Inspiration Board

It seems Madonna’s penchant for reinventing herself extends beyond music. Her English manor was profiled in the August 2005 issue of Vogue, and everything, from the decor to Madge herself, couldn’t possibly be more at home in the bucolic countryside.

Compare this to her Art Deco-inspired Manhattan apartment, featured in Architectural Digest over a decade before she was feeding chickens on her front lawn. What strikes me most about Madonna’s apartment (pictured below) is how current it feels. Even though the space was photographed in 1991, many of the rooms, especially the kitchen and the hallway, feel timeless.

With a fresh coat of paint and some strategic furniture swaps, this apartment could be a chic, modern space with an Art Deco vibe. (Not dissimilar to some of Kelly Wearstler's spaces...)

I love how completely Madonna commits herself to a look, be it in music or in design. If there’s one thing to learn from her transformations, both personal and decorative, it’s go big or go home.

See more inspiring celebrity homes, plus tour Jennifer Aniston's house!

Photo credits:
1-2. Ace Forbes
3-5. Hooked on Houses
6. Architectural Digest
7. Hard Candy Music

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On Tuesday, Canada’s W Network premiered 9 by Design, a reality series that debuted in the U.S. on Bravo last spring. The show follows designing couple Robert and Cortney Novogratz of New York’s Sixx Design while they work on several big projects, including a hotel.

I haven’t watched the show yet, as even the thought of running a business while raising a big family — oh yes, did I mention they have seven kids? — stresses me out. But I like the quirkiness of their work, which is inspiring me to loosen up my own space.

Case in point: I love cut flowers and this is a fun and unexpected way to use them. 

I also just bought a new bed, and like the cheeky grittiness of a spray-painted headboard like this one that they did for a house in the Hamptons.

Here’s another fun detail in a stairwell in the same house.

I also love this funky yet serene bedroom. Tip: Flags as art are a hot trend right now.

This hallway has everything: cool tile flooring, wow lighting, a statement door in one of my favourite patterns — Wrongwoods by Richard Woods  — and tons of space for coats and shoes.

Not your ordinary office wall clock.

Here, they make a white kitchen downright sexy.

For those of you who prefer to read than watch, they’ve also authored a book, titled Downtown Chic (2009 Rizzoli). When they found the time to write it is a mystery to me.

Photo credits:
1. Great Barrington, Sixx Design
2-3. The Hamptons, Sixx Design, photography by Matthew Williams, courtesy of Carol Leggett Public Relations
4. Bravo
5. Sixx Design, photography by Matthew Williams, courtesy of Carol Leggett Public Relations
6. #5 Center Market, Sixx Design, photography by Costa Picadas, courtesy of Carol Leggett Public Relations
7. The Hamptons, Sixx Design, photography by Matthew Williams, courtesy of Carol Leggett Public Relations

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I’ve just finished decorating a family room that is in this week’s House & Home Online TV episode. I took a few snapshots to use in a blog post, too, as I thought it turned out quite well.

Here are the before shots:

And the after shots:

There’s a lot going on in the room but it seems to work well together. It’s fresh and eclectic all at once.

The biggest expense was the Sullivan sofa from Rowe Fine Furniture, but at $3,500, it’s still a great price for a sectional. I love it because it’s not gigantic like a lot of sectionals out there. 

Next, we went for custom-made window coverings. Drapes are very important to me because I think good drapery really adds a nice layer to a room. Nothing complicated here, just a simple top-tack drapery heading on a black metal rod. We used a double-wide fabric from Designer Fabrics. Since it was double-width, we could easily use the stripe pattern horizontally which is more fun and a little less traditional looking. It frames the windows and complements everything else in the space. Even though we used a striped fabric, I still see the pattern as “neutral” — you can coordinate a lot with grey, black and cream stripes, so this homeowner won’t tire of the drapery for a very long time.

Most of the other elements are actually pieces that the homeowner already had in storage. The coffee and end tables got a fresh coat of white paint, and the dark green velvet chair was transformed with a classic white slipcover. The fabric looks like cotton but is actually polyester and washes up really well. It's called Pegasas (91J5361) from Joanne Fabrics. We had Nancy at Cover Your World create the slipcover, and we couldn’t be happier with the new chair.

