i am noticing alot of trends that seem to be directing towards those of the 1930's during the great depression. this is probably because we are in a recession-obviously. take note of the longer length skirts, the higher waists, similar accessories, prominent soldiers, red nails and lips, the use of clutch handbags, small hats, blazers...to name some.
Carolina Vincenti, an art scholar with an obsession for collecting, fills her home with old-world splendor.
The Upside of Downsizing. Amanda Lindroth x House Beautiful. November December 2019. Photography Tria Giovan. Styling Aldous Bertram & Jackie Philiban. Design Amanda Lindroth & Emily Painter. Featuring Quadrille & Soane Britain. PR NivenBreen, NYC and LeapFrog, Charleston.
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Salon de Bois Return to Projects
This exclusive interview with Barry Dixon showcases his sophisticated Southern design blended with global influences, design inspiration, and more.
Veranda, Touches of Europe, by Eleanor Cummings When you think of room decor do you turn to God? To the legends of angels and all t...
In an extract from 'Jacques Grange: Recent Work' by Pierre Passebon, we take a look around the interiors of the author's eclectic, exuberant apartment in Paris
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The Peters make a storied home on Meeting Street’s “Mansion Row” their own
Last week I showed the renovation of Charlotte Moss’ East Hampton weekend house – the Before and After photographs. Charlotte was sweet and tweeted me that she had forgotten about a lot of the décor themes!! She also said is working on a new book, but it isn’t about her NYC townhouse redecoration. Hopefully a magazine will do a photoshoot of it for us! Her new book will be all about gardens and the book tour will start next April. Today, Part Two of Designer Renovation is Mark Sikes’s house – the beautiful 1920s Spanish inspired home in Los Angeles that the popular decorator and blogger lives in with his partner, Michael Griffin. OK, OK– I know every blogger has shown the new pictures from Veranda (and I’ve linked my favorite blog stories about Mark at the end) but I wanted to put it all together – all the Before and After photographs in one neat package. I actually hate repeating stories that others have already blogged about – but there are so many of us out there now, it’s almost impossible to be original, so I try to add something new if I can (hopefully I don’t fail too often.) Some of these Before photos are new, not seen before, but they show how much hard work and decision went into making this house as beautiful as it is today. When Mark’s house was first seen in House Beautiful just two years ago (!) – I flipped out and immediately wrote about it because I felt like I was looking at a design twin. So many elements that Mark used in his house, I did too. It was like we had the same aesthetic, although Mark’s taste level is miles above mine. Umm, I’m just being honest here. Still – he loves blue and white, and blue and white garden seats, indoors and out, and mirrors, and wicker, and slipcovers, and handpainted wallpaper, and crystal chandeliers, and striped & zebra rugs and seashells and seagrass, and on and on – all design elements that I have in my own house. I’m sure Mark wasn’t too pleased that I dared to compare his gorgeous house to my POS (google that on www.UrbanDictionary.com) – read the story I wrote HERE. So, when rumors began circulating that a major remodeling had taken place at Mark’s house, I was beyond excited and couldn’t wait to see the results. I couldn’t imagine what he had changed. I mean – Mark’s house was beyond perfect as it was. Perfect! It was warm, inviting, sophisticated yet casual, just a perfect house. So, why change a thing? Well, Mark has excellent taste and he has a brain full of wonderful inspirational designs. His blog showcases the classic designers and style setters of today and yesteryears that he loves. And he is a designer and designers get tired of their house. Of course he would want to update it! And the Veranda spread proved that the changes he made are even better than the original. Each room has been improved upon, some rooms have more dramatic changes than others. I would have been scared to change a thing, but seeing it updated, I get it. It’s a huge improvement on perfection. Is that even possible? I love that he didn’t move, but worked with what he had - which is great breakdrop for his ideas. Let’s look at the befores and the afters and see what you think. Better? Yes? No? I’ll be curious to see your comments. Finally, the most fun of all is that I found a cache of photographs of the house before Mark bought it. OY! What he has accomplished is really a masterpiece! When you see these original pictures, you will see what a beautiful job he truly has done with his house. Fasten your seat belts!!! Grab that coffee!!! The first cover. Mark Sikes started his blog before this cover story and since then he has become quite famous and extremely popular. His style struck a chord with so many people – they identified with his house and his decorative choices. Who wouldn’t??? After this pictorial, Lonny featured him in a large photoshoot. After these two stories, word leaked that Mark was redecorating. I couldn’t imagine why. But now….!!!!! The new Veranda with Mark Sike’s redecorated 1920s house. All rooms overlook this terrace. He told Veranda you can hear the fountain from each corner of the house. So romantic! The living room is seen through the double arched French doors. Guests eat either here or in the living room, never in the dining room which has become a library of sorts. ORIGINAL: This is how the house used to look! Beige stucco with this crazy, modern metal gate??? What is that? Why? ORIGINAL: A view of the house with the gate opened. AND TODAY: Barely recognizable, the same house now painted white, with tamed landscaping and a beautiful iron gate that Mark designed for the driveway, along with the stucco gate post. ORIGINAL: Here, at the front door – new paint, new lanterns, and lots of box woods, make a big difference to visitors using the front door! TODAY: Steps lead up to the white house, which is hidden from the street behind vine covered walls. When Mark and his partner first built the house, they did a major renovation. He told Lonny that he used the Dominican Republic houses of both Bunny Williams and Oscar de la Renta as inspiration for his interiors. That was his first go around. This second time around, the house seems much less beach inspired, more classic. ORIGINAL: The columns were a lacquered black and the door was painted black and white. ORIGINAL: Black walls in the dining room and dark damask wallpaper in the living room all had to be changed. But – the metal railings on the stairs were a real surprise! I suspect those were removed the first day! ORIGINAL: More of the Art Deco metal rails. BEFORE – the first remodeling: A series of photographs were taken when Mark first moved in, before the House Beautiful spread. The walls were painted white and the floors were stained to match. The columns were fauxed to look a bit rustic (so much better than lacquered black!) The living room and dining room open to the entry hall through large arches and columns. Towards the back is the family room/kitchen area. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: entry hall staged for House Beautiful, 2012. Love the chinoiserie center table. Straw baskets and blue and white porcelains. The doors were painted black. Mark added the lantern. LONNY: staged for Lonny – new bench. TODAY for Veranda: The newest changes – there is a new light fixture – updated from the lantern. I never realized those windows next to the front door open. I never thought I wouldn’t prefer a lantern, but this alabaster light is a chic update. ORIGINAL: The dining room. Yikes! The large arch on the left wall has been covered up, replaced with a door. BEFORE – The First Remodeling: From the foyer into the dining room with the handpainted Gracie wallpaper. The crystal chandelier is a reproduction, but it has the classic lines found in antiques. These pictures were taken before Sikes added the Venetian mirror on the back wall. Just beautiful! Mark mixed chairs at the table. Some had checked fabric with slipcover headrests. In the alcove is a sofa (which is later dramatically moved to the living room in the remodeling.) Looking into the living room and foyer. