S. B. Long Interiors

Trend Spotting: Vermillion

2013-06-17T17:38:45Z

I’ve always loved vermillion—that vivid reddish orange hue—and have used it as an accent color in various projects. Lately, as I’ve been doing research and design on a Spanish Mission residence in Las Vegas, vermillion keeps popping up.

It’s not surprising, given that this color has an inherent modern feel to it, and it’s also typical in historic Hispanic design. Yet vermillion definitely seems to be trending right now. In 2012, this color seemed to come into focus on the runways as well as in the design world. The Pantone color of the year also happened to be Tangerine Tango, a soft red-orange tone that hints at the shade of a terracotta roof or tropical seashells.

I think vermillion works best as an accent in clothing and design to create something unexpected. It’s also interesting that vermillion shows up often in nature, from flowers to the irresistible hues of a summer sunset.

Here are a few inspiration shots of this invigorating color that I’ve collected:

Design

Fashion

Nature

Photo Credits

Design: 1. Kelly Wearstler via Instagram; 2. Venessa De Vargas via Houzz ; 3. 1stdibs.; 4. Ward-Young Architecture & Planning via Houzz; 5.Koyal Wholesale ; 6. Forbes ; 7-10 Susan Bednar Long; 11. Kelly Wearstler; 12. 1stdibs; 13. Chloe Warner via Houzz; 14. Elitis wallpaper; 15. Susan Bednar Long; 16. Rothko painting via Social History of Art

Fashion: 1.Hamilton Jewelers; 2. Chanel; 3. VictoriaBeckham-Austrialia.com ; 4. BestCelebrityDresses.com

Nature: 1. National Geographic Kids ; 2. Urban Jungles; 3. Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc, via Houzz ; 4. Fantom-XP.com

The post Trend Spotting: Vermillion appeared first on S. B. Long Interiors.

You May Also Like:

Trend Spotting at NYIGF: Rope and Burnished Metal Lately, all things nautical have consumed me. Perhaps this is...
Inspirations to Interiors: Caneel Bay Last month I shared snapshots from my trip to Caneel...
Dreaming in Turquoise While it’s true that I love turquoise in any season,...

Blending Styles: Modern and Traditional, Part II

2013-06-05T03:35:25Z

A few weeks ago, I posted about how I like to use both modern and traditional furnishings in the same space. These styles complement one another beautifully, and mixing them brings an element of surprise to a room.

Beyond blending furnishings from different eras, I also like to place modern furniture and fixtures in architecturally traditional settings. I’ll often use this strategy in older homes that have strong bones and might just need an update. It’s also a great way to bring sleekness to spaces with more ornate elements, such as heavily millworked walls or elaborate plaster detailing.

Below are a few of my favorite examples of how I’ve used this strategy in past projects:

For this New York City townhouse, I brought all modern furnishings into the traditionally mahogany paneled office. I integrated white & chrome file credenzas, two Antoine Proulx clean-lined desks, Eames and Breuer chairs, along with crisp chrome Ralph Lauren task lamps.

To balance the heavy Oak wood island and bar in this Greenwich, Connecticut, kitchen, I installed modern Hector Finch globe light fixtures, and kept the walls and countertops crisp white. The monochromatic scheme gives even traditional elements—such as the built-in cabinetry and display dishes—a modern feel.

Modern draperies, a teak credenza, and a variety of mid-century inspired furnishings (the lounge chair is upholstered in a bold, modern ikat print) help balance the traditional mantle, heavy crown and beamed ceiling in this Washington, Connecticut, living room.

Sometimes, blending modern and traditional is all about creating interesting juxtapositions. The beautiful French casement windows in this Washington,Connecticut, dining room contrast nicely with the modern Parsons style wood dining table, clean lined walnut arm chairs, white-leather-and-chrome bench, and David Weeks modern ceiling pendant.

I hope you find these images and ideas inspiring. I’ll be sharing more from upcoming and past projects, as well as new trends I’m loving, over the coming weeks!

The post Blending Styles: Modern and Traditional, Part II appeared first on S. B. Long Interiors.

You May Also Like:

Blending Styles: Modern and Traditional, Part I Throughout my design work, I’ve always been strongly attracted to...
Creating a Modern Traditional Home Library When designing a home library, it can be difficult to...
Before & After: Living Rooms A longtime client recently asked me to redesign her home...

