Thursday, September 01, 2011

A Southampton Home by Meg Braff

This is a pretty house with interior designs by Meg Braff.

Since the house is located in East Hampton, New York, I immediately thought the color scheme was based on the surrounding scene of sky and ocean (blue), sand (sisal, toile and stripes in master bedroom) and the natural third accent color would have been yellow to represent the sun.  But, I was wrong.

As I perused the images, I saw the third accent color was green.  Aha!  Never assume anything!

As I read the interview with the designer, I realized it was the living room painting over the fireplace from which she drew her colors.  It's one of her favorite 1960's Swedish artists, Gustav Bolin, whose works she collects.  Although the clients were at first hesitant about the painting, Meg convinced them to try it for a month and they were thrilled with the final results.

And therein lies the secret of easy color combinations by designers.  I've heard it over and over again......if you are not sure where to start with a room color scheme, use a favorite piece of art, fabric or colorful carpet.....after all, the artists and designers of all of these items are master colorists.    

We all know that the artist, Matisse, is famous as a master colorist, so I was intrigued to read some time ago, that he used fabrics of the time to gather his color schemes.  Interesting!!

Enjoy!











All images via House Beautiful




Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Seashell Decor














Images 1 - 3 Veranda, Image 4 Unknown
Images 5 - 7 Better Homes and Gardens


Monday, August 29, 2011

Bathing Beauties

















Images 1 -4 Traditional Home
Image 5 Hamptons Cottages & Gardens
Image 6 - 8 House Beautiful


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sleeping Beauties














Images 1 - 5 Charlotte Moss, Image 6 Charles Faudree
Images 7 & 8 Mario Buatta


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A Touch of Pink


Look how these soft rooms come to life with just a touch of pink!















 Images 1, 2, 3 & 4 House Beautiful
Image 5 & 6 Traditional Home
Image 7 House Beautiful



Monday, August 22, 2011

Reading Rooms of the Royally Rich



Design by Thomas Britt

Private library of Horace Walpole at his English castle,
Strawberry Hill

Design by Jacques Grange

Design by Thierry Despont for Toronto, ON client

Private library of filmmaker, George Lucas,
at his ranch
27,000 titles

All photos via Architectural Digest





Friday, August 19, 2011

Loving the Art of Catriona Millar

I was thinking about Catriona Millar's artwork recently and I decided to do a bit of research on her work.

When she came to mind a couple of weeks ago, as I was ruminating about artists to feature on my blog, I didn't quite make the connection as to why she was foremost in my mind.  But today, as I write about her, I realize it is the one year anniversary of when I discovered her work in a tiny little village by the sea in England, called Mousehole.

Yes, one year ago today, I was on a train trip from London to Reading to attend a one week art course in the English countryside, a small hamlet called Mapledurham.  I had just spent three days in London, where I attended the first exhibition of the late Princess Grace Kelly's couture wardrobe at the Victoria and Albert Museum, among other things.  It was stunning to say the least.

Had a fabulous week of art classes at the Joe Daisy Art Studio (http://www.joedaisy.co.uk/), where I stayed in their bed and breakfast, enjoyed art classes all day long and returned home every evening with my travel partner, Wendy, and two other women who were at the art course, and enjoyed a fabulous gourmet dinner.  On Wednesday of that week, our art teacher took us to Henley on Thames, where we enjoyed a day of plein air painting on the River Thames and lunch at one of the 52 pubs in Henley!! What a perfect week that was.....very highly recommended!

Upon completion of the art course, we then took a five hour train trip to Penzance, Cornwall where we spent another five days sightseeing.  It was there that I discovered the art of Catriona Millar.......in a gift shop in the little village of Mousehole. 

The first two images below are the two images I chose to buy in the form of art cards.  They were irresistible to me....the rosy cheeks, the colors, the hen and the thoughtful expressions on the faces appealed to me.  Matted and framed, they would be spectacular!

Upon researching this artist, I discovered Catriona Millar is ranked among the top five artists in Scotland and her art shows have been known to sell out in hours, her work is in such demand.  Furthermore, I discovered she will be one of the artists teaching a one-week course next May in Plockton, Scotland......another little village by the sea on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands!  (See the picture of Plockton below.)  How I would love to attend this workshop for artists and writers!!  As life goes, sometimes a famine, sometimes a feast, it is taking place the exact same week my husband and I will be on a river cruise through the south of France! 

Perhaps another time!

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!


Rosie

Miss Berry

Josie's Friend

Lady in Red

Little Bird

Country Homes & Interiors

Plockton, Scotland
A National Trust Conservation Village
Cottages and palm trees!

Images 1 & 5 Blank Card Company, Images 2, 3, 4, 6  & 7 Catriona Millar

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sleeping Quarters




I designed this space for a small cottage a few years ago - I made the window treatment, the bed cover and all the cushions including the slipcovers on the wicker chairs and decorator cushions.









 

Images 1 & 3Traditional Home, Image 2 Eastcoast Living
Image 4 Romantic Homes, Image 5 Country Home,
Image 6 Walls & Windows, Image 7 thatcozylook