Month: August 2019

Stone English manor kitchen

Stone English cottage home

Who wouldn’t love to have a stone house in the country with climbing roses and charming interiors?  There is something incredibly charming and enduring about English country style, and this house in the Cotswolds designed by Joana Wood is entirely English but with a contemporary twist.  On this more contemporary version of English country house style, we can find more solid fabrics instead of chintz, bare tables instead of draped ones and exposed furniture legs instead of skirted upholstery yet it still feels classic and livable.

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I’ve been obsessed with Ulla Johnson’s clothes for a while now.  I love everything from the printed, ruffled dresses to the more globally inspired pieces.  I recently pre-ordered two pieces from her next Spring collection, and I can’t wait to wear them.  Architectural Digest features Ulla Johnson’s Brooklyn townhouse in the September issue, and the interior design embodies the brand’s chic bohemian style perfectly.  You can read and see more of Johnson’s light-filled townhouse at AD.  For now, I just decided to match some of her dresses and tops to her home.

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Modern country kitchen remodel, Julie Paulino Design

When I asked my client what atmosphere was she looking to feel after this kitchen renovation, her response was, “I want something that feels more like a cottage,” I instantly loved the idea.  I loved the fact that she wasn’t looking for a pretentious looking kitchen which would’ve been in complete disharmony with the rest of her home.  It all started with a hand sketch of my vision, which she immediately fell in love with.  We stayed away from white kitchen cabinets and instead went with semi custom-made grey distressed finish ones.  For more of a country feel we chose beaded cabinet doors — Interior Design by Julie Paulino Design.

Modern country kitchen remodel, Julie Paulino Design

My client has other homes around the country, and she hardly uses this kitchen, so we were able to ditch some of the upper cabinets.  That last option made the kitchen feel grander and brighter.  For contrast, we chose hand-made glazed white subway tiles, which also add great texture to the walls.  Below, are three computer renderings that we provide our clients once the design is agreed.  Further down, a before picture of the old kitchen.

modern country kitchen remodel

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unusual color combination, pink and navy blue, Steven Grambrel

Nothing transforms a room more dramatically and for less money than fresh paint color.  And no, white paint doesn’t count unless you are starting off with a black painted room.  I love to see unusual paint color combinations that are unexpected and soothing at the same time.  As I’ve mentioned before there are a few Interior Designers that are exceptional at combining unique paint colors in a room.  On the top of the list is Muriel Brandolini, she knows how to come up with unexpected wall colors that are incredibly soothing and one of a kind.  Another one on the list is Steven Gambrel who can also create never seen before paint color combinations.  See for yourself, below are the most unique and beautiful rooms painted in one of a kind color combos.

unusual color combination, toupe, ecru and browns, muriel brandolini

Living room designed by Muriel Brandolini.  The walls are covered in a fabric she designed for Holland & Sherry in a color that can miraculously be every color from taupe, pink or even brown depends on the hour of the day.  She paired this beautiful color with touches of ecru, yellow, browns and honey and makes everything looks like a warm degradation of colors.

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As I have mentioned before many accessory companies think they are Hermes as their prices are way too pretentious.  I think I came up with the solution for that, we all want to look stylish but without being fooled.  So until we have the extra cash to spend on a Kelly, the answer is to go au naturel or maybe just classic boho.  You see, these straw or wicker bags don’t just send a feeling of forever summer, but they are also super feminine, and they are highly Instagrammable.

straw bags, jane birkin with wicker bag and baby

Straw bags are as classic as a bag can be and lately, they have been elevated in style, from unusual shapes to the use of appliques, wicker bags are the alternative to looking stylish and yes, classic as well.

wicker bag

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