Rachel Hazelton Interior Design

Chocolate, Shimmer and Sheer

2012-02-18T16:58:00.002-05:00

Are you on Pinterest? If not yet, just get ready to be hooked. For me, it's a way for me to create virtual inspiration boards for my projects. I just tossed out stacks and stacks of magazine tearsheets that I have used for years for my large white bulletin board that served as an inspiration board for my work. I'll admit, it was a bit scary tossing those tearsheets but I think it's good Feng Shui. Here is a link and a preview to my latest project inspiration, Chocolate, Shimmer and Sheer.

http://pinterest.com/rachelhazelton/shimmer/

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Designer, Susan Ferrier

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Living Style

2012-02-04T21:32:00.002-05:00

Apparently Gwyneth has a new look featured on next month's cover of Harper's Bazaar. Well, now atleast she will match her home. I can't count how many times I have designed a space, then arrived to the client's home to find them wearing clothes, bag, shoes, even nail polish that matches their new decor. I love it. Design is about living your style, enjoying your home and making you look and feel great.

The March 2012 Issue of Harper's Bazaar

House & Garden, Gwenyth Paltrow's Home

Eat, Pray, Love: India

2012-02-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

August 31, 2010
After my latest posts focusing on Italian style, I realized that I should continue the trip around the globe and write a blog as a sort of homage to Eat, Pray, Love, next stop, India. As I'm sure you already know, the title Eat, Pray, Love refers to the authors time in Italy (eat), India (pray) and finally Bali (love). I haven't seen the movie and admit I have yet to read the book....something I hope to do this holiday weekend. However, I have heard author, Elizabeth Gilbert speak and have read excerpts from her books. No doubt, this woman can write. Her soul just leaps off the page. Here is one of her quotes for you, "He was powerful and I died of love in his shadow.". Wow.

Designers influenced by Indian style typically use saturated colors such as magenta, turquoise, deep lime green and orange in their interiors. When I think of India, I imagine the hot sun sparkling on the shimmering white of the Taj Mahal, layers of gold bracelets on a woman's wrist, embroidered silks with design motifs resembling Indian architecture and beautiful furniture with inlay of bone or mother of pearl.

Photo: Geoff Barringer Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Designer, Windsor Smith

Photo: Designer, Windsor Smith Source: http://www.simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/

Photo: Geoff Barringer for Ports 61 Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Designer, Bunny Williams Source: Elle Decor

Photo: Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Italian Style

2012-01-28T18:48:00.000-05:00

I posted this blog back in August 2010 featuring designer, John Saladino's beautiful Tuscan style Montecito villa and the brilliant work of architect and designer, Bobby McAlpine. I often mention that my mind, like other designers, is running a constant movie. It's been this way since I was a little girl and probably why I spent entire summers dressed in my dancing school costumes. I was always living in another place and another time inside my mind. So when another designer posted the Christina Perri song, A Thousand Years, a song that reminded her of a book she read about the prolific writer Dante and his love for his muse Beatrice, I immediately thought of this beautiful editorial that I had included in this past blog post by photographer, Kalle Gistaffson, titled Storia d'amour. Love is the ultimate inspiration.

On this rainy day, I thought I would share some inspiration from one of our recent projects. Design is about capturing a mood..a place..a time. For me, this is Italian style, casual and elegant. Limestone floors, faded antique rugs, velvet drapes, iron lanterns, cypress and statuary....and always romance.

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photos: Designer, John Saladino www.saladinostyle.com

Photos: Kalle Gistaffson, Storia d'amour, Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens via http://www.trouvais.com/

Photos: Architect Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier Interiors Veranda Magazine

Photos: Architect, Bobby McAlpine & Designer, Susan Ferrier Source: http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Style File: Ryan Korban

2012-01-25T12:09:00.000-05:00

This bedroom featured in Lonny magazine and designed by Ryan Korban is so dreamy. Ryan Korban creates such interesting spaces with his unique mix of classic traditional design elements paired with what I would describe as rock star style.

The bedside lamps, the vintage Bardot movie poster, the gray silk bed, the super glam chandelier....love, love, love.

Designer, Ryan Korban Lonny Magazine via

I love this ultra feminine and glamorous bedroom design in blush velvet and steel gray silk taffeta .

Ryan Korban via

Korban's hard edge urban design of this retail space is a sharp contrast to the classic and refined bedroom above.

Retail space by Ryan Korban via

Black & Gold

2012-01-24T18:46:00.001-05:00

This photo of these Gianfranco Ferre shoes is still a fixture on my inspiration board. I immediately thought of them when I saw this 1940's vintage black and gold mosaic mirror in this stunning bath by designer, Michael S. Smith.

