Verdigris Vie

Townhouse Envy

2013-03-27T14:38:00.002-04:00

Oh Spring is in the air! I can smell the trees, and the sun shines bright and the cold of winter has finally subsided. In case you haven't noticed I have been hiding under a rock lately. Thanks for all your emails and notes, and for sticking with me while I took a few breaths. So here I sit browsing from Architectural Digest, to the portfolio of Architect Steven Harris, to his press page, and then to Elle Decor to find that this breathtaking townhouse belongs to Francesca Connolly of Remodelista. The images shown are from Steven Harris's site, and it was styled a little differently for Elle Decor. Nonetheless, every detail is delicious. From the velvety fabrics, to the trim under the staircase, to the steel windows, and the hand carved fireplace mantels, this refreshing spaces mixes modern, traditional, elegance and casual.

Images via Steven Harris

A Neutral Mix

2013-01-30T12:10:00.001-05:00

Just when I start to thinking that neutral is too safe, I stumble across something that reminds me of how smart it actually is. This Atlanta home is clearly built on this foundation. The homeowners have a great art collection that injects colour and energy into some of the gathering rooms. And you can see that they are entertainment ready! But there are still quiet and calm spaces too. How about that fabulous kitchen and breakfast room! It's bold but not harsh. The bedroom is so cozy too. And take note: sometimes we worry about the windows and walls all lining up perfectly. The night table is siting in the middle of a wall and a window, and it's the drapery that forms a lush backdrop.

Images via Atlanta Homes Mag
Interior Design Howard Design Studio

Modern Glamour in Paris

2013-01-10T08:53:00.002-05:00

Did you miss me? I missed me. After some much needed time to breathe I am back for 2013. I'll be posting backwards for a couple of weeks as well, because I missed so much over the holidays, and I need to fill the gaps for reference this year. But in the meantime, I am in love with this Paris apartment featured on Elle Décor. This 19th century home had been vacant since 1963. Can you imagine stumbling into something like this? Vacant and hollow, with all the original architecture still in tact. Danish designer, Klavs Rosenfalck, added some modern affection for a remarkable impact. Not a direction I would have taken, but splendid for exactly that reason.

Hope you are all well.. Looking forward to catching up!

Images via Elle Decor

The Family Inn

2012-12-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

For years, this cliff side home in Massachusetts operated as a popular coastal inn, where it hosted parties and receptions for over 100 years But when it went on the market, few people lacked the vision to recreate it into a home, until the current owners came along. Having lived in the area and with an appreciation for the great gatherings that took place at the Inn, they set out to recreate the home for their family and friends, for many future gatherings. You can catch the full story at NEHomesMag., but for now you can admire the delightful details this home has to offer.

Images Via New England Homes Mag

Architecture: Robert Zarelli
Interior design: Charlotte Barnes
Landscape Architecture: Hawk Design
Builders: BCA Builders and Groom Construction

Haute Holidays!

2012-12-04T09:01:00.000-05:00

I was in the city this weekend for just a few hours and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the shops in their Holiday Best. Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma; are all decked for the Season. The clothing stores are packed with sweaters and dresses that glitter with gold and silver. This week we are putting our trees up. Yup, two trees. I am getting the kids their own tree to decorate with pasta and popcorn, Power Rangers and Barbie! Which leaves me free to decorate as I desire.

This beautiful home belongs to Seattle based designer Susan Marinello. Her and her daughter go all out decorating for the season. Simple and elegant, just the way I like it!

Images Via Seattle Magazine

Stylish Stockings

2012-11-29T12:25:00.001-05:00

My sweet friend Staci over at Switch Studio, designed the loveliest stockings for this Holiday Season! Of Course, I was supposed to order mine last week, but since we haven't officially hit December yet, I think I am still safe! These were just a few of my favorites, but I have to tell you I love the idea, of mixing these pretty combinations, and hanging them on the stairs or over the fireplace.

They are available while quantities last, and there are still a few really lovely ones available!

Check out the Switch Etsy Store for these very stylish stockings!

Easy Living in Gerogia

2012-11-19T14:07:00.003-05:00

The spectacular simplicity of charming antiques and easy country living are abundant in this Georgia retreat. A soothing palette of soft grays, and inviting textures of corduroy and warn wood make this a perfect kick up your feet and relax retreat!

