In The Navy (Suite)

I'm awaiting the arrival of 2 sofas, a wing back chair, ottomans and a small hill of cushions I've ordered in yummy coordinated Warwick fabrics; a bold combination of navy blue geometric patterned and floral. Bold because I'm usually the safe cream dream girl.

Am considering the decor to revolve around them.

~

A flirtation with dark blue walls leaves me thinking the sofas might disappear into them, but an accent colour like the lime green below might make all the difference. The black and white stripe adds a French je ne sais quoi, non?

Blue pattern on pattern. Like. Like very much.

Okay these might be grey walls and not blue, but the patterned sofa truly stands out especially when paired with white accents. The tasteful artwork is always a necessity, but the dead stuffed owl just lifts the whole scheme, doesn't it?

Blue gloss lion heads certainly suggest "I'm an exciting individual with good taste".

All photos from White & Wander blog, except for pattern on pattern photo from ChiChi & Luxe blog

Country Monkey, City Monkey

Usually I make a face like a two-year old threatened with cabbage when I hear the words "Country" and "Style" used consecutively. Tragic images of 'quaint' from the 80s haunt me, the kind with rustic (read:new with bad faux paint job) signs that say "Home is Where the Heart Is", wooden barnyard animal attached. And a putrid floral pattern or nineteen thrown in to complete the look.

* Yech *

~

Then I stumble upon this beauty by designer John Loecke and his partner, and my Country world is rocked. This 1840 Federal-style converted schoolhouse they've christened "Monkey House" is located in New York's Catskills (wherrzzat?).

Comments on inspiration from the article in Country Living, written by Sara Bliss:

"The overall design was meant to harken to the classic interiors found in the English country house of a century ago--rooms filled with antiques, sculptural furniture pieces, and botanical patterns and prints on the walls. John and Jason reinterpreted the look, however, by introducing some decidedly offbeat pieces, including silver scallop sconces, giraffe print pillows, and a tropical-inspired chandelier."

On the use of patterns according to John:

"The trick to combining many patterns in a room is to choose a common color scheme. A variety of bold patterns won't clash when linked by a limited palette." To avoid overwhelming the space, John advises using no more than two large-scale prints and keeping other patterns geometric."

Photos are by Lucas Allen, article by Sara Bliss

Clever Friend's Clever Apartment

Been distracted the last couple of months and uninspired to write about much, but then a lovely friend of mine scores this coup; a full feature in revered blog desiretoinspire. Unfortunately she has moved on to other greener apartment pastures, but I'm sure the new place will be even cuter.

~

Am wondering if her cleverness will rub off on me by virtue of our friendship. Another friend says yes: it's the theory of design osmosis  :)

Check out the view from her kitchen window! I could live with that.

Renter's solution: duct tape

Travel much?

Given the old Benjamin Moore treatment

I'm especially taken with her lamp, and that orange rug (Pottery Barn sale).

All images via Desire To Inspire, all right to images owned by Nusara&Derrek!

Ben Does My Interiors, Who Does Yours?

If I were a Hollywood It celebrity I'd have Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz design all my homes.... in the hills of LA, my NY city pad (for when I do short stints on Broadway) and the holiday house in the Hamptons. 

Oh look, here it is.

Interior of the Hamptons house below. 

All Browns/Saide Hamptons residence images via Yatzer

Below, the interior of the Mondrian LA Hotel

These images via BNOdesign site

Animal Is A Style, Isn't It?

Todd Selby photographs Beautiful People in their homes. You know the types, young + attractive with enviable jobs and no responsibilities, enough money to live a 'lifestyle', but not so much they lose their edge. I particularly like the quirky home of Matthew Eikelberger - boutique manager, artist and musician in his home in Silverlake Los Angeles.

All images via The Selby

Secretive Ladies & Travelling By Fish-Boat

When I visit the V&A site I'm always drawn to 

1) Intriguing portraits and 2) Chinoiserie. 

It's delightful to stumble upon similar threads in very contemporary design, in this case by English designer David Carter. 

~

Pensive lady with secrets

~

The potential living room of a man who gets to the shops on the back of a fish-creature

~

Nature only slightly strange

Object images from V&A site. 

Interiors images from David Carter's portfolio