Gianfranco Ferre shoes via google images

1940's vintage gold mosaic mirror on gold leaf tile.

"Michael S. Smith Kitchens and Baths" via L.A. Times article photo: Michael Mundy

Ann Sacks Obsidian Glam Tile

Dune Gold leaf glass tile via

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T17:12:00.000-05:00

Today marks the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon. The legendary dragon is a symbol of good fortune, power and strength.

The dragon is a regular motif found in Asian toile and chinoiserie fabrics and papers. Although I adore classic chinoiserie, I love Osborne and Little's fresh design approach to this classic motif in their Chinese Dragon wallpaper. It is so opulent and exotic, especially in the smoky amethyst and metallic colorway.

Chinese Dragon wallpaper by Osborne and Little

Angelina Jolie's dragon tattoo via google images

Traditional Glam vs. Classic Modern: Aerin Lauder's Homes

2012-01-18T08:22:00.001-05:00

A fantastic book by one of my favorite architects and designers is The Home Within Us by Bobby McAlpine. What is the home within you? The homes within me are many and varied in style. Fortunately, as a designer, I can live vicariously through the spaces I design and experience creating in many styles. Aerin Lauder has the luxury of having several homes to express her different design styles. Lauder's East Hampton dining room in comparison to the dining room of her Manhattan apartment is a fabulous example of both the contrast and the continuity of my two favorite design styles, Traditional Glam and Classic Modern.

Traditional Glam

Aerin Lauder's East Hampton Home via Elle Decor

Classic Modern

Aerin Lauder's Manhattan Apartment via Elle Decor

Design Bloggers Conference L.A.

2012-01-14T19:22:00.000-05:00

Sex and the City "Escape from New York" Episode via

"Decked out in our New York-goes-to-L.A.'s finest." -Carrie

I can't think of a better way to kick off 2012 than attending the Design Bloggers 2012 Conference in L.A. next month. Some of the speakers include the legendary designer, Bunny Williams along with designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators, the super talented and equally business savvy designer, Tobi Fairley and of course Boston's own Stacy Kunstel, uber talented stylist and editor whose work appears in dozens of premier design magazines including House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens and New England Home to name just a few. It is sure to be a great event. It will be my first time back to L.A. since returning home to Boston over seven years ago. I'm looking forward to returning to palm trees and sun if only for a brief minute.

Always evolving and pushing the limits of design, the energy of L.A. along with the extreme variation of architecture makes it truly an exciting city for an interior designer and the perfect place for this creative group to gather for this fantastic event.

Tufted Banquettes

2012-01-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

I am mad about tufting, especially tufted banquettes. This mile long purple velvet tufted banquette in this Parisian Hotel is incredible. We once created a banquette along a twelve foot wall to add more seating in a client's media room and upholstered it in chocolate leather with channeling versus tufting all the way to the ceiling. I would love to design a tall tufted built in banquette for a dining room. It is so custom and unexpected that it would add instant drama to a space.

Image via

A little chocolate...a little leopard

2012-01-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

Chocolate, especially this couture collection chocolate silk satin in my photo below, just makes every color more sophisticated and rich. The leopard was not part of this project and actually in another stack of samples I have to return. Based on this photo of my desk, I think I may have to hang on to it for this project.

Photo: www.Elle.com

Retro Chic

2012-01-10T17:08:00.001-05:00

I tend to favor deep tone neutrals and smoky shades of color. However, I'm kind of crushing over this turquoise and pink combination. Ever since I came across this photo of Ashley Stark's bedroom again from Elle Decor's November issue, I am seeing turquoise and hot pink everywhere from the Versace Spring 2012 ad campaign to the Kate Spade book below. Although, truthfully, it's sort of an 80's flashback reminding me of Demi Moore's "designer" apartment in St. Elmo's Fire. It was totally fabulous at the time. Shocking, I know. However, if I recall, I was less interested in Demi's apartment and more interested in her co-star Rob Lowe. My sister and I had Rob Lowe posters probably from Tiger Beat magazine hanging on our pink daisy "vintage" bedroom wallpaper.

Photo: www.ElleDecor.com

Versace Spring 2012 via www.FashionGoneRogue.com

Kate Spade via

Designer, Kelly Wearstler via www.MyVibeMyLife.com via www.TheDecorista.com

Demi's Fab 80's Apartment in St. Elmo's Fire

St. Elmo's Fire via google images

Traditional Glam vs. Classic Modern: Emerald, Black & Gold

2012-01-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

I find that my clients seem to favor either a Traditional Glam design style or a Classic Modern style. Traditional Glam is how I describe a more sophisticated approach to traditional decor with luxe elements like exotic chinoiserie or flock damask wallpaper, gilded french mirrors and rock crystal. Classic Modern design may also include some of these elements but the overall look is more tailored, with clean lines and an emphasis on neutral colors and textures. I personally love the blending of the two styles. I'm often asked how I describe my style. I would say, whether Traditional Glam or Classic Modern, my design approach is simply luxe.

