Design Diary: Kristin Gaughan Designs a Bachelor Pad

My newest column for Stuff Magazine came out last week. It’s the Guy Issue, so the piece is about a guy’s guy. The hed pretty much says it all: “How does a Harley-Davidson kind of guy channel his feminine side? Through an interior designer, of course.” It’s a fun read, and garnered quite the comments at the end. Here are some additional pictures and some extra details.

MARK RIGGS IN HIS NEWLY DESIGNED LIVING ROOM

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Mark’s a VP at a software company in Cambridge. His place is 2,500 square feet is in the South End. He initially tried to decorate on his own, but didn’t like the result. When he met Kristin Gaughan of Urban Living Studio he hired her to reinvent the space. The goal? To make it a refuge for a single guy who’s always on the go, but comfortable and approachable enough for a woman to snuggle in, and maybe whip something up in the kitchen, were she so inclined.

If you scroll down you can see some before pictures. As, you can see, the fireplace wall was completely re-vamped. Kristin handpicked the granite surround to match the countertop of the new island in the kitchen. No bachelor pad is complete without an oversize TV. This one’s 62-inches and swivels every which way. Below it is a speaker around which she designed a custom flange for a streamlined effect. The stereo equipment (all Bang & Olufsen) is tucked into a built-in cabinet on the far side of the fireplace wall. Of course, the music and television are controlled by remote, but so are the skylight shades, the overhead fan, and the fireplace. Dude!

guy eamesLove the Eames lounge atop the cowhide rug. Light pours in through the window, making this a favorite spot for after work relaxation (when it’s too cold for the deck, that is).

BEFORE PICTURES

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KITCHEN – AFTER

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Not sure who this guy is in the kitchen, so never mind him. But didn’t Kristin do an amazing job with the space? She pulled down those awful top cabinets, which immediately opened things up. The island was reworked into a longer, sleeker shape and topped with honed granite. She replaced the exposed brick with bisque subway tile, and added stainless steel shelving. The bottom cabinetry was retained to cut costs, and the fridge too. Kristin reclaims what she can, but brings it to the next level.

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Mark asked Kristin to outfit his kitchen in true chef style. The Wolf range (love the red knobs, nice choice Kirstin!), the espresso maker, wine cooler, Shun knives, and oversize pepper mill do the trick. The freezer is stocked with vacuum-packed king salmon and yellow eye he catches with his brother in Alaska on their yearly fishing trips.

THE DECK

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Great view looking towards the Back Bay, of the Prudential and the Hancock.

Mark sits out there after work with a scotch and cigar.

BEDROOM

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guy BRI was impressed with how neatly the bed is made. Mark chose the bedding himself (in fact, he says Kristin isn’t a fan). She swapped the draperies for the tailored Roman shade. It’s not visible in the photo, but in addition to the second TV, there’s a gas fireplace in here too. The painting of the nude woman is a work he purchased in Paris. The small sculptures on the dresser are by a Mexican artist he stumbled upon while on vacation in Punta Mita. There’s also a painting of taxicabs in NYC and a cityscape of Rome. He brings home art (and clothing!) from his travels.

ARTmonday: Jed Devine

When I lived in NYC, back in my twenties (no, not in the twenties, my twenties, in the nineties), my then boyfriend and I began to collect photography. A friend of ours, whose dad had (has?) an outrageous photography collection, which includes Arbus and Mapplethorpe, pointed us to the small, well-respected Bonni Benrubi Gallery on the Upper East Side, just blocks from our apartment. (Today the gallery is at 41 East 57th Street.)

We popped in often on the weekends, poring over print after print in the flat files. One of my favorite artists was Jed Devine. I loved the spare white on white still lifes printed on Japanese rice paper that seemed so delicate, but that Bonni assured us were quite strong.  After much deliberating between bottles, colanders, and cups, we purchased Stacked Cups and had it framed in a simple semi-glossy white wood frame. I still own it; it now hangs in my Back Bay kitchen. And I still love it.

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Stacked Cups

jeddevine Pear and Colander

Pear and Colander (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

jeddevine Shaker House in Snow

Shaker House in Snow (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

jeddevine untitled, 2000 - 2002

untitled 2000 – 2002 (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

jeddevine Untitled, Ca. 1985

Untitled, Ca. 1985 (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

jed devine untitled, 2000 - 2002

Untitled 200 – 2002 (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

jed devine central park

Central Park series (Bonni Benrubi Gallery)

Shopping: 1st Dibs Saturday Sale

While the boys are out on Boston Common throwing baseballs, I thought I’d see what kind of “bargains” I could find on 1st Dibs’ Saturday Sale. Here’s what I turned up:

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1st Dibs Saturday Sale

Italian Rostrato’ Chandelier from the 1940’s in the style of Barovier, $3,000, reduced from $8,250; Ed Hardy, San Francisco.

Pair of Italian Art Deco Pulegoso’ Chandeliers from the 1930’s, made of milky hand-blown bubbled glass and clear glass, $18,750, reduced from $62,500; Ed Hardy, San Francisco.

Pair of Italian Club Chairs from the 1950’s in the style of Marco Zanuso, upholstered in ultra suede, $3,800 reduced from $4,60; Adesso, Pasadena, California.

Jere Tree Sculpture from the 1970’s, signed and dated, $550, reduced from $975; Flessas Design, New York City.

Mirrored and Gilt Dry Bar from the 1960’s, $1,900, reduced from $2,900; Pierre Anthony Galleries, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Set of 4 Ebonized Dining Chairs from the 1960’s with new white faux patent leather upholstery with chrome buttoning, $2,800, reduced from $3,600; The Antique and Artisan Center, Stamford, Connecticut.

Set of Four Iron Chairs in the style of Dubreuil, 20th century, works indoors or outdoors, $9,800 reduced from $12,000; Pierre Anthony Galleries, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Italian Gilt Iron Wheat Coffee Table from the 1960’s, $950, reduced from $1,650; Mid Century Antiques, Stamford, Connecticut.

Design Diary: Eric Roth’s Barn

Last summer I stopped by photographer Eric Roth‘s barn/studio on the North Shore for the profile “A Room Of His Own” in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine.

roth extPhoto: Eric Roth

It’s a real barn, 200-years-old, with a loft (where Russ and Mary, his assistants, work), and lots of junk (his word, not mine!) amidst the high tech equipment. Eric says, “Having a barn is a license to collect too much junk, and I have an endless stream of junk I can’t get rid of.” But there are also great vintage signs, furniture salvaged from churches, and all sorts of fun collections. Let’s take a peek.

flagThat’s Eric in the corner. “The barn has been my best friend for years. It’s always been my escape, even though it’s also my work.”

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booksPhoto: Eric Roth

An antique dentist’s cabinet.

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sled

Eric’s childhood sled. He grew up nearby, in Newton.

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camerasCameras acquired on ebay. Most don’t work. Eric says, “It looks like a press conference.”

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robotsPhoto: Eric Roth

Tin robot collection acquired on ebay.

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clocksPhoto: Eric Roth

This cabinet was salvaged from a Catholic church. I love the Gothic arch.

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essoPhoto: Eric Roth

Eric uses this Esso gas pump, found at an antiques fair in Topsfield, as a night light.

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signsPhoto: Eric Roth

The vintage signs came from his grandfather’s diner, the F&T in Kendall Square. Also, notice the blue stain glass window he added. It was salvaged from a church and purchased in Montpelier, Vermont.

Get the Look: Wallpaper in Ocean Hues

Ok, all of you sea and sky lovers, get yourself a wall of wonderful blues and greens in the most amazing patterns . . .

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Anderson Jazz Colelction Ogee Damask; Walnut Woodstock; Timorous Beasties; Tres Tintas Barcelona Amapola; Graham and Brown Monsoon Amelie; Graham and Brown Julien Macdonald Dazzle; Graham and Brown Basso and Brooke Chinoiserie; Graham and Brown Basso and Brooke Chain; Sandberg Marlene; Sandberg Neo; Sandberg Kaj; Sandberg Ebba; Sandberg Dino; Sandberg Claudia; Cavern Home Casa; Anderson Jazz Collection Star Flower; Walnut Wallpaper; Bodrum Eyes at Design Your Wall; Sum Underwater Bamboo; Studio Printworkds Recessed by Given Campbell; Flavor Paper Aster Space Palm; Flavor Paper Farmer’s Market; Cavern Home Navajo; Tres Tintas Barcelona Lineas; Second Hand Rose Flock 132; Second Hand Rose Novelty W-16; Second Hand Rose Mylar K-208; Designer’s Guild Kashima; Flavor Paper Sharp Descent; Flavor Paper Onda.

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