Time for a new issue of Elle Decor to drool over. Here’s my favorite pictures from the current issue.

This is a cool column that Elle Decor does every issue: it focuses on one area of the house and pulls together examples of these spaces from previous issues.

I love books. I love shelving. I love the different ways you can mix books and decorative objects together on shelves. My parents are both librarians by training, so it’s no surprise that when I was a kid I turned my own book collection into a library (complete with checkout cards in inside pockets – remember those? – and library cards which I passed out to all my family members.)  I don’t follow the Dewey Decimal system in my own library, but I definitely group by subject matter. How would you find anything otherwise?  Color coding your books is a recent trend, and it can look great, but I like to find my books with minimal effort.

I think this feature shows a nice mix of traditional to contemporary libraries.   Notice how artwork is hung directly on the shelves in the bottom two photos.  

What a peaceful bedroom. I’m not always interested in leaving a room white, but this is a great example of how to do it well. Love the texture and color of those bedside lamps. Simple clean linens are unfussy. But it’s the photos over the bed that pull me in every time. I like that it’s a collection of images, and they are a nice size for that wall.

What a great kid’s room! The colors are bold but yet they don’t overwhelm since pattern is used to tie the colors together. The big basket with lacrosse sticks, golf clubs and hockey sticks is a great example of how to corral their gear. This basket was probably used for toys when they were younger and easily transitioned to gear as they picked up new hobbies.  Plus I love the transportation map on the wall! (I’ll never forget my background in transit planning.)

What a gorgeous kitchen. The palette is restrained and it floats like an island inside this massive Miami house.  The textured tile on the outside of the walls adds some interest and frames the kitchen. I really like the use of wood paneling on the back wall to break up the white cabinetry without using two finishes on the cabinets. And the toekick on the island is extra high and looks like it’s stainless steel, which is a neat touch you don’t notice at first.

Finally, I like the arrangement of artwork in this living room, which ties the color palette together (with that purple-pink-black painting).  I like the finish on the cabinets in the kitchen and the fun colorful rug they added which really adds fun personality to the space (in a non-permanent way). And how adorable is that dog bed?!

What shelter magazines do you read? Are their ones you’d like me to feature? Just wondering. Have a great weekend.

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So even though I don’t read every issue of MSL anymore, her annual Home Issue is a favorite of mine. And when I saw it mentioned on one of my favorite blogger’s blog (she was featured in ”100 Great Finds for Every Room of the House”) I popped out to Barnes & Noble to pick it up.  It’s not my favorite home issue to date, but it still has plenty of useful tips and good photography.

While I enjoy beautiful gardens, I leave the gardening work to my husband and mother.  However, I do have favorites in the garden, and sedum is a key one. I love the diversity of colors, textures and shapes sedum is available in.  They are often a key component in the mix of plants used on green roofs (roofs covered in plantings to absorb rainwater and minimize runoff).

I liked this layout with its mix of natural materials and clean lines. The brackets for the shelf would look too fussy if they weren’t paired with that rustic wood shelf.

Now this article filled with Martha’s advice on kitchen design and organization takes me to my happy place.  Drawers neatly organized by function. Cute containers to achieve proper containment and separation. AND kitchen tools?!  (My love of kitchen tools and gadgets comes from my mother. Do YOU have an angel food cake cutter? I do.) It’s too much goodness in one place. I just wish I had that many drawers to begin with!

This party layout is at the end of an article about the condo of Kevin Sharkey, the executive editorial director of decorating. The decorating of his condo has been chronicled in previous issues, and this is the grand culmination showcasing how it all came together. It looks nice, but I actually loved the party photos best. They have a great energy and lightheartedness that’s not often found in MSL party articles. An oreo cookie “cake”?  Ping pong is a condo filled with expensive furniture and large mirrors?  A faux frame drawn on a mirror? Love it. The balloons photo reminds me of the end of the movie 13 Going on 30. (There’s a large scale photo shoot for a magazine with balloons and good looking people smiling and having a good time.) 

Besides these articles there are also a number of helpful articles that you should be sure to check out. There’s a great feature on how to layout a large wall installation of personal photographs, with step by step instructions, “Walls That Talk.” If finding the right product to clean and repair all the different surfaces in your home is a struggle, be sure to read “Furniture First Aid.” 

Enjoy!

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It’s always the foreign Elle Decoration & Vogue Living magazines that get me to cave in (see my previous post if this comment makes no sense).

So here’s the Australia Vogue Living Before + After Special Issue I couldn’t resist.  These images literally grabbed my attention at the newsstand, and after reading the magazine they still stand out as my favorites, though I’ve certainly tabbed plenty of other great photos and ideas. Even the cover is a stand out. Love that plank style table with metal base and the orange painting.

I think trend inspiration boards are a great way to show how different pieces can be combined. I would love to have the wood shelving unit in the lower left corner (so classic and clean!) but what actually got my brain spinning was the rug.  Now I love a well-done global aesthetic mixed in with clean classic timeless pieces. But that rug is something I would normally not be drawn to for my own home.

But sitting at my bar counter reading the magazine it struck me how powerful that one piece could be in changing the style and vibe of a room.  I have a grey couch and pair of chairs in my living room similar to the color of the couch in the layout.  Switching out the white shag rug we have for this rug would give the room a whole new personality and really brighten up the space. These are the thoughts that keep me up at night dreaming of all the ways to tweak my home.

This hallway was transformed with these bookshelves lining one wall and a creative solution for hiding ventilation in the ceiling while providing lighting. 

I love the detail shot that shows that the shelves are actually made of thick plexiglass. Even the back of the unit is lined in frosted plexiglass, allowing light to flow from the kitchen into an otherwise dark hallway.  Plus you wouldn’t have to worry about little hands accidentially breaking all those shelves (since they aren’t glass).

This is about a less obvious part of design and architecture: the experience of moving through a space. Just like in public spaces, as one looks through a space one needs something to focus on in the distance.  The visual balance of the sculpture, sofa, artwork and open space is wonderful in this photo. And the shadows from those amazing windows makes me want to lay on the floor in the warmth of the sun and breathe in and out in peace (I may be spending too much time with my cats).

The homeowners and architect were inspired by a book on Japanese gardens.  This influence is clearly visible in the window shutters filtering light and creating framed views. Wood is treated with both simplicity and reverence in this room. Notice there is no art on the walls because the details of the architecture and furniture are art and anything more would be a distraction and clutter the view.

Finally, what struck me about this kitchen is the use of a large format rectangular marble tile for the backsplash. They consistently used the same marble on the countertops (in a nice chunky profile), on the table serving as an island (a thin profile), and then on the backsplash. Using a slab for the backsplash works well and looks beautiful. Using a marble subway tile is more affordable and still gets the look. But this large tile is something I haven’t seen before and I really like the modern feel it creates.

Alright, those are my favorites from this special issue. These foreign magazines tend to cost more than the domestic magazines, but like a fine cheese, it’s a different experience that’s worth the $$ to me as a special treat.  Which makes me wonder: what is the special treat you’re willing to spend more for?  Let me know in the comments section. Upgrading your cable package just for a few weeks or months for “Mad Men” or the Tour de France?  Great olives?  The $70 make up brush that performs in a way no Target brush ever could?

I’m really curious now!

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Here is my confession (for those who didn’t already know this about me): I am a magazine addict. It is so difficult to walk past the racks of shiny new glossy magazines and resist their siren call. So you can imagine how difficult it is to hold out at an airport with all that time to kill before my flight!

To help my willpower and wallet (or not, depending on how you look at it) I subscribe to a lot of magazines. The rationale is that it’s cheaper to pay a reduced fee to have all the issues magically appear in my mailbox each month than to sporatically buy 3 or 4 issues a year at the bookstore/Target/Walgreens, etc.   Then when I’m tempted buy a glossy magazine with pretty pictures promising me new design inspiration or the best burger joints in town, I can remind myself in my head that I have stacks of magazines at home waiting patiently for my attention.  Usually that’s enough to help me walk away.

