Lillian August Field Trip

I started my week with a fun day trip to Lillian August in Norwalk (more here)  to throw around some design ideas for my guest bedroom.  I've been working with Lynne Methot and she's such a great designer who always listens to my outlandish ideas about molding colors and textures and patterns and hues.  She's got a brilliantly subtle way of encouraging me to push the limits while also trying to maintain some traditional style that will have some longevity. 

As you recall, before I set out on this trip, I was all gung-ho about using Meg Braff's Up in a Tree Bamboo wallpaper in that guest bedroom.  I wanted to go for a certain shock factor...something that may make my guests think, "holy crap...you didn't wallpaper your entire room in green trees and paint your ceiling orange sherbet strips and think I would actually fall asleep in here?" 

OK, so sometimes I get carried away by the super stylistic rooms featured on pinterest (see my pinterest here).  Within the first minutes of our meeting, Lynn casually suggested..."How would that Meg Braff look in your sunroom?"

UPDATE:  (PSSSSSST--we interupt this post to announce that Pink Pagoda has just announced on her blog that Meg Braff will be on OKL tonight! )

I  contemplated for a moment.  Hmmm.  I hadn't thought of that.  Why hadn't *I* thought of that?  I love the idea of the teal blue and the pea green...it's a combination already played out in there in the rug and the sitting chairs and the sofa. 


Obviously, that's why I am not am official designer. I'm just ballsy enough at times to "act" like I know what I'm doing.  Only I lack the true skill to take that extra step and figure out how to best apply it.  That's where Lynne comes in.  What a great idea.  And I know you are secretly breathing a sigh of relief that you don't have to work around such a bold paper!  (hey, there's always the next room. Kidding)


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Nina Campbell Orchard Blossom

Introducing the new direction for the guest room.  Oh...don't loose faith in me now.  I promise this is not going to be a snooze-fest!  Remember that velvet ottoman with the fuchsia, orange, violet colors?  That's still in this room.  We plan to create a vintage meets modern feel in the room.  And I must admit, this wallpaper has much more of a bedroom feel to it.  More tomorrow on my visit with Lynne! 

House Tour: Dining Room

My dining room is a work in progress.  I have the necessities such as my china cabinet and dining table but am still working on the additional details.  True to my decorating tastes, I wanted to mix unexpected colors and patterns to create a more non-traditional eating space. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(After wallpaper--see more photos of wallpaper here)

 
Bar cart in the far corner:
 

 

 

The chairs are Arden Park from Lillian August for Hickory White.  I fell in love with the Highland Court Zoe pattern (In Currant 180936H 338).   This textile was the first thing selected for the dining room. 

My Lillian August decorator at the time was Holly Russo and she helped me find the Casamance Paris Texas fabric for the backs (361 40 40).  I love how the back seems simple and serene and then the fronts offer a pop of pattern.  The chairs are finished in a black leather contrast welt. 

The rug was custom by Lillian August.  The chairs are definitely over stated so the more subtle design in the rug helps to calm the room. 

The drapes are silk with hues of raspberry flowered embroidery.  They have a black velvet leading edge and a celery green silk finish. 

Right now, the walls in the room are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172.  It was a good neutral base when we were building our house, but once the drapes were put up, the wall color did nothing to enhance them.  Introducing, this fabulous Moroccan Grass cloth print by Phillip Jeffries.  It's on order now and I can't wait to have it installed!  (Thanks to my current Lillian August decorator, Lynne Methot, for finding this match.  Love it and it exudes my style).   

 

I selected this Jonathan Adler Ventana Chandelier when we were building our house.  It's a perfect size for the room with the right amount of 'moderness.'   The hutch in the background is Crate and Barrel.  They don't usually feature such sleek dining room furniture.  It has a Danish modern feel to me. 

Once the wallpaper is installed, I may consider painting the tray ceiling.  To see more on how much I love a painted ceiling, see here. 

Before photos:

 

And here are more samples of potential wall coverings for the room.  They were all very nice but in the end, I felt like the Moroccan weave was the most 'my style' and would also still be bright in the room. 

