May « 2009 «

May 28, 2009

Let’s Copy a Deluxe Room on the Cheap II

Filed under: Color usage, Fabric Usage, Furniture, Paint, Wall Decoration — Tags: accessories, celebrity interiors, club chair, dark paint colors, deluxe room on the cheap, eclectic design, family room, interior design on a budget, unfinished bookcases, wing chair — Leona Gaita @ 3:45 PM

Here’s another installation on how to get a rich chic look with out spending a big bundle (only a little bundle).

I was very impressed with the eclectic elegance of this family room in the Georgetown home of George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth. The interior designer, Elizabeth Martin did wonderful work here, incorporating a feeling of rich elegance with sumptuous comfort and ease.

George and Ali's beautifully designed, very inviting family room.

I would guess that this huge double size room cost, conservatively, about $90,000 to furnish (without art) including custom wood work, window treatments and professional paint work. Most of us don’t have double size rooms, so I’m NOT going to figure on 3 sofas or 3 area rugs. I will include plenty of small tables and three club chairs, just because there’s so much great stuff out there! Let’s do this look for under $12,000. Here we go:

From Horchow Faux Zebra rug on cowhide $689.00

Helsingor Rug from Ikea $199

alksjdlaejlskdjflsiefsdkfjlkscmnlsieuroiweflskdfhlsiefhsldkjfls zebra rugs
I like to start from the floor up. These two rugs make a great foundation for our eclectic interior, and combined the cost is under $1000.

Benjamin Moore Bird of Paradise, Linen White and Char Brown

alksdlksdlfkshdlfkhsldhflskdhflskjdhfksjdhfksjdfhlsdhlsdkhf paint colors

Here are your paint colors. DON’T BE AFRAID OF DARK COLORS! Remember, the ceiling is WHITE! And there are lots of other light elements. The dark walls will recede, making the room look larger!!

The Carter Chair from Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams runs about $2000.00 depending on the fabric. That makes it the biggest ticket item in the room, but worth it for the dramatic impact.

Devin Square Leather Ottoman from Crate and Barrel $899.00

Macy's Cappuccino Money Plant Accent Chair $699.00

asdfeoirhweiofhnandcfandcosaihihiehfnikenfednbnqadfshfruiowhnefjndaa

A pair of tall bookcases from highlanddesigns.com $978 for 2.

A pair of tall bookcases $916 for 2.

One tall wing chair, plus two club chairs around a square leather ottoman makes a great conversation area.

Paint the bookcases (from highlansddesigns.com)the Char Brown, just like the walls to mimic the look of custom built-ins. The Bird of Paradise coral peaking out from the interior of the bookcases, adds a surprising punch. Linen White on the ceiling will avoid a too harsh contrast with the dark walls.

sdfsoidjf;sdkjfsoidfsdlhfsoidfsldkfh;slidhfosidfsho;ihsdf pillows belows dfh

Tava Coffee Table from Crate and Barrel $599.00

Tyler Sofa from Macy's $699.00

skldjfskl;djfskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfsl;kdjfslkdjflskd sofa up & coffee tablesldkfjlskdfjslkdjfslkdjfslkdfjslkdfjslkdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdfjsl

The Tava Coffee Table is slightly rustic and exotic. The Tyler Sofa in chocolate brown velvet keeps the luxury going, for the right price.

Accessories, lots of them:

Crate and Barrel Tempo Pillow $32.95

Gump's Orange Dragon Garden Stool $195.00

laksdslkehlsdhflsiehfldkjfhlsiehflsdkfjlsiefjsdhflskefhlsdhfllh blue pillow

Durham Pillow fr0m CB2 $129.00

Thomas Paul Flock Silk Pillow from Moderndesires.com $78.00

Thomas Paul Flock Silk Pillow from Modern Desires $74.00

askjdlaksjdlkdjlskdjlskdjfslkdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfsldkjfsl end of pillows

