Leslie Fine Interiors

Mad for Mad Men

2010-09-06T13:05:44Z

Another fabulous Mad Men episode last night! Almost as enjoyable as watching the program for me is reading the blogs the morning after which analyze each and every storyline, character and setting. So, here I am, jumping on the blogging bandwagon and posting about one of today’s most popular TV shows. What I really love to do is watch each show twice – once for the character and story development and another just to study the sets. The painstaking detail and the historically accurate precision that has gone into creating the sets and props are, in themselves, the stuff of a college level course! The show is like a living time capsule from the 1960’s.

Here are just a sampling of the sets that exemplify the time period:

The Draper's Living Room

Don and Betty's (ex)Bedroom - traditional glamour

Roger's office - very chic

Classic mid century furniture styles

Would you like to add some Mad Men glamour to your home? Knoll continues to produce furniture from that era. Here are some examples:

Knoll's Eero Saarinen Table

Knoll's Tulip Chair

Knoll's Splay Leg Table and Tray

Master Bathroom Extreme Makeover

2010-09-03T11:28:34Z

As part of a whole house project this past year, I totally redesigned the master bathroom. My clients craved an open, relaxing spa-like retreat. Their original master bathroom – a confined space that was divided into three separate rooms – failed to satisfy their needs. The final design boasts an open concept floor plan that transforms the space into a large, functional retreat that is flooded with natural daylight. A custom, two sided stainless steel mirror suspended from the ceiling with flanking pendants over a large his/her vanity in the middle of the room serves as the bathroom’s centerpiece. Other highlights of the room are intricate mosaics, floor to ceiling limestone tile, a corner soaking tub, a large shower with all of the amenities, a separate dressing vanity and other areas of functional storage. All of these elements were woven together to provide the clients with a high-end spa experience that they can enjoy in the comfort of their own home. This “extreme makeover” is featured in the latest issue of New England Home magazine (September/October 2010).

Intrigued? Pick up a copy of the magazine and take a look, page 138!

Modern Wing Chairs

2010-08-31T17:16:09Z

Traditional wing chairs are high back lounge chairs that have “wings’ attached to the back of the chair. Most often used near a fireplace, the wing chair was designed to enclose the head and torso and protect the occupant from drafts and to contain the heat from the fireplace. Here’s a photo of a typical Queen Anne wing chair, still used in today’s traditionally decorated homes:

Queen Anne Wing Chair from Richard Rothstein Classic Interiors

The style of the wing chair has evolved and contemporary furniture designers have taken the traditional silhouette to create modern wing chair styles. Some adhere to the classic form of the traditional wing chair; others have taken more liberties. Here are some examples:

Tule chair and ottoman from Ironies (via Decorati)

Danish Cord Series Wing Chair by McGuire

Pelican Chair from Onecollection, House of Finn Juhl from DWR

Hans J. Wegner Wing Chair from House of Copenhagen (via HomePortfolio)

Ecko (Egg) Chair by KMP Furniture

Which modern wing chair appeals to you?

My Favorite Flower

2010-08-31T16:57:57Z

Calla Lilies are by far my favorite type of flower. I love their elegant, sculptural quality, and as such, I often use them in photographs of my projects. They look great in an arrangement as well as in individual bud vases. I was at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston yesterday evening and just flipped over the extraordinary Calla Lily display in the lobby as well as another beautiful one in the Bristol Restaurant. Created by Winston Flowers, these arrangements are works of art. I just couldn’t walk by them without snapping a couple of photos.

Fashionistas Take Note

2010-08-27T20:31:17Z

When it comes to fashion, Boston has never had the reputation for being up with the trends. However, just like Boston’s design renaissance that I wrote about in an earlier post (see Design Boston), the fashion scene in the Hub is also heating up. As a result, sources have been popping up to keep us all informed about what’s new and exciting. The popular blog, New Brahmin, is one place to go to seek out fashion, style and shopping news in the Boston area.

New Brahmin’s founder, Liana Peterson, feels that Boston has some great fashion stories to tell. Her mission is to bring the latest in style news, beauty trends and retailer information to Boston trendsetters. Recent posts featured a private sale at Cynthia Rowley, a profile of Reiss’s General Manager Kimberly Rajotte and a fall fashion forecast for men. Daily postings keep content fresh and ever changing.

So, for interior design advice, stick with me! For fashion and beauty advice, check out New Brahmin!

Editorial Shuffle

2010-08-26T12:38:25Z

For all of us who love reading national shelter magazines, the past several years have brought about many changes. The sluggish economy, among other factors, has resulted in the demise of many magazines including House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, Domino and O at Home. As a result, there has been a tremendous shuffle amongst magazine editors.

It all started when the venerable publishing house Conde Nast announced some major changes to their editorial staffs in April. Conde Nast named Stephen Drucker as editor-in-chief of Town&Country; Newell Turner as editor-in-chief of House Beautiful; and Dara Caponigro as editor-in-chief of Veranda. Mr. Drucker was previously the editor of House Beautiful.

