It’s been a long time since I broke out one of these posts! I used to religiously cover the release of each House Beautiful, Elle DECOR, and Veranda each month, but somewhere along the way the habit got dropped. I miss these write ups! They are not only fun for me to write about, but also serve as a digital folder for my “tear sheets” from each issue. Click here to read about why I love décor magazines so much. They are a wealth of inspiration!! So, without further ado:
First of all, please forgive the ghostly blue cast to this photograph. I was trying to show the true hot pink loveliness of the chair (which was showing up more red). In any case, I am feeling pink again in a huge way! Maybe it’s because this DC winter has been so mild, so my mind is already turning toward spring. I just think touches of this passionate color – be it soft peony or bold fuchsia – will be the perfect way to warm up our predominately cool decorating scheme.
We all know I’m a big fan of peacock blue upholstery juxtaposed against bamboo blinds. This little nook does not disappoint. I love the way it kind of floats off the floor, and the coral colored pillows are a perfectly placed punch of cheerfulness.
While I can’t say that I’m necessarily in love with the fabric patterns of choice, the yellow is very sunny and upbeat. In fact, this living room is like a big dose of Prozac! What I do adore is that sheepskin rug. I could never get away with it, with two children, but a girl can dream! I also really like the subtle tone-on-tone moroccan stencil on the wall. It doesn’t jump out at you, but it offers so much depth and texture.
Here’s some more pink! And since it is mixed with some black-painted furniture, metallic accents and a sea-glass colored rug, I am in Heaven. I love how the drapes make the aqua in the carpet read as a neutral. I am officially obsessed with this bedroom. Psst! I will give huge respect and extra credit points to the person who can tell me what you would call this color pink. Leave a comment below!
And here’s the other side of the same bedroom. And even though I adore this room, I can’t say that this is the bed I would have chosen. I think I’d pick something more along the lines of the next picture. . .
Ah yes, this bed will do nicely. Just add a huge, sumptuous grey faux fox blanket and voila! (note this pic is not from House Beautiful) Anyway. . .back to the magazine!
Love the hide rug and all that reclaimed wood, but of course every fiber of my being is dying to add Prussian blue leather, lucite furniture, white bisque ceramics and a healthy smattering of gold and silver accents. I guess my design personality isn’t exactly 100% “cozy.”
Snow leopard stairs? Yes please – I LOVE this. In fact, I would risk possible divorce over this floor covering. Maybe if the stairs led to a giant plasma TV and a beer fridge the Husband would allow it? I might leave off the monastery mirror collage – makes me feel like I should be confessing something.
The subtle neutrals in this bedroom are extremely soothing, and I think that the grouping of sawfish bills is übercool. The collection of Scandinavian pressed botanicals? Um, did they see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? How do you say “That is fiendishly creepy” in Swedish? Ah yes. Det är monstruöst läskigt. Wow, I am awfully nitpicky today. I blame the lack of wine.
Ok, I’m temporarily turning over a new leaf, and will only talk about what I love in this picture and will sublimely ignore the design choices I could live without. (I will of course make suggestions though.) The wallpaper above the chair rail is To. Die. For. And it probably cost more than both my kidneys are worth on the black market. I especially like how the emerald green of that massive buffet table plays against the aqua, but not in a matchy-matchy way. I would love to see more of that sea foam color in the rug, and I think that glossy, white chairs would bring out the trim and make the whole room pop. Ooh, and while you can never go wrong with flowers, a collection of malachite obelisks would look so fierce in the middle of the dining table and would tie in with the green of the buffet. Finally I would love to see a chandelier similar to the one in Nanette Lepore’s living room in here. And just in case you can’t instantly picture what I’m talking about, I have provided a picture below:
Right??? If I walked into a room that looked exactly like how I’m describing I think I would start instantly weeping from the perfection of it all.
By the way, I am not compensated by House Beautiful for my opinions. Although, if Hearst Publications wants to take me on as an outside consultant, fly me around, treat me to champagne and pay me to blather on about what is clearly the most wonderful subject in the universe, I would not turn them down. Have you seen the current issue? What were your thoughts?
xoxo,
CA
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Hmm..Persian Pink?…or maybe Pepto;)
I believe that pink bed is how my daughter envisions her bed when she’s daydreaming:)
I love “Persian Pink!” Sounds so exotic! Of course now all I can think about is finding a huge 8×11 persian rug with this pinky hue running through it. With a lucite table on top, of course. ;)
I loved these curtains when flipping through the issue this month too! The pink with slight lavender undertones reminds me of a peony. But I think I had a crayola as a kid that was close to this called “orchid.”