Jun 5

Luxury fabrics and Ralph Lauren store interiors

Posted in fabrics, masculine style, Ralph Lauren, store interiors

Recently I bought a bolt of Ralph Lauren silk damask fabric in a creamy oyster colour for a client’s bedroom. I found it on ebay and it was an absolute steal, which meant I could buy a lot of it – enough for curtains as well as some of the upholstery. There are a few silk damasks across the Ralph Lauren fabric collections, but this particular one is from a collection called The Heiress:

One of the things that the Ralph Lauren fabric collections do so well is mix different compositions and textures. A more formal (and expensive!) fabric like a pure silk doesn’t need to look overly fussy or feminine when it’s paired with wools, linens  and cottons. In terms of pattern, checks and tweeds look great with chintzes and other florals and make them a bit more casual.

I like the hint of silk here in the cushion on the armchair, but the white walls, wicker baskets and plain rug keep it fairly informal.

This is a more formal room (above), with a silk damask used for the chair upholstery. I think this is a beautiful apartment (love all the lamp-light), but I’m not a fan of those floral needlepoint rugs, and can’t help but think how much nicer a big sisal would look for my taste.

 

As a sidenote, while I’m thinking of silk damasks, there’s a great summary of the French interiors in the movie Bel Ami on Cote De Texas here.

 

But on the topic of Ralph Lauren, I know I’m not the only one who takes inspiration from the interiors of the boutiques. The menswear stores usually feature a lot of dark wall colours and leather chairs (I love!), and the Madison Avenue store in the famous Rhinelander Mansion is particularly known for its masculine- themed interiors:

via djhuppatz blog

These are from the David Jones store in Sydney:

These are some of dressing rooms at different stores:

The womenswear store in New York has a lighter palette but the same warm traditional feel. I love all the detailed white joinery!

All gorgeous!

Naomi xx

 

 

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Feb 17

A perfect room

Posted in bedrooms, masculine style

I talk quite a bit about masculine style in decorating, and how much I’m drawn to ‘masculine’ spaces and pieces. I think this room is the perfect example of how to create a stylish and sophisticated masculine space. Wouldn’t this be a great room for a style-conscious teenage boy? A lot of it is about texture; polished nickel lamp, the clean lines of the shelving and bed, the beat-up vintage trunk, the matte side table with stud trim, some antique accessories and a chunky floor rug. The colours and the composition of pieces is also great. I can see my boys in a room like this in a few years!

I’m finally emerging from the haze of illness today and trying to get on top of the daunting list of unread emails that need replying to…My few days in bed have enabled me to view just about every gorgeous country property and weekender for sale in Australia. And now I’m thinking….Tasmania! I’ve always loved the climate and the landscape there and you would not believe the beautiful historic properties available. I might post some next week. Just need to talk husband into it!

Have a great weekend All,

Naomi xx

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Feb 9

More shopping

Posted in industrial style, masculine style, projects/ my work, Shopping, Uncategorized

The owners of the lake house that I’ve been working on are having their house warming party this weekend and decided they want to finalise a second seating area in the large living area this week, so I hit the shops!

I had already scored these 1960s chairs on ebay for the space:

and wanted to find a small sofa to ‘go with’ them to form the basics for the second smaller seating zone. I also quite liked the idea of using a mid-century classic (replica would be fine), as the house style cries out for a little of that period and for some masculine pieces. After a day of searching this is what I bought:

It’s amazingly comfortable, the perfect size, the perfect style (visually ‘light’, a little retro, a little Mad Men, a little masculine), and it was the last piece of a discontinued line so a great price! I won’t have time to do this for the party but I’d like to pair them with an industrial lamp for reading and a great rug either in woven leather or patchwork cow hide:

No, it’s not a colourful space, but cool, masculine and a little industrial, so I’ll need to put in some more texture, like a lamp in steel, a coffee table in rustic timber and maybe a really chunky throw rug:

I find it hard not to shop for myself when I’m out and about and I nearly bought (am still thinking about) this sofa for my living room:

I’ve been wanting a really long, really comfy white sofa for a long time. It has to be big enough to lie on and I want a textured fabric, not a flat one. And most importantly, it must have removable, washable covers! This one really fit the bill and it was hard to walk away from..though I reasoned I shouldn’t buy new large pieces when I’m thinking of moving house..

It would look great with either of the new lamps I’m tossing up between:

And would give me a lot of scope to change cushions on a whim!

Naomi xx

 

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Jan 13

Room planning and house hunting

Posted in country style, fabrics, house hunting, masculine style, projects/ my work, rugs

Today I’m putting together some of the finer details for a ‘reading room’ I am working on. This is such a fun project for me because a) my clients’ house is beautiful and lovely to be in, and b) they have two boys and a girl (like me), so I am getting a glimpse into what life will be like with teenagers! All the colours I’m using are going to be drawn from the fabric from the chairs we like:

The overall scheme will be warm and classic, a little bit ‘luxury country’, using tan leather, terracotta pink, grey and creamy white. I’m also using some antique timber pieces and lots of old books (which I need to drive to the country this afternoon to pick up!).Over the timber floors I’m using a natural sisal rug, which is one of my favourite materials as it’s so hardwearing and you can change your decor and the rug will always be a good backdrop:

The curtains will be in a creamy white linen, trimmed in a terracotta linen. Some cushions will also be made in the terracotta linen for the sofa:

I’m thinking grey Schumacher cushions for the armchairs and a textured natural fabric for a couple more sofa cushions:

On an antique oak table behind the sofa I’ll need some lamps:

Also today when I head out of the city to pick up the boxes of leather books I’m going to take a peek at another possible country weekender:

Once again, as I was with the last house inspection, I’m already in love with the front steps and big porch. And the trees! But trying not to get too excited before I actually see it, in case there are all kinds of horrible things about it, and also in case my husband deems it too expensive (it’s twice the price of the last one I viewed hmm…so wish me luck!)

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend! Is anyone else out there house-hunting over the weekend? I’d love to hear about your adventures too.

Naomi xx

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