HOME INTERIOR DESIGN-LIVING ROOM DESIGN

Did I just read something about DC being the "next hot youth magnet city?"

Uhhhhh, ok. That's nice. But I'm more interested in this:
D.C. is ratcheting up its interior design game.

Where'dja read THAT?

Right here, Gentle Readers. You read it right here.

Look no further than 14th Street. I swear, why would anyone drive to the 'burbs when you can roll on over to 14th Street, park anywhere, and hit Mitchell Gold, GoodWood, Miss Pixie's, and Vastu, and then saunter over to Cork - a personal favorite of mine - and have a leisurely glass of wine and dinner?

Vastu is gaining momentum. I love it. It's locally owned and eminently cool, and Jason and Eric truly understand how to outfit urban spaces stylishly. (Urban= hip, but it also can = smaller scale.) They're filling a void.


The upholstery selection is fantastic. Colorful, textured, edgy, modern...


They customize sizes. That's their thing. Some clients of mine loved the Capri sofa, but it was a little too deep for them. So Vastu, being all custom and service oriented and stuff, had it made 3" shallower. Perfect. We paired it with the Serengeti chair and called it a day.


Did I mention that they're an authorized Knoll dealer? Total bonus. And their blog, Design Clique, is excellent. (They post really, really often. Bastards :) )

So stop reading this and just go. Tell them bossy color sent you. And have a fabulous time.

Dear Annie:
I need help with my living room. It's time for the red to go away.

I want something more sophisticated. We have a "great room" layout with a vaulted ceiling that attaches to the dining area and kitchen. I'd like to use one color for both rooms. I'm thinking of a pale bluish-gray. Or maybe Wedgewood Gray. I hate tan, but I could live with something closer to taupe. The room doesn't get a ton of light.

I'm confused. Please help! - Lynda


Lynda, you poor dear. Do you ever dream that you're in Hell? As in, the place?

Let me hastily say that I'm not being snarky, because I know whereof I speak. I myself once had a red living room that led into a gold dining room. I thought it looked fabulous for about 10 minutes. Then I felt like I'd joined the circus.


Here's what I love:

• That you love color. Hooray!

Here's what I don't:

• The red is too dark
• The contrast with the gold is too stark
• The overlap of the colors in the dining room looks odd to me

So where does that leave us?

I agree that painting both parts of the great room the same color is the solution. Good for you for coming up with that.

You say the room doesn't get much light, so let's stick with a lighter color. Alas, much as I love Wedgewood Gray (and you know I love it), it's just too dark for your space.

Go for a light, warm neutral on the walls and - here's the kicker - wrap that color up the vaulted ceiling and onto any horizontal ceiling above. One light color, everywhere. Including on the natural wood baseboard I see peeking out in your pictures.

So what color? I'd love to see you test Benjamin Moore's HC-172 Revere Pewter, because it (like all colors) behaves so differently in different settings. At its best, it's a soft, warm, sophisticated, contemporary-but-not-frighteningly-edgy gray.

(Gentle Readers, let's just consider this post the Best of Bossy's Colors for Revere Pewter, shall we? I haven't gotten around to writing a special entry about it, but it really is an all-star color.)

I don't want you to go too cool, though. I see some country stuff in your home...the American flag, the quilt, the Windsor chairs...so also test some warm off-whites, such as Benjamin Moore's OC-91 (or 2153-70) Ivory Tusk.

Ivory Tusk veers yellow, so as long as you're at the Benjamin Moore store, also pick up a sample of OC-1 Natural Wicker. Slightly darker and beige-er, but not boring. Give it a shot.

Then, THEN, you must promise me that you won't lose your color mojo just because you've gone all upscale with your wall color :) Please promise me that you'll splurge on some fun throw pillows for your sofa and chairs in red, orange and pink. Yes, they clash. Yes, you can do it.

I have faith in you. Good luck, and keep me posted, Lynda!



Those three adorable, affordable throw pillows are by color maven Susan Sargent.

You'll have plenty of time to talk to the experts: Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP, Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC; Jay Tucker, Custom Home Builder, Old Hampshire Designs, Inc.; and Dan O'Halloran, Colby Real Estate.

Registration for the seminar is requested. Get directions, an Itinerary and register for these free green events at http://www.boninarchitects.com/seminarcontact.html

The challenge: update a tired kitchen without breaking the bank.


The solution: paint - rather than replace - the cabinetry and enliven the space with a bold countertop.


Let's hear it for Formica Microdot! It has a tiny pattern of dots that gives the material a contemporary, almost tech-y feel. This is #6903 Cassis.

I've found that countertops generally fall into two price groups: there's laminate and butcherblock at the low end of the scale (around $40/sf), and then there's everything else - granite Caesarstone, Silestone - at double the price. Lucky for me I didn't have to talk the client into Formica; she's as much a fan as I am.

My client also knew that replacing her cabinets would be prohibitively expensive - and even though they were old, they were in great shape. So we painted them Benjamin Moore's AF-405 Thicket in a semi-gloss finish - that's from their new Affinity Series, which I've been using more and more.

To make the small space feel larger, we used a similar, lighter shade on the walls and ceiling: Benjamin Moore's HC-99 Abington Putty.

We wanted to use Marmoleum on the floor, but for some reason we had a devil of a time finding it in the color we wanted. In the end, we went with regular vinyl tile.

