Thursday, September 05, 2013

A Chic Kids' Guest Room

The other day, I posted about chic kids' guest rooms - since then, I've come upon another one that just has to be shared.

Betty Lou Phillips, an icon of French interior design and author of eleven books on the subject, has done this multi-guest room/ensuite bath for her four granddaughters.

At a glance, it is the ultimate girls' guest room, but look closely at the detail - patina beds, the monogrammed bedding for each girl, birds on the curtain rod, and what appears to be hand painted birds on the bed cushions, the smocking on the window treatments and the bathroom to match! Absolutely gorgeous!

A dream room for any girl!

Enjoy!









Betty Lou Phillips



Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady's New Home

The long awaited home of Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady has finally been completed and thanks to Architectural Digest, we now get a peak inside.

Designed by Richard Landry, with interiors by Joan Behnke, the home is a wonderful blend of old and new - using some reclaimed materials, but adding the very latest in eco friendly design, they now have a home that will provide them with the space, sustainability and livability they desired.

With eight sisters between Gisele and Tom, and constantly growing families, not to mention their own three children, they have built a home with enough space to accommodate extended family at any time.

And you would think at 20,000 sq. ft. the house would be cavernous, but not so.......as you can see, the rooms appear to be a comfortable and cosy size for day to day living..........

The neutral tones throughout the interior are very calming and add a more spacious feel.   The whole feel of a room can be changed by the accent color in the accessories - note the different colored accessories in each room.  The master bedroom with the green pillows and plants adds a note of serenity (green is serene), but the pink and yellow on and above the mantle add a dash of sunshine......

For more information on some of the sustainable features of their new home, read Architectural Digest to check out more of their green-living tips.

Enjoy!



The koi stocked moat.  Love the bronze trimmed windows, railings and the stone construction.....all such low maintenance.

Tall windows, high ceilings and dual glazed windows add lots of light and temperature control.



Beautiful loggia with Restoration Hardware wicker sofa and chairs.

A touch of green in the master bedroom and a bit of color on the mantle warms this room up beautifully.

Gorgeous shower and nice to have a fireplace in the bath.  The picture above the fireplace is of 
Gillette Stadium.

Gisele's dressing room.



Architectural Digest



The Monteceito Home of Designer Lee Kirch

Last year, I posted (here) a Monteceito cottage owned by designer Lee Kirch - an antique dealer who was (at the time of this article) part owner of an antique shop, Rue de Lillie, in Summerland, California, as well as a shop owner in Vail, Colorado.

As a French country enthusiast, she travels regularly to France to collect antiques.  She completely revamped this house and her passions are evident in every room.

Enjoy!






















Lee Kirch Designs
Meredith Specials









Thursday, August 29, 2013

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones' Bermuda Home

Hi Everyone,

I was totally indisposed yesterday while my hubby was having some major dental surgery (extractions and implants).  While he was unconscious and zipped through it all (never felt a thing, he said), I was on high alert and had to ensure he got from the surgery to his regular dentist for adjustments (in a very groggy state), pick up the prescriptions at the drug store and make sure he followed his doctor's orders to a 'T'!  Make sure he did his rinses, took his meds and prepared lots of bland food.......by the end of the day, he was feeling really good and I was about to collapse from it all - totally drained and exhausted.  So much for another quiet day.

Anyway, throughout the day I kept hearing snippets of news about Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones separating - which everyone pretty much already suspected - it was only confirmed yesterday.  After reading about their homes in Majorca, Spain, New York city, Bedford, NY, Swansea, Wales, Hollywood and Bermuda, I recalled the Bermuda home from an Architectural Digest years ago.

They sounded so excited about their family home in Bermuda when this article (here) was written - a real home for them to bring up their then 2 year old son among his cousins, aunts and uncles.........a sad state of affairs today for all involved.

Nevertheless, here's a peek!













Nice Dutch door in their master bedroom.







Architectural Digest















Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Children's Shop

Since I started this week posting about kids' rooms, I thought I would carry on with the theme.

I love the possibilities of what a child's room can be..........always have.  After our only child, a daughter, was born I spent the next several years ensuring she had her own 'little haven'..........and with a husband in the banking business during the '70s and 80s, it involved many, many moves and many, many bedrooms across Canada.  I honed my decorating skills during those moves and cemented my love of design.

In August 1999, when our first grandchild was born, I was at home, retired and looking for inspiration........albeit in another new home for us.  While we were going through several renovations ourselves at that time, everything that had to be done soon took a backseat to our new little granddaughter and I very quickly discovered a whole new world of nursery design...........the baby nursery was no longer just a room with a crib, a rocking chair, a change table and a hamper........it had now become a little world of it's own.

I'm sure I bought every magazine I could get my hands on with a child's room in it and I began tearing out the pages for future reference.  

When I came upon the following images in a House & Garden, September 1999, issue, I was mesmerized.........I had never seen anything like this and being a long time lover of English country, chintz, antiques, canopied beds.......these were dream ideas.  

This is Susie Hilfiger's former shop, Best & Co., which was situated in Greenwich, Connecticut at the time.  She had just bought it from a previous owner and planned to expand the whole idea of high end, traditional decorating of nurseries and kids' rooms.  The showroom, as you can see, was designed as a total living space, but also included every accessory imaginable for a small child - including Tommy Hilfiger clothes in the armoire.

Best & Co. became the only American source for Dragon's of Walton Street, London, handpainted furniture, antique high chairs, early 19th century floral prints, needlepoint samplers - and commissioned furniture.  Later this store expanded to Nantucket.

Alas, it didn't survive and the stores closed in 2007.  But, I'm glad I kept these pictures of another time and another place.      

Enjoy!


Susie Hilfiger in her Greenwich shop, Best & Co.

Pure English country.

The wall opposite the canopied twin beds.



What little girl would not want a canopy bed?

Beatrix Potter bedding from Dragon's of Walton Street, London
(The designers of Prince George's nursery, Kensington Palace)







House & Garden
September 1999




Monday, August 26, 2013

Chic Kids' Guest Rooms

Here are some great ideas for extra sleeping space at home or at the cottage........great when the children, grandchildren and their friends arrive for a visit.


moms.popsugar.com



Joy Tribout

Betty Lou Phillips' granddaughters' bedroom.

Munger Interiors

PBKids


thekidsroomdecor.com

absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com

moms.popsugar.com

Coastal Designs

Coastal Living

Coastal Living

rhbabyandchild.com

luxury-idea.com

Houzz






Coastal Living

Houseandhome.com





All uncredited images are Pinterest