Tuesday Terms: Fretwork

Fretwork describes an interlaced decorative pattern (usually geometric) in design. Here is an example of a fretwork fabric adorning this beautiful little settee in the NYC residence that we first told you about last summer.



As you can tell, the space isn't extremely large (it is NYC) but the homeowners did want to have a comfortable place to sit just off the kitchen that was an easy place to feed small kids (the Pedestal table and ghost chair are super easy to wipe down!).



To keep the settee kid-friendly, we had the fabric treated prior to upholstering. Spills bead up but do not absorb.



There is space to the left of the table to easily pass through to the kitchen and also to pull up a high chair if need be.



Such a beautiful little space! Here's a better picture of that gorgeous stone floor:

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Tuesday Terms: Persian Rugs...

What you need to know is this: When it comes to the finest in rugs, Persians (the real deal from Iran) are king. Here are a few that I love. These are all hand-knotted, vegetable dyed, antique Persians from Iran. Contact me for prices and sizing as I would love to see these rugs go to good homes. (and my husband will kill me if any of them go to my good home although I'm seriously considering it.)









And this is no Persian but she is just as dear. How cute it my little 6-month-old Selby!:

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Tuesday Terms: Portuguese Bed

I have been reminded of my great admiration for Portuguese furniture by a project that I am working on and thought you might agree. The style is similar to Spanish but less influenced my the Moors and more influenced by the East (China, India and East Indies). My favorite pieces are probably the 4 poster beds (like this one in a guest suite at the Santa Barbara Canary Hotel):



Or Portuguese Consoles like this one:


And I also love this Portuguese-inspired Sunburst Armoire being carried by Wisteria.com:

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Tuesday Terms: Chevron Floors

I met with a client yesterday who asked me about my design style. I told him that I am remaining a generalist in my 30s... but I do beach really well and have a reallll weakness for old world interior design. One of my favorite "old world" design elements are hardwood floors laid in a Chevron pattern. I love the chevron floors in this "ethnic chic" dream room!



{image from French Elle Deco No. 197}

A Chevron is a line or a stripe in the shape of a V or an inverted V. Here is a larger example of Chevron Hardwood Floors.



We might have to talk about wood species and grains next because that is such a BEAUTIFUL leached gray oak!

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Tuesday Terms: Relaxed Romans

The style of roman shade shown here (at left) is called a Flat roman; its folds stack neatly when raised but there are no horizontal seams. Additionally, it is an interior mount (just inside the window box cavity) vs. an exterior mount.



I'm also loving those metal windows that have sills but no casing.

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Tuesday Terms: Cafe Curtains

To date, I have discovered just 2 appropriate circumstances for using cafe curtains which are curtains that cover only the lower half of a window and usually employ sliding rings. The first is in a situation when going to the floor is simply not an option... like in kitchen sink window or a window seat window like this one below:

And the second is treating a window in a cottage, rustic or country environment... where their cutesy-nature add charm. Even still, light, gauzy fabrics work best paired with simple, slim hardware.


I know I love that fluffy creature framed between the windows... but can anyone tell me what that is??

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Tuesday Terms: Clear Light Switch Plates

If you are thinking of covering your walls in a pattern as cool as this one, don't cover any of it up with a light switch plate.

Consider using a clear plate like the one on the wall directly behind the bedside table light (hard to see right!) :


I found them here: SwitchPlate SuperStore

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Tuesday Terms: Baseboard Tricks

Tuck this one away in your back pocket: Consider adding a stripe of paint for a Miter-Saw/Nail Gun-free way to add height to your baseboards or crown mouldings :) If you click on this photo to make it larger, you will see the green band around both the baseboard and crown trim pieces that give each an extra 2" of height. Interesting. Oh, and I love those draperies.

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Tuesday Terms: de Joode design

We were recently contacted by the artist who created this wallpaper who requested that we update the link to where these papers could be found. We have obliged the request and hope that if you were looking for the wallpaper, you will now be able to find. Thank you!

This isn't your grandmother's wallpaper and it isn't for little ones either (well maybe). Dutch artist 'de Joode design for Soonsalon' has created a wallpaper collection based upon models in form. This is one of his creations featured in a recent French Elle Decor:


If you look really closely, the form being repeated to create this design is actually a woman bending backwards holding a shiny green ball.