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: Photoshoot. A gorgeous shot of the room – with the mirror, now in place. It’s amazing how much prettier a professional photographer can make a room. Just beautiful. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: This shot of the console piled high with Sikes’ blue and white urns and shells was pinned a million and one times! Mark says that he had decided to update his master bedroom, and of course, he would only want Gracie wallpaper in there. But...the dining room already had handpainted paper – you can’t have two rooms with similar paper. What to do? This dilemma created a domino effect. In order to redo the bedroom, the dining room had to be redone, and then – so did everything else! AND - Today, are you ready???? TODAY FOR VERANDA: The dining room is completely and totally different. Gone is the Gracie wallpaper. Let’s talk about that first. When I saw this, I was disappointed at first – because I loved the wallpaper that was there. I didn’t realize he had papered the master bedroom. BUT, once I saw the Master Bedroom, I totally understood his choice. While the paper was so pretty in the dining room, it really didn’t “go” with the look downstairs. And the wallpaper looks so perfect in the Master bedroom. Good choice. Now – the dining room is not really used for eating. That’s not how Mark and his partner entertain. Because of this, he has turned this space into a library of sorts. It’s a place he can go and spread out his books or he can use it set up buffets at parties. The gilt console from the living room was moved into the alcove where the sofa once was, and the light fixture was replaced with this new David Iastesta chandelier. Wallpaper was replaced with the antiqued mirrors. The rug is trendy Starke. The chairs? The same, just covered in chic orange leather with nail heads and trim. The art – mostly collected in Paris. I’m going to guess that this room looks spectacular at night when the lights and candles play against all the mirrors. The dining room is one of the rooms with the biggest change. ORIGINAL: A pretty room despite the furnishings – with an arched ceiling. The mantel was painted black and the walls were wallpapered – all had to be changed out. BEFORE - the first remodeling: This early photo shows the lightened up fireplace. I love how the room was decorated with the zebra rug, the rattan chairs, and the slipper chairs. Love this SO much! Just wonderful. I love the large trees in the blue and white vases, the tall, black oriental piece, the gilt console (now in the dining room) – all the textures. The view from the French door out to the terrace. Pretty alignment. Totally crazy over this décor! Mark added a large tortoiseshell in the fireplace. AND NOW, THE LIVING ROOM TODAY: TODAY FOR VERANDA: WOW!! I love the changes Mark made!! It’s all more sophisticated. He added a beautiful round mirror to the mantel and filled the firebox in with his shells. Tall pedestals hold urns in the window. A Moroccan rug replaces the zebra for a subtler look. Two beautiful club chairs are placed instead of the more casual rattan ones. The Jaspar sofa from the dining room is moved in here instead of the white one, that now looked too big. Funny, how I never noticed that before – but the smaller settee just fits the space better. Mark took down the curtains for a cleaner look. The mirrors are gone, replaced with Oriental screens and twin tufted banquettes which sit underneath. A skirted table sits in between the two banquettes. Close up of the striped banquette and the skirted table with creamware. A look inside from the outside. And a blurry picture – the only one that shows the symmetry of the two banquettes at the back wall and the chaise longue on the right. That chaise came from the guest room upstairs. ORIGINAL: The kitchen is a huge change. I’m not even sure how it was accomplished and which wall was opened to make the one large family/kitchen area that it is today. It appears that the left wall was taken down and an island replaced that row of cabinets. And floating around the internet is another version of the kitchen before the wall was removed. This version is more in keeping with the style of the house. BEFORE – The first remodeling: Here is a photo just after Mark’s renovation was completed. He extended the cabinets up to the ceiling, making them look more in keeping with the age of the house. He also added beadboard and marble countertops and backsplash. I love this space. And you can see from the before pictures just how far this space has come! LONNY: Looking out towards the terrace LONNY: A view that shows where the tiled powder room is located. House Beautiful: a mass of colorful pillows plus Mark’s darling puppy! AND THE KITCHEN TODAY: TODAY FOR VERANDA: The changes are all in the fabrics and rugs – yellow stripes were changed out for blue striped Madeline Weinrib rugs. White fabric in the light shades is now a bright blue. Curtains were added in a green Carolina Irving fabric. Finally, new bar stools wear more new fabric by Elizabeth Eakins. Love the changes here. The new Jasper sofa fabric is fabulous- as are all the pillows in greens and blues. Now THIS is how you mix fabrics. Compare the pillows now and before. If anyone ever wanted to know how to mix and match fabrics, I would show them this picture. The mix is perfect, IMO. Love the window shade with the blue trim. And a close of Mark’s darling Pug. Crazy over that sofa fabric!!!! Love this view of the room with the chair and the curtains showing. The beautiful tiled powder room off the family room. Gorgeous!! Original: Upstairs, here is more of the strange railings. AFTER: And, here is how Mark Sikes redid the upstairs hallway. Notice the beautiful skylight!! The doors are painted black, which I love. And, a look down the opposite way. The landing looks like an art gallery – which is a good lesson to take home – don’t neglect to decorate spaces that are in private areas only. Most people would probably just leave an upstairs hall blank – but here, you can see that by adding a few paintings and some furniture – the space becomes dramatic. ORIGINAL: The guest bedroom and porch – when the house was for sale. The windows and hinges are so pretty. BEFORE – the first remodeling: Here’s a rare shot that shows the guest room before Mark added the canopy. What a difference the canopy makes as you can see below! HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: The guest room with the canopy bed. Mark said the room was inspired by Billy Baldwin and the British Colonial style. Today, the chaise has been recovered and is now in the living room. LONNY: a view of the Indian inspired armoire across from the bed. Now, this guest room is perfect! Why would anyone change it? Could it be more perfect than it is now? Well….the answer is YES!!!!! TODAY FOR VERANDA: The guest room today – simply GORGEOUS!!!! Just fabulous!! Inspired by Givency’s country house with its guest room where the same Braquenie fabric is used. I love how he mixed the green striped fabric on the bed frame. This has to be the prettiest guest room I’ve seen in a long time!!!! Wow! A close up of the inside of the bed with its blue fabric. Love the red bobble trim on the toile fabric. Across from the bed are two chairs and ottomans with a square red skirted table between them. Wish this wasn’t so blurry – but in the corner is an oriental screen. Love that touch! The decorated patio off the guest room. Mark says he got his inspiration for his new guest room décor from Givency’s own guest room – using the same fabric. Both rooms are beautiful. This is making me want to use this fabric too!! (bad crop/scan) My personal favorite use of this fabric is in Daniel Romualdez’s bedroom. All three rooms are to die for, that’s for sure, and it shows how important a wonderful fabric can be. Would any of these rooms look as good in just white linen? Hmmm… The link to this Pierre Frey fabric is HERE in case you are inspired to go full out on this tree of life pattern. Original: the tub was ultra contemporary, as was the sink. Total gut job. AFTER THE FIRST REDECORATION: And a look at the guest bathroom. Here – it is seen without a shower curtain. Love the bead board painted black. And here there is a curtain. I have a feeling this bathroom has been completely changed to match the Tree of Life décor. ORIGINAL: Not that bad! I could probably make this work. Pink wallpaper, dark wood floors. But of course, Mark had