Images via Country Living

Youthful in Greenwich

2012-11-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

Just a glance of this fabulous Greenwich home designed with a youthful heart for a young family! Four boys will enjoy that awesome rec and study room, while Mom and Dad can retreat to a peaceful suite. The home is a Greek revival built in the late eighteen hundreds, and it needed a major update without completely disassembling it's character. You have to admire the effort that goes into designing a home for a family. You know it's filled with compromise, but the result always stands out from the rest because it carries a unique charm.

Images Via AD

Southern Traditions

2012-11-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

Suzanne Kasler does in again, in this breathtaking home featured in AD Nov 2012.

By the Stables

2012-11-02T10:20:00.001-04:00

How I admire the owner's of this quaint little stone house, that is nestled near their horses' stables. Built entirely of reclaimed materials found on the historic property they reside on, this one room cottage boasts a huge fireplace as it's only source of heat, a dramatic chandelier, and twelve foot harvest table and a fifteen foot sofa from a Dutch Castle. What a wonderful place to indulge in dinner and fine wines, after a day out enjoying the land and horses.

Images via EuroTrash

Traditions In Soho

2012-10-31T12:55:00.003-04:00

If I could have a loft in the city, this would be it! You know it's totally me right? Rustic and reclaimed, antiques and classic tailoring. Mixed materials, like iron and wood, linen and velvet. Fancy, but somehow really laid back; perfect for entertaining or just relaxing. Yup, this it.

Images from Rue magazine
Interior design by Noa Santos.

A Good Sleep

2012-10-25T09:18:00.001-04:00

Elle Decor did a feature on celebrity bedrooms, and I couldn't resist peaking inside to the other half's sleep style. Sarah Jessica Parke above surprised me with this really fresh, and simple retreat for her Bridgehampton home.

Megan Mullally's master bedroom is super paired down with pure white walls and bedding, some great artwork, and rich wood night tables.

I always wondered why Cindy Crawford had a furniture line, I am not quite sure how that happened, but I do know she has some pretty good taste. She enlisted the brilliant Michael Smith to inject tradition, and even hits of Moroccan into this super cozy Bedroom.

This one belongs to Ivanka Trump. It has the Trump glam: the fur, the touches of gold, but so simplified and tasteful. She really has a fabulous sense of style!

Do you have a fave - there are few more to see here!

Lugar do Cotariño, Spain

2012-10-22T10:58:00.001-04:00

I am desperate for a trip to Spain. I have never been, it's one the European stops I never made, and I long for few weeks of it's culture, food and architecture. When I stumbled on to this beautiful retreat, I was delighted to learn that it is in fact located in Spain, The owner originally bought the property to use as their private residence, but the architect convinced them they should turn it into a charming Hotel. And indeed it is! Lugiar do Cotariño Hotel is a rustic relaxed retreat located in Galicia Spain. Inside and out the property is filled with updated rustic charm. Old stone walls, add to the historic charm while the crisp whites and clutter free style create a luxurious and tranquil space.

Only seven rooms, including two suites, and two dining rooms, a living room and a lovely garden that smells of eucalyptus. If you have an hour to spare, visit their website, it isn't the greatest, but it has the most amazing music playing, and if you click on all the tabs, like surroundings or activities, you will start digging out the luggage!

Found on HQ Room!
Thank the heavens for Google Translate, because it's in Russian!

Pebble Vase by Kate Hume

2012-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have a weakness for blown glass. You may have noticed by a previous post if you have been reading for a while. When these beautiful gleaming jewels caught my eye at design junction, it was love at first site. Designed by Kate Hume for When Objects Work, these works of art are known as pebble vases. They are delightful sculptures of blown glass, hand made into the most beautiful form.

Arranged in a groups, the colours play off each other. Here are few images of the display, taken in really bad lighting, with my mediocre photographing skills. I wish I could have packed these up and taken them home; they are simply spectacular!

Classic Black on Black

2012-10-18T09:10:00.001-04:00

I am probably one of the few people in the world who doesn't have a fully outfitted black wardrobe. For years, I fought black. I thought it was too safe and didn't really fit my personality. I love the elegance of black and white, but not sure I can pull off pure black on black. Well the tides have turned friends, I am so up for a revamp in some classic black outfits, and I am love the idea of throwing black leather in the mix!

Images Via FGR

Hamptons Charm

2012-10-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

Interior Designer ken Gemes added comfort and elegant style to this Hamptons retreat with a generous dose of natural textiles, comfy sofas, and beautiful pale fabrics. Although the living room is a great room, it has a really cozy feel to it. Placing all the furniture on a large rug, delineates the space and gives it a smaller feel. The dining room is really fabulous, especially the contrast of the warm and rich wood tones against the light white space. And I adore that monkey painting! The style carries right through the kitchen, and straight to the outdoors, where the invitation to enjoy and unwind is calling.