Here's the view from the dining room into the foyer. 

In the future, future, I'd love to have a sliding door system like this built into the foyer.  Sometimes when we have dinner guests, our voices travel right up the stairs where the kiddos are sleeping.  I think it would also add character to the entrance.  If anyone can tell me where to find fabulous doors like that, let me know!

View of room with table set

I'll be sure to post updated photos of the dining room once the wall covering is installed and additional accessories are added.  If you'd like to see some of the other inspiration photos for my dining room, please feel free to check out my 'Dining' board on pinterest.  (This started as a repository for wallpapers that I wanted to consider for the room and has since grown into a space for all dining rooms that I love). 

 

 

Big update:  the wallpaper is up!  check it out here. 

It's been a pleasure to show you around this room.  If you'd like to visit the rest of my house, you're welcome here anytime. 

House Tour: My Study

Welcome to my study.  Actually, this is really my husband's hang out.  He retreats here to finish office notes, watch sports games, and escape from me and the kids when needed. 

{I don't mind, my retreat is in the sun room (visit here)}.   

 

My favorite piece in the study is this cabinet from Lillian August.  It reminds me of an old vintage cabinet that could be carried down to future generations.  The ebony finish is rubbed to show signs of faux wear and tear and the back of the book case is a light gray with simple looking pegs for the shelves.  I use it to showcase eclectic things that have meaning to us;  everything from our wedding photo box to EG's medical books to a photo of our son Jack with his grandpa, Jack. 

 

I wanted the feel of this room to be sort of like a gentleman's cigar lounge... meaning darker, lush colors. with hues of teal, olive, grass green, dark walnut.   

This Miles Redd room was the inspiration for the study.  I loved the dark blue lacquered walls and mix of greens and blues (with a pop of orange).  See more of Miles, here

The walls are painted in high gloss Benjamin Moore Pacific Ocean Blue (2055-20).  I wish they were even glossier but I think the painters were freaked out by the color as it was and didn't want to push the limit even more.  (Plus, I later learned that many of the super lacquered rooms are actually wallpaper). 

This plaid chair is my favorite!  The front is a lush olive green color and the back is a plaid.  I wanted something unexpected on the back.  (Custom from Lillian August). 

I found these leather Dunhill chairs and nesting tables at Crate and Barrel.  (The walls in this photo look very "blue"...it's hard to get a good photo of their true darker teal color). 

The striped multi-colored carpet is from Crate and Barrel, too.  I was surprised to find something that encompassed all of the colors in one. 

The desk is Lillian August.  This has leather inlays on the top surface with solid wood details around the outsides.  The window treatments have ikat shades with deep walnut, teal and grass green colors.  The drapes are grass green linen (they appear lighter in the picture than they actually are).  I like the contrast the green is against the teal walls (Thank you to Holly Russo at Lillian August). 

 I'm always on the hunt to accessorize with more items but I want to take my time and find items that will compliment well with the decor. 

Thank you for touring the study.  If you'd like to visit the rest of the house, enter here. 

Lillian August at Saks NYC

{Pssst...have you heard? }  Lillian August now has a boutique shop at Saks in New York City.    For the city dwellers, check this out:

I have long been a fan of Lillian August for their classic, yet modern design flair.  Think of any high-end designer and Lillian probably offers a segue into the brand. 

If you can't make it to the meet and greet this Thursday, here's a glimpse of what you're missing:

Lillian August Boutique at Saks in NYC
Courtesy of Lillian August Blog

Courtesy of Lillian August Blog

Lillian August show room in Saks (PS--Love the Trina Turk Home Pillows)

Courtesty of Lillian August Blog

Courtesy of @EVBLtd Rhonda Eleish Twitter

Loving the luscious colors and plush textiles; the fuchsia, the teal, the tangerine and charcoal gray.  Saks is selling Lillian August furniture and the unique home accessories for which they've become known.