MUCH better ideas for his master bedroom: BEFORE: Now, the room that started it all. When planning to enlarge this room, Mark wanted hand painted wallpaper in here – but there was already a beautiful pattern in the dining room. With that – the total redecoration began. Again, the master bedroom before was wonderful. A canopy bed, striped chairs, and a pretty linen print on the bed. Two chairs sit in front of the canopy bed. Striped rugs were layered over textured matting. There is a large window seat and a balcony. AND NOW TODAY, THE MASTER BEDROOM: AFTER FOR VERANDA: The room has the same blue color scheme and California feel – but with the wallpaper, it is taken up a HUGE notch. Plaid curtains and creamy linens on the bed. The remodeled master bedroom looks more sophisticated with the wallpaper. The sofa and the curtains on the canopy also make it seem more sophisticated than before. The before was beautiful – but this is just a bit prettier, a bit finer. Beautiful tufted chair and ottoman. The mirror has moved from the downstairs living room. Oriental chest and art work. And the view from the master bedroom’s balcony. Original: the bathroom with the pink and black tiles. Pretty, but surely Mark can do better! AFTER: Beautiful, perfectly executed combination of classic elements – marble, mirror, nickel, cabinetry. BEFORE – THE FIRST REDECORATION: The upstairs library as it once was before Mark wallpapered it in the familiar Peter Dunham Samarkand pattern. He added all the shelving with lights – turning a bedroom into a reading room. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: Here, a while later, Mark added the Samarkand pattern to the walls, along with chairs and ottomans. AFTER: A complete change! The ceiling is now tented – inspired by the Charlottenhof Palace in Germany. The skirted table is replaced by the day bed, while a new banquette is added by the window. Topping it all off is the new light fixture. The new tented ceiling really makes the room seem so much more substantial. Mark said the inspiration between this new design is the tented room at the 1829’s Chartlottenhof Palace in Germany: Charlottenhof Tent Room – Mark’s inspiration for his library. Paula + Martha, interior designers based out of NYC, also used the Charlottenhof Palace tent room as an inspiration for their Hampton Designer Showcase House room HERE. And, Mark had another inspiration for the library – Bill Blass’ living room in NYC HERE. Little Augury wrote an interesting blog about Mark’s fashion inspirations HERE. Library bathroom. ORIGINAL: You can see the terrace was not always such a beautiful place. ORIGINAL: And an even bigger mess was the back yard that is now neatly terraced. Before, this back portion of the yard was a total mess – a jungle!! This really shows how important landscaping is. Mark’s gardens turned this space into another room, a place to entertain or just to be alone with the paper and a cup of coffee. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: Here is how Mark changed it all. The back hill was terraced with a set of brick steps, creating small rooms along the way. The brick terrace is now surrounded by walls of greenery. Instead of a contemporary fountain, now it is the focal part of the garden. Mark says that the fountain is heard throughout the house. LOVE!!!!! A view of the living room below and a balcony, in the guest room, above. Is this France??? TODAY: And finally – a new look to the outdoors with fabrics in blue to blend in with the décor inside. Makes me want to go out and buy some more blue & white!! So – how do you like the changes Sikes made to the house? The new dining room is now mirrored, no longer papered in the beautiful Gracie? Do you like the more sophisticated and coordinated living room in shades of golds and taupes? What about the bedrooms? Do you like the new wallpaper in the master bedroom? Do you think it makes more sense to paper the master bedroom than the dining room? What about the new guest room with the beautiful tree of life fabric? Do you prefer it like this or before, in the more British Colonial Style? And finally – the library? Do you like it tented or not, as it was before? My vote is for the redecorating! I love all the updates – especially the bedrooms, the master and the guest room alone is worth it all! I love the new living room and the library. And I really like all the new patterns and colors in the family room/kitchen. My only regret? I do miss the Gracie paper in the dining room, but I understand the thought process behind the change. In all, I think it’s a total winner and Mark Sikes continues to be someone I love to watch and follow. To read his blog, go HERE. To following his travels and antics at home – visit his Instagram – Markdsikes To read more about Mark Sikes’ renovation, here are some good blogger stories: La Dolce Vita HERE Colour Outside The Lines HERE and Little Augury HERE
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Do you ever look at a beautiful designer-room, say in a magazine or blog and examine it? I mean, really examine it. And say to yourself why it does or doesn’t work? Well, I do that sometimes. The other day, I found myself analyzing the beautiful work of some of my favorite designers. And I […]
A few days ago, I received a call from a new internet friend. She told me that she had worked for interior designer Toby West and at that she started crying. She had just learned that Toby had passed away and she wanted to share her good memories of him: how nice Toby was and how much she admired him. The news left me sad and wistful. It seems like so many of the great designers whose work frequented the pages of Veranda and Southern Accents have passed away. Toby West is definitely in that group of great ones whose work was inspiring to so many of us. On hearing the news, my mind immediately went to two of West’s projects that landed on Veranda’s covers. Today, I first want to share Toby’s obituary which I found to be so endearing. And following that, I have compiled a collection of Toby’s work for you to enjoy one more time. Oct. 16, 2019 was a very sad day in the southern design community with the passing of Toby Patrick West, an internationally acclaimed interior designer and antiquarian for the past 32 years. Toby was born on Nov. 15, 1960 in Atlanta, Ga. Most of his adult life was spent in Atlanta and Highlands. He founded Toby West Limited, a successful design, antiques and furnishing business in Atlanta with his life and business partner, Tom Hayes. The business was in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center for 24 years. Later, he opened a shop in Highlands where he became known for his antiques and accessories in the Adirondack style. Most recently, Toby and Tom opened Toby West Antiques and Interior Design in Cashiers. Over the years, he became a very respected and admired interior designer. His work was featured in numerous national publications such as Veranda, Southern Accents, House Beautiful and Mountain Living. He also participated in many design showhouses in the mountain community receiving great acclaim. His God-given talent made him an icon in his field of design. He is survived by his life and business partner of 35 years, Thomas Mandeville Hayes, whom he married on Jan. 8, 2018. He is also survived by his mother, Lavone Cantrell; stepfather, Hugh Cantrell; two brothers; a stepsister; and his in-laws, Sylvia and Randy Allmon of Texas, and Bob and Dana Hayes of Ohio. He requested a celebration of life be presented in the spring at their Joe Webb log cabin gardens in Highlands. Burial of his cremated remains will be at the Highlands Memorial Park Cemetery. Toby West was Tom’s north, his south, his east and west. May he rest in peace now and wait for Tom to join him in their next life together. Together forever. A memorial donation may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences can be made to the family at www.maconfuneralhome.com. It was a fabulous cover, showing a beach house in Seaside, Florida, done all in the then very newly popular color – aqua. In fact, it was this cover story that helped incite the mass appeal of aqua. Back then the name Toby West rang a bell and a quick look at the 2000 Veranda led me to another design by Toby – his own house in Atlanta that he shared with his life partner Tom Hayes. Remember this cover? I: The 2000 cover showed the all white dining room in Toby’s dining room – with his gorgeous crystal