ann kent

Kate Spade for Lenox

 

I use this every morning and it makes me smile.  It suits me!

 

How To Decorate A Modern House, Ranch, or Split Level II

I recently found this apartment featured on the Living Etc website and I am truly smitten.  Hasn't Jamie Karlsson (co-owner of Jimmie Martin, a hip furnishings purveyor) articulated the perfect blend of modern and classic?  I love the neutral walls and floors and the pops of color (see frame and chair)!  I adore Mr. Karlsson's text based art and covet the black velvet settee!  And the french chair with the bright flower print - it's mine!  Mr. Karlsson's decor is exactly the mix of antiques and modern that I reference in my earlier post about modern decor here.   Mr. Karlsson - thank you for the inspiration - we love it! 

A Funky Apartment In Denmark.

I traveled to Borders today to pick up a few books and of course, as soon as I walked into the store, the issue of Living etc. resting on the shelf caught my eye.  This particular issue was a bit outdated as it was the holiday issue. I quickly flipped through the magazine and, of course, I saw so many images that were consistent with my own design aesthetic that, despite the rather hefty price of this Australian magazine to Americans, I had to have it.  Simply.  After the demise of Blueprint, Domino, and House & Garden, well, you know the situation.  And so, I purchased the magazine. 

I returned home and as I walked through the door, I thought - oh goodness, when will this end.  I am over 40, time is passing, and I continue to be obsessed with white walls, a modern but eclectic decor, and bright pops of color.  Of course, I started to doubt myself ... well,  what is this obsession anyway?  And aren't you a bit, dare I say, old for this? Oh sadness.

Well, the heavens assuaged my doubts immediately; there is no question.  The weather in the Northeast today is overcast and snow falls.  I brewed tea, and opened my purchase. The first article I turned to was a layout of images from Marianne Brandi's apartment in Copenhagen.  Marianne designs the home collection for the clothes and interiors label Day Birger et Mikkelsen.  She and her partner are living in an apartment in Sweden for three years temporarily while Marianne's 18 year old daughter finishes school.

Here was the answer to my doubts.  See for yourself.  Marianne shares a design sensibility similar to my own.  Here are shots from Marianne's apartment and isn't the decor lovely?  I felt reassured.  See all of the images at Living etc. here .

 

A Girl And A Frame

  

She journeyed to the flea market in the dying city where she was born. Long ago, the city was rivaled only by New York City in the breadth of architectural design present in its buildings. There were mansions designed by McKim, Mead & White; a park heralded from the offices of Frederick Olmstead; residences by Frank Lloyd Wright; museums that were constructed for a Pan-American Exposition; and an office building bearing the imprimature of Louis Sullivan.  Now, the city was suffering from years of economic decline.  It's residents fought hard to preserve its treasures; yet, pieces of those treasures were increasingly found at the local markets offered for sale.

During her wandering at the market, she found a complete guide to the city's architecture. She passed and regretted it later. She found a large box of ski patches from resorts such as Alberta, Banff, and Zermatt.  She purchased a handful to adorn her designs.  Then she discovered the frame. It was beautiful but decrepit, cracked, and missing pieces of its ornamentation.

Nevertheless, she knew that there was a place for it in her home far, far away. A place where the broken treasure would bring smiles to those in its presence. Five dollars was written on the tag and she offered three. Her offer was gladly accepted and the frame travelled from its place of origin to a new city, just as she had years ago.  She felt pangs of sadness while painting the lovely frame, covering up its history and broken, gilded carvings. Yet, when she was finished and it hung, it had new life and brought its owners happiness.

A New Year.

 
Enticing, clean, new.  Via Emma's Design Blog

Invitation To Spend A Weekend At Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?  Unless you were well connected, you likely never had the opportunity, like me.  Well, now, if you are fortunate enough in this economy to have a spare $1200, you too can spend a weekend at FLW's Fallingwater near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia and perhaps even dine with a luminary from the architecture world.  See this article for details!

How To Decorate A Modern House, Ranch Or Split Level.

