Want: Every Home Needs One

There is quite a history to the 'chaise longue' (spelling correct), which translates to 'long chair', but I won't bore you with it....suffice it to say that the styling runs from Rococco to uber-modern and it's uses range from decorative to cozy to space bridging. Look around your home and see what could be swapped out or added to bring in a chaise...and go from merely having your feet up to utter repose

Bit of a velvet rope around this one, but what a focal point, especially in an industrial-chic interior

Serves as punctuation here...

...and as sculpture here

Lovely reading nook for a bedroom

When stretching out, add a bolster under your knees to keep them from hyper-extending

Bridges the room to serve as a perch for conversing with either side

As a room divider 

Image sources:elledecor,nidahspa,newbedroomiedea,bonluxat,bs2h

101: Negative and Positive Space in Room Design

At it's simplest, positive space is an object and negative space is...well, when no object is occupying a space...which is when you see the interior finishes that, hopefully, serve to enhance the objects. The eye needs a place to rest and a good composition provides a balance between the two. While this concept is easily grasped in modern interiors, it's a bit more subtle in traditional ones...find your moment of zen below.

White is the ultimate negative space, elevating everyday objects to sculpture

Equal distribution of black and white creates balance here

Imagine how different this would feel with wood floors and wall color

Symmetry and bits of dark keep this from floating away

Color blocking against neutral backdrop

Lots of white, subtle upholstery pattern, similar dark tables and accessories calm this busy composition

An exuberant disregard for negative spacing; I'm afraid I'd develop a tic five minutes in, but what confidence!

Image source: Architectural Digest

Roundabout Mechanicsburg: Popcorn Pie and the Value of Nuance

I love small towns for their historic buildings and the synergy created by small business owners showcasing their niche passion, solely for our delight and, more often, consumption. We've gone from being a 'front porch' community culture to one of  'back deck' isolation, but these small-town businesses help ease that divide.

Recently, I had the good fortune to stumble onto a "First Friday" on Main Street, and more importantly, into a little confectioner's called "Brittle Bark". I paused in front of Brittle Bark Pie, (a lovely combo of popcorn, flavored brittle, nuts and chocolate drizzle), I perused dozens of combinations and I purchased a small bag of Brittle Bark flavored with coconut and cinnamon.

Now, both of these flavors can easily overwhelm, but in my mouth they struck subtle, discernible notes on their best behavior...as my taste buds were doing the happy dance, I couldn't help but think that conscious restraint in room design was just as elusive ( bet you didn't see that one coming...)

As I munched away - forget about sharing - I cast about for images that combined subtlety and great style or nuanced use of color and pattern....feast your eyes below

The words subtle and animal print rarely collide in the same sentence, but this works

Sigh....unbelievable tactile treat (silk/linen velvet) and remarkable for what wasn't added

Asymmetric use of color and nothing jumps in your face

Just wouldn't be the same with patterned pillows and landscape art

Traditional use of color and pattern in the deft hands of Charlotte Moss

Same skill with a Boho vibe

Lamps disappear into wall, bit of gleam, high/lows in sofa fabric and love the facets of light and shadow thrown by garden stool

Stone-cold traditional and incredible attention to detail: tape on sofa skirt, contrast fabric on leading edge of drapery and bullion fringe on tufted chair combine to evoke old money

It's red, it's bold patterned and it's cluttered, but it manages to keep your eye moving

Image Sources:housebeautiful,washingtonpost,jamiebeckwith,elledecor,11gray

Love: The Real Stars of 'Gatsby'...

...were the sets and costumes! The Twenties were always my favorite period for clothing; men never looked so good (a point which Ralph Lauren makes repeatedly). There is a scene that the chesterfield sofa about steals from the actors and I predict a renewed interest in this iconic style. The first leather sofa with the deeply buttoned upholstery was commissioned by Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773)....most likely an unintentional legacy, but many thanks for giving us a proper backdrop for brandy and cigars...

Classic English men's club vibe

A bit more comfort with a box cushion seat

Beautiful fabric highs and lows when done in velvet

Chesterfield is now shorthand for deeply tufted upholstery

Just looks so right here

Would love to see this feminine frame covered in a vibrant glen- plaid fabric

Image sources: francesshultz,onekingslane,leathercraft,farmhouseurban,sherrillfurniture,

Need: Rogues Gallery

Family photos are usually the first thing a realtor tells you to lose when selling your home; here are some ideas to elevate them to art status that will survive the staging cut...

Frame continuity

Frameless and large scale - Would love to see some little feet in here!

Silhouettes are the purest form of negative and positive spacing; fodder for another post...

Lay out on the floor first and move around till you like the arrangement

Drama created by wide mats and white frames

A successful gallery wall; note the distribution of warm tones that enliven the gray wall

Image sources: laurawinslowphotography,makemyfamilytree,lovechicliving,modernexposureblog,modernjanedesign,thesteampunkhome

Need: Layering Accessories

... often means hiding some bit of them...no worries if your style is modern: lose 20 lbs by editing your accessories to what you truly love. Actually, having only what you love around you is good advice in general... Think seasonally and rotate them; grouping smaller items in odd numbers lend more impact than dotting them around the room. Do mix their vintage, patina and scale so your room hits more than one note. (And if you don't have cleaning help, less is more...)

Layered fabrics and greenery hiding a portion of the window treatment adds depth

2-D doesn't do this room justice; I want to peek into the alcove...

Love layered rugs (suitable only for the agile and/or well-insured)

Family photos as an accessory is a tricky thing; I feel another post topic forming...

Make sure you like what the mirror reflects

 Symmetry and enough black serves to fold the TV into the accessory composition

Image sources:abloomsburylife,cockelly,dovecotedecor,jennybova,kitchendecoratingideas,myhomeideas,onekingslane,teaandlime

...aaand they're off!

Besides mint juleps, the Kentucky Derby is all about hats...which look a lot like lamp shades...hmmm, no chicken and egg here... (and if historians are right and mans' first item of clothing was a hat, then we need to revise our notion of the oldest profession...)

...ooh, this brings to mind the intrigue of half hidden things...stay tuned for a room accessory post next

Image sources:ablocal,busyboo,cottagestyle,ladydiane,thriftystyleliving,treehugger,washingtonpost