Firenze Pillow from Crate and Barrel $79.00

Moroccan Pouf from Tazi Designs $199.00

Eggshell Lacquer Nesting Tables from Gump's $499.00

Babette Holland Ostrich Rust Table Lamp from Lamps Plus $495

slkdjflskejflkdjflsiefjlkdjfliefjskldjfoiefuslkdfjlsiefk lamp and nesting tables

Wild Walnut Serving Tray lampsplus.com $149.00

Pier 1 Elephant Teapot $15.95

asjd;lsdj;sdjfslkdjflkdjflskdjfldksjflskdjflskdjfldkjfsldksdkflskdjfjkdjfslkdjjfasdhyyd tea pot
I guess the portrait over the fireplace is one of George and Ali’s ancestors. Hey, I GOT ANCESTORS TOO! My husband comes from a VERY old Italian family. Here’s one of our ancestors. You can borrow her, if you want to! She looks great over our fireplace.

I got my pretty ancestor at allposters.com for $49.99 framed

aklsjlskdjfslkdjflskdjflskdjflsdkjflsdkjflsdkjlskdjfslkdfj up for Mona Lisa

Large Rustic Bench from Pottery Barn $250.00

Peyton Grommet Drapery Panels in color from Pottery Barn $89.00 per panel

Peyton Grommet Drapery Panels in Chestnut from Pottery Barn $89.00 per panel

alkdfjlseijslkdjfoseifjlskdfjlseifjlskdhflsiefhlsdkhflseifhlkdfhlsiehflkd drapes

kdjflsiejfsldkfjlsierfsldkhfsierfhlsdifhosierfhskldhfosiryhilhgoirhgdirhg sofa

Here's the other half of this LARGE, beautiful room.

So, if my math is right,and you do your own paint work, I come up with about $10,000 for the whole room, IF you have a big enough room to hold it all!

HAVE FUN!!

Comments (5)

May 19, 2009

Wildly Creative Ways to Use Plates as Wall Decoration

Filed under: Color usage, Holidays, Wall Decoration — Tags: dishes, plate hanging tips, plates, vintage, vintage plates, wall arrangements, wall decorationg, wall hangings — Leona Gaita @ 10:22 AM

I’m so impressed with the creativity people are using in their approach to plates as wall hangings. There’s whole new spin on this time honored method of decoration. Some use plates that seem to be out of Grandma’s old cupboard, some straight from the store. Either way, the results are beautiful, and sometimes astonishing.

This is the G rated version of Vintage Vandal's work. She's a wild woman!

Traditional, even old fashioned, these plates are given a whole new existence with a little tinkering from Trixie Delicious at Vintage Vandal. She’s brilliant! I LOVE to see something old used in a whole new way. Very exciting!

img_7667web-amy-sandovel-photography

aksdjlskdhfksjghfkaljsdhlkasjdflajsgdlkuasgdjkasgdljagljhsgdKJAGHSBLUE
Here, a gorgeous free form display of an array of plates gives a traditional dining room a modern, arty twist!

plates-11 S;LDFK;SLDJF;SLDFK;SLDKF;SLDKF;SLDKF;SLDKFS;LDKF;SLDwhite/red

This clean dramatic design makes maximal use of the contrast between the deep red and the white of the dishes. The installation is beautifully executed, with careful attention given to balance and proportions.

From theVenice Biennale, The Collectors by Eastman & Dragset

Part of the installation”The Collectors” by Eastman & Dragset at the 2009 Venice Biennale, a kitchen housing an eerily disturbed collection of Weimer-like plates tells a tale of turbulent family relationships.

Black and white fabric from Marimekko

This arrangement seems almost accidental, but the careful selection of black, white and primaries belies that. The apparently random, loose installation keeps the space open, uncluttered, and modern. Which came first, the gorgeous black and white cloth, or the wall arrangement?

Lily dishes from Room Service Home, turned into art.

