Indulge Decor Blog

Veranda - March 2010, Kay O'Toole

C:

I would like to take a moment to apologize to Kay for the tardiness of my blog post in regards to her beautiful home featured in Veranda Magazine, March 2010. Somehow, in the craziness of my life, I missed reading the March issue of Veranda Magazine even though my Mother had called  to tell me how wonderful the issue was and that if I didn't have a copy yet she would loan me hers.

Well, we all know what that really means - Mother will want 'said' copy of Veranda Magazine returned promptly in pristine collector's edition. Not a very practical resource for a blogger. (Magazine pages scan better under copier lid if binding comes completely apart and pages fall out of magazine.)

Phone calls were made and a fresh copy of Veranda was tracked down (thanks sweet mother of fab techie). So, here we go . . .

• Kay O'Toole's beautiful home as scanned and pasted onto the blog post directly from Veranda Magazine

• A few Indulge Decor Blog Insider Tips

• A buy-it-today-have-it-delivered-tomorrow shopping visit of Kay's totally unique fab antique shop

• An updated view of Kay's home - 1 year after Veranda photos taken

• And, ending with a never before seen T.V. surprise twist.

Veranda Magazine, March 2010

"Antiques Hunter: Shop Owner's Classic Home"

Interior Design by Kay O'Toole

  

Living Room

    

 
 

(Notice charming little bird's nest above painting, hmmm. Will be important later.)

   Kitchen

   

  

Hallway Connecting Living Room, Kitchen and Master Bedroom

(Personally, love the idea of bedroom being so close to kitchen.)

 Master Bedroom

   

  

Front Facade Garden Terrace

 

- - - - -

It goes without saying that all beautiful antiques and curiosities in Kay's home came from Kay's fabulous shop. And, like many true-hearted antique dealers, Kay buys what she loves and if it doesn't sell, "Well, I'll put it in my house," she laughed.

Kay O' Toole Antiques and Eccentricities

1921 Westheimer Road

Houston, Texas 77098

713.523.1921

Since 1990

As serious blogging journalist at-large (ha, ha), I stopped by Kay's wonderful antique shop and snapped a few pictures of the fabulous finds you could purchase today and have delivered to your home tomorrow to achieve Kay's much sought after eclectic-casual-French look as featured in Veranda Magazine.

And, don't forget, Kay personally picked out each and every object in her store just for you (or, whoever gets there first), wink, wink. So, don't dawdle, hurry. Remember, when it comes to antiques it's first-come-first-serve. You'd hate to hesitate and miss out, only to see 'said' fabulous piece on the cover of your favorite design magazine (Trust me, that will irritate you for a really long time.)

Indulge Decor Blog Insider Tip: Kay is known in the industry (industry being - designers whose works grace the covers of our favorite magazines like Veranda) for her remarkable selection of settees / sofas.

Here are just a few (5!) settees / sofas that you could choose from depending on size and style. If you can't find a settee / sofa that suits you out of this lot than you are just not being very open minded because I met all 'said' settees / sofas in person, and they are all incredibly wonderful. It would be very difficult for me to tell you which one is my favorite.

 Settees / Sofas Collection

  

The Grand Dame Sofa

This sofa measures an amazing 100 inches long and has a comfy down cushion  upholstered in muslin. Personally, I love how the sofa looks as is and wouldn't even bother to have it reupholstered in Fortuny. (Perfect size for over-sized Briards or misbehaving husband, hee hee.)

18th Century French Provincial Sofa

A classic style. Beautiful carved flowers along top and bottom edges.

19th Century Venetian Walnut Sofa

 

Love the curves! You probably can't tell, but the legs of this sofa are carved like deer hoofs - very cool detailing. (Should not say, but might be my favorite because of the Bambi feet.)

  

18th Century Venetian Sofa

 

Clever Kay, showed me a picture of Yves Saint Laurent's living room and he owned an identical sofa, wow! You know how I love YSL, so it goes without saying that I was definitely swayed by picture of almost identical sofa in fabled designer's home.

Napoleon III Sofa

 

This sofa is the Christian Louboutin of French sofas.Would not want over-sized husband to sit on this beauty.

Living Room Chairs

(I say Living Room because these chairs are large enough in scale to put them across from your new settee / sofa.)

18th century Wing Arm Chair

Distressed Gesso over Fruitwood, love the coloring and head bobbing rests. (Perfect guest chair for drunken husband of best girlfriend, hee hee.)

18th century Venetian Painted Armchairs

This chair is one of a pair,  and (stop the presses) there is a matching chest! This is almost an unprecedented event anymore in the antique world that the chest has not been separated from the coordinating chairs.

   

19th Century Ebonized Regency Style Side Chairs

 

Yes, a pair. Charmingly tufted. (Great opportunity to collect loose change from unsuspecting lingering guests, hee hee.)

Bookcases

19th century Pine Bookcase with Original Fittings.

Indulge Decor Blog Insider Tip: I love the cabinet as is, of course, but if you were as clever as my architect husband - he would suggest taking the doors off, leave the cabinet open, and recycle the doors by using (framing) them in another room. One incredible piece - 2 different uses.

   

Gray / Blue Painted Bookcase

 If you have very little imagination like I do, or you're just in a hurry, Kay has the Bookcase so beautifully accessorized you should ask to buy it as is. Because really, you think that you can do better than the gal whose house you are trying to copy, ha.

  

Bedroom Chairs

(I say Bedroom Chairs because these chairs are more feminine in design.)

  

French Napoleon III Chair(s)

Yes, Kay has 2 of these chairs. One for you to slip on your Louboutins and one for your sweetie to tie his shoe laces as he hurries off to work to earn more money so you can buy more furniture :)

French Oval Back Louis XVI Chair(s)

Kay is so wise to buy pairs of chairs.

Drippy Chandeliers

Indulge Decor Blog Insider Tip: Kay is also known for her wonderful selection of Drippy Chandeliers.

5 Drippy chandeliers in all. One to hang over each of your 5 new settees / sofas.

  

 

Accessories

 Stone Column Base Lamps

 

Don't waste any time thinking about these Stone Column Base Lamps - a Designer put them on hold while I was taking the picture of them.

 Rusty Urn Filled with Shells

So Kay.   

Bird Cages

 

Note, metal table with marble top would look stunning in a kitchen

  

Pot Rack for Kitchen

  

For Kay's Eclectic French Garden Look

Mr. Kitty

 

M.K. guards the garden from intruders (pigeons). He is the only thing in Kay's garden not for sale.  

Terra-Cotta Bird Garden Ornament

 
  Note, little bird is detached from base. Perfect hide-a-key spot.

Kay's Nicole de Vesian-esque Garden

Cute Lamb

I want this lamb for my Briard Sheepdogs to herd; they can chase him in their sleep, hee hee  

   

Cement Peacock

Makes you think . . .Are you the peacock type, or the chicken type, hmmm?

     

Metal Garden Tables

. 

Metal Garden Tables are as chic inside as they are outside, just add a beautiful marble top to luxe it up.   

  

Angel Garden Table

 

This garden table is too cool, very Raphael.     

   

Faux De Bois (aka Cement) Lounge Chairs 

 

The pool chairs that will never be thrown in the pool during the party your teenager said he never had, ha ha.  

   

The Chickens Kay does not have at her shop.

 

Deny, deny, deny.

 - - - - -

Magazines are meant to inspire us. 

And, design magazines are meant to showcase the best of all possible worlds. A home in which beds are made, laundry is picked up off the floor, and the cat didn't just hurl an icky fur ball on your beautiful Belgian Linen Duvet Cover, again.

In other words, magazine shots are an ideal moment in which time stood still.

Well, at least that is what I thought before I went to Kay's beautiful home. I was mistakenly under the impression that moments in magazine photos don't exist in real life, and that somewhere there is a garage, or an attic, or a spare bedroom with all the 'stuff' hidden away in it, out of the camera's and editor's unforgiven eye.

As we (actually, M.F. fab techie assistant) scanned and down loaded all these wonderful magazine pages into the blog, I kept thinking - Where's the 'stuff.'  Kay has to have 'stuff.' We all have 'stuff,' right?

As I was laying in bed last night, I couldn't stop thinking about how perfect Kay's house was when it suddenly occurred to me not only does Kay not have 'stuff' but she doesn't seem to have some honking big T.V. mounted on her wall - Where is the T.V.?! Kay must watch T.V. We all watch T.V. What did Kay do with her T.V.?

Serious Blogging Journalist Assignment (self imposed): Uncover the truth behind Kay's missing T.V.

As serious investigative journalist (weekend blogger), I will uncover the mystery of where is Kay's T.V. - not only so I can sleep at night, but because every design devotee wants to free herself visually from the husband's / children's mandate of bigger-better-plasma flat screen T.V. in lieu of pretty piece of artwork, and will definitely want to know where Kay has hidden her T.V.

You won't believe this ingenious technological/design advancement.

Kay's Brilliant T.V. Disguise.

Living Room Wall

   

Notice, small round hole above painting (photo-shopped out of Veranda Magazine).

 

Notice, charming bird's nest acts as visual distraction from (projector) hole.

And now, da da da!

8ft. by 4 1/2 ft. T.V. Projector Screen

Projector Screen drops down from ceiling using simple remote control and screen image is projected through hole.

Muffled Applause. 

I wish there was a font for bowing because what you can't read is me bowing in homage to Kay because Kay has managed to do the unthinkable - Have really huge T.V. in same space as elegant Living Room.

More muffled applause.

- - - - -

What people forget (I surely did) is that magazines photograph their spreads months in advance. When I asked Kay how long ago Veranda photographed her home, she said that it must have been at least a year ago, if not longer.

A Few Changes were Made:

Sofas were slipcovered in off white linen and a very cool Frenchy / Chinese-y inlaid cocktail table was added. Love the metal flowers in the vase.