My favourite “layer” in the room is the gallery wall. The window facing the backyard is a nice focal point, and since there isn’t a fireplace, this wall of art makes for another great focal point. I hung all of these prints in about two hours. It will actually take you longer than you expect to find pieces to put on the wall. I laid the frames out in a random fashion, which certainly speeds things up. I just made sure that every frame was staggered from the one beside it, so that none of the edges lined up — otherwise it would look like you tried to line it up but couldn’t! The homeowner had all of these photos and paintings already (most of them were sitting in a closet), and they looked okay on their own, but in a grouping they looked even better. We actually reframed a few of the pieces because I find a bad frame really dates the style of the artwork — that’s usually when people put them in the closet!

We added colour (aside from the gallery wall) on the sofa with lots of bright cushions from Pottery Barn and West Elm. The floral pattern is actually a fabric we found at Designer Fabrics, and we used it for a few different custom pillows.

I went for a cotton 8’ x 10’ flatweave rug from Elte because I wanted a simple but large tone-on-tone pattern to balance out the striped drapery.

Here are some lessons to take from this room:
1. Keep higher priced items (like the sofa, drapes and rug) neutral.
2. Look around your house and give new life to things you already have (paint and slipcover).
3. Reframe old artwork and look for family photographs to create a gallery wall that will give you an amazing focal point.
4. And our tried and true rule — add colour with pillows and accessories.

To see more great transformations, check out our Extreme Makeovers photo gallery.

Photo credits:
1-5. Cameron MacNeil

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Let’s look back at how mid-century stars used to live — or at least where they lived — and imagine them roaming the halls and lounging in the yard. Marilyn Monroe’s life story is synonymous with glamour, fame and style, and therefore it’s fitting that her homes were equally as glamorous.

There’s an element of voyeurism that piques the public’s interest when it comes to celebrity homes. Think of those Hollywood tours and maps that allow you to peek through the front gates of the most high-profile celeb homes — where they live, even where they used to live, how much time they spent there, how much the home sold for. So when I learned that Marilyn’s Brentwood, California home was on the market this summer, the voyeur in me revealed itself.

Before she ventured out on her own, Marilyn lived in a sprawling estate in Roxbury, Connecticut with her 3^rd husband, playwright Arthur Miller. Here they are on the lawn, appreciating the simple things in life. After countless Google searches, I couldn’t find interior photos of the home, but I wanted to include these because they just seem so… happy… and real. And I can almost peek into those windows behind them…

After their divorce in 1961, Marilyn fled back west to her home state and bought this home in Brentwood, California for $90,000.

This past July, the 1929 Spanish-style, one-storey Hacienda was listed for $3.6 million USD.

The home is the largest in the Helenas, a coveted area in Brentwood, but is still quite small compared to other celeb homes. Nestled in a citrus grove, it features so many of the things I covet — a lush, secluded courtyard, terracotta tiles, vast skylights ushering in natural light, original wood ceilings and beams, glass-front cabinets and built-in bookshelves in nearly every room. Ahhhhh a girl can dream…

The home boasts a modest four bedrooms and three bathrooms. I love the crisp white palette in this bedroom, accented only by the greenery outside the windows.

And notice all the old hardware on the windows — timeless! If I lived here, the windows would be open year-round.

I’m sure the home’s interior has changed since Marilyn’s time, but there are certainly elements that have remained untouched, and those, in my opinion, are the best features of the home — the flooring, ceilings, windows and built-ins. Like Kimberley wrote yesterday, there’s something to be said about looking back, drawing inspiration from timeless design, and, for me, imagining myself in the midst of it all.

For another celeb home — one that’s a bit more current — check out Jennifer Aniston’s House.

Photo credits:
1-2. Architectural Digest November 2008 issue
3-8. Luxist

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This summer, I fulfilled a childhood dream when I visited architect Philip Johnson’s seminal Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut. As a kid who grew up surrounded by cookie-cutter suburban homes, its minimal indoor-outdoor design had a huge influence on my ideas about design — mostly what I admire and what I don’t — and how design can impact quality of life (for better or worse).

