Foyer Hall Detail

Last week you read about the living and dining room. Today, I'm just showing a detail in the foyer hallway. Every once in a while a vignette is just a jaw dropper. This is one of them for me. It is quiet and serene with just the right amount of glow. This leather bound chest is from John Richard. I adore this piece. The drawers are functional and provide great storage is a beautiful manner. The lamps and vases are from Arteriors Home. There is one piece of art to come in this vignette. I'll show you when it arrives. Still, this is lovely as is.

Beautiful Details

On Monday I showed you a wide angle shot of this project. Here is a detail shot. You may already know this about me but I love using glass... art glass, glass tile..... I am always mesmerized but the play between light and glass. This leads me to state for the record ~ lighting is critical for great design. You can see I used glass tile that captures the palette. These are illuminated by under cabinet lighting. In this design, I also have lit top cabinets along the entire perimeter of this kitchen. Of course, the shelves in these cabinets are a bit too high for daily functional use but functional use is not why they are there. I designed these cabinets to hold a two art glass series that I love from Cyan Design. They are not terribly expensive ~ GREAT! They are, however, very impactful.



When these glass pieces are illuminated, they are spectacular. The entire perimeter of the kitchen glows with champagne and soft green. Hmmm.... maybe I should take a picture of them in the evening (duh!). Next time :)

More details to come!

Lighting for the Living Room

Today I have a guest post from Arcadian Lighting. When they contacted me about doing a guest post, I was thrilled. I asked them to do a piece about the importance of layered lighting. I think it is critical to illuminate and accent a great design and to be able to complete certain tasks with ease. Take it away Arcadian Lighting...

Lighting any room in your home is more complex than just turning on a single overhead lighting fixture. Yes, a ceiling fixture will provide light for your room, but it will create a boring, flat light that will wash out any sort of ambiance you have created with your furniture and décor. Not to beleaguer ceiling lights, there are many styles and types that work well in a space when combined with other types of light fixtures.

Like furniture and other design elements that we layer to create a warm, inviting, polished space, lighting must also be layered. By choosing a selection of different types of lighting fixtures, you can create lighting “scapes” and zones within your living room. Maybe you like to curl up and read a book in your favorite armchair or watch a movie from the sectional or you've hung art over the fireplace you want to highlight. There is a different type of light for each of these tasks. A combination of ceiling lighting, table lamps, floor lamp and wall lights will bring your room to life. And isn't that what a living room is all about?

Ceiling Lighting

Laura Britt Design (via)

Beginning from the top, let's look at lighting on the ceiling. We mentioned the standard ceiling fixture that many of us have in our homes, especially in our bedrooms. From Mission to Modern, Classic to Contemporary, there are many styles to choose from besides builder grade globes. A step up from a ceiling fixture is a chandelier or pendant light. This can be a focal point for your room and add sparkle and glamour to the space. In combination with a central ceiling light or on its own, recessed lighting is a versatile lighting option. Say you want to highlight a painting or a wall of built-ins, create lighting zones for watching movies or entertaining, recessed lights can do it. Put them on zones and dimmers for maximum versatility. The above room is a superb example of using recessed lighting and a central light. But there is something missing -- task lighting.

Task Lighting

workshop / apd (via)

While recessed lighting and a chandelier can wash a room in light, you'll want to add lighting closer to the action. A table lamp on a side table or a floor lamp can provide light for reading or other tasks. Table lamps and floor lamps can create a more intimate feeling in the room when they are the sole source of light. Pairs of table lamps or as in this room, with an added floor lamp off to the side, create visual interest in the room as well.

Wall Lights

House Beautiful (via)

Not every room needs to have all five types of lighting, but large spaces can benefit from the variety of lighting options. Our fifth suggestion for living room lighting is the wall sconce. In pairs flanking the fireplace or a single one in a small space to provide task lighting, candle sconces create a warm, ambient light. Traditional wall sconces, like in this Southern living room, can also be focal points.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

Thank you Arcadian Lighting for that informative post!

Lamp Impact

eclectic bedroom design

eclectic bedroom design by los angeles interior designer Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

contemporary bedroom design by san francisco architect Mark English architects, AIA

The lamps in these bedrooms make quite an impact. These designers new that they would. Jay Jeffers selected a portable lamp that literally glows, illuminating the elegant shape and form of the lamp's structure. Tracy Murdock adds drama and romance to her design with black crystal chandeliers. Mark English takes a monochromatic room and adds texture, of course, but also an edgy diversity that adds significant interest. Lamps in bedrooms are a detail that need attention and thoughtfulness but can often be overlooked. That is not the case in these examples. Follow their lead.

Photos compliments of Houzz

Monday's Method ~ What's New?

This is Laura Kirar ~ interior and product designer extraordinaire. I read her bio from her website and decided I couldn't really write a better one so here it is ~

"Laura Kirar is the founder and creative director of Laura Kirar*TRU Design. Under her direction the teams in New York and Miami work in tandem to create elegant, innovative interiors and product for the home with timeless sensibility. Laura has shaped the design of an array of interesting projects - from high-end residences to award-winning commercial interiors of restaurants, showrooms and hotels.

