Hi.
Saturated Summer, it's official, and while I am sure the House of Herrera and Valentino had the inspiration for their collections solidified a year ago. Interiors follow fashion absolutely. Color tends and patterns driving. I love the patterns and colors that appeared on the runway for the Summer of 2015. While I have been working a lot with cool and soft colors on several projects, the bold look of black and white has always been a favorite of mine, hence my new first floor renovation at home. I planned our trip around the first stage of our reno. While we were gone and Kate was in camp, and the dogs were all at the kennel, I had all my floors done and walls painted. The messy part. My old, 1921 house had 3 different floors - old hardwood stained dark brown, slate and new engineered in the back of the house. It has always bugged me. Leaving the house in the trustworthy hands of Bree, Maggie and David, I came home to new floors from the kitchen back and a new stain color throughout.
All my walls are now bright white and several of the window casings are black. A clean black and white palette with light, pale grey floors. So excited (and so appreciative for the work that was done while I was gone !)
New table and lighting came in yesterday, both designed and created by Josh Utsey.
But with that black and white I was looking for inspiration for a pop color and being in London and Paris really inspired me in several ways. I love the art gallery look of all white walls, I love the mix of old vintage and new modern, I love touches of antique brass, I love unique pieces, created by artist friends and now I am thinking of bringing a touch of red back. Maybe being around all that "royal" red was what did it?
I love Valentino's new collection. It has those saturated colors I am drawn to mixed with a strong black and white.
Valentino's Spring/ Summer 2015 Collection
I pulled a few fabrics, walls papers and even floor tiles that I felt spoke to the look.
Along with Valentino, Herrera's summer line spoke the same language to me.
Having stayed at two amazing hotels in Paris and London (see previous posts) I started seeing these colors and patterns and it really solidified the direction I wanted to go in my own home. I am working to find a mix of old and new. Now that the base is picked out and ordered, accessorizing with art, pillows and objects will be a fun hunt.
To all the black and white I'll be looking at accent pillows and the like to give it lots of personality.
Designers Guild's Christian Lacroix
Just before I left we installed the "man cave" of a client of mine. This particular client also loves these saturated colors. Her exterior is painted charcoal with black trim and her interior walls are all white. We have been working our way through the home adding heavy pops of color in the same tones I am speaking of (see here) and it was now time to finish up the third floor.
I created two design boards for inspiration . . . take a look.
In both options, this rug was a must. Old, yet new with a heavy dose of black.
Check out the finished product in my next post.
I was looking for inspiration for my own home and really found it on my trip. Now that the walls and floors are done, and it's time to filter in the fun stuff. I know the direction I want to head in. In the mean time, take a look at what I have pulled to inspire my choices.
Our hotel in Paris was a Lacroix explosion of pattern on patter, and rich color on color. These two pillows I used in the Parker install, while I am going for a little less pattern as a whole, bits and pieces of this look will be appearing !
Thanks vacation time, thanks Carolina Herrera, Valentino and Lacroix for inspiring me so much !
Our hotel in London - I still can't get over how gorgeous it was. My goal is to take the feel of this in a new and clean way . . . .
photo by David Pullum
