Luxe London Apartment

Chic London Apartment

WOW! LOVE the starburst mirror.  LOVE the chandelier.  LOVE the yellow accents on the charcoal and black.  I also love the subtle layers of detail in the background that you do not notice at first.  The antiqued mirror wall behind the starburst mirror.  The double rings in the ceiling around the chandelier.  The wallcolour blending almost seamlessly with the carpet colour.

Hit of Brilliant Yellow repeated

HOW GREAT to reverse the scheme of the rest of the room and use the exact bold yellow on the chair and make the cushion the charcoal.  There is even a subtle repeat of geometrics – round lamps, round mirror, black square doors, square arms on the sofa, oval coffee table, oval curve of the chandelier arm and the great black scroll with oval curves on the wall above the chair.

Dining Room

HOW GREAT to use this same yellow as a feature wallpaper with the beautiful pattern in the dining room, while most of the rest of the space is neutral and has little pattern!

Master Bedroom

Again charcoal, but with a soft water gray-blue in wall colour and cushions.  Again, LOVE the mirror.  More great shapes — the curved legs on the table and stool, the semi-circle on the bench leg and the rectangular drawers on the beside tables.  The raindrop light fixtures hanging from an angled wall instead of table lamps is brilliant.

Bathroom

Another mirror on mirror, more gray in a natural texture with the glossy black granite counter and a modern faucet.

Kitchen

All photos Homes and Gardens.

Most Amazing Halloween Decor Tips

Cobwebs, Crows & Pumpkins

Floral Designer Lynne Woods is a master of delightful vignettes for Halloween.

Mantles & Coffee Tables are perfect places for a display

Cobwebs embroidered in white on a black table runner.  Layers of Halloween decor sprinkled throughout the living room.

A perfectly balanced arrangement

Original ideas of Lynne’s such as a framed black and white photo of witches on the mantle as tho’ they were relatives, a snowglobe and a skull elevated atop of a candleholder.  Note the triangle Lynne created by using items of varying heights.

Close up of branch decor

Go BIG — take one large, fantastic vase, fill with beautiful branches and hang or nestle autumn inspired and Halloween ornamentation.

A unique countertop display

For interest, a variety of elements is important in any display, but for it to be cohesive, repetition of some factors has great impact.  Colour (orange and black of course), crows and pumpkins are in almost each vignette… but then this Italian vase is unexpected, yet you find only one skull.  Choose what is repeated, choose what is unexpected and choose what mood you are creating.  These displays are whimsical, easily a scarier mood could be achieved by changing the mix of elements.

Look for unexpected places such as the chandelier to add decor

A whimsical black cat, an assortment of pumpkins and candles on a sideboard.

A special thank you to Lynne Woods for her talent, inspiration and visual delights for this post.

All photos by Sue Womersley.

Original ideas like Lynne's witches hat & broom parked in the entrance hall inspire.

Halloween decorating has grown immensely over the last few years and is second only Christmas.

Lynne@BluePoppyFlowers.com

Shades of French Gray

Louis XV Room - Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Cote d Azur

Shades of gray are timeless… classic.  In this magnificent Palais built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild from 1905 to 1912, several rooms are painted in varying shades of gray, and while our homes may not be this grand, we certainly could take colour inspiration home with us 100 years later.

Louis XV Room - Ephrussi de Rothschild Palais Cote d Azur

Louis XV Room ceiling detail - Eprussi de Rothschild Palais

Madame Ephrussi de Rothschild's Palais

Madame Ephrussi de Rothschild Palais Porcelain Room

It is not often that I wish I had my colour chips with me, but I used the white ticket as a reference.  It is also important to consider that the Cote d’Azur daylight is much warmer and brighter than ours in Western Canada.  This is a south facing room in the middle of October and our brightest day in July would not have the same quality of light.

Wall Colour comparison to white (Louis XV Room)

Wall and Trim paint comparison to white closer to window (Louis XV Room)

Door Colour comparison in filtered Mediterranean sunlight

All photos Sue Womersley

Country Holiday Decor

Cozy Christmas

Officially 2 months til Christmas, and here is a little visual inspiration for a festive season.  I am offering a unique seasonal decorating service by combining my talents with those of floral designer Lynne Woods.  All the trimmings or A la Carte – nature inspired Winter Wonderland to Glamourous Modern Luxe so you can relax and enjoy the festivites.

Star

Red Dining Room

Rustic Candle Display

Modern Country

Country Florals

Red and Linen Stockings

Kraft Paper Wrapping and Red Ribbon

White dishes, red berries and pommegranates

All photos Homes and Gardens and last 3 are Met Home.

