Tag Archives: Designers

Bull’s Eye

May 28, 2008UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

The new issue of Spaces came yesterday. Its focus is second homes and it is spot on. One of the things I like best is that most of the features are second homes within driving distance of KC.

Dan Auman and Kirby McCullough wanted a country house within an hour-and-a-half of the city. They scoured their determined radius from east to west before they settled on two adjacent lots in Arrow Rock, Missouri.

I haven’t been to Arrow Rock, but know folks who have hit the jackpot in its antique shops. I have stayed in a family home in nearby Glasgow and the countryside is picturesque and lovely.

Auman and McCullough used the floor plan of the George Caleb Bingham house in town as the jumping off point for their new construction.

Clean and fresh, the owners wanted to express a different side of themselves here. Their home in town is mid-century modern and they were wanting something a little “different.”

The house has a country aesthetic, certainly, but you can see the modernist influence here. Spare lines, un-fussy curtains and upholstery and graphic art give the owners room to breathe.

Ultimately, it was the people they met there who drew them in and made them feel at home. With only 32 full-time residents, my guess is they pick you as much as you pick them.

Looks like a match made in heaven.

Photography by Landon Collins.

Guidance and Inspiration

May 21, 2008UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

My maladjusted middle child got into the car on Saturday sweaty and a bit grimy and queried, “Why does life have to be so discouraging?”

Which is serious business when you’re eight. Or the mommy of an eight year old. These are the kinds of things that keep us awake at night wondering if they are ok, if they are over-scheduled, if they have friends.

He had just played soccer with his friends, blocked four shots as goalie, received a medal and had a popsicle. Seemingly boy heaven. And yet, discouraging.

As I am prone to do, I over-reached the moment. “Life, darling, is mostly what you make it. You can focus on the sweaty and tired or the beautiful day spent playing a game you like with your friends. Happiness, sweetheart, is a decision.” And on and on. No surprise, in real life, as on the page (screen) I have a lot to say.

Which is a lesson I needed to repeat to myself yesterday. The last few days of the boys’ school year is always a bit hectic and frenetic. Meetings and field days (which I always dodge thanks to Mr. Blandings) practices and games seem to multiply in May.

Other mommies must be a bit over-extended, too, as I have been on the receiving end of a fair bit of testiness.

So, I sat down last night, wanting to post. Needing a little inspiration. Courtney had wondered yesterday about Gambrel ever using red and white stripes and it made me wonder myself.

I clicked on over to srgambrel.com to cruise through the portfolio. Unlikely, I supposed, and it appears that I am right, but look what I found on my hunt.

A new little number right there under “Country.” Chic, as usual. Lots of blue, which is what keeps me from full on cut and paste from his inspiration to my dream house. Gambrel seems to steer clear of yellow and in the last Elle Decor layout (which featured a lot of yellow) he mentioned that yellow can be tricky; he prefers to use it in fabrics more than on walls.

I adore his work. (Really? Gosh we hadn’t noticed as you mention him once a week.) And seeing something new is always a treat. I like city Steven, but country Steven soars.

Botanicals, baskets, lanterns, yes, used lovingly, but not unexpected. But the Robsjohn-Gibbings stool set just off from the periwinkle-felted pool table? Delish.

Like a hot steamy shower, suddenly I was refreshed. Invigorated. Ready to face another day of reports and notebooks and calendar-watching children.

And, just in case you were worried, number 2 seems just fine. After my moving soliloquy he said, “Um. OK. But, Mom?” “Yes?” “My shin guards are itchy.”

Who’s Crazy?

May 20, 2008UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

How can the same person who sees an image like the one above and has to be careful not to drool upon it have the identical reaction to the image below?

Joni recently posted about cluttered or clean, and while I have that issue as well, I have a bigger problem with what I will call tonal rooms and rooms that are wonderlands of color.

My tear sheets are almost equally divided. Half are serene and elegant rooms with variations of the same tone and contrast only in texture. Sophisticated and soothing, they are a nice antidote to my big and bossy nature. “Come in, ” they suggest, “Relax. We’ve been waiting just for you.”

The other half are rooms likes these featured in the current Western Interiors, by Lynn von Kersting, that make me literally bounce up and down in my chair. “Pick me!” my heart sings when I see this symphony of color and pattern. Happy and joyful these rooms guarantee a good time. You’re still invited, and welcome, but the party is clearly in full swing.

It’s rare that I see a von Kersting room and don’t want to cover any available surface with red and white stripes.

It’s hard to meld the two, though the designer did choose a neutral wall below. I think you have to make a choice. Or live forever in a mixed-up world of design schizophrenia. Like me. And me.

Image, top, House Beautiful, June ’08. Design by Christopher Maya. Photograph by Eric Piasecki. Rooms by von Kersting from June/July ’08 Western Interiors. Photographs by John Ellis .

Before and After

April 29, 2008UncategorizedDesigners, Vintage DesignMrs. Blandings

I have not read it cover to cover, merely flipped back and forth and oohhed and ahhhed. The HG Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, 1960 is a gem. A few images caught my eye. I’m pretending they’ve inspired some modern day masters. The image above is Violet Searcy.

Whom my big city friend is unlikely to know, but I think his Sag Harbor living room has a similar feel. It’s a bit hard to tell from the camera angle. Trust me.

The Raleigh Tavern room in Williamsburg is certainly color cousins to Sallie Giordano’s work in Farrow and Ball’s The Art of Color.

Edward Wormley designed the room below.

It is just me, or can you see the influence on the Gambrel room?

Natural wall covering, punchy pillows, sculptural lamps?

This is one of my favorite rooms in the book.

Which Bunny William’s barn seems to echo.

The space, above, designed by Richard Kelly, is just as striking as the much blogged Paltrow Hampton’s hangout below.

There are a few images with charming chintzes. This one, likely a multi-colored floral, still reminds me of Peter Dunham’s fabrics.

There’s sure to be more to follow as the book is truly a treasure. As is it’s giver.

No Excuses

April 24, 2008UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

Think I’m in over my head with my little volunteer endeavor? Perhaps I’m not posting because I’m booked from carpool to carpool with mani-pedi, hi-lite and botox for the big event.

One true sacrifice I’m making this weekend is missing our local DIFFA chapter’s Dining by Design. I’m giving you some of the highlights from last year’s event in order to tempt you down to the Crown Center exhibit hall this weekend if you happen to be “in town.”

No matter how busy you are, you should be able to make it to see the fabulous tables. Friday from 5 – 9 you can drop in with no reservations and pay $25 at the door for Beringer wine pairings with yummy treats from some of KC’s top restaurants.

Saturday, sneak in midday from 10 – 12. Only $10 just to snoop around.

At loose ends for date night? Check and see if you can still get tickets to the dinner and auction Saturday night; you can see from last year’s pics that the atmosphere will be divine.

And you can see if I decided to pop the AD Designers’ Own Homes in my donation bag or not. The clock is ticking and the devil on my left shoulder seems to be making a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, I’m getting the slow-blink from the angel on the other shoulder. The firm set of her jaw and crossed arms are hard to ignore. Maybe the masseuse will knock her loose.