A testament to Laura's unique design voice, she holds concurrent product licenses with all four of the Kohler Interiors Group companies: Ann Sacks, Baker Furniture, Kallista Company and McGuire Furniture. Her collections offer a full range of home products from tile and bath fixtures to seating, lighting and accessories. She has also collaborated with Boyd Lighting, Carnegie Fabrics, David Edward Company, Dennis Miller Associates, Tuohy Contract Furniture, Tufenkian Carpets and most recently Arteriors Home launching in the spring of 2010.

A designer with the soul of an artist, Laura completed her degree in sculpture and interior architecture at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her passion for artistic exploration in numerous mediums has continued to infuse her work with originality and thoughtful attention to detail.

Over the last decade, Laura Kirar's designs have been profiled in many top publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Met Home, Space, Self, Vogue Living, Women's Wear Daily, W, Wallpaper, The New York Times and Time."

Amazing! I have been a fan and admirer of her work since I started in this field. Here are a few of her creations from Baker...







When nobody writes in for advice on Monday's Method, I feature new items in the marketplace. The talented Ms. Kirar has now spun her creativity for Arteriors Home. She's designed lighting, accessories, and wall decor. It gives me great pleasure to showcase a smattering of her new products...


I love this vintage type pendant on the left. I think I'll specify it for a kitchen I am doing.










The wall decor above and below I adore. I can see a lovely grouping of them giving wonderful visual impact.



What are your thoughts? Any favorite pieces?

Of course, if you have design questions, leave me a comment. If you have needs specific to your space, send my a couple of pictures to paula@paulagracedesigns.com. Place Monday's Method in the subject line and I'll be sure to get it.

Thursday's Room(s) ~ A Couple of My Own

For this Thursday's Room, I thought it would be fun to show you a project I am working on. The designs are done ~ they loved them. Furnishing and fabrics are either here or on their way. The work has begun! Remember the tweens rooms I wrote about? I wrote about it on Facebook and twitter for sure. I love doing kids' rooms (although, if I call a tween a kid, they may roll their eyes:) I'll show you a bit of each room's design. The reveal won't be for a bit as we are waiting on wallpaper and one piece of furniture (boo hoo). Both rooms will complete in June and I'll post before and after pictures.

The first room is for a chic young lady. She told me her color palette ~ turquoise and red ~ I added ivory and a pinch of chocolate. The Robert Allen fabric at the top is in her room. Here are a couple more also from Robert Allen...



Here is her furnishings plan...


And a couple pieces going in her elegant, sleek room...



Both from Worlds Away.

Right now ~ the room looks like this...

At least someone is enjoying the mess...


The color palette the other tween chose is vibrant ~ I love it too! The girls are very different, which their rooms will reflect. The ceiling will be purple. She also likes landscapes so naturally I turned to Byron Jorjorian for inspiration. Here is a piece of art from Byron that will be in the room (among others)...


Here is her furnishings plan...


She was very clear about wanting a comfortable seating area. Well my dear ~ you have one ~ a very comfortable chaise. Here are some of her fabrics...



The first two are from Robert Allen ~ the flower one is from Silk Loom.

Now for a couple of furnishings...



The lamp is from Arteriors; the etagere ~ Worlds Away.

And here is the room now ~ yikes...

You have a glimpse of the purple ceiling.

Truthfully, I had so much fun doing these rooms that I am as excited to see them done as the tweens are. I love that part of what I do! The anticipation of the full reveal ~ I get excited every time.

Advice Column ~ Tranquil, Modern Bedroom

Many of you know that I do an interior design column. Since I have limited room in the column, I write an abbreviated version there and expand here. The sky is the limit here! Here's the picture the writer sent....


Here is her email....

Dear Paula Grace,

I enjoy your column and wonder if you can give me a tip on how to jump start my stalled master bedroom makeover. I want a peaceful, tranquil, more modern room that is bathed in light during the day and cozy at night.

Unlike the client you mentioned that wanted to get away from white, I am drawn to it. But now I have a lot of white and ivory including a beautiful new bed and new silk curtains. All three large windows have ivory solar panels which satisfied my desire for a clean and contemporary look (and lots of light) but the shades do not provide privacy at night or insulation when it is cold outside. Hence, the silk curtains. But I only have silk curtains on one large window leaving the two neighboring windows looking exceptionally bare.

How would you suggest I even out the look of the windows and maybe begin to introduce color? I am attaching a photo so you can have a better idea of what the room looks like today.

Any advice you can give is much appreciated!

Sincerely,

Vikki P.

My response.....

