well read ~ part two

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ~ Charles W. Eliot

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Hallberg & Wisely

Haynes-Roberts

J. Randall Powers

Jacques Grange

James Huniford

John Minshaw

John Saladino

Juan Pablo Molyneux

Kara Mann

Karin Blake

Lars Bolander

Lauren Gold

Luis Bustamante

Magnus Lundgren

Mary McDonald

Meichi Peng

Michael Smith

Michele Bonan

Miles Redd

Nina Griscom

Richard Shapiro

Robert Couturier

Sheila Harley

Steven Volpe

Suzanne Rheinstein

Ted Tuttle

Thomas Jayne

Thomas O’Brien

Tricia Huntley

Vicente Wolf

William Frawley

Windsor Smith

Yves Saint Laurent

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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

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stephen sills

For 25 years, Stephen Sills and James Huniford commanded the attention of the design world. Their partnership landed them on the cover of every major design publication and in 2003, they released an inspirational book titled Dwellings: Living with Great Style. Remarkably, in 2008, Sills and Huniford decided to go their own separate ways and the birth of two new businesses were born. I remember thinking it odd that James Huniford was flying solo in the Septmeber 2010 issue of Veranda but now after seeing the Stephen Sills cover of AD this month is all makes sense. The two are finding their own voices and I have to say their work is better than ever! Huniford is a master of the mix, especially combining high art with found objects. Stephen Sills is all about opulence with a modern twist. For those of us who love and admire their work, we don’t have to mourn their separation but rejoice in their new beginnings. Twice the inspiring interiors to swoon over!

The December 2010 Architectural Digest cover features a gorgeous Connecticut home by interior designer Stephen Sills and architect Jason Chai of C/S Architecture. For those of you awaiting your December issue of AD, I will just preview you with a lovely quote that references music, the architect Chai speaking of the pianist Artur Schnabel, “he handled the notes no better than any other pianist, but the pauses between notes – that was where the art resides.” For today’s post, I have included some of my favorite Stephen Sills interiors for you to enjoy! May you find them as enlightening and provocative as I do.

above and below, Midwest Home

“Modern design is a perspective, not a period. If you look at the past with a fresh but well-educated eye, it clarifies your sense of the present. A poetic juxtaposition of colors and textures with classical furnishings can be more original than the kind of shock-and-awe tactics that strip a room of its soul. The essence of poetry, after all, is revelation. I aim to orchestrate a subtle composition that unsettles conventional expectations.” ~ Stephen Sills as quoted in Architectural Digest, November 2006

below, Penthouse Apartment

below, Country Retreat ~ I can’t get over how absolutely beautiful the gilded four post bed looks on the stone floor. The warm gold perched atop the cool gray is a study in perfection. Stunning!

below, Bedford Home ~ This residence is included in Dominic Bradbury’s “American Designers at Home” and HGTV’s “Top 10 Most Beautiful Homes.”

photos from Stephen Sills

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james huniford

Pairings…there are classic food and wine pairings ~ champagne and oysters, chardonnay and prosciutto, filet mignon and cabernet sauvignon, port and stilton…

“The above are time-tested pairings. Very likely, you will hit on your own great matches as you go about experimenting with food and wine. And remember, even for a wine expert, the pairing process is hit and miss. No one can be entirely certain what to expect when they open a bottle of wine. With so much happening in the bottle, there are just too many variables at work to be certain. So just enjoy the experiment–and the experience. You’ll know when you’ve hit it just right. The experience will seem seamless: the flavors of the wine will pick up the flavors of the food and extend them out across the palate. That’s chemistry for you.” ~ allrecipes.com

How simply profound! As with food and wine, there are classic pairings in the world of art and design. Antique furniture paired with modern art is a classic that has taken the design world by storm. Take for example the image above, it is from interior designer James Huniford‘s home in Greenwich Village. The pairings are perfection ~ antique Louis XVI-style bergere upholstered in Edelman leather, Alberto Giacometti plaster vase, silver containers by Tobia Scarpa, antique German architect’s table, and three drawings by Donald Judd. If we look at the Louis XVI-style bergere, it’s a flavorful pairing in and of itself ~the aged patina of the white wood frame paired with the clean white leather upholstery. A traditional brown leather would have been in keeping with the age of the chair but choosing white is a bold choice and one that keeps it fresh and alive. I hope you enjoy this interior as much as I do…may it inspire you to experiment with, and experience a classic pairing!

photos are from James Huniford‘s website (this inspiring townhouse is also featured in the September 2010 issue of Veranda)

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