More Slipcovers

 

Actually, all the furniture (seating) in the living room was slipcovered in off white linen.

 

Hallway Chandelier

 

This is the same chandelier as seen in Veranda, but I wanted to show you the cool detail of how Kay hung it.

 

Rabbit Door Stopper

 

 I love him. Will have to ask Kay if she ever replaces him with a chicken door stopper then I want him.

 - - - - -

So, could Kay or I have made it any easier for you to create (knock off, copy) your very own version of Kay O'Toole's eclectic-casual-French look as featured in Veranda Magazine? Stop by for a buy-it-today-have-it-delivered-tomorrow viewing and please bring Kay a cup of coffee. The excellent coffee shop next door to her studio closed and she is in desperate need of a really good cup of coffee. I suggest La Madeleine's French roast, that's my favorite. Starbucks is just a little to acidic for my delicate constitution, and I'm sure Kay is as delicate as I am, tee hee.  

p.s. A pastry never hurt anyone either :)

And, if you were still wondering where Kay's 'stuff' is, me too. Didn't actually solve that mystery, hmmm.

French & Swedish Country, Design by Jane Moore Interiors

C:

I know everything is not about me all the time (even though I'm the one writing the blog hee, hee). But, I think that it is important that, from time to time, you do know a few personal things about me so you can understand how I came to write about a certain topic - my friend, the infectiously cute - Jane Moore, Proprietor of Jane Moore Interiors (wonderful shop selling French & Swedish antiques) & Principle of Jane Moore Design (fab decorator), which is actually - one and the same. 

My 'Peoples' (basically, every relative I have) are from the 'Main-Line-Philadelphia' persuasion. They are of a casual-elegant breed (beyond charming Aunts and Uncles) that live in flagstone homes filled with English antiques (relatives brought over when they left England to come to America, late 1700's) and Early American antiques passed down from generation to generation (I actually own an original pair of 'Chippendale Chairs' that are recorded in the Blue Book, Philadelphia Furniture and at one time were on exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum.)

I grew up in homes filled with ball-and-claw mahogany furniture, dining tables appreciated for their flawless finishes, hunting prints, sailing prints, and always a table set up for cocktail hour with a large silver tray filled with antique English (lead) crystal decanters (no one worried back then about their lead decanters because people actually drank their accessories) filled with Bourbon, Scotch,Gin, and Vodka. A smaller table close by held the after dinner liqueurs Sherry, Brandy, and Creme de Menthe.

When I graduated from college, my Mother and Grandmother furnished my (actually, our - I lived with my brother for 5 1/2 years) duplex with beautiful English and Early American antiques. Lucky me, huh. Instant legacy. It was all settled so easily and comfortably, for me. Only, I wasn't so sure of it all. I kept thinking that something about my home should reflect me . . . My tastes, . . .My interests, . . .Who I am. . . . Silly me?

Then, right about that time, one of my Mother's favorite design stores Moore and Shaffer (favoring beautiful English antiques) closed and one of the Principles Jane Moore was opening her own shop and design center on Virginia Street, specializing in French Antiques. The year was 1987.

"Come with me," my mother pleaded. "I'm dying to see Jane's new store. I hear it's going to be French!"

Da, Da, Da, Da, (serious musical tone).

Well, I went with my mother that day to Jane's new little 750 square foot shop on Virginia Street and 'the introduction' changed my life forever, literally. My brother had just left for grad school in Boston (never to come back to Texas) and had taken half of the furnishings in our duplex. The visit to Jane's was supposed to cheer me up and help fill in the holes left by the moving truck. 

It worked! I left there completely cheered up, but now I had to work up the courage to ask my Mother if I could give back all her beautiful antiques (and, the one's my Grandmother had given me) because I had just found my calling -

I'm French!

Whatever that was at the time. I'm light colored furniture. I'm over sized Trumeau mirrors. I'm rustic pine farm tables. I'm distressed. I'm charming metal garden tables with exquisite marble tops. I'm  painted dining chairs with muslin upholstery. I'm slightly rustic, gilded, farmhouse chic, with a bit of Chauteau sprinkled all over it.

"OMG!!! I want everything in this store!"

So, that is how I came to own some of my favorite pieces in my house. Every time Jane got in a new container, I would be one of the first in line to get a glimpse and hopefully acquire a treasure or two. Because I had no idea of what I was doing or how to accessorize 'French,' I would make my purchases 'in-total.' For example - one of the first things I ever bought from Jane was a garden-style cocktail table with a glass top. Of course, Jane had the table so beautifully accessorized that I ended up buying the cocktail table, with the metal urn, the ivory colored tea caddy, and charming pair of rustic candlesticks. The next container, I bought a bedside table, a pair of lamps, a little metal tray for keepsakes, and two picture frames. The next container, I bought a mirror, actually two mirrors. I couldn't decided between the gray/blue Trumeau and the slightly more formal gold-ish toned mirror.

 

"Take them both home and try them," Jane insisted.

  "Really," I replied, flattered and completely naive.

 

(Ha ha, I still have both of those mirrors.)

 

My Garden Table and Chairs outside - Jane. The beautiful French Metal Sconces (really, really old) my sweet Grandmother gave to me as a wedding present - Jane. The Squeaky Blue Painted Cabinet that I keep my bar in - Jane. My Dining Table - Jane. The cute little metal Bistro Table in my kitchen - Jane . The drippy chandelier in my front entrance - Jane. The drippy chandelier in my bathroom - Jane . . . . . .

In other words, at least half of the furnishings and accessories in my house came from Jane's shop on Virginia Street. Jane was my first real influence in French design (how lucky was I, huh!) I feel such a huge sense of gratitude toward Jane and her beautiful shop. I can't imagine what my life would be like today if I had told my Mother that I (bratty little fashionista) would rather go to Neimans on that fated life-changing day 23 years ago. (Note to Self: 1980's designer clothes discarded for sure, all beautiful 18th century French furnishings from Jane purchased during the late 1980's, still adored!)

   Actually, come to think of it, if I were to extrapolate further . . . No Jane. No French antiques. No love of all things Country French. No conversation with husband to go to Provence at first opportunity. No Indulge Store, wow!

Thanks Jane, I really owe you some flowers, or a note, or something.

So, it is with great pleasure and the greatest of honors that I feature Jane Moore and her wonderful shop and fabulous design work.

And, let me quickly mention that this home is particularly interesting because Shannon Newsom (daughter) asked her sweet mother, Jane Moore, to decorate her new home.

May I present the home of Shannon and Andrew Newsom,

Designed by Jane Moore (aka Mom)

- - - -

Photos from Veranda Magazine, March 2008

"Legacy of Design: Objects of Affection"

In case you can't read the fine print:

Interior Design by Jane Moore

- - - -

Photos from Swedish Country Interiors, published 2009

by Rhonda Eleish & Edie Van Breems

"White Wisteria: The Home of Shannon and Andrew Newsom"

Interior Design by Jane Moore

I started out all kinds of complicated and posted the images from the magazine and the book separately, but then I found myself scrolling up and down so much on the pages to get a better view of each room that I realized that how I thought I was going to present the post was actually really irritating. So, here is the revised version of the post with the magazine and book images combined (no unnecessary scrolling). Now, I'm not saying that one publication out-photographed the other, I'm just saying how incredibly fortunate to have two publications to piece together to get a more complete image of each room (blogger-stalker-style, hee hee.)

 

Front View of Home, Swedish Country Interiors (SCI)

What I love so much about this house is that it looks like the house your best friend grew up in. 

   

Living Room, Veranda Magazine

Classic Jane. Vignette just looks like a magazine cover!

 

 

Settee in Living Room, Veranda

All very Swedish in style, color, and arrangement. Notice charming 'Coal Burner' on skirted table, so unique. I love the contrast of the more 'modern' oil and graphite on paper by Joseph Havel above the settee.

 

View of Living Room, Veranda

Love the skirted ottoman as informal cocktail table - a signature look of Jane's.

Jane's Insider Tip - Jane used recessed casters on the ottoman so the piece can be move around easily. (You know, in case anyone suggests a crazy game of Twister.)

   

View of Living Room, SCI

Swedish Secretary with clock, very striking, ha ha. (Clock strikes . . . )    

View of Living Room, SCI

  Look how uncluttered the vignette is. (Ahem, to those of you reading with 5-8 objects on each piece of furniture.)   

  

Library, SCI

Classic 18th century Swedish Settee.  Hand painted brick pavers - very designer-y. Leave it to Jane to think of something so clever. (Notice, Swedish Settee #1.)

Dining Room, Veranda

I love round Dining Tables. My Dining Table from Jane looks very similar except mine has a glass top.  (Notice, Swedish Clock #2)

 

Bar in Dining Room, Veranda

Set up for happy family occasions, wink wink.   

Buffet in Dining Room, Veranda

 

 Love the lanterns as 'hurricanes.'    

Kitchen, SCI

   The white pottery in the cupboards - so clean and simple.

   Master Bedroom, Veranda

Shameless Indulge Plug - all Sheeting by Sferra 

      

View of Master Bedroom, Veranda

 

     Again, look how clean the lines are and how uncluttered the accessories are.  Again, ahem - your housekeeper will thank me later.

   

View of Master Bedroom, SCI

 

(Notice, Swedish Clock #3 !!!)

Master Bathroom, SCI

Jane's Insider Tip - Farrow & Ball Paint in Lamp Room Gray

 Jane says it goes from blue/gray to gray to lilac. (Sounds wonderful, you should never tire of a color like that.)  

Blogger-Stalker-Style, I actually know that there is another fabulous Swedish Settee in the Master Bath. (Swedish Settee #2)       

    

Little Girl's Room, Veranda

  Sweet, little girlie, feminine, and it is not pink!  

              

View of Little Girl's Room, Veranda

     Another beautiful Swedish Settee, but who's counting - #3! 