Because my client was ready to buy new appliances, we had an issue over the refrigerator. The new one was taller than the old, so the cabinet had to come out. I've encountered this problem before...my solution is to have the contractor build in some deep, open shelves for platters and low dishes. They're painted the same color as the cabinetry.


In my old condo, we did the same thing when we jammed the fridge into the closet where the washer and dryer used to be. It was really handy, actually.


The client's happy, I'm happy...the kitchen seems pretty happy, too.

Photo by John Ellis, Metropolitan Home.

Interior bedroom, glam and pretty. The geometry of the table and lamp play off the round shapes so nicely, too. And the clock! And the red cord of the lamp next to the red borders of the parasols! Oh, oh.

Photo from Living Etc, June 2009.

Window treatments, they bring so much interest to a room and they should always be considered when designing a house, yet it seems to be something that is not implemented nearly enough. They can add romance, coziness, warmth, texture, softness, and a splash of color if needed. You simply cannot go wrong by adding some attractive window treatments to your home. Without them it’s like going to the ball in a gown without the jewels adorning/accenting and complimenting the attire.

Here is some inspiration and thoughts to hopefully help motivate.

Window treatments do not need to block a window, instead, they can frame them and enhance a view.

Please……don’t be fooled, for they can be very tricky – they need to be designed and created correctly in order for them to blend adding the perfect touch/style to fit your space. There are so many options that are available in designing window treatments in can (and is) a bit overwhelming (that’s where the professionals come in!). The details, shape, fullness, trim, length, fabric, lining, header….the list goes on.
 
     Traditional Home Oct. 03’                                             Tone On Tone Residence Maryland

If privacy or light control is necessary, layer with shutters, blinds, woven or fabric shades.
Window & Wall Fall 06 Susan Gregory

There are limitless options, here are just a few things to consider when designing drapery.

Headers:  these choices go on and on and on…….here are just a few examples that have some pizzazz and uniqueness to them (at least I thought so). 

 
Box Pleated Studded (Phillip Sides) Balloon Style Valance w/ beaded trim (Simply Creative Sewing 2004)

 
Pleated Flat Panel   Grommets (www.autumnhillinteriors.com ) Ballet Slipper pleat (Windows & Walls Fall 06' )

 

Length: This really is personal preference, some of your options are:

Floor length:  

Trouser break:

        Puddle: 

 

From concept to completion.  a couple of custom design installed in clients homes.

 

                           

Start dressing!  You will never desire to go back to bare windows again if you make the investment in proper treatments. Most often you will be amazed at the enormous transformation a room will have once they are installed.

Joni at Cote De Texas has a brilliant, informative (as always) Article on Window Dressings.

Happy last day of summer.


I had the pleasure - nay, the privilege - of spending some extra special time with one of my daughters recently, because her school started, get this: two and a half weeks after her sister's. Unfortunately, our babysitter's school started when daughter #1's did.

We read books. We went to Costco. We baked things. We also burned things. And, when I just needed a sneak peek of the grownup life that awaited me in 5...4...3...days, I took her to work.

We went to Mitchell Gold.

About Mitchell Gold, let me say this: I'm a fan. There are several reasons:

1. Their furniture is well made and well priced
2. Given the right nudge, it can swing traditional or contemporary
3. There is a store right here in D.C., about 9 minutes from my house, so I can send my clients here to look at the things I recommend
4. The people who work there are wicked nice and helpful. Don't underestimate that.

So, off Ruthie and I go, to check out the new stuff, the old stuff, and the sofa I'm eyeing for our own living room. Behold, the Liam:


But if I'm to adhere to my own rules, I'll start with the rug, and the sofa will have to wait...

Generally speaking, I'm always on the lookout for for elegant, non-gargantuan sectionals for clients. The Charlotte sectional is great for traditional settings. Like when you secretly want a sectional but worry - with good reason - that it won't look right with your traditional architecture. This one will. They don't list prices on their website, so let me help you out: as shown, the Charlotte retails for $3070:


I also was impressed with the Clifton sectional, which Ruthie was kind enough to test-sit. My picture shows the wood trim at the bottom in a darker stain than on the website...I think it would be a nice complement to Asian pieces. The stock price is $3640:


The Clifton floor model is upholstered in Soft Suede - Honey, which I've used on not one but two Dr. Pitt sectionals:



That fabric is bulletproof. One of my favorite clients took a swatch of it and, as I watched in horror, dumped a glass of orange juice on it. It beaded up and rolled away. It was awesome.

Moving into the bedroom, I liked the Yates bed. (The yellow bedding on the website is horrifying, though.) With the nailheads, it's kind of a cousin of the Liam sofa. We're all headboard crazy these days (including me), but the wings are a nice twist. Great in front of a window, if that's your room's best option. The Yates as shown is $2495:


The Byron leather chair has lovely , small proportions. Perfect for a small study or a man's dressing room. The Byron's stock price is $1695:


And the Brooke could go in a woman's study. Or library, but I love the subtle, graceful curves. It's also very comfortable for someone of, ah, smaller stature. This one is $1275, which I think is a very good price:


At this point, I think Ruthie's getting a little antsy...oh, but wait. Check out these Mason leather arm chairs. Each one is $1295:


You really can't tell from the picture, but the upholstery is really beautiful. It's kind of pearly, kind of metallic -


Oh, all right...we can go. But wait! These lamps are really great. The Ferris table lamp's stock price is $295 -


- and the Rubix is $250 -


Huh? Did you say something?


Oh, for Pete's sake! I get it. Vamonos. Thanks for being so patient, bub.