Design Inspiration…CWB Architects

One of the benefits of sites like Pinterest is that you discover talented designers and architects.  That’s what happened when I pinned this beautiful bathroom and was lead to the work of CWB Architects based in Brooklyn, New York.

Those floor tiles and the marble wall tiles are…well no words, really.

  

Their facades and outdoor spaces are beautiful in their simplicity:

What did I tell you? Their attention to detail, use of space and restraint is remarkable. Oh, and I love the lighting fixtures. This is what they said on their profile page: "Our frequent need to manipulate limited square footage has taught us that spaces can be equally simple and complex, elegant and modest, luxurious and understated." Love that!

Have a wonderful weekend!

If you require design advice, please contact me at vanessa(at)vanessafrancis.com

Design Inspiration: Daniel Sachs

Did you see the cover of the October 2010 House Beautiful?  It’s a living room designed by Daniel Sachs.  I had never heard of him before but this room in a New York city apartment made me take notice. 

I think if I had to show all of these fabrics to a client, they would think I was a bit nutty – but they work so beautifully together.  Patterned fabrics (ikat, floral, stripes) in red, blue, green, orange, yellow –  pretty well every colour of the rainbow!

This is how Sachs describes working with this client and the home:  “We both love antiques, contemporary art, Indian designs, tribal textiles… The house felt collected, not decorated, like someone who has traveled a lot and picked up great artefacts and art and antiques everywhere.”

A close-up of the gorgeous ottoman fabric – a custom suzani. 

Even the floral artwork is vibrant and multi-coloured.

 

In the kitchen,  a more subdued and pretty colour palette.

Except for the gorgeous paper from an art supply store lining the back of the cabinetry.

Sachs blew up a vintage map and wallpapered one wall in the boys’ room.

 

He used turquoise billiard fabric on the back of this built-in bookcase in the boys’ room .  Isn’t he clever?

All photos from House Beautiful.  Photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo.

Do you love the look of the living room? Or is it just too much colour and pattern for you?

If you need decorating help (whether you love colour and pattern or not!), please contact me at vanessa@vanessafrancis.com.

Design Inspiration…Amy D. Morris

I recently discovered the work of Atlanta designer Amy D. Morris. I love her pared down traditional aesthetic – clean, simple with rustic elements like the wood beams. She says that every home needs: “good window treatments. They add so much to a room and it’s important not to skimp on them” – couldn’t agree more. The kitchen below was one of the winners of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle’s 2010 Kitchen of the Year.

Design Inspiration…Stephen Knollenberg

I always love when magazines list their top 20, 50 or 100 designers to watch. Discovering designers and reviewing their work is always educational and inspirational. Earlier this year, Architectural Digest showcased 100 top designers and architects (AD100) from around the globe.

One such gifted designer on the list is Stephen Knollenberg. His interiors are classic and timeless, whether contemporary or traditional or a mix of both. I’m not sure where I first saw the room with the green sofa (below), but I remember thinking that the use of colour, scale and balance was brilliant. Turns out the rest of his portfolio is equally stunning.

This is the den of Knollenberg’s 1940’s cottage in Michigan which he renovated. Love the window!

The great room of his home with whitewashed walls.

In future posts, I will be sharing the work of other talented designers from the AD100 whose work resonates with me.

Design Inspiration…Nathan Turner

While searching the web for images for an upcoming post, I came across Nathan Turner’s website and lo and behold, there was the image of the fabulous girl’s room from my last post. Nathan is a decorator, foodie/host, antique dealer and owner of a high-end decor store in West Hollywood. He was also a contributing editor at Domino (no longer published.) He calls himself a “proud maximalist” but that aesthetic isn’t reflected in the home he decorated for actress Amanda Peet. It is a mix of clean-lined antiques, ethnic textiles and is casual, comfortable, unpretentious and liveable. You can see more of his work and read the Domino article here.

Here are some other images from his portfolio: