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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panton chair

Born in 1960 by designer Verner Panton, the Panton chair is as fresh today as it was 50 years ago…its curvaceous form lends a graceful touch to any style decor…fun, versatile, comfortable, stackable and extremely durable, the Panton chair is a timeless piece worthy of a closer look!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

photos from Vicente Wolf, The Brooklyn Home Company, Elle Decor, Veranda and Flickr

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brilliant in brooklyn

This thoughtfully renovated 4 story townhouse in center Park Slope is owned by The Brooklyn Home Company‘s Lyndsay Caleo (artist, metalsmith and gifted interior planner) and Fitzhugh Karol (sculptor, woodworker and designer)…from top to bottom, I’m completely smitten with every single detail of this home! Lyndsay Caleo’s brilliant floor plan and cohesive palette invites comfortable living and allows Fitzhugh Karol’s one-of-kind custom wood pieces to take center stage…familiar forms, such as the Verner Panton designed dining chairs by Vitra, take on new life when paired with Karol’s sculptural wood dining table…the kitchen features an artful mix of reclaimed wood shelving, a Sapele wood countertop, a vintage American Standard farm sink and gorgeous extra large double hung windows…once again, this kitchen is proof that a small footprint can be highly efficient and breathtakingly beautiful! Please enjoy this intimate look at one of my all time favorite homes!

Olive!

Photography by Todd Selby for The Selby and from The Brooklyn Home Company

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“NeoCountry”

We’ve all heard of NeoClassical but NeoCountry? The Brooklyn Home Company‘s design aesthetic was described by New York Magazine as “NeoCountry” ~ modern homes with a soft rural edge…I love it! The open floor plans and state of the art kitchens feel modern (fresh and on trend) while natural wood finishes and custom pieces feel distinctly country…what a lovely point of view! While researching their various projects, I happened upon this “NeoCountry” Brooklyn gem that I just had to share with you! TBHCo converted a 20′ x 80’ landmarked building on Fort Greene Place into 4 condos, each with its own distinct style…the parlor floor, (shown above and below), retained much of its original period details including the large pocket doors, wood flooring, and fireplaces…I love how the client/homeowner made this TBHCo restoration her own by choosing custom paint colors to compliment her furnishings, art and personal accessories…TBHCo’s exquisite craftsmanship and artistry serves as the perfect foundation for her French Country inspired aesthetic…comme c’est charmant!

below ~ a custom sideboard designed and built by Fitzhugh Karol of TBHCo’s design team

photos from The Brooklyn Home Company

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the brooklyn home company

Wood finishes paired with clean white or black define The Brooklyn Home Company‘s signature look…fallen trees inspire hand-crafted sculptural wood furniture, countertops, barn doors, wood beams and reclaimed flooring…what a refreshing and timeless environment! More tomorrow!

ABOUT ~ “The Brooklyn Home Company is a family-run cooperative of artists and builders committed to creating world-class and innovative living spaces in Brooklyn. We provide high-quality homes that deliver the best value for our buyers. As Brooklyn locals we embrace individualism, artistic integrity, customer focus and environmental conservation as a business philosophy and integrate these qualities into each of our homes. We’re a business, a family and we’re contributing to the Brooklyn community. TBHCo design team completes all millwork, sculpture and furniture themselves in their Brooklyn Studio. We often provide post purchase design consulting and built in custom work to our customers.” ~ T.B.H.Co.

photos from The Brooklyn Home Company

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studio apartment kitchen

Is it possible to have a fabulous kitchen in a 400 square foot studio apartment? The answer is a resounding YES! House Beautiful’s 2012 July/August “Kitchen of the Month” is proof that small can be beautiful, functional and innovative…designers Fitzhugh Karol and Lyndsay Caleo of The Brooklyn Home Company paired timeless recessed-panel cabinetry and stainless appliances with a one-of-a-kind sculptural kitchen island crafted from fallen oak and a hand carved cherry log painted white…the island serves as an art piece, prep station, dining table, and desk all in one! Its slender form thoughtfully delineates the kitchen from the living room allowing open views from both spaces…brilliant! Another exceptional feature is the sleeping nest ~ talk about multi-tasking! The rough-hewn lathe walls, lined with white curtains, create a private cocoon while providing a decorative backdrop for art and a narrow console…inside the nook sits the “form and function” Ikea Brimnes bed…pristine white linens play off the rustic texture of the lathe while the deep drawers provide ample storage without taking up precious floor space…how wonderful!

photography by Tara Striano for House Beautiful

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