Fine Print: Erin Gates’ Elements of Style Book

Erin Gates sent me an advance copy of her new, very first design book, Elements of Style: Designing A Home & A Life. I’ve been browsing through it for the last couple of weeks, thoroughly enjoying the photos of the rooms she decorated for herself and clients, studying her style charts, and catching up on her life. The tone is easy, breezy, much like her blog, with plenty of personal tidbits interwoven through her design adventures and accomplishments.

Erin’s come a long way since I first met her, on assignment for Boston Globe Magazine in early 2009 after she sent me scouting shots of  the place she and Andrew rented in J.P. It landed her on the cover, and it’s still one of my favorite stories, not just because Erin and her house looked amazing (thanks Eric Roth for the excellent photos), but because Erin was full of enthusiasm and money saving tips.

Her blog and business have exploded and her design skills honed, while her excellent attitude and work ethic prevail. Congratulations Erin Gates!

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Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life by Erin Gates
Available October 7, 2014 (Simon & Schuster) $22.14

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Photo by Michael Partenio

Erin’s used this buffet over and again. She bought it for $75 at an estate sale and painted the inside turquoise (you can see that iteration in Erin’s place in Jamaica Plain, which I wrote about for Boston Globe Magazine, March 2009.) She went orange for the South End. Now it’s lined with malachite wallpaper.

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Photo by Michael J. Lee

This is my favorite room. I’ve long been a sucker for a library dining room with Saarinen table and a fireplace. The sheepskin rugs nestle perfectly into those acrylic chairs from IKEA. The client stuffed the fireplace with little logs, which add some rustic texture; plus the circles are an excellent contrast to the stripes on the rug.

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Photo by Michael Partenio

A sunroom with violet ikat cushions on barley twist chairs and Buddha on custom made brass base.

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Photo by Michael J. Lee

Love this cerulean blue wall behind the banquette upholstered in the ever popular Chiang Mai print by Schumacher. Those Cherner chairs work well with the fabric’s twisting design and earthy colors.

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Erin provides some charts with formulas for achieving different styles.

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Erin’s favorite paint colors. You’ll have to buy the book to get the exact names. Ok, I’ll give you one: Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue.

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Photo by Michael Partenio

I love how despite the graphic black & white rug and bedding, Erin’s guest room is totally feminine. Pale pink walls (Benjamin Moore Blanched Coral), a starburst mirror, and mirrored side tables will do that. Swiss dots + a boho throw + Nordic rug + Hollywood Regency glam. And somehow it all works.

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Photo by Michael J. Lee

This bedroom is interesting too, with its tufted headboard, chocolate brown linens, Asian-themed toile wallpaper and fretwork bookshelves, plus a leopard print bench.

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Photo by Sean Litchfield

Nursery with a black accent wall went viral on Pinterest.

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Photo by Michael J. Lee

Oh, this Madeline Weinrib rug again, this time in brown. It seems to work everywhere! (Tip: IKEA makes a black & white version.) I generally don’t like tan stone (only contractors do!) but Erin makes it work in this space where they’re stuck with it.

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 Photo by Sarah Winchester

Erin’s parents Connecticut home. I wrote all about her mom’s garden for Boston Globe Magazine, April 2013.

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Photo by Michael J. Lee

Erin and Andrew Gates with the doggies.

 

Design Diary: Boston Magazine’s Design Home 2013

Over the summer I worked on a big project that is now up and running— Boston magazine’s Design Home 2013. No, I didn’t decorate any rooms; I wrote the copy for the accompanying brochure, describing the furnishings and decor throughout the space. This year’s home is an expansive condo in The Concordia, a newly developed building right on the water on the North Shore, in Swampscott, Mass.

Design Home is open through Oct. 7. I hope those of you who are local will consider taking drive to see it, since all ticket proceeds ($25/person) benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. (Click here to purchase tickets. 

The 3,600+ square foot unit, done in ocean hues, is furnished with pieces from local businesses, including Landry & Arcari, Lucia Lighting, Didrik’s, Surroundings, Zimman’s, and others. Here’s a taste of what you’ll see, photographed by the ever present (and talented!) Michael J. Lee.

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Entry
Custom bench by 60nobscot; crystal fixture from Lucia Lighting.

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Kitchen
Wood Mode cabinetry by Family Kitchens; backsplash by Tile by Design.

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Dining Room
Place setting from Didriks.

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Deck
Barlow Tyrie outdoor furniture from Didriks.

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Master Bedroom
Barley twist bed and custom paisley bedding from Zimman’s.
Hand-knotted Turkmen rug from Landry & Arcari.

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Sitting Area

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Ladies Dressing Room
Cabinetry by California Closets; clothing from Irresistibles.

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Sleeping Nook
Trundle bed by Family Kitchens.

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Guest Suite
Furnishings, bedding, and accessories from Surroundings.

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Coastal View

All photographs by  Michael J. Lee

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ARTmonday: Photos of Girls At Play

If you follow ARTmonday you know I love atmospheric portraits of women. While I’ve blogged about a couple of wonderful photographers who concentrate on photographing children, namely their own, such as Winky Lewis and Kathleen Schwartz, I haven’t yet done a full post of images featuring kids.

In honor of summer, here are photographs of girls at play, including one I just spotted a few minutes ago on Facebook. So nice to have artistic friends! (Sorry Stephen Sheffield that I couldn’t include your guys. I love those FB pics; boys up next!) I love that in this post I was able to mix friends and colleagues with iconic superstars, along with a piece I bought from the SMFA sale last year.

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Kathleen Schwartz

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Andrea Tese

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Vladimir Arkhipov

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Sally Mann

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Michael J. Lee

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Julie Blackmon

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Joanna Tam

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Winky Lewis

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Richard Brocken

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Robert Knight

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Joanna Goddard

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Austris Jaudzems

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Sndeeon Studios

Design Diary: Jr. League Show House Boston

The 35th  Jr. League of Boston Show House in the Potter Estate in Newton closed on Sunday. I didn’t make it over to see it in person, but I rounded up a bunch of gorgeous photos and sketches. Many of the rooms were done by designers I’ve often collaborated with on stories for local publications. Many thanks to photographer Michael J. Lee for sending over a whole batch of images. If any other designers who participated in the show house have photos or sketches of their rooms, feel free to email them to me and I’ll happily add them here.

BATH  RETREAT

Design by Ana Donohue

Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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GUEST BATH

JTM INTERIORS BOSTON DESIGN MICHAEL LEE PHOTO

Design by Janet Marena, JTM Interiors

JTM INTERIORS BATHROOM DESIGN BOSTON

Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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THE BATHING ROOM

Design by Stephanie Rossi, Spazio Rosso

Photographs by Greg Premru

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LADY’S ROOM 

Design by Elizabeth Benedict

JR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE BOSTON 2012 ELIZABETH BENEDICT

Photographs by Michael J. Lee

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MASTER BEDROOM SUITE

JR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE BOSTON 2012 KRISTEN RIVOLI

Design by Kristen Rivoli

JR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE BOSTON 2012 KRISTEN RIVOLI

JR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE BOSTON 2012 KRISTEN RIVOLI

Photographs by Greg Premru

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KID’S ROOM

JR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE BOSTON 2102 ANDRA BIRKERTS

Design by Andra Birkerts

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GIRL’S BEDROOM

MALLY SKOK FABRIC WALLPAPER BOSTON SHOW HOUSE

Design by Mally Skok

Photographs by Eric Roth

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THE FOYER

JR LEAGUE NEWTON SHOW HOME

Design by Dianne Ramponi Interiors +  Susan Welsh Design

BOSTON INTERIOR DESIGNERS DIANNE RAMPONI SUE WELSH

Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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GUEST ROOM

HILARY BOVEY BOSTON INTERIOR DESIGNERS MICHAEL LEE

Design by Hilary Bovey, Bovey Steers Design Group
Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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POTTER’S ROOM

MARILYN MACLEOD BOSTON INTERIOR DESIGNER

Design by Marilyn Macleod, Lee Design
Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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LIBRARY

THEO & ISABELLA BOSTON INTERIOR DESIGN LIVING ROOM

Design by Theo & Isabella
Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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CONSERVATORY

Design by Gerald Pomeroy
Photograph by Michael J. Lee

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According to Wicked Local here are some details from two other Boston designer friends from whom I haven’t had a chance to get photos yet:

Paula and Kate McCusker of Theodore & Company converted the home’s former chapel into a blue and cream formal but relaxed living. They removed the old altar to expose a bay window for extra light. Artwork included a graphic black and white work by Picasso.

Kate Maloney Albiani designed an adorable nursery with tiny painted fairies on striped lavender walls. Details include double glass pulls on the built-ins, a poem made from old-fashioned reading cards, and a closet filled with tiny clothing.