chandelier. (Unfortunately the scans of this Veranda are of a very poor quality.) Toby’s family room had, at that time, my favorite toile. Their house was all cream and white with black accents mixed with small print wallpapers. It was filled with beautiful antiques and was a maximalist’s dream come true. And this vignette showed Toby at his best. Black chinoiserie furniture and accents, an antique bullseye mirror, and symmetrically placed wall hangings. The back foyer shows off T & T’s (Toby and Tom) collection of antique silhouettes, big and small. And the beautiful dining room overlooks the front porch, below: The front porch has arches that T & T decorated in black and white. A hanging lantern brings attention to the façade. Many scans from Hydrangea Hill, thanks!!! HERE. And today, the house with its arched front porch, looks like this. It appears to have been painted a yellowish green. II. This aqua house in Seaside became a popular rental. Included in the rental advertisement as a selling point was that the house had been designed by Toby West and was on the cover of Veranda. “Second Sandbar” was decorated with lots of wicker chairs and tables. Fabric softened the house, with curtains at every window. There were aqua checks and more wicker, this time in white. Antique maps hung on shiplap walls – and this was years before the Gaines made it popular! III. Another well known beach house, Morning in May, that Toby decorated. SORRY!!! More terrible scans. The living room in this second beach house was all taupe checks and sailboats. The breakfast room had beautiful slipcovers, a trademark of Toby’s. A small scan of the sitting room – this is one of my favorite rooms of Toby’s. Blue and white stripes with floral chintz fabric, with globes and maps. I remember when this house was published, I was obsessed with this room!! IV. And yet another Florida beach house by Toby and his partner Tom. This was designed around a found cache of antique ship wheels. The house itself was designed to look like the inside of a ship with its beams and shiplap walls. It was featured in Coastal Living magazine. And another view. I really like these kind of chairs used by West: rattan chairs with upholstered sides. And I don’t think I will ever tire of brown checked fabric!!! Besides the ship wheels, Toby used large model sailboats in his Florida beach houses. I’m sure there are more beach house projects that were never published – I wish we could see them all!!! V. But, without a doubt the most well known Toby West house was designed for the Chrisley family of TV fame, “Chrisley Knows Best.” That is before they were arrested on fraud charges, yet again. Todd and Julie Chrisley have lived in a number of houses, but the one that was such a stunner was the one that Toby had designed for them. And, it was featured in Veranda. Artie from Color Outside The Lines wrote a great detective story about this house HERE. The Chrisley dining room with blue and white and gold. When the house was sold, real estate photos let us get another glimpse into the house. The main hall is decorated with a set of gold framed prints mixed with antique furniture and blue & white porcelains. Who knew Todd had such great taste? Sunroom in beautiful blue and white print and check fabrics. So Toby! The beautiful bedroom – unfortunately the blue is off here. Dang it!!!! But look how gorgeous this is! This is Toby West at his best and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fabulous. It was hard to watch the TV show when the action took place in this room. Here, the real estate photo after the room had been stripped of a lot of its goodies. Where is the table at the end of the bed and the side chairs? Another view of the bedroom. GORGEOUS. Just gorgeous! You will notice that in the real estate photo above, the collection of antique capitals is missing, perhaps removed before the Chrisleys moved? Or sold? Oh, I just LOVE this room!!!!!! In the master sitting room, another beautiful design by Toby – I love what he did on the mantel and above. And here I just want to state this – it makes me sad and also angry that there are no clear, detailed photographs of Toby’s work available! Veranda has none on its web site, except for one or two photos. But there is no real compilation of his work available on Veranda, where he had at least two cover stories and more. This year Architectural Digest opened its coffers to every story ever shown in its magazines. It’s not free, you have to join and it’s not cheap, but at least it is done! All those great and not so great projects are preserved and available to be seen until eternity. If only Veranda would do the same and to be sure, the same should be done at Southern Accents. That said, there are two newer projects by Toby that I just love. Both are his and Tom’s personal homes. The couple lived in North Carolina and also in Georgia. For quite a few years, Toby and Tom lived in an old Georgian farmhouse, the Samuel Hanson House, built in 1816. The farmhouse is located on 7.81 acres and it is now for sale. HERE. Besides the house, there is a full horse barn! That the farm is now for sale is exceedingly sad. It’s probably too much for Tom to take on alone. Life is so unfair. They seem to have had such a wonderful life and to be cut short is just so sad. I think the farmhouse is so beautiful and is such a testament to the designs that Toby and Tom created, the house needs to be seen, especially since it wasn’t published that I know of. Nothing shows off a designer’s abilities more than his own house and these two houses of Toby and Tom are a visual treat! VI. The white house with its green metal roof. The house is shaded by huge ancient trees. The garage connects to the house by a series of brick paths lined with boxwoods. A nighttime view of the house shows the stables lit up in the back right. The farmhouse is filled with American and English antique furniture and a treasure chest of antique accessories and art work! The front parlor. Again, just admire all the accessories and beautiful Americana and English furniture. To the right of this sofa is the front door and behind the sofa is a large opening to the dining room. Through these door of the front parlor is the back sitting room. It’s just a bit less dressy than the front room, but not by much. And past the back sitting room is the sunroom, which I think is where the couple spent most of their time. Past the stairs is the sunroom. On the left is a vignette of barware. The sitting room. The doors lead to the back yard. Across from the front parlor is the dining room that sits in the front corner of the house. Fabulous dining chairs!!! And I love the shelf display above the fireplace. To the left is a side door that leads outside. The opposite view of the dining room. notice the lovely corner cabinet filled with white ironstone. The walls have a creamy yellow wallpaper in a very muted stripe. I just love this room!!! Through the right door is the front parlor and through the other door is the kitchen. Next to the refrigerator, you can just glimpse the walk in bar. Through the dining room is the kitchen and the breakfast room. At the back, you can see the back door – shown before. I LOVE this room!!! I think I just love this house!!! A view of the kitchen island – with its open shelves. Through the French doors at the end of the cabinets is the screened in porch. The screened in porch. At the right is the green sunroom. To the left of the sunroom, unseen here, is the master bedroom. The view towards the other direction. You can see the back sitting room through the door. I love all the blue and white hanging on the wall. And notice how Toby and Tom always add pedestals to their groupings for a bit more interest. To the right of the refrigerator is the walk in bar with its collection of antique corkscrews. The breakfast area. How charming is this? Notice the candle holder on the left wall. And notice the highboy. So pretty. Never one to miss a spot to decorate – small vases were placed in the transom. Through the transom door is the back door and the master bedroom. The back door and foyer off the kitchen. To the right is the master bedroom which overlooks the backyard. The master bedroom off the back foyer. I love that bed! Beautiful fabric and Americana furniture. Love the wallpaper. The bathroom has matching wallpaper. Of course the laundry room is decorated!!! Upstairs are two guest rooms that are decorated to the max! Love this