IDEA- Wing It

I’m always looking for ways to display books. Here’s a fun idea. A wing chair is stripped down to its wood frame and holds a stash of hard covers.

(Photo- NY Social Diary)

Lil’Pix#103: Over The Top Decor

Leave it to photographer Tim Walker to take the classic painted portrait ‘Madame de Pompadour at her Tambour Frame’, 1763-4 by Francois-Ubert Drouais and blow it up to fill the walls of a room in England’s Glemham Hall.

(Photo- Tim Walker for W Magazine, April 2011)

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Lil’Pix Series

Lil’Pix#102: Knitted Quilt

A knitted quilt is such a great way to use leftover yarn from previous projects.

(Photo- French Elle Decoration)

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Lil’Pix #99: Quilts

StyleFile #11: Grandma’s Afghan

Book- ‘Rowan Knitting #4′

Lil’Pix #101: Rustic Foyer

I love how this small entryway makes up for its lack of space by the selections of paint colors, furniture and accessories.  Rough plaster walls and floors are a pale yellow and a grass-green. Furniture is minimal. A simple book shelf is topped with a plank whose contents are concealed with a bold striped fabric thumb tacked in place. Note how the black chair picks up the dark frames of the pictures on the wall. Natural objects such as the bird nests and the three walking sticks are perfect rustic complements.

(Photo- Steve Gross and Sue Daley from the book ‘Lost & Found‘)

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Lil’Pix Series

StyleFile #50: Foyers

Lil’Pix #100: Dynamic Duo

I’ve always been impressed with the interiors done by the talented team of  William Diamond and Anthony Baratta. They make decorating seem effortless and downright cheerful by their fearless use of colors, patterns and repurposed antiques. An early example of their work is this bedroom from an apartment in New York City. The bed was purchased as an old sofa which they had cut and fashioned into a bed. Pure genius! The graphic bed linens are a clever counterpoint to the playful hanging quilt done by the yet unknown artist Denyse Schmidt.

(New York Times design supplement- 1990′s)

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Kitchen Shelves

Spring Decorating

Summer Cottage Bathroom

Lil’Pix #99: Kitchen Shelves

As newlyweds my husband and I rented two different apartments. In each one, I insisted we take all the doors off the kitchen cabinets. I loved the idea of having everything out in the open. But when we bought our first house it seemed the grown up thing to have doors. And we did it again in our present house. Now I must be in a mid life crisis because I want my shelves back!

(Photo- Laura Ashley catalog, 1983, advertising their new line of kitchen/bath tile.)

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StyleFile #29: Perfect Kitchen Recipe- A Dash Of Red

Marimekko Kitchen

My Dream Room

Leave The Kitchen Alone

Beaton Sailors

Based on the sketches of famed designer Cecil Beaton comes a collection of whimsical wallpapers and fabrics.  I love this one- ‘Beaton Sailors.’ Wouldn’t it be fun in a beach house or a child’s bedroom?

Available at Suzan Fellman.

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Dog Days Of Summer

Lil’Pix #98: Black Bed

White paint has always been the way to go when updating old furniture. But what about black? That’s exactly what the people at Ralph Lauren did several years ago with a Victorian inspired bed. They disregarded the usual white or natural wood stain and chose jet black. I love the outcome-  it feels antique and modern at the same time.

(Photo- American Homestyle & Gardens)

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Black Walls

Lil’Pix #97: Gift From The Sea

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach waiting for a gift from the sea…” -  “Gift From The Sea” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

Sweater at Donna Karan.

(Photo- Italian Vogue)

Lil’Pix #96: Paneled Library

What’s not to love about this old paneled library! It feels like it has survived generations yet remained beautifully intact. Ahhh…but that’s not the case!  This room is not authentic Victorian, but was designed in 1995 by Beth Copeland Williams. She rearranged the traffic flow, removed some doors and installed all the paneling and bookshelves. Her clever uses of   ticking fabric for the chairs, the Noguchi paper lamp and unadorned floor give the room modern appeal.

(Photo- American HomeStyle and Gardening)