        

Screened-in Porch, SCI

 My East Coast Parents added a screened-in porch onto our first Houston house, I loved hanging outside without all those horrible, nasty, swamp-sized mosquitoes.

  
SCI

- - - -

Blogger-Stalker-Style: Comparison of Charming Rooms as Seen in Veranda Magazine '08 and Swedish Country Interiors '09.

   (I, we, are focused on design changes not color variations. Please allow for differences in lighting, print, and scanning.)

 

Veranda '08                                            SCI '09

      

Look how cute stripey pillows make Swedish Settee look more casual and inviting.

Veranda '08                             SCI '09

  

Notice how linen slipcovers create a less formal look. Very appropriate for spring time parties.

   

Veranda '08                                           SCI '09

   

Pictures over buffet switched out. 

 

Veranda '08    SCI '09

   

Striped slipcovers on chairs in kitchen changed and painting on floor extended through to informal seating area (eagle eye M.H. saw that, not me - way to go.)

 

Veranda '08                                             SCI '09 

 

Dust skirt changed from white linen to flax colored linen. And, bench added at foot of the bed. Accessories on bedside table simplified.

Veranda '08                                             SCI '09

This is the perfect example of how the paint color can look differently throughout the day. Picture on right did not show Swedish Settee.

 - - - - -

Things to Note:

There are no curtains on the windows downstairs.

The floors have been 'bleached' (also known as liming) a beautiful light color.

Notice how easy it is to achieve a 'Swedish Look' in a beautifully remodeled 1940's traditional styled American home.

 - - - - - 

Usually on a design post, we painstakingly try to credit as many of the antiques as possible that are used throughout the photo spread, but I think in this case it is more than obvious to everyone that all the beautiful French and Swedish Country antiques were hand picked by the lovely Jane herself. And, I'm sure that many of you are under the impression that each piece is so one-of-a-kind that there is no use in even trying to search for another. Well, that is were I would like to prove you wrong. I think that many antique stores specialize in a 'look' and I think that it only makes sense that if you fell in love with 'a piece' in a magazine it would be more than likely that the antique store from which it came would probably have a 'like piece' or could call you 'if' and 'when' something similar comes in.

Just to prove my point (and also because I enjoy being right, hee hee.) I went to Jane's beautiful store and snapped a few pictures of her beautiful French and Swedish antiques that you could buy today and have delivered tomorrow to obtain your very own Veranda Magazine Cover look.

  
Jane Moore Interiors 

2922 Virginia Street

Houston, Texas 77098

713.526.6113

  

The view of Jane's beautiful shop as you walk through the front door, ahh.

 

18th century French Commode from Provence

French Antique 18th century Carved Wood Wall Panel, circa 1780

18th century French Carved Wood Capital

Carved Wood Angel

 

 

Swedish Antique Gustavian Settees, circa 1810

in the center: Swedish Painted Wood Bench with Hemp Upholstery  

18th century French Louis XVI Console with White Marble Top

19th century Swedish Grey Four-Legged Table, circa 1850

French Antique Louis  XVI Carved Wood Trumeau Mirror with garden and musical attributes, circa 1760

18th century French Coal Burner (How cool! hee hee)

18th century Buffet, circa 1760 (Jane's favorite piece)

   

The lovely Jane.

        

 19th century Swedish Buffet with Mercury Glass Accessories (from Wisteria)

 

Charming Rustic Farm Table (Would be great for a breakfast table.)

 

 

French Antique Louis XV period Painted Blue Buffet, circa 1750

Charming White Ceramics - Wisteria (Would make wonderful lamp bases)

18th century Tuscan Chest, circa 1780 (stripped)

Painted Oil-on-Wood Italian Boiserie Panel, circa 1750

 

 
Left: 1930' Side Table with eglomise; Right: Small Bistro Tables 

I almost bought this little guy, too charme. Please, some-bunny buy him!

That pretty much concludes my 'Ode to Jane Post,' but just remember - inspiration can come from anywhere and can change your life forever.

Thank you Jane, wink wink.

Veranda Magazine - April 2010

C:

Years ago, I was paid a compliment (or, so I assumed) that I did not understand at all. A French woman happened upon my store and exclaimed as only a French woman can, "Oh, it is so-o beautiful! It is so-o French! It is so-o Nicole De Vesian. Who did this for you? I can't believe this exists in America."

I inner-ly smiled (warm glow radiating) at being complimented on my French taste by an authentically chic and sophisticated French woman, "Well, I did." I replied without hesitation.

"No-o," she demanded. "Impossible. You are an American. You would not know to do all these things. Now, who did this for you? Who did you hire?"

Compliment faded. Warm glow diminished and stylish French woman left without buying anything.

Later that day, still wondering if 'said NDV compliment' was in fact even a 'compliment,' I googled 'Nicole De Vesian' out of curiosity and the following is what I found out: Nicole De Vesian . . .Legendary Head of Fashion at the House of Hermes, . . . Considered the First Lady of Fashion, . . . Chic Personified, . . .Minimalist, Whimsical, Dreamlike, . . . Garden in Bonnieux, Provence, France.

So, of course, I was thrilled beyond belief with compliment even though stylish French woman immediately regretted making such a generous overture once she realized the recipient of her 'said NDV compliment' was aghast - an American, hee hee.

In my typical OCD fashion, I bought every book I could find on the Legendary First Lady of Fashion. My innocent curiosity kinda segued into an obsession, (hate it when that happens.)  Nicole's beautiful home (and garden) in Bonnieux, France had been photographed and published in so many European design books and magazines that I was easily able to gather several different articles and piece-meal them all together so I could get a better sense of what each room looked like from several different angles (I guess that could be considered some weird form of design magazine stalking, hmm.)

What I was immediately drawn to in Nicole's home was her unfaltering sensibility to make a very casual French Country Home - limestone floors, stucco walls, linen slipcovered furniture, antique tapestry pillows, a beautiful pair of distressed salon chairs still upholstered in original fabric . . . . seem like one of the most elegant/special places on earth.

And, everything in her home was neutral! (And, we all know I love neutral.)

I think if Nicole De Vesian were alive today and happened to be handed the cover of this month's Veranda Magazine, I think she would exclaim in delight, 'Oh, it is so-o beautiful! It is so-o French! It is so-o me!'

May I introduce the beautifully neutral home that I think Nicole would have loved, and yes, all exquisite decision makers involved - architect, fab designer, and homeowners are all,  American.

Veranda Magazine, April 2010

"Touches of Europe: Old World Charm in the Heart of Texas"

Interior Design by Eleanor Cummings

Architecture by Kirby Mears of Murphy Mears Architects

Landscape Design by Danny McNair & Douglas Herbert Pickworth

Graveled Courtyard – Red Cedars and River Birch trees

French Antique Iron Deer – Paris Flea Market (Yes, in Paris, France)

Courtyard:

 

French Antique Garden Chairs – M. Naeve

*Please note: Graveled courtyard to match reclaimed limestone floors used throughout house and back terrace. Makes for a very nice detail when Architect, Landscaper, and Fab Decorator all communicate! I love how it is all very consistent.

    Living Room:    

Italian Antique Chair, in original leather – Watkins Culver

(How cool are little bat wings at top of chair so Gramp's head doesn't roll off if he's had a little too much conversation with his Sherry, hee, hee)

French Daybed (serves as coffee table) – Neal & Co.- upholstered in Kravet velvet

(Notice how lovely accessories are strategically placed to keep darling Labradors off scrumptious velvet upholstery.)

Italian Settee, in Travers jute-linen

18^th century Italian Painting of Virgin Mary with John the Baptist and St. Francis – Watkins Culver

(St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment. Do you think E.C. subconsciously hung Him in clear watchful view of gorgeous velvet ottoman and sneaky, dear Labradors.)

Italian Torchère – Tara Shaw

Throw – Loro Piana

(Throw could be changed on a whim, think grey blue to match daybed, teal to match painting, lavender to match . . . um, lavender flowers.)

Draperies, in Rose Tarlow-Melrose House fabric – George Cameron Nash

(Curtains hung as high as possible and yet barely break on the floor, perfection)

Reclaimed French Limestone Flooring throughout – Chateau Domingue

 I love the Metal Cased Doors - Hope's Windows, wish I could have those throughout my house.

*Note: Ceiling Height 14 ft. Wow, I could so get use to that!!!

Living Room Fireplace:

French Antique Maquette (hung with great care over mantel) – Bill Gardner

(I love the stone-on-stone affect. Very unexpected, and great alternative to a painting or mirror.)

 

French Antique Fireplace – Chateau Domingue

French Skirted Chair – Kay O’Toole Antiques - upholstered in , in Holland & Sherry cashmere

(How cute did E.C. design the Ballerina Ties on the chair's Arms!  Grab a great book or your favorite Veranda Magazine, April 2010 and turn the A.C. way down.  Ahhh, nothing like the feel of cashmere.)

18^th century Italian Regence Wingback Chair – Watkins Culver - upholstered in , in Rogers & Goffigon linen

Italian Sconces – Tara Shaw

 Living Room Detail:

Italian Antique Two-Door Cabinet w/ painted tole doors – Watkins Culver

(Too cool. What a statement piece! And, love how it all fits in that little niche.)

Italian Antique Wood Fragments, as Lamps – Kay O’Toole Antiques

French Antique Window Surround, as mirror frame – Paris Flea Market (again, Paris, France)

  

 Dining Room:

I love the Double Barrel Vault Ceiling (also know as Cross Vault and Groin Vault),  great architectural detail.

Dining Chairs, in Great Plains jute-linen – custom made to match dining table (order through fab designer E.C.)