If you read some of my earlier posts (e.g. this one about Amy Butler's home) you know that I grew up in a modern ranch home built in the sixties.  Once I struck out on my own, however, my taste manifested itself in colonial design.  I wanted all of those Palliadian references - symmetry; decorative molding; high ceilings; and tall, arched windows.  Nevertheless, I recently arrived at a new appreciation for modern design in residential dwellings and have a burgeoning respect for my parents design choices back when I was a child. My new appreciation has been fueled in the last year by my visit to New Canaan, Connecticut to participate in the 2009 Modern House Tour where I met Toshiko Mori who spoke about modern design.

With my new near obsession with 1960s residential design, I often find myself thinking about how I would decorate a modern home or even my parents' 1960s ranch if I had the opportunity.  I peruse new modern design magazines and blogs that showcase modern interior design.  I see many homes faithfully following the 60s design ethic and owners even purchasing accouturements from the 60s on E-bay or Craigslist. 

Yet, I find something wanting in those interiors.  I find that I am missing a lightness, modern color schemes, and a reference to the past.  I crave white interiors to maintain a bright, clean ambience.  I find the color schemes of brown, orange, and mustard brought forward from the 60s to todays interiors to be saddening.  Rather, I love pops of modern, bright colors against a neutral background.  And I continue to have a passion for eclecticism - perhaps a modern interior with an antique or two to mix it up and make it real. 

In any event, if you have a modern residence and are presently updating and sprucing it up, my recommendation would be to start with white walls, paper a wall or two with an interesting design, and use bright color in strategic places.  Fill your home with modern furniture and light fixtures but mix it  up with tasteful antiques.  The classic lines of the antiques will provide a savvy guest with contrast that will emphasize your fine modern lines.  So, try not to copy the 60s design aesthetic; strike out and create something unique, something of today, something clean and fresh.  The results will make you happy!

Images via Sixx Design (1,2,7,8); Brocade Home (3,4); Chic Sensibility (5)  Serena & Lily (6); Christina Lundsteen (9); Decorology  (10, 12, 13); Anthropologie  (11).

Summer Living via Somerset Bay

I am loving this image today: the lines - inspired vintage; the dusty hues; and the contrast provided by the white light.  I am drawn to the lantern and I imagine the sea and the sand outside the window.  Enjoy.

                                      

Image via House Beautiful.

A Nice Life - Elliott Puckette & Hugo Guiness

Oh to be Elliott Puckette.  Elliott is a girl, a very fortunate girl, indeed.  Her name conjures up images of sororities, ivy league campuses, mint juleps, volvos, summers on the Vineyard, and an interesting ancestry.  In reality, she hails from Tennessee, graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA, is an artist & mother, and her husband is Hugo Guiness, a fellow artist and a member of the Guiness family of England.  Elliott crafts glorious etchings of calligraphy-inspired curves and spirals (see examples of her work in my earlier post here).  Hugo is known for his lino-cuts and illustration work which are found at the shop of our perennial favorite, John Derien. 

Last year, Hugo illustrated JCrew's highly coveted book, What A Man Should Know, (available here) and of course, Elliott's art is featured in one of my favorite movies, The Royal Tenenbaums.  The couple reside in Brooklyn with their young children and over the years, Vogue Living (sadly en hold) and Elle Decor  have given us a peek into their scintillating life.  In fact, the couple's townhouse was reputed to have inspired the location of the filming of The Royal Tenenbaums and Elliot's art is even featured in the movie.  More recently, we saw Elliott's work in Jenna Lyon's (JCrew design director) home when featured in the November, 2008 issue of Domino Magazine.  I'm thinking this story has all of the ingredients of a great film.  Andy Spade or Wes Anderson, how about it?!

  

 

Images No. 1, The New York Times Style Magazine; Images 2-4, via the book Vogue Living, Houses, Gardens, People; Images 5-8,  Elle Decor , October, 2000.

                              

The Swirling Maelstrom - Idea No. 3.

                                 

                                                   

Oh, I have ideas ... so many ideas.  The challenge is to bring them to fruition.  That takes discipline, confidence, and commitment.  And do I possess those traits ... yes, in some contexts but not in others, no.  The wise ones say take a step, a little step and every day, take another.  Courage, that's what it takes.  It takes courage to take those little steps.  Oh, so much courage.

Images from the lovely and talented Anna Maria Horner and our perennial favorite, anthro.