If you’d like to send us photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.comand PLEASE don’t send me closeups of your pet!)

“Austin, our blond rescue Lab mix, really likes to nap on our soft furniture.  I find tell-tale “Austin hair” on the leather couch, sitting on which is a big no-no, and rumpled blankets on the guest bed, pictured.
Amos is the baby, a 9-month old chocolate Lab mix. He finds all sorts or places to sit so he can watch the birdies outside, like my reading nook chair.”
– Joanna (Kansas City, Missouri)

“I have two photos to share with you. The first is my cat, June, on my vintage pink velvet sofa, and the second is my dog, Delilah, who prefers to lounge on the more modern sectional.”
– Melanie (St. Petersburg, Florida)

“This is Bronte. Life is pretty exhausting for her… she alternates between the couch and the bed. I like this shot because it still reminds me of that moment. A Sunday afternoon, raining outside and I was sitting at my table, working while Bronte slept.”
– Alice

“Later on in the afternoon, I stepped into my bedroom in need of a catnap as I’m fighting off a bad cold right now. I found our cat, Ziggy, laying there like the Queen of Sheba. Despite her haughty expression, she doesn’t have a problem sharing.”
– Vivian (Cambridge, Ontario)

“This is our Oriental cat, Polly, snoozing in the sun on the sideboard.”
– Bec

“Here is a picture of our youngest cat, Muffin. She is sitting in the middle of my bed, in front of my favourite leafy cushions. 🙂”
– Sarah (Australia)

“Meet Atlas the Bullmastiff, 125 pounds of pure laziness and love. Getting him off this couch is harder than getting my two sons to clean their bathroom!”
– Marisa (Placitas, New Mexico)
  

“Dexter, my regal Great Dane, considers the couch his throne!”
– Sabra (San Diego)

“This is my foster cat, Trixie, a truly lovely pet, whom I hope found a loving family when she got back to the DSPCA (Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The plaid is from Ikea and the Indian cushion cover comes from the Camden Market in London, bought 14 years ago but still showing vibrant colours.”
– Hélianthe (Dublin, Ireland)

“This is my Maine Coon mix Fritz who apparently loves my vintage 1950’s refinished dresser as much as I do. I can’t keep him out of it long enough to load it up! The before picture is in the bottom right corner.”
– Jenn (Sarasota, Florida)

Rebecca Du Pont De Bie and Caroline Cobbold, the lovely ladies behind London-based Cobbold Du Pont Interiors, emailed us recently and shared some photos from their absolutely incredible portfolio. Their firm was created in 2007 and with over 30 years experience between the two as freelance set designers and decorators, they set out to create eclectic, elegant and seemingly effortless spaces that wowed both Jo and I. Here is your first peek at some of their work. I believe it is a converted church that belongs to Rebecca. So beautiful!! (Next week I’ll show you quite a different project – this time with a bit of a glam factor).

I hear fairly often from readers that they don’t know what to do with window treatments for bay windows. I frankly hate bay windows unless they come with a gorgeous century old Victorian house. Otherwise they are typically 80s non-descript nightmares. I received a request for each of these scenarios recently:

“Just closed on a new house, and though we will not be renovating for some time (while hubby finishes his Masters) a certain level of charm is required :))) We have a total of 4 bay windows (minto makes ugly bay windows, just a side note) that begin about a foot below the ceiling, not always centered on the wall and DON’T take up the whole wall. in my mind they look too deep, too low and very very awkward. I was wondering if you have any pictures of fresh, clean and not too too spare ways of decorating these. I find many people either go overboard with curtains or go very sparse with just blinds. I am hoping to have roll up blinds for privacy, but can’t decide on what to do for the charm factor 🙂” – Nat

“Could you give any ideas on how to dress a bay window in a living room of a period/Edwardian house? I have been searching for it for a while but I am finding difficult to find anything…. ideally something not to heavy looking, so that the living room does not look any smaller.” – Susana

I went through my stash of living rooms photos (thousands) and found the following that included bay windows. Now, some of these window treatments are a little odd or impratical, and some I don’t really like, but it’s all I had. I am a fan of either sheers like the first photo, or wooden blinds with curtains at each edge similar to the James Merrell photo. Hope this helps ladies!!

Living Etc.
Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi
Shoot Factory
Light Locations
Kwinter & Co.
Guido Barbagelata
Oak Management
Light Locations
James Merrell
Markham Roberts Inc.
Lonny
Homes & Gardens
Living Etc.

Steven Gambrel	Selina Lake
design*sponge	Frank Roop
Caroline Beaupère	Andreas Trauttmansdorff
Living Etc.	John Janik
jj Locations	Andreas Trauttmansdorff

As I mentionned back in a post in ’08, Manhattan interior designer John Willey is an inspiration for those who believe that beige is a colour. Because he certainly does NOT. His spaces are wrapped in bold colour and pattern and give off lots of fun energy. He’s a genius, what can I say. Here are some newer photos from his portfolio.

“The things one loves about old houses – their sense of history, their time-worn easy comfort, the way they sit on the land with an air of inevitability, their elegant proportions and details – can still be had in a new house today, and they are at the heart of the work we do. Through a dynamic combination of discernment, taste, imagination and rigor, we strive to create new places for our clients to live and enjoy life. These places are rooted in tradition but also keenly attuned to the demands and opportunities of life today. They celebrate craftsmanship and quality, comfort and decoration, natural light and the importance of connecting the rooms inside with the landscapes which surround them. At the end of the day, our goal is to make places that are beautiful, comfortable, of exceptional quality, and seem as if they have always been there.”
– G. P. Schafer Architect