Images via Ken Gemes

Architect is Stuart Disston of Austin Patterson Disston

The Art of Stone Masonry

2012-10-12T12:16:00.002-04:00

One of the most delightful showrooms we visited while in London was Lapicida. I was feeling under the weather that day, but I have to tell you, walking up the stone staircase and through this beautiful and inviting entry to the showroom picked my mood right up. There was tea and coffee and cake awaiting, and while we sipped and nibbled, we browsed a glorious stone collection. From antique reclaimed stone floors to modern computerized cut sculptures.

I have always believed that a company is only as good as the people who work for it. When you have people who are passionate, and proud of the products they make and represent, it is reflected in every word they speak. The gentleman who guided us through the showroom, was really passionate about the work Lapicida created. Every rock had a story! Whether it was about a giant piece of marble with a pattern that carried through the depth of the entire block that would create a beautiful visual on a wall, or the hand inlay work of artists that create intricate mosaic patterns, or the work of a highly sophisticated machine that carves intricate details into solid stone, suddenly we weren't talking about rocks anymore. It was art, both ancient and modern.

Work of an inlay artist creates this beautiful stone pattern.

And example of a pattern created through natural stone by mirroring the sheets of stone. This one is quartermatched, and covers over 42 sq feet.

I fell in love with this pattern, I had visions of it bordering an outdoor walkway, and it can be created in various tones. Just beautiful!

Reclaimed Limestone floors from France between approximately 1820-1900.

This giant stone medallion was cut on an intricate CNC machine.

Thank you kindly Lapicida for the sharing your passion for stone, and for an inspiring afternoon of tea and treats.

All images via Lapicida and My own

Drive

2012-10-10T13:25:00.001-04:00

I have the strange desire to lock myself up in a moving vehicle with the family and hit the roads for a couple of hours. My husband and I will argue over what genre of music to listen to; my eighties to his rap. The kids will complain that it's to hot and that it is taking too long. And I will stare gleefully out the window at golden fields and auburn trees, until we reach an unknown destination for a bite to eat, and some picture taking, before we set out again. Driving is especially beautiful this time of year.

Updated Georgian

2012-10-09T08:47:00.000-04:00

I love this house, I do. It's actually a former vicarage. (A home for priests) Located in Hampshire, it was converted to a tranquil family home. The Georgian floor plan is my my favorite of all homes. It's balanced and surrounded by large beautiful windows. Forget stone and stucco, I love brick. There is an art to laying it, and creating the visual texture. This home is perfectly aged with that white wash over it. The scale is perfect too. It's nice to have a big house, but I prefer something quiet and quaint. Bedrooms for everyone and a spare, a place to cook, a place to eat, a place to gather, and a place to read. It's not so much the size, as it is that it feels smaller than larger. The inside of this home is decorated to perfection as well. A few large scale antique pieces set the tone, and a neutral palette keeps the calm flowing from room to room. With all it's updates, it manages to keep a historic feel to it.

Images Via 25 Beautiful Homes

On the Porch

2012-10-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

I stumbled onto this Front Porch party over at Style Me Pretty,and I adore it! The colours, the flowers, the updated rustic vibe, and the easy inviting nature of it all! It's a refreshing twist on a fall dinner table. Lavender is a colour I love, but not one that I could easily bring into my home. Seeing it in this beautiful setting will have my on the hunt for napkins, and a new table cloth.

I am off to celebrate Thanksgiving today. With all the ups and downs of life, I have so much to be grateful for. Mostly my loving family, who inspire me to be the best person I can be, and a home, that is filled with comforts from a bountiful table to a warm bed.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

Images via Style Me Pretty

Scottish Islands by Chris Bushe

2012-10-04T09:31:00.002-04:00

Summer rain over Islay, oil on board , 45"x 40" £8500

Day 1 in London, as you would imagine was a little crazy. We landed just before noon, and headed straight to the Lapada Art and Antiques Fair in Berkley Square. 1st Dibs was holding a luncheon there, and it was a must attend. As we rushed through the fabulous art and antique dealers to get to the second level, my heart skipped a few beats. Do we have to eat? Like now? I could have spent the entire afternoon wandering and chatting with knowledgeable dealers over beautiful paintings, sculptures, antique furniture and everything else. Luckily, we had some time afterwards to browse

The very first painting to catch my eye, was the one above, from Scottish artist Chris Bushe. It was on display through Panter & Hall Gallery, and was definitely worth all my admiration. The Paintings are inspired by various trips over the years Bushe made to Scottish Islands. "They are about the lure the western fringes of Scotland - the sense that you are on the very edge of Europe looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, with nothing between you and Canada." In the few short moments I spent with these works, I can tell you how incredibly captivating they are. The depth and colours are simply entrancing.

Summer Storm, Scarista, oil on board , 22"x20" £1950

Late Summer Light, Lewis, oil on board , 36"x24", £4000

Red Rocks Bay, Coll, oil on board. 32"x22" £3250

Below are two others I snapped in person of Bushe's works at Lapada.

Summer Storm, Scarista , oil on board 22"x20" £1950

Summer Shoreline, Oronsay, oil on board 22"x20" £1950

I had to share the path to the fair with you. The setting was just breathtaking. 1st Dibs was incredibly generous to host a lunch that was not only delicious, but filled with stimulating conversation.

Images via Panter & Hall, and my own

Mixed Materials in Florence

2012-10-02T13:20:00.002-04:00

This fantastic home was scooped off the pages of Elle Decoration UK It belongs to an Italian couple, Alessandra Tabacchi and Franco Mariotti, who own an interior design and furniture store called Flair. The home is located in an historic part of Florence, near the famous Duomo Cathedral. The design savvy couple were looking to create a retreat that was elegant, comfortable, easy to entertain, but mostly just natural. They used a generous mix of fabric, and textiles to create a very warm and inviting space, but also didn't commit to any particular theme. Their furniture selection spans a century or two, mixing modern with antiques, and although their is a general masculine feel, you see hints of feminine touches, like the dusky pink velvet sofa, or that beautiful ornate mirror. And let's get one thing out their for the record, Italians always have the best kitchens! They are almost always modern, even in the most traditional settings, and function plays a major role in the design.

Scanned by me, via Elle Decoration UK

Photographer Michael Paul

London Story

2012-09-26T13:19:00.000-04:00

You know that amazing glow you have when you've just returned from a place that has inspired you to no end? I have got it! Blog Tour London was fabulous. I had an incredible time getting to know each of the bloggers that shared this experience with me. It was a pleasure to watch how each of us were taking something different away from the show, as we each snapped photos of the things we were most drawn to. Modenus will be publishing a Blog Tour London magazine in the next few weeks, highlighting our posts and stories. And speaking of Modenus, Veronika Miller is one of the hardest working people I know.

The Design festival in general was brilliant. Design shows across the city, each themed differently from modern, to emerging, ultra luxe, and antiques. There was a taste of everything, and some inspiration to take away every time. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of the incredible stories of beautiful art and design, and the people behind it.

As we zoomed across this city from place to place, we captured glimpses of London's incredbile history and architecture, culture and vibe.

My amazing new friends fron around the world!

This picture of Jen from Dec a Porter, sums up the excitement of the week!

Images via, My photos, Nyla Free, and Dec-a-Porter

Serene Sophisticate

2012-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

You know there is an old saying about how if you speak softly, people will listen. It's because they really have to tune in to your quite voice to hear what you are saying. I have always felt the same way about Darryl Carter's interiors. They aren't loud or overwhelming. They are soft and tranquil. There isn't a lot of furniture, nor art or objects, just a very distinctive selection of pieces that create incredible impact. This Washington based home, which is the combination of Darryl Carter and architect Donald Lococo, is a brilliant display of talent. You can count on your hands the number of objects in each room, and yet they seem to be bursting with beauty. So serene, but super sophisticated!

Images Via AD

Retreat By the River

2012-09-17T10:05:00.002-04:00

It's a mad rush as I prepare for my trip to London tomorrow, but I can always take a few minutes to enjoy a beautiful home! My Elegant Homes issue is packed full of fabulous. This one is part of there Graceful Getaways section, and it's a home located in South Carolina, designed by Hansen Architects, both inside and out! The magazine gives insight to the floor plan not shown, and there is a mini master suite on the main level which is brilliant. Who wants to run up and down those stairs, I'd rather take a walk in the woods! Great for guests today, and for retirement tomorrow. Inspiration for the palette must come from the outdoors, blues, green, golds and reds, a taste from every season!

Scanned from Elegant Homes