ochre

3. Robert Kime Palmette Blue- embroidery

4. Lisa Fine through John Rosselli Rambagh reverse in indigo

5. Celerie for F. Schumacher Bleeker in Twilight 23969260

6.  Celerie for F. Schumacher 711897

7.  Osborne and Little Papini F5851-04

8.  Chapas Textiles Vienna in Deep teal

9. Edelman Leather Shagreen City Lights in Blue Streak

Accessories:

1. William Sonoma Home bed linens with classic greek key embroidery in blue

http://www.wshome.com/products/p4000/index.cfm?pkey=csheets%2Dbed%2Dsheet%2Dsets

2.  Holland and Sherry custom embroidered pillow Java EMB 717

3. Blue and white ceramic lamp by Bunny Williams through Mecox Gardens

http://www.mecoxgardens.com/pageItemDetail.asp?RECORDID=12027

4. Peacock Rug by Matthew Williamson through The Rug Company

http://www.therugcompany.info/designer-collection/matthew-williamson/peacock-dark.htm

5.  Small agate napkin rings through Vivre.com

http://www.vivre.com/product/agate_napkin_rings_set_of_2

6. Daphne Blue Hollywood Regency chair through Madeline Weinrib

http://madelineweinrib.com/mw/furniture/HollywoodRegency-BlueDaphne.htm

7. Fez indigo dhurrie through Vanderhurd

http://www.vanderhurd.com/silk.php?t=silk&p=0&id=135

8. Matignon arm chair through TK Collections

http://www.tkcollections.com/bistrochairs_tables/armchairs/matignon/

9. Clinton Sofa in navy velvet through Jayson Home and Garden

http://www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com/product.php?productid=5947

xo,

S

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Autumn Hues- Green

Fabric Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments

Green- moss, lichen, verdigris, acid, grass, malachite, lime, olive, pea, apple, asparagus, emerald, jade, sea green, mint, forest, aquamarine, chartreuse, kelly green, sage, and viridian.  Green is restorative, restful color with the same calming attributes as blue. It signifies growth, health, and environment.  Both pale greens and deep rich jewel tone greens feel like Autumn to me, so I picked a few rooms in both palettes.

Pale soft autumn greens:

The above room is wallpapered in de Gournay. I love the pale moss green background.

The pale apple green walls above brings a calming grounding effect to the bold ikat chairs and bright pink carpet.

This is a beautiful soft mossy colonial green that is quite serious.  The moldings are painted the same color for a soothing seemless effect.

Bold jewel-tone autumn greens:

The deep hunter green walls in the Oscar de la Renta showcase room at Lee Jofa are a sharp and arresting background for the bright yellows, blacks, reds, and tans used throughout.   The black mirror keeps the room feeling modern.

Deep apple green walls work well with the wood daybed and bookshelves. The orangey red throw pillows and little brass tables give this guest bedroom a clean masculine vibe.

Room above by Schuyler Samperton

Room above by Todd Romano

Both rooms above pair deep olivey green walls with orangey red ( this reads cozy NOT Christmas!) and zebra rugs for an unexpected pattern.

Jeffrey Bilhuber puts deep green velvet on the walls and sofa.  This room is perfect for a fall afternoon.  The brass lamps and blue and white china are beautiful. The pale blue pillow and animal print pillow throw in a bit of the unexpected to keep the room for getting too matchy-matchy.

Tory Burch’s apartment also showcases green velvet on the walls.  In one shot you see blue and white vases that sing off of the green velvet walls.  In the second image you see through to her orange lacquer dining room.  Very sharp if you ask me!

Nervous to go for the all green room? Just add a few pops of green for an effect that is just as lovely.

A sophisticated library with malachite objects strewn over the desk and side tables.

Amanda Nisbet has fun in a children’s room with clover shaped green headboards, monogrammed bed covers, green piping around the roman shade, and a green polka-dot lamp shade.

Green paint colors ( as seen in House Beautiful)

1. Benjamin Moore aganthus green

2. Farrow and Ball Verd de Terre

3. Pratt and Lambert 22-20 Clover

4. Benjamin Moore Lafayette Green

Green wall coverings:

1. Farrow and Ball Ringwold BP1638

2. Lee Jofa stillwater peacock feathers #5003950.  These are actual feathers backed with paper for wallpapering. I am dying to do the walls of a study in this with teal lacquer bookshelves.

