Category Archives: . REGULAR FEATURES

Scheming: Meredith and Daniel’s Entry

FINAL  E N T R Y   SCHEME

Jonathan Adler “Greek Key” wallpaper in gray/white
Jonathan Adler  “Queen Anne” mirror in orange lacquer
Bungalow 5 “Odom” console in gray lacquer
George Nelson “Pear” lamp, YLighting

West Elm “Crescent” bench in whitewashed ash
Timorous Beasties “Butterflies” wallpaper in frost

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THE  P R O C E S S 

I started out by ordering swatches of about a dozen wallpapers. Some were great, others were unpleasant surprises. (Oversize metallic patterns on mylar—no thanks.) My favorite was Timorous Beasties “Thistle Superwide” in black on ivory; no surprise to those of you who read regularly.

Meredith wasn’t crazy about the more illustration-like choices, though eventually “Thistle” grew on her, and she asked about a less bold version.

I liked the idea of doing “Thistle Superwide” in gray on ivory, with Timorous Beasties “Birds’n’Bees” in the powder room. Neither one of us are huge bird fans, but the quality of the papers and the colors look beautiful together. Nevertheless, we decided to hold out for a swatch of the new “Butterflies” paper. We’re still waiting!

I stopped by Jonathan Adler on Newbury to take a look at some furniture and rugs. They had a wall with a console done in  “George“. Fab!

Cole and Sons “Hicks Hexagon”  |   Jonathan Adler “George”


Photo: Mikkel Vang for Domino

Then it hit me: David Hicks “Hexagon.”  It’s fresh, but timeless. Daniel liked the blue colorway, but Meredith preferred a more subtle pattern, so I put this together:

S C H E M E  1

Lights: West Elm “Polyhedron” – Sonneman “Castelli” – George Nelson “Pear Criss Cross” – Z Gallerie “Glo” – IKEA “Knappa”
Wallpaper: Ferm Living “Ribbed” –  Kreme “Chevron” – Jonathan Adler “Greek Key”
Consoles: West Elm “Source” – Bungalow 5 “Odom” – World’s Away “Noho”
(Meredith & Daniel’s own octagonal mirror)

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S C H E M E  2

Meredith loved the chevron and the Greek key papers, along with the simple gray lacquer console. Many of the pendants I had chosen only used 60-watt bulbs, so we went with a George Nelson; they’re great functionally, aesthetically, and budget-wise.  Then I added  a couple of other consoles that look pretty with the chevron paper.

Wallpaper: Kreme “Chevrons”
Light: George Nelson “Pear Criss Cross”
Consoles:  Bungalow 5 “Parsons” – Bungalow 5 “Marco” – Bungalow 5 “Odom”

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I also suggested a bench for around the corner, since there was plenty of room, and with a toddler, quite useful. Here’s the “Butterflies” paper that we’re still waiting to see in real life. Love the green; perhaps for the powder room?  Details for the consoles show the lacquered grasscloth finish and nailhead detailing.

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S C H E M E  3

The nailhead console was too short, the white too white (plus, no drawer), so the glossy gray lacquer it is. With a pale gray paper and the console’s simple silhouette, I was afraid the finished look wouldn’t make enough of an impact. Although we never discussed orange for anywhere in the apartment, I couldn’t resist adding this mirror. She loved it!  Yay! Now we need to find somewhere else to put the octagonal mirror.

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S C H E M E  3

And finally . . . 

Do you love it? We do!

I love the quirky silhouette of the mirror paired with the clean-lined console. Its curves, plus that of the classic modern pendant, provide contrast against the pale backdrop of the bold Greek Key pattern, while the shape of the console echoes it. And the orange and glossy gray colors really pop. Can’t wait to see it IRL!

MORE: Scheming: Meredith & Daniel’s Master Bedroom

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Filed under . REGULAR FEATURES, Home Accessories, Scheming, Shopping

ARTmonday: My Impressions from the Acela

I’ve taken a lot of trips to New York this spring. I always ride the Amtrak Acela from Back Bay Station, Boston. It’s a route I love. Rhode Island is picturesque, but I most look forward to seeing the Connecticut landscape.  As the little harbors of boats meld across the state line, we soon ramble by the pair of steel truss bridges that span the Connecticut River from Groton to New London. It’s the first recognizable reminder of college: drives to Mystic, dinner at Paul’s Pasta starting with the peanut butter pie. Then it’s past the New London City Pier, with the ferry docks, where we used to catch the first of a trio of ferries to the Hamptons, or the train to New York City. Then it’s onto the small towns. In Niantic, the tracks are basically on the beach. Soon we pull past Old Saybrook, a town of my childhood (I grew up in the next one over), where the train station has since been rehabilitated. Eventually we make it to New Haven, and then a whole other world of Fairfield County, right through the town where my in-laws live.

Inspired a bit by the memories, a bit by the almost industrial scenes interspersed with scenes, one after the next, of seaside charm, and a bit by my predilection for blurred photographic images, I pulled out my iPhone to see what I could capture. Mostly I used Instagram, though I didn’t always fuss with its editing options. These are the photos I think are most evocative. I’d love to know if you like any of them.

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Filed under . REGULAR FEATURES, Art, Art Monday

Style Muse: Fresh Faced, With Lipstick

These images of Gwyneth and Blake are perfectly polished summer looks. Sure, Blake’s got some serious pink lipstick going on, but her hair is tousled. Gwyn looks to be bare-faced, but her hair is silky and sleek. Both are balanced.

 

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Sunday Bouquet: Peony and Daisies on the Windowsill in Truro

StyleCarrot

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Saturday Say It: Summer Mantra

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Print by Mae Chevrette
$42, Etsy 

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Filed under . REGULAR FEATURES, Art, Saturday Say It