Rug Affair

I seem to have an on again, off again love-affair with Persian/Kilim rugs.

Well at the moment it is back ON.

via

They're an easy way to add colour and texture to any room, and they have this organic feel to them that instantly cozies up your space. 

What sealed the deal for me (momentarily at least) was after seeing Adam Levine's home in Architectural Digest this past weekend. 

via

I was never a fan of his before, but the fact he lives in this space makes me thinks he's maybe okay...

Everything about this room is perfection - and for me the rug is one of the major statements.

I've recently been craving the more cozy, casual feel for my home and these rugs definitely do it for me. (Partially why I always flip-flop as I jump between formal and non quite often)

Anyways, I thought I'd throw together a room with a few different options just for fun!

Rug:One Kings Lane

Rug:RugsUSA

Rug:One Kings Lane

Rug: 1stdibs

Sources:

Sofa:Red, Side Tables:Jonathan Adler, Coffee Table:1stdibs, Chairs:DWR, Stools:Asadeh Shladovsky, Lamps:Ralph Lauren, Art:Sandy Ostroff, Bust:Kelly Wearstler

Hope you enjoyed!

S.

Designer Watch: Alex Papachristidis

Elle Decor recently did a feature on the 

Manhattan apartment of designer Alex Papachristidis, 

and I was pretty taken to say the least! 

AP's home was full of layers, patterns 

and saturated jewel tones - 
everything I absolutely adore!! 

I was particularly taken with his bedroom in part 

because of the Sandberg Raphael wall covering 

- one of my recent faves - 

and also because of the brilliant use of patterns 

and its unabashed boldness!

Sandberg Wallpaper: Raphael

I also love his canopied front entrance upholstered 
in a striped linen, and I have a crazy soft spot 
for all ebonized etageres/bookshelves, and 
this chinoiserie etagere certainly 
doesn't disappoint - stu--nning!!!

And AP is every bit as bold with his 
use of art as he is with his interiors!! 

While some of his spaces exude a sense of 

formality or staidness, this is completely 

offset by his choice of art. 

Talk about unexpected!! 

[My kiddos would go crazy for that lil' guy ;)!!]

via Alex Papachristidis

And the sculpture in this next photo has been a 
fascination of mine for some time. 

Only recently did I realize 

that it is from the Papachristidis family 
retreat in the Hamptons - of course it is ;).

Ugo Rondinone Tree Sculpture

And this larger than life bronze beauty 

graces the premises as well. 

Claude Lalanne’s bronze Pomme

AP's the Age of Elegance out on bookstands - 
and I for one would like to see some more!

Happy Wednesday friends!!

Hugs,
Christine

Pretty Perfect Pad

We both could pretty much talk house all 
day every day. It is a definite preoccupation, 
and we need us an outlet!!

What better than a post, we thought, dedicated 
to all things pertaining to building our dream home 
- room by room, light fixture by door knob by 
kitchen sink by...

So today we begin with the first of our 
"Pretty Perfect Pad" 
series, focused on exteriors.

-Sarah-

I looooove anything to do with interior design (I guess that's obvious based on the fact I co-write a design blog), so it's not unusual for thoughts of building another home to cross my mind (like, very often). However, for now these are all just dreams...

But, dreaming is fun so I think my home would go a little something like this...

via

White stucco, I love white stucco! And a big, black, chunky set of doors is a must! 

Obsessed with everything about this entrance.

via

Since I love the look of a mixed interior, it only makes sense for the exterior to reflect what will be seen inside. Yes, this is a museum but I love homes that have a more commercial than residential look and this is PERFECT inspiration!

via

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I need Kelly Wearstler's topiary garden in my life. 

via

And if we were to get all technical, my dream home would actually be located in sunny California - the Hollywood Hills will do. 

With a modern pool, palm trees...

via

Walter Lamb outdoor furniture...

via

and some of these fabulous star shaped tables...

That's my dream!

- Christine -

Iiiiit's official. 
I am a rambling country estate kinda gal. 

As much as I completely appreciate 
other aesthetics, I always seem to gravitate towards 
that Hamptons-esque or New-England-style sprawling 
estate equipped with all the essentials - 
tennis courts, stables etc.

A very close second to the meandering country estate, 

however, is this kind of thing...

