Modern interiors in ancient homes

I LOVE old, historic homes. The character, the charm, the history, and the quality of craftsmanship far surpass the cookie cutter houses most of us have to settle for. What I also love is to see how people of today integrate modern technologies and furnishings into houses built long before those technologies were ever dreamed up.

PS - click on each image for a larger version



A home in Sri Lanka - I like that so many of the original architectural elements haven't been tampered with.



Love this bathroom and bedroom - check out the nooks above the desk

the 3 images above are from another Sri Lanka home.


2 images above from a farmhouse in Santiago, Chile

This kitchen is one of my favorites. I love exposed beams, and these have been painted yellow to brighten up the place.

2 images above from a home in Provence, France


2 above from a home in Mantova, Italy

LOVE the stone with a modern take on a classic chair. Gorgeous. From another Provence home.

What do you think? Do you live in an old home? What do you love about it? If you don't, would you like to live in one?

all images © Richard Powers.

Thoughtful design trends translated for your home

The people at Charles Luck Stone center reached out with their interpretation of how the design world can be translated into home decorating and I thought their perspective insightful enough - and their pictures pretty enough - to share with you guys. Tell me what you think.

They were a little more articulate: "The latest trends in color and texture don’t just play out in the world of fashion; they also influence interior design and architecture. For many individuals, the look and feel of their home is just as important as the style of their clothing. And let’s face it, it’s much easier to renovate your wardrobe then it is your kitchen! To stay ahead of the curve, interior designers and architects need to keep tabs on the latest fabrication developments and color forecasting, as well as understand the longevity of a trend."

Here's my favorite - "Whiteness" of course

so serene. Here's what they predict:

In Design

• We’ll see more monochromatic, semi-plain decors with clean lines, no clutter and minimal structural effects.

• Technology and hand-tooling will be used to add dimension and texture, generating depth and visual interest.

• Homage will be paid to strong and classic interpretations of architecture, and not overly masculine or feminine.

• Woods, if used, will be pale or dark, grainy and textured.

In Stone

• We’ll see a resurgence of classic white marble in the kitchen and bathroom, often featuring the European prefence for thicker, solid edges.

• Stone will be present in various textures and face finishes for a tone-on-tone dimensional effect.

• Classic polished stone materials will be tumbled for a new look.

They also had some pretty pics illustrating the "Artisan" perspective






In Design

• Cultural influences will lead to the popularity of vertical and elongated forms. We’ll see more repeating designs.

• Artisans’ influence will be shown in an increased use of mosaic, stencil and stained glass.

• Natural, indigenous materials will be used to reflect the representative culture.

• Arts and crafts and mission will continue to be popular, as will bungalow style, with emphasis on porches and terraces.

• We’ll see a growing influence of global styling, particularly Indian, Moroccan, Latin and Chinese colors, detailing and craftsmanship.

In Stone

• We’ll see more handcrafted and handtooled materials. A mix of textures and finishes will add to the feel.

• Mosaics, especially those that are custom designed, will be incorporated into design.

• New color blends in stone will emerge.

• Accent detailing will become more prominent—an influence of the new multiculturalism.


Another good inspiration board - Authenticity






In design

• Natural (versus faux) materials will reflect the desire for designing and building enduring legacies.

• Arrangements will be more purposeful and coherent. Signature pieces will become important and personal.

• We’ll see a surge in the use of reclaimed wooden floors, natural stone, original art pieces and antiques.

• Architecture and design will remain relatively disciplined, with flexibility for personalization within the vernacular.

In stone

• Stone rooted in the history or culture of an area will gain prominent use.

• Products with great tradition or used in famous buildings will become more valuable.

• Products that exhibit a vintage, patina or weathered look will be in higher demand.

• Clients will actively seek out reclaimed stone as their desire to preserve architectural heritage increases.


There are more images and design predictions at Charles Luck Stone Center

Do you think these are some of the design trends we'll see in the home? How do you think people will be decorating or what materials do you hope to see more of?

Reader Question: Decorating a Tudor dining room?

Laura emailed me one of my most challenging questions to date when she wrote

"Any ideas about redecorating a dining room in an English Tudor home? My husband is an architect & engineer and thank goodness, a very handy man! We mostly do everything ourselves. We agree it is important to stay with the style of our home. Any ideas for a dining room?"

Everything I "know" from the Tudors comes from Philippa Gregory novels and Showtime's program. "Tudor style" does conjure images in my head of dark, decorative half-timbering, lush colors and fabrics, and lots of texture. I found an article by Meghan Carter on Ask the Decorator who toured Stan Hywet Hall, one of the best examples of Tudor architecture in America.

