What is interior design?

OK, I am going to stick my neck out here with my opinion. I have two photos of living rooms. The first is a room that most people I know (in person not blogland) would call a beautifully designed room. At the risk of sounding elitist, I think it sucks. It has a little matchy, a little trendy, its all shiny and new and seems devoid of personality to me.

The next photo is something that I feel is a more inviting, "real" room. 

Home of Kate and Andy Spade

Not everyone can be Kate and Andy Spade and have architecture like this and a top-notch art collection but they can layer books and interesting furniture. It is so much more inviting to see mismatched lamps and objects that actually have a story to the homeowner beyond the trip to Homegoods.

What do you think? Am I a snob? Out of line?

Where do you put this?

Well...it's interesting. I like the concept but if it were filled with books and objet d'art would it look right? 

I can't help but envision five or six cats using it as a playground and if I sat in that seat I might never be able to get out.

Thoughts?

Room of the week

I was really drawn to the the symmetrical windows and bright light here, and the curtains look much like the ones in my living room.

I think the elegant proportions and chandelier seal the deal for me with this room.

Did I mention the floor? 

Thumbs up or down?

Genius or awful?

via

Thoughts?

I think it belongs on the pages of RH for squirrels. If Gary Friedman had conceived it I am sure that he would have an annoying deep thought about the meaning of the wood. Don't get me started...

2 points for weirdness. Feel free to disagree.

Would this drive you crazy?

We have neighbors that we spend time with due to their proximity and girls the same age as my youngest. They are very nice and like many of us have photos and artwork on most of their walls. On the occasions that  we have done some pet sitting, my husband straightened each and every frame on their main floors. They were all crooked. I suspect he has trouble breathing in a house with so many lop-sided things.

The photo above would make him faint straight away.

I love gallery walls that are floor-to-ceiling, salon style but many people want a more homogenous look to their galleries.

What say you? Can you deal with things in different frames? What if they were haphazard and (gasp) crooked?

New fabric designs and input needed

Meander blossom

I have been working on some new fabric designs on Spoonflower. Many of the designs I work on take hours of tweaking only to be abandoned in frustration. Others come together nicely like this one called" Meander blossom".

At this point there are only three colorways. I bought the large color map so that I could get the colors right from the start.

I would really like to know what color combinations you would like to see in any of my fabrics but especially these.

Sacred tree in asparagus

One thing about Spoonflower that I find annoying is the vast difference between the on screen colors and the actual printed colors. This example above is an asparagus  green on a beige-ish background but it looks like a sickly yellow on gray on my screen. I know what the colors are because I have the color map but someone browsing the site would think it awful.

Here is an example of the difference. It seems especially problematic with blues.

sacred tree in storm

I thought this "sacred tree" design lent itself to neutrals but I would love a few opinions on colors that you think would be great for any of my fabrics. Many are not yet for sale because it makes more sense to order the sample swatches all together, after I have sorted out the various colors. I have to proof the samples before Spoonflower will sell them.

So spill it... what other colors should I add?

Here are the designs that are public but not all are for sale.

Grafitti living

source

I think the sofa above is really awesome and I would do it in a heartbeat if I thought I could pull it off in my house. I think it would look silly in a suburban, new construction house.

The owner of this furniture, Pamela Bell, one of the four original partners in the Kate Spade brand, bought muslin covered furniture from John Derian and asked her daughter's class to come and decorate it.

It take's "kid friendly" to another level.

How's that for being cool?

I f you could, would you?

TV for artists

I am not quite sure how I feel about this way to hold a TV but it is clever.

I would imagine that it is slightly difficult to disguise the tangle of cords in this situation. Barring that problem, I would love to be able to roll the whole thing right out of sight when necessary.

Tell me. What do you think?

 Oh and Happy Valentines day!

A fox, a hound and a horse walk into a room.

Yesterday, I posed the question "Is there such a thing as too much personalization?"

I have got another question. First, let me tell you about a house I was in many years ago.

The house very nice, modest in size but nothing else. Everything was very expensive and the owners were avid riders and enjoyed fox hunts.

The equestrian and fox hunt related items were everywhere in every room.