in red and notice the small foyer through the door with the trays on the wall. And the other guest room in a different red print. Love this one too!!! What’s not to love?? This last guest room has twin beds with oil portraits over each bed. And one last charming vignette to bid goodbye to the farmhouse. Sigh. What a fabulous collection of blue and white. VII. The Georgian farmhouse is just a 2 1/2 hour drive to the Highlands of North Carolina. And, think about this: There are more Scots in North Carolina than in Scotland. The Scots started to come after the massacre of the battle of Culloden in the 18th century, lured by a landscape that looked remarkably like home to the displaced aliens. This gives you an idea of how beautiful and how verdant the hills of North Carolina truly are. Today the Highlands are a popular place for a second home and a vintage log cabin is highly sought after. Toby and Tom bought their Joe Webb log cabin in the 1980s and then set about remodeling it and sensitively adding onto it. Built of large, round, beautiful chestnut logs, T&T told Southern Home magazine that they doubled the size of the house. While they kept the exterior’s Appalachian design, inside the house is more reminiscent of upstate New York’s Adirondack style. The couple were lucky to buy the Joe Webb log cabin – he is known for building the most authentic cabins which are the most prized in the area. It’s hard to tell where the old stops and the new additions begin, but isn’t this so charming?!!! I love the lower level with the red trimmed windows. Close up of moss growing on the roof and the red painted windows. Tom and Toby added the covered walkway and the twig bridge. An original twig gate? No. It’s new! Some of the changes that Tom and Toby made were done to correct restorations made by other owners. Not that they were bad, they were just not T & T’s first choice. There was a 1960 circa porch that was “awkward” and another owner had used cinder blocks to brace the log cabin. But luckily, the interiors had been left alone. When the couple found the house, they were happy to see there was no sheetrock, no wine cellar and no media room. What they found was an authentic log cabin. But, they did add a large master suite, extra closets and guest space, and in a nod to the 21st century – a gym. The Dutch door. Too cute!! The sunroom was once an enclosed porch. Today it is filled with antique English furniture, including the English painting of the trout. Tom and Toby chose red in most rooms because they felt it looked best against the wood logs. The ceiling in the original living room is 20’ which is most unusual for a Webb log cabin – most are 8’ to 10’ tall. Fabrics were repeated in rooms to create a unified design scheme. A Toby West vignette! The carved mirror is from the Black Forest. The dining room has a large clock from Provence along with check and striped fabrics. The chairs are Americana. The kitchen with cabinets made of the same wood as the cabin. The master bedroom was added on by the couple. Another view of master bedroom. Beautiful twisted wood bed. A guest suite off the terrace level is done in green toiles with lamps made of Staffordshire. Café curtains with trim. Close up of lamp and headboard with embroidered sheets. Two club chairs finish out the guest room. And so, I hope you enjoyed seeing part of Toby West’s portfolio. I only wish the quality of the photos were better. As far as I know, Toby and Tom’s store remains open in Cashiers and I hope it does for a long while. Lissy Parker took photos of the shop. It looks like another house of Tom and Toby’s! And here, Tom with Toby on the right, surround one of their employees in their antique/design store. Rest in Peace.
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Remember this story from 2009, almost nine years ago? Inside this old dorm building, Hoyt-Bowne Hall at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, were scores of terribly “decorated” dorm rooms, that is except for one. New York Magazine wrote a story about a tiny dorm room in this door where a 21 year old senior lived in a Ralph Lauren heaven. Majoring in French & Art History, he had once been voted “preppiest in the class” and looking at him, it’s not hard to imagine him winning that award. While other students were wearing thongs or Uggs, he was wearing Stubbs & Wootton shoes that he paired with pastel colored slacks instead of jeans. (Click on shoe) His name was Maximilian Sinsteden and though he had yet to graduate, he was already working for Charlotte Moss!! When he moved into his dorm – he first emptied it of all its standard furniture and then painted the walls a deep green. Next, he began to layer in Oriental rugs and his own antiques. At the ceiling, he hung an antique brass chandelier and Boss Charlotte Moss provided the curtains and bolsters for the bed. All this for a dorm room! Max had grown up in Connecticut and spent summers in Ireland and Germany. His father, a physician, is an expert on Georgian Irish silver and it was from him that he was bit by the antiques and decorative bug. Layers of antique rugs cover the ugly dorm floor. Bedding by Ralph Lauren and Max’s grandmother. Max honed his aesthetic on his own family, decorating his house at 12. Besides Charlotte Moss, he had also worked for David Easton starting when he was just 15. He had already started his own firm – with his first project designing a yacht’s interior. He told the magazine that after the semester was over he was going to intern in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum and then he was off to Rome. He also said that he had redone his room three times since these photos were taken. Ralph Lauren’s Tapestry Green was painted on the gallery styled walls. What a perfect placement of prints and paintings. I love the license plate! Max bought a vintage chest to hold his very organized clothes. His ties neatly hang on the wall. In the corner was a well stocked bar, which I remember got LOTS of comments on blogs. He was, though, of age. The desk, covered by a plaid – created a skirted table – love!!! Since Maximilian Sinsteden was already famous in college, further success was sure to come his way. And so, every once in awhile over the past 9 years – mostly when someone showed off their child’s decorated dorm room (me for instance HERE!) – I would think of that young man. Whatever happened to Max, I wondered? Is he a decorator today or did he decide to pursue another field? In the end, I might have been the only person in the world who didn’t know what eventually happened to Max – except I did and didn’t realize it. While looking at old photos for my last “Inspiration” blog story, I came upon the old photos from Max’s dorm room. I thought…"Where is that young man today?” After nearly a decade, I couldn’t remember his name, so I googled the story and his name left me stunned. Is THAT him??!?!? Wow! These past years, there has been a lot of published work from O&S – an interior design firm with two unpronounceable names – Olasky & Sinsteden – yes, THAT Max. Formed in 2009 – the same year that Max’s magazine article came out, Catherine Olasky and Max were both living in London. Catherine, 9 years older than Max, had worked for Bunny Williams and then moved to London to work for Colefax & Fowler. The two had projects at the Victoria and Albert Museum at the same time and became close friends. O & S was born of that friendship and mutual respect. Both principals had almost the same exact aesthetic – classical decor. O & S’s web site says they have done projects in London, Dublin, Nantucket, NYC, Connecticut, Boston, and Houston!!! Catherine actually lives here in Houston, while Max lives in NYC. Somehow they make it all work despite living in two different parts of the country. I’ve been drooling over their fabulous interiors for years, never realizing Max was that same precocious decorator from the famous college dorm room! I love it!!! In 2015, House Beautiful showed how the grown up Max lived in a one room apartment that is eerily like his former dorm room – although bigger and more luxe. Walking into the 525 sq. ft. apartment, Max has created a enfilade out of one room – with the use of a curtain that divides the space into two areas. The foyer is painted a rich green, similar to his dorm room – except here, it was glossy. Instead of using Ralph Lauren’s green paint, Max used Fine Paints of Europe's Cave Creek. Here, Max has opened the curtain