But then the flip side of that is that I do literally have stacks of magazines to be read each month. I get through most of them rather efficiently each month, but the design magazines always seem to have to wait a couple of months to get my attention.  So when a new issue of House Beautiful arrived today I had a moment of joy when I spotted it’s bright, colorful cover amongst the pile of boring mail.  Which was quickly followed by dread as I realized it would be ages before I got around to actually reading each article (skimming does not count for me). 

Then I had a moment of brilliance.  I should start a recurring column here that features my 3-5 favorite pages from the newest design magazine, which I will post THE DAY IT ARRIVES.  Now do you see the brilliance?  This will force me to stop, flip through the issue, and find great content to share with you while it’s still on the news stands and accessible.    Since so many great design magazines have been forced to shut their doors in the past 2 years (House & Garden, Domino, Cottage Living, Southern Accents, Metropolitan Home - the design magazine I discovered at age 15 that got me hooked in the first place, etc.) it’s more important than ever to support the remaining design magazines.  So keep an eye out for each new post since you never know what day I’ll get a new delivery of design inspiration in the mail.  And if I cave in and fall for a gorgeous magazine at the book store, I will post that too (my weakness will be a gift to you).

I hope you all enjoy this new project along with me. 

So here are the images that grabbed my eye in the September 2010 issue of House Beautiful:

Like I’ve mentioned in the past, a small bathroom can handle a bold wallpaper. I love how this marbleized paper was mixed with a 1940s French metal mirror and balanced by the paneled white walls and vintage marble sink.

The breezy, worn quality of this room is so peaceful. The texture of the chunky sisal rug against wood floors, old metal and worn wood is so visually interesting even though it’s a very monotone palette.

What caught my eye in this photo is the quatrefoil mirror over the bed. This would not be nearly as eye-catching if the designer hadn’t framed the mirror is a slightly darker paint color than the main wall color, and further highlighted it with a loose mural of ivy in off-white around the darker paint color.   Not to mention the piles of books at the foot of the bed look so inviting in this cozy room.

What a bright cheerful room! I have always loved apple green and chocolate brown, and the designer handled these earthy tones with such a light hand that they almost feel breezy. All the natural light pouring into the space doesn’t hurt either.  Don’t miss the free form pattern of lily pads and flowers painted on the white floors. A bold but fun choice.

Finally, I always think it’s fun to see how people really live. So this profile of designers and the sofas they own and how they live in them is fun.  I think the black couch at the bottom looks just like one of Alexander Wang’s chairs in the Black & White color palette post.  I love the high back and sides of the banquette in Liz O’Brien’s office with those colorful pillows. I sat in a off-white sofa upholstered in a fabric like sheep fur with a high back and arms in a showroom in Chicago 3 years ago and I still fantasize about it.  There’s even a sofa that was originally from Crate & Barrel that was reinvented through reupholstery (I hope you don’t have to learn that lesson yourself: there is a reason some sofas cost more and last longer.) 

“Buy the best and you’ll only cry once.”

- interior designer Miles Redd

Now go pick up your own copy of House Beautiful and find your favorite images!  

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So here are some of my favorite black and white rooms. I tried to find spaces that only used those two colors. It’s interesting to see how often people choose these colors for their kitchens and bathrooms and how well these colors work in both traditional and contemporary rooms. 

This palette works well in any room of the house, even outdoors.

Alexander Wang, a successful product designer/artist, who tragically lost his life earlier this year (in what some believe was the result of his sleep disorder), created playful spaces with a unique mix of textures and forms in his loft in NYC (upper right picture).  I love the black trim around the windows in the upper right photo. It’s a trend that’s been emerging over the past couple of years and it can really change the feel of a space.

The white on black paneling on the lower right photo adds a great graphic element.  Most people would be terrified to have black walls, so they have guts.