Speaking of luxe, the color palette of emerald green with black and gold is so rich and glamorous. The two spaces below perfectly illustrate how this one color palette translates to two different styles, Traditional Glam versus Classic Modern.

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Traditional Glam: This green chinoiserie wallpaper is fantastic with all those black hanging tassels.

House & Garden via

Classic Modern: A more subtle approach to emerald, black and gold with a touch of gold lighting and a gold banding

on the pillow. Emerald makes a bold color statement through art set against a neutral space. Finally, there is a touch

of black in the marble fireplace and artwork on the mantle.

Ashley Stark photo by Eric Piasecki via ElleDecor.com

Style File: Boho Chic

2011-12-28T18:29:00.000-05:00

I love a touch of boho chic in design. It's a stylish way of making a glamorous space more casual and inviting. I'm really into the idea of adding something unexpected, vintage lamps, a mix of prints and textures with pillows or a bold statement of color through art.

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Russell Smith via

New Ravenna Mosaics Ikat Collection

Roberto Cavalli via

www.vogue.com, Lulu DeKwiatkowski via www.trailsofinspiration.com

Designer, Windsor Smith

Casual entry via Canadian House and Home

Designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard via

Designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard via www.elledecor.com

via www.crushculdesac.tumblr.com via www.habituallychic.blogspot.com

Houzz.com

2011-12-27T00:14:00.000-05:00

Have you discovered Houzz.com? What a fantastic site for home owners and designers. Designers share their work and homeowners can scan thousands of images to save in online idea books. Definitely check it out. You can visit my Houzz.com profile via the Houzz green button below.

Rachel Hazelton Interior Design

on HOUZZ.COM

Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T15:16:00.002-05:00

Color & Design: Black Walls

2011-12-18T07:29:00.000-05:00

Black defined is the absence of all color. Chanel said, “Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.”. Rather than overpowering a space, black walls actually recede and allow art, objects and furnishings to stand out. Notice in the powder room by Windsor Smith below, the black walls create a backdrop allowing the carerra marble and nickel sink to stand out. If the walls had been gray or any medium value of color, the effect would not be achieved. Layered black on black, set against crisp white trim or paired with accents of rich color, black will always add style and sophistication to a space.

"I've been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black." -- Pierre-Auguste Renoir

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Aerin Lauder's home via www.elledecor.com

Nate Berkus for shoe designer, Brian Atwood, photo by Simon Upton via www.elledecor.com

Designer Kelly Wearstler

Sex and The City via

Designer Windsor Smith via http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=82833

Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica by Kelly Wearstler via tumblr via www.desiretoinspire.net

Turner Davis Interiors via http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=82695

Ralph Lauren Home www.ralphlaurenhome.com via www.decorpad.com

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Rachel Hazelton Interior Design for FRINGE Boutique www.shopfringe.com

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Trend Report: 2012 Color of the Year

2011-12-14T17:35:00.001-05:00

Pantone has announced the 2012 Color of the Year as Tangerine Tango. Tangerine is super chic paired with touches of turquoise or bright pink. Check out my mood board for inspiration via the link below.

Mood Boards
http://rachelhazelton.tumblr.com/

via www.pantone.com

Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Destination Design: Baby It's Cold Outside

2011-12-12T21:10:00.000-05:00

Hotel Matilda San Miguel de Allende

Baby, it's cold outside. As I mentioned before, I'm not designed for this weather. Wouldn't it be fabulous to just jet away to a chic boutique hotel in a tropical locale for the weekend? (Sigh) One of my favorite architectural design firms is the eponymous, McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier. Their design of Hotel Matilda in Mexico is the ultimate in casual luxury. From the spa to the pool to the black chandelier in the dining room...ultra chic.

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Photos via google images are Hotel Matilda San Miguel de Allende Mexico www.hotelmatilda.com

Design by McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier http://www.mcalpineboothferrier.com/

Random Inspiration

2011-12-03T10:32:00.015-05:00

I really need a tumblr or pinterest account for the rolling and random images that I find in my process of working and finding inspiration for design. This post will have to do. Glamour and refinement with an edge.

