Sunday, February 28, 2010

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Friday, February 26, 2010

"Raising the Roof . . . "


Greetings,

There are several things that should be noted in short order here. Firstly, 'yay!' - it's finally the weekend. Secondly, the I'm-going-to-completely-redesign-my-house project is humming away at full speed. Tons of decisions made this week - very excited.

Most recently, I had kind of a tumble this morning (at 7:24am) while at bootcamp and kinda messed up my left shoulder. It was all quite humiliating. I was doing pull-ups. Then, ever so suddenly, I was holding my shoulder - and swearing like a sailor. Big thanks to all of our trainers for taking care of me . . . and for their quick response.


Rustic. Modern. and clearly comfortable.

Well, what you might ask does any of this have to do with my little design blog? Well - I promised myself that I would finish blogging before I took my next pain pill - and, well - I would really like to take one right now . . .

So . . . before I drift off to blissful, numb slumber . . . something comforting. something warm and welcoming. And maybe something with some exposed rafters . . .

Seriously, HOW fantastic are these barn conversions from the New York design firm Carrier and Company? I love the mass of the space . . . and the perfect colours.

Perfection.

Some detail images.

Love. Love. Love. The exact place to spend a relaxing weekend.

And - speaking of curled up in the bed . . . I'm going to do just that very thing.
Tomorrow morning is an early wake-up for a rehearsal for my next chamber concert.

Already blogging from bed,
tartanscot

Friday Find: Lady Jayne Office-To-Go Totes and Giveaway

As a busy mom, school volunteer and design/organization consultant my schedule changes daily. To keep organized while on the go, I love these chic Busy Totes by Lady Jayne. The compact tote comes in stylish prints to suit your personality. It includes three coordinating file folders and a note pad to keep you beautifully organized.



One lucky Simplified Bee reader will win a Busy Tote courtesy of Lady Jayne. I would pick pink & preppy white houndstooth - Lilyanne pattern. What about you?



Here's how to enter Simplified Bee's Lady Jayne Busy Tote giveaway:



• Leave a comment & let me know which tote you'd prefer (include email and pattern subject to availability).

Extra Entry - become a new Follower of Simplified Bee™ Blog (by adding yourself to the follower group on the sidebar) or follow Simplified Bee on Twitter.

• Extra Entry - mention this giveaway in a post or tweet and leave a comment letting me know you've done so.

• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.

• Entry period closes at midnight PST, Friday, March 5, 2010 and the winner will be announced Monday, March 8, 2010.




*Note: The winner will be drawn randomly using Random.org, notified directly via email and listed back at this post using first name only.


Lady Jayne paper goods and gifts are available online at Traylor Papers.



Good luck and happy organizing!



moroccan shopping adventure

Today I hit the Moroccan jackpot. While looking for some outdoor furniture with a client, we visited the most AMAZING shop - Badia Designs. More Moroccan goodies than you can even imagine. Room after room of gorgeous lanterns, poufs, antique doors and fountains. I cannot wait to go back. We are having some goodies delivered to her home on Saturday - keep your fingers crossed that they work out!

Moroccan decor was trendy around the country last year, but I feel like it transcends trend here in Los Angeles because it really works well with our Mediterranean architecture and climate...

Here are some gorgeous images from one of my other favorite local Moroccan shop - Mosaic.

I would gladly have this outdoor set up in my backyard.




I keep trying to convince my husband that our house needs a pouf. I think I need to stop trying to convince and just pull the trigger myself :)



I'm mad for these metallic ones.


Love all these lights displayed.



We plan on hanging three different lights at three different lengths at my client's home. Cannot WAIT to photograph the final result.






I've had my eye on a Moroccan wedding blanket for a while now.

This antique door knocker is absolutely insane!


I decided to create a little Polyvore collage of my ideal Moroccan shopping outfit - loose grey shirt paired with either a beaded necklace or fabulous ethnic-vibe scarf. Bright jewel colors and some sexy shades...


Moroccan Shopping Adventure
Moroccan Shopping Adventure by TheGoodsDesign featuring By Malene Birger accessories

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Anatomy of a Console Table



Generally speaking, there are precious few "rules" when it comes to decorating. After all, taste isn't really a matter of following a prescribed list of "do's" and "don'ts", but instead a more elusive art form: it is emotional rather than logical. There's an often repeated mantra that good taste can't be taught -- and perhaps that is in fact the case. However,I firmly believe that if we take the time to train our eyes, we can learn short cuts and handy tricks that can at the very least help us approximate good taste, even if it isn't innate.

One area of decorating that appears to have surprising uniformity is styling a console table. A console table is the true workhorse of occasional tables -- it works equally well behind a sofa as it does in foyer -- and it's also an amazing opportunity to practice styling on a small scale. For many designers, the task can even be broken down into a rather simple arithmetic formula. Take for example Sara Gilbane's alcove (shown above). The classical elegance of the console table is anchors the statement-making gilt mirror. A pair of tall vases flank either end of the table and help bridge the space between the mirror and table top. Smaller-scaled picture frames and a decorative bowl fill in the center of the table and create further symmetry. This symmetrical arrangement is then echoed on the lower shelf with two small plants flanking the inlaid box.