See more Lillian August products as featured in the 'Vivid Hue Home | House Tour: Family Room', here or Master Bedroom here

House Tour: Family Room

The inspiration for my living room started with the Antoinette Wysocki  oil painting above my fireplace.  We were still in the planning stages for building our new house and this was a gift from my husband for Christmas.  It was my first real piece of art and I loved it.  The cranberry red hues in the painting were inspiration for the tufted ottoman and Benjamin Moore Classic Burgundy accent wall. 

The room was rather large with two potential focal points: the fireplace and the flat screen tv (I begged my husband to conceal this behind a built in wall cabinet, but you see who prevailed).  We created two sitting areas in the room, defined by separate ottomans and sitting areas. 

The area by the fireplace has two Hounds tooth Clayton Chairs.  The plaid ottoman (Jacobean Demi-Lune) reminds me of a cozy wool coat.  The red is a subtle continuation of the cranberry color.  When we have extra guests, this can also serve as additional seating.  (Thank you to Holly Russo at Lillian August for this plaid ottoman design). 

Holly also helped us find the perfect entertainment cabinet for the room. It has a brushed sand coloring that blends with the Benjamin Moore Sandy Hook Grey walls and it hides our entertainment items beautifully. 

This Lillian August Belvedere is one of my favorite pieces.  You can guess how much fun it was to mix multiple patterns and colors for this end result (I had help from Carolyn Wise at Lillian).  The outer frame is covered with an ikat ebony and charcoal print.  The down cushion is a flax linen with black piping.  There are marigold side pillows with black contrast piping and gray velvet back pillows.  The gold and black silk plaid pillows continue the same color hues. 

The opposite side of the room is more subdued (for me, ha) with Lillian August Albert Sofa and Side chair in grey velvet.  There is a Chrysanne wool round rug that defines this sitting area.  The ottoman is a red tufted leather with pewter nail heads. 

I am drawn to anything with Greek Key.  I knew these grosgrain ribbon Greek key pillows would give a great accent.

This Per Se Round end table has a fabulous travertine top.  It's an unexpected 'unfinished' look to keep the room from being too polished.  The silver lamp is James Young and I was drawn to the over sized shade. 

To keep it at the same eye level as the floor lamp on the other side of the couch, I added some of my favorite design books to add height.  (Thank you Holly Russo for the suggestion). 

Here's the view from the kitchen into the family room.  They're really a continuation of each other so it was important to have the same feel in both rooms.  The Benjamin Moore Sandy Hook Grey paint is carried into the kitchen.  This is just a sneak peek of the kitchen view.  Check back at a later date for a house tour of the kitchen.   (PS- I couldn't resist this pendant from Restoration Hardware, even if it obscures the view of the tv slightly). 

 

 

 Got to keep the ties to NYC somehow.  "Drink NYC Water."  Love Fish's Eddy for these coasters and more! 

I needed something that made a statement on this wall.  I hunted for a large piece of art and fell head over heels with this one.  It's another oil on canvas by Antoinette Wysocki and it's even more brilliant in person.  (You have got to see the process by which Antoinette creates these pieces, video here.  And note--this video was not sped up...this is how quickly she creates her work. 

It's breath-taking). 

We positioned the sofa a few feet from the back wall to create a hallway from the kitchen to the sunroom. 

My stack of House Beautiful mags give the peonies some height.  The photo on the back left is one of my favorites...a silhouette of my kids at the beach handing off a mini Star Wars light saber. 

 

 

I bought this poster from Etsy.com and I always remember it as a quote from Strawberry Shortcake (of course now I can't authenticate that through google search).  But anyway, to me, the use of the word "will" shows determination.  I interpret in my own way to mean...if you work hard, love unconditionally, try to be a good person, put your family first, be kind, (you get the point)  etc, etc then it's possible to have the best of both worlds.  

This is a photo of my little guy.  Believe it or not, this was a candid shot I captured one day last summer when we were just hanging out. 

 

Hope you enjoyed the family room tour*. 

Check out other room tours here
Also, I have additional photos of this room on another post that can be viewed here. 

*I must acknowledge that I had help from several Lillian August designers for the culmination of this room (Carolyn Wise | Holly Russo).  My goal was to continually push the limit in how daring the design could go but many people contributed to the end result.