Install of the Day!

Hey There . . .

Leslie Pearce.  Blond, skinny, vivacious, a dog lover,  a clothes horse.  Design challenged, and I say that with love.  She came into the studio like a whirlwind, clicking across the showroom floor in 4" heals.  Having just spent time with Jill Pleune at Sloan down the street, she was sent my way and just in time.  She said she wanted "a bed board" translation, master bedroom.

She and her rocker, dear head hanging, kitchen designing husband Jef, were getting close to completing the renovation of their new house.  A bungalow in Dilworth, once his guy pad, now a new home for two, all gutted, modern, clean and new.  She needed help asap with her master bedroom, with a plan in place for the living room.  We didn't have much time, but time enough to pull off the master and order the key piece for the living room, a large, sleek sectional which is being made . . .

We installed her master yesterday.  I had a blank slate (yay) The request - modern with style.  My design needed to include the paint colors Leslie and Jef had already chosen and painted.   In this case it worked out (but remember to always pick and paint last!)   The master was painted a pretty, warm grey so I played off of that.  The office downstairs was painted a rich, bright red.  With the rest of the house a cool pale grey, I wanted to find a way to have the red make sense, so I filtered it in the master just slightly as an accent color and in the future living room, I plan to pop in a red chair.

I came up with this for Leslie and Jef.

Take a look at the finished product and let me walk you through the thought process . . .

The obvious place for the bed, under the long skinny window.  I wanted something sleek and modern, this king cream leather bed was the ticket.  I wanted to give that large bed with surrounding windows something to anchor them, so I chose a dark black and grey wall paper.

Their style, and this house, is very sleek and modern, this couple couldn't be any more different yet they somehow complement each other perfectly.  She is ALL girl and he is all guy.  I didn't want a fussy room, yet I wanted a splash of red for Leslie - one of her favorite colors.  Wanted to accomplish that with art and accessories.

This dresser is the perfect example of the two of them.  Silver leaf, mixed with reclaimed wood.  Love the modern lines and just the right combination of the two of them.

Under Keith's art piece, a simple little glass sculpture that resembles both the lamps and the art.. love that.

Soft, shaggy, graphic rug.

A little furry, and a simple Restoration Hardware duvet and pillows.  F. Schumacher on the bolster.  The combination of paper, leather, fur, linen, and pattern fabric - 5 different textures and patterns that give the focal wall major impact.

What started it all - this Zoffany paper.  I love the dark color and movement.  It gives the wall some weight and anchors that big upholstered bed.  It makes the room !

A little splash of red next to the large, jewelry like, twisted silver lamps.  I love a big lamp, always a statement.

I screeched on the breaks when I passed Elizabeth House Flowers on the way to Leslie's.  They has these red beauties in the window and wanted.  Perfect little touch !

I found these mid century side tables at Slate and love them, a little vintage touch mixing the wood tones with the white.

Happy girl.

With the master finished . .  we are moving downstairs with a plan.  I love working with clients to come up with a full house game plan.  Whether we move on it all at once or phase it, knowing just what's to come take a little of the stress away !

Jef did an amazing job on their kitchen.  He worked with Beth Merrell on this fab RUTT (cabinet dealer) kitchen.  With the high end cabinets and appliances, it's sleek style suits the house and open floor plan.  His attention to detail in this space is impressive ! Great job Jef and Beth.  Check out his site . . . Salem Sales Company

We did get the office going with new desks, a rug, blinds and art.  I needed to work around the red walls Leslie and Jef chose ahead of time.  My solution . . . a red chair in the near by living space and in the office, a red desk which happened to match perfectly!  Here's the plan . . 

We are working on just the right art for the office, as well as storage and desk lamps.  In the meantime - the deer head went up in the tall stairwell.  Love them, and they are ALL Jef. (it's ok Leslie, they look fab !)  I think this love shack is well on it's way.

Pleasure working with you two . . . and . . .

Stay tuned for phase 2 !!


Sweet review from Leslie . . .

My Current Obsession . .

Happy Sunday!

I have a current obsession.  Allow me to elaborate.  Yesterday I played with all the things I love, one is pondering new ideas.  I hate repeating things.  There are too many ways to be inspired and directions to go and being original is the goal.  But first of all,  I was up early just to get on the One Kings Lane site to snag a piece or two from Iris Apfel private collection that went on sale at 8 am.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have something from a design icon.  Within minutes everything was spoken for.  I was surprised the site didn't crash.  But I hung in there and the piece I wanted, which was "on hold" suddenly became available (you have 9 mins to purchase).  I grabbed it.  A marble covered mask.  I know, a little odd.  I love it, not that I plan to wear it, (but you never know) I plan to frame it in some sort of amazing way (and Veronica - I will be seeing you!)  I also scored a cool, metal bracelet-like belt and her book "Rare Bird of Fashion."  

I love her.  She is a Rare Bird and a no-bull shit - 93 year old that doesn't worry what anyone thinks. She's a true original in everything she is, sees and does.  Get the book, her life is amazing.

So back to the obsession thing.  It's the look of marble and other semi-precious stones, hence the marble covered mask.  I say "look" because it's not just the real thing I love, it's the natural (and exaggerated, human tweaked)  patterns.   I want it in art, in wall paper, in jewelry, on counters, on furniture. This obsession of mine started originally with Kelly Wearstler (another icon I obsess over).   Her use of this material in it's true sense, on floors, on walls, on furniture is stunning.   Her layering is amazing,  her color tones I could get lost in.  Take a look at a few of amazing spaces and you'll see what I mean.

I love following her on instagram and somewhere along the way her images with their amazing color combinations, and patterns inspired me and became something I wanted to incorporate in the way of fabrics, papers and most importantly, art.  There was something rich and luxe about the movement of the patterns.

 Addison Weeks also started appearing in my travels.  I first got a look at her jewelry at Slate Interiors and have loved ever since.

Addison Weeks

My obsession only continued when I was introduced to Calico wall paper one trip to New York.   This was the first I had seen of this type of paper and after talking with the creators , Rachel and Nicholas and learning a little bit about the process, I became even more obsessed.

So much so, I used one of their papers on an install of my own . . .

Then Zoffany came along with their Quartz line of papers. Oh man.  Had to use.

We just recently back these built in cabinets with one of their papers then I went further in the space and added those touch of gold and metals to bring it all to life.

The new project I am working on will incorporate another pattern in the same Quartz book I love !  Stay tuned for that.  My new clients Leslie and Jef Pearce have just finished building their dream house.  Ultra modern and sleek.  I was thrilled to jump in (thank you Jill Pleune) to help pull together the look to go with the architectural design that Jef created himself.

Their master should be as luxe as Miss Leslie herself.

When it comes to art, marble paper was used way back when as a mat to frame a piece.  You remember, those tacky green marble mats surrounding a painting, print or photo.  Well get rid of those.  What I am interest in is the over piece resembling the look of anything marbleized on a large scale.

Give me any one of these vintage marble papers in the form of a large painted piece.

Keith, my artist husband, loves working in mixed media.  He has created encaustic pieces (using pigments mixed with hot wax that are burned in as an inlay) and has recently started working in ink.  The look is exactly what I am talking about.  This piece was one of his first encaustic pieces where he played with the movement of the wax, acrylic and metallic.  I love this one and had it framed in my office in the most gorgeous mint lucite frame (thank you V)

I am sure my love for this look will continue.  As like marble - it stands the test of time.

Stay tuned, Mekenzie shot the show at Hart Witzen Friday night, which will give you a better idea of encaustic and show off some of Keith's work!