Workspace-spiration

My favorite all time client (and favorite all time mom) is ready to move on to the next area of her home: workspace/guest room.  The measurements have been taken, exposure has been considered and budget has been discussed.  I am playing with floor plans and products, so you'll understand why I have workspaces on the brain.  Here is a[n extensive] collection of my favorites...

domino

I have loved these two tone bookshelves since I first saw them in domino a few years back.  

House Beautiful

The space is small (10'x12') and in it there is a giant desk, a twin bed and we need some shelving of some sort.  I love how the above space has the desk in front of the shelves.  This a great space saver and visually fabulous.

Lonny

I know I have posted this picture before, but it is one of my forever favorites and I keep thinking that black walls would be fabulous in mommy dearest's workspace.  I especially like how they've kept it modern in this space by painting the moldings and window panes.

Lonny

This studio space by Betsy Burnham screams my mom.  I adore the chandeliers and would love to swap out her ceiling fan for one of these, but I already know how she'll feel about that.  

Lonny

White, bright, clear, crisp.  If my mom was a novelist I would put this one in my back pocket for inspiration, but it may be a little too stark for her.  Her workspace is where she will create beautiful dresses, draperies and more and I think we need more going on than this in order to hide all of the messes she'll make!

Lonny

Bunny Williams, you rock my world.  Bunny Williams reminds me of my mom for some reason and I know she will love this one.  If only her 10x12 studio had the architecture this space is rockin'.  

Lonny

Here's the light bright white effect again, but this time, it could work because of the contrasts created with the black and white artwork and dark floors.  I could definitely layer in the warm whites with some texture and a cowhide.  Yum.  The question really comes to, does she want a blank canvas or an oasis of color and inspiration.  Talking points for the next meeting ;) 

Lonny

The two images above are a favorite for me.  Black and white are kind of my thing.  No matter how hard I try to stop with the black and white, I just can't help myself.  

House Beautiful via

This isn't really a workspace, but it is my mom's style or how I see my mom's style and it's definitely going on the inspiration board for her new space.

I don't know where this image came from originally, but I got it from the Furbish Studio Pinterest account.  It is so wonderful in every way.  Just thought I'd share it. 

Lonny

Here's the white and bright again, except with beautiful and colorful accents- and a very dark wall.  Ever notice how almost any clutter is good clutter against a black wall?  

Lonny

This space is so sophisticated, but modern and fun.  Just look at that floor!  My mom has a lot of artwork and I think if we keep the walls white, then a black floor is a must.

domino

White and bright.  Again.  But with the contrast and the accents, which would be a must.

Lonny

Classic and chic.  My mom will love this space and it looks a bit like the rest of her house.  However, I think it is just too buttoned up for the mad dressmaker!

domino

Black walls.  I am loving these black walls.  Mama is all for them too, which is fab, but I want the space to be bright and light for her too.  There are two windows and great exposure, and if we covered the walls with all of her beautiful artwork, it would definitely work.

Cottage Living

Cottage Living was my mom's jam and this image is from that beloved publication.  It's a little modern, but natural and worldly.  Just like mama.

domino

I grabbed this image because there is a twin bed that has to be incorporated in the space.  I want to treat it like a daybed/lounge because she only has overnight visitors a few times a year.  So I was thinking two 38" bolsters on each side and pillows along the back.  It would be cool to make a mattress cover with tufts and huge piping so that it would look like a french mattress and then a coordinating bedskirt with beautiful frill just like that above!  Bingo!

House Beautiful

Black.  Again.  And beautiful inspiration boards.  We are definitely going to do at least one large cork board for her inspiration.

Anna Spiro's office.  It needs no explanation.  Perfect in every way.  I would be all over wallpaper but the previous residents had put up some textured wallpaper and then painted over it.  So it's not happening.  Sad face.

Lonny

This is not a workspace, but it is the space that keeps coming to my mind when I think of my mom's studio/guest room.  Isn't it lovely?  

domino

Mary McDonald's infamous office.  So chic.

via

Miles Redd.  He's a genius.  That is all.

via

Although my mom's style is very down to earth/cottage/coastal, I would love to give her a glam space like that of Aerin Lauder.

Lonny

Perfection.  The pink.  The gray.  The polar bear.  The modern with the classic.  Sigh.  What caught my eye was the Quadrille covered inspiration board.  This is so happening in her space.

Close up.

