Spectacular Pool Pavilion

In New England during the winter months we sometimes have to stay indoors - this year with so much snow, we have been indoors more than we have wanted to be. Our friend, the fabulous architect, Tom Catalano, of Catalano Architects, shared this gorgeous Pool Pavilion with me. A wonderful respite from the chilly, snowy days. Beautiful photography by the talented interior photographer, Eric Roth.

What a spectacular space. I love the post and beam ceiling details. It is wonderful oasis of natural lighting with french doors on three sides.

Here is a closer shot looking from the other side. Notice the ceiling beams and painted a gray green - it wonderfully compliments the wood doors and walls.

From this angle we can see the windows very high in ceiling to add even more light. No matter what the temperature outdoors, in this pool pavilion you immediately feel like you have escaped the winter and are at a fabulous resort.

Directly off the pool is a tranquil home gym and yoga studio. In this home it is easy to stay in shape all year long. If you look closely in the mirrors you can see the ceiling beams of the pool area.

Of course the house also boasts a gorgeous Billiards Room.

Look at stone work around the bar. Just stunning!!! This home has so much to offer on those days when you are snowed in and you just want to stay home.

Thanks again to Catalano Architects for sharing this Pool Pavilion with us. To see more of this home from a previous post, "Lessons of a Grand Home", click HERE. To visit Catalano Architects click HERE. To visit the website of photographer Eric Roth click HERE.

(all photos by Eric Roth and Catalano Architects- not to be copied with our permission)

Welcome Back Thru Dutch Doors

(Traditional Home)

One of my favorite design elements are Dutch Doors. I love how they make an entryway immediately more casual, warm and fun. I have always imagined my children playing, each on a different side of the door - playing store, lemonade stand or ticket booth.

Looking out from a Dutch Door when the top is open is wonderful, as shown above in this fabulous ocean front home from Coastal Living. When we redo our beach house, adding a Dutch door is at the top of my list. So over the years I have collected several images of my favorites.

This natural wood Dutch door, which I found via BH&G, is high on my list of favorites. I love the iron work and my husband Dave, loves natural wood color.

Here is another beautiful entry from BH&G. This Dutch Door is surrounded by glass. Notice the diamond pattern on the sidelights and the transom. Very pretty.

Another photo I have had for some time from favorite designer, Windsor Smith via (Joni at CDT). Though a very neutral space, I love the punch of turquoise brought into the room when the top of the door is open.

Here is another turquoise door I found at Design Sponge. I love how the color of the door is repeated again on the inside of the bookcase.

Another painted door from Coastal Living, this time in yellow. See how Dutch doors add a bit of whimsy and lend a casual feel to a space. This is the type of feeling I am trying to achieve at the beach house.

Brooke at Velvet and Linen has a Dutch door in her gorgeous home. Can't you just feel the welcoming warmth in her house! Beautiful!!

A perfect entry! I adore this shot from Traditional Home. The Dutch door gives the illusion of a larger space. The black painted door, iron work and brick floor are sublime!

Here a laundry room/mudroom from Country Home, achieves the same illusion of space with a Dutch Door and with tile set on the diagonal. Cute dog!

(photo-Jack Arnold Homes)

This door has a lovely arch and X design on the bottom. The door is fully closed, but if you look closely you will see that it is in fact a Dutch door.

This door from Coastal Living also has the X design on the bottom. This seems to be a common element.

(Photo by Eric Roth for Catalano Architects)

You have seen this lovely room before at Willow Decor. It's from our talented friends at Catalano Architects. Notice to the far right a beautiful Dutch door. See the rest of this spectacular home here.

(Country Home)

The next two photos are kitchens with Dutch doors. This is my favorite room for incorporating a Dutch door into the design.

(photo Coastal Living)

In both instances the open top of the door really brings the outdoors in! I love the look but do have concerns with bugs flying in, as I have never seen a Dutch door style screen.

(Delaware Historic Society)

Above and below are two antique doors which caught my eye. I like this first door because I think the scale of the door is very interesting. I like the larger top. I would love to see the entire house but my suspicion is that the house itself is also very grand.

(photo - This Old House)

Finally - this my favorite door of the bunch . I love the color, the antique hardware, the small window and of course how wonderful it looks with the stone surround. Over the next several months I'll be on the look out for an antique Dutch door. If you have a Dutch door, let me know how it "lives" and if you are thinking of adding one to your home let me know which one you prefer.

Also check out Karla's Its The Little Things That Make a House a Home blog. She took an old door she found on the side of the road and created a gorgeous Dutch Door - see how she did it HERE. Thanks so much Karla!!

A Coastal Dream by Catalano Architects

Houses by the ocean always seem to draw me in.

I love the shingle style architecture - and no one does it better than our friends at Catalano Architects. This particular house has incorporated a lighthouse theme.

Notice the "lighthouse" in this closer up photo. As usual, no detail was overlooked inside or out. You enter the home via a gorgeous cobblestone edged driveway.

The back of the home is breathtaking - designed to take in the equally breathtaking views.

Notice the wavy clapboard in the peaks. It would have been easier (and less expensive) to put straight clapboard, but its these small details that add to the character and personality of the home.

This is the main entry hall - You can see the view through those spectacular windows out toward the ocean.

Here is the entry hall with your back to ocean and facing the front door. Notice the tile is set on the diagonal.

The staircase includes beautiful custom detailing - the moulding, wainscoting and railing. Notice all the window shapes. I also like the stair runner.

Here the back staircase has a lattice inspired wall. Much more interesting than a solid wall.

