Leslie Fine Interiors

Pool Anyone?

2010-07-28T18:27:47Z

Over the years, many of my clients have expressed a desire to add a pool table to their recreation room. Pool (or pocket billiards) is a game with a long history, and it has become quite popular as a family activity or to play with guests. When one thinks of pool table design, one generally thinks of a traditional style table, many of which are very beautiful. Yet, when installing a table in a more contemporary setting, it is more challenging to find a pool table that blends well with this aesthetic. A great source that I recently came across is Mitchell Custom Tables. They fabricate many contemporary styles and will customize a table as well. Their tables are available in your choice of woods and stains as well as faux finish metals and lacquers. They are available in three different sizes (pub size, professional and tournament) so they will fit in almost any space. Not only will these tables provide hours of fun and enjoyment, but they certainly will make a major design statement in a room.

Do these make you want to redesign your rec room? Pool anyone? Here are just a couple of the many styles available:

The Excalibur

The Miami

What is your Bedding Style?

2010-07-23T01:23:54Z

There are few design decisions as personal as selecting a bed, a mattress and bedding. There are so many options available for creating a bed that is comfortable, fits your lifestyle and also projects your design aesthetic. In terms of how one prefers their bed to look when it is “made”, I find that people generally fall into two categories: minimalists and those who think that “more is more”.

Minimalists don’t want to bother with fussy bedding and extras. A simple coverlet or duvet, high quality sheets and sleeping pillows are adequate. In some cases, simple pillow shams with a large bolster pillow are the perfect accents for this clean lined bed. This minimalism can be luxurious as long as the each piece is selected with care.

On the other hand, some people just don’t think a bed is complete without layers of bedding and pillows. For this group, a bed isn’t cozy without several pillows and shams to prop up against or layers of blankets, duvets and bedspreads to add or subtract depending on the season. Decorative pillows, in various sizes, shapes and fabrics are a must. The people in this group don’t mind removing and stacking decorative pillows when it is time for bed or reorganizing them on the bed in the morning – it’s a pleasure.

What is your bedding style? In my younger days, I had a bed with loads of decorative pillows, pillow shams and such. But these days, I’m definitely a minimalist. My own serene, simple and clean lined bedroom retreat is pictured here.

Visit Gropius House

2010-07-21T18:30:38Z

The Gropius House is an incredible architectural gem located close by in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Built in 1938, it was the family home of Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus design school. He is considered one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. The home was designed upon the Bauhaus philosophy that every aspect of the home’s design, its furnishings as well as the landscape, was planned for simplicity and efficiency.

The home used traditional New England building materials such as wood, brick and fieldstone in innovative ways. It also incorporated the latest in modern materials not normally used for residential structures. The result was a home that was revolutionary in its modern outlook but also rooted in New England’s past.

The Gropius House is now a national landmark and is maintained by Historic New England. Tours of the property are conducted year round. The tour provides an excellent introduction to Bauhaus design and the interesting lives of Walter Gropius and his family.

Photo credit Historic New England

Here are the admission details from the Historic New England website. (I also recommend a visit to the DeCordova Museum when you are in Lincoln. In addition to the wonderful museum, the sculpture park is lovely and is a great place to enjoy a summer picnic.)

Gropius House Tour Information
Wednesday – Sunday, June 1 - October 15
Saturday and Sunday, October 16 - May 31
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tours on the hour. Last tour at 4:00 p.m.
Closed most major holidays.

Admission
$10 adults
$9 seniors
$5 students
Free for Historic New England members and Lincoln residents

Location
Gropius House
68 Baker Bridge Road
Lincoln, Mass. 01773

New England Home magazine’s website has a great article on the Gropius House. Click here to view the article.

Displaying Family Photos

2010-07-16T12:06:32Z

Most of my clients have a tremendous amount of family photos and look to me for practical and aesthetically pleasing ways to display them. Because these photos are so important, their selection and placement should be well thought out.

The first step is to go through your photos, culling them down to the ones that best define special family moments. The photos can be all sizes, black and white or color. Once a number of photos are selected, then we decide where in the home it works best to create a family photo wall. I tend to locate this wall in a more private space in the home – for instance, in a hallway near the family bedrooms, or in an office or den.

The next step is to consider how to take all of these different photos and make them work together. Below are two examples of how this can be done: either having them all framed consistently (same size/all black and white) and hung in a very structured format, or having them framed individually and uniquely and hanging them randomly but in a way that works well on the wall.

Family photo walls are a wonderful way to personalize a home and, at the same time, create an area that is a daily reminder of a family’s special memories.

(All of this makes me think about the boxes of family photos that are stored away in my house – perhaps I need to practice what I preach!)

Top image via HGTV – bottom image Molly Leukmeyer Interiors via cococozy.

