Saturday, January 31, 2009

Belgian Decor at Cote de Texas

If you have not visited Joni Webb's fabulous blog, Cote de Texas, this is the week to stop by! Joni is an extremely talented designer in Texas. Her blog was recently selected as one of the top ten decorating blogs of 2008-9 by the Washington Post. This week Joni reviews the Belgian Style that is so hot right now across the country.

Joni describes Belgian decor as "quiet and monotone .. plain linens .. antique elements – ancient stone floors, beams, marble staircases, and acres of limed wood - everywhere. Textures are a very large part of this style – rough, rustic woods and stone surfaces are played against smooth, shiny crystals and glass."

In our increasing complicated world this is a style to come home, relax and unwind in - serene and almost austere.

Please stop by Cote de Texas and see the entire post.

I have saved it as one of my all time favorites, so do not miss it! Here is the link: http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/01/belgian-design.html

1942 CHARMING COTTAGE NOW UNDER CONTRACT IN BOYNTON BEACH















A sense of history seeps through this charming cottage of 1458 living sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, in historic downtown Boynton Heights in Boynton Beach. Note the pecky cypress dining room ceiling, typically designed wood-burning fireplace for those years, many French Doors. This vintage home is completely restored, with endless charm. No HOA! Low maintenance. Gourmet kitchen with cubby-shelves has granite counter tops and designer hardware. The roof is metal. Floors are beautiful wood and marble. Front path is Chicago brick. New plumbing and electrical wiring. Advanced security system. Beautifully landscaped with small yard. Near historic downdown, the beach, and I-95 access. Pet ok. All on 1-story. Priced well at $200,000... don't miss this one if you are looking for a historic home. Off Boynton Beach Boulevard. Call Marilyn for a showing at 561-988-0070.
VISUAL TOUR

Friday, January 30, 2009

Above the Cabinets

It's a question most of us had asked ourselves before... Should I decorate the space above my kitchen cabinets??

Reader Lisbeth wrote in with that exact question. She recently bought a new home (pictured below with the previous owner's decor). The kitchen has particularly high ceilings (higher than 14') and Lisbeth is not sure if or how to fill up all that wall space.
Here's my two-cents.

Best case scenario, if you have a lot of room in your budget, you could follow the new trend of building up and adding a second row of cabinets. I especially like glass paned doors on the second shelf.


via Giannetti Architecture

design by Nate Berkus


image via Cottage Living


image via Domino Mag


And don't forget a ladder.


Okay. Back to reality.

It's not likely that adding more cabinets is in the budget - that would be a very big expenditure. So regarding decor above cabinets - the rule is go big, or go home. No small paintings. No cake plates hanging out up there solo. It would be better to leave the cabinets blank if you don't have a nice collection to display.

And, in fact, there's something really nice and clean about leaving the tops empty...



I mean, if Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't care about blank wall space!...


If you decide that you do want to put up shelf decor though, I'll share with you a few of my favorite ideas.

1. Storage items.

Find and collect large boxes, baskets, storage chests, etc. for storing dry goods or magazines or cook books or food processor attachments that you never use like the cheese grater thing, or whatever.

I like these baskets from Domino (RIP)


Or these from Cottage Living.


2. Purely Decorative

Scour your local salvage yard for cool architectural pieces to display as almost sculpture.


Or start a collection of birdcages, like this pagoda cage in this Ruthie Sommers room.


Or antique water jugs.



3. Plates

I love me some hanging plates. It would be easy to amass a small collection to hang on the wall with plate hangers. You could stick with all white plates...


Or add some fun color and eclectic patterns...


Eddie Ross also likes to hang plates in the space above his cabinets. He has an incredibly gorgeous collection of antique ironstone, which you can pick up on eBay and at flea markets. You could also hang just plain, cheap, white plates and platters to achieve a similar effect.

I also like layering the hanging plates on the walls with stacks of bowls, pitchers, compotes, urns and cake stands. Again, though, you'll need a substantial collection to fill in all that space above your cabinets.
Here are other collections of whiteware on top of cabinets.