Azur Eden ~ Rothschild Jardin

Remarkable villa and gardens located between Nice and Monaco ~ overlooking the bays of Villefranche and Beaulieu- sur-Mer.  Built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild during the Belle Epoque, both the Palais and Jardin are spectacular!

View from Rothchild Palais

Nine gardens on 7 acres with magnificent views.  Below is a view from the Temple of Love looking towards the splendid pink villa (inspired by flamingos).  A stepped waterfall feeds into ponds with fountains that have recently been programed to music.  This formal garden is symmetrically arranged and was the only one completed in 1912 when the villa became habitable.  Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild was greatly inspired by her travels and as this part 0f the garden was the view from the inside of the villa, and beyond was the ocean, she felt as though the garden was the deck of a ship and named the villa “Ile de France” after a ship she travelled on.

Traditional French Style Garden - Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild ~ photo sue womersley

Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild bought the property in 1905 and had it dynamited and brought in great quantities of earth to level the land for the villa and gardens you see.  When she died in 1934, she left her entire estate to the Academie des Beaux-arts of the Institut de France.  It was her wish for a museum to be created for the enjoyment of others.

Stone Jardin - villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

After her death, the remaining gardens were planted with inspiration of Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschilds many travels.  The Stone garden is filled with architectural pieces from civic and religious buildings.  The Spanish garden has a shady grotto, the Florentine garden has a double staircase and water feature, the Exotic garden is all succulents and cacti, the Provencal is full of olive trees and lavender and of course a rose garden.

Stone Garden - Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild ~ photo sue womersley

stone garden

Zen Garden - the Japanese Garden Villa de Ephrussi de Rothschild ~ photo sue womersley

Watch for a future post on the Villa.  For more information www.villa-ephrussi.com This property was not mentioned in my guidebook and I greatly enjoyed my visit.

Antiquaria di Arezzo

The Arezzo Antique Market takes place in Piazza Grande and the surrounding small streets the first weekend of each month.  If you appreciate antiques of all kinds, definitely plan your Tuscany trip around this market.  Since 1968 this has been home to the Fiera Antiquaria and every month over 500 exhibitors come from all over Italy to sell their wares ranging from mid-century to as old as you can imagine.  Stirling, porcelain, art, glassware, linens, glassware, jewellery, furniture and chandeliers… it was all here.

Piazza Grande, Arezzo - photo Sue Womersley

I wish these would fit in my suitcase

Arezzo Antiquaria

End to end tables in the loggia along via Varsari

via Cavour, via G. Monaco, via Dell Orto, via A. Cesalpino and Courso Italia are all pedestrian friendly streets within the city walls

Traditionally, Sunday is a day that merchants close their stores, but on this weekend, all were open and there were many fantastic stores and boutiques along the way selling antiques, home decor, fabric, pottery and clothing… something for everyone.

Italian Linens are amazing

Modern and elegant wares

This charming store was nicely displayed

Locally made pottery

Pick up some fresh meat, cheese and bread for a picnic… and a bottle of vino of course.  We headed into the hills and had the most magnificent view over Cortona, where they filmed Under a Tuscan Sun.

Excellent Small Farmer market

Arezzo is a fantastic example of the Tuscan hill town, surrounded by large walls.    Arezzo is located 2 hours southeast of Florence.  Parking is located on the north side of town with a great escalator system to get up the steep incline.  On the way up is the Tourism booth.  There were Museo and Duomo that looked great but we did not have time to stop in.  I would definitely go back to Arezzo and plan to arrange shipping for all of the antiques that caught my eye.   www.arezzofieraantiquaria.org

Carrara Marble – Marmo

Carrara Marble bathroom - Hotel Albani Firenze

Carrara marble, floor to ceiling in the bathroom, I always admire the style.  I made a detour into the Appennino Mountains to Carrara, Italy to see the quarries.  You can see the quarries from the highway, a stunning manufactured landscape, and we kept driving into the mountain towards them.  There are approximately 300 quarries in the area, some that date back to Roman times, which actually makes this the oldest industrial site in continuous use in the world.

Fantiscritti Marmo Quarry

This quarry and others offer tours, but we were too early.  There was a small museo, small shops and a carving area in addition to the heavy machinery opperating.

A large crane that moves the blocks of marmo

View west to the town of Carrara and beyond to the seaside town of Marina di Carrara

In the town of Carrara there is a square in which the White Marmo Duomo is located.  Also in this square is the house where Michelangelo would stay on his visits to select the marble for his sculptures.  The road that takes you directly to the ocean has many workshops and showrooms along the way as well as there is more information at the Museo Civico del Marmo.

