A Victorian Home with a Spartan Sense of Style

Architecture
November 2, 2011

First off, let me say, clearly my scanner is having some difficulty. I apologize for the green lines on the photos – but I scanned these from the November 2011 issue of World of Interiors magazine, and it seems the two do not get along. That being said, below is what I believe to be an absolutely stunning home built in 1859 in London. Originally the home of a painter, the structure had bastardized over the years when used by a charitable organization for public space. Now after a painstaking restoration, by its owner and decorator Rose Uniacke, it is in full bloom again.

My motivation behind showing you this house is that herein lies a perfect example of the spartan decorating that I alluded to in last week’s post, Are you a Spartan? or a Victorian? I love being a spartan in rooms where the architecture speaks for itself. Although this house is much larger and much more ornate than anything I might ever live in, Uniacke allows the architecture – the mouldings, windows, fireplaces, and staircase – to be the main focus of the experience within the house.

I can’t decide which room is my favorite in all of these, although I do love the kitchen and the bathroom (to follow). Uniacke used reclaimed marble on the floor of the kitchen.

Again, I apologize for the scanner difficulty, it won’t happen again – but how beautiful is this house? I really do love the understated decorating, the neutral color palate and the furniture that is clearly contemporary but references the past. What a way to bring 1859 to the 21st century.

Books and the Recipe for my Aesthetic

Designers
November 1, 2011

There are those decorators who you wish that you could be a bit like. Rooms that you wish you could create, places you wish you could live. I have a list of decorators that I love; and whose style I hope that I can emulate. Combined, these decorators illustrate the way I would like my design aesthetic to appear … Amelia Handegan, Tom Scheerer, Darryl Carter, Albert Hadley, and Jeffrey Bilhuber. Over the weekend I bought Bilhuber’s new book, The Way Home – and its great. The interiors included are beautiful, but it is the stories behind the projects that are the most fun to hear about. Below are some Bilhuber rooms that I love.

Who do you wish you could emulate? Do you have a list of favorite decorators that combined, you feel best describes your style?

Are You a Spartan? or a Victorian?

Designers
October 27, 2011

What kind of decorator are you? Do you like minimalism or do you like more “stuff”? I am never sure what type of decorating I like best, because I am constantly drawn to different things. As a preservationist, and lover of architecture, I find that certain spaces call for certain types of decorating. Typically, more modern architecture calls for more minimalist type decorating, and a traditional architecture calls for a busier look. However, that is not always the case.

Darryl Carter, one of my favorite decorators, typically works in spaces with more traditional architecture, but he decorates with an understated minimalism using both traditional and modern furniture. What I love about his take on traditional architecture is that many people forget that historic colonial homes had very little furniture. Drapes and carpets and wallpaper and bric a brac is something that was brought on in the 19th century, and taken to the next level during the Victorian era. So when Carter decorates either an 18th century space, or a colonial revival space, he is actually decorating the space like it would have been originally.

Here is Bunny Williams’ NYC apartment. I also love this look. Stacks of books on chairs, under tables, bookcases, flowers on the mantle, and several smaller seating arrangements. For some reason, I always love this look for a New York apartment. I don’t know what it is about our apartment in NYC, we have so little space, but I want our apartment to look more like this. And that is easy, because I have stacks of books everywhere and no shelves to put them on!

But this, this is the ultimate. Somehow this Copenhagen living room manages to have both a minimalist appearance, as well as having tons of stuff in it. I love the stacks of paintings on the walls and the bookshelf brimming with books. And yet the room does not feel cluttered with the minimalist furniture and doors opening to the outside … I love it. Also helps that this house sports 12 over 12 windows, my fave. What do you think? What type of decorator are you?

Images via DarrylCarter.com, BunnyWilliams.com, and Marie Claire Maison Italia