Today’s Tasteful Take on a Historic House

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Barry Dixon, Baton Rouge, courtyard, designer, DIY outdoor drapes, drop cloth, Elway Hall, floor plan, French, historic house, historical renovation, House tour, interior design, interior designer, Italian chandelier, Ivy, library, neoclassical, painters drop clothes, Parsons desk, Target, Thomas O'Brien, toile, traditional, Travertine, Ty Larkins, West Elm

Historical renovation is something I am passionate about because of my love for the architectural features. In my “About Me” section. I referenced almost buying a beautiful, historic house named Elway Hall, but it was just too far away from my office and I would have spent a minimum of 3 hours in the car a day. Two interior designers ended up buying the house that I had to begrudgingly pass on; it seems that interior designers frequently take the challenge of older homes head on without thinking twice.

House Beautiful profiled one such designer…

Small Kitchens, Big Style

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A Detailed House, blue kitchen, city kitchens, Construction and Maintenance, design, green kitchen, House Beautiful, inspiring small kitchens, interior design, Jonathan Berger, Ken Fulk, kitchen, kitchen colors, light fixture, NYC kitchens, Pendant light, Shelving, small kitchens, space saving kitchens, Suzanne Kasler, White kitchen, yellow kitchen

In a previous post, Small Kitchens That Still Inspire, I traversed the world of small kitchens and showed examples of space-starved rooms that were full of beauty. Although space may first be perceived as an issue, creative solutions can be jaw-droppingly elegant and finishes, that would be cost prohibitive in a large kitchen but affordable in a small one, can make the diminutive dimensions quite exquisite.

I love the dichotomy of the worn, warm, wide-plank floors with the sleek, modern appliances …. and the pendant light fixtures centered on each window looks smart!

A great example of maximizing space by going up to appropriate the dead area above the cabinets. The arches take it a step further to make this kitchen grand. Who would think that a galley kitchen could be described as grand??

However….

Black Doors: Simple Elegance

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A Detailed House, Black and white paint, black and white room, black and white rooms, Black door, Black doors, Black paint, Door, Door color, Doors, Dramatic doors, entry, foyer, Gray paint, Gray room, Grey paint, Grey room, High gloss black, High gloss paint, interior design, paint

Sometimes, the simplest things can make the biggest impact. Case in point: black doors. I just love a high-gloss black on doors, whether interior or exterior. I think the interior doors, though, are much more dramatic and classic because interior doors are too frequently overlooked.

It seems like such a big step to paint something black, but after looking at our upstairs hallway, and the run of bland white doors, this just might be needed to break up the monotony. Maybe it’s something you want to think about too?

Celebrity Style: Jennifer Lopez

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American Idol, Art Deco, Arts, Bedroom, Celebrity homes, Dining room, Easter, Easter Bunny, foyer, Hollywood, Inspiration, interior design, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lopez's home, kitchen, Marc Anthony, Michelle Workman, Past, Pastel rooms, Staircase

Happy Easter Everyone!! For obvious reasons, I’m keeping this brief, but wanted to give you some pastel eye candy of your own!

Following up on the last post, Celebrity Living Rooms, I wanted to show the rest of Jennifer Lopez’s home and the work of interior designer Michelle Workman.

The home is layered with pastel rooms in shades of blue, pink and peach with lots of texture, reflective surfaces (have I mentioned before how I LOVE those?), velvet, silks, leather, dark wood, and furniture with clean lines, giving the Art Deco style a distinct “old Hollywood” look.

So, sit back, sip your coffee and nibble on a chocolate bunny (or three – no judgement here!) and enjoy the pictures:

Celebrity Living Rooms

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Aerin Lauder, Alexandra Wentworth, Ben Stiller, Bridgehampton, Caio Fonseca, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Home, Candace Bushnell, Celebrity living rooms, Christine Taylor, Cindy Crawford, DC, Donatella Versace, East Hamptons, Estée Lauder, Estée Lauder cosmetics, Fleetwood Mac, Francisco Costa, Furniture, George Stephanopoulos, Hilary Swank, Ikea, interior design, James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Jennifer Lopez, John Mayer, Jonathan Adler, Lindsey Buckingham, Living room, Living rooms, Luxury interior design, Malibu, Manhattan, Mark Zeff, Ralph Lauren, Rande Gerber, Rob Morrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Versace Home Collection, Washington DC

Call me nosy, but I love to see how celebrities live. The fashion is great, but I want to know how they live and what’s their style. They obviously have their choice of designers. What designer wouldn’t do it pro bono just for the PR.

Let’s peek in on their style….and be prepared to be surprised (or at least I was)!

How appropriate to my previous post! This is (was?) the living room of Jennifer Lopez when she was married to Mark Anthony. I’m not going to research who got the house, because it doesn’t affect my admiration of it! A pale whisper of a blue on the walls and understated elegance!

Feeling Blue with a Design Dilemma?

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Adam Levine, Adam Levine house, Blue drapes, Blue living rooms, Blue sofa, Couch, Hanging drapes, interior design, Living room, Living room inspiration, Maroon 5, Picture molding, Teal sofas

I love formal living rooms, but I think they must be an inviting and comfortable space, otherwise it’s a waste. I also subscribe to the belief of full access and my children sit, play and use our living room – I’ve been called crazy more then once because of this! We have silk and velvet sofas and antiques, but I have taught them from a young age not to jump on the sofas, take their shoes off if they want to lie down on them and to take any toys they bring in, out.

Now, my dogs? That’s another story! I let them on the furniture in the rest of my house, but not in there, although at least once a week, I walk in on one of them lounging on a sofa. They do not like to put their tushies on the floor…spoiled puppies!

That’s why when a reader asked me to help her with her living room design and needed some design inspiration, I was more than happy to help. There’s a skew towards blue since that was the color she was dealing with. I hope you enjoy:

Taking the shade of color from the furniture and putting it on the wall and drapes (which are hung my favorite way – high!) With this, a cream rug or carpet is the perfect foil. Note the classic stacked crystal orb lamp, which complements the crystal of the chandelier.

Sophisticated Rooms in Black and White

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chandelier, Dining room, entry, foyer, Furniture, high end design, Home & Garden, interior design, Light, light fixture, luxury interiors, Textile

I have been pondering so much lately – the outside of my house because of the nice weather, but also a few rooms in my house, which led me to look for some inspiration. Spring always brings on new projects for me – I just get the itch!!

I think dark and light rooms are very smart looking when done right. I also like them infused with a “pop” of another color to prevent them from looking to sterile or serious. Here are some pictures that I have found interesting for one reason or another (but some could use a 3rd color) :

My floors have gotten a little worn, which I like because it gives credence to the house being old, but I do like dark and glossy!