Johnson, who died in 2005, said, “The Glass House is my 50-year diary,” and visiting it gave me the same voyeuristic thrill as reading a grandparent’s love letters. In this case, the affair was between Johnson and the experience of place: private versus public space, the relationship between architecture and landscape, and the role of nostalgia in design — all the things we consider when decorating our own homes.

This is the “bedroom.” When I turned and looked out the window to see what Johnson saw when he woke up every morning, a baby deer and its mother were wandering through the trees. (If you’re wondering, the bathroom is on the other side of the round fireplace shown at the top.)

As you can see, the house has changed little from when it was completed in 1949. (Can you spot Andy Warhol?) I’m still discovering my style, that look I’ll still love 50 years from now. But like Johnson, I’m sure it will be defined by simplicity — and playfulness.

Contrary to what most photos convey, The Glass House is not an isolated structure, but one of 14 Johnson built on the 47-acre property. This is one of the last buildings he designed. Called Da Monsta, it sits near the entrance and was finished in 1995 (when Johnson was 88 years old!).

There isn’t a single 90 degree angle to be found in it.

This is the gate at the property’s entrance, which looks a lot like a guillotine. Johnson left instructions not to clear away any of the fallen pine cones or needles.

The Painting Gallery was built in 1965, the entrance to which was inspired by a Greek tomb. Johnson preferred to look at only a few pieces of art at a time. Though he designed many museums (New York’s MoMA among them), he once said, “After fifteen minutes, I’ve had it!” Here, the rotating display only shows two works at a time, with only six works of art ever on view at once.

If The Glass House really was a diary, the line would read: less is more.

For more mid-century modern inspiration, check out my Mid-Century Makeover blog post.

Photo credits:
1a, 9. Jake Klisivitch
1b. New York Architecture
2, 4, 6-8. Kimberley Brown
3. Dipity.com
5. ArchDaily

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I’m renovating my basement bathroom this summer. I had a bathroom vanity in mind and purchased it about eight months ago so I’d be all set for when the contractor came. It was the smallest sink I’ve ever seen, about 10” x 20”! But I’ve now discovered we have a bit more room in the space, so I’m going to get something larger. 

I think a vanity area is one of the most important areas of the bathroom, especially for guests — they may not be bathing or showering in your bathroom, but we all know they will wash their hands and check themselves out in the mirror!

There are so many choices in bathroom vanities right now and the nice thing is you don’t even have to wait for something to be custom made these days. You can order a sink, stone or composite counter and base all from your local hardware store. The one above is from Restoration Hardware.

I’m actually going for a wall-mounted sink since I don’t need the storage space and want an open and airy look, similar to the sink above. Here are some others that I’ve been drawing inspiration from:

For more vanity inspiration, check out our Small Bathrooms photo gallery.

Photo credits:
1. House & Home December 2009 issue, photography by Michael Graydon
2. House & Home July 2007 issue, photography by Michael Graydon
3. House & Home April 2010 issue, photography by Michael Graydon
4. Maison & Demeure January 2010 issue, photography by Jean Longpre
5. House & Home December 2006 issue, photography by Virginia Macdonald

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A few weekends ago, I had the privilege of spending a few days on a small yacht with my family, and I came back to the city with a serious case of sea legs to prove it. The constant feeling of gently swaying back and forth, even though I’m on solid ground, has left me with nautical thoughts floating around in my head.

I dug up this shot that I’ve had in my inspiration files for a long time now, a room styled by Lili Diallo. Check out that chandelier! First of all, who would ever think to create a crystal chandelier in the shape of a ship? And secondly, who knew that it could work so well in a room? It adds a fun, whimsical touch to an otherwise traditional space filled with classic detailing, rigid materials and a neutral palette.

Thinking this was a fluke or maybe a one-off piece, I did some more searching for this fascinating fixture. Believe it or not, fashion designer Nanette Lepore has one suspended in her living room. It works perfectly in this space against the wood paneling that salutes luxury ocean liners from the early 20th century (think Titanic), and fits in so well among the eclectic pieces of furniture and accessories.