Daphne Guinness via

Petit Trianon via cote de texas

via www.dustjacketattic.tumblr.com

Daphne Guinness, photo by Bryan Adams for Harper's Bazaar UK

Daphne Guinness via www.inspirationcrave.wordpress.com

Wizard of Oz via

Grisaille

2011-11-29T17:11:00.002-05:00

I'm sort of craving some grisaille. I'm picturing a large single panel to rev up the volume on my white slipcovered furniture. Grisaille is a term used to describe the painting of walls and wallpapers in monochromatic shades of grays and browns. For me, it is the most sophisticated and elegant style of mural painting. Covering the walls of an entire room or just a single framed panel, grisaille adds drama, dimension and depth to a space.

Designer, Suzanne Rheinstein via Elle Decor, photo by Roger Davies

Image via Cote de Texas

Martha Stewart's Home Turkey Hill via marthastewart.com, photo by Eric Piasecki

Merry X-Mas xoxo

2011-11-25T08:32:00.004-05:00

Liz and I worked until almost midnight Wednesday night on the design I created for her shop, Mason & Madison's holiday window. I shared in an earlier blog post, my inspiration for the window was Marilyn Monroe. I took my inspiration from Liz's love of old Hollywood based on all the black and white vintage photos of Hollywood starlets that line her shop walls.

Mason and Madison's focus is gifts with style. Liz has fantastic style and is such a savvy buyer that her product selection is truly unique. Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. Be sure to drop by and check out Mason & Madison in Middleton. The shop is located in Middleton Green, the shops at the corner of Route 114 and Route 62 in Middleton. Her website is below for directions and more information.

www.MasonandMadison.com

Style File: Rustic Chic

2011-11-23T10:22:00.000-05:00

There's a chill in the air. Actually, to me, it's freezing here...as my friend Matt, checking in on me from sunny California confirmed to me yesterday. I'm a Boston girl but I'm just not designed for this weather. Honestly, the only thing I like about cold weather is cute knee high boots and cold weather inspired design....stone fireplaces, worn leather pub chairs, velvet down filled pillows and warm wool throws.

I find that clients are requesting what I would describe as a tailored modern look with a touch of glamour. When I first started designing professionally years ago, the trend in home design at the time was much more casual. Slipcovered down filled sofas, long pine farm tables, rustic European antiques like old French shop signs or distressed English dish dressers in layers of old paint. Like in fashion, home design trends are always changing. However, good design is timeless. Textile and interior designer, Kathryn Ireland is a master at designing spaces that are so beautifully pulled together but are casual, comfortable and inviting. I featured a couple of Kathryn's designs below along with some other season inspired spaces. ...I so want Pocahontas's belt below.

Happy Thanksgiving.

via hippiecouture.com

Designer Kathryn Ireland via House Beautiful

Elle Decor

Vogue Nippon via

Ralph Lauren Home

Ralph Lauren's Ranch

Color & Design: Red

2011-11-22T08:59:00.002-05:00

The color red symbolizes love, passion, courage and danger. In China, the color red symbolizes fire and is associated with success and fortune. Research shows that men find women that wear red more attractive. Go figure. Years ago, I designed a dining room for a client and painted it Rasberry Truffle by Benjamin Moore. It was a gorgeous cool shade of deep red. This space below designed by Mary McDonald inspires me to use red walls again. I especially love the high gloss red door.

When I think of red, I think of Christian Louboutin heels, lipstick, that great scene in Pretty Woman when Vivian wears that red dress to the opera...and oh, my red sequin prom dress. Head to toe tight red sequins with a slit up the leg and long white gloves...how appropriate. My friends and I crack up now when we see this photo of us all lined up in my backyard. We thought we looked fabulous. Now I think we looked more like Vegas showgirls.

Designer Mary McDonald via Elle Decor

via http://www.agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com

via Elle Decor

Designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard via

Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman via instyle.com

Designer, Mary McDonald

High School Senior Prom. I'm the girl on the right in head to toe red sequins.

Inspiration Overload

2011-11-21T07:59:00.000-05:00

I'm on inspiration overload. My head hurts. This design thing is a sickness..no joke. I need to get my hair done, go shopping, file paperwork, stop eating carbs....the list goes on. Instead, my brain is running on overdrive with design ideas. I have every design project mentally done. I even have the store holiday window display job done...and I haven't even agreed to do it yet. It might kill me. I can see it now, crying while I lug my cast iron urns in the car. Spray painting urns and branches, I'll be covered in white paint and glitter from head to toe and swearing like a truck driver. I won't sleep. This is why in the past I have graciously declined invitations to do showhouses and the holiday home tour this year...sheer torture. Every designer knows this feeling, doubt. Doubt is the killer for a designer. For that reason, I'm doing it, hoping for the best and repeating this mantra, "There is a fine line between holiday and Liberace.".

Marilyn Monroe images via, editorial on left - Angela Lindvall Harper's Bazaar, editorial right - Numero via, drapery right Herve Pierre, editorial red - via, Tiffany boxes and Rockettes 1944 via google images