White, boxwood, shutters, symmetry...

This Georgian/neo-classical style is much more 
consistent with the type of interior that I'm drawn to,
 and in my opinion is a style that lends itself 
to a variety of styles - so well-suited for achieving 
that mix we talk about so often!

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions ;).

Pretty Perfect Pad 
will be back next week with our 
picks for foyers (a definite favourite 
for both of us!!)

Big hugs, 
Sarah and Christine

Friday Files!!

Kay, damn it is cold here. Like crazy tried to put 

money into two different parking meters yesterday 

but they were even too cold to work kinda cold! 

Holy holy.

Deliver me. Here will do. 

St. Regis, Bora Bora

So in light of the sub-arctic perma-freeze over 
here, fitting that I've got shelter on my mind, 
and in particular the most incredible specimen of a 
home I have ever laid eyes on.

Welcome to my dreams. Come on over to my new home:


Hermosa Beach House by David Watson Architect

Right down to the balloon shades in the bedroom. 

Good grief. 

----

We also wanted to say a very very big thank you 

to Christine over at B and B for including 

a selection from the 219 Boutique in her 

Blogger's Picks for To and From Magazine's
Valentine's Gift Guide!!

If you haven't already, you definitely need
to check this out!!

219

And in closing, another crazy cool photo
by the one and only Slim that I hadn't
seen until this week.

Looovie!!

Slim Aarons

Big ol' mwahs and happy w/e friends!!

Christine

Kelly Pink

Can someone please explain to me how I've never come across this pink and black heaven by the one and only before?!

D-Y-I-N-G!!!!

Kelly Wearstler is a pure genius. But, we all know that!

I honestly don't even understand how one can actually pull off something this incredibly fabulous!!

I love the simplicity of the pattern on those drapes up against all the other craziness. And we can't forget to take note of the pink snakeskin chair!

But, I'd like to focus on a key feature here that has be completely taken...

The Souffle Sofa?!?!?!?!

We all know about the fabulous souffle chair that has everyone swooning...

But I was not aware that it is also made in sofa form!!!!

Seriously... this has top spot on my dream list of things I'll never be able to own!

.......

And if all this wasn't enough, check out this pink version of her  Head Trip Sculpture! 

I'm sorry, but this deserves a post of it's own. 

Enough said.

Allow me to go pick my jaw off the floor. xo

S.

All images via

Leopard Love!!

Morning, and apologies for the tardy post!

Kiddos are back in action after a month at home 
and lunches + snowsuits + driving kiddos around +++ 
and this mama is behind schedule!!

But I digress...

I know I'm hardly new to this party, but I've 
got a bad case of leopard lust goin' on over here, 
and I need me some skin 
(that just sounds wrong, but anyway)!!

via Pinterest

I think I may have mentioned in a recent post 
my love for pattern (and lots of it) these days, 
and I'm wanting to incorporate it in some large way 
into my living room and adjoining office area.

I've finally decided on the drapery hardware for the space, 
and it's going to look something like this baby:

via Antique Drapery Rod Company

...which looks something like this from a different angle:

via Ruthie Sommers

via Sally Wheat Interiors

via Meg Braff

Lovie-love it!!

And I'm also getting closer to narrowing down
the trim for the draperies, 
but boy has that one had me stumped!

Have a couple of samples being delivered 
any day now, and hopefully that will end 
this here drapery design dilemma.

But back to the leopard. 

To the very top of my design bucket list 
is a sofa full of feline!!

While I love the smaller pieces and accessories 
in leopard, I love the impact of the 
leopard on a larger scale.

This sofa in Aerin Lauder's home is so crazy 
sophisticated and unbelievable against the 
dark walls and gold accents - drives me mad!!

via Vogue



via Elle Decor

Now to find me a fabric.

This fabric by Lee Jofa is exquisite - 
the price, definitely not so much. 

Think it retails for over 
$1000 yard which would make my sofa possibly 
the most expensive ever made.

But in a perfect world, this would be my first choice.




Lee Jofa

Any suggestions for leopard alternatives 
would be very much appreciated, as I need to 
cross this one off my design bucket list for certain :).

Ta ta and xo for now!!

Christine

P.S. The other thing driving me mad these 
days - Blogger - apologies for the weirdo formatting!!