Clean Slate: Office Edition

Work is busy enough, who needs a cluttered and distracting space.  I am really into clean white lacquer furniture paired with chrome accessories.  Practical because they are easy to keep clean with wipeable surfaces.  It provides a clean, organized canvas on which to stack your piles and throw your coat. 

I also like the idea of mixing in some whimsical, yet work appropriate items that add some texture and personality.  What about that knotty piece of drift wood you brought back from last summers Nantucket venture up on a shelf ?

Driftwood candleabra from Elle Decor

Think about occasional pieces, like the Ghost chair, which go away when you aren't using them, yet make a chic statement and are very useful when you do need them. I would recommend going with the arm chair because it is much more comfortable and substantial than the side chair.



A cushion can help make these chairs a bit more comfy and when only using a seat cushion it doesnt sacrifice much of the look.  It can be a great way to add a pop of color (in this case they kept it neutral) peeking out from below the table.  The Saarinen tables lines work so well paired with these chairs, that table is just SO versatile!



Love the subtlety of these.  I also like the juxtaposition of the lucite and the rustic wood table.



Typically seen in the dining room arena or as a side chair to a console, I like the idea of bringing the Ghost Chair into the office!

If you think about it most people spend more time (awake) at the office than they do in their own homes.  Isn't it important to make that space beautiful ,and be a space you look forward to spending time in? An organized and comfortable office makes me productive.  Don't underestimate how much your surroundings can affect you.   Make your surroundings beautiful!

Have a wonderful weekend!

C (&M)



RED, Right, Return

View onto Union Square

This time of year we see a lot of red because of the holidays and this weekend, during a trip to Manhattan, I became particularly inspired.  Red was all over the the place this weekend as the Santacon phenomenon took hold of East, West and Greenwich Villages and spilled out onto the streets.  What is Santacon you ask?  Tens of thousands of people dressed up as Santa moving from bar to bar in hoards.  As I strolled along with my husband and several friends there was no place to get a cocktail or bite to eat without being bumped into by a hundreds of Santas.  You think this would have dissuaded me from the color red...but not quite.

From Elle Decor

I love the walls of this Manhattan living room painted in Benjamin Moore’s Million Dollar Red.  It's orange undertones make it less in your face and give a this room, at the residence of Estée Lauder executive, John Demsey, a sophistocated look.  I love it paired with the black and white photographs to really make it pop.




“A great way of experimenting with any new color is to introduce it in a small way: a bright-red cushion or lamp shade, red trim or piping on a throw. A glossy red satin or velvet will have much more impact than a matte cotton muslin.” —Tricia Guild, Elle Decor






I couldn't resist but snap a photo of my old red brick apartment building, One Astor Place.

Coincidentally enough, I realized that even I added a bit of red by donning my favorite red dress (and grandmother's vintage leopard fur coat) to help celebrate a friend's birthday in Manhattan.  I must admit I love the way wearing red makes me feel and although I tend to keep it a little more subtle in my interiors, I think it sets a wonderful aura for a room.  I tend to keep it out of dining rooms because in my mind that has been very overdone.  I like to put it in a living room or den.

Hope you are all enjoying this holiday season!

C(&M)

Palettes of the Season


I look to fashion and beauty for emerging color trends when it comes to designing interiors.  Interior design tends to lag a bit behind fashion when it comes to color trends.  One of my best friends works in the make up I like to look at make-up palettes for color inspiration as well.  I love that colors, especially during this holiday season, tend to be richer and a bit more bold.  Jewel tones are always so rich and striking.  Here are the hues I am feeling right now...



 




Love this rich peacock colored palette (Crystal Eye Palette by Bobbi Brown)







 

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Love the deep plums with a dramatic black set off against a neutral grey (Bobbi Brown)

Enjoy this holiday season full of color and fun!

C(&M)

NYCraving

Although I am not one of those people who could live in Manhattan for more than a year, albeit being one fabulous year, I still get a hankering to visit that fantastic city every few months.  I go to visit friends, for the energy of the city, and of course for the interior design resources that simply cannot be found anywhere in such a small radius anywhere in the U.S. 

An upcoming trip to visit the city and check out the holiday lights and frolick about the city lead me to thinking about all of my favorite resources that I want to check out while I am there.  So I thought I would share...

Carlos De La Puente Antiques was one of my favorite places to shop for antique mirrors and lighting.  Specifically they carry a wonderful selection of Murano glass chandeliers and lamps, fantastic Spanish and Italian gilt wood and gilt metal mirrors and chandeliers.  They have 2 locations, one on 59th St and the other on 60th.  Staff is always extremely helpful and friendly. 

Tribeca is a great neighborhood for finding some unique pieces and a great place to find some of these is at the Antiqueria Tribeca on Duane Street.

For a great selection of antiques in close proximity to Manhattan at much lower prices, check out The Antique and Artisan Center.  It is a quick 40 minute drive or 30-45minute train ride on the Metro North line to Stamford.  Also available online at 1st Dibs.

The Silver Peacock located on Park Avenue is a store I have not yet visited, but I have heard and read a great deal about this store.   It is owned by my former boss while I worked in New York City, interior designer, Jennifer Flanders.  It is atop my list of places to visit on this upcoming trip to Manhattan.

I look forward to sharing more resources and photos from my upcoming festive trip to New York soon on my blog.

 More soon!

C (&M)