The desk at right is another Alexander Wang piece. What an office that would make!  All the other rooms have dark walls, but all of the white trim, artwork, magazines and other design elements create balance to temper the darkness. The dining room at the bottom has classic bones and proportions, but mixing in the contemporary chairs and art hanging over the table keeps it young and fresh.

This final group showcases the power of wallpaper.  The graphic nature of these wallcoverings adds instant personality to each room.  The background in the dining room in the middle of the top row is actually a wall of patterned curtains with a valance above, but it creates the same type of effect with such a solid wall of pattern.    Powder rooms is a great place to experiment with bold colors and patterns since we spend so little time in them and they are small enough that no pattern will seem to go on and on.  My favorite room is the  dining room with the wall covering of a forest in black and white.  I love the juxtaposition of it with the traditional moldings and chair rail and the completely funky dripping chandelier off a natural branch style form. And the table settings in black are so minimal and modern. Brilliant mix.

I love color. But the restraint of a limited color palette can push you in new directions that can be a fun challenge. Remember to include a variety of textures and shiny and matte surfaces.  The eye needs visual variety, and if it’s not through color, make sure it gets it through textures and different tones.

Could you live with even ONE black and white room?  Which room would it be?

 Photo Credits:

1. Kitchen by In Search Of

2. Kitchen by Kate Hume of Birdman Furniture Company

3. NY Times article on Universal Design, 2-20-09

4. Kitchen by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design via DesignSponge, 12-21-09

5. Backyard by Commune Design

6. Bathroom by Kjaer8 via DesignSponge, 11-09

7. Knack office

8. Unknown

9. Alexander Wang in his apartment, NY Times

10. Unknown

11. Room by Gal Nauer

12. Knack foyer

13. Living Room by Color Theory

14. Alexander Wang’s desk, NY Times

15. Knack living room

16. Dining Room by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design via DesignSponge, 12-21-09

17. Bathroom by Purple Design

18. Dining Room by owners of Maison 24

19. Fireplace wall with wallpaper by Jocelyn Warner

20. Dining Room with forest wall covering by Applied Image

Have you ever tried to find a light fixture and felt overwhelmed by all of the options out there?  Well imagine having access to every lighting catalog out there, and then try not to hyperventilate.

That’s why it is so important to have a great lighting team to work with that knows every catalog they have and where they are most likely to find that fixture you have in your mind but aren’t sure really exists.  My favorite local resources (in alphabetical order) are CitiLights Lighting (across from the Basilica in downtown Minneapolis), Filament Lighting (on Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park), and Lappin Lighting (in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis).   They all have great staff that know their products and are fun to work with.

But sometimes you see a light fixture in a magazine and you just know it’s the one. You start daydreaming about how it would totally transform that boring front hall.  Often lighting ends up being the last thing we select on a project so that it fits well with all the other players in the room. But sometimes a fixture is so special you just have to go for it and build the room around it.

When I saw these gorgeous photos in Elle Decor recently I had one of those daydream moments.  The photography shows off these fixtures so beautifully and it’s rare that you get to see how they cast light in a pure setting like this.  But which one to pick?  I’m a kid in a donut shop who can’t just pick JUST ONE thing (candy is nice and all, but there are so many yummy types of donuts, scones and croissants!)

Drool. I  love how it pops against that dark background! The modern asymmetrical shape could work as an unexpected touch to make a traditional room feel fresh.

Not usually my style, but it’s a fun spin on a chandelier with a more casual vibe.

Hello gorgeous! I love the Moroccan vibe of the top light. And is it just me, or does the bottom light remind you of a donut (in a really good way)? 

Clean, simple and chic. Thomas O’Brien gets it right again (the clip on desk lamp at the start of this post is another of his designs).

Aren’t the patterns on the wall and floor amazing?  Think how magical these shadows would look in a dining room or bedroom at night. 

Sources: All photos from Elle Decor September 2009.

Lighting Sources: Visual Comfort, Matter, Currey & Co., Niche Modern, Visual Comfort, Oly, IKEA, and Moooi.

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