From plush foxes in riding attire (which always struck me as being like Bugs Bunny dressed in hunting camo, I digress) to fabrics and display porcelain.

Oddly, it did not seem theme-y but still rather one note.

I am not picking on equestrian style. I am majorly in love with that look but even if it does not come across as a theme room can it be too much?

Can having one style or rather, everything in a space reflecting an esoteric look make for a bad design?

For instance, if one room was decorated entirely with Chinoiserie pieces would it be a classic or does it need a style foil to balance things?

Tell me what you think.

Where should it stop?

Here is another "whaddya think?" post.

We all like chinoiserie...yes?

Sometimes we feel like we cannot possibly get enough of it and we want it for our birthday with sugar on top.

via Pinterest

 It takes immense talent to create  such a confection. But really, where should it stop? Is this cake your dream or too much?

Rock-a-bye maybe

I am sure we have all seen these rocking beds. Personally, I would not enjoy this sort of sleeping and I would find it unsettling in general.

I am sure to some these are the ultimate fantasy.

Here is  a round-up of some pretty outrageous beds.

Let me know what you think.

This last one looks like a glorious place for a nap.

Where things have gone awry...or not

Most of us design junkies love an eclectic mix, with maybe a bit of bohemian vibe.

I thought I would have fun today and show you a few spaces that missed the mark, in my opinion.

Afghan, suzani, slipcovers, accent wall, rustic table, clutter, lots of pillows and abstract art. This room is just a mess. In my opinion. I am sure it makes someone very happy.

Some of you may like this but I am just not feelin' it.

Note the fake flowers hanging from the ceiling. The chairs are lovely though.

I suppose other's opinions of our houses don't really matter since we are the ones living in them but I can't help to wonder if these pictures were posted with pride. 

It could be argued that the level of personalization of these spaces is so specific that it is a given that most would not find it appealing. 

That leads me to the question: Does a room created with with the occupants in mind automatically equate to good design?

If not, where is the line between good taste and personal indulgence?

clever or tacky?

My busy schedule plus an a mild but annoying head cold have kept inspiration at bay as of late.

This is another one of those posts where I ask your opinion of an unusual item.

So, what do you think of the shelf...clever or tacky?

Keeping it real

This is only my kitchen in my dreams

I am about to be very stupid  brave and make it difficult for you to say something kind.

I am going to show you my kitchen and ask you for suggestions. HA!

It is like getting into a freezing cold pool, I have to ease into the ugly. 

That right there is the window above the sink. I have the fabric and lining cut in a linen toile for a valance where the silly hardware is now. Its been cut for at least six months. Tisk, tisk, I know.

I don't dare show you the faucet. Lets just say it is decidedly "low rent" looking.

Yes, folks I have black appliances. sniffle

I have dark cabinets, laminate counter tops, and no bulkhead or crown molding. Just boxes on the wall.

The oven/microwave is a mile from the cooktop and that annoys me.

At the very bottom of this photo you can see the edge of the thing I hate most... the peninsula with a bar height thingy. Yuck!

I suppose it would be easier to visualize with a floor plan.

My lazy drawing

 Between the wall oven and the end of the peninsula is a pinch point. It drives me crazy.

Behind that "bar thingy" is clutter central. I did not take a picture.

This last photo brings me to my question for you. I need ideas.

These antique, French canisters are the only thing I have on top of my cabinets. They are there simply because it was the only place to display them. I do not like ladders and I don't want to have to dust a bunch of stuff up there.

I am not redoing my kitchen anytime soon unless you buy a lot of paintings (hint) but I really want to make it look better. 

Ideas?

One thing, please do not say paint the cabinets. My husband painted the cabinets in our last house to sell it and used an entire week's vacation to do it. He will leave me for sure if I so much as mention it.

I am also not likely to put things on the counters. This is a hard working kitchen. My husband is a butcher, formerly a fishmonger. Food is important. 

But so are looks.

 I just want a little zhush.

So lay it on me. I am stumped.

Let there be...soda?

Yes or no? Discuss. Read about it HERE

I will be doing quickie posts for a bit. I am over scheduled and have my pals arriving with my teenagers, who have been away, on Thursday. Yikes, I'm not ready!!!

But seriously, what do you think of this lighting?