Dear Vikki,

Thank you for writing in. First of all, your bedroom is lovely. Stylish furniture; plenty of natural light and sumptuous silk drapes. You have the foundation of a magnificent room. I’m glad we had a chance to email regarding colors as it is important to add a color(s) that you enjoy. Green and brown are excellent choices ~ natures hues are always soothing. Since you would like peaceful, tranquil and more modern, I would add a soft green and a chocolate brown. The dark hue is neutral thus has staying power and will ground the design nicely ~ and a direct connection with the earth; the soft green is for the tranquility. I would not add any more color than that. Mix textures and use a combination of pattern. Use motifs you would see in nature plus a subtle plaid and stripe to compliment the curves. Here are some examples from Robert Allen / Beacon Hill.


RA: Statosky-Java, BH: Blanket Stitch-Citrine, BH: Fossil Dig-Citrine, BH: Wikipedia-Canary Green, BH: Summer Sonata-Peridot, BH: Woods Creek-Peridot, RA:Velvet Pipes-Terrain

For the specific window issue, I would suggest roman shades to be used in conjunction with your solar panels for the windows flanking your bed. Hang them at the same height as your drapes for a uniform line. The Beacon Hill: Woods Creek – Peridot would be an excellent choice. It is a soft pattern and incorporates the ivory hue connecting them with your ivory silk drapes. The shades may be lined and interlined for the privacy and coziness you seek. An important fact about fabric roman shades ~ they must be well-made or you may run into functional problems. They are notorious for being difficult to pull up straight and it sounds like you’ll be doing that to let in the natural light and have them down at night. If they are well made, you won’t have issues, if not ~ well….. Try The Shade Store. Robert Allen has a partnership with them so you may be able to use a fabric such as the Beacon Hill: Woods Creek – Peridot. If not, use the Robert Allen linen on The Shade Store site and add a band of the same fabric to the bottom of your silk drapes. You may use all of the other fabrics for throw pillows and upholstery noted as they relate nicely to the linen hue.

An alternative to the fabric roman shades is a roman woven shade. I have never run into problems with well-made wovens and since they have developed into sophisticated patterns, they could be easily used with the lush drapes. Select one that matches your ivory drapes and that has a close and consistent weave. An example from Horizons is below. This alone will not bring in color but it will bring in texture. If you would like color on the woven, simply have them banded in the green. If you decide to band them, add a band of the same fabric to the bottom of your existing drapes to further connect the window treatments.

Horizons: Holland Mesh-Timid White

Caveat ~ if you use Beacon Hill: Woods Creek – Peridot for roman shades, do not place a band of it on the drapes. There is a relationship with the drape’s ivory hue and the motif on the shade fabric. Adding a band on the drapes may be too much of a good thing.

On your bed, start with a clean lined ivory duvet. The Diva (love the name) from Wildcat Territory is a nice choice. Since you have a fabric headboard, the shams are optional. Place an assortment of throw pillows on your bed. Use the shade fabric as one pillow and then mix the patterns, textures, and pillow style. I like to ground the pillows with dark in the back row, then lighter in the front. I suggest one large bolster in the Robert Allen: Velvet Pipes - Terrain above as the back row. This will pop off your ivory bedding or headboard. Three 18” self-welt pillows (middle one being the window fabric) in front of the large bolster. One or two 16” self- welt pillow and two small bolsters in front of that. This may sound like a lot of pillows but here is where we have an opportunity to add lush fabrics, beautiful pattern, texture and color not mention an air of femininity given the master bedroom is for a lovely lady. Since the pillows are clean lined (no ornate trims), they will be contemporary yet lush. Add a faux fur throw to the mix and hello luxurious!

A bench at the end of the bed with in Robert Allen: Statosky – Java would be wonderful. This would connect the pillows at the head of the bed with the end of the bed. Nothing over powering ~ just a simple bench such as this one from Hickory Chair.
Hickory Chair: Farra Cocktail Ottoman

Ground the entire bed / bench area ~ the focal point of the room ~ with an area rug. The area rug that is shown in your picture is too small in scale ~ it is disproportionate to the bed. A 6’ x 9’ or 9’ round rug such as this one would be better. The rug should be placed such that it is underneath the end of your bed and the bench (see illustrations). I would recommend a chocolate rug with a tone on tone motif inspired by nature or a plain, soft, luscious rug as exampled below from Surya.

or

or
Surya: Natura NAT-7041 or Manhattan MAN-6663

Add some sparkle to the room by replacing your night stands lamps with something like these from Arteriors Home ~ clean and elegant.

Arterior Home:Clear Silveria Bottle NeckGlass Lamp 44471-371

Arteriors Home: Zola Melon Lamp, Hotel Silver 44438-146

If you have a seating area in your master, as many do, I suggest a chaise or chair with an ottoman to lounge in. The fabric ~ Beacon Hill: Fossil Dig – Citrine. It is soft with subtle color and wonderful pattern and texture. Since I don’t see this area, I cannot recommend a specific one ~ but you get the idea.

Note~ The specific furnishings named can be implemented literally or can be used as a catalyst to fill the room with similar choices.

I hope this helps!

Paula Grace ~

Wow, that was fun!