This goes beyond decoration, and into the realm of art. The Lily dishes are from the extraordinary catalog Room Service Home. I’m strongly reminded of the glass art of Dale Chihuly. Perhaps inspiration was taken from there.

Dale Chihuly -Dragonfly

llskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdfjsjdh

There’s nothing stuffy about these more traditional plate displays . There’s something fresh, unique and even extravagant in the style of each one.

It's the teal paint against the lime color of the plates that makes this very special

The organized arrangement keeps the vibrant colors in check.

hjhjfgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgiutyjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhghorang

Stunning polychrome plates on a red wall. The three white plates anchor the whole composition

A very fresh, yet traditional approach

6a00d83451647b69e200e54f7364818834-800wi1

In this case, MORE IS MORE!

Very traditional, but just perfect, from Martha Stewart.

;sldjf;sldjf;sldjf;sldjfs;ldjfs;dljf;sldjf;sldjfsldjfs;ldjf;sldjf;sldjfs;ldjfs;ldfjs;

Fish and citris, mmm, I'm hungry!

lksdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdjf

Vintage all the way, and as charming as can be.

lskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfl

SO LET’S DO IT! If you don’t have cupboards full of Grandma’s old dishes, here are some plates and bowls I would love to see used as wall decoration. The plates from New York Botanical Garden are truly exquisite in person. Pier 1 has a HUGE assortment of decorative plates starting at $2.00!! This is a GREAT do-it-yourself project! Click here for directions about how to hang plates.

Flower side plates from the New York Botanical Garden

s;dlkf;sdlfk;lkf;;sdlkf;sldkf;sldk;flsj;dlfj;sldjf;sldjf;sdjf;sldfk;sldkf;sldkf

Pier 1 Paisley Dinnerware

Pier 1 Botanical Plate Set

Pier 1 Fish Shaped Platters

Pier 1 Blue and White Rectangular Dishes

There are no strict rules about plate hanging. Really anything goes. But here are a couple of tips:
Don’t be afraid to GO BIG! Fill the space you have.
Lay it out on the floor first to make sure you like it.
You can tape paper cut outs to the wall to mimic the plates before you hang them, so you can make sure to do it just right.
Have fun!!

a;jf;skdjflskdjf;lskdjf;lskdjfl;skdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdfj

Plate Sources in Larchmont and Mamaroneck:

Chatsworth Auction House in Mamaroneck is a great place to dig a round for unique finds. It’s right in Mamaroneck Village, on Mamaroneck Ave. The plates are in singles and sets, mostly on the first floor, but once you get there, you’ll be drawn in. With four large floors to explore, give yourself plenty of time! More photos on the web site. Take a walk on Mamaroneck Harbor while you’re there.

A tiny sample of what you can find at Chatworth's, in Mamaroneck, NY

alksj;ljflkdjflkdjflsknclskjflskdjflsijskdlsiejlskdjfls;akfj;skjfsijflkdhlskjlsijflksdhflsoiflksdjflshfolirhflksdjflkjflirfldhflkdjfl
Pier 1 Imports in Larchmont, is right on Boston Post Rd. Their collection is large , and inexpensive. Buy three of each of the Fish Shaped Platters (shown above) and put up a whole school of fish in the kitchen or dining room. I had fun making a Polyvore set showing this idea. Check it out: School of Fish Dining Room

Wendy Gee’s in Larchmont, has very pretty plates, and all kinds of fresh, upbeat home accessories. Unfortunately, their web site doesn’t sell them, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth a stop. They’re located right in the heart of Larchmont, on Palmer Ave. and it’s one of the most charming spots in town!

Plates Restaurant, Larchmont,….OK, they don’t sell PLATES, they sell very delicious food ON plates (Really delicious!) However they like plates a lot, they named themselves Plates, and they own and display the most unique collection in Larchmont. The owner has collected plates from restaurants all over the world. There all on the web site, each with a little backstory. The variety alone is amazing, and lots of fun to look at. It’s a great place to eat too!