Lonny

This has been my want for my mom's studio since I saw it in one of the first Lonny magazines.  This is a happy place.

Looking for: Leopard Carpet

Ever since I saw this image on The Decorista's Instagram, I can't get it out of my head...

I LOVE this carpet.  Love it.  And I can't find it ANYWHERE, which drives me nutty.  I am not generally a fan of carpet, but having a family changes things.  I want our home to be as cozy as possible in every way.   And if carpet is a must for a comfy home, then it's gotta be leopard.  Duh.  Although, I have had no luck finding the exact carpet used by The Decorista, I did find several other fabulous options.  Here's my leopard carpet round-up:

(numbered from left to right, top row first)

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

Un·ne·ces·si·ties

I like beautiful things.  Delete that.  I love beautiful things.  Call me shallow or snobbish, I don't care.  It's how I am wired and there's no turning back now.  Fortunately, I am almost as pragmatic as I am exorbitant.  Almost.  This is quite the contradiction, I know, and it stirs up all sorts of internal disputes.  Mostly because I want things that are ridiculous to want and I recognize all of the other places money could be spent.  I can justify almost anything if I want it bad enough, but there are certain things that I am not sure I will ever bring myself to purchase, even when I can afford them.  Here are a current few of those things...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 

one.  Item number one is of maybe three shown here that I would and could absolutely be okay with purchasing despite the price.  Exceptions are always made for fine art, especially when they look like this.  Wowza.  

two.  This is the first I've heard of joailliere Nak Armstrong, but I think this ring is perfection.  There is something marvelous about the contrast created by brushed gold and a rough edge against diamonds and emeralds.  Splendide!

three.  The perfect dresser.  A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.  Just like me.  I want one on each side of the bed to function as his and hers dresser/nightstands.  My husband is always reorganizing my side of our dresser (true story) and quite frankly, I'm sick of it.  A girl needs some privacy.  If my underwear drawer is fair game for his OCD tendencies, then what's next?  My purse? (gasp!)  It's time we each had our own dresser and that's that.

four.  You know what they say, "Once you go silk, you never go back."  No one says that, but ever since I bought my modest silk Aubusson rug at auction, I have been cuckoo over silk rugs.  They feel like a party under my feet and I want more MORE MORE!  What's more, I have been lusting after one of ABC Rug & Home's dyed rugs for eva and this color really gets my motor going.

five.  I recommended these Baker drum stools to a client in May and I have wanted them ever since.  I have no idea how much they are, but they're Baker, so they have to be pricey right? (Someone please prove me wrong)... They sure would look purdy with that pinky peach silk rug.  

six.  I want a Hermes blanket, okay?  Lots of people have them and I got online the other day to price one out because I need a throw for the end of my bed and I thought well, I'm going to spend a few hundo on a cashmere job, so why not spring for the Hermes beauty?  Boy was I naive.  One of these things will set me back a cool $1300.  Really guys?  For a blanket.  I don't know, I just can't get with it.

seven. (To the trade.  Contact me for price and purchasing information)  While perusing some Brunschwig & Fils velvet, I came across this amazing fabric.  I want to walk on it, sit on it, sleep with it, wrap myself in it, but I think for the price I'll be happy to just have a pillow made from it one day.

eight.  Feminine, yet strong.  I am storing these in the back of my head for a future client.  

nine.  I have wanted a Jerome Dreyfuss bag since I lived in France.  This is one of those items that I just may be able to justify one day.  Maybe.  Let's talk this through.  It's roughly a grand for this bag.  One thousand dollars.  For a bag.  Just think about that for a second.  And sadly enough, that's really not that much for a designer bag.  On the other hand, the leather is so soft and supple that it could double as my nightly headrest.  The dual purpose may help me to rationalize this purchase.

What are your current unnecessities?  

Liam's Room

I've taken two weeks off.  I want to talk about why at some point, but I haven't yet thought of a professional way to do so.  Until I do, I will pretend I never went away and attempt to renew my love for design.  I will say that I got the wind knocked out of my sails.  That is as articulate as I get for now.

Our Home Beautification Act is pretty much always "in effect" but now that we know we are moving for sure, we are in a mad dash to "finish" the house. (By we, I mean me.  Solo.)  The most recent addition to the completed rooms list is Liam's room, which he'll probably never sleep in or even use, but it is his room and it's as close to finished as it will ever be.