zorn palette

 Today’s post focuses on the humble yet sublime palette from In Wikström’s Studio painted by Anders Zorn in 1889. Layered earth tones of stone, clay and putty provide a subtle backdrop for his female subject’s luminous gold skin and vibrant red hair. To some, this palette may appear quite neutral, void of “color” if you will, but for me, this highly sophisticated canvas speaks to all that I love about color and texture. It has opened my eyes to an infinite number of artistic possibilities…

Feau & Cie

Mariann Johansen Ellis

photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Elephant Seal Mother and Pup ~ Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott

photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Anne Packard

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Silk Road, Kyrgystan ~ Vincent Bonnin

Antique egg print

Feau & Cie

Winter ~ Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1895

Nicole Franzen via the gifts of life

Provins, France ~ Jules Gervais Courtellemont

hybridlava.com

Feau & Cie

Snow and Mist ~ John Atkinson Grimshaw

Jac for Valentino Fall/Winter 2012

Antique egg print

Libeco

Lioness, Kenya ~ Ramesh Ratwatte

via the gifts of life

pashtundukhtaree.tumblr via the gifts of life

Pamela Pierce

Dior Homme “Shadow” Fall/Winter 2012

Darryl Carter

Artists, Dordogne River ~ Jules Gervais Courtellemont

Haynes-Roberts

Pagoda Steps, Nepal ~ Bas Uterwijk

Charles Spada

African Spurred Tortoise ~ Glenn Nagel

Andy Newcom

Death Valley National Park ~ William Lee

Belstaff Spring/Summer 2013

Antique egg print

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Cheetah Cubs, South Africa ~Dumith Fernando

Bobby McAlpine

photography by danielle boudrot

Anders Zorn’s studio in Mora

Read Full Post »

well read ~ part one

whether they’re stacked on the floor or alphabetized on ornate custom shelving, books are an essential part of our daily lives…a true reflection of our passions and professions…more tomorrow!

Karl Lagerfeld

Albert Hadley

Alexandre de Betak

Andy Newcom

Bill Blass

Brigitte & Alain Garnier

Bunny Williams

Charles Spada

Christopher Knight and Carlos Aponte

Cristina Azario

David Kleinberg

Dransfield and Ross

Garagnani and Poccianti

Gil Schafer

Greet Lefevre

Read Full Post »

a glorious multipurpose room

This glorious multipurpose room was designed by Boston based designer Charles Spada…the bookshelves and desk echo that of a library while the sofa, chairs, coffee and end tables provide the comfort and ease one would expect from a living room grouping…the clean lines and pristine white of the bookshelves and desk compliment one another while the natural hued fabrics and dark finishes effortlessly unite…framed art, sculpture and decorative pieces come alive in their neutral surroundings…so much beauty in one room…

photos by Craig Davis for This Old House via Charles Spada

Read Full Post »

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

Read Full Post »

living with statuary ~ part one

living with statuary…from grand to petite, these sculpted forms add drama, sophistication and texture to our interior world…more tomorrow…

Feau & Cie

.

Andy Newcom

Charles Spada

Coorengel & Calvagrac

Dennis & Lean

Diana Kelly

Gil Schafer

Hallberg & Wisely

Candace Barnes

Richard Hallberg

Windsor Smith

Haynes-Roberts

J. Randall Powers

Jacques Grange

Stephen Sills

John Minshaw

Read Full Post »

the art of editing

the art of editing…

chefs, composers, architects, poets, filmmakers, designers, painters…

all who create, edit…it is an integral part of the artistic process…

sometimes it is the silent pause or the blank space that creates a masterpiece

above ~ Antony Todd

above ~ Betsy Brown

above ~ Charles Spada

above ~ C|S Architecture

above ~ Darryl Carter

above ~ Haynes-Roberts

above ~ Henrik Busk

above ~ John Minshaw

above ~ Kara Mann

above ~ Mar Silver

above ~ Meichi Peng

above ~ Stephen Sills

above ~ Steven Volpe

above ~ Studio Ko

above ~ Vicente Wolf

Read Full Post »

one hundred posts!

above, Alex Papachristidis

I made it! Today is my 100th post! When I started “a thoughtful eye” back in September, one of my goals was to write one hundred posts before the end of the calendar year and happily I achieved that goal with a few days to spare! To celebrate, I’m sharing with you my top twenty favorite interiors! Each and every one of these images brings a smile to my face along with a vivid memory of the first time I experienced their beauty.