French Antique table – Robuck & Co. (Atlanta, GA)

Italian Fixtures – custom made

Italian Sideboard – Watkins Culver

Rug – Tabriz from Carol Piper Rugs

 

Kitchen:

French Industrial Stools – Thompson Hanson

Vintage French Mercantile Fixtures as Custom Cabinetry

Rocky Mountain Hardware

French reclaimed limestone, as Counter Tops – Chateau Domingue

Light Fixtures – Brown

18^th century Italian Iron Fireback, converted to vent hood – Watkins Culver

Wooden Ladder - Neal & Co.

Range – La Cornue

Sink – Herbeau

Faucetry – Rohl

Breakfast Table:

 

French Fireplace – Chateau Domingue (but, of course!)

French Farm Table – Paris Flea Market (France the Country)

Italian Antique Chairs, in Edelman leather with Brunschwig & Fils cotton backs

 

Master Bedroom:

 

Headboard, with antique Venetian carving – Watkins Culver (converted to four-poster bed by Bill Peck & Co.) - Upholstered in Rogers & Goffigon velvet.

Antique Painting of Avignon

Tuscan Antique Fireplace

French Antique Chaise, in Rogers & Goffigon linen

French Antique Bergères, in Rose Tarlow-Melrose House linen

Shameless Indulge Plug - Bed Linens - Sferra, wink, wink

Antique Tapestry Pillows – B. Viz

Draperies, in Travers linen

Italian Sconces

Spanish Chest

Mahal Rug

 

Master Bedroom Detail:

Italian Fireplace - Chateau Domingue

 Pillows - B. Viz

Nicole had a very similar pair of salon chairs in her home.

   

  Master Bath:

 

Roman-Style Antique Stone Tub – Tara Shaw (OMG!!! Calgon take me away.)

Venetian Antique Mirror

(Wise decorator hung mirror very high to avoid seeing any unflattering glimpses.)

French Antique Slipper Chair, in Rogers & Goffigon linen

Shameless Indulge Plug - Matouk Scallop Towels, wink, wink.

Faucetry – THG

Italian Antique Angel Table - (Patron Saint of Tiny Bubbles)

 

Guest Bedroom:

 

Headboard, inspired by antique Italian carvings - custom made

Shameless Indulge Plug - Bed linens - Sferra

18^th century French School “style” Drawings (actually new) – Watkins Culver

Draperies, in Les Indiennes paisley (Neal & Co.) – custom made

Bedskirt, in Les Indiennes paisley (Neal & Co.) – custom made

Swedish Antique Tables

Italian Lamp

Comb-Painted Walls

Bleached reclaimed white oak flooring

 

Guest Bedroom Detail:

 

Swedish Antique Settee - Tara Shaw - upholstered in Les Indiennes paisley fabric (Neal & Co.)

French Antique Chandelier – Kay O’Toole Antiques

French Antique Trumeau Mirror – Jane Moore Interior Design (713.526.6113)

 

Upstairs Hallway Nook:

Italian Antique Daybed, in Rogers & Goffigon linen – Kay O’Toole Antiques

(Love how the daybed is upholstered and slipcovered.)

Antique Tapestry Pillow – B. Viz

Antique Provencal Screen

Sconces – custom made

 

Terrace and Pool Surround:

Wall Lanterns – through designer

Pool, Doors, Shutters, Awning Frames, and Hope’s Windows – custom through Murphy Mears Architects

French Urns

Chaise – Barlow Tyrie

French Reclaimed Limestone Terrace -

Owner insisted on using the reclaimed limestone on the terrace and around the pool, beautiful effect.

Spanish Reclaimed Roof Tiles - Chateau Domingue

 

Outside Dining Terrace:

Belgian Bluestone Table – Gardens in Austin (So sad they closed, we will all miss them.)

Sempre Woven Chairs – Thompson Hanson, (I have these chairs around my dining table, love them!!!  My brother got them too.)

Pillows, in DeLany & Long fabric and Rose Tarlow-Melrose House fabric

French Antique Lantern

Zinc Lanterns

Antique Provencal Fireplace

------

Indulge Décor Blog Insiders Tips:  

Custom Upholstery:  Mike Neal of Neal & Co. Upholstery 713.956.7100, to the trade only. Please do not embarrass yourself by asking Mike to do something personally for you because he will say no. Also, please do not try to go around your decorator and contact Mike directly because they (fab decorator and genius upholsterer) will all know.  Fab decorators and fab upholsterers are usually best friends (relationship design analogy: genius upholsterers are the hairdressers of decorators - they have each others numbers on speed dial!)

Plaster Walls: Segreto Finishes, all walls throughout the house (except Swedish styled guest room) are plastered in the same shade of 'they-will-never-tell-so-don't-ask' off-white. Plaster walls are usually not a simple-specific color, but are mixed on site and studied at all times of day / for days by designer in terms of flooring, sunlight movement, fabrics and drape colors.

 Comb-Painted Walls in Swedish Style Guest Room: by Randy Jones and Ben Morrow

The Designing Genius Eleanor Cummings may be reached at:  ebcummings@comcast.net

Now, please do not abuse such insider privileges with anything that remotely resembles spam or annoying. 

 - - - - -

An image of Nicole De Vesian's sublime garden in Bonnieux, France

 

So-o French. So-o beautiful. So-o Nicole De Vesian. So-o Eleanor Cummings.

House Beautiful - April 2010

C:

House Beautiful Magazine, April 2010

 

'The New Look of Wood is . . . Reclaimed'

Interior Design by Eleanor Cummings

 I wish there was a font for cheering because if there were you would hear me yelling instead of reading me typing- Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! And, for those of you who do not speak Italiano, the translation of Bravo is: a shout or cry used to express approval, especially of a performance.

Well, let me just say this - performance well done by homeowners and designer E.C.

Bravo to husband for knowing what he wants (Italiano), getting involved, and then staying out of the way of darling wife and creative genius designer, E.C.

Bravo to young wife (Who I know personally because she shops in my stores and is such a sweetheart. We love her!) for siding with husband and choosing an Italiano styled home (nice break from all the swankienda French).

Bravo to designer Eleanor Cummings for creating such a truly unique and beautiful home using all these incredible reclaimed materials that can be difficult and overwhelming in the hands of an amateur, and if not done correctly could cost you a fortune and look like a mound of rubble instead of a magazine dream house.

  

For those of you who skim through design magazines without reading a word of print, I am sorry that there is not a Kindle Cliffs-Notes supplement that you could listen to as you are flipping through the pages of this month's House Beautiful, April 2010, pages 76 through 87, titled - 'The New Look of Wood is Reclaimed'  because you would definitely be hitting rewind when you heard that the following beautiful 18th century Tuscan home is not actually in Tuscany, but in America . . . Texas. . . Houston. And, the house itself is new construction! ! !

 - - - - - 

An Excerpt From The House Beautiful Magazine Interview:

House Beautiful Magazine Interviewer: Are we really in Houston? I feel as if I've stepped into another time, another place. It's (house) so soulful and romantic, like some centuries-old farmhouse in Tuscany.

Designer Eleanor Cummings: That's because just about everything in here - the wood, the stone, the furniture - is old, old, old.

House Beautiful Magazine Interviewer: Was this his (agreeable husband) dream house?

Designer Eleanor Cummings: It was his obsession. His parents took him to Italy when he was a boy, and it made a big impression on him. He always knew he was going to build an Italian house and he had the wherewithal to do it in a realistic way, as it would have been done in Italy.Otherwise, it could have veered off into the oh-so bad.

 - - - - -

There is an old saying - 'Money can't buy you taste.'

But, if you live in the vicinity of the one-and-only fabulous Chateau Domingue it sure can buy you a childhood dream - an 18th century Italiano Farmhouse.

May I introduce the performance of a lifetime, at least for the darling young couple and the formidable designer E.C., - a brand new and authentically old 18th century Tuscan Farmhouse in Houston, Texas, America. 

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Why don't you pour yourself a glass of Montepulciano about now, and I'll take you for a lovely tour of an 18th century Tuscan Farmhouse, city style.

 Front Entrance Hall

 Front Doors are 1850's Italian Oak 

The moment you walk through the antique oak doors you immediately feel what the interviewer asked - 'Are we really in Houston?'

*All Reclaimed Materials you see in this photo - doors, flooring, walls, stone/brick surround were all purchased from our (Houston) one-and-only Chateau Domingue.

Hallway Between Entry and Living Room

If you are going to use Reclaimed Materials in the construction of your house, don't skimp. See how the designer E.C. completed the Front Entrance Hall with the stone floors, walls, and beams. When using Reclaimed Materials think of it this way - You wouldn't paint just half a room would you? 

Study

 

I love how E.C. retrofitted The Shutters on metal tracks so they could open and close easily. When using Reclaimed Materials, you don't want it to be just pretty, you want it to be practical too.

*Note - this kind of ingenious detailing is why you spend the money and hire a really fab designer like E.C.

Antique Shutters - Watkins Culver

Living Room

 

E.C. says she started with the Oushak Rug for inspiration.

Oushak Rug - Carol Piper Rugs

18th century French Regence Sofa with Hoof Feet - Watkins Culver

Decorative Pillows- B. Viz Design

Set of 3 Nesting Tables attributed to Jansen - Watkins Culver

I love the blueish gray color of the walls and the Jane Churchill Madura fabric that E.C. used to slipcover the armchairs. 

Wall Plaster by Segreto (713.461.5210)

I also love how The Living Room does not look 'decorated' (sorry matchy-matchy decorators who have to have every little thing irrationally symmetrical), but instead has the feeling of  'engagement.'  Meaning - a chair pulled up closer for conversation, another side table brought over to set a glass of wine on, a bench in front of the fireplace for the cat who never moves no matter how lively the conversation. 

*A personal note - the decor of this Living Room reminds me of my grandmother's house and our family gatherings, everything very elegant, yet very casual. Although, the only kitty-cat print in my grandmother's house was actually sleeping in front of the fireplace. And, if we ran out of chairs, she (grandmother) would tell you to sit on the floor rather than disturb that darling (grumpy) cat. Social standing in the Davis family has always favored the pets, and she didn't even like the cat, ha ha.