3. Farrow and Ball Lotus Papers BP 2045

Green fabrics:

1. Peter Fasano Brompton in Sage

2. F. Schumacher #63036

3. F. Schumacher #173631

4. Brunschwig Dzhambul 71099-435

5. F. Schumacher 2643763

6. Kravet #9307-123

7. F. Schumacher #54955

8. Peter Fasano Jaipur in Ocean/ Olive

Green accessories:

1. Leontine Linens Rebecca bath towels

2. Venetian sofa by Oscar de la Renta through Century Furniture – 60_22_727

3. Madeline Weinrib Mu pillow in celery

http://madelineweinrib.com/mw/ikat/Mu-Celery.html

4. Stripe Moquette celadon rug by Vanderhurd

http://www.vanderhurd.com/stripes.php?t=stripes&p=0&id=115

5. Tufted leather corrigan chair through Anthropologie

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=66411&catId=HOME-FURNITURE-CHAIRS&pushId=HOME-FURNITURE-CHAIRS&popId=HOME-FURNITURE&sortProperties=&navCount=130&navAction=middle&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=bpp&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

6. Hand embroidered pillow from Holland and Sherry- Athena EMB686

7. Renee Green Lamp through Tonic Home:

http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=1196

8. Boxed nailhead coasters in faux alligator through Sara Gilbane Interiors

xo,

S

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Introducing Shop Sara Gilbane Interiors

Antiques Art Books Fabric Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments

We have recently added a shop to our website. You will find a variety of items we have purchased on our travels ( antiques, accessories, wallpapers, fabrics, pillows, art, etc). New additions are added frequently so check back often.  A few of the items are listed below:

Visit the store to shop: http://saragilbaneinteriors.bigcartel.com/

xo,

S

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One Kings Lane Sales

Fabric Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments


Fabulous cashmere and lambswool/ angora throws in all of Aumtums finest hues are for sale on One King’s Lane:

Draped over a sofa or armchair, folded on a bed, or wrapped around your shoulders, a traditional Celtic throw is a warm, wonderful way to transition into fall and winter.
A perfect medley of classic, beautiful and decadently soft, these throws are the genuine article, made from cashmere harvested from the fine, downy undercoat of the Mongolian mountain goat (shed in the springtime and obtained by combing), as well as angora-blend styles, all masterfully produced by premier Scottish weavers. They belong in every room of the house.

They are selling out quickly….

Visit and sign up for One King’s Lane to shop:  http://www.onekingslane.com/Event.aspx?l=00010194056800000000

McGuire is also having a sale and some of my favorite items are still available ( like the killer Bassam Fellows counter stool).

McGuire commissions some of the world’s most respected designers and rising stars to create collections with depth and personality.  Crafting raw nature into a geometry of perfect proportion time and time again, McGuire creates a flawless harmony between form and material. Whether bending sinuous vines into subtle, elegant curves or using century-old techniques, each piece elevates craft to an art form. With their strong lines, these pieces mix effortlessly with everything from modern forms to antiques.

Visit and sign up for One Kings Lane to shop: http://www.onekingslane.com/Event.aspx?l=00010303056800000000

xo,

S

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Autumn Hues – Yellow

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Yellow- Saffron, butter, dandelion, daffodil, gold, corn, buttercup, sunshine, canary, citrine, grapefruit, maize, taxi cab. Yellow conjurs up a positive sunny feeling.  I have come to love yellow more and more and tend to mix traditional with modern for a youthful feel.  As I stated in a previous post regarding yellow two of the most celebrated rooms in 20th century interior design had bold lacquered yellow walls: Nancy Lancaster’s legendary London sitting room/office (shown below) and Babe and Bill Paley’s Fifth Avenue drawing room, decorated by Albert Hadley and Sister Parish. Let’s dive into some fabulously chic autumn yellow rooms.

The traditional approach:

We will start of with Nancy Lancaster’s famed yellow drawing room above.  This room was done by John Fowler in 1957 and would be just as stunning if done today.  Fowler applied numerous layers of glaze over a butter yellow paint.

Andrew Virtue drew his inspiration from Nancy Lancaster’s yellow room and created his own writing room ( on a smaller scale) at the Greystone Estate show house. This deep vibrant yellow works so well with burnt crsipy browns, greens, and plums.

A sitting room designed by yours truly.  When the sun sets in the afternoon the pale gold walls glisten ( custom paint color by Rollinson Hues).  A soft pale yellow is a great neutral backdrop for most colors.  We wanted to enhance the sunset so the reds, corals, pinks, oranges, and golds were introduced. The simple sisal rug keeps the room grounded and approachable while the scattered throw rugs add warmth underfoot.

One of my favorite rooms in a house by Architect Gil Schafer.  They used a slightly bolder yellow than I did and kept the furniture simply upholstered.  The antiques steal the show ( all brown wood always looks great against yellow). Beautiful! On a side note, Veranda and their new editor in chief Dara Caponigro selected and recently announced the winners of their second annual Art of Design Awards. Honoring design industry trailblazers whose work is both “innovative and timeless”. Gil Schafer won the award in the architecture category. Congrats!

