Anatomy of a Room: Parisian Style

January 17, 2017 by Susan Jamieson in Anatomy of a Room

In this series I take rooms I love and break them down into key points that make the room work visually, artistically and architecturally. This room is a Parisian apartment designed by interior designer Jean Louis Denoit. He is known for his classic style with a contemporary twist but what I love the most about JLD style is his fearless mixing of patterns and antiques.

This is why is this living room works so well:

1. Tones of Blues
He starts this palette with blue tones, light to dark, robins egg to federal blue to black. Repeating the colors with just the right balance in the walls, carpet and ceiling. The stronger accents of black are in the etageres and sculpture bases to anchor the room. He adds gold to warm up the room but soft enough to continue his feminine palette. Just an odd touch of green to mix it up. Nothing is too perfect. He is also not afraid to mix the metals, silver mirror over the mantel with gold etageres, chandelier and sconces.

2. Scale
I love his use of over scaled ceiling patterns to match the rug pattern. All the architectural details were added to the room as the apartment was completely gutted. The large molding on the ceiling against the perfectly scaled picture molding on the walls and dental molding. A beautiful contrast. His furniture pieces move throughout the room from high - etageres and sculpture to mid range - lamps and art to low - seating. The seating seems to be all in the same plane. Curves of the sofas balanced against the curves of the chairs. Not to mention how this all relates to the ceiling and carpet curves - brilliant!

3. Antiques with Modern Pieces
Although many of this pieces are high end, antiques or custom I was surprised to find some Arteriors, Osborne and Little, and Vaughan modern pieces added in. Things that we all can purchase but mixed in they look as expensive as the antiques. Original art and sculpture along side marble carved mantels and mid century lamps. It is a real art to be able to combine elements so beautifully.

4. Balancing Act
The room is symmetrical with 2 lamps, 2 sofas, 2 tables but it does not feel stagnant. By using the 3 pieces of pottery on the back console your eye looks at the green pot then the strong blue small pillow that pulls your eye from the glass sculpture on the wall. The shapes repeat from the circular moldings on the wall to the sculpture over the console and the rectangular picture molding repeats on the sofa flat braid. Different scales but thoughtfully placed. I also love the white accents of trim on the sofa, crystals on the chandelier and moldings. It gives the room a beautiful ice palace effect.

This is one of my favorite rooms of all time. I love studying the pieces- accessories, color, and scale.

Thank you for reading Anatomy of a Room! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of Jean Louis Denoit's Parisian apartment.

Anatomy of a Room: Southeast Style

June 12, 2016 by Susan Jamieson in Anatomy of a Room

In this Anatomy of a Room series we discuss what we love about a room and why it works visually and mentally.

This is Barbara Westbrook Interiors and her Southeastern Atlanta Showhouse family room from this past April.

Why this works!

1. Scale - perfectly proportioned photography by Whitney Ott. These dark still life images of colorful flowers are perfect to grab your attention as well as balance the high ceilings in the room. I love that there are no large furniture pieces underneath. They are set low in scale with the fireplace.

2. Interesting Groupings - the custom chaise grouping with the metal stools, Sofa with pouff ottomans, and wing chairs by the fireplace. It is hard to make too many pairs work but here it does.

3. Black and White Color Scheme - It works here because of the boldness of the stripe and the art. It anchors all the linen and white walls

4. Mixing Accessory Styles - love the medieval iron work, French stucco fireplace, modern take of Flemish still life art, Hollywood Deco Black and White, beautifully crafted antique tables and ceramics.

5. Whimsy - Sconces made from old tin plates. Graphic and large in scale. The room felt easy and comfortable even though the ceilings were two story.

I hope you had a chance to see this room in person. It was amazing!

Happy Designing…..

Anatomy of a Room: How to do Moroccan Right

October 14, 2015 by Susan Jamieson in Anatomy of a Room

I love the idea of layering in a room and nothing is more layered than a Moroccan styled room. Some designs over do the causal style and the motifs but some use those elements in a sophisticated brilliant way, almost a purposeful chaos.

One of the best designs is by Gordon Stein in a house called Casbah Cove in Palm Desert California. The architecture is loaded with Moroccan styled motifs and shapes but the style is still casual and open.

Love this ceiling

There are many details in this room - caning on the cornerstones, slated ceiling, multi color tiled walls, marble floors, carved doors but notice how it is the white color of the walls that holds the room together.

This gorgeous bedroom with the repeated shapes in arches and wall treatments, chevron floor, teardrop rug, and round light fixture. Brilliantly balanced with high contrast of black trim on the windows.

Love the skylights and the eternity arches in the mirror.

The skylight shape is repeated on the doors but done in white on white. With 3 different arch motifs in one room - pointed arch, rounded and stretched out, one would think that it was over kill but the subtle nature of the design helps pull the layers together.

Rules are definitely made to be broken if done with the architecture and the proportions of the room in mind.

Typical of Moroccan design is the multi tile mix - color and pattern but here the brown wall anchors the colors on the floor so they shine strong but grounded.

A little more traditional in design but the shaped on the fireplace is beautiful.

Again patterns, colors and architecture combined in the grotto.

A beautiful courtyard with perfect proportions in the height of the house and the trees against the arches.

A detail of the powder room. I can't tell exactly what the sink basin looks like but maybe just perforated holes in a marble top?

Obviously that house had a huge budget but here are some ideas for layering that could be done in your own home.

1. Mixing styles - traditional artwork within a casual room setting

2. Neutral pillows in heavy cotton fabrics and of course down fills

3. Architectural arch designs

4. Everyone loves a good day bed

5. Grouping lighting elements

6. Multi patterns of pillows or tiles anchored with white

I missed my chance to travel to Morocco in January of 2016 but I hope to get there one day to see these design elements in their natural setting.

Until then we can dream and create!

Anatomy of a Room: David Collin's Massimo Restaurant London

April 12, 2015 by Susan Jamieson in Anatomy of a Room

In this episode of Anatomy of a room we look at a commercial space in London called Massimo's in the Corinthia Hotel.

This space was design by the famed David Collins, who died in 2013 of cancer. He was an architect know for his brilliant designs.

To me restaurants are all about the experience of the atmosphere and the food. What makes this design so brilliant?

1. Scale - The height of the ceiling and the oversized lanterns give that sense of drama to the room

2. The Attention to Detail - Beautifully crafted custom mosaics on the walls and floor Notice how they are juxtaposed to the classical moldings on the walls

3. Reference to the Past - David was clearly inspired by Italian interior with the striped columns reminiscent of the Sienna Cathedral but also the touch of Art Deco seen in the clock wall and the use of brass. The mix of different styles is subtle but still budding with creativity.

Love the barstool triangular shaped backs!

4. Custom Touches - The light fixtures and the booth designs with the brass detail repeated through is lovely.

5. Sense of Textures - The shiny brass, black wood walls, tile, gloss striped columns, soft leather and the zinc bar. I love the mixture!

That fixture is to die for

Who every said you can't mix metals? This bar was killer!

The curved detail on the banquette.

Not to mention the beautiful tiled ceiling. It was a glamorous and handsome at the same time.

This was another of our stops in my tour through Europe.
Wait until we get to Italy!!

Anatomy of a Room: Part II

March 18, 2015 by Susan Jamieson in Anatomy of a Room

This mix of styles, textures and patterns in the Ham Yard Hotel in London completely intrigued me. No one can ever say that anything matches or is even in the same style. Brilliantly done.

Front Desk and Foyer
bold upholstery, Moroccan beaded vases, French limestone mantel