Detail Shot of Curtains in Living Room

 

I love how The Silk Curtains just barely touch the floor (like the pleat on a gentleman's pants) instead of a huge swag puddle.

Curtains in Rogers & Goffigon's Pirouette silk.

Powder Room

Very cool detail thought of by designing husband - antique Italian window grille transformed into mirror. 

18th century Hand Wrought Italian Window Grille - Watkins Culver

Stone Sink from none other than Chateau Domingue, of course.

Indulge Shameless Plug- several of the bathroom accessories came from our store, wink, wink.

Dining Room

 

Dining room wall color inspired by a terra-cotta hotel room in Provence - again, love the use of color on the walls. 

Wall Plaster by Segreto

Italian 18th century Chandelier - Kay O'Toole Antiques

Dining Table - 18th century Italian

Terra-cotta Italian Fruit Basket, not actually old - Watkins Culver

Painted Italian Settee is one of the only painted wood pieces in the house - Watkins Culver

My friend Francesca had a settee that looked just like this one, and I've always coveted it. Notice how beautiful the blue is set off against the gold detailing. These benches are so unique and hardly ever seen, definitely worth decorating a room around. If you come across one on your travels, buy it! And, if you don't buy it, call me, and I'll buy it! Love, love, love the settee.

Bar Adjacent to Family Room

Reclaimed Materials - wood for cabinetry and stone for counter tops all from Chateau Domingue.

Shameless Indulge Plug - all Italian pewter accessories from Indulge.

Kitchen

Again, all Reclaimed Materials stone floors, stone counter tops, and wood used to make cabinetry all from Chateau Domingue.

 Bravo to designer E.C. for coming up with this completely original, way cool idea to cover the fridges in custom zinc panels hand crafted by James Dawson. Really, how cool are those panels. You might want to bookmark that look for yourself down the road. What is the saying - Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Don't laugh, but I'm betting you'll see that 'look' knocked off every which way in the mags next year, ha ha.

 

Kitchen

Bar stools through fab designer E.C.

Pot Rack - order through designer E.C.

Light Fixtures - Brown

Out Door Porch

Outdoor Settees - Ray Balinskas Imports (713.227.7919)

 

Stairway

Custom Hand-Forged Iron Stairway Railing - Bill Peck (713.526.2590)

Chandelier through designer E.C.

Sconces - Brown

Master Bedroom

Settee- Bill Gardner Antiques

Bedside Tables - Bill Gardner Antiques

Bedside Terra-cotta Lamps - Kay O'Toole Antiques

Chandelier - Area (713.668.1668)

Footstool - Shabby Slips

Pillows - B.Viz Design

Master Bath

 

Chandelier - Watkins Culver

Shameless Indulge Plug - Scallop Matouk Ivory/Ivory Towels 

- - - - -

So, I'm sure by now that you have gone into the kitchen, grabbed the half full bottle of Montepulciano, and begged your darling, patient, semi-open-minded husband to come look at this 18th century Tuscan Farmhouse/Villa that was recently built in Houston, Texas, America, near The Galleria Shopping Center and a country club golf course, wink, wink. 

And, you are already thinking how you could incorporate some of fab designer Eleanor Cummings truly original (like zinc refrigerator covers!) ideas into your 10 year old 'new construction' house that you purchased because it was close to your children's private school.

Well, lucky for you, I have secured designer Eleanor Cummings much guarded email address in case you can convince your semi-open-minded husband that your impulses should be his reality (boyhood dream, or not.)

You can contact Eleanor Cummings by email at this address: ebcummings@comcast.net

Now, please do not abuse such an insider privilege with anything that remotely resembles spam or annoying.

That pretty much concludes our 18th century Tuscan Farmhouse/Villa home tour, but before I click close on that little red box at the top of my computer screen, I would like to raise my glass of Montepulciano once again and toast the darling young couple and fab designer Eleanor Cummings for putting Houston on the map (magazine) again as a city with outstanding design taste and resources. 

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

- - - - -

***And, for those of you who are too busy to read design magazines every month, click here to see the House Beautiful Magazine, March, 2010 Houston home that designer Eleanor Cummings also had a hand in decorating - posted on Indulge Decor Blog February 21, 2010.

And tomorrow, I am going to the grocery store to buy this month's Veranda Magazine because Eleanor also designed the beautiful home that graces the cover of that glorious magazine!!!!

What crazy design success Eleanor is enjoying ;)

Hint - next week's blog posting - Veranda Magazine, April 2010,

Design by Eleanor Cummings

Will it be French or Italian?! Can't wait to see!!!

The Stewart Home- 1930's French Deco Inspired, Part Trois

 

The Stewart Home- 1930's French Deco Inspired, Part Trois

A Comparison of Michelle Stewart's Previous Home Featured in Southern Accents Nov.-Dec. '05 and Michelle's Current 1930's French Deco Inspired Home

- - - - -

 M's Beautiful Home as Seen in Southern Accents Nov. - Dec. '05 ('scan' and 'paste' style)

 

M's Previous Residence - Facade

 

Previous Residence - Front Entrance Hall

 

Previous Residence - Family Room

 

 Previous Residence - Family Room Fireplace

 

Previous Residence - Living Room

 

Previous Residence - Living Room, Alternate Angle

 

Previous Residence - Dining Room

 

Previous Residence - Kitchen

Previous Residence - Master Bedroom

 

Previous Residence - Master Bedroom Vanity

 
 

Previous Residence - Girl's Bedroom

 

- - - - -

Michelle will be the first one to tell you how much she and her family loved their 'Previous Home.' And by any standards including mine and all the way up to the editor, writer, stylist, photographer, and scout for Southern Accents Magazine, and all S.A. magazine's devoted readers, Michelle's 'Previous Home' was absolutely beautiful, and, yet, family (plus naughty dogs) comfortable. But, Michelle faced the same dilemma so many young families face - Simply put, they (children and dogs) needed more space. (Most parents could also use more space from children and naughty dogs, or in most of my friend's cases - dogs and naughty children!)

First Choice, they (M. and her husband) bought a beautiful lot nearby and worked closely with an architect to create their dream home, but for anyone who has ever attempted a ground up project like that, they (anyone) can quickly realize that sometimes what you think you want, isn't exactly what you really want in the end.

Second Choice, buy a home and remodel - still daunting but not quite as overwhelming and all encompassing as a start-to-finish custom home. Lucky for all, Plan B - Compass Direction Blvd. didn't work out either when a last minute over-the-asking-price bid came through at the eleventh hour.

Well, how do you say it - Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you, turns out to be the best thing that happens to you :)

Words to live by.

And, that is when The Karmic-Law-of-House-Hunting smiled upon our sweet and deserving M.

M. was out of town, dear friend (Natalie Faust - Trifecta Properties) called, dream house, act now - meaning, buy, buy now!

Anyone who has ever bought a 'must have' home before will tell you - the residential real-estate market is like playing pro ball in the big leagues - You've got to stay focused.  Keep your eye on the ball (the beautiful home your wife has sent you out to win her). Never let them see you flinch. And, there is no trophy for second place.

So, let's say for convenience sake that your lovely can-do-no-wrong-at-the-moment husband has won you your dream house! The sellers have accepted your bid. The moving trucks are scheduled. Now, your work (fun) begins: What pieces from your 'Previous Home' can you carry over to your 'New I'll-Be-Happy-for-the-Rest-Of-My-Life Home?'

According to Michelle you need to focus on Style and Scale.

Michelle spent years collecting all the beautiful pieces of furniture and accessories in her 'Previous Home.' The home and everything in it was full of joyous and happy memories. It was very difficult for M. to pick and chose what could be carried over to the 'New Home.'  The houses were very similar but different. The 'Previous Home' is what I would describe as 'Country French' and the New Home is what Michelle and Kyle describe as '1930's French Deco Inspired.'

As you can tell by my brilliant assistant (M.H.) 'cut-and-paste' collage, Michelle was able to use quite a few of her previous favorite pieces in her 'New Home.' Now, this (recycling pieces) is just the type of thing a newly mortgaged husband likes to hear about. Try to be as open minded and flexible as Michelle, and think out of the box. Sometimes, it helps to have a good friend or decorator, Kyle, help you with those very hard decisions. May I suggest even calling your mother, sister, or best friend, but, I employ you - do not ask your dear hubby - he has the mortgage to worry about. Really, do you think he's staying up at night contemplating the length of the puddle on the new lavender dining room drapes?! If he's anything like my husband, he's only thinking about how old he will be when the mortgage is finally paid off.

- - - - -

So let's get started on our assignment -

A Comparison of Michelle Stewart's Previous Home Featured in Southern Accents Nov.-Dec. '05 and Michelle's Current 1930's French Deco Inspired Home

Facade

As you can see from the photos below, M's 'Previous Home' and her 'Current Home' are painted very neutral colors. The front gardens set the tone for the house's exteriors - 'Previous Home' very casual and loose, 'Current Home' very formal and manicured.

Front Entrance Hall

    

The Front Entrance Hall sets the tone for any home's interior.

Every gal loves her accessories - M.'s Previous Home was full of beautiful and unusual accessories, M.'s Current Home looks best with less.

Dining Room

  

M. was able to reuse the beautiful Chandelier and simply add a middle leaf to her Dining Room Table to transform the table from round to oval to better fit the size of her New Dining Room. Custom upholstered chairs were added to complete the 1930's French Deco Inspired Look.

The Breakfast Room

M.'s Dining Room Chairs from her 'Previous Home'  are now her beautiful new 'Breakfast Room' Chairs

 

Kitchen

 

M. carried over to her 'New Home' the 'Open Shelving' concept and marble counter tops. The 'Previous Kitchen' was finished out in warmer more ecru shades of marble while M.'s 'Current Kitchen' looks sleeker in whites and grays.

