Category Archives: Rooms

March 12, 2009 · 3:57 am

Montage: Saarinen Pedestal Tables

knollThe Eero Saarinen pedestal table may be the purest form of perfection in furniture. It’s sleek, simple, and absolutely chic. Seemingly so easy to replicate, yet only an original, preferably in white with a white marble top, will do. (Though I’d take a rosewood one too. OK, I’d probably take any if offered.)

According to Design Within Reach, in a 1956 Time magazine cover story, Eero Saarinen said he was designing a collection to “clear up the slum of legs in the U.S. home.” Later that year, he introduced his Pedestal Table and Tulip™ Chair Collection, which is manufactured by Knoll. Talk about accomplishing your goal.

beacon-drIt sells for $2,747, so my dining room won’t be getting one any time soon. I do, however, already own a pedestal dining table, and it’s quite nice. I’d even say my cherry Charles Shackleton pedestal table is a well-made beauty; it’s just not as sleek or as modern as I’d like. What’s a girl (on a budget) to do?

I am thinking of swapping out the somewhat rustic, handmade Charles Shackleton Cottage Side Chairs for a more contemporary look, perhaps in green. The boys’ Stokke Tripp Trapp chairs look cute around the table, I think. So maybe a few curvy grown up chairs, like the West Elm Scoop Back Chair in wheatgrass (just $79!) can join them. I flirted with the idea of the Jonathan Adler Chippendale Chair in Juicy Green ($550). Ever mindful of costs (hee hee) I started browsing ebay for similar ones I could have refinished. But my husband informed me, via a post on this blog, that he detests the style. What’s a girl (with a husband) to do?

Answer: Whatever she wants! Just kidding. Or not. Stay tuned . . . And, if you have any ideas for chairs that would work with my table, let me know!

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West Elm Scoop Back | Jonathan Adler Chippendale

Meanwhile, here is a sampling of Saarinen dining schemes to get me in the mix and match mood. Notice its versatility – the look is amazing no matter what style chair it’s paired with.

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Saarinen photos: unidentified source; House Beautiful; Jonathan Adler; Skona Hem; Sara Bengur from the Kip’s Bay Showhouse 2008; Antik & Loppis; Domino; Domino; Living Etc.; Domino; unidentified source; Daniel M. Pafford; Domino; unidentified source; Eric Roth Photography; unidentified source; unidentified source.

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March 10, 2009 · 3:08 pm

Montage: Violet Interiors

ed-apri“Violet, you’re turning violet, Violet,” has always been one of my favorite lines from a movie. The sentiment is certainly fitting this season, as rosy purples, sweet lavenders, and deep aubergines persist in decidedly violet décors. I’m not a big pink person, and an overly obvious lavender feels a tad treacly, but violet, oh violet. Although violet was declared the new “it” color last year, Elle Decor is certainly still smitten (newest issue – April 2009 – on the left). And so am I.

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Photos: The Style Files, Katz residence, Domino, Jeff Andrews, Skona Hem, Skona Hem, Kaite Ridder, The Style Files, Apartment Therapy, Cookie, Living Etc., Living Etc., NEA, Apartment Therapy, Katie Ridder, Domino, Domino, Living Etc., Domino, Living Etc., Apartment Therapy, Living Etc., Sara Story, Living Etc., Apartment Therapy, Living Etc., Eric Roth Photograpy, Domino, Apartment Therapy, Domino, Domino, Domino, Design Your Wall, The Style Files, The Style Files, Verve Designer Collections.

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March 7, 2009 · 9:45 pm

Montage: Zebras

I’m not the biggest fan of the animal print, but I must admit that these zebra print patterns achieve a certain pop. Jonathan Adler lurves zebra – three of these rooms are his designs. Two are boutique hotels designed by Kelly Wearstler. Mostly the poor guy’s skin is found on the floor, but it occasionally makes an appearance on upholstery. I like the zebra paired with pink, even if it’s reminiscent of the Good & Plenty. (Are those still around?) My favorite is the gray drapery next to the desk with the Chinese Chippendale chair – so subtle. Ashley Whittaker’s blue zebra print room is anything but subtle, and made quite the splash in Domino. It’s Rose Cummings’ Zebrine, the red version of which I actually featured in “Cover Ups,” the first piece I ever did for the Globe magazine.

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Photos: Viceroy Palm Springs Hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler, Eric Roth Photography, Domino, Shelly Riehl David, Erin Gates, House Beautiful, Wendy Blount, Jonathan Adler, The Tides South Beach designed by Kelly Wearstler, Palmer Weiss, Jenna Lyons’ dressing room, Katie Ridder, Nate Berkus, Domino, Margaret Ann McEver, Jonathan Adler, House Beautiful, Ashley Whittaker in Domino, Apartment Therapy, Jonathan Adler, Domino, House Beautiful, Living Etc., Ashley Whittaker, Sara Story, Domino, Domino, Domino, Domino.

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March 6, 2009 · 2:26 pm

Design Diary: Hutker Architects

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Tomorrow I’m taking the ferry from Wood’s Hole to the Martha’s Vineyard. Like most little jaunts these days, the day trip is for an assignment. Last summer I went to Martha’s Vineyard for the first time. (Still haven’t been to Nantucket.) Brooke at the Globe magazine (who’s last day was Friday – I miss you Brooke!) asked me to write a piece (“Everything Is Illuminated”) about a guest house built by Hutker Architects. The homeowners needed extra space so their kids could visit with their families. Although it lacks the main house’s spectacular view of the Aquinnah Lighthouse, it’s a great space, with lots of Shaker wood cabinetry, Mission furniture, a big stone fireplace, and a pathway that leads up, over the house and down again on the other (water) side.

Photos: Brian Vanden Brink.

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March 6, 2009 · 3:20 am

Montage: Adler Bamboos. Others Too.

In order to redeem myself, or at least prove that bamboo really is a style statement worth making, I’ve collected some chic examples, including two rooms designed by Jonathan Adler. I so love his lime Chinese Chippendale chairs. I think they’d be great in my dining room. A lot of these faux bamboo pieces have become really trendy, thanks to Kelly Wearstler and her dedicated followers of the Hollywood Regency style. Maybe too trendy?

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If you’ve decided you love the look, here are a few fab finds.

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Rooms: Jonathan Adler, Jonathan Adler, unidentified Boston area designer, Domino, Erin Gates, unidentified, Architectural Digest, Urban Source Chicago.

Furniture: Pieces, Pieces, Jonathan Adler, Main Street Fine Art & Antiques, Design Your Walls, Williams Sonoma Home.

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