House Crush: Sloan Mauran's House

Leave it to those Canadian designers to design yet another stunning home. They have the most impeccable taste.  Check out the residence of Toronto interior designer, Sloan Mauran.

I adore the brass hardware. A perfect example of how to mix silver and gold.

LOVE the mix of formality and family.  See, you CAN have chic rooms that are kid friendly.

There's a starburst mirror over the bed. Do I really have to say anything else?

To see more of this beautiful home, go here.

{images via Canadian House&Home}

Look for Less: X-Bench

There are a handful of pieces that will never date.  Chesterfield sofas, starburst mirrors, trestle tables are a few examples.  One of my absolute favorites is the X-bench (remember when I used one in this Louis Vuitton inspired room?).  Whether your style is contemporary, traditional, country, or something in between, I bet you could find a place for this design staple.

Like the master bath...

...the master bedroom...

...the living room...

...and even the dining room!

 William-Sonoma X-bench in leather (starting at $1700)

As you can see, they can cost you a pretty penny.  It's a great investment if you have the moo-lah, but most of us don't.  Let's take a peak at some looks for less!

 Jonathan Adler X-Bench (starting at $495)

Ballard Designs X-Bench in Domino Chocolate Fabric (starting at $275)

Serena & Lily X-Bench in Antique Linen (starting at $850)

Ballard Design X-Bench in Suzanne Kasler Linen Flax (starting at $275)

Where would you place one in your home?

{images via Decor Pad, Elle Decor & William-Sonoma Home}

eMag: High Gloss Premier Issue!

I recently posted about how much I love eMags. Well, I may have just stumbled across my favorite one! Check out the premier issue of High Gloss!

This dining area was inspired by the Rat Pack through the 50's and 60's.  You know I love any room that has Dorothy Draper's chest and lacquered chairs!

Honestly, magazine's style boards never really strike me as pretty.  They always push the envelope a bit too much for me.  But this one? I think they jumped in my brain and posted everything I would want them to post!

Great minds think a like! The starburst mirror in the background of the above picture is the same starburst I have over my bed and the blue Surya rug, below, is in my kitchen. Adore!

Check out this new eMag in all its fabulousness at

HighGlossMagazine.com

Starburst Mirrors

It's no secret I'm obsessed with starburst mirrors.  I have one in my living room and one over my bed... I still want more!  To me, a starburst mirror is the ultimate wall decor for the modern sophisticate.

Nickel Starburst from Global Views

Whether you are traditional, contemporary, or even rustic there is a starburst mirror for you!   Take a look at the following collection of photos to see what I mean:

Kelly Wearstler

Kelly Wearstler table accessories for Bergdorf Goodman's

Suzanne Kasler
(So much more style than if a traditional mirror was hung over the chest, don't you think?)

Suzanne Kasler

Arteriors

Metropolitan Home

Sarah Richardson
(my dream bathroom)

Sarah Richardson

Arteriors
(The PERFECT starburst mirror, in my opinion.  I may have to purchase this before too long...)

Nickel Starburst pulls via NestInteriorDesign

Nickel Starburst pulls via NestInteriorDesign
(I really want to know their source for these.  Let me know if you know!)

Suzanne Kasler via Elle Decor

Italian Giltwood Circa 1930 via 1stDibs



Decor Pad

 Next time you have an empty space on your wall, consider adding a little polish and sophistication with a starburst!

CanThis Be Made Into A Room? Tom Ford Spring 2011

He's bbbaaaaaccccckkkkkkkk....!!!!! Tom Ford is back for Spring 2011! Hallelujah! If you lived under a rock throughout the 90's, Tom Ford was the creative genius behind both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent and has been on hiatus from fashion for the past six years.  Thank goodness the king of sexy is back with his own line, which has been kept quite secret.  The only sneak peaks we have are four images Mr. Ford leaked to Vogue and you know me, I had to turn them into a room!

The sexy Mr. Ford with his harem of chic 70s women.

“The seventies is what I love. Soft, touchable beauty is what I love,” says Ford.

images via Vogue

I think the rich moody blues contrasting against the soft ecru's is so striking.  To turn this collection into a room, I would paint the whole room in a dark dark charcoal-y blue and place a tailored sofa (Room & Board) in bone colored fabric on the main wall to create high contrast in the room's focal point.  In front of the sofa I would place a blue and white leopard print area rug (Horchow).  One of the most common mistakes people make in their homes is using too small of area rug.  Technically, you should choose a rug that is 9-12" smaller than the perimeter of your room but most rugs don't come that large unless you custom order one.  Think the bigger the better, so in front of a sofa place a 9x13 or 8x11 at the very least.  NO 4x6's!! This size would look like a postage stamp on your floor, unless layered on top of another area rug.  Now that we have area rug sizes out of the way, back to Mr. Ford!

 I couldn't design a room without some vintage.  For this 70s inspired room, I would add an oversized brass tray cocktail table, a pair of crystal table lamps (placed on a hidden console behind the sofa), and a glass chandelier, all circa 1970 (1st Dibs).   And how do you interpret a fabulous Afro?  A giant starburst mirror, of course!! This one is brass with blue accents in the center, again, circa 1970 (1st Dibs) and I would place it above the sofa in between the two crystal table lamps.  


To soften the hard lines of the vintage pieces I would drape yards and yards of royal blue dupioni silk (Half Priced Drapes), floor to ceiling, around the windows.  Toss some royal blue silk velvet (Etsy) and Mongolian lamb skin pillows on the sofa to add some interesting textural contrast.  And what would a 70s inspired room be without a disco ball?  A glass mosaic end table from Arteriors does the trick! 


Could you get down with this groovy pad, soul sista?

Design Legend: Jan Showers



 When I first picked up Jan Shower's book, "Glamorous Rooms,"  I was astonished at how her style was so close to my own (well, hers comes with a HUGE slab of traditional, where I lean towards the contemporary). The serene color palettes, the clean lines, the glitz of metals and glass, the draping of mass yardages of silk, all evoke an atmosphere of luxury that is not too pretentious. 

As soon as I flipped through this book, I ran home and got it on order.  When I received my copy, I noticed a little leopard peeking out from the dust jacket.  The actual book itself is a faux snow leopard!  If I am to be reincarnated as a inanimate object, it would be this book!

Jan's bedrooms were what initially struck me. In fact, there was one that was so close to my own bedroom! I couldn't find a picture online of it, but the walls were a darker silver-sage with two starburst mirrors over each nightstand and two arm chairs that are the exact match to my sofa in my living room. So beautiful. 

"We believe in insisting on perfection.  Timeless style.  Classic glamour.  The ease of living well. Simplicity.  Luxury you can take for granted."  -Jan Showers

(Can you imagine dressing this table for Thanksgiving? Note to self:  find puddling table linens.)

"Choosing different designs ultimately mixed with different interiors, from traditional to modern, is my real inspiration."  -Jan Showers

I know there's a lot to love in this pic, but I die over the door hardware. 

Can you believe the area rug is actually patched cow hides? 
It's such a fun texture against the smooth drapes and sleek occasionals.

Not sure what the carpet is.  Ocelot? Gazelle? Whatever it is, it sure is chic!

"Glamour and comfort are not mutually exclusive."  -Jan Showers

Jan added warmth and slimmer to the above entryway by treating the walls with warm silver-leaf tea paper.  The same tea paper is also on the inside covers of her book!