Then long time Architectural Digest Editor Paige Rense Noland announced her retirement. The biggest news was when Conde Nast lured Elle Decor’s Editor in Chief, Margaret Russell, to Architectural Digest. Word in the media is that Conde Nast is banking on Ms. Russell to give Arch Digest a much needed overhaul.

The final piece of the editorial puzzle was placed this week when Michael Boodro was named as Ms. Russell’s successor at Elle Decor. The thought is that Mr. Boodro will keep the magazine on its current course. Elle Decor seems to be one of the few magazines that has thrived during the past couple of years.

It will be interesting to watch the changes the new editors will make. Will these surviving magazines prevail? Certainly, their strong influence is felt throughout the design world.

Bring the Outdoors in

2010-08-22T20:31:07Z

Most of us crave light and openness in our homes as well as a connection to the outdoors. There are various ways to achieve this – large windows, doors to the exterior, etc. One product that I came across creates the look of floor to ceiling “windows” – but in fact, they are actually door systems on overhead tracks that fold away or are on sliders. NanaWalls are a great way integrate the outdoors into your home. Their sleek design makes a strong architectural statement. In particular, the system works well where there are dramatic views or beautiful gardens. The folding system can create open widths of up to 36′ and the sliders have almost an unlimited opening capacity. Your walls can virtually disappear! This product is highly customizable and can be specified to work with the size and style of your home.

Color Forecasting

2010-08-20T20:57:30Z

In my work, I specifically avoid selecting colors based on what is “in” at the time and instead, I always encourage my clients to choose colors that they love and want to live with. Nevertheless, it’s hard to avoid all of the media hype about the color trends for the coming year, so . . . I do indulge and take notice! The fashion houses are showing bright colors and jewel tones, and these bright colors may work their way into the palettes of home design.

Here’s some strong evidence of brights hitting the stores, the runways and our homes.

The store windows at Louis Vuitton in Paris

Photo via The Accesserator

Pantone’s forecast for the 2011 bridal market

Phot credit Pantone

Color Consultant Maria Killam’s new living room – note the yellow sofa

Photo credit Color me Happy

A page from this month’s House Beautiful

Photo credit House Beautiful

Can you see incorporating these bright colors in your home? For those of you who are more partial to a neutral palette, you might consider using one (or two) of these colors in a small way as a fun accent (ie, for throw pillows, artwork, accessories). But, in my opinion, live with colors that YOU love!

A sneak preview of a newly completed project – a master bathroom renovation

2010-08-19T15:26:34Z

Of all of the areas in a home, I do believe that designing new bathrooms is my favorite. It’s quite a challenge to work within the parameters of a limited area and and create both beautiful and functional spaces to be used and enjoyed. There are so many extraordinary materials and plumbing fixtures and many luxury amenities to consider.

Here are some shots of a fabulous master bathroom that I recently completed. The clients had an outdated bathroom with a poor layout. The shower was tiny and the large (unused) soaking tub took up too much space. Their goals were to have a very large shower (with body sprays, rainheads, etc.) as well as a double sink vanity with a separate make up area. They wanted a very serene, spa- like environment.

By turning a walk in closet into a large shower, we were able to reconfigure the space to achieve the desired floor plan.

We used beautiful green glass tiles in various sizes from Waterworks halfway up the walls throughout the room as well as on the shower walls; Ann Sacks river stone was used on the shower floor. Large white Glassos tiles were used on the bathroom floor and Glassos slab material was used on the vanity tops, shower curb and seat. The walls above the white vanities were outfitted with alternating clear and sandblasted mirror.

Here are some snapshots of the space:

Sleek, contemporary and certainly spa-like! A success! Thank you to FBN Construction for a job well done.

Twin Farms

2010-08-19T12:49:29Z

By far the most amazing place that I’ve stayed at – for its accommodations, service, food, and wine – is Vermont’s Twin Farms. It received Zagat’s #1 Small Hotel in the US in 2009 (among many other distinguished awards as well) – and I can say, without hesitation, that it absolutely is deserving of this accolade. I have stayed there a number of times, most recently at the beginning of this month to celebrate a special anniversary with my husband.

The property is comprised of over three hundred acres of wildflower meadows, forests, gardens and private ponds. You have the choice of staying in either ten freestanding “cottages” or in the original farmhouse and lodge or in the newer farmhouse next to the pond.

This trip, we stayed in Meadow, one of the ten freestanding homes – each one individually thematically decorated. Nestled among a beautiful wildflower meadow, this house is made to look and feel like you are in Morocco. With a tented ceiling in both the main room and in the large bathroom, the many rugs lay on top of terra-cotta tile floors and beautiful mosaics frame the fireplace and other areas of the space. It’s just divine . . .

Here are some photos that I took during our visit:

Our cottage – Meadow – named as such because it’s literally in the middle of a meadow.

The gorgeous sitting room with beautiful mosaic tiles, comfortable furnishings, and a lovely fireplace.

The Moroccan inspired headboard – beautiful fabrics (and wonderful bedding)!

The whole room was adorned with a beautiful tented ceiling and a large, magnificent chandelier.

Fabulous soaking tub with windows on three sides – wonderful!

Another tented ceiling in the large bathroom – glorious to look up at from the tub!