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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stephen shubel design

Today’s post includes photos from The Stephen Shubel Design studio located in a modern loft building in the South of Market district near the San Francisco Design Center…you may recognize a few pieces from yesterday’s post ~ the four-foot-tall plaster bust of the goddess Juno and the antique Swedish painted chairs…it’s wonderful to see pieces from the Design studio in his own home! In both cases, antiquities blend seamlessly with classic and contemporary decor…his signature blank canvas allows aged textures and gilded finishes to take center stage…

FYI ~ keep an eye out for his new plaster and lighting line due out next year! In a recent interview with House Beautiful, the designer speaks of his passion for plaster ~ “I love the sculptural aspect. That may be one reason I love France, because there’s so much figurative stuff all over. Unlike stone, plaster is lightweight. It has a smoother finish, but it still achieves a wonderful patina over time. I also like that it’s chalky white. You’re not distracted by color. You look at the sculptural form, and that’s what you see throughout my house – the shapes.” ~ Stephen Shubel

photos from Stephen Shubel Design

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an evolving eye ~ stephen shubel

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

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moss green

Today’s post explores the depth and beauty of moss green…rich with complex layers of yellow, brown and gray, it is a versatile neutral that compliments almost any other hue…may you be inspired by one of my favorite colors…

Chester Geissler

Anne-Marie Midy and Jorge Almada

Christopher Knight and Carlos Aponte

Gwynn Griffith

Tricia Huntley

Paul Gauguin

Michele Bonan

Kara Mann

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Steven Gambrel

Stephen Sills

Muriel Brandolini

Karen Tusinski

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loire country home

Yesterday I posted images from San Francisco based interior designer Stephen Shubel‘s Paris pied-a-terre so I thought it fitting to follow up with his cozy country home in Loire Valley. It’s California casual meets French style in a way that only an expert eye could pull off. May these images offer you a quiet escape from the wild winter weather! Happy Friday!

photos from Stephen Shubel

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good things do come in small packages

At only 400 square feet, interior designer Stephen Shubel‘s Paris flat has all the makings of the perfect Paris pied-a-terre. It is located in a 17th century hotel particular in the central Marais just around the corner from the stunning Place de Vosges. Although petite in size the apartment has great bones; three pairs of floor to ceiling windows bathe the space in natural light and the fourteen foot ceiling height allows the designer ample wall space for displaying his vast collection of framed drawings, prints, lithographs and antiques mirrors. He purposefully used no color or pattern allowing the furniture and art to take center stage. A pair of muslin covered Napoleon III chairs, golden sea grass flooring, an 18th century Italian painted pine armoire and roughly textured plaster statues live harmoniously together. A petite Paris flat, practically perfect in every way.

“I always wanted to experience the city like a real Parisian, not as a tourist passing through. Sure, sometimes I miss concierge service, but I sleep in my own bed, travel with my dog, and have a place I can keep my stuff….and everything you do here is an adventure.” ~ Stephen Shubel from an interview with Elle Decor

photos and resources from Elle Decor

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