French Style Luxury House

Some of you might think, does anyone actually live in this house? Impeccable, not a thing out of place, and every detail taken care of, this luxurious Home in Piedmont was decorated by Barbara Barry. Elegant and refined. The doors are open. Wipe your feet and come in!

Barry designed most of the furnishings in the living room, including the chairs, covered in a Cowtan & Tout fabric, the Boyd floor lamp and the Baker tables.




Interior: with Flowers, 1961, by Richard Diebenkorn is above the sofa.


A 1940s Bagues chandelier hangs above the custom table and chairs in the dining room.


The sunroom. Lined with a silk chinoiserie wallcovering



The dressing room. Two 1998 artworks by Nathan Oliveira hang above the vanity.




The kitchen terrace is used for outdoor entertaining.

Photography by Matthew Millman
All images and information from Architectural Digest.

Russian Decorative Arts & Dining Rooms to Love

Dream Product of the Day...

I know this selection is a bit (a lot!) formal, but it's so fantastic, that I had to post it. I came across it when I was going through my Judith Miller Furniture book (one of my favorite reference books for history of furniture).

Tula Center Table. Made of sparkling cut steel. Produced by Tula's Imperial Armory. Epitomizes 18th century Russian Decorative Arts. Artists cut steel into diamond facets that sparkled like jewels, colored and chased the surface, and used non-ferrous metal inlays. This table is regarded as the finest example of Tula furniture.

Close-up of Tula center table corner. Neoclassical detail can be seen in the frieze.

Close-up of Tula center table leg and fish-shaped mount.

Close-up of Tula center table. Acanthus leaf detail adorns the cabriole legs.

Close-up of Tula center table column.

After viewing this exquisite piece of furniture, I thought I would take a look at some dining rooms that I love...

Dining Rooms To Love...

This is Katie Lee Joel's dining room. I love, love, love the dark wood floors and cool tone on the walls juxtaposed against the white classic furniture. This room just feels fresh and relaxed, even with the formal furnishings and elements.

Small space? No problem! The leather and chrome "bamboo" chairs mix perfectly with the lantern that has the same lines. The wall treatment gives the room the joie de vivre that says "come on in, relax and have a cup of coffee!".

French Country is such a warm design palette. The brick-laden floor and furniture style cabinetry in this kitchen are wonderful. Look at that fun chandelier over the dining table!

Designer Thomas Pheasant. He is one of my favorite designers. His designs are so harmonious and peaceful (which ties into my whole design aesthetic - hence the blog name!). The light fixture is quickly becoming one of my favorite styles. I would really love to have this or something similar over my dining room table. The simple drapes and neutral colors give this space a restful feeling.

The dining room chair is reminescent of Arne Jacobsen's design. These chairs are Thomas' Greek lounge chairs for Baker Furniture. Barbara Barry uses this shape in her designs as well (she has a furniture line for Baker too).

Another fabulous dining room by Thomas Pheasant. Here he uses his Louis dining arm chairs from his Baker furniture line. The chinese inspired lantern in burnt red is the perfect compliment to the fabric Thomas chose for the dining chairs. Note that everything else in the room is neutral-toned, which balances out the room (design restraint!).

Another room by Thomas. This actually looks more like a living room which has a table and four chairs that can be used for dining or poker or conversation if the need arises. I love the chairs, the chest on the back wall and the pattern in the rug.

Here Jed Johnson Associates, Inc. uses a very serene palette of colors and furnishings. The pale blue on the walls sets the stage for the dark tabletop atop a greyish-cream toned base and chairs. The chandelier gives the room elegance and the mirrors pull it all together.

This dining room is by designer Sills Huniford Associates. This is a small room, but instead of drawing attention to the size, the designers put this fabulous table and cut-out chairs in it and placed an organized palette of prints on the wall. Huniford has a design book out called Dwellings: Living With Great Style. Check it out!

I like this dining room because of its simplicity and understated design. Designer Sills Huniford Associates.

I love the wallpaper in this dining room by designer Thad Hayes, Inc. Thad has a new design book coming out in 2009 called Thad Hayes: The Tailored Interior. I can't wait to get it.

Designer Mariette Himes Gomez hit paydirt on this dining area. The brilliance of putting a curved, skirted sofa up next to a round table and adding two armchairs in a beautiful fabric is beyond perfect for me. I would definitely have this in my home. Architectural Digest.

Indoor/outdoor dining spaces are all the rage and this one is even made better by the assemblage of chairs and fabulous bench. Designer Randolph Duke - Architectural Digest.

This scanned picture isn't very clear, but I had to include it in my favorite dining rooms to love. I guess the tall french doors leading into this space and those cane-back chairs along with that settee on the back wall just make my heart flutter a bit.