Oasis in the City: Visiting The Highline

2013-05-29T15:15:14Z

On a recent trip to New York, I was able to visit The Highline, one of my favorite public spaces in the city. Although the park has only been open to the public since 2009, I’ve visited often. I never tire of this wonderful feature, so specific to New York. It’s one of those special places where I feel completely relaxed and gain a bit of solitude, even in the middle of bustling Manhattan.

One of the many interesting aspects of The Highline, which is actually built on a raised train track that overlooks the Hudson, is the way the landscape design blends seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. The park, which was a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Refro, was made to be accessible to the streets below, so there are multiple stairwells along the walkway. The walkway itself is built above much of the plants, which keeps visitors in the thick of the foliage without the risk of trampling the delicate undergrowth.

It’s interesting to see so much greenery surrounded by all the traffic and tall buildings. Piet Oudolf, the planting designer, used many native plants to the area, some of which were already growing on The Highline when it was still only a deserted train track. I love how the designers tucked artworks along the walkway and amongst the plants.

Here are a few images I took while walking back to the office from a client’s place downtown:

If you happen to visit The Highline, you must grab a snack on your way out at the Chelsea Market!

The post Oasis in the City: Visiting The Highline appeared first on S. B. Long Interiors.

You May Also Like:

My New Favorite Obsession: The Perot Museum Since moving to Dallas, I’ve cherished the opportunity to explore...
High Design: Sourcing at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair Each Spring I look forward to attending the International Contemporary...
Inspiration Abounds: New York’s High Line Autumn is magical in Manhattan and right now the city’s...

High Design: Sourcing at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair

2013-05-23T01:18:20Z

Each Spring I look forward to attending the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and this year was no exception. With over 500 exhibitors from around the world, ICFF is one of the best venues for spotting new trends in contemporary design. Visiting tends to be a little like an international sourcing trip, all conveniently housed in the Javits Convention Center.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to stroll through the booths. I was particularly taken with some of the lighting and smaller furnishings I saw. Below are a few of my favorite pieces:

I love these fun and modern feather lights from Vita. For each lamp, actual feathers are attached by hand to a paper core.

Pure femininity and architectural structure combine in this show-stopping, bronze chain-and-mesh Kelly Chandelier by Gabriel Scott. I like how timeless this piece looks; although it has a very modern feel, it could easily come from the Art Deco period, or even the 1980′s.

Fairtlough New York makes lovely handcrafted furniture. I adore this table, with its new take on clean lines and exotic skins.

Another favorite was this rustic, modern chest from Tucker Robbins. I’m consistently impressed with this company’s beautiful furniture line.

I also snapped these bold lanterns in the Tucker Robbins booth. Made of a rattan weave over rice paper, the lights feel very handmade yet sophisticated.

An unusual find were these sleek brass-and-stone cocktail tables by Dering Hall. Of course, on their own, they could also easily work as side tables.

I can’t wait to integrate some of these finds into future projects!

The post High Design: Sourcing at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair appeared first on S. B. Long Interiors.

You May Also Like:

ICFF Features Contemporary Design Exhibits S. B. Long Interiors had the pleasure of attending the...
Trend Spotting at NYIGF: Rope and Burnished Metal Lately, all things nautical have consumed me. Perhaps this is...
About Town: Preview Gala at the Dallas Art Fair I’ve been an artist all my life, exploring many mediums....

Floor to Ceiling: Inspiration from Washington DC

2013-05-15T19:35:51Z

Last week I accompanied my husband to Washington DC for his worldwide partner meeting. The trip provided the perfect opportunity for me to do a little research. Lately, I’ve been immersed in a project in Miami that has both classical and modern elements, so I found myself focusing on these sorts of architectural details in the places we went.

While in the capitol, I visited the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress, both of which contain beautiful examples of classical architecture, such as marble floors and soaring, arched ceilings. I was equally intrigued by the modern architecture and decorative elements of the east wing of the National Gallery of Art and Reagan National Airport (which we traveled in an out of).

I paid special attention to the ceilings and floors in each building, thinking about how I could incorporate some of what I saw into the Miami project.

Following are a few of my favorite shots from the trip.

National Gallery of Art

Library of Congress

Reagan National Airport

The post Floor to Ceiling: Inspiration from Washington DC appeared first on S. B. Long Interiors.

You May Also Like:

My New Favorite Obsession: The Perot Museum Since moving to Dallas, I’ve cherished the opportunity to explore...
Finding Inspiration: My New Houzz Account As a designer, I find inspiration comes from all corners...
Outdoor Inspiration: Architectural Gardens Since I love weaving clean lines and structural forms into...