I love this wallpaper for a lounge space where you'd appreciate the overall effect from afar but it would surely lead to delicious conversation when you got close enough to see the surprise details! Love it!? You can purchase the paper here: Soon Salon

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Tuesday Terms: Coffering

I have been so taken with this image lately. The ceiling, the trim around the doorway, the detail on the wall paneling, the chair fabric, the art, even the inlay on the dresser all reinforce and repeat Tuesday's Term: Coffering to stunning effect. Coffering is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. In this image, the coffered ceiling is a beautiful stained wood. ( Interior Design by Steven Gambrel, House Beautiful April 2011)


Here is an example of a painted coffered ceiling.


Coffering is a beautiful way to add interest and detail to an often ignored part of a room!

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Tuesday Terms: Fortuny Fabrics

Fortuny fabrics, another fantastic Italian export, have long been coveted by the wealthy for their color steadfastness and beauty.

The story goes that Mariano Fortuny y Madrazzo devised a secret technique for producing textiles, using only the finest cotton ground cloth, and with colors so vibrant and plush you might mistake them for silk or velvet. The fabrics endure and develop a richness all of their own as they age. I think the same could be said of this dining room/library with that knock out gilded Saarinen table and Louis XV chairs upholstered in Fortuny fabric.

Image: Design by Fisher Weisman Interior Design, Published in Elle Decor.

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Tuesday Terms: Japanning

With our thoughts and prayers with the people of Japan, this week's term will be the same: Japanning. Japanning describes the imitation of Asian lacquer-work by European craftspeople in 18th Century England. It is a lacquering process that uses layers of resin varnish, similar to shellac, upon a wooden surface to achieve a smooth glossy finish. It would typically have Asian inspired motifs painted on the finish.

An example would be something like this:


But I think a more modern example of this idea would be this elm Wood "Dynasty" chest from Horchow:

Or even this interesting "Joule" console, also from Horchow, which is handcrafted of wood with a silver-gilt finish:


And while she knows nothing of Japanning, a 3-month old baby Selby does seem to have mastered sunning on her recent excursion to Hawaii:

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Tuesday Terms, Aloha...

From Hawaii, where I'll be enjoying some R&R and getting inspired!! See you next week!

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Tuesday Terms, Edison Bulb

You've probably noticed the Edison Bulb, a clear glass light bulb with the single loop carbon filament exposed at the center, popping up everywhere. They are truly beautiful to look at; to literally see energy harnessed for light.. . They can be a statement all alone or sometimes even better, paired with a translucent light fixture like they are in this kitchen below.


They'll run you around $15.00 or so depending on where you buy them but they're worth it because you'll love the way they look!

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Tuesday Terms: Decorative Trap

The U-shaped pipe located beneath the sink is known as a trap. When using a vanity that exposes the plumbing, such as this handsome chocolate powder room does below, you will want to use a decorative trap which becomes a design feature all its own. I am sorry that I do not know the source, but I think this is a great looking bathroom.

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Tuesday Terms: Damask

Damasks. A damask (in the traditional sense) is a name for a weaving technique that yields elegant, often monochromatic and iridescent patterns featuring fruit, flowers or other designs. Damasks often suit clients who have a desire for a formal, highly polished space. I am considering this Thomas Paul damask rug (from Domestic Modern.com) featured below for a current project.

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Tuesday Terms: Liners

Liners. Typically long and skinny, these blue ceramic trim pieces mounted at the top of the backsplash below, are generally referred to as liners. They can used horizontally or vertically, by themselves or in combination with other field tile, to clad a surface.

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Tuesday Terms

Glazing. Glazing is a finishing technique that is often used on kitchen cabinetry. The finisher builds up layers of translucent paint and/or rubs away layers to achieve the desired effect. The technique can be seen here on this green apple green kitchen island. Glazing will usually increase the cost of finishing cabinetry.


Photo Credit: 2011 February House Beautiful, Interior Design by Gideon Mendelson

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Tuesday Terms

Running Bond. Name for pattern in which the row of brick (or Subway tile) alternate instead of being right on top of each other as seen here in this February House Beautiful "Kitchen of the Month."


Kitchen Design by Michael Del Piero and Joseph Decker.

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