New York City based interior designer Katie Ridder took a different but much more literal approach and installed this chandelier in a bathroom. I love the way the tiles mimic ocean waves — what an excellent idea for a children’s bathroom.

Just when I thought I’d wrapped my head around this new lighting style, I stumbled across this image of another crystal ship chandelier, this time in the most unexpected of places — a church in Lithuania from the early 1900s. Perhaps I’m way further behind on this trend than I originally thought!

Thinking about jumping ship from your current chandelier? For those with a cruise-ship sized budget, check out the antique crystal chandelier that is up for grabs at 1stdibs.com.

As for those with a dinghy-sized budget, take a look at this fixture available at We Got Lites — it offers the same dramatic impact but at a much more affordable price.

For tips on how to hang chandeliers and pendants, see our Hanging Lights article.

Happy sailing!

Photo credits:
1. Lili Diallo’s Interiors, Apartment Therapy
2. Nanette Lepore’s Manhattan townhouse, Elle Decor
3. Carnegie Hill house, Katie Ridder
4. Flickr.com
5. Crystal Ship Chandelier from Regalo Antiques, 1stdibs.com
6. Crystal Sail Boat Ship Chandelier, We Got Lites

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Ah, to be rich and famous. What couldn’t you do with practically unlimited funds with which to decorate? So it’s almost surprising, then, when a celebrity home turns out to be a modern, welcoming space as opposed to an over-the-top spectacle (we’re looking at you, Christina Aguilera). At once chic and masculine, Jennifer Aniston’s home in Beverly Hills, which appeared in Architectural Digest earlier this year, is a surprising mix of Old Hollywood glam, mid-century modern, retro and Asian influences.

I love the use of scale in the sitting room — the oversized pendant light, enormous fireplace and pool vista create a dramatic space.

I’m really impressed with how well the house blends in with the surrounding property, too. The extensive use of wood and stone, both inside and outside, make the house seem more organic than manmade. And who wouldn’t love to eat breakfast with this view?

By far, my favourite space in Jennifer Aniston’s house has to be the bedroom. I love the calm vibe of the pale palette and natural materials. I’m lusting after the carpet, but I can’t imagine using it in my space; between the cats and my mountain biking boyfriend, it would be destroyed in a day.

And finally, because it’s just not Hollywood without an enormous pool…

(Here's some more pool photos, if that's not enough of a virtual escape!)

Photo credits:
1. Take Sunset
2. Dear Designer's Blog
3. Take Sunset
4. Dear Designer's Blog

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A few years ago, Linda Fargo, SVP and women’s fashion director for Bergdorf Goodman, graciously offered up her New York apartment to my dad, who was flying in for the weekend to join me for a book launch. It was a tiny but beautiful place that she had completely wallpapered with pages torn from an illustrated bird book. Linda started out as a window dresser — first at Macy’s and then Bergdorf’s, where she eventually took charge of the store’s overall visuals — so she knows a thing or two about making a strong statement in a small space. (Her window designs were celebrated in Assouline’s 2003 book, Dreams Through the Glass.)

Sadly, I didn’t snap pics, but when I stumbled on the image above, I remembered how much I loved the look.

Here’s a similar effect in a powder room by Hollywood designer Joe Nye.

If you’re more of a minimalist, stick to black and white type. Try pages from your favourite book.

Or photocopy newsprint. Notice how the paper is pasted right over the mouldings, a chic little detail.

In this shot, it appears as if a book’s pages have just been haphazardly tacked up. Think of it as taking a mood board to a whole new scale.

I’m filing this idea away for when I have space for dedicated home office. To explain, I have to let you in on a dirty little secret: I’m a terrible speller! I check m-w.com about a thousand times a day. This room is pasted with pages from a dictionary. How perfect is that? Click here for DIY instructions.

For another use for old book pages, check out our DIY Canvas Art Online TV segment.

Photo credits:
1. November 9, 2009 blog post, Katy Elliott
2. West Hollywood Residence, Joe Nye
3. July 27, 2007 blog post, Moodboard
4. Styled by Lo Bjurulf, Agent Bauer
5. Cactus Creek
6. January 15, 2008 blog post, Apartment Therapy

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