 

Family Room

   

I agree, slipcovers are the way to go with pets and children! M. has 2 couches and 2 arm chairs in her 'New Family Room' for additional seating. As children get older there are always more friends to entertain. Remember, Eddie Haskell was always hanging out at 'The Beeve's' house?

 

Family Room Fireplace

  

M. purchased 'The Painting' as a 10 year wedding anniversary gift for her husband, 'The Painting' would always be a focal point in their home, especially if it has a T.V. behind it.

Living Room

 

   

In the 'Living Room,' Michelle carried over the look of beautiful cream colored curtains hung high for maximum impact, a formal couch, and a striking cocktail table creating a formal (but still informal) seating area. Love the contrasting seagrass rug. (Remember M. has two dogs that have the run of the house!)

 

Master Bedroom

 
M. reupholstered her beautiful fabric headboard in butter-soft leather, and decided on all white sheets. The Tufted Bench still looks beautiful at the end of the bed.

Vanity Table and Mirror

    

M. was able to reuse this beautiful antique Vanity Table and Sea Shell Mirror in her 'New Bedroom.' By simply adding this sleeker Jan Showers Bench, M. has transformed 'The Vignette' from a classic antique look to a more 'eclectic' look.

Daughter's Room

Ha ha, my cutie-pie little niece is enjoying sweet dreams in M's daughter's old canopy beds. When you can't find room for a favorite piece in your new home, ask a friend if they know anyone who might be interested - tee hee - most favorite pieces that will not be carried over to new home will quickly be snatched up by adoring, dear friends.

M.'s Daughter's and Son's Rooms in 'New Home'

Rattan Trunk and Side Table from Daughter's 'Previous Bedroom' now in Son's 'Current Bedroom.'

 - - - - -

 

Once you have settled in and you are quite certain that you have exhausted all possibilities for further 'recycling' of previous home favorite pieces, contact your girlfriends, or the neighborhood stores from which the antiques came from, and ask if it would be possible to leave anything on consignment. Antiques are so expensive now and so difficult for dealers to find that you might be pleasantly surprised that some antique shops might actually be happy to have you leave your beautiful-but-not-the right-style-or-scale piece there on consignment.

 

Not to mention that husbands love to hear that the 'Investment Piece' antique (over priced in his eyes, but you just had to have it) could actually be resold. When decorating a new house, every little bit helps. Plus, you feel a little bit less guilty about that one 'must-have' piece of furniture that maybe you rounded down on just a tad (O.K., a lot) when your husband asked you how much it cost, wink, wink.


In today's economy, it is just good sense to try to sell a fabulous antique if you can't reuse it in your new home. It is considered very chic these days to throw yourself an 'I'm Moving Party' and send out emails (a means that can be easily forwarded - and so on, and so on) inviting friends to have 'a look' to see if there is anything that they might like to purchase for themselves. Nobody has to die any more to get a great Gilded Mirror in a quote - 'Estate Sale.'

 

 

The Stewart Home- 1930's French Deco Inspired, Part Deux

The Stewart Home- 1930's French Deco Inspired, Part Deux

How to get Michelle's '1930's French Deco Style' Look:

Sometimes even a successful decorator such as Michelle needs someone to collaborate with.  This incredibly beautiful home was the result of Michelle Stewart and Kyle Palmer's endless, yet patient pursuit of finding just the right pieces to compliment the 1930's French Deco Style they wanted the interior to reflect in Michelle's new home (home built in 1938.)

When I asked Michelle and Kyle where they drew their inspiration from for each room, they exclaimed over one another, "The chandeliers! Definitively, the chandeliers."

Kyle went on to explain, "We always started with the chandeliers. We worked so hard on finding just the perfect chandelier for each room. Sometimes, I would show Michelle a chandelier and just step back to look at her to see what kind of reaction she would have (like is he crazy!), but for the most part Michelle was open to trying just about anything."

It takes a very brave decorator (Kyle) to take on a decorator (Michelle) as a client, but Michelle is such a sweety, and Kyle, with his wicked sense of humor, were a perfect match for each other. In fact, the two decorators became quite the co-conspirators - during our little interview, there were plenty of guilty smiles and laughs, followed by a wince or two on Kyle's part, and a giggly confession by Michelle.

Kyle, "Ahem, I can't believe how much the fabric cost on those throw pillows,"  (meaning the pillows Charlie the Jack Russell spends his days perched on upstairs in the game room.)

To which Michelle happily rebutts, "It's O.K. because I got such a good deal on the couches, remember?!"

So there you go - a decorating philosophy any woman (and most husbands) can live with - If you spend too much on one item (throw pillows), try to cut back on another (couch) or vice versa (couch cost more than throw pillows).

Translation:  Decorating is a lot like fashion - It's all in the accessories.

When Michelle and Kyle couldn't find just the right piece, or they fell in love with a piece that was already sold, or the piece was just outrageously expensive, they did what so many others fear to do - they had the piece custom made, starting with the front door - 

The Front Door:

 

Front Door Surround - Lueder's Texas Limestone

Door - Bill Peck

Boxwood Parterre - Thompson Hanson

 

The Front Entrance Hall:

 

Chandelier - Josephine Antiques, Roundtop

Mirror - Josephine Antiques, Roundtop

Settee - custom made through Designer's Services (available strictly to the trade), upholstered in silk velvet fabric from Jack Larsen

Little Table - brought over from previous home

Staircase Carpet - Creative Flooring (713.522.1181), ask for Rachel

The Dining Room:

 

Chandelier - Watkins Culver, ask for Kim

Dining Table - custom made, brought over from previous home (additional leaf added for oval size)

Chairs - Klismo style custom made chairs through Designer's Services (remember, strictly to the trade), upholstered in linen velvet fabric

Side Board - Ruhlmann inspired French Deco Side Board, custom made

Mirror - Vaughan from George Cameron Nash

Hurricanes - 1940's Murrano Glass, Roundtop

1960's Gorham Tea Service - Pillsbury Michel from Antique Pavilion

 Seagrass Rug - Seagrass basket weave fabric from Stark Carpets, fabricated by River Oaks Rug Cleaners (713.802.1000)

 

The Breakfast Room:

 

Chandelier - Foxglove Antiques

Distressed Mirrored Breakfast Table - Shabby Slips

Chairs - brought over from previous home

Bar Cart - Jan Showers

Centerpiece - Indulge

Zebra Rug - brought over from previous home

Drapes - custom made

 

The Kitchen:

Counter tops and Backsplash - Calacatta marble from Walker Zanger

Island - Lagos Azul limestone from Walker Zanger

 

Open Shelving - custom made, style carried over from previous home

Dinnerware and Glassware - Indulge

 

 

Light Fixtures - custom made through Ann Morris, New York

Plumbing - Water Works

Hardware - Elegant Additions, ask for Mindy Carter

Island Stools - Sunset Settings

Drapes- custom made

The Family Room:

Orb Light Fixture - George Cameron Nash

Painting over Fireplace - by Gustavo Valenzuela from San Miguel

Fireplace - Chateau Domingue

Fireside Lamps - Area (713.668.1668)

Arm Chairs - slipcovered by Shabby Slips, upholstered in off-white linen

Side Table (between arm chairs) - Horchow Collection

*Michelle's Insider Decorator Tip: The dark oak floors match the ceiling beams.

Sofas - custom made through Designer's Services, upholstered in off-white linen

Metal and Glass Cocktail Table - Patrice Allen (713.869.2711)

Sofa Table - Crema Marble top, base by Bill Peck

Throw- Sheared Beaver Throw from David Sutherland Showroom

Task Lamp - Shabby Slips

 

* Michelle's Insider Decorator Tip: The ideal flat screen TV compromise...

 

... Hide it behind a painting! Look, no wires! Engineering genius?

 

 

Glass Lamp (on sofa table) - Restoration Hardware

White and Brown Accent Pillows - Holland & Sherry from David Sutherland Showroom

*Michelle's Insider Decorator Tip: a series of framed line drawings on the wall, a nice change from botanicals.

The Powder Bath:

 

Chandelier - Walter Lee Culp

French Console - French Accents, Roundtop

Sconces - Urban Archeology from TMG Fixtures

Glass - Dauphin Glass

Hand Painted Wallpaper -Rusty Arena from Ellouise Abbott Showroom

 

The Living Room:

Chandelier - 1960's Veninni, New York

Painting - from Jack Meier Gallery

Fireplace - limestone from Materials Marketing

Sconces - Ellouise Abbott Showroom

 

 

Tufted Sofa - custom made through Designer's Services 

Side Table - Dessin Fournir from David Sutherland Showroom

Murano Glass Lamp - Allan Knight from Ellouise Abbott Showroom

Barcelona Chaise - Knoll from Sunset Settings, upholstered in leather

Lucite Coffee Table - Allan Knight from Ellouise Abbott Showroom

Table Accessories - Area 

 

 

Drapes - custom made silk drapes, with custom made hardware

Banquette - custom made through Designer's Services (to the trade)

Coffee Table - Dessin Fournir from David Sutherland Showroom

Corset Chairs -1930's French Deco inspired, custom made upholstered in cashmere (note from bloggerself, these chairs may very well be my favorite thing in M.'s house!)

