Interior Overhaul — by Guest Dad Ryan Wright
I'd rather talk about ideas than stuff. But selfishly, while I have the attention of a few thousand designer women, I need your help.
We're moving house this summer and I'm ready for a complete interior overhaul. I want to simplify, un-clutter and re-load.
Generally, the direction we're aiming for is a mixture of sophisticated modern and Danish/American mid-century, offset with a few timeless pieces we have collected from the different countries we have lived in.
My favorite store for interior inspiration is Liberty in London - a perfect combination of both eclectic and practical furniture, housewares, linens, clothing... practically everything. I would love to just move in there. I also like Graham & Green in the UK. ABC Home & The Conran Shop are my favorites here in NY.
It's important to me that our home doesn't feel like one specific era or catalogue selection. So many of the mid-Century or modern interiors I've seen lack a sense of individuality to me. I want our home to feel like us. A combination of old and new; simple standards complimented by a few stand-out pieces.
Living Room (Medium-dark hardwood floors, lots of light, Seattle Gray painted walls)
(Sofa - Audrey Sofa by Gus; Green linen armchair - Anthropologie; Danish armchair - One Collection; Lamp - Anthropologie; Pillows - Conran & Virginia Johnson)
My favorite piece here is the Danish armchair by Finn Juhl. Designed in 1942, the One Collection group in Copenhagen continue to manufacture what I think is a design masterpiece.
Also in the room will be our black grand piano, modern iron side table and an antique chinese medicine cabinet. We also have a few old kilims & carpets that could fit somewhere, but I'll have to see the room furnished first.
What do you think of the color schemes here? Brown, wood & green?? Something about it feels both comfortable and sophisticated to me. But I may be over-biased because I like each of the pieces individually so I WANT them to work together. So tell me the truth.
Do I need a coffee table here?? Any good suggestions?
Dining Room (medium-dark hardwood floors, wallpaper - below)
(Wallpaper - Damask by Farrow & Ball & The Inspiration Gallery; Dining chairs - Tolix cafe chairs by Graham & Green)
Wallpaper: I want something both traditional and modern... which the French always do best. So I'm thinking a Damask design that fades into the background. The other option is to do something much more bold, i.e. a large Damask black & white pattern. Thoughts?
I love these Tolix chairs, originally designed for Parisian outdoor cafe's by Xavier Pauchard in 1933. We have an antique dark wooden dining table from Indonesia that these will fit perfectly around. They will make the dining room feel less formal with a twist of vintage era. In addition to the table & chairs will be our long, old, ornately colorful Tibetan chest, which will add character to the room.
Family Room (Seattle Gray painted walls, burlap carpet)
(Sofa - Ellipse by Conran; Shelves - Sundance; Herman Miller Lounge chair; Herman Miller Rocker)
Do you think these shelves fit alongside the other modern pieces? I like the drama they bring into the room. The Herman Miller Rocker is by DWR but Modernica also does a version that is fiberglass. I tend to like the fiberglass one which feels a bit more original. Which do you like best?
Kitchen
These Tolix bar stools will sit at an extra-wide granite bar in the kitchen. They compliment the dining room chairs.
I also like this Stendig Calendar for the kitchen wall or adjoining mud room.
Floors
Most of the house is wood floors, which we like. For comfortable living however, we're considering putting carpet down in the family room, TV room, basement (playroom) and in the kids' bedrooms. I don't want traditional plush carpet though. Something a bit more consistent with the wood floors. Burlap-esque but still comfortable. I found this at ABC... any other thoughts?
Worsted Stria (left) from ABC CARPET.
More... A few other things I like but not necessarly for this phase:
That's it. Whew. Sorry that was so long.
Ryan
We're moving house this summer and I'm ready for a complete interior overhaul. I want to simplify, un-clutter and re-load.
Generally, the direction we're aiming for is a mixture of sophisticated modern and Danish/American mid-century, offset with a few timeless pieces we have collected from the different countries we have lived in.
My favorite store for interior inspiration is Liberty in London - a perfect combination of both eclectic and practical furniture, housewares, linens, clothing... practically everything. I would love to just move in there. I also like Graham & Green in the UK. ABC Home & The Conran Shop are my favorites here in NY.
It's important to me that our home doesn't feel like one specific era or catalogue selection. So many of the mid-Century or modern interiors I've seen lack a sense of individuality to me. I want our home to feel like us. A combination of old and new; simple standards complimented by a few stand-out pieces.
Living Room (Medium-dark hardwood floors, lots of light, Seattle Gray painted walls)
(Sofa - Audrey Sofa by Gus; Green linen armchair - Anthropologie; Danish armchair - One Collection; Lamp - Anthropologie; Pillows - Conran & Virginia Johnson) My favorite piece here is the Danish armchair by Finn Juhl. Designed in 1942, the One Collection group in Copenhagen continue to manufacture what I think is a design masterpiece.
