Behind the Scenes at Greystone

Where has this new year gone!  We are just catching up from all the fun we were having at the end of last year.  We ended 2013 at the Greystone Mansion Showhouse in Beverly Hills and decorated one of the bedrooms in the upstairs wing.  Voila!  The finished room.

Great design.  Great friends.  New design family.  And well not much sleep.

Lots of custom designed furniture and hunting around Los Angeles for unique pieces.

And of course we celebrated.  The opening of the showhouse proved to be just as grand as the house itself.  That's my fab photographer and favorite LA Aussie, Daniel Collopy.

But, what we haven't shared yet is all of the design work that went into this beautiful room.  Oh the details.

Starting with a blank slate.

Definitely didn't mind this as the office for a couple of months.

We were asked to choose a Titan of Business as inspiration for the design.  After having such a great relationship with Swarovski, it seemed only fitting to chose the woman behind it all, Nadja Swarovski, as the muse.

Mixing finishes.  Mixing styles.  Furniture concepts.

Project trays.  Fun fabrics and materials.

Custom furniture in the making.  The feet on the chaise lounge were designed to look like facets of a crystal.

And a custom designed rug in the making.  I took the form that the facets of a crystal creates and layered it to create the pattern.  I wanted it to be super neutral so we used varying heights and carpet construction techniques to give it lots of texture.  The pattern was then lined with smoky Swarovski Crystal Elements.  It was such a conversation starter in the room!

Custom framing vintage prints for the collage above the nightstands.

The amazing brands showcased in the room.

The design is done.  Now it's time for install.  Wallpaper going up.  Phillip Jeffries Tinseltown.

And the gorgeous crystal rug.

Furniture install.

Ahhh.  Complete.

Pop of green.

The Blues

We've got the blues…well we’re not listening to southern music...and we're not having a bad day...but we are talking about how haute the color is this season when it comes to decorating your home.  Look around...blue is being used everywhere from accent colors on the front door to more unexpected details like the bottom of a bathtub.  The key is to make sure you have the right blue.  Do you have any blue already in your home?  Matching it to paintings, curtains, or chairs could be a good way to start.  When considering blue, however, you want to make sure you are creating an emotion and highlighting architectural features that may be hidden gems in the space. Just a few guidelines for “Blue-ing” out your home:

It’s definitely unconventional but painting with both light and dark shades can give you deep rich results.  When transitioning from a light blue to a dark blue - start with a color such as Blue Ground by Farrow & Ball and bring in subtle darker blue accents in wall trim, art, or piping on upholstered furniture.  When attempting to paint the adjoining spaces, try using a semi gloss or high gloss paint to make an even more dramatic statement.  Suggested darker colors that blend well with the Blue Ground paint are Hague Blue or Railings by Farrow & Ball.

When carrying out a blue color scheme throughout the house think in terms of three basic values:  light, medium, and dark.  Create a flow that unites all of the spaces.

You don't necessarily need to paint the walls to add this fabulous accent color to a room.  Enliven neutral spaces by using different shades of blue in carpets, florals, and textiles.  Mixing in patterns and textures such as bamboo, iron, and glossy ceramic accessories will help create the quintessential room.

Deep blue’s such as Blue Black by Farrow and Ball are a softer alternative to black.  And you won't lose the impact.  For a more dramatic statement try using the Blue Black in a high gloss finish, it in turn creates a richer and bolder look for the color.  When using this color for a room, paint the ceiling in lime white.  Its mid toned undercoat will complement the dark color.

Do you have the blues?

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Retro Chic

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Need some contrast in a modern kitchen?  More vintage for your vintage vibe?  Or an unusual and somehow perfect pop of color?

Smeg!  The retro little refrigerators make a big statement in a kitchen.  And there are tons of fun colors to pick from.

West Elm now has them on sale in their Market department!

I would love to do the black color in an uber cool masculine kitchen!

It's a "smeg"ashboard of options!

Check out my Pinterest board for more great spaces utilizing this little retro gem!

Remodeling and Home Design