paul wiseman ~ a perfect restoration

With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, I thought you might enjoy a sunny visit to designer Paul Wiseman’s Northern California home. Thoughtfully restored to maintain its original foot print and floor plan, this 1912 gem has been updated using “green” materials that have the appropriate sensibility for a historical restoration in the 21st century. These sustainable materials, such as custom bronze casement windows with energy saving glass, a zinc roof and LED lighting, reduce long term maintenance while preserving the unique character and spirit of the architecture. What a brilliant coming together of modern technology and beauty! From the breathtaking water views to the perfectly edited interiors, this house has it all! Please enjoy!

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend filled with sunny skies and a lovely breeze!

Above and below ~ photography by Matthew Millman for The Wiseman Group

To read more about this masterful property, pick up the 2013 May-June issue of Veranda!

Below ~ photography by Laura Resen for Veranda

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white done right

Happily, my 2013 March/April Veranda arrived the other day! This romantic spring issue, accompanied by the slow but steady snow melt outside my window, reminds me that greener grass and tulips are just around the corner. One of my favorite interiors is the Houston home of designer Pamela Pierce. Re-imagined with cleaner lines and a more edited mix of modern & antique pieces, she has successfully composed a stunning new space to reflect her newfound aesthetic. Ruffled hems are updated with sleek white linen slipcovers creating sculptural forms that appear to float atop her 19th century rustic wood floors. Thoughtful juxtapositions include Frank Gehry’s iconic cardboard Wiggle Chair perched next to a 19th century elm table and antique rolled-arm English sofa. Her impeccable eye for color and texture allows each piece its own breathing room yet they work effortlessly together, as if to tell us one cohesive story. The photos in today’s post are from the Veranda spread along with some beauties from her design portfolio. Click here to learn more about this amazing transformation!

Photography by Lauren Resen for Veranda

Photographs from Pamela Pierce Designs

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signature moves

A low slung armless sofa anchored by a pair of perfect cubes and sculptural table lamps, natural fiber rugs, splashes of vibrant color and exotic prints, large canvases of modern art, a pair of antique chairs mixed with a mid-century inspired cocktail table…for Veranda’s 2012 Hearst Designer Visions show house, designer Antony Todd created a chic and glamorous loft using his sexy signature moves…familiar forms come to life in this light soaked space, reminding me once again why he is one of my all-time favorite designers…I must applaud Veranda’s Editor-in-Chief Dara Caponigro and Editor-at-Large Carolyn Englefield for selecting Antony to design this NYC show house…his impeccable eye for detail, scale, color and form combined with his effortless sense of style make for the ultimate experience…to learn more about this project, pick up the current issue of Veranda (Jan/Feb 2013) and/or click here to watch a fabulous behind the scenes video featuring Antony’s lovely Australian accent! Happy weekend!

photography by Max Kim-Bee for Veranda and Jennifer Mehditash for Dec-a-Porter

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natural colors and textures

In styling my home for the holidays, I’m finding great inspiration from natural colors and textures…although this gorgeous Hallberg-Wisely designed interior is void of traditional holiday decorations, it does incorporate “green” gestures that, for me, feel fresh, festive and ready for a party! Here’s hoping this artistic gem offers you some new (and natural) ideas as you style your home for the holidays…wishing you a very happy weekend!

photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna for Veranda

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gold and silver

If you’re searching for elegant & innovative holiday decorating ideas, look no further than the 2012 November/December issue of Veranda! My personal favorite is the Bedford, NY home of designer Stephen Sills, thoughtfully adorned with natural materials in a sublime palette of green, white, gold and silver…his gilded creations blend seamlessly with his refined collection of art and antiques, and rather than play the starring role, they support and elevate the beauty of his prized possessions…the first three images are a small sampling from Veranda, while the rest of the photos hail from Mezonin, a Russian interiors magazine that featured this jewel of a home back in 2011…I thought you might enjoy a look at this remarkable decorative transformation!

“Nothing celebrates the richness of the season like gold and silver.” ~ Stephen Sills

first three photos by Max Kim-Bee for Veranda, all other photos from Mezonin

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james michael howard

The September/October 2012 issue of Veranda features a not to be missed Belgian inspired home designed by architect William T. Baker with interiors by James Michael Howard…Howard’s style, eloquently described by Veranda’s Mimi Read as “European glamour hitched to a spare sensibility,” speaks to the ethereal colors and textures of Belgian design while thoughtful splashes of modern furniture and lighting offer an altogether American aesthetic…my favorite gesture is pictured above in the dining room ~ vintage Georgian-style chairs, with seats upholstered in a sumptuous Donghia chenille, are artfully paired with an icy marble and silver-leafed console of Howard’s own design…the minimalist form and cool texture of the console elevates the sculptural beauty of the traditional dining chairs, enhancing their curvaceous form and warm chocolate hue…be sure to pick up this month’s issue of Veranda for the entire photo shoot and article! Enjoy this sneak peek with photos from James Michael Howard‘s website

photos from James Michael Howard

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kathleen clements & briggs edward solomon

The May-June 2012 issue of Veranda was waiting for me when I arrived home from High Point…a welcome surprise for my weary eyes! Two must-sees ~ the 12 page spread featuring a Darryl Carter designed Washington DC home and this Hollywood Hills home, designed by Kathleen Clements Design and Briggs Edward Solomon Design…gallons of Benjamin Moore Super White paint transformed this 1950s California ranch house into a clean-lined, light filled shell…with an almost gallery-like atmosphere, the carefully curated selection of antiques and art command attention and rightfully so…take for example the Gustavian bench upholstered in Schumacher silk taffeta with a bolster in C&C Milano velvet…against a stark white backdrop, its artful details take center stage…a piece of art to be adored and lived with…

