Tag Archives: grasscloth

It has been too long and I apologize….however, I do have a juicy vacation spot for you all. My husband and I just went to Lyford Cay for the first time for a dear friend’s wedding. All my expectations were surpassed. After countless hours of ogling the redesign of the club by the uber-talented Tom Scheerer ( http://www.tomscheerer.com/content/projects/commercial.html), I finally was able to see it in the flesh and I was not disappointed. A soft sea-shell pink dominates the many rooms he redid and the effect is fantastic. The main club, rooms, cottages, and dining room are steps from a white sand beach that boasts bevy of kyacks, sailboats, and paddle boards that you can rent.

The overall feel of the club is warm and gracious. Like your chic grandmothers home it is easy to live in yet something to aspire to. Tom was able to blend the old tradition with a new forward thinking look. I assuming keeping members of all ages thrilled. It is very difficult to bring about any change in a club and he has done so with aplomb. You find chinese chippendale mixed with bamboo, rattan, wrought iron, cane, grasscloth, antiqued mirror, and loads of quadrille, and michael devine fabric.

Above: One of my all time favorite rooms

Above: A close up of the walls. They installed grasscloth and painted it a deep chocolate brown. They then painted ivory and white palm trees on top.

The result is fantastic.

Above: A shot of the Library where backgammon is played and you can escape the sun to read.

Above: The Bar done in reds and tans with leopard rug. It is cozy and timeless yet feels totally current.

Above: A close up shot of an etched bell jar lantern- one of my favorite light fixtures to use.

Above: A seating area in the lobby with large panels of antiqued mirror, a Peter Dunham fabric on the kidney shaped sofa, and a custom fig leaf ceramic ashtray.

We stayed in room 39 right on the beach and it was fantastic. I can also recommend the cottages which were terribly chic, calimg, and fresh with their quadrille wallpaper. Another favorite spot was the Yacht Club with a navy and black striped floor that picked the colors right out of the swordfish that hangs above the fireplace. Sitting outside at a table you overlook a bode court watching beautiful boats pull into their slips. Sigh…..take me back.

Above: The clubs signature drink the Rum Dum.

Totally relaxed!

xo,
S

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Autumn Hues – Brown

October 5, 2010

sara

Fabric Homes Inspiration Interior Design Shopping No Comments

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,

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Autumn Hues- Blue

September 30, 2010

sara

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: