House of Windsor

Have any of you gotten to visit Veranda's House of Windsor yet? It's located in LA so Angelenos have a leg up on the rest of us. It just opened and doesn't close until July 17 so be sure to get out there if you are in the area. It looks like there are lots of fun events on the docket!

In case you haven't heard about it yet, the House of Windsor is a supercharged designer showhouse that benefits Children’s Action Network and P.S. ARTS. Besides the lovely and talented Windsor Smith, the designer list includes hot shots such as Candace Barnes, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Peter Dunham, Richard Hallberg, and Kathryn Ireland.

From the photos I've seen so far on Windsor Smith's Facebook page, I'm loving the kitchen best which seems fitting given that Windsor herself designed it!

Photo via Veranda

WS also did this space, which I assume is the entry...

Photo via Veranda

Not sure who designed this room, but the floorplan shown below, it might be Peter Dunham's...

Photo via Veranda

This is the Screening/Game room, designed by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard...

Photo via Veranda

What do you think so far? I'm certainly excited to see more photos!

Ode to Windsor

I have a major design crush on Windsor Smith. I love that she applies a classic, feminine sensibility to her projects, yet always manages to keep the spaces fresh and modern. As you look through some of the shots from her portfolio below, each room looks pretty traditional at first glance, but when you start honing in on the elements that make up the space, you'll find a few exciting twists. Once you pick up on those nuances, it becomes obvious that each project is incredibly unique and that she doesn't take interior design (or herself) too seriously...which is the key to creating livable, enjoyable homes.

The fact that Windsor is ready and willing to create comfortable, usable rooms is evidenced by her own LA home (as seen in House Beautiful). She accommodated a music room (of the electric guitar variety) and opted to transform a formal living room into a game room. Of course, it's no stuffy, antique-backgammon-table type of game room; it's a fun, real-life room where her teenage sons can hang out and play ping pong on a bright blue table.

I just love her work and think she seems like a really cool person too. Until I have a chance to report on the latter part of that sentence, please enjoy the following selections from her portfolio and the Inspiration Gallery found on the Windsor Smith Room in a Box site:

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith as seen in House Beautiful

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith

Via Windsor Smith

Via Rue Magazine

I totally adore this chair from the Windsor Smith Home Collection...as you might have noticed, it is featured in the two photos above.

Audrey Slipper Chair - Windsor Smith Home Collection

Via Windsor Smith

Via Rue Magazine

She is such a talent. Besides creating comfortable and elegant spaces, perhaps her knack for mixing styles and colors so beautifully is her greatest talent. The combination of the two is certainly what makes her one of the best in the business!

Any favorite rooms in the bunch? If you like what you've seen here, take a look at her exquisite furniture line and fabric collection. As you might have noticed from previous posts (like my Chair Hall of Fame), I'm a huge fan of nearly every piece of furniture!

Framing Options: Part 3

Here is the last and final frame option that I chose from Larson-Juhl, it's a sleek white style called Gallery One (324941).  I paired it with a few quasi-traditional furniture items and some bold rugs. The frame is shown hanging against two super different wall colors, the first is a soft gray by Sherwin-Williams called Front Porch (7651) and the second is a vibrant magenta also by Shewin-Williams called Valentine (6587).

Windsor Smith Regency Occasional Settee

Jayson Home & Garden Oliver Ottoman

Jasyon Home & Garden Eldridge Lamp

High Fashion Home Shi Shi Table

Williams-Sonoma Home Chelsea Wing Chair

Baker Regency Chair

ABC Carpet Color Reform Rug

ABC Carpet Color Reform Rug

The white frame looks really fresh with the painting don't you think? Do you like one of these rugs better than the other? What about the wall colors?

In case you missed yesterday's posts about the artwork and the artist, the piece is a huge original mixed media by Diana Delgado via Ugallery. With the help of Larson-Juhl's nifty frame viewer, I played with a few different frames and room scenarios to illustrate how framing can make a huge impact on how artwork is integrated into a space.

Chair Hall of Fame - Final Installment

Happy Friday everyone! Here's a final set of delightful chairs to send you off for the weekend. I tried hard to find some affordable options to include, but alas, not many were worthy of being inducted into my Hall of Fame. Chairs are like shoes to me...the cheap ones are rarely satisfactory in terms of form and function and the premium (aka expensive) ones often look better and will last for decades. I'm happy with bargain buys in many instances, but with chairs (and shoes) high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship make it worth the extra expense. Unfortunately this preference is yet another instance of my champagne taste on a beer budget!

21) Plantation Crown Chair

22) Layla Grayce Library Chair

23) Jayson Home & Garden Byron Chair

24) Layla Grayce Oly Studio Tobias Chair

25) Layla Grayce Kenton Relax Chair

26) Jayson Home & Garden Bellington Wing Chair

27) Williams-Sonoma Home Geoffrey Chair

28) Layla Grayce Oly Studio Elliot Caned Chair

29) Windsor Smith Harlow Tufted Slipper Chair

30) Z Gallerie Soho Chair

Are you tired of all of this chair talk yet? I apologize if you are. Sadly, I could rattle on about the topic forever...but I promise that I won't!

Chair Hall of Fame

I've spent lots of time shopping for chairs lately...mostly for other people, but it's hard to avoid picking favorites of my own, even if they don't fit into the project at hand. I can't help but obsess over some of them. Honestly, if I had tons of money, I'd probably become a chair hoarder!

Anyhow, seeing as there are so many fabulous chairs out there, I started tracking my favorites and now keep a file of "Top Chairs."  The file has gotten pretty full and I wanted to start sharing my picks before the list becomes unmanageable. Right now, just over 30 beauties have made the cut, so I'll dose it out to you in three installments. Enjoy!

1) Woodson & Rummerfield™ Beverlywood Chair

2) Plantation Design King Chair

3) High Fashion Home Wendy Chair

4) Pieces Tufted Arm Chair (sold as pair)

5) Z Gallerie Oscar Chair and 1/2

6) Williams-Sonoma Home Grayson Chair

7) Windsor Smith Directoire Chair

8) Williams-Sonoma Home Chelsea Wing Chair

9) High Fashion Home Roman Chair

10) Windsor Smith Samantha Scroll Arm Chair 

If someone were to give me two from these ten (without any budget restrictions, of course) then I'd have to go with #1 and #7. Do you like any of the above?

Here is more #7 Directoire Chair action...I don't usually like leather chairs, but there's something about this one that gets me. The style is perfectly balanced between being masculine and feminine.

Image via Windsor Smith

Not Quite a Sofa

I'm going to change things up in our living room...more specifically, the area in front of the fireplace needs to be reworked. I'm not happy with it, so I've decided to sell the linen settee and the silk striped chair and start over. The scroll armed chair is going to get reupholstered and the rest is to be determined. Obviously, I'll want at least one other seating piece and I don't want a sofa since there are already two in the same room. So, a chaise lounge or an oversized bench might work.

I've been on the prowl for just the right piece for many moons and there are plenty of options. After seeing the below conversation sofa from the J. Crew Collection store last year, I'm pretty obsessed with the idea of getting a Tête-à-Tête style...not only does it look amazing, it would also tie the two halves of the room together if it faced the fireplace. Getting the size right is the tricky part in my situation and I'm afraid it could be awkward in terms of function. This is a situation when I wish "trying on" a piece of furniture was possible!

via Lonny

Anyhow, here are some of the best I've seen. Keep in mind that the colors shown aren't necessarily what I'd choose...I'm always limited to the images I can grab from the site. As usual, some are way beyond my budget, but they are still fun to ogle over!

Edward Wormley Tête-à-Tête Sofa - 1st Dibs

Lampert - Jonathan Adler

 

Vintage Tête-à-Tête Chair - Jayson Home and Garden via 1st Dibs

Double Chaise - Lee Industries

X Bench - Plantation

Hutton Chaise - Room & Board

Bench - Lee Industries

Oly Studio Jonathan Lounge

Mark Chaise - Plantation Design

De'Wolf Double Chaise - Windsor Smith

Wilshire Settee - Williams-Sonoma Home

Clermont Daybed - Cisco Brothers

Presidio Settee - Williams-Sonoma Home

H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Chaise - 1st Dibs

Pauline Chaise - Z Gallerie

Any favorites?

The Wonderful World of Cheap Fabric

I love fabric...more specifically, I love patterned fabric. In small doses through pillows, curtains, and lampshades, it's such an easy way to make a room modern and fresh. More often than not, the patterned fabric I lust after is insanely expensive (i.e. KWID and Windsor Smith).

So, I was elated to find Premier Fabrics - a place with great selection and exceptional prices. Most styles are $8-10 per yard!

This small bench -- formerly the property of my grandmother Evelynn -- needs a little facelift. It's just might be getting lacquered and dressed up with one of the fabrics below.