Also in the room will be our black grand piano, modern iron side table and an antique chinese medicine cabinet. We also have a few old kilims & carpets that could fit somewhere, but I'll have to see the room furnished first.
What do you think of the color schemes here? Brown, wood & green?? Something about it feels both comfortable and sophisticated to me. But I may be over-biased because I like each of the pieces individually so I WANT them to work together. So tell me the truth.
Do I need a coffee table here?? Any good suggestions?
Dining Room (medium-dark hardwood floors, wallpaper - below)
(Wallpaper - Damask by Farrow & Ball & The Inspiration Gallery; Dining chairs - Tolix cafe chairs by Graham & Green)
Wallpaper: I want something both traditional and modern... which the French always do best. So I'm thinking a Damask design that fades into the background. The other option is to do something much more bold, i.e. a large Damask black & white pattern. Thoughts?
I love these Tolix chairs, originally designed for Parisian outdoor cafe's by Xavier Pauchard in 1933. We have an antique dark wooden dining table from Indonesia that these will fit perfectly around. They will make the dining room feel less formal with a twist of vintage era. In addition to the table & chairs will be our long, old, ornately colorful Tibetan chest, which will add character to the room.
Family Room (Seattle Gray painted walls, burlap carpet)
(Sofa - Ellipse by Conran; Shelves - Sundance; Herman Miller Lounge chair; Herman Miller Rocker) Do you think these shelves fit alongside the other modern pieces? I like the drama they bring into the room. The Herman Miller Rocker is by DWR but Modernica also does a version that is fiberglass. I tend to like the fiberglass one which feels a bit more original. Which do you like best?
Kitchen
These Tolix bar stools will sit at an extra-wide granite bar in the kitchen. They compliment the dining room chairs.
I also like this Stendig Calendar for the kitchen wall or adjoining mud room.
Floors
Most of the house is wood floors, which we like. For comfortable living however, we're considering putting carpet down in the family room, TV room, basement (playroom) and in the kids' bedrooms. I don't want traditional plush carpet though. Something a bit more consistent with the wood floors. Burlap-esque but still comfortable. I found this at ABC... any other thoughts?
Worsted Stria (left) from ABC CARPET.More... A few other things I like but not necessarly for this phase:
That's it. Whew. Sorry that was so long.
Ryan
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Thursday, June 14, 2007
21 Comments:
i have no design sense, i just know what i like. i just want la tour eiffel pillow that you have on the last pic. when we live somewhere longer than a year (which won't be for another two years) i will be able to decorate and do some interior design stuff.
i have to say that i don't believe that things always have to "go" together. as long as they are "you" then do it. and i would avoid a coffee table. for us its just a place to pile stuff and make a mess. maybe some small end tables to put drinks on. and thanks for the good idea's for when i can afford and are in a place that i can do as i like....
Wow, I'd say you have a pretty good grasp on the interior redesign. In fact, each day thus far I have learned quite a bit from your suggestions. You seem to know a lot about a lot of things!
i don't think you're going to get a lot of feedback about your post that isn't intense praise on a fabulous design scheme or inquiries on how others can get their husbands to be so savvy. (though mine is almost there!)
i like the vibe you have going here. i, too, like to look at modern spaces but find many of them unfit for living and soul-less.
this combo seems great. the pieces are just eclectic enough without looking like a "friends" set.
i do think you need a coffee table, though i'd be more inclined to use something unusual - like a cool trunk or a sandbox with a topper. something along those lines.
(and please do send along a slideshow onces you're moved in!)
Would like to know more about Seattle Gray- is this from a specific company?
But you can point out to the all the "guys" that hundreds of women now want you :)
I think the chairs will look fantastic around your dining room table. I love that with my new job I can actually shop at all these sites. Right now I'm looking for a brown leather sofa for our NY showroom. Any ideas for something classic yet modern? ps. we used the dwr rocker in a shot this year. love it
My heart has skipped a beat! Hermann Miller lounge chairs! We have not one, but TWO! One even doubles as my nursing chair with baby #1. And you can never go wrong with Liberty's! We've been there as well, and I think I spent a good several hours just taking everything in before I started to heat up the credit card! You can also never go wrong with a nice big cushy leather sofa, especially with kids (we have four kiddoes). We found ours at our local Ethan Allen.
It's so nice to read your post because I am in the exact same situation - moving house and wanting to make good design decisions in my planning.
I've been clipping photos, searching the web, and browsing magazines to look for inspiration.
