Compose a color picture wall using frames, mats or a vibrant background with neutral or colorful images. I’ve fallen in like with the idea of a color picture wall. In my dining room, I have pale green on the wall behind the pictures and my frames are white -- very trad. So I was extremely intrigued by a few different strategies I spotted for adding color to walls. Many prefer … [Read more...]
Hidden TVs
With smart house technology expanding, hidden tvs can pop up, flip up or drop down almost anywhere. For heavy TV viewers like Mr. AM and myself, hidden tvs aren't practical. Sets in our house are on day and night. Yet some object to naked flat screens on aesthetic terms and require cover ups. Allison installed her great room TV behind sliding wood and copper panels which were … [Read more...]
Six Home Décor Trends
When I see designers forecast home décor trends for the coming year, I’m always curious. Did I miss something all the gurus know? Will my house feel outdated? No worries! This year’s effort by Architectural Digest promised to explain what's coming for 2016. Instead it delivered ongoing themes and gentle swipes at the continued popularity of what Elissa Cullman called … [Read more...]
Barn Living Rooms
The beams! The light! The ceiling heights! Explore the allure of barn living rooms. O Wow indeed. The point of a barn living room is big space. That can be a challenge to decorate since those prized wood pillars and beams don't always have ideal placements. Supports can create odd wall spaces and pose problems for lighting. With wonderful double height windows, light and sun … [Read more...]
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Kitchens
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen kitchens show how a food-loving celeb couple cook, coast to coast Singer/songwriter John Legend and his wife, the model Chrissy Teigen, have been busy nesting in two houses — a mid-century home in LA plus an urban loft in New York. Both homes are highly designed with large, open-plan kitchens. For Legend and Teigen kitchens are especially … [Read more...]
Draped Canopy Beds
Before homes had central heating, draped canopy beds kept out the cold and provided privacy. Modern draped canopy beds rarely have a specific function. Their primary purpose is to use textiles on a bed that sets the style for a room. Purely decorative, canopy beds can create specific a mood -- after all, it’s like having a tent pitched in the bedroom. I tend to favor … [Read more...]
Dressing Room Closet Must-Haves
Planning an elegant dressing room closet? See six essential features these have in common. High end closets have expanded way beyond walk-ins. I think of them as dressing room closets because they are, indeed, rooms of their own and places to get dressed rather than merely for clothing storage. The current concept behind a dressing room closet is specialized feature ideas … [Read more...]
Masculine Black Lacquer Kitchen
A black lacquer kitchen works best when cabinets contrast with walls and flooring. Leave it to designer and antiques dealer Richard Shapiro to take a roofless surf shack on Malibu's Broad Beach and turn it into an illusion of a centuries old crumbling villa. Although his black lacquer kitchen may not appeal to everyone, you have to admit this one exudes elegance. The kitchen … [Read more...]
Fabulous Fortuny Decor
Historic fabric patterns inspire new forms for objects based iconic Fortuny décor. The story of Mariano Fortuny is well-known in the fashion and design world. The Spanish born fashion designer developed fabric designs used for his haute couture and for interiors. While Fortuny died in 1949, a museum was established in his palazzo in Venice. In addition to fabrics, Fortuny was … [Read more...]
Diva Closets
Open or concealed? Room-size closets are all about the basic approach. When closets are turned into a full-fledged rooms complete with lighting, special storage or other clever ideas, I think of them as diva or Hollywood closets. And I’m always fascinated by the special features. In Los Angeles, room-size closets are more or less standard for actors, entertainers and fashion … [Read more...]
Khaki Kitchen
A khaki kitchen looks ultra chic and almost historical in an elegant beach house. This khaki kitchen, by California designer Michael S. Smith, is part of a 4500 square-foot home on Martha’s Vineyard designed for a media executive and his wife who had spent many summers on the island. “A while kitchen is a beautiful idea,” Smith told Architectural Digest “but it’s just become … [Read more...]