The family room evokes a feeling of being on a luxury yacht. The wood paneled walls are amazing.

A close up of the bar. Just stunning!

The kitchen and breakfast room move us back in the a more traditional coastal decor - white cabinets and beadboard ceilings.

Every coastal home needs a pool house/guest house. Again Catalano Architects continues the lighthouse theme and creates a charming oasis.

Here is a closer shot. Take a moment and study the outside - the attention to detail is really amazing. Notice the curved shape of the roof, wavy clapboard, railings, columns - This guest house is truly a gem.

The inside is also outstanding. I especially love the retractable doors which immediately transform an indoor room into an outdoor room.

The interior detailing again astounds you - the curved staircase above is a work of art.

And when the view and the pool aren't enough - you can enjoy time in the game room, equipped with pool table and two lane bowling alley. Isn't this so much fun??!!

Or find an quiet niche in the house to curl up with a good book. Clearly this home has it all!

A special thanks to Tom Catalano of Catalano Architects for sharing this outstanding dream home with us! For more inspiration visit Catalano Architects here.

(all photos Catalano Architects by Warren Patterson-not to be copied without permission)

Lessons from a Grand Home

One of the wonderful things about writing Willow Decor is the opportunity to get to know Architects, builders and other designers. Like any master skill, if you look closely and listen to these talented individuals you can learn an amazing amount. Master architect, Tom Catalano of Catalano Architects, was kind enough to send some photos of a house he recently finished. While the house clearly exceeds the price range most of us can afford, reflecting more closely on the design, we can learn a great deal about how to add details and features into our own more modest homes, for a stunning effect. Here is the exterior of the home. Of course it is beautiful, but interesting things to note are the the roof lines and the use of multiple materials. Stone, cedar siding and wood accents and doors are featured prominently. Additionally notice the curved roof lines, copper roofing and copper accents. The cobblestone driveway also adds to the wonderful feeling outside. In your own home try to assess if you can add any one of these features to your existing exterior. A new wood door or cobblestone edging along your driveway or walkway can instantly elevate your exterior.

Of course some things are difficult and expensive to change once in your home- like banisters. But take a look at this entry. The iron spindles add a such a lovely accent to space. Also notice all the mouldings in this area. They are so beautiful. The addition of moldings is another way to add grandness to your spaces.

The gorgeous living room has all the architectural features to make it a showplace: limestone fireplace, curved large windows, beautiful mouldings. Here the mouldings have been painted a soft seafoam, rather than white and become more prominent in the room. Paint is great tool to use to call more attention to a wonderful feature in your room - who could forget the black painted mantel from the movie It's Complicated (photo link here)?

The dining room color echos the living room colors and provides a beautiful flow. Also notice the light fixtures. I love sconces in a dining room. They provide ambient light that can really help create a spectacular atmosphere. Also notice how the beautiful windows are not covered with heavy draperies, but allow the light to flood the room.

Thea kitchen is an area where details abound: the ceilings are coffered, the cabinets have all the extras, not even the tile was overlooked.Notice the detailed inlay on the cabinet crown moulding and the extended sides of the cabinets. Also of note it is the wood wall moulding which highlights the arched opening into the breakfast/dining area.

I imagine that wall moulding was used to off set this moulding detail entering the family room. The wood trim around the stove hood is interesting. Here is a close up of the tile design. Although the center piece is most likely expensive, the tiles that are not embellished are generally more affordable. Adding decorative tiles in strategic places, can give you an expensive, beautiful look for a reasonable cost. This can be done in your current tiled space, by carefully removing specific tiles and replacing the opened area with something more dramatic. Another doorway with wall moulding that looks into the breakfast/dining area. I really love the raised fireplace. So cozy in the winter. Notice the color of the kitchen ties in nicely with the color of brick. Off the entry, which you can see through the doorway is the library. Who wouldn't love to be surrounded by such fabulous wood and furnishings? Notice the ceiling - a deeper russet than the kitchen. Painting a ceiling in this tone really envelopes you in the room. (Have you noticed I am really into painted ceilings lately?)
Wonderful marble bath with wall mounted faucet.
This house has it all, including a to-die-for mudroom. The beadboard walls are so inviting. I love the branch like pulls. Also notice the floor; the slate is set on the diagonal which will make the space seem larger, and then edged horizontally, interesting details!
Here a back stairway brings you to the second floor. I suspect it is off the mudroom due to beadboard walls. I love beadboard in a newer home. It adds a nice touch by adding depth and a sense of age.
This is an entry to seating area -not sure which floor it is on, but I included it to show the wall moulding detail. It is interesting to me how well the rosettes mimic the kitchen backsplash tile. I love when details of one room are echoed in a different way in another room and this is a great example. Stunning!
The master bedroom is tranquil and beautiful - again gorgeous windows and french doors to private patio flood the room with light. The leather headboard provides a nice balance to the stunning wood ceiling.

Finally the opulent master bath. So much space and light - a dream with private make up area, separate sinks and glorious soaking tub! Small glass shelves dividing the vanity spaces provide privacy and openness at the same time.

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This house is an exceptional example of classic home design. Though we may never be able to live in such a home, there are many small elements we can take from this and use in our own spaces. Take a fresh look at your room. Can you add some crown moulding, paint the ceiling or the mantel, add some tile? Outdoors can you edge the walkway with cobblestones or create a pebble path in the garden? Small changes can bring big impact. Let me know if any of this inspires you!

(all photos by Eric Roth and property of Catalano Architects - do not copy without permission)