This is my special gift to you, my loyal readers…thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to join me on this personal journey…I can’t thank you enough…there is so much I have yet to discover and explore about our visual world…I hope you continue to join me, it wouldn’t be the same without you…

below, Antony Todd

below, Bobby McAlpine

below, Bunny Williams

below, Charles Spada

below, Darryl Carter

below, Jacques Grange

below, John Saladino

below, Kelly Wearstler

below, Miles Redd

below, Richard Shapiro

below, Robert Couturier

below, Stephen Sills

below, Studio Ko

below, Susan Ferrier

below, Thomas O’Brien

below, Veere Grenney

below, Vicente Wolf

below, Windsor Smith

below, Yves Saint Laurent

Read Full Post »

fabrics

Photographing fabric is a challenge. It’s close to impossible to capture the color and even more difficult to show the beauty of its texture. Today’s post is my attempt at sharing with you a few fabric samples I purchased the other day at Zimman’s. The photo above (my antique salad servers from Paris, purchased at Nesting on Main) is the inspiration for the color palette ~ a golden brown with hints of earthy green. I was so fortunate to find just enough mohair in the exact color I was searching for! This fabric will be used for one of my current projects, restoring four 1940s dining chairs for my house. I adore the chairs and was determined to find just the right fabric for durability, color, texture and longevity. Voila, a mohair in my inspirational color palette! Also, to update you on the other chairs I had posted about (the pair of 1940s bergeres), I found a gorgeous white cotton (similar to the texture of a french grain sack) that will be the perfect compliment to the unfinished wood. When they are complete, the two will grace either side of the fireplace. The other fabrics are just for fun! (possibly for accent pillows) I absolutely love the linear designed fabric! (it reminds me of the Fendi logo) I’m thinking I might order a few yards, perfect for pillows on the white bergeres. I’ll be sure to include photos when the chairs are complete! (ps – the chair in today’s post is a decorative chair I purchased at Nesting on Main ~ great for photo shoots!)

below, The mohair! C’est magnifique!

below, The linear designed fabric, perfect colors and beautiful texture! Reminds me of the classic Fendi logo!

below, photo from Fendi

below, An animal inspired textile can be the perfect pattern to enhance any decor!

below, photo from Charles Spada

photos of antique salad servers and fabrics by me, 12/10/10

Read Full Post »

framed groupings

above, my living room

A few years ago, my husband and I purchased a small sectional sofa for our living room. Positioned in the corner opposite our main entry, I knew we needed a strong statement on the walls. After many weeks of research I decided on a large grid of square frames. Mathematically, they echo the “L” shape of the sofa and draw the eye up, creating the illusion of increased ceiling height. Initially I had intended to frame some of my black and white photographs but I ended up falling in love with the brown MDF backing and white mat! The high contrast and exact repetition turned out to be the dramatic statement I was looking for!

I’m excited to share with you some of my favorite framed groupings. Whether the same size or different shapes and sizes, many or few, colorful or monochromatic, framed groupings have the power to transform a space!

below, Alex Papachristidis

below, Steven Gambrel

below, Charles Spada

below, Darryl Carter

below, Jacques Grange

below, James Huniford

below, Richard Shapiro

below, Susan Ferrier

below, Thomas O’Brien

below, Veere Grenney

below, Vicente Wolf

below, Yves Saint Laurent

Read Full Post »

charles spada

Boston based designer Charles Spada has mastered the art of the mix. Known for his soft neutral palettes and editing eye, he effortlessly pairs antiques with new custom furnishings. The result, a warm inviting space for real living. For three decades, clients have looked to him for calm, peaceful interiors. A nest that soothes and relaxes the senses at the end of a long day. I think, for most of us, this is an extremely important function of our home. I love that he is able to create tranquil yet sublimely sophisticated interiors.

The photos in today’s post are from his Milton, MA condo. It isn’t easy to take a white box and make it sing but with his masterful touch, I’m hearing Puccini! The cookie cutter space is now a home with heart and soul. The art, antiques, textiles, and found objects each tell a personal story. Things he loves to live with displayed with a thoughtful editing eye. The simple palette allows you to take it all in and enjoy every moment. Easy, elegant, perfection!

Charles Spada has a showroom at the Boston Design Center, Antiques on 5, and also offers antiques for sale on 1stdibs.com

photos are from Traditional Home magazine

Read Full Post »