All photos Sue Womersley.

Marble Sculpture Fantiscritti quarry

Yes, this sculpture is beside the parking lot, and that is crushed marble gravel, and marble is used as curbs even.

Bienvenuto & Bienvenue

Cortona front door

Welcoming. Inviting. Charming and cheerful. These front entrances are a great greeting and you wish you could see the interior!

Montapulciano

Pienza

Pienza

Montapulciano

Monaco

Amsterdam

all photos Sue Womersley

Tuscan Thanks & French Appreciation

Pommegranates Multipulciano Giardino

Abundance.  In appreciation of the abundance of natural beauty and a wealth of enjoyment, here is a collection of my favorite travel pictures in honour of Thanksgiving in Canada.  It is harvest season… grapes, chesnuts, olives.  Grazie & Merci!!!

Panoramic views from Montapuliciano

View from Pienza

Siena landscape

San Giamignano hilltop view

Carrara manufactured landscape beauty

Cortona hills view

Arezzo landscape

I feel so very blessed to be on this wonderful trip but I am Thinking of my Very Important People far away at home on Thanksgiving…  ciao!!!

photo Sue Womersley

photo Sue Womersley

photo Sue Womersley

photo Sue Womersley

all photos Sue Womersley

Amsterdam for 2 hours

vintage map Amsterdam

Arriving an hour and fifteen minutes early to Schipol (Wow, that never happens, thank you KLM!) gave us more than 7 hours at the airport, plenty of time to get to the trains and head for Amsterdam central.   Raining but 24 degrees,  we had a wander over the canals and through the narrow streets before stopping for a pannkoeek and heading back to the airport.

Central Station

Bicycles are a preferred method of transportation and are everywhere, we even saw a three story parking garage, just for bikes.

Bike Parking

Distinct architecture and tall narrow buildings line the canals.

Amsterdam

 

Many charming buildings such as this in Amsterdam

yes, that building is leaning forward...

wish we had time to go for a canal boat ride

Heiniken signs aplenty, as well as many like this

New & Old - the modern in the middle of the historic

All photos Sue Womersley

so far, wi fi is not free, and it takes twice as long to do anything on the computer….

Tuscany Dreams…

Viva Italia

Bon journo!  I cannot contain my excitement as I anticipate my long awaited trip to Italy.  The itinerary…

• Two nights in Firenze
• Two nights in Lucca
• One week in Loro  ~ which is located halfway between Firenze & Arezzo
• One week in Cap Martin, near Menton, on the Cote d’Azur

I hope to include a few posts, as I will likely have many design musings while visiting such a spectacular place. ciao

Design Muse Tricia Guild

Tricia Guild

British Designer Tricia Guild, Owner of Fabric and Wallpaper Company Designer’s Guild with her brother, ~ is the master of vibrant colour, amazing, vivid colour combination and bold pattern.

Tricia Guild & Simon Jefferies @ Kings Road Flagship Store

Established in 1970, their philosophy is to combine creativity and innovation with quality of design, product and service.

Tricia Guild Arabella Wallpaper

Known world wide for sophisticated, elegant, rich jacquards, embroidered silks, velvets and wools as well as floral motifs, arabesques and architectural prints ~ here are some pictures of the latest Designers Guild collections.

Tricia Guild Autumn

Tricia Guild Darly Wallcovering

Tricia Guild Foscari silks

Tricia Guild Oriental Garden

Tricia Guild fabrics

Tricia Guild cabochon

Tricia Guild Santiago

Tricia Guild Quito

Tricia Guild Roumier fabric

Tricia Guild Royal Collection

The Royal Collection was launched in 2008 by Designers Guild.  Fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by the Royal Residences such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, it is the first of its kind licensing agreement.

Tricia Guild Greville

Tricia Guild Autumn bed

Designer’s Guild also has bedding and bath lines.

Paris Showroom as well as there is another in Munich.

Tricia Guild has written 13 books

Tricia Guild’s books are eye candy – beautiful images, brilliant colour, thick paper – very inspiring.  Two of my favorites are White Hot from 2002 and Pattern from 2006.

Tricia Guild Interiors

For more information on Tricia Guild.

All photos Designer’s Guild.

Tricia Guild Book "Pattern"

Design Muse Barbara Barry

Barbara Barry in her office - Traditional Home photo

Barbara Barry ~ designer extraordinaire.  Furniture, china, carpet, fabric, wallpaper, tiles, lighting, crystal, candles and even tea are just a sample of Barbara Barry’s many designs.  Growing up in a family of artists, Barbara Barry was greatly influenced by her artist mother.  Seeing the soft palettes of Barbara Barry textiles looks like soft water colour paints.  In all of Barbara Barry’s designs the importance of quality, mood, light and simplicity is clear.