“In the way that a perfect mat magnifies a painting’s impact in a frame, the house’s white background lets a judicious selection of spare furnishings and fine-boned antiques shine.” ~ an excerpt from the Veranda article written by Degen Pener

photos from Kathleen Clements Design

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robert couturier ~ his connecticut home

In celebration of Veranda‘s March/April 2012 issue, I’m re-posting a favorite from my archives, Robert Couturier’s Connecticut home…I hope the photos and text from this post will enhance your Veranda experience, allowing you to savor the details of his exquisite gardens and interiors…

The four photos above this text are a sneak peek at his garden party from the pages of Veranda…chilled Veuve Clicquot, boiled lobsters glistening with butter and fresh flowers all in a heavenly setting…welcome spring!

above, the formal dining room, photo from Robert Couturier

Every weekend, New York designer Robert Couturier and architectural historian Jeffrey Morgan head north to their pastorale neoclassical country home in Litchfield County, Connecticut. The house is a series of pavilions, complete with an octagonal library and a new wing featuring their state of the art kitchen with GE Monogram appliances. Every detail of the new wing is in keeping with the original home ~ cedar shingle roof, limestone and black slate floors, architectural doors, windows and mouldings. The classically laid out garden features terraced boxwood parterres giving the landscape a year round architectural structure. (it must be breathtaking in the winter!) This heavenly home is a place for them to enjoy nature, family, friends and their beloved shih-tzu’s Hercules, Henriette, and Bess.

“Home is my house in the country. My dogs and my boyfriend are there. Things are of no importance, I mean I like to look at them but things come and go; people don’t. Home is a place where you can rest and I don’t think anything in New York is restful.” ~ Robert Couturier from an interview with New York Social Diary

below, the new kitchen, photo from GE Monogram

below, photos from Robert Couturier

below, photos from House and Garden

below, photos from The Magazine Antiques

below, photos from Architectural Digest French Edition

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a dream home in normandy ~ charles spada

Much to my delight and surprise, the 2012 January/February issue of Veranda arrived just in time for the holiday weekend! What a wonderful and unexpected gift! With a hot cup of tea and my favorite candle burning, I slowly savored its contents…rich with imagery and inspiring stories, I felt transported to another world…when I turned to page 62, my eyes widened and I gasped with joy, could it really be? Yes, my eyes were not deceiving me, it is in fact Charles Spada‘s country home in Normandy! Yet another wonderful and unexpected gift! Beautiful photos by Alexandre Bailhache set the tone for this intimate story, narrated by the designer himself…the following is a small excerpt to whet your appetite…”At the head of the drive, a pair of sequoia trees flanked the gates. These giants were followed by weeping ash trees, drooping like large umbrellas. An allee of old, neglected apple trees formed knobby hedges. Just beyond stood the manor, lovelier than any picture, a majestic structure even on that overcast day. The house and grounds took my breath away.” ~ Charles Spada

To compliment your upcoming Veranda experience, I leave you with some photos from the March 2011 Architectural Digest Italia…this beautiful photo shoot highlights some of the same interiors featured on the pages of Veranda, but there are a few nice surprises as well…the first image of the living room offers a closer look at the rustic beamed ceilings and incredible paneled doors, and the fourth to last picture is of a jaw-droppingly gorgeous guest bedroom with one of the most delicious antique daybeds I have ever seen!

I hope you enjoy this journey to Normandy as much as I do…oh and when you do pick up the current issue of Veranda, don’t forget to read Dara Caponigro’s editorial on page 14!!!!! Not to be missed!

photos from Architectural Digest Italia via john about town, quote from Veranda

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one kings lane ~ veranda’s house of windsor

If you liked yesterday’s post and thought to yourself, “wow, I’d love to own that Venetian canopy bed or those linen wingback chairs,” then now’s your time to shop! Starting today, One Kings Lane is selling pieces from Veranda’s House of Windsor! What an opportunity! Take for example the gorgeous Belgian Canape that Windsor Smith used in her design for the entry hall…imagine owning a piece that graced the cover of Veranda!

For those of you unfamiliar with One Kings Lane, it is an online home and lifestyle shopping destination offering spectacular designer decor, furniture, accessories, antiques and vintage finds, in a curated setting, at prices up to 70% off retail…founded in 2009 by Susan Feldman and Alison Pincus, the company has grown to over 2 million registered users, with a staff of almost 200 employees…clearly, consumers are drawn to the convenience and quality their products!

So today, I thought I would feature my 5 favorite finds from the House of Windsor as photographed and described by One Kings Lane…who knows, maybe you will be the proud owner of one of these coveted pieces!

above and below ~ Windsor Smith (entry hall), Grand scale Belgian canape with bronze relief, upholstered in Kravet fabric, $17,999

“The gray tones and varied textures in the entry hall subtly awaken the senses and quietly lure you further into the house.” ~ Windsor Smith

below ~ Tara Shaw (bedroom), Pair of small 18th century Venetian mirrors with original gilding, $2,245

below ~ Tara Shaw (bedroom), queen-size Venetian canopy bed with gilded crown, upholstered headboard in Dedar Acanthus fabric, $4,725

“Anchoring the bedroom with the Venetian Canopy bed made designing around it effortless. The bed’s soaring height only accentuated the height of the room. And because the headboard is upholstered, this bed has the added bonus of also being comfortable.” ~ Tara Shaw

below ~ Windsor Smith (kitchen), Pair of Clive wingback chairs from Giannetti Home, upholstered in Mark Alexander/Thomas Lanvin Retro linen in Moonshine, $4,199

below ~ Candace Barnes (master dressing room), Niermann Weeks Primavera Statue, reproduction of an 18th century French terracotta sculpture, $4,655

photos from Veranda and One Kings Lane

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