manhattan makeover

The November 2012 issue of Architectural Digest is aptly titled “Before and After” and features thoughtful transformations by the likes of Alex Papachristidis, J. Randall Powers and Terry Hunziker just to name a few…my favorite makeover is featured on the cover and was conceived by designer Nate Berkus…located in a 19th-century Greenwich Village building, the apartment possessed the charm and “imperfection” Berkus was searching for but was in dire need of a facelift…so the designer worked his magic and with the help of architect Carlos Huber, transformed this tired apartment into a chic home filled with beloved art, antiques and found objects collected over a lifetime…

What I love most about this interior is how he re-invented the “shell” (new floors, windows, grasscloth, paint) to best support his existing furniture and art…he is able to live with the pieces he loves but in a fresh “new” environment…how wonderful!

“There’s no other place in the world that tells a story of who I am more than this space I’m sitting in right now.” ~ Nate Berkus from the AD video interview

photography by Pieter Estersohn for Architectural Digest

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man’s (or woman’s) best friend

Whether you love them for their grace and beauty or for their unwavering loyalty, dogs are truly a man’s (or woman’s) best friend…here is a sampling of some of my favorite designers with the love’s of their life

Bobby McAlpine with his Greyhound Joe

Darryl Carter with his German Shorthaired Pointer Otis

Robert Couturier with his Shih Tzus Henriette and Chuck

Alfredo Paredes’ Labrador Retriever Sid

Tara Shaw with her Whippet Jack

John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross with their Great Dane Cooper

Grant K. Gibson with one of his two Westies

Todd Romano’s miniature dachshund Bunny

Stephen Shubel’s Papillon Coco

Nate Berkus with his Border Collies Henry and Emma

Fitzhugh Karol with Olive

Yves Saint Laurent with his Chihuahua

Michael S. Smith’s Wheaton Terriers Chubbs and Shortcake

Greet Lefevre with Mango! (ok, not her dog Ralph but most definitely a huge love of her life!)

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neta bench by oly studio

The first time I noticed the Neta Bench by Oly Studio was on January 15th, 2008…the source, Habitually Chic by Heather Clawson…the interior designer, Nate Berkus…Nate’s stylish interior (pictured below) stayed with me long after that cold winter’s day…though petite in scale, the bench played a starring role in Nate’s wall composition…it balanced with the weight of the dark door and added some playful curves to the right angles of the frames and architecture…a timeless vignette with a fresh new perspective…it immediately became one of my “go to” design inspirations! In the coming months, I spotted the bench in other publications and in Oly Studio print ads…its unique personality mixed effortlessly with antique furnishings and/or contemporary decor…clearly, I was not alone in my passion for this piece! A year later, as luck would have it, I happened upon a Neta Bench for sale at a local store in Boston called Husdson…they were having their big winter sale and the floor model was 50% off the retail price! It was love at first sight! The natural wood finish, carmel tones of the goat hide and sultry horn shaped legs were even more beautiful in person…wow, what timing! So here it is, (pictured above) proudly perched below the framed photographs in my home office…a perfect compliment to my antiques, art and color palette…thank you Heather Clawson and Nate Berkus for inspiring my purchase…I couldn’t have done it without you!

I hope you enjoy this photo essay of the Neta Bench by Oly Studio!

above ~ my office

below ~ nate berkus, photo courtesy of habitually chic

below ~ nate berkus, elle decor, september 2008

below ~ domino, february 2009

below ~ decor magazine, fall/winter 2009

below ~ pointclickhome.com, october 2007

below ~ cottage living, april 2008

below ~ connecticut cottages & gardens, may 2007

below ~ D Home, february 2008

below ~ house beautiful, july 2009

below ~ house beautiful, march 2010

below ~ southhill home, toronto canada,  photos courtesy of the world according to jessica claire

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nate berkus inspired

On the heels of yesterday’s post, I thought a perfect segue would be to write about Lauren Gold’s mentor/boss, Nate Berkus…many of you know him from his morning talk show and his countless home makeovers on Oprah…I have to confess, I have not seen his new show or the makeovers on Oprah but I have been a fan of his published work as well as his website for many years…for me, his interiors always feel fresh and vibrant…somehow he is able to stay on trend but with a timeless touch…a shining example of this is his Chicago home featured in the September 2008 issue of Elle Decor…the 1929 apartment boasts views of Lake Michigan on a picturesque tree-lined street on one of Chicago’s most storied residential blocks…renovated in the 1940s by famed modernist architect Samuel Marx, Berkus embraced the postwar remodel restoring much of Marx’s original vision…this strong architectural foundation offered the designer a brilliant platform for his antique, vintage and modern furnishings as well as his worldly collection of beloved art and found objects…he notes that his home is always evolving…an ever changing environment that reflects his moods and life experiences…may you be Nate Berkus inspired…

photos and resources from Elle Decor

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lauren gold

The July-August issue of Lonny Magazine is jam packed with great design! Hope you’ve had a chance to explore its inspiring articles and photos! I featured one of my favorite spreads last week, the ultra stylish Hollywood Hills home of designer Adam Bram Straus…I’m still swooning over his masculine mix of art and vintage furnishings! Today, I thought I would feature my other favorite find from this issue, the Chicago apartment of Lauren Gold, design director for Nate Berkus Associates…what I love most about her home is that she allowed it to evolve over time…she thoughtfully mixed mid-century antiques with her own whimsical collections while staying true to her signature look ~ Belgian linen, sisal and splashes of citrus…I’m especially fond of the dining room ~ a Coco Chanel inspired gold wheat table paired with Louis XVI dining chairs upholstered in black leather…the high contrast of the dining chairs plays beautifully with the black shelving in the bookcase…elegant, fresh, and fabulous! I hope you enjoy this ultra chic home!

To read the entire article, click here

“I took my time…I never rushed into anything. I only purchased the pieces I loved.” ~ Lauren Gold

photos and resources from Lonny Magazine

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