4. Shelves.

I love the idea of adding a long shelf to the two corner walls to help fill in the large wall space. I would probably add a collection of plates or pottery to these shelves (see above and below). The shelves will help fill in the space and make the dishware collection feel more substantial, and best of all, draw the eye up and bring attention to the incredibly high ceilings.


like so -
5. Mirrors.

Remember this photo from an old Martha Stewart Living? It's been floating around in my mind for years.


It would be so easy to recreate this look in any room or on any wall in your house - including the wall space above your cabinets.

Mirrors are like little lamps during the day. They are great for spreading natural light and making rooms feel bright and happy.

As for sourcing - you're in luck. Mirrors are absolutely everywhere. And you can usually get them for cheap. Thrift stores. Ebay. Michaels (or other craft chains). Target. HomeGoods/Marshalls/Ross. Bed Bath and Beyond. Pier 1. Pretty much any store you go to, you can find an interesting and cheap mirror. Talk about a big impact for this room.

So what about you, readers? What is your favorite trick for decorating above the cabinets? {And if any of you suggest faux ivy or grape vines, you'll be officially banished from the blog.}


P.S. Don't forget about the give away - you still have until Sunday night at midnight to leave a comment here.

The Right Balance Between Order And Disorder....

Mr. Brock’s definition of aesthetic beauty made me reflect on how I put together the many pieces of the 'DESIGN PUZZLE,' that I call a beautiful and interesting room.

Horace Wood Brock may be a cutting-edge authority on the economics of uncertainty, but when it comes to art, he’s as traditional as they come.

“Beauty is back,” he said defiantly, discussing his collection, which is now on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. “Political correctness, move over.”

His collection includes a 17th-century Flemish cabinet-on-stand veneered with turtle shell, ebony and bone; an extremely rare Louis XIV Boulle longcase clock commissioned for the palace at Versailles; a Louis XVI fall-front desk by Jean-Henri Riesener; a George II japanned chinoiserie tea table; a garniture of floral Qing dynasty porcelain vases with Louis XV bronze mounts; and a Regency medals cabinet-on-stand veneered with precious woods. (His English Regency antiques have been promised to the Boston museum.)



Go here for the rest of the NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/arts/design/30anti.html?_r=1

Mr. Brock’s definition of aesthetic beauty is based on a complex mathematical theory he developed. In the catalog he writes that beauty is present in an object “when the right balance is achieved between order and disorder.”

Go here to see collection:
http://www.curatedobject.us/the_curated_object_/exhibitions_boston/

*you may have to type in the above link and search for 'Splendor And Elegance' ( the name of his exhibit)

( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Going all girly

One thing I've noticed since I started reading interior blogs is that many bloggers comment that they find it hard to stick to the one style. I guess looking at those gorgeous pictures all the time, it is easy for us to become swayed. And it is good to be swayed - just a little - you don't want your style to stay fixed, otherwise it can become boring and predictable. But there's a fine line - you don't want to be crazy about mid century modern one week, shabby chic the next, unless you have a lot of time and money on your hands to go changing your decor all the time.

So why did I bring this up? Because I must confess that I too am one of those bloggers that finds it hard to stick to one style. You see most times I'm happily ensconced in a world of simple, natural, neutral interiors (although they can veer from quite modern, to very vintage), but then I see these lovely, girly, refreshing pictures, and I'm tempted to adopt a more feminine style of decorating. However, I haven't been blown too far off course - all these photos still have a lovely simplicity about them that I find very appealing.

Starting with...pink blossoms and the most gorgeous looking pink tins of tea I've ever seen

Selina Lake via Desire to Inspire


A new chair for my bedroom perhaps? Love the silver, a departure from the usual gold




Pretty pretty colours



Lovely copper bath and a feminine chandelier

Polly Wreford

Dressing table perfection


Mint julep cups with pink roses....

Pom Pom Interiors



Gorgeous, glamourous daybed

Stassi Design



Pretty, snowy white femininity, with touches of pink and gold

Stassi Design

A closeup of the mirror, with its lovely old patina
Stassi Design


And what feminine room is complete without some roses?

Polly Wreford


I wouldn't go girly in my whole house, I'm far too practical for that. But a little touch of femininity in the bedroom never goes astray....perhaps I'll go redecorate my boudoir now....
My Ping in TotalPing.com