Loving this Swedish Home by Marshall Watson

How would you like to have a summer home like this to go to for six weeks each year?

The clients (he's American, she's Swedish) sought the help of New York designer, Marshall Watson, to re-decorate their summer home and guest house for their family and guests.  Living in the United States, they summer in Sweden.

The main house is painted Falun red - a popular Swedish color often seen in local folk art.

Notice the high gloss ceiling and the antique foyer table that was scraped to allow the many coats of colors to show through.

The greens and creams in the living room work beautifully with the Swedish light.  The red trim on the drapery accentuates the library walls.

 

The bookcases at one end of the living room are also painted Falun red.  

What a lovely, sunny dining room!  Love the colors and the farmhouse table mixed with the antiques around the room.

The papered panels certainly accentuate the angled walls.

A delightful nook for a desk with shades of blue accenting the green walls.

And the guest house below in shades of grays and blues is as inviting and cozy as a guest house could possibly be.

The bottom of this sofa pulls out as an extra bed.

Absolutely charming!

Throwback Thursday - The Home of Annie Brahler

This is the Illinois home of Euro Trash owner, Annie Brahler.  Of Dutch heritage, Annie grew up using the 'good' china and silver every day (unlike in America where the 'good' things are often kept for special occasions).  If something got nicked or cracked it only added to the patina and "became a memory and not a scar". What a nice way to look at it!

Loving what appealed to her keen eye allowed her to load up on 'old' pieces and not necessarily anything with a pedigree.  So, searching for antiques in France, Belgium and Holland became a business and with her interest in design Euro Trash was born.                                  
Enjoy!

Beaux Art Italianate Victorian 1868

 Country Living

Foyer via The Paris Itinerary

Belgian bergeres and Louis XVI side tables

French gilt settee and Dutch footstools

Belgian crystal chandelier

Daybed, gilt tables, overmantel and chandelier are all French.  A large empty gold frame sits in front of the large mirror and antlers her children found on hikes decorate the mantel.

Magnolias from Annie's backyard.

Annie's Dutch heritage is reflected in the blue Delft tiles around the fireplace.  Double door cupboard, chandelier and zinc finial (on left by window) all come from Holland.

Notice the antique demilune cabinet as the island.  Annie added cupboard space to the back and a marble top to create the island.

Love that!

The back of the demilune island.

Antique cabinet and caned chairs from Holland with Rachel Ashwell's pendants over the table.

Rachel Ashwell's slipcovered chairs surround a 19th century Dutch dining table.  Notice the portiere curtains to close off the parlor during colder months.  Portieres are commonly used in Europe instead of doors.

Dutch chandelier and several mirrors reflect the light in the upstairs hallway.

The master bedroom headboard was retrofitted from an antique daybed by joining the headboard and footboard together.

Annie's daughter, Isabel, decorated her own room with a Louis XV style bed and French mirror.

Son Daniel's room reflects his interest in British history with a Jonathan Adler Union Jack rug .

Master bath with recycle tub and chocolate walls.

Annie's carpenter 'stretched' an antique armoire to hold Annie's shoes and the Belle Epoque chandelier casts a rosy glow over the room.

House Beautiful

May 2012

A Whimsical Palm Beach Retreat

This whimsical Palm Beach retreat designed by Mimi McMakin and Ashley Sharpe of Kemble Interiors (Celerie Kemble is Mimi's daughter), was carefully planned with the interests of the homeowner in mind.  

Since this is a part-time residence for the family (they live in Cape Cod and winter in Antigua), the designers added a very whimsical and tropical feel to the hand painted dining room walls to remind the family of their Antigua vacations.

Notice the pineapples on the table - a symbol of hospitality.

The railings and mouldings were added over the mural.

The painted ceiling draws the view upwards and makes the room look taller.

The sconce lampshades above were caned by the upholster.

Love the bamboo detail in this room especially the window trim.

Detail of the window trim above.

The owners wanted a large tv in their bedroom and the designers nearly cried at the thought of it, so their upholsterer built the sofa at the foot of the bed extra deep at the back and the tv is hidden in it and is raised and lowered by a hydraulic system that is completely hidden.  Genius to hide it in the sofa!!

Pineapples on the bedposts.

The loggia with fireplace is a wonderful space.

A poolside chinoiserie pagoda is so inviting it's a wonder anyone sits anywhere else.

Love the hand painted striped walls and tassels in the poolside powder room.

To see Mimi's daughter, Celerie Kemble's resort in the Dominican Republic that I posted last October, please click here.  You will see how mother and daughter both enjoy whimsy, fun and fantasy when designing interiors.

La Cornue Ranges

As a followup to the Aga ranges, I thought it might be fun to check out the La Cornue ranges from France......especially the colors.  After looking at the Agas, I had concluded that the cream stove would be my first choice, but with the La Cornues and all the brass trim, I think I might choose the green, even though black seems to be the favorite...........it's gorgeous, but black is just not me......I love brighter, more cheerful, colors.

What about you?  

It's fun to dream once in a while!!

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal (below), the La Cornue range is "the Bentley' of kitchen appliances.

La Cornue

La Cornue, a French company founded in 1908, is "the Bentley" of kitchen appliances, says Palm Beach designer Jack Fhillips. Each of La Cornue's cast-iron Château Series ranges are hand-made to order in a factory outside Paris, according to Anne Puricelli of La Cornue distributor Purcell Murray Company.

The brand's signature is the vaulted shape of its oven, but La Cornue also is beloved for its design and many options for customization, Mr. Quinn says. Buyers can choose from 30 colors, such as "Lafayette blue," and "almond green," and 12 different trims, including chrome, brass and copper. Buyers also can create a custom color, such as the orange shown here, Ms. Puricelli says.

Price: Starts at $46,000 (Grand Palais 180) (which would be $65,414 CAD as of today, January 14, 2016).

House Beautiful - Burgundy

House Beautiful - Green

Artes Magazine - Blue

Susan Burns Design - Black

Colleen Locke - Domino

(This is a perfect example of a small kitchen with a La Cornue - just perfect)

Betty Lou Phillips' kitchen via Cote de Texas

My Domaine - Copper

House Beautiful - Stainless Steel

Garrison Hullinger - White

Decorpad - Navy