Barbara Barry Inspiration Board - Traditional Home Photo

Classic.  Timeless.  Ethereal.  Elegant.  Words consistently heard to describe Barbara Barry designs.

Barbara Barry Room - Traditional Home Photo

While I believe that many of Barbara Barry furniture designs to be iconic, nothing is more so than her famous chairs.

Barbara Barry Dining Room

There is such a fabulous collection of Barbara Barry chairs now that they grace Wedgwood plates, Kravet fabric & wallpaper and even candles.

Barbara Barry Chair

Barbara Barry Bracelet Chair

Barbara Barry McGuire Chair

The fantastic use of scroll details is repeated throughout Barbara Barry’s design collections.

View more products designed by Barbara Barry.  See more of Barbara Barry’s office in the September issue of Traditional Home.

Design Muse Kelly Hoppen

British Designer Kelly Hoppen is all about texture, east meets west, neutrals and loves buddhas, crystals and black wood. Famous for her ability to mix vintage with rustic with modern — truly a master of eclectic.

Kelly Hoppen

Kelly Hoppen’s Golden Rules of Design are in her book “Kelly Hoppen Style”.  Other books are “Kelly Hoppen Home”, where she leads you through the renovation process of her last home, “Kelly Hoppen In Touch” and “Kelly Hoppen East Meets West”.

Kelly Hoppen Design - Architectural Digest Photo

With a 20 year design career, Kelly Hoppen has her own “Perfect Neutrals” paint collection – 20 beautiful colours, manufactured by Craig and Rose and available at her flagship store in London.

KH Living Room

Kelly Hoppen’s website KellyHoppenRetail.com has a 4 part video series of the 2008 renovation of her most recent home that was completed in a short 5 months.  Worth watching the amazing transformation from start to finish if you love her finished home in the following photos…

KH Kitchen Island

Kelly Hoppen also has a fabric collection with Holland and Sherry – again the Perfect Neutrals in cashmeres, linens, cottons and wools.

KH Kitchen

Kelly Hoppen even designed a modern bathroom tap collection.

KH Master Bedroom - modern & elegant

There is a Kelly Hoppen furniture collection with Century Furniture.

KH Garden Space - Transformed

West Coast Design @ IDS west

IDS west 2009

I attended IDS west (Interior Design Show) in Vancouver this morning to catch the 9 am Trade Day Seminar on

“West Coast Design and How It Adds Value to Projects”

Local panelists were Designer Kelly Deck, Artist & Furniture Designer Brent Comber, Architect Micheal Green and Architect Jim Toy.

(One of my favorite examples of West Coast design is actually this lottery home Kelly Deck designed in South Surrey last fall … all photos by Sue Womersley)

Kelly Deck Designs (Brent Comber table)

Kelly Deck spoke of the quality of our cool gray light here, of wood and neutrals, the textures of the landscape, the exquisite soft colour palette and of incorporating this in her designs.

Kelly Deck Designs

Jim Toy, Principal of False Creek Design Group, spoke of West Coast Materials, elements influencing structures, taking an organic approach, of definable regional palettes (the red of an Okanagen Apple), of embracing nature and how in BC that we have a quiet confidence that is casual and sensible.

Kelly Deck Designs

Brent Comber, Principal of Brent Comber Originals, began with a visual of a vintage stubby brown bottle of Old Style Pilsner.  On the label was representative of the era – an interface with the outdoors — the stagecoach, the steam engine, the airplane and the tee pee (modular home!).  The Western perspective of humans in the center of nature or undomesticated wilderness vs. manufactured landscapes.  We are blessed to live where we are living and to incorporate that feeling in design work by using authentic, indigenous materials and engaging the senses.

Kelly Deck Designs

Micheal Green, Principal of Mcfarlane Green Biggar Architecture + Design, presented on the influences of the Native culture, the European perspective, the Pacific Rim influence and even Greenpeace.  A blend of culture and climate, and essence is essential.  Renewable materials timber, concrete, glass — driftwood, rocks and rain — local based materials, local resources and innovations with wood.  (He is featured in this month’s Western Living)

Kelly Deck Designs

During the question period all panelists spoke of collaboration, innovation, consciousness, purpose, value, quality and the responsibility of designers to inform the public to make educated buying decisions.  West Coast indeed~ !

Visit the BC Chapter of CDECA (Canadian Decorator’s Association) “Ask a Decorator” booth #726 this weekend for professional answers to your burning decorating questions!