Colour of October

Claret - a dark purplish red

Fall is truly here as the evenings are cooler, the leaves are changing colour and the rain is starting to set in.  Definitely makes us think of cozy nights at home by the fire with a glass of red wine!  October's colour of the month is inspired by the fall leaves, the hearty wine and the darker evenings.

The Colour of September - Olive

Marc Jacobs

C&S Tile

Burberry and Mulberry

CB2

ETSY

C&S Tile

Cottage Life

A client called me the other day to say they had just purchased a boat access only cottage about an hour from the city.  Just in time for summer - so exciting!  This house needs a facelift - updated kitchen and bathrooms, window treatments, furniture, bigger patios, fire pit and ultimately a couple of guest cottages.  Although my staff are terrified at the idea of me "driving" a boat, I think they are secretly excited to work on the project!

Here are some dreamy summer images for inspiration....

 

                          

New York State of Mind

I spent a few days in New York last week to refuel my creative energy and visit with friends. I love dropping into a big city and going full speed until it's time to leave and this trip did not disappoint! First stop - The Ace Hotel. I was a little skeptical when Mr Wilson selected this hotel but I stand corrected! The energy was incredible 24 hours a day and I definitely had one of the best burgers in my entire life at The Breslin. This hotel was designed by Roman and Williams and according to the bartender, the lobby bar was completely done in flea market finds with the exception of a couple of custom sectionals.  Impressive!


 

After a few glasses of champagne (in the cutest vintage glasses) we were up early and off to the Frieze Art Fair. With "VVIP" passes secured by Mr Wilson we had early entrance to the fair - the art was, of course, amazing but so was the people watching. Strictly from an interior design point of view, some of the most striking pieces were very abstract with a play on painted texture. One of my favourites was by Davide Balula at the Galerie Rodolphe Janssen. His technique involves laying out patterns in wood, burning it, and making an imprint of the charred wood on canvas.



 

The next day was spent on the Upper East Side at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. This the 42nd year for this fundraising event and the house this year is a historic mansion next to The Palace Hotel. I am sharing the photos below from Architectural Digest!

Designer - Daryl Carter
Designers - Carrier and Company
Designer - Tony Ingrau
Designer - Markham Roberts Inc
Designer - Mendelson Group
Designer - Vicente Wolf

Designing for kids

At TKD we have been working on a lot of kids rooms lately!  Girl's rooms to be exact.  We have been putting together some fun concepts for our client`s homes and thought we would share a few! 

All the walls in this room will be papered in a fuschia grass cloth from Phillip Jefferies.  This colour is intense, so to balance it we have selected a wide gray and white striped drapery fabric, floor to ceiling on two walls of windows.  The butterfly mobile can be purchased on ETSY in many different colours and configurations. 

This room is for a little girl who loves her horse.  We are taking a sophisticated approach she can grow into using saddle coloured leather, soft pinks and greens in houndstooth and herringbone, antique silver trophies and ribbons framed in shadow box like bouquets of flowers.

 

The girls in this house are lucky enough to also have a dedicated room for play.  There will be an area to watch TV, a loft for sleep overs, and a dedicated space for arts and crafts.

The Perfect Master Suite

BC Home + Garden asked me to participate in their monthly feature Ask an Expert.  Inspired by a client, I put together these tips on creating the perfect master suite!  The rendering is done by Ally Spino - one of my junior designers.

 

 

The perfect white table...

I recently decided to lighten up my home with a white tulip table.  I like the tension created when mixing different styles or decades in one space.  Although I had liked my Ghost Chairs with the previous dark wood table, they felt too light with the Saarinen table and so the search began for the perfect chairs.

I love how this iconic table works in any interior with any design style.

If you have the space, this 78" oval is amazing!

 

Beautiful!

Images by: Apartment Therapy, McGill Design Group, Style at Home, JPM Design, Cococozy, Style Sovereign.

Happy St. Patrick's Day



I took a trip to London last spring, one night in a Gastropub I ordered a Beef & Guinness Pie wanting to try something "local".  It was so delicious I have been trying to recreate it ever since.  This recipe from Epicurious comes close!