Get Organized

2010-07-14T19:38:29Z

An accessory dresser in a bedroom or dressing area is a great way to keep all of your fashion accessories organized. It is so much easier to quickly get dressed and head out the door in the morning if you have everything you need efficiently stored in one place. These dressers can be custom designed with specific areas for jewelry, belts, scarves and more. I designed this piece below with flannel lined dividers in each drawer, each compartment sized for the client’s individual needs. So, if you have a “passion for fashion” you can keep shopping. A well organized dresser will insure that everything has a place.

I’m always looking for unique ways to organize my clients’ belongings. Do you have any creative suggestions?

500+ Twitter Followers

2010-07-09T12:15:01Z

Are you following me on twitter? As of this week, I have over 500 twitter followers! Thanks to everyone who is following me. It’s a fun way to stay connected – if you’re not following me yet, give it a try @lesliefineint.

Follow me for the latest updates on interior design and other various subjects as well as for links to articles that I read and find appropriate to pass along. Send me a tweet to say hello, suggest a list for me to follow or retweet Leslie Fine Interiors to your followers. Jump on in – it’s a great way to exchange information! See you on Twitter.

World Class Accommodations

2010-07-07T19:22:47Z

In honor of the 2010 World Cup, I wanted to share these amazing photos from the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban, South Africa. This luxury hotel has recently been renovated, and the results are quite chic. Designer Toni Tollman and her mother, Bea Tollman, created the interiors for the renovation. According to these designers, the hotel’s redesign was inspired in part by the great decorators Elsie de Wolfe, Tony Duquette and Dorothy Draper. The renovation reflects the charm of the hotel’s 1940s/1950s heyday with an added modern twist. Contemporary elements with historic pieces were used throughout the hotel in both the public areas and guest rooms. The decor features works of local Zulu artists as well as objects from local suppliers and artisans.

The hotel is part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection.

South Africa is a country that I’ve always wanted to visit. Perhaps a trip is on the horizon?

All images Oyster Box Hotel except the last image which is credited to Elle Decor.

Happy Fourth of July!

2010-07-02T13:23:42Z

Happy Fourth of July from Leslie Fine Interiors! We hope the long weekend finds you enjoying family and friends and having some time to recharge and rejuvenate. In honor of the long weekend, here are some beautiful pools that certainly would inspire both stylish gatherings and peaceful contemplation.

Which one is your favorite?

Photo credit Elle Decor

Photo credit Architectural Digest

Photo credit Canadian House and Home

Photo credit Architectural Digest

Photo credit Elle Decor

Photo credit Canadian House and Home

Photo credit Elle Decor

Comfort Rules

2010-07-01T19:28:29Z

When selecting furniture for a home, both form and function play important roles. Aside from selecting lounge chairs for my clients that are attractive, it is as important that we select pieces that provide extreme comfort. Through the years, I have always seemed to gravitate to the upholstered chairs manufactured by A. Rudin. With its classic silhouettes, crisp lines and perfectly balanced proportions, this manufacturer has proved time and time again to provide the most comfortable and good looking chairs around! They are well made and versatile and can be custom made to an individual’s desires.

I had the pleasure of working with one couple who each wanted a lounge chair in their master bedroom. The wife had back problems and wanted a chair with stiffer cushions; the husband desired to have softer cushions on his chair. Not a problem! We had two matching A. Rudin chairs made, but one chair’s cushions were fabricated with a different fill than the other. Success!

Here are a few examples of chairs from A. Rudin that fit the criteria of being both comfortable and beautiful.

Please note that A. Rudin is available to the trade only.

Searching for a Mattress that is Just Right

2010-06-30T14:45:57Z

I took a client over to Jordan’s Furniture today to purchase a mattress. If you have never been to Jordan’s Sleep Lab – let me tell you it is a shopping experience like no other!

When you first arrive, the “Sleep Technician” (actually outfitted in a lab coat) will have you lay down on a computerized bed and get “JaZzzzed”. This system analyzes your bodies pressure points and helps you select the best sleep surface for your body type and sleeping habits.

Once the sleep technician figures out where your pressure points are, he will have you lie down and try out many various beds that best fit your body. The showroom is well designed and very comfortable. The sleep techs somehow make laying around on different beds and trying out various sleeping positions amongst strangers seem norm completely comfortable.

The real story here is about finding the right source, seeking out experts and working with people who care about customer service. I always try to work with people who are passionate about the work they do whether is is mattresses, picture frames or a custom kitchen cabinetry. Mix that passion with good customer service and you have a winning combination.

Jordan’s does just that and the shopping experience is great. It is fun and also relaxing. What a great way to shop for a mattress! It’s like taking a car out for a road test!