Dumpling forming plate, from Babushka's Reataurant, Moscow, Russia

Plates' Dumpling forming plate, from Babushka's Restaurant, Moscow, Russia

;odijg;lkdjf;soifj/slkdfj;slijfllskdjflirjflkdjflirjflkdjflirldkjfldirjodljgldirjgskdjf;slijf;slfj;siljo;sjflskdjfls;ils;jflsisoie
So now you have lots of ways to GET plates, but don’t hide them in the cupboard!

Comments (1)

May 8, 2009

Orange Flip! A Strong Warming Trend in Interior Design

Filed under: Fabric Usage, Flowers, Paint — Tags: color in your home, color trends, cool colors, Decorating with orange, orange decorating, trend in interior design, vivid color, Warm colors — Leona Gaita @ 2:58 PM

Orange is everywhere this spring! Warm as a summer sunset, fruity, upbeat, alive and energetic. Here are 3 good ways to use this delicious color in your home.

Nature does orange, full saturation!

sdhfsdhfslkdfhlsdkhsdkjflskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdjflskdjflskdfj

Boldly done by Sara Bengur Interiors

Orange Combined with Blue, it’s opposite on the color wheel.

I was thrilled to see this orange and turquoise room by designer Sara Bengur at the Kip’s Bay Show House in New York. These colors are natural companions, each bringing out the best in the other. The blue cools down the intensity of the orange, the orange lends warmth. I love the free use of accent colors, like the hot pink and lime green. The neutral white table keeps the whole thing grounded.

Tiles by Ann Saks

lskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfkfjll

Orange Mum Pillow from Hable Construction

Macy's Alexandra Sofa

This Duralee fabric (180940H-652r)would make a great ottoman or throw pillow.

sldfk;sldkf;sldkf;sdlkf;sldkf;sdlkf;sdlkf;sdlkf;sdlkf;sdlkf;sdlkf;sldkf;sldfk;sldkf

Karlstad swivel chair from Ikea

Bulokku Bedoire Pillow, www.tinydecor.com

s,dmjlskdjflskdjflskdjflsdkjflsdkfjsldkfjsldkfjsldkfjslkdjfsldkjfsldkfjsldkfjslkdfj

Same principle, warm orange, cooled down with doses of turquiose blue.

Orange as a Sassy Brightener in a Neutral Setting.

Mmmm, good!

If Orange Flip isn’t your flavor, maybe you should consider Creamsicle. Remember that creamy/juicy combo of orange sherbert and vanilla icecream on a stick? If Creamsicle were a room, this is what it would look like:

kf;sdlkf;sl;sdfk;sldkf;sldkf;godifugodifugodifugodifguodifguodifguodifguodifguodifguodifguodifugoisdkf;sdkf;sdlkfs;df;slkfs;dlfks;dlfks;dlf

A little sherbert orange goes a long way.

Room and Board

From www.coffeetablesgalore.com

Smokebush Pendant Light from Room and Board

Mitchell Gold Avery Sofa

Indoor/outdoor pillows from www.charlestongardens.com

Duralee 180934H-36r

lakjlifjlskdfjlsijlskdnlskihflxknclskifhlxnclsjkhflsnvksjhflskxnljxhflsndclzkmnvklsjhflzkxnlzjhfskclzkxmnclkjdhflscnlzjx

Vivid Oranges,Lemons and Limes.

Cheerful, upbeat, tropical, endless summer! If you like your life intense and juicy, this color palette will suit you to a T !

6a00e54ffb7b778834011168a4194a970c-800wi1

Pretty birdie, chic birdie!

lkdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdfjlskdjfslkdlskdjflskdjflskdfjslkdfjslkdfjoudpoupfosudfpsoduf

A collection of vintage vases. Get me to the flea market!!