for the photographer so you can see the bedroom behind it. On the walls is Benjamin Moore’s “Rich Cream” which was chosen to match the linen on the sofa. The lamps are by Christopher Spitzmiller. The area rug in the living area gives the room a dressy vibe. About the sofas – Max says buy one great sofa 7’ long, and it will last your entire lifetime. BUT, he couldn’t fit in one sofa that size – so he opted for two loveseats. One day, he says, they will flank a fireplace and across from it will be that 7’ long fabulous sofa!! No coffee table? Here’s a great idea – two stacks of books with an extra long one on top! Max’s books are neatly stacked across from the two sofas. Unlined silk checked fabric in the living area is used for curtains. Well – don’t ever do this! Your curtains will rip and tear and disintegrate without a lining AND even WITH a lining! You have to be very careful when using silk curtains that the sun won’t fall on the fabric unless you plan to replace them in about 5 years. Next to the kitchen is a small table that seats four. The painting is by Cecil Beaton and once belonged to Brooke Astor. Notice the thin ties that hold the cushion on the seat’s back. The bedroom area is cozy and charming AND very nicely furnished with wallcovering in Arabel Fabric’s Charisma. Save money? Just order shams from Leontine Linens – not the entire set of sheets. Notice that the curtain dividing the room has two different fabrics. Across from the bed is a skirted table which looks suspiciously like the one in his dorm room. On top is the bar, in his bedroom – again! Another view shows the red chest, which is a bright accent and picks up the curtain fabric, hand me downs from Charlotte Moss. Notice how the wall fabric is piped in a thin black trim. Anyone who would have a dorm room decorated just so would of course be a neatnik! Wow!! I need to send Mr. Slippersocksman over there to get some badly needed organization lessons. I do wonder if that chest is the same one from his dorm room? Knowing NYC studios, I have a feeling he did a little updating here. Love the painted ceiling and subway walls with marble vanity. This is how Max Sinsteden decorates. Now, how does the other half of O & S, Catherine Olasky, decorate? …. Catherine Olasky lives with her family here in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Dallas so I assume that is how she and her husband ended up in Houston – having both lived in London. After the Olaskys renovated their house, House Beautiful chose it for last year’s Christmas edition cover feature. I wish we had more photos of the house but I did find BEFORE images so we can see the beautiful transformation Olasky achieved. Today Olasky’s house with a hedge out front and new lanterns. The brick was painted white and the door, dark gray. A larger AFTER view from Google. The landscaping was redone with new box and trees that flank the house. BEFORE: The beds were surrounded by brick, now painted white. The house looks updated with its new coat of white paint. BEFORE: The entry overlooks the main room. AFTER: Here is how Olasky decorated her foyer – with a console filled with books and an antique chair in a checked fabric. I wish the photo was wider!! Photographers don’t take interior pictures to show the entire room, of course. They take beautiful photos that just happen to be in a house. But, for nosey interior designers – we want to see everything! A view without the Christmas decor. If you didn’t read the House Beautiful article, do. Olasky is very interesting when talking about mixing a Texas Christmas with an English Christmas, having lived there for so long she became fond of their yuletide customs. BEFORE: The contemporary house was built in 1972 by Lucian Hood and has been sold a few times. Here, with terrazzo floors and orange walls. The front facade has no windows except the foyer – to keep the house cool from the hot morning sun. BEFORE: Better looking, the house’s walls were painted white by the previous owners. Pretty decor. AFTER: Olasky decorated her house in a mix of classic decor with a young sensibility. A large seagrass covers the floor. White paint on the walls while the ceiling was fauxed. The shelves are now painted a French blue with brass lamps above them. I ADORE the skirted chair in a Jasper fabric!! “Love the shape and fabric.” Olasky said she always asks herself if she loves the shape and fabric on furniture before she brings it home. She has an aversion to clutter – but it looks like her partner Max loves it. And another view of the mantel and painted shelves. I would love to see this room without the Christmas decorations. Sometimes you get what you wish for! Another view without the Christmas decor – not sure if this was earlier or later, but I love the painting. A close up of the ottoman with fringe. I love this view of the ottoman. Apparently these photos were taken in the summer – must be strange to decorate for Christmas and then just take it all down the next day. IDEA: The collage above the sofa was created by Olasky with pages from a Lulu de Kwiatkowsky book. What a great idea!!! The only cost is the frame and the book and the Decoupage. Such an English room – reminds me of Kate and William’s. BEFORE: Past the foyer and living room is the atrium that the living, dining, and master bedroom overlook. To the right here, is the dining room – with one window to the outside. BEFORE: The dining room with two built-in hutches. AFTER: This looks so pretty! I wish it were larger, again! Olasky moved the two hutches to flank the window, which was a great idea. Notice she papered the back of the hutch – which is a tiny detail that makes a big difference. Luxe details are the trademark of O & S. The plates are green which are a nice blend for the curtain fabric – Lee Jofa’s Nympheus, Olasky’s favorite fabric. Wonki Ware Pottery from South Africa. Bloomingdales carries some Wonki Ware HERE. And, notice that Olasky painted the walls in a khaki and white stripe which helps make the room a bit smaller and cozier. The Jonathan Adler chandelier adds a contemporary touch. The Adler chandelier in a smaller version HERE. BEFORE: The paneled library. AFTER: The wood was painted a trendy lavender which adds a youthful touch to what could have been an overly mature room. Notice the chair – usually the wood would be stained brown, instead it is painted black, another more modern touch. AFTER: The guest room. Vintage sleigh bed were upholstered in Colefax and Fowler blue & white. The pillows are in my favorite fabric! Christopher Farr’s Carnival – love it! BEFORE: The master bedroom AFTER: The master bedroom. A 9’ tall bed. The glider is from Olasky’s grandmother. The curtains are so pretty in a blush pink and lined in a blue green tape – more details. Another photo from the master bedroom – the love seat and pillows in Chelsea Edition fabrics. LOVE!!! White rattan table is a fun and another youthful piece. Notice the table has a scalloped edge matched by the scalloped edges of the quilt and bedcover. A small photo of the side wicker table. The master bedroom – from another photoshoot. I love the color – a blushy peach. The daughter’s bedroom is just the cutest ever! This shows Olasky’s aesthetic. She likes classic with a hint of folly. The wallpaper is fabulous – I love it!! Notice the trim – it’s painted two colors from Benjamin Moore: Blackbean Soup and Cadwell Green. The wallpaper is by Waterhouse Wallhangings here, which gives the room its vintage feel. Just TOO cute!!! The crib is from Oeuf HERE. It does look like Olasky painted the crib the same color as the trim in the playroom. Just adorable. What I’ve shown is the design team on their own – Max with his apartment and Olasky with her own house. But – O & S is a team and their work is done together, so what DOES it look like when the two complete a project with both at the helm? Olasky said that Max and her are in sync 98% of the time, but that missing 2% accounts for Max’s ultratraditional style and her whimsical aesthetic. For instance, take a look at their Kips Bay Showhouse Room that was a smash hit that year. Their Kips Bay guest room was so beautiful in wallcovering by Warner Textile Archive Collection. The French chair in chintz is my favorite touch, of course. The room is a mix of the two – their 98% synchronicity with Olasky’s whimsy in the art work above the bed, and.. And there it is! The ultratraditional touch by Max…the phone! I love it. He has one just like it in his