Displaying posts from August, 2022

The renovation of a historic home’s kitchen

Posted on Tue, 16 Aug 2022 by KiM

Tucked in a quiet historic district the home had lovely features that had been preserved throughout. The kitchen had been stripped down and had no real charm. The lines of it were broken up by many doors to enter and exit the space and too many windows running across the back wall. The original pantry had been preserved but ran so deep into the space that it became awkward to use. By carefully laying out the new space we were able to add a laundry, mudroom and powder bath behind the new kitchen and to create a new entry into the home in the back. This allowed for us to regain the much needed wall space in the kitchen and create an large beautiful cohesive space to cook and entertain. It was very important to keep the historic feel of the home. Using some of the cabinetry in the dining room and the original pantry for inspiration our team created a timeless kitchen with oak arched cabinets, brass detailing and marble counters that will remain timeless for years to come.
Timeless indeed! This kitchen is to die for. The oak really stands out against the white and those arched cabinets are such a statement detail. And that pantry!!!! Designed by Massachusetts based Jess Cooney. Photos: Lisa Vollmer

A seriously sexy boudoir

Posted on Mon, 15 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

“Smoke and Mirrors” is a modern interpretation of a sexy boudoir. The space is an antidote to the demands of modern connectivity and embraces the luxury of solitude. The room provides a platform to indulge in self-care, with a grand clawfoot soaking tub, a sensuous curving window seat, and a custom bar and make-up vanity. The soft arches of the entry hall create a dramatic sense of arrival with deep green walls and rich stone detailing. A striking hand-painted mural by de Gournay, inspired by the iconic Elsie de Wolfe, anchors the main salon. Contemporary art is juxtaposed against old-world charm throughout. Graphic, multi-colored marble tiles from Alison Rose for Artistic Tile add a modern spin to a traditional material palette in the separate bathroom space. The thoughtful details and layers of luxury create the ultimate escape.”

Show houses allow designers to push boundaries, experiment, and showcase their skills. I’m inspired by this sexy boudoir in the Kips Bay Show House 2019 by Studio DB. Where oh where can I include a bar in my bathroom? Genius.

Photography by Matthew Williams

Serene in Martha’s Vineyard

Posted on Mon, 15 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

“This beautiful home set in a scenic wooded area in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard was designed with the intent of purposeful simplicity. From early on in the design process, our clients expressed the desire for their home to evoke a sense of serenity – a place they could visit with family and friends to reset from their active suburban lives. We focused on clean forms, simple, yet impactful details, and a calming, neutral, textural palette to design a home that would feel both grounding and rejuvenating for a busy young family.”

Composed, authentic with a simple beauty. The perfect antedote to the chaos of city living by Ursino Interiors.

Photography by Tim Lenz

A 15th century château in Romorantin, France

Posted on Sun, 14 Aug 2022 by KiM

Built at the end of the 15th century by architect Jacques de Persigny for Lord Philippe du Moulin as a reward for having saved the life of King Charles VIII during the Battle of Fornoue in 1495, this castle located on almost 100 acres has a quadriform plan, surrounded by a moat and flanked by circular towers at each of its corners. It consists of two buildings, the dwelling (420sqm over 5 stories) and the manor house, which are accessed by a drawbridge, now dormant, defended by an entrance gatehouse with a postern and flanked by two towers. The outbuildings face the entrance châtelet and form a U-shaped courtyard. They comprise of a 3 bedroom caretaker’s cottage, a house known as the “vegetable garden” built of bricks under tiles, comprising various rooms for storing equipment, vegetable store and garage with an attic above, and a former stables with 6 stalls and a garage that could house several cars, with 9 bedrooms above. There is also a laundry building and an orangery.
A castle completely surrounded by a moat?! I can’t even begin to wonder how magical owning this would be… For sale for 1,976,000 € via Cabinet Le Nail.

Working on a Saturday

Posted on Sat, 13 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

It’s like I say week in week out. If you have to drag yourself into work on a weekend then it helps if it’s somewhere stylish. Of course an interior designer’s office is always stylish. Studio DB is a case in point.