I don't know if it is the lighting in this photo or the elements of the room (I think it is a little of both), but this looks like it could be a dining room for a movie star of the 40's or 50's, such as Grace Kelly or Ingrid Bergman. Designer Stephanie Henley - Architectural Digest.

Have a great week everyone!

Entryways & Michael Smith's New Products

I'm excited to post that Michael Smith has new products out for his Jasper Line, which includes furniture and fabric. In addition, his new book, Michael S. Smith Houses is available October 21, 2008. I have a link below where you can go check it out or pre-order if you want.

Here is Michael's Deauville Fabric. It is so understated and beautiful. It reminds me of linens that I grew up with.

This is the Lyon Biblioteque. Wouldn't this be wonderful next to your favorite reading spot?

The Treviso Armchair or the Italian Gilt Dining Arm Chair. The website lists it under both names. This is classic styling at its best. I love the pattern on the back rest of the chair, the acanthus leaf detail and the gilting. For a closer look, go to his website http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/ and look under "tearsheets".

Medici Console Table. Perfect for an formal entryway with its Louis XVI styling and gilting.

Close-up of Medici Console.

What makes a good entryway? Should it be functional or fantastic? Should it be designed just for a great first impression or should that go by the wayside in lieu of a place to set your wet boots and hang up your coat?

I believe the function of your entryway depends on the style of your home and what your family needs are. Obviously, a family with children may need something a little more functional than a young New York couple who entertains a lot.

Below are some fantastic examples of entryways that I have found.

Designer Jennifer Nilsen for Designer's Challenge. I love the colors of this space. The robins egg blue and the lime green are so fresh and inviting. The table legs are fabulous as well in different colors. This looks like an artist's home.




Designer Erinn Valencich for Light It Up. The combination of this whimsical wallpaper, with the contemporary styling of the dark wood mirror, bench and side table work well together. The pillows pull in the subtle colors from the wallpaper. Nicely done.


To accessorize with pillows, there are a few tricks of the trade that may help you in your decorating. Pillows can be a unifying element in a room. These pillows can be square, round, or rectangular and average in size between 12 and 18 inches in diameter. Be careful not to add too many decorative pillows, however. Though the look is luxurious, it may overwhelm the space. One beautiful accent pillows is enough. Smaller than the other pillows on your bed, they are often made of more expensive fabrics and are sometimes embellished with beading, sequins or other trim. Choose your favorite shapes or go with boudoir pillows or neck roll styles.







Another design by Erinn Valencich for Light It Up. Love her styling. She has a knack with accessories. Here she keeps the accessories colorless so the beautiful wall color is highlighted.






Designer Jackie Glisson for Designer's Challenge. The ironwork in this space is the main attraction. The built-in cabinetry with the faux-painted stone walls give this space a very luxurious, rich feel.





Designer Kristin Hannah for Designer's Challenge. This hallway's beautiful Spanish tile and faux painting on the adobe walls gives this space a very welcoming feel. The large wood table and spanish styled wood mirror above it add to the warmth. Photo by Dino Tonn.

Designer Lori Dennis for Designer's Challenge. Open, light and airy. The wall-mounted cabinet give this entrance hallway a more open feel and the niche above it gives the room the illusion of having more space.

Designer Simon Temprell for Designers Challenge. The iron in this entryway is the main attraction. The cream and parchment walls offers a nice backdrop for the ironwork.

Interior Designer Victoria Hagan. She incorporates into this entryway a few of my favorite things... dark floors, white walls, and over-sized lantern fixtures. Simplicity is key here, but the bones of the space are good to start with. The parquet floor, the columns, the greek key motif ceiling border and the Swedish-styled x-frame armchair give this room it's classical styling.




This photo is from a Pottery Barn ad. But, what I like about it for an entryway is that it is stylish, comfortable and functional. The kids can come in from school, sit down, take their shoes off and store them in the bench cubby, throw their jacket up on a hook and they are off running. And Mom gets to keep the area stylish with the glass vases and all the natural elements of the space; including the reed grasses, the woven baskets, a starfish from the beach and to tie it all together, the map wallpaper.



Interior Designer Thomas Pheasant. Fabulous entryway with the marble-topped console table and urn atop. These chairs are what Barbara Barry uses often with her decor, with a greek key motif added. The mirror with the meandering twigs looks wonderful against the marble wall.



Interior Designer Thomas Pheasant. I love his subtle color use in this space. The long narrow bench is the perfect compliment to the wonderful art on the wall. Although, my favorite two things about these spaces are the wonderful birdcage light fixture and chest and mirror in the back space. I want them both!



What is so striking about this entranceway is of course, the sculpture piece on the table. But, it works because the area is simplified and not overdone, as so many people try to do in their designs. This space is cold with all the marble and iron and the organic sculpture was just what this area needed.