apartment. He probably borrowed his phone for Kips Bay. I must be like Max – I’ve been dying to get one just like this but I don’t even have a land line anymore. I happen to like this style. It’s a bit more old fashioned. (Click on the photo.) There are so many good projects by O & S that it’s hard to chose one, but I picked the one that appealed to me the most – I hope you agree. The house is located on the Channel Island of Guernsey. Huh? Look here: There, in the channel between England and France is the tiny island of Guernsey. The island of Guernsey is most known today for two things, one being an international tax haven and two, home of the writer Victor Hugo. Researching Guernsey, Hugo’s house, Hauteville, was a most pleasant surprise. Hugo lived here with his family, and his nearby mistress, for fifteen years while in exile from Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. It was at this house, overlooking Saint Peter Port, that Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables, Toilers of the Sea, The Man Who Laughs, and many more. He was a collector of antiques and porcelains and was an accomplished interior designer. He designed the house’s interior and filled it with treasures he collected. In 1927, his grandchildren donated the house to the City of Paris who run it as a museum. The house is currently closed for refurbishing. Hugo with his grandchildren and his Mistress, the actress Juliette Drouet. 1866. His mistress moved to Guernsey with the family including Hugo’s wife – but she lived at another house. Notice the front door with the transom. From the inside – that front door with the transom. Sets of plates line the walls and the ceiling, out of sight. He owned many more sets that are on display in other parts of the house. The dining room is filled with tapestries. Notice the banquette at the left. At the right is the fireplace with cabinetry surround. In the kitchen – the walls are tiled. Notice the tiles are in the shape of an H above the fireplace. The Red Salon. This room is different than many of the others which are more darker, more Victorian in feel. One thing is for sure – not an inch of surface in this house was left untouched by Hugo. Of course I love this room! After all the excesses of the house, this greenhouse room is amazing. Victor Hugo loved Guernsey – he wrote about the cliffs being harsh while inland was gentle. He described the assorted Channel Islands as "fragments of France which fell into the sea and were gathered up by England." It is exactly this dual culture on Guernsey – English and French – that inspired Olasky and Sinsteden on their project on Guernsey. O & S were still living in London when they were hired to renovate a farmhouse, a project that Olasky considers their first important work. The house had been lived in for sixty years and was filled with things the owner had collected and inherited. An older man, he had traveled between England, Ireland and the states, shopping all the while. Even with all his travel, the owner still spent part of each year on the island. His house was built in the 16th century and had been updated through time. Since O & S were still based in London, it was convenient for them to assess the owner’s large collection of furniture and art and choose what was meant to stay and what would be restored. O & S employed what was on hand, updating fabrics, reupholstering and refinishing. Over 100 pieces of art alone were reframed and hung in the house. Amazing! Though the house was large, every part was used – nothing was saved for “company only.” The story about the house on Guernsey was in the WSJ and photos were taken by Read McKendree. Please be SURE to visit McKendree’s web site and look at his beautiful photographs, which are also for sale, framed. Displaying photography in place of painted art is a very popular choice today. The island shot on a cloudy, atmospheric day. The house is 10 minutes away from the port town. The name of the estate. I tried to translate this but Google never heard of Fainel. A hint of things to come…aren’t those lanterns gorgeous?!! The front door, seen here, leads to the foyer. A close up of the wall hung lantern. The 16th century farmhouse, freshly painted. In the WSJ article, Max says that the older 16th century section of the house is at the left while the section on the right was built in the 17th century. O & S worked on the facade, painting the skirt a beige color. Before, the house was all pink save the window frames. Whites were painted whiter. Door bell! Too charming – the side porch with reclaimed antique French pavers. Notice the original glass in the door rebuilt by O & S. The foyer opens to an inner door with curtains made with Palmyre by Le Manach. The curtains protect the lower hall against strong winter winds. O & S’s trademark is antique wood furniture – the bar sits atop a George II mahogany console from 1750-60. A close up of the bar on the marble top console. I would love to see the art work behind it – it looks so pretty!!! While completely refurbishing the farmhouse, O & S chose new frames for more than 100 pieces of art owned by the client. They also chose new linens and personalized stationary. In a nod to their trademark attention to detail, O & S had mahogany hangers custom made for the closets!!! Nice. My own hangers are a sad combination of the dry cleaners and department store giveaways. Further down the lower hall are the white painted stairs. The hanging tapestry is called “Garlanded Goat.” More of the Le Manach fabric at the lower hall window. The corner chair is Rose Tarlow’s. I love this chair. It must really rain a lot on Guernsey – lots of umbrellas here... …and here. Notice the cute arched door off the lower hall. The Double Drawing Room. First O & S addressed the niches, which lacked molding or paneling. They were painted three shades of white: a cream on the molding, a lighter cream on the panels, and a thin line of white that separates the two creams. This formula was used on the molding throughout the house. O & S used the owner’s rug, but replaced the curtains with a Lee Jofa hand blocked linen. Of course, to make the ceiling appear taller, the rod was placed at the crown molding. I love the wallpaper – a stripe in cool aqua by Farrow & Ball. The niches add so much to the room, especially with the brass lights. Finally, notice how the prints are framed by molding which enhances the vignette. A view of the other half of the Drawing Room shows beautifully curved bookcases from Colefax & Fowler. Lee Jofa’s Wakehurst hand-blocked linen in Straw. To give the house a consistent design scheme, the same three shades of white were used on all the molding. Brass was used throughout to honor the owner’s love of sailing and the closeness of the house to the sea. Additionally, O & S have added a grounding black accent to almost all the rooms. Most, but not all, mantels are black and O & S sourced all the black cast iron radiators in the house which add their own decorative element. Finally, only muted colors were chosen for fabrics and paints, bright colors would have looked too modern and not consistent with the light on the island. The dining room is a luscious shade of dusty rose – it is actually a silk/wool fabric by Rogers/Goffigon. Wow. How gorgeous. The chairs are copies of a 1940s style and the table is also new. The mirror is the owner’s from the 1900s. I also love the light fixture in black which picks up the black in the mantel. Max said that it’s crucial to have overhead lighting even when the ceiling is so low. It adds to the ambiance when there is light at different levels. You can see the rug here which looks so pretty! LOVE the matching consoles and the art work. AND finally – notice the mirror, it is reminiscent of the lanterns with their chinoiserie elements. Love this room!! Details. Nothing is too small for the “soup to nuts” firm. Silk striped fabric – ruffled edge. The drapery rods are custom ordered. Notice the drapery rings. If you can afford such custom detail, it makes such a difference, but unfortunately, few can afford such detail. Oh, to have such gorgeous rods and rings!! You can closely see the fabric on the wall, here. The owner’s childhood boat, refurbished by O & S. Here, you can clearly see the three color trim paint formula used on the door. Also, notice the hardware! In the kitchen, which was completely renovated, the floors are reclaimed antique French terra cotta tiles with oak cabochons – found in Normandy, France. This floor is also seen in the parlor, next door. The kitchen is one of the brightest rooms in the house, painted white-white, the one room that went against the rest of the three white/cream formula. The hood’s oversized screw heads bring to mind sailing, as do the nautical style latches on the upper cabinets – a nod to the owner’s love of sailing. All the appliances were painted this same color of blue. High end appliances including a grill and rotisserie. Notice the brass plated plugs. The breakfast area with marble topped drop-down table. Love the light fixture. The patio outside the kitchen. Notice the umbrella, it looks as if it was made of metal, as was the scalloped awning! Again, the awning has that same chinoiserie element as the exterior lanterns have. Between the kitchen and the dining room is this parlor. The tile and wood cabochon floor is carried into here from the kitchen. On the walls are art work depicting sailing and the sea. The upper walls are patterned while the molding is painted a mossy green. LOVE the sconces that ring the walls!! This type of placement of the sconces is found throughout the house. The sofa is from Soane Britain, covered in a Pierre Frey fabric. Love the collection of pillows and striped coverlet. Notice how expertly the prints/paintings were hung! It shows how talented O & S are to hang so perfectly over 100 pieces of art, after first reframing them. Correctly hanging art is a real talent. Even high priced designers don’t always get it right. Gallery walls are especially tricky, but O & S make it look easy! Right across from the sofa in the parlor is this fabulous, repeat, fabulous fireplace. The tiles are Portuguese from Solar Antique Tile, NYC. Love the rug which we can plainly see here, along with the Albatross chair from Soane Britain. Through the door is the dining room. A view out the window of the parlor. Notice the trim on the curtains. Details at every turn by O & S. Love the nautical looking lantern. The powder room in the lower hall. The paper is Lorimer by Watts of Westminster. The vanity is 19th century oak with a marble top. The sink with a chain attached stopper. The best. Oh…that toilet! So classic. So O & S! A classic towel heater. O & S “branded” the house with custom designed monograms on towels and linens and with custom designed stationary, amongst other things. Soup to Nuts – nothing is left for the owner to do himself. It’s the ultimate in Interior Design. What a cozy room to shield oneself from frigid winds! That fire! Love the George IV period convex mirror and red tortoiseshell obelisks on the mantel. The poplar wood is actually faux painted to look like knotty pine. Rose Cummings Genges covers the sofa. The check curtains in the library are Cowtan and Tout with a braid trim. As in other rooms, sconces ring the walls. Max says this choice is better in lower ceilinged rooms as opposed to the more trendy brass lights at the top of the shelves. In the upper hall, the same fabric found in the lower hall hangs at the window. The round table has gilt trim – beautiful. The master bedroom has F. Schumacher fabric on its walls, creating a warm cocoon. The blue and white coverlet is the perfect touch and adds to the sailing motif found through the house. Notice the tiny thin blue trim on the Suzanne Tucker curtains that mimic the trim on the custom made sheets. The blue splatterware jar was made into the bedside lamp. Along the wall in the master bedroom are antique hall chairs and a beautiful old chest. Note the door which shows up the three color trim formula used throughout. The fireplace is Victorian Welsh bought at Chesney’s in London. Notice the painted panels on it – so unique. My favorite is the sconce used for a reading lamp. Love!!! In the elegant master closet, O & S designed the Irish oak cerused cabinetry around the owner’s chest. Seating in the master closet. And pencils and paper on hand, just in case. Soup to Nuts. The designers created a bath to show both cultures of the island, French and English. The bath and its faucet are French while the heated towel bar and paint are English. About the paint on the vanity and woodwork – Olasky said this is the “dirgiest” white they will ever use, because of the age of the house. In another view of the master bath, the Bertoia chair adds a modern touch. Paper: Benwick by Watts of Westminster. Custom towels with navy trim picks up the same color in the wallpaper and in the master bedroom. The owner’s nieces stay in this guest room when they visit. Bennison fabric on the wall is similar but different from the bed curtains by Bennison. Black night tables add weight to the room which would be too light and airy looking and float away without the grounding weight. Bennison fabric is also used as the canopy liner. Plaid on the headboard. Custom designed linens. So cute! For drawers, O & S order custom designed paper liners – with trim, no less. But, in this particular chest, fabric was used instead. Love this!! I’m suffering from lack of custom detailing in my life. Close up of the curtain trim in the guest room. This is the only view we have of this bedroom – in lavender, with trim on the curtains, of course. Wish there were more photos. And, just one photo from another upstairs room. I wonder if it is a sitting room or a bedroom? This guest bathroom has a hanging Drummond sink with gorgeous tiles. That soap rack! And I’m loving the asymmetrical one sconce. The house has a few of these and it’s a very interesting look. In the shower room of the guest bath, another Drummond sink, with its chain stopper and marble top. What a collection of art, books, and furniture this homeowner has. I would love to visit and stay awhile!! Soup To Nuts. Here are a few examples of how O & S complete a job with custom detailing. Here, in the Guernsey guest bedroom closet - it is lined with custom marbleized bookbinding paper from Compton Marbling. I’m sure all closets and chests were treated this way. Custom mahogany hangers were also placed in the closets. An example of custom linens ordered for another client. Monograms are designed for clients and are used on linens and towels and stationery. It’s a sophisticated “branding” – a very classic attention to detailing rarely seen and certainly rarely done by most interior designers. It takes a special attention to detail and an immense dedication to work to oversee all these tiny details. I remember Charlotte Moss talking about the way she handled her clients – in the same exact way. She would even go so far as setting the tables with the client’s different china sets – photographing it all so that the client could reproduce the different looks. Custom wood pulls for shades. Soup to Nuts!! Words of Wisdom: Olasky: And also, it's important to make sure you are going out to see things, not just choosing things that look good on a dealer's website or on 1stdibs. All of these resources are great when you're in a bind and you do need a corner cabinet that's four foot six inches tall—something that's very obscure—and they can be great leads. But you can't succumb to doing all of your sourcing online or through anything other than just pounding the pavement. You're never going to quite grasp the patina on a piece of wood or the paint finish of something or all of the things that you really feel when you see a piece in person. And, this next statement is so interesting, talking about being classic decorators as opposed to the more modern look that is so popular today: Olasky: I want to feel like we've held out. Obviously we have to change with the industry to survive and things like that, but I want to feel like we're still doing things in a very... Sinsteden: True way. I hope you’ve enjoyed this story that started with a google search of a young man who decorated his dorm room and who grew up to be a designer whom I greatly admire!! O & S web site HERE. And a bit of a follow up. In the recent story about Kathryn Ireland‘s new house, there were no photographs of the family room off the kitchen. Recently, these two photos were shown on Instagram that complete the visual story: The view from the kitchen into the Kathryn Ireland’s family room. A large sectional, slipcovered in linen with a host of pastel colored pillows. The view from the family room to the kitchen. If they show more photos of the house that we haven’t seen, I’ll post those too!! And for now, good day!
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