I was thrilled to discover designer Stephen Shubel‘s 1906 fisherman’s cottage in the 2012 July/August issue of House Beautiful! Having loved this home from its first HB photo shoot back in August of 1998, I found myself even more in love with its recent transformation! Striped wood floors are now a fresh solid white…upholstered pieces are slipcovered in a more restrained palette of white, black, and a touch of green…even his signature stripes find new inspiration ~ take for example the charming lampshade atop his kitchen counter or the graphic cups in his pilastered Edwardian china cabinet…my favorite design element is the four-foot-tall plaster bust of the goddess Juno! Talk about making a bold statement in a small space! Its grand scale plays with the humble architecture in a way that is both lighthearted and utterly sophisticated at the same time…bravo!
Please enjoy this sneak peek from HB (top two photos) along with a more in depth look at the “before” photos…I know for myself, I always love seeing how a designer’s eye evolves over time…it’s a visual gift to examine the constants and changes in their aesthetic…I hope this post elevates your HB experience!
top two photos from House Beautiful, all other photos from Stephen Shubel Design
I think it’s challenging to pull off that level of sophistication while maintaining the elegance….wonderful
Such an eye for placement and detail within a small space. Glad to see additional photos of the cottage that were not included in House Beautiful.
Oh dear Danielle,
Love every room of Stephen Shubel! Thank you for posting about Stephen! Great designer!
xx
Greet
Thanks Greet!!!
xo
danielle
I love these kinds of posts where we can see how a space changes over time. Another thing that is striking to me about the space is how it photographed. Certainly there are lots of yellows and golds that warm up the space, the photography is also “warm” maybe taken when there was lots of southern light in the space. I’m wondering if the paint color has changed to a cleaner, cooler white or if it is actually the same? Wouldn’t that be interesting to find out…
Camille
Dear Camille,
Thanks for writing! For his new palette, the walls are painted a warm custom white Shubel calls, “French Vanilla” while the floors and trim are painted Benjamin Moore Decorators White. Not sure if this was his former palette as well. Yes, I agree the older photos have a yellow/golden glow about them…both are beautiful!
my best,
danielle
Shubel is a shameless showoff. How intoxicating…