Once in a Blue Room

I've been busy working on a new project and I thought you might enjoy taking a look at the inspiration images for the blue media room. I don't think it's any surprise that most of them are from the master of lacquer, Miles Redd. Enjoy!

Ashley Whittaker

Amanda Nisbet

Todd Romano

Nate Berkus and Anne Coyle in Elle Decor, Off Black by Farrow & Ball

Miles Redd in House Beautiful, Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Miles Redd in Elle Decor

Miles Redd, Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Blue Upholstery in Canadian House & Home

Miles Redd in Elle Decor, Wallpaper by Farrow & Ball

Antony Todd

Steven Gambrel

More Happiness!

One of my readers mentioned magazines as something that makes them happy and I have to agree! Right now, the March 2010 cover of ELLE DECOR is making me very happy! Those blue walls are gorgeous and I can't wait to get the issue see the rest!

UPDATE: I was overjoyed with excitement when I found this issue on sale today in New York and I can tell you that it's just as spectacular as I imagined! It's probably one of my favorite issues in a long time! Hope you get your copy soon!

David Collins at Home

I happened to pick up the December issue of Spanish AD this week and was left swooning over the London apartment of designer David Collins. Of course, I can't read a word of Spanish so I can't help you with any of the details but I think the photos speak for themselves. Mr. Collins has locked his online portfolio so I scanned in the article and also found some other photos online elsewhere. You can see the difference styling and finishing touches can make to a space. I love how the beige chairs above look reupholstered in two new fabrics below. The hints of lilac in the blue room also look amazing! I think it might be my new favorite color combination! Too bad we can't see what else David Collins has been up to online! I bet it's just as fabulous!

Photos by Simon Watson and Ricardo Labougle for Spanish AD

Blue Christmas: Part Deux

It was the photos of the blue entry decorated for Christmas in the December 2009 issue of Elle Decor that had me thinking back to Aerin Lauder's blue Christmas. I love blue and white porcelain any time of year but I think it looks especially festive at the holidays.

Miles Redd, who can do not wrong in my opinion, designed the apartment and lacquered the walls in the entry Yves Klein blue. I couldn't help but also post a photo of the bar below. Cheers!

Photos by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Blue Christmas

One of the most famous holiday spreads has to be Aerin Lauder's East Hampton house from the December 2007 issue of House & Garden magazine. I have been seeing a lot of blue backdrops to holiday decorations this year and it had me thinking about Lauder's blue dining room. The table was beautifully set for Christmas breakfast and I especially love the mix of gold and blue which is an elegant alternative to the usual blue and silver. And of course the greenery and pops of red add the finishing touch. I wonder if Aerin has room for one more this year! I would love to wake up in this chic house Christmas morning!

The blue walls are a custom color created by Donald Kaufman and the gilt mirror belonged to Estee Lauder who was the original owner of the house. The chandelier reflected in the mirror is by Waterford.

The Indian marble table from 1840 is set with Estee's English cut crystal, gold flatware and vintage lace napkins.

Aerin always orders her gingerbread houses from William Poll in New York. I can also attest that they make the best dips and hor d'oeuvres for holiday parties! It's an Upper East Side institution!

The hanging lights in the kitchen are from Ann Morris Antiques in New York. There is no website but the address is 239 East 60th Street or call 212-755-3308.

I love the vintage Chinese urns that line the fireplace mantle but you can find similar blue and white pieces at Pearl River Mart in New York. Biscuit gets friendly in front of the fire with Teddy Robertson who sits on sisal carpet from Stark.

The walls in Estee's old bedroom which is now a guest room is Toiles de Nantes by Pierre Frey. I think this fabric is a nice alternative to traditional ikat fabrics since they only come in small widths. A photo of Estee and Joseph Lauder in Bermuda in the 70's sits on the vanity among her perfume and objects. Playing with my grandmother's jewelry was one of my memories from growing up and Aerin has many of Estee's old pieces. Hope she realizes how lucky she is to have had such a pioneering and chic grandmother! Happy Holidays!

Photos by Francois Halard