I think the hardest part of all is being patient. I want to move in and have it be DONE. But there are too many decisions that you can't make until you have lived in the space for a while! Good luck to you!
You should check out these books for interior design inspiration:
The Sensual Home: Liberate Your Senses And Change Your Life, by Crawford, Ilse
Home Is Where the Heart Is, by Crawford, Ilse
These books are 'co-written' by Martin Thompson, an amazing still-life photographer who captures that style you're looking for, I think. Check out his photos (especially his 'books' section) here:
http://www.martynthompsonstudio.com/
Now that I've exposed my feminine side, I need to go watch some ESPN to up my manlyness.
As I'm reading this I got an email from DWR about a Herman Miller sale. weird
Thanks Trav. Did you catch last night's game? Michael Jordan made a touchdown in the 3rd inning. Maybe they'll make it to the world cup this year.
I love that you dont want your house to look like a catalog or like the MOMA (love me a little MOMA but really living that modern to me screams HOSPITAL) and really when it comes down to it anything works if you love it.
who is going to live there? oh thats right ... you and your fam and that is who has to love it!
in reference to the coffee table question: Im with mrs. dub here - i think you need a coffee table ... but something that will not cover up that fabulous sofa.
this may sound like an age old plan but really putting up pictures of you and your family is what makes it fee like yours! and if you can find some cool ways to display them it makes it all that much more fabulous.
but love your style and im officially coveting your green chair from anthropologie (be still my heart) and when all else fails just blog surf these fabulous women that comment here and im sure you will come up with something!
Jesse thinks the '...softer, more refined gray' bit is a little creepy, but hopes it doesn't affect her babysitting profits:)
Ryan, I'm having Chad read this tonight. Wow. That's all I can say. I'm so impressed. I know what I like, but have no idea how to put it all together like this. When you and Erin come back from your trip will you come to our new house and help us??!!
Where can i get the chalkboard. It looks like it belongs in my house..keri
Hey Ryan, it feels silly to write to you as we are going to see you this weekend but what the heck! So, I really love these choices you guys have made. You seem to have covered all the bases but I was wondering how you and Erin feel about original fine art? (I think that some of your furniture pieces arguably fall under the category of art.) Original art work is such a great way to express individuality. Like having a little piece of your heart on the wall!
I am not sure if you would go for either of these artist - but I thought I would share them just in case they tickle your fancy:
We recently came across an artist that we really love named Kathleen Peterson (www.kathleenpeterson.net) Her stuff is unpretentious and beautiful. She is influenced by the the places she has lived and traveled - we especially like her landscapes, but her figure paintings are also quite fun. (I wish I could have the painting on the home page of her website).
Then another artist we really like is one we discovered when we were in Bath, visiting Jan's parents. Her name is Edwina Bridgman - she takes discarded objects and then makes them into figures. Her stuff feels quite modern in design - yet it has a great sense of humor. I think her stuff would look terrific in a kids room (on a very high shelf, behind glass -ha ha). Her art has a childlike, whimsical quality. You can see some of her stuff on - http://www.sixchapelrow.com/thumbs.php?artistid=96
Although I have to say that photographs never do her work proper justice.
I can't wait to see your new place. I am really excited to see what you guys come up with!
GORGEOUS! You have fabulous taste! I'm not much help with feedback, other than I love your ideas and will be stealing them straightaway ;) Thanks for all the good tips!
I heart those shelves from Sundance (ache). LOVE your ideas :o)
You're right on track, Ryan. Your ideas all flow and mesh because that's what you want to put into the room. But just to reassure you:
brown wood green sounds lovely. Not too feminine, which is always my taste, and colors that look good together.
Ask your wife what she thinks about the wallpaper. If I were you, I'd put all the items you want to put in the room in the middle of the room and then get swatches. Or just imagine it when I don't have swatches. Then ask your wife and your daughters.
I like the shelves. I think they'll look fine. They put a bright burst of unexpected color, which I always like, and yet when you've got stuff in the shelves (because you always have to imagine your stuff on and in the furniture) it won't be too much color.
As for the carpet; does it feel good under your children's feet? Yours are calloused from the years. Do your children automatically sit and lie on the carpet when they get to it? That's always a good sign. Will the furniture make imprints easily on it? That's always something to think and ask about.
Anything else?
I know that your and Erin's first priority is transforming a house into your home. Building each room reflecting your love of them, and how you want to share the precious, short time you have together will help your decisions. How interesting that many of the items chosen are similar to pieces in your grandparent's home where you always felt secure and loved.
love all of it. love it.
be warned about natural fiber rugs...they are lovely but water stains them...not sure if it's a great choice for a family room or kids room if they might ever have liquid near it. I know ertain sisals and seagrass can get water stains...Just check w/ the dealer
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