Never a dull moment!

lakjflskdjflskdfjlskdfjlskdjflskdjflskdjflskdfjlskdfjlskdjflskdjflskdfjlskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdfjlskdfjlskdjflskdfjlkdjflkjljl

Duralee 180943H-35r

sldkfjlskdjflskdjfsldkjflskdjflskdjflskdjfsldkfjsldkfjsldkfjsldkfjsldkfjsldkfjsl

Ikea's Tylosand Sofa in an intense orange

I saw this on www.tchochkes.com

sldjflskdjflskdjfslkdjfslkdjfsldkjflskdjfjflskdjflskdfjlskdfj

From www.pillowsuperstore.com

Green Skittles Lamp from Lum

One of the masters of color,Pierre Bonnard -Dining Room in the Country 1913

Cheerful, lively, warm, assertive, uplifting…Have an Orangey Day!!

Comments (4)

May 1, 2009

Let’s Copy a Deluxe Room, on the Cheap!!

Filed under: Fabric Usage, Flowers, Furniture, Paint, Wall Decoration — Tags: Cheap decorating, custom window treatments, gold paint, professional interior design, ready made window treatments, throw pillows — Leona Gaita @ 2:30 PM

This room knocks my socks off! I saw it at HGTV

ldldlldklsjfjwlfjsjdfhskdjfhksdjfhksjdfhksdjfhksdjfhksdhfksdjfhskdfhksjdfhskks

Rug from Ikea, Stockholm Rand 8'2" x11'6" for $299.00

OK, we won’t COPY it, let’s just be INSPIRED by it.

I would estimate that the room above cost about $50,000.00 fully furnished (without fine art), which is about average for a deluxe, top shelf, professionally designed room. I propose that we can get this look for under $10,000.00.

First things first, we’ll start from the floor up. Instead of wall to wall wool needlepoint carpeting which will cost buckets of money, lets use this black and white rug from Ikea.

Next we need a brilliant rich green backdrop for the walls, something not too blue and not too yellow, like this Benjamin Moore #566 Bunker Hill Green from the Classics Collections. Benjamin Moore has a color selector that allows you to test a color in a virtual room.

Benjamin Moore Classic #566 Bunker Hill Green

The shimmery gold ceiling can be achieved with metallic paint from Modern Masters. I buy it at my neighborhood paint store, in Larchmont, NY

This is Pale Gold Metallic from Modern Masters for the ceiling.

The Miramar in Graphite, from Crate and Barrel

At $1199.00, the Miramar Armless Loveseat from Crate and Barrel is about half the price of a similar custom piece. I would like to see two of these ganged together in a row to form an extra long four seat sofa. If space is an issue, at 63″ one of these used alone could solve your problemlskjfsdf;sdfj;sdjf;sdjfs;dlfjs;dljf;sdjfs;kdjfs;lkdjflskdjflskdhfkhskjdhsk

Margarita Pillow from Crate and Barrel $19.95

BranchHome.com makes this elegant pillow for $64.00

Pellicia Pillow from Crate and Barrel $79.95

www.tonicliving.com $34.95

An assortment of fun throw pillows for the sofas ranging from $20.00 to $80.00 each. A free mix of patterns and textures lends an arty feel, while sticking with the black-white-green theme keeps it grounded.

antiqksjhlsjkdhlsjkkdhfksjdhfksjdhfksjdhfksjdhfskjduedrjwlkehrjfsdjhfskjdfhl

Horchow does a great job with mirrors. They’ve got one for every occasion! This one is on the cheap side, for them, at $319.90. I just think it’s very pretty and dramatic, and the right size for over a fireplace.

The Clairemont Coffee Table from Crate and Barrel has antiqued mirrored surfaces and a soft gold wrought iron finish to pick up the warmth of the gold ceiling. It looks much more expensive than it’s price of $699.00

The Clairemont form Crate and Barrel $699.00

From Horchow $319.90

kjtgikutgihgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjhgjgjhgjhgjhgjhgjgjhgjhgjhgjhgj

Add a touch of something wild with this Zebra chair from Macy’s. It’s a steal at $399.00. Use two of them, if you have the space.