The Sun Room:

French Chandelier - Roundtop

Mirror - Thompson Hanson, brought over from previous home

Love Seats - Shabby Slips

Decorative Pillows - Shabby Slips

Coffee Table - Caroline Ellsworth Antiques of Twenty Six Twenty

    

Books (top of book shelf) - The Strand Bookstore, New York 

Coral - Vieux

Glass Apothecaries - Watkins Culver, remember ask for Kim

 

The Master Bedroom:

 

Chandelier - bought at auction

Headboard - brought over from previous home, recovered in tufted leather

Bed Linens - Indulge and Indulge Linens

Antique French Bench (at foot of bed) - Thompson Hanson

Line Drawings - series framed in gold

   

Mirror - brought over from previous home

Antique Vanity - brought over from previous home

Vanity Bench - Jan Showers, upholstered in silk velvet

Lucite Lamps - Los Angeles, California

Drapes - custom made

French Chair - The Gray Door

The Master Nook:

Chandelier - 1960's Italian chandelier, New York

Drapes - custom made

 Chairs - custom made through Designer's Services

Lucite Table - Allan Knight  from Ellouise Abbott Showroom

Ivory Cashmere Throw - Sferra from Indulge and Indulge Linens

The Master Bathroom:

 

 French Deco Chandelier - Hector Finch, London

Bathtub - Water Works

Vanity - Water Works

Two-Tiered Accent Table - Indulge

Drapes - custom made

Mirror - Dessen Fournir from David Sutherland Showroom

 Sconces - Nessen Sconces

M's Closet:

 

Chandelier - ABC Carpet & Home, NYC

Ottoman - custom made through Designer's Services

Drapes - custom made

 

Her Office:

Chandelier - bought at auction

Desk - custom made with Calacatta Marble top

Desk Chair - Eames Chair from Sunset Settings

Lamps - Restoration Hardware

 

   

Drapes- custom made french silk drapes in lavender, hardware from Restoration Hardware

Woven Shades - Conrad Shades

Chair - Jan Showers, upholstered in lavender Mohair

Book Shelf - Ralph Lauren

 

 
Glass Purse (found on metal book shelf) - the perfect secret hiding place for keys (and secret momentos)

 

The Boy's Room:

 

Headboard - Indulge and Indulge Linens

Bed Linens - Matouk from Indulge and Indulge Linens

Bedside Table - brought over from previous home

Wicker Basket - brought over from previous home

 

 

Desk - custom made through James Mol (903.322.1592), upholstered by Designer's Services

Chair - Vintage 1960's Hermann Miller from Mod Pod, fiberglass

Rug - Stark Carpets

The Girl's Room:

 

Headboard - Indulge and Indulge Linens

Bed Linens - Indulge and Indulge Linens

Bedside Chest - brought over from previous home (similar mirrored side tables and chests available at Indulge Linens)

Wooly Lamb Stools - Vieux

The Play Room:

 

Couch - slipcovered in off-white

Coffee Table - playing field for all board games

Brown Leather Stools - groove the room up

Accent Pillows - ahem, these old things, wink

 

The Pool House:

 

  Awnings - W K Hill Awning & Tent Co. (713.526.1347)

Terracotta Pots - Thompson Hanson
 

The Bastketball Court:

 

Basketball - Academy, ha ha.

Things to Note:

House was built in 1938 by Joseph Finger, and purchased by the Stewart's in 2007.

It took a total of six months to complete the remodel on the house.

The dark oak hardwood floors are original to the house.

Basket Weave Seagrass Rugs are used in a majority of the rooms.

All the walls throughout the house are painted off white, with the exception of the Powder Room.

The Family Room was added by previous owner.

Landscaping by Thompson Hanson

- - -

I will personally thank Michelle and Kyle for you (devoted blog readers) for sharing all their sources so freely. A lot of decorators (and magazines) guard their sources like my dog Spotswood guards her favorite toy. If you read the 'source guide' as carefully as we (M.H.) typed the 'source guide,' you will notice that Michelle and Kyle worked really hard to find just the right pieces to go into each room. In my opinion, this home is as beautiful and unique as it is because they (K.& M.) did not just walk into one store or even one showroom and buy 'a look,' but perused hundreds of sources that include but are not limited to: stores, showrooms, catalogs, auction books, the internet, classic 1930's French Deco artisans /stylists, and antique fairs until they found just the perfect piece to accent a room. And, when they (K.& M.) couldn't find just they right piece, they (K.&M.) fearlessly had the piece custom made (like my favorite pair of corseted chairs, upholstered in cashmere, ahhh).

And, last but not least - the person Michelle credits wholeheartedly for even owning this beautiful home in the first place is her dear friend Natalie Faust, who called Michelle at least 100 times in the course of an hour when she heard that the house had been put on the market. Michelle was out town and when she finally looked down at her phone and saw all the missed calls from Natalie, Michelle immediately thought something was terribly wrong and called Natalie back. It seemed that what was wrong was that Michelle was out of town and they (M., husband, and dear friend/realtor) needed to act fast and put an offer on 'The House' immediately before the end of the day.

"But, I haven't even seen the house!" exclaimed Michelle. "I can't ask my husband to do that. That goes against everything he stands for. He is not going to buy a house he has not seen, particularly when he's out of town."

Well, we all know that happy ending, wink.

Kudos to Natalie Faust with Trifecta Properties for being one of the best friends a girl- looking-for-a-new-house could have! And, sorry you had to miss Spring Break ;}

I love this house; I love everything about it. Congrats to Michelle and Kyle on creating such a beautiful space. If you would like to contact either Michelle or Kyle directly (to hire ;) I have secured their much guarded email addresses, please do not abuse such a privilege with anything that remotely resembles spam or stupid.

You can contact Michelle Stewart by email at this address: michelleastewart@comcast.net

You can contact Kyle Palmer by email at this address: kyle@palmerassoc.net 

Michelle is currently working on three projects locally with her design partner Mary Jane Gallagher.

Kyle Palmer just returned from a buying trip in Rome for a very special client.

- - -

Personally, in regards to the Indulge Decor Blog-osphere, I would like to thank M.H. for working so hard on 'The Stewart Home' series. You (the blog reader) have her to thank for all the perfect links.

I love this house; I love everything about it. Congrats to Michelle and Kyle on creating such a beautiful space. This has been a really fun blog to write.

- - -

Still to come:

The Stewart Home - 1930's French Deco Inspired Home, Part Trois

Sunday, March 14

Comparison of M.'s Previous Home Featured in Southern Accents Nov.-Dec. '05 and M.'s Current 1930's French Deco Inspired Home.

The Stewart Home - 1930's French Deco Inspired

C:

 

The Stewart Home - 1930's French Deco Inspired

Take note magazine editors - this house could be your next Cover and Feature Story!

Hell, what am I saying - Michelle Stewart's new home should be a coffee table book (and, I mean a book unto itself of just this house!) You ask how an amateur blogger like myself landed such a huge scoop - Michelle Stewart's fab new home? It's because I missed her Christmas party, and we have rescheduled at least a half dozen times our 'Girls Dinner' starting with cocktails at Michelle's beyond beautiful 1930's French Deco Inspired home.

So, I simply called Michelle (innocently enough, ha!) and asked her if I could snap a few pictures of her new kitchen for 'The Blog.' 

"You don't want any pictures of the rest of the house?" Michelle asked in her usual sweet manner.

Inside voice screaming! Calmly, I try to respond, "Um sure, if it's not to much trouble." Brain scream! Brain scream!

Assignment - Photograph the Equivalent of Decor Perfection.

The 'Assignment' started out with a simple case of self induced stress - new borrowed camera, fake general manner of routineness (Sure I do this kind of thing all the time, not. Never.), and complete unpreparedness. (Is the flash working?) And, thank God nobody uses film anymore because I never would have imagined that I could take over 250 pictures in just a matter of hours. When I got back to 'The Store,' I downloaded the pictures onto the computer and clicked 'Slide Show,' the girls (my shop girls) all exclaimed - "Eew, ahh.  Eew, ahh.  Eew, ahh." with each new picture. All pictures taken were beautiful except the few that I sneezed through (allergy season) not because I take a good picture but because the house is truly that stunning. After several attempts of editing, M.H. (my fab techie assistant) and I decided that it was no use - we simply could not eliminate enough pictures to make a single post. It would be untrue to the home to settle on just 12 - 15 pics, and really - Why would we? It's not like we have some persnickety editor to listen to. We're the bloggers; we be the boss. So, we decided to feature Michelle's beautiful home in three separate but beautifully lengthy posts over the course of a single week.

• Part 1: Glossy Pictures (Sunday, March 7th)
• Part Deux: How To Get Michelle's '1930's French Deco Inspired' Look (Wednesday, March 10th)
• Part 3: Comparison of M.'s Previous Home Featured in Southern Accents Nov.-Dec. '05 and M.'s Current 1930's French Deco Inspired Home (Sunday, March 14th)

This type of organizational viewing should be very appealing to you Namby-Pamby type readers who just flip through magazines looking at all the pretty pictures and not bothering to read a word of print? If you're this type of person (and be honest) then you should really enjoy this post. All pretty pictures, very little ink.

 The Stewart Home - 1930's French Deco Inspired

Part 1: Glossy Pictures

Here we go - The Grand Tour (no headsets required):

The Stewart Residence Facade

 
 

 

The Front Entrance Hall

The Staircase and Settee

      

 

 Front Entrance Hall - View Left into the Dining Room

   

 The Dining Room

 

The Breakfast Room - View from the Dining Room

 

    Breakfast Room - View into Kitchen

 

 

The Kitchen

 

 Open Shelving

 

 

Kitchen - View from Family Room

 

 

The Family Room

 

 Most Used Room in the House

 
 

 

Family Room - View Towards Kitchen

 
 

The Powder Room

 

 

The Living Room - View From Front Entrance Hall

 

 

 Living Room - Informal Seating Area to the Right

Living Room - Far End

 

The Sun Room - Just off Living Room

   

A View from the Upstairs

 

 

The Master Bedroom

 

The Nook - off Master Bedroom

 

The Master Bath

  

The Fashionista Closet

   

 

The Game Room - Puppy Dog Lookout (Charlie)

 

The Son's Bedroom

 

A desk to study at, as if! Ha ha.

 

 

The Daughter's Bedroom

 

 

The Pool House

 

 

The Basketball Court

and last but not least, Puppy Coco!

The Supreme Guard-dess.