The bedroom above by Jeffrey Bilhuber introduces a strong yellow as drapes for the bed.  How lovely to be cocooned in a yellow tent! I love the pale lilac paired with it.

Christopher Spitzmiller’s apartment is shown above as seen in Elle Decor. Yellows, browns, and teal blues keep the room fresh and modern.

One final Bilhuber creation.  The slightly more modern tufting on the chairs (loosely tufted rather than deep) and the yellow sign in this room off of the dark wood walls.

The modern approach:

Tone on tone yellows paired with black and white by Jamie Drake make for an exciting bedroom. I love that the base of this bed is upholstered in zebra. Very chic.

Kelly Wearstler created this yellow and black library for the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica.  Again we see tone on tone yellow paired with black, white, and mirror.  The bookshelves turned on diagonal and books stacked in opposite directions adds whimsy and a focal point when you walk into the room.

Another room done by your truly.  We needed to bring some life to this manhattan loft space.  With pale seafoam on the walls and grey suede sofa we brought in a strong yellow Oushak carpet and pops of yellow ( throw pillows and accessories) for life.

This room could be filed under pink, red, or orange.  I love the high gloss pink fireplace and I die over the silk ikat upholstered walls.  The yellow linen roman shades with crisp brown ribbon tape inset keep the room feeling clean rather than chaotic.

Yellow paint picks:

1. Donald Kaufman Collection #30

2. Ralph Lauren Goldfinch

3. Benjamin Moore Showtime

4. Farrow and Ball Babouche

Traditional yellow wallcovering picks:

1. Farrow and Ball BP 1928

2. Farrow and Ball BP 1632

3. Farrow and Ball BP 572

Traditional yellow fabrics:

1. Lee Jofa Oak Leaves in yellow BFC 3514-14

2. F. Schumacher Seneca Cotton Stripe 62982

3. Lee Jofa Hisari ikat in plum 2008136_909

4. Quadrille Simba beige on gold

Traditional yellow accessories:

1. Antique spool stool with Robert Kime fabric through John Rosselli Antiques

2. Antique Samarkand rug through Doris Leslie Blau

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=448340

3. Christopher Spitzmiller Happy lamps in Butter with 23k gold water gilt base

http://christopherspitzmiller.com/lampdetail.asp?LAMPID=112

4. William Sonoma Home cashmere yellow throw in lemon drop

http://www.wshome.com/products/p126/index.cfm?pkey=ccashmere%2Dfaux%2Dfur%2Dthrow

5. Sharyn Blond table linens in Jardin pattern

http://sharynblondlinens.com/hand_table.html#2

6. Bee Line Home throw pillows through John Rosselli Antiques NYC

Modern yellow wallcovering picks:

1. China Seas Balinese Batik in inca/ gold

2. F. Schumacher Imperial Trellis in citrine

3. Manuel Canovas Trellis in citrine

4. Cole and Son palm leaves in yellow

Modern yellow fabric picks:

1. Lee Jofa Tulip in white/ yellow GWF-2622-140

2. F. Schumacher Katsugi in gold and mushroom 2620934

3. Lee Jofa Facet in Saffrom SC10049-1612

4. Ruby Green Mary in yellow

5. Ruby Green Marilyn

Modern yellow accessories picks:

1. Lippa armchair in yellow through Tonic Home:

http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=1511

2. Yellow geometric pillow through Pieces Inc.

http://piecesinc.com/yellow-geometric-pillow

3. Pink Jacket on Yellow 50″ x 50″ gloss on aluminum by Natasha Law through Voltz Clarke Gallery

http://voltzclarke.com/law/1.html

4. Yellow garden stool through Tonic Home

http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=1419

5. Jonathan Adler Carnaby Lamp:

http://www.jonathanadler.com/Carnaby-Hollywood-Lamp/?cat=0&initial=

6. West Elm Parsons desk in tumeric:

http://www.westelm.com/products/parsons-desk-with-drawers-f099/?pkey=e%7Cyellow%7C9%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C6&sku=1653740&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Common%20Top%20Wide%20Rule%20What’s%20New

7. Yellow vases set of 6

http://www.mermaidhut.com/Prod-18-1-2604-30/Yellow_Vases_Assorted_Set_of_Six.htm

8. The Rug Company Sellarsbrook rug by Suzanne Sharpe ( The Rug Company also won in it’s category for the Second Annual Art of Design Awards by Veranda.

http://www.therugcompany.info/contemporary-collection/suzanne-sharp/sellarsbrook-yellow.htm

9. Vanderhurd Kafir throw pillow colorway 4

http://www.vanderhurd.com/hand_crafted.php?t=cushions&p=1&id=358

xo,

S

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