I loved the June 2010 House Beautiful. Below are my two favorite homes and a page with great valance examples.

Relaxed beach house designed by James Howard

The shape of the bottom of the roman shade is great. A fabric roman shade is a great way to warm up an otherwise sterile kitchen and the shape at the bottom follows the pattern – showing you put some thought into the details.

I am a huge fan of tortoise shell blinds – a chic way to add privacy to a room while letting in sunlight. The wicker sofa and club chair are in two different stains. A white painted bobble chair and two different side tables added to the mix show how a room can feel pulled together without being matchy-matchy. The pair of glass lamps unifies the space. The green and white stripe on the sofa and club chair are a great summery touch.

The above image is a close up of the wave molding and the upholstered linen walls in the dining room. I adore upholstered walls and done in this neutral linen adds texture and softness to a room without feeling fussy.

To create symmetry in the room they made an arched bookshelf to mirror the arch of the door. Thus creating a space where two side chairs feel comfortable. Again we see the white painted bobble chair and a pretty rope backed Orkney chair. The walls are painted in a pale but strong blue.

I have always loved Oscar de la Renta’s 4 poster bed with the crenallated canopy. The canopy adds a sense of whimsy and security when you are snuggled up for the night. The bench has a fun base shape and the soft blue gray walls create a tranquil yet happy guest bedroom. I love the turquoise gourd lamp from Mrs. Howard- what a great pop of color.

The page above included a variety of valance styles. All beautiful and with distinctively different feels.

Another favorite was the Historic New York House With Color by Jeffrey Bilhuber.

I love Jeffrey Bilhuber’s designs so I was thrilled to see his Locust Valley, New York country home “Hay Fever” that dates back to 1668. I think he definitely succeeded in keeping the “soul” in this house. Nothing feels precious but the colors are magical- just what you want in a summer home.

The black painted pine floor ( look at those floor boards!) lets the sisal carpet and soft blues and yellows float off the floor. You can paint a floor black and still have a light airy feeling room. I love how he threw in a punch of purple on the sofa. The above room was originally an entrance hall but he made it much more welcoming by adding the large round table, a sofa, and chairs.

The library floor is painted a lacquered green ( an idea borrowed from Monticello). The baby blue fabric on the chairs and the red lamp shades makes for an interesting room. The acid green walls in the next room pack a happy summer punch.

Finally the shot of the acid green room (Benjamin Moore’s chic lime) in all of it’s splendor. The large sisal ( from Beauvais) dresses down the more formal valances and fun chinoiserie fabric. Notice all the different shaped chairs ( most of which are slip covered). Red and white ticking stripe, wicker, soft blue, varying lamp heights, mirrored door surrounds ( a nod to Nancy Lancaster) , and texture make this room memorable. The room is exciting yet comfortable mixing humble and high.
xo,
S

Whether it is a large room or a small forgotten hallway or bathroom, I love a dark room in a house. People are often afraid to go dark but once we have pushed them to the other side they never regret it. A dark room becomes the most intimate room in the house. I have “gone dark” in libraries, dining rooms, bedrooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms, and hallways. In dining rooms, I prefer to go dark with a high gloss paint so at night when an overhead chandelier is dimmed and candles are lit the entire room twinkles. Libraries, where people mostly sit at night is another good spot for deep dark paint, a dark lustrous fabric, or wood paneling. With dark walls and well placed lights it feels a natural spot to sit with your glass of wine and a book. On a hot summer day a dark room feels cool and welcoming, while in the middle of winter it becomes the coziest room in the house. The two mistakes people often make are not adding enough lighting sources ( sconces, table lamps, floor lamps – all at different heights to cast a glow) and forgetting to bring in color to balance and offset the dark walls. Since walls are the majority of your room you need to bring in lighter colors to make it work. Personal favorites for high gloss walls are chocolate brown, eggplant, charcoal, and navy blue.

Ruthie Sommers- Charcoal grey grasscloth and scarlet shade- sexy.

Another room by Ruthie Sommers- A deep greeny black on bead board. This room has large windows so it can take a flat paint.

Jeffrey Bilhuber – deep aubergine high gloss walls in a dining room. At night when candles are lit this will become an intimate room where you will love to gather at the end of the day.

Mario Buatta – lovely dark lacquered walls set off by lots of yellow

Jansen kicks up the drama with a fretwork pattern in glossy white on top of a glossy black wall.

Tom Scheerer’s take on dark walls in a dining room with crisp white trim

Markham Roberts- offsets the dark walls with drapes with an ivory background, a beautiful soft brown antique desk, pops of pale blue, and tan.

Tory Burch’s apartment with upholstered walls in deep green velvet- texture, color, and the velvet reflects light. Delicious.

Sister parish- Timeless

Feminine but so chic

Markam Roberts – nautical, crsip, and ever so handsome

xo,

S

ThiThis post should be called “what isn’t in my bookshelf”. I am a collector of books, therefore our bookshelves are overflowing with every type of book. Aside from my collection of magazines ( every issue of House Beautiful, Elle Decore, House and Garden, Domino, World of Interiors, and Veranda), fiction and non-fictions books, and clients folders, I have a huge collection of books that I reach for when I need inspiration. The topics range from textiles, to architectural styles, to fashion, to artists, to table settings, to hotels, to interiors, etc. You never know what might move you. Each client requires a fresh eye and a different style.

xo,

S

NNeed a quick and relatively easy way to spruce up your new space? Go for painted floors. If you need to disguise a less than beautiful wood floor this is a great trick and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Instead of a runner try a painted floor with a border to make the space special. A light colored painted floor reflects more light and will brighten up the space. I have painted floors in bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, kitchens, hallways, and basements. Check out the examples below and get inspired.

Jeffrey Bilhuber uses an oversized pattern in soft colors to add interest. Nail heads galore, lacquered orange walls…. amazing.

Sara Story follows suit with the contrast of the plummy ceiling for some oomph!

This traditional pattern makes for a warm and interesting entrance.

The aqua floor with large white medallions is the revers of what is on the walls.

I love everything about this image. The glazed blue walls, tortoise shell/ tigers eye detail on the door frame, and the large orange painted medallions. Jeffrey Bilhuber is a master.

Great color and pattern- this painted floor looks like beautiful tiles.

Mary McDonald uses a graphic zig zag pattern in soft blue and white to create a playful floor in a bathroom.

One of my all time favorites for a small kitchen floor- Carrera marble countertops, soft grey brown high gloss cabinets and antiqued mirror backsplash.

Old farmhouse floor boards showing through with a more rustic looking medallion pattern.

Happy Nancy Lancaster yellow floors with a pretty white medallion pattern.

Miles Redd ( another master of the painted floor) goes for high drama in his kitchen.

The above two images are from a recently completed beach house. We wanted a guest bedroom in the basement to feel light and airy. We painted the floor a glossy white and got our inspiration for the sweet border from the beach roses that can be seen from the bedroom window. The border was painted by our fabulous decorative painter, Topher Rollinson.

xo,
S