Following this symmetrical formula is a simple and guaranteed way to achieve a visually pleasing arrangement. A few more examples from some of my favorite designers to illustrate some of the many variations on this theme:

Hillary Thomas Designs

John Willey Interior Design





Meg Braff

Ashley Whittaker

Miles Redd

If you have a longer wall to fill, follow the lead of Miles Redd (above) and Sally Steponkus (below) and try flanking the console table with a pair of smaller chairs. When company comes, you'll have the extra seating, but otherwise the chairs will be out of the way for day-to-day activities.

Sally Steponkus

If you're ready to move on to the next level, try breaking up the symmetry a bit, which can create a far more interesting (and less "decorated") look. The key to your success though will be to maintain the balance. Here, Kristen Hutchins uses only one table lamp (a good choice as the console table is on the small side), but balances it with a small floral arrangement at the other end.


Here, the very symmetrical arrangement of mirrors above the console is loosened up by the more haphazardly arranged orange boxes below. If the boxes had been stacked more tidily, the overall effect would have been far too geometric, which would have felt too studied and not in keeping with the more organic qualities of the decorative objects on the table itself.

Ruthie Sommers

If you're trying to break up the symmetry a bit, I'd suggest keeping at least one element symmetrical, as Ruthie Sommers did here with the pair of sconces flanking the mirror. This is a simple trick to bring balance back to an asymmetrical space. [Random aside: Did you notice the adorable dog lounging on the stairs in the mirror's reflection?]

Lindsey Coral Harper

Sometimes a simpler, less cluttered arrangement is best, particularly in a small entryway or hallway. Here, Lindsey puts the emphasis on the vertical space of the room rather than the horizontal by using highly reflective elements (the metallic wall paint, the gilt mirror, the glittering wall sconces). The effect is further realized by placing the mirror and sconces higher up on the wall. A word to the wise though: when hanging wall art, mirrors, sconces, etc. it's best to keep them below the height of the door or window frame.


Time for the masters' class! In this vignette by Tim Clark, nothing is symmetrical and yet the arrangement is still highly successful. The red rattan chair is balanced by the palm in the red pot and the height of the pot is similar to the height of the floor lamp behind the chair. The green stools echo the color and shape of the small vases on the opposite side of the console table. As each side speaks to the other, the eye moves back and forth across the vignette.

Amanda Nisbet

A final point to consider is that sometimes fewer, larger pieces are far more effective than a bunch of small tchotchkes. In this vignette by Amanda Nisbet, the scale of the mirror, lamp and bust create a lot of drama without creating a lot of visual clutter. The neutral palette also ensures that these disparate pieces work harmoniously together.

Closet Freak

So as I have twittered, one of my new favourite magazines is Canadian House & Home - my first issue came yesterday and I could not find an article that I didn't love. One of my favourite (as the Canadian's spell it) photo shoots was of Kelly Wearstler's closet. I try not to be envious of other people's material things, but let me tell you, I'm envious of that closet. Of the design and the contents.

Only Kelly would be so AB FAB as to have a custom designed carpet in her closet.




Those handbags? Delicious.





A previously designed closet of her's plays with much bolder colors - a closet is always a safe place to take a color/pattern risk.


Here are some other amazing closets featured on Canadian House & Home's website:

The crystal pendants and fancy knobs definitely dress this closet up. And the big ole' Louis Vuitton bag doesn't hurt.


Love this flea market/boho vibe.


Pink and perfectly put together.



Here are some closets I've blogged about previously on here (but thought I'd put all in one place so that when I buy my Malibu mansion, I have all my inspiration pics in one place.)

Jenna Lyons closet ROOM.

Tre chic.

Funky - I LOVE the hanging rod.

This ottoman kills me...

Great mirrored armoire...

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Design Tips For Styling a Living Room

Recently, Canadian House & Home published a great blog article, Styling a Room by Michael Penney. I completely agree with Penney; It's the layers that make a room and pull it all together visually. In the before photo above, the living room has some nice design elements, but is unbalanced, uninviting and lacks a focal point.

The after photo below (via Country Living), shows what a little styling can do. As Penney points out, a few design elements haven't change including the sofa, wing chair and wall color. Here are some principles and elements of design that come to play in this redesign:


Define the Space
The most obvious addition in the room is the striped area rug. In addition to anchoring the furnishings and defining the space, it also brings needed texture to the space. When purchasing a rug, it is important to find one that is large enough so that all your furniture fits (it's okay if the back half of a chair or sofa are not on the rug, but the front half should).

Establish a Focal Point
New drapes, parallel furniture arrangement and artwork in a vertical pattern emphasizes the room's architectural window and creates a needed focal point in the room. However, I would have added the same drapes to the adjacent window for a more balanced look. This leads me to my next tip;

Create Balance Through Scale and Proportion
The original room also had too much visual weight or mass. In the styled room, one wing chair is replaced with a lighter Windsor chair. Mixing materials can also help balance a room. In this case a metal coffee table takes the place of a wooden one (too many wood elements in the before room). Equilibrium is also achieved by the parallel furniture grouping.


Build Color Harmony
Pulling from the room's wall color, solid yellow and green throw pillows are added to the sofa creating a more harmonious color palette. However, I would recommend at least one textile print for a pillow, window treatment or chair that pulls all of the primary colors in room's palette together. Galbraith & Paul's Donuts pattern in warm would be a good choice for this living room.

What elements of design helped you pull together a space?