Unless, it's chilly outside and then she'll be inside under a blanket.

 

Like I promised, just the glossy photos with very little text.

Next Post - Wednesday, March 10th

How to get Michelle's '1930's French Deco Inspired' Look.

House Beautiful - March 2010

C:

House Beautiful - March 2010

Or, should I say, House-ton Beautiful - March 2010!

I couldn't wait to pick up the March issue of House Beautiful at the grocery store this weekend because I had been waiting for months to see this photo spread of the home of one of my favorite customers. Not only does the home owner shop at my store but also the trifecta team of decorators - Babs, Julie (Babs' daughter,) and Eleanor, a completely unprecedented collaboration.

Now, I don't know how to say this in an un-bragadocious sorta way - In my humble opinion, Houston has the most incredible antique shops and the most talented decorators anywhere (sorry, L.A., N.Y. Atlanta & Dallas - I call it like it is.) And, what is really charming about Houston is that most of the antique shop owners are friends and travel to Europe together, share containers, and always have a table by the front door splattered with business cards from lots of other antique stores in the area (and perhaps, a bottle of Chateauneuf Du Pape tucked away to share later, wink.)

And, the decorators are even a tad more incestuous (meant only in the best-of-all possible-ways.) These 'gals' (and a few gentlemen) are a fun lot. Lots of them are best friends who do not view 'work' as a competition but are completely at ease asking each other for tips, suggestions, and 'Does anyone have a really good stucco guy?' 

I can make these general comments and compliments because over the years I have had the great pleasure to share lots of conversations and laughs with all of them. At a glance (eagle eye - Cynthia,) I could tell most everything I loved in these pictures came from either Watkins Culver Design or Chateau Domingue. Clue - the telltale 'Blue.'  Or, is it 'Blue-Gray,' or 'Gray-Blue'?

Having said that - with H.B. magazine in hand, I headed straight over to Watkins Culver Design and told Kim (with the fab accessories)and Nelta (last name Culver) my great idea to feature the pages of the magazine, credit some of my favorite pieces to the store from which they were purchased, and then show some 'like' pieces that you could buy yourself today to achieve the same great affect in your own home, tomorrow. 

"Wonderful," exclaimed Kim and Nelta. "How can we help?"

After an hour or so, I was off to Chateau Domingue for more blogging reconnaissance and Tom-foolery.

"Well, you know me - I love blue. I buy everything I see that is blue," declared Ruth Gay - the charming proprietor of Chateau Domingue.

All pretty razzle-dazzle if you ask me and just the kinda thing an O.K. blogger with a really fab assistant (M.H.) could do before the next series of mags hit the stands.

 And, just to let you know how much of the 'Great Stuff' both of these shops have - there were a few pieces in the magazine layout that when I went to ask each 'respective store' 'whose-was-what' both shops laughingly winced before confessing, "I don't remember because we had one just like that  . . . Did you ask them?" (the other respective store)

House Beautiful Magazine - Article title - 'Blue as a Titan'

Interviewer Douglas Brenner points out, "You look at the living room and think 'blue,' but then you look closer and say, 'Wait a minute . . . just where is the color?'

I get it - It's like where's Waldo? Where's the blue?)

    Magazine Devotees Challenge - let's have a closer look (with our 'where's-Waldo-eyes) for all things blue in the basically 'neutral' home.     

Louis XV carved-walnut Front Doors from Chateau Domingue and gorgeous 18th-century Venetian Processional Lantern from Watkins Culver.

     

 Blue Accents - Doors, Lantern, & painted Cupboard   

                 

French Doors with Glass through out - Watkins Culver. As is, painted Italian Iron Chandelier, a pair of Iron Arras Planters, and the fabulous blue painted 18th-century Gustavian Cupboard

      

 Blue Accents - Flowers, Glass Boxes, & painted Cupboard    

             

Swedish Dining Chairs from Sharon Skelton

        

   Blue Accents - magnificent Glass Centerpiece and Wooden Candle Holders

  

Wonderful detail shot of blue 18th-century Swedish Corner Cabinet - Chateau Domingue. Note charme B.Viz pillows from Watkins Culver.

 

  Blue Accents - painted Cupboard & tiny Pillow    

                 

Kitchens have now become everyone's favorite room in the house - especially the decorators. The reclaimed Wood Cabinets, Belgian Blue Limestone Countertops, and 19th-century concrete tile Backsplash - all from Chateau Domingue.

Personally, I love this kitchen and would be perfectly happy to live in this room (like I'm sure all mothers feel like they do.)     

                     

I think that a fireplace makes a room - as does this charme 18th-century Fireplace from Chateau Domingue.

  Blue Accents - Library painted gray-blue and several B.Viz pillows casually scattered throughout seating area.     

  

I love the idea of different seating (eating) areas - a beautiful Belgian Blue Limestone Pedestal Table in the family room - courtesy of Chateau Domingue.

 

   Blue Accents - Mirror over fireplace and again, more beautiful pillows.

Gorgeous Powder Bath - 18th-century Basin from Chateau Domingue. 

  Blue Accent - Painted Door   

*Insider Decorator Tip: First you find the sink, then you design the rest of your powder bath.

    

Painted Doors (Chateau Domingue, of course) lead into the bedroom.

Blue Accents - Mirror over Canape and Bedroom Doors

Both stores think the painted Italian Ceiling Panel probably came from their respective store - Hell, I wish that I could claim it, too!

 

Blue Accent - Ceiling Panel 

*Insider Decorator Tip - Bed Linens by Sferra available at Indulge, wink.       

         

Love the antique 18th-century Oak Beams - you to can claim 'reclaimed' beams from Chateau Domingue.

 Blue Accents - Curtains, and Painted Armoire  

               

Of course the chair is nice, but what I really love is the 'W' pillow from B.Viz, - Watkins Culver.

 

Blue Accent - Tiny Pillow

  

So, there you have it . . .a very beautiful home, years in the making, three decorators. So, are you short on time, your decorator is in Aspen, you're a bit of a do-it-yourself-er, or your husband just told you he's decided to have his landmark birthday at the house.

No worries, just read on . . .

I went to Watkins Culver and Chateau Domingue and snapped a few pictures of some very lovely items that you could go out and buy today to get your very own - House Beautiful 'Blue as a Titan' look in your own home for delivery tomorrow. (When I put it that way - sounds as easy as Gallery Furniture, tee hee.)

A Trip for the 'Great Stuff' as Seen at Watkins Culver and Chateau Domingue.

Watkins Culver:

In the market for a Blue Painted Cabinet?

    

  

How about a Blue Painted Breakfront?

  

   

             Somebody has to buy this Blue Painted Chest, please!

               

This classic Gray/Blue Buffet has a Belgian Blue colored top, a new classic color combo. (Now that I know about Belgian Blue Limestone, ha ha laugh at myself. I guess that I was a little late on that trend.)

   

Two very beautiful Trumeau Mirrors - one very neutral, the other fresh on our minds - Blue.

              

      A Venetian Plastered Blue Wall - a la Jay Iarussi.

              

Love both pairs of sconces. (They have a chandelier that would look really pretty with the sconces on the right.)

   

I would buy the chair just to put the charme B. Viz pillows on it.



I wonder if Becky has any 'Tiny Pillows' in 'D,'  hmmm?

Next Stop - Chateau Domingue for More of the 'Great Stuff.'

Chateau Domingue:

Let's start with a Cabinet . . . or three.

Everything about this cabinet is perfect in regards to color (blue, of course) and proportion

Sky's the limit in regards to these two Blue-Gray Cabinets, literally - they are both very tall.

       
Would look incredible in a 'Great Room' with vaulted ceilings - and think of the storage.

  

Look how beautifully the same but different shades of blue go together - a set of doors, paneling, and a cabinet.

  

Doors and Flooring - (yes, they sell the blue flooring too.)

      

I would so buy these doors for my husband to hide his liquor bottles behind. Note ladies in waiting look a little tipsy.
 

I apologize that my pictures are so askew because I really love these paintings (of the Cardinal and his, ahem . . . lady friend, niece?) I also love the way they are framed - love the blue (sounds like an old Houston Oilers football cheer - love 'ya blue.)

         

       

The 'Blue Wall' of Fireplaces

Rumor has it that Oprah's decorator bought several fireplaces for the Montecito Chalet from Chateau Domingue - but please don't ask, Ruth is much to discreet for such nonsense.

Whoever buys the fireplace should plan on getting the mirror too!

 

*Insider Decorating Tip: You know how you don't want to buy a car that doesn't fit in your garage, keep same philosophy in mind with fireplaces. The fireplace should be a focal point of the room, not encompass the room. Proportion is everything.

 

Belgian Blue Limestone Table

 
. . . with flooring to match.

In Conclusion . . .

Just remember Ladies, you can still have your very 'neutral' home even with one 'Blue Piece' - a mirror, a cabinet, a chest, a buffet, a magnificent vase, or even just a simple arrangement of seasonal hydrangeas. I can understand that maybe you're not up to splurging on a great pair of distressed Blue Doors or Belgian Blue Limestone Flooring just yet (without 'said' decorator's approval), but you could at least try one of Becky's delicious Blue velvet pillows for starters and email her/him (decorator) photos of all your other Fearless-Blue-Fantasies!

And just to let you know that I drink from the Fearless-Blue-Fantasies Blogging Kool-Aid, I have a Blue Trumeau Mirror in my entrance room, a Blue Cabinet (bar) in my dining room, and a slightly Blue Distressed Cabinet in my bedroom. So, you're probably thinking - 'Wow, really . . . She does? I thought her house was so neutral.'

*Note of interest - Watkins Culver has a Blue Wall, as does Chatueau Domingue and your's truly - Indulge. Who knew . . . ? Blue is everywhere ! ! ! And, much easier to find than that silly Waldo, wink wink.  *All 'said' fabulous blue walls created by the master Jay Iarussi.