The palm green Allegro Ottoman from Crate and Barrel adds another touch of green over the black and white rug. For $149.00, how can you lose!

Allegro Ottoman fron Crate and Barrel for $149.00!

Zebra Accent Chair from Macy's $399.00

;sldf;sldkf;sldkfs;ldkfs;ldkfs;ldkfs;ldkf;sldkf;sdkfs;ldkf;sskdfjlsdkjflskdjflskdjflskdjkjhkjhkjhkjhkjhhgfyhtyoeiruoidufsldkf;sldkfs;ldkfs;ldkfs;lsdfs;djfs;ldjf;sldjf;sldldkfs;ldNow Now we come to a sensitive subject: How to get a custom look window treatment, without going for custom bucks. We interior designers are a bit fussy about window treatments, believing that custom is always best! (and of course Gaita Interiors custom treatments are the best of the best!) Although it hurts to admit it, Restoration Hardware does a very good job with their ready made Textured Belgian Linen Drapery Panels. The rod pocket style is well priced at $199.00 per panel. My photo below shows the french pleat style (only photo available) which at $459.oo per panel are no bargain! For our our purposes, the white rod pocket will do very well. But how to add that graphic finishing touch? I recommend adding your own trim, such as this Greek Key from Fabricut ($25.00 per yard). If you’re handy, you can sew it on 1″ away from the leading edge. If you’re NOT handy, you apply iot with no-sew fabric gluegluapplylskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflsslkdjflskdjflkjhslfjsjflskdjflskdjflskddnslkdfjlskdjfsldkjfls

This trim added to the edge of white linen drapes would be very graphic.

Textured Belgian Linen from Restoration Hardware in white

loiusldhflskdflsdkfjlskdjflskdjfslkdjfslkdfjslkdjfslkd

jflskdjfsldkfjsldkjfslkdfjlskdj

Here are some pretty accessories that we can’t do without.

Don't forget the flowers. Hydrangeas in season, so fresh!!

White ceramic garden stool to use as and end table from West Elm.

lskdjflskdjflskdjflsdkfjlskdfjlskdhflskdhflsdkhflskdhflsdhsldkfhlskdhfslklkrglkglkgldkgkdjfdkjfhgkjfg

I’d love to have my very own Georgia O’keefe to hang over my sofa, but since that would really blow my budget, I’ll go for a couple of the pretty things from Pier 1 and Ikea

lskdfjlsdkjflasdkjfsl;kdfjlsdkfjlskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdfjdlfhgslkdjlfghlsdkjfl

Pier 1 Organic Squares $350.00 for the set.

Pier 1 36"x36" wall art for $185.00

Pier 1 Scroll Wall Decor $99.95

From Ikea, Pjatteryd $79.99

klsdfjlsdkjfsldkjflskdjfllkrjlekrjtlekrjldkfjgldkfjgldifkjgldjkfsdkjflskdjflsdkjflsdjfsldkjflskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdjfsljffjlskd

West Elm has this pretty assortment of white ceramic to display on your rattan etagere, for around $100.00

A richly stained rattan etagere adds a bit of the exotic and tropical, retails for around $500.00

lklsklskdfhlskdfjlskdjflskdjflskdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdjfslkdjflskdjflskdjslkdjfslkdjfsl

If your room needs to serve double duty, this rattan etagere from Rattan Interiors will hold a TV. I like these modern ceramic vases for display against the dark finish of the etagere. They’re from West Elm

So, if you do your own painting, I figure you can do this whole room, including a budget for accessories, wall art, and drapery hardware for about $9,000.

In the original room, the carpet and sofas alone cost more!!

Remember, you can use the black/white/neutral/plus one color formula with ANY color you like! If green isn’t your thing, you can do it with red, turquiose, orange, whatever you like. Just stick with the black/white/neutral base,and add your own favorite hue!

HAVE FUN!!

Comments (6)