She writes, "Wood paneling, wood doors, wood furniture and wood beams on the ceiling were just a few of the more prominent uses of wood in the home, and Gilles confirmed that those uses of were common in most Tudor homes. In addition to wood, stone was used frequently as flooring and hearths and white plaster was used on the walls and ceilings."

A beautiful example of a tudor exterior.
via Southern Accents

For me, I also think of dark woods, very saturated colors and plush fabrics.


This dining set is from Pottery Barn, and it isn't "tudor," but the top table's legs remind me of the timbering used on exteriors.
via Pottery Barn


The two images above Met home created using Showtime's "The Tudors" as an inspiration. See the whole gallery here.
via Metropolitan Home

The four images below are all from a Tudor revival, so if you don't want to go for the traditional, dark wood, dark walls, etc., this revival might give you some ideas for combining Tudor style with a lighter, airier look.





See the whole revival and read about it here.
via House Trends

via Home Trimmings

Mixing your finishes and materials ads to the rich and sumptuous environment

I've always really liked this house from Country Living, and I think it's a good example of "modernizing" Tudor style. The furniture is visually and physically heavy and dark, but the decor is contrasting and the room is sparse and minimal. See the whole renovation here.
via Country Living

via Apartment Therapy

The article continues with some other good points:

"The use of tapestries, rugs and drapes soften the look of the hearty wood and stone giving Tudor homes an inviting, cozy feel you would not expect. In addition to fabric, Tudor homes incorporated numerous symbols, which also helped to give the interiors a softer more pleasant appeal.

Common symbols used in Tudor homes were the Tudor rose, the thistle, the Fleur-de-lis and the linen fold, as Gilles informed me. Those symbols would be found carved into the wood moldings and furniture, woven into tapestries and rugs and featured in stained glass. Another element featured often in Tudor homes that is easy to spot is the Tudor arch, which was used on both windows and doors.

The combination of stone, wood, white plaster, tapestries, rugs, symbols and the Tudor arch give Tudor homes a distinct feel that is part storybook...."
Read the whole article here

If anyone knows of any books or websites to steer Laura towards please leave a comment below or email me and I'll send them her way!

Two lovely portfolios - one a designer, one a photographer

Two talented artists for you today!

The work of Suzy Hoodless, who runs a design consultancy and styles residential interiors to advertising campaigns.





I like the tapestry, and I like the console...I'm just not so sure about what's going on with the legs...



I love her wallpaper designs, especially the top one.
via Suzy Hoodless

And... the elegant and eclectic photography of photographer Simon Upton.


I've always liked art in the bathroom.



via Simon Upton

I'll be back soon! I'm going to visit a place like this...

I'm off to Florida you guys! I'm taking a much needed long weekend to visit one of my sisters and relax on the beach. So, I'm leaving you with ways to add some light-hearted, tropical air to your space.

oh...this is so me... natural wood tones and white

via the beautiful blog, this is glamorous




West Elm(top)/Pottery Barn ( 2 bottom) via Material Girls

Material Girls gave some really good advice on achieving this look:

• Rattan or wicker furniture
• Wood flooring
• Natural area rug- seagrass or sisal
• Mixing lots of texture and pattern is a must!
• Comfort is key- large upholstered furniture in preferably white or off white will give it a fresh, clean, and crisp look
• Animal prints!!!!
• A few leather pieces
• Try to stick with these colors- pale yellows, browns, golds, beiges, natural greens that have more yellow in them, soothing blues, whites, and splashes of red, black, and chocolate brown
• Wood furniture
• Lanterns
• Bamboo shades for your windows
• Table setting- they have these great round textured placemats at Crate and Barrel/ C&B Outlet or you could do wooden bowls
• Large floor vase with bamboo sticks
• A candle in a glass container with water rocks/stones
• Wood bowl with real fruit

But if you want more of a beach/nautical look, here are some of my favorite accessories:

• Faux coral- I can't say enough about it, I have a piece of it in my Living Room that I bought at Crate and Barrell and it just makes my coffee table.
• Extra large clam shells- I know we have done a high low feature on this before, but you can find them everywhere these days- they are very in style!
• Anything dark blue and white
• Stripes are always nice for this
• How about putting starfish in a bowl or in a jar?
• Shells on a stand or in a glass bowl
• A glass apothecary jar filled with sand...my mom (who inspires me every day!) has been collecting sand from the different beaches she has visisted while on vacation for the past I don't know how many years- she then puts the sand in different glass jars and labels them where they came from. It makes a really cute display and a great conversation starter about all of your travels!

Tips via Material Girls (more great info to be had)

via Home Decorating Reviews






Tropical island architectural genius! I love the use of stone! It must make the home feel so cool when coming in from the beach.

viazlgdesign