The Devil's in the Details



I recently visited the Hampton's Designer Showhouse, sponsored by Traditional Home.  Every show house is an education.  There's always a take away; it's like the best way to continue an education.  This fabulous house is no exception.  It was built in 6 months (I heard):unheard of!!  "Paramount Custom Homes mission is to build superior quality homes with the finest materials incorporating the newest technology."  Its innovative approach and keen attention to detail really showed!  It caught my eye.

The home was rich with beautifully layered trim; simply sublime.  It was so grand in size and scope, you didn't need too much decor ~ but it is a show house after all.


Reinfret Group via Dan's Papers ph:Cully/EEFAS









My friend Jonathan gives you a good idea just how generous the moldings and trim are.  Together with the 11 foot ceilings they really made the space feel expansive.





We went crazy for the seamless doors.  When closed, the doors melt into the walls without the disruption of door trim and such. That's so 2013.









Ciuffo Cabinetry dressed the kitchen to impress.  I remember last year I talked about the use of mixed materials and several different finishes to create a modern highly functional kitchen.  This year is the kitchen was a show stopper for the very same reason.
I love the raw wood trim in the doorway.  It delineates the space and adds "a dash of quiet drama." Simple detail, big impact.




It is repeated across the room surrounding the custom hood.  Nice touch ~







High gloss cabinets co exist with cerused wood, calcutta marble, tile and glass.  Polished nickel trim and pulls round out the gorgeousness.



When striving for perfection, you must look inward, as IN the cabinets and drawers. There's a home for everything and the interior details made from walnut and veneers was most appreciated.

Selection of breakfast trays anyone?






Built in coffee makers are becoming as standard as microwaves ~ I'm desperate for one.  Suddenly my Krups isn't good enough.  The goal is streamlined and seamless.







The magnificent cabinetry didn't stop at the kitchen.  Why should a laundry room suffer from drab drawers within a non descript room?  The flat panel cabinets had the same nickel hardware trim: Bellissimo!








Ciuffo Cabinetry made an impression on me again downstairs in the lounge, bar, entertainment area with their retro, modern custom mill work.  The built-ins; wrapped around the walls were stunning!  They incorporated sleek, contemporary materials such as the silver leaf cabinet fronts and macassar wood along with Zicana stone that could take your breath away.








I guess I got distracted by the bar ~ It was approaching noon after all.




How decadent to be able to get up during a meal and choose a bottle of wine from your 350 bottle chill(ed) wine cellar, not relegated to the basement, but built front and center in the dining room.  This mill work marvel by Paramount Builders along with Mecox Gardens became the pièce de résistance of the dining room.  The wine room has its own design element and the clever use of shower doors proves a little creativity and ingenuity go a long way.












Hello Lover...





There's much more to see.  I only covered what resonated MOST with me.  Each show house speaks to me differently.  I immediately keyed in on the mill work and delicious use of oversized and abundant trim as well as the clever cabinetry.  You may find something very different speaks to you; that's why every showhouse offers an opportunity to come away more inspired than when you walked in.
Open thru September 1st.




Clever Idea # 10 : An Air Plant Affair



Josh Rosen, aka The Air Plant Man creates these artisanal tabletop vessels for air plants.  I love that it elevates this lowly plant to a form of sculpture.  Perfect for those with less than a green thumb or better yet, placed in a vacation home where watering a plant is not high on the priority list.




Air plants absorb nutrients from the air making soil unnecessary.  There are over 600 species, so the options are endless.  Group several together for a living centerpiece or just one as part of a vignette.
It's just a good idea.



ph:Josh Rosen






Invest in Versatility




I was breezing thru Domaine and one of the articles I read was about the most versatile pieces for the home.  I agreed with all their recommendations (except maybe tufted headboards), and added a few of my own to the list.  These are things that are well worth the investment, read transitional; meaning they can be placed in a traditional or more contemporary setting.  Often times they can be found at several price points, and can be either the workhorse in a room as in the case of the neural sofas or the woven shades, or maybe the stand out piece,such as the gilt mirror or zebra rug.

Go for one or go for them all ~ You can't lose.
My choices have asterisks*


NEUTRAL SOFAS ~

Invest in a great white or ivory sofa.  You'll have it forever and can transform a room around it for years to come.

Susanne Kasler


Mary McDonald


GILT CARVED MIRRORS ~

I love this unexpected accessory in any environment.  It says "look at me" in more ways than one.


AERIN office, Jacques Garcia





NATURAL FIBER RUGS ~

A sisal or natural material rug is a great backdrop for a rug on rug look and can easily transform from easy breezy to an elegant interior!


Jenny Wolf


Melanie Turner


FARMHOUSE TABLES ~

Pair it with an unexpected chair style and you've got a fashionable, functional design.








ZEBRA RUG* ~

Big fan…enough said.





Gary Spain


FRANKLY, ANY ANIMAL PRINT * ~

It is completely neutral and wakes up a room








WOVEN SHADES* ~

The texture gives just enough style to the barely there window treatment.


Jeffery Allen Marks






BLUE AND WHITE POTTERY* ~

No matter your decor or color scheme, it just works, and works amazingly.









Ironically, many classic rooms have several of these objects happily coexisting together within the same four walls.

Do you have anything to add to this list?