Where You Live: Robert and Cortney Novogratz Find a New Home at HGTV

Saturday Nights on HGTV at 10/9c;

The cool couple -- Bob and Cortney Novogratz -- who  
Wowed us

last year with their fun, colorful and individualized style

take us along again as they inspire all-new crazy-good designs.

Home by Novogratz

It's easy to call them Bob and Cortney. They hold no pretense about anything, as they publicly work to juggle their professional with their personal lives -- and the 7 young children who keep them on their toes. So, you feel like you know them. They talk frankly about budgets. You feel, hear and see the pressures and, yes, headaches even, of working with clients and under tight deadlines. Then there's the challenge of making every project special and unique; it's their hallmark. No resting on their laurels for this hip twosome. They seem to understand they are only as good as their last job. Bob and Cortney make it all look fairly easy. Not sure it is -- but, I can say you will want to watch again and again. And you'll also be inspired to push the limits, perhaps even in your own living room. 

(They've also written a book, in case you've missed it thus far; it's titled ,"Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home -- From Wreck to Ravishing." It's packed with Before and After shots, as well as detailed tips.)

Below, is an image capture promoting last week's show:

As an added bonus this time around, Cortney Novogratz, writes a blog after each show. Here, Cortney writes and talks about the last show, a surfer-chic dream house. Below are images of past projects:

Have Fun!

And if you have a moment, leave a comment. I love it when you do!!

Where You Live: Designer Kelly Proxmire's Orange & Green Color Palette!

A Spring Valley homeowner found herself the recipient of furnishings once belonging to her parents. But how to meld them into her own home? Enter Kelley Proxmire....

Using a Vibrant, Contemporary Color Palette Helps Unify Styles

The owner of the 1940s-era home in the Washington DC suburb turned to Interior Designer Kelley Proxmire for help. Kelley began the re-invention when she arrived with her team of movers. The subsequent shifting of pieces around the house allowed the owner to break from her preconceived ideas about where these pieces had belonged in her parents’ house. Proxmire found her inspiration and palette for the transformation in a pair of inherited 1920s large scale neoclassical lamps in persimmon porcelain. The client’s predilection for simplicity -- clean lines executed in cottons and linens -- further set the tone for the project.


In the foyer and living room Proxmire played out this bold punch of orange in the new drapes, re-imagined upholstered pieces, and pillows off the understated backdrop of her go-to white, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. 

The foyer foreshadows the period mix of inherited pieces, with the crystal art deco chandelier, the '30s alabaster lamp with new linen shade, and the mid-century chair reupholstered in the project’s signature orange. 

  

In the living room, Proxmire brought a contemporary edge to the furnishings with waterfall skirting and an unexpected palette executed in graphic patterns from Lee Jofa. The sofa was re-upholstered in a Hinson striped linen damask. New dramatic elements include a pair of custom mirrors, chandelier, coffee table, and custom trimmed linen and cotton drapes.

 Ample seating was a living room priority. The white bench dressed in Trina Turk fabric for Schumacher –Zebra in Persimmon—assures seating for ten.



Proxmire approached the study, located between the living area and family room, as a color bridge, melding the dominant tonalities—green, orange and yellow-- of both areas.  The writing desk belonged to the owner’s mother. The club chairs were inherited.

The chairs, below -- originally from the client’s parents’ library -- are covered in green- textured linen with a custom trim and reborn as host/hostess chairs in the dining room’s defining shades of blue, green, and white. The blue ceiling is a nod to the owner’s extensive inherited china collection, all in tonalities of the room. The oil paintings, also from the owner’s parents, were wired for picture lights and add mood to the room at night.  (Conrad shades to be installed).  

In the master bedroom, Proxmire softened the lines of the canopy bed with a cascade of Cowtan & Tout fabric. The upstairs floors are painted white. A Dash & Albert rug in cotton striping reinforces the palette of periwinkle blue and green. A Trompe L’oeil window is planned above the existing windows.



The family room and kitchen date from an earlier renovation. Kelley is currently updating the updating the accessories and palette:

Words: courtesy, Judith Turner-Yamamoi

Photos: courtesy, Kelley Proxmire

When Judith introduced me to Kelley a year or so ago, I became an immediate fan, loving her splashes of color, and elegant and classic styles and designs. I posted at the start of this year this post depicting her color picks for 2011. Kelley also shared with LWYL readers a post on Personal Style; go here to read it.

How to meld another's tastes into your existing lifestyle is often a question -- even, a challenge -- for grown children who inherit their parents furniture and accessories.  (Writer Frances Schultz offers her answer, as well. See this post -- "What Do You Do When Mama Dies Too Soon?)

Thank you so very much for stopping by. I hope you'll take a moment to leave a comment. I love reading them!!

Where You Live: Mountain Architecture and Inspiring Gardens

A Rocky Mountain Architectural Tour . . .
In Beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado 

-- aka "The Boat"

This past weekend worked out perfectly well:  In fact, what a stroke of luck for me that my husband wanted to play a certain golf course in Steamboat. As it so happened, The Strings Musical Festival Guild was hosting a Kitchen and Garden Tour (although I'm only showing today architecture and gardens), a fundraiser benefiting the local organization. At about the time he was claiming a couple of "birdies," I was trekking through the residential communities of Lake Catamount, Fox Estates and Priest Creek Ranch. On my way "there," I passed this alluring home:

 

It's new, but you can tell that they designed it to look like an old, restored European countryseat that had been added on to over the years. The stonework, quaint shuttered windows and antiqued teal color caught my eye, as well as this little "guard" house at the corner of the drive:

 Lovely Russian sage just goes wild here....

Interestingly enough, I wasn't the only one captivated by this home. (And if you know me, you do know how I covet a stone house; check out this one!) Another approaching car also stopped to snap a couple of photos. A closer look at the front door:

 The homeowners of this next house are fortunate in that their daughter and her boyfriend love to garden. They say they use 90 percent organic fertilizer in the flower beds and 100 percent organic fertilizer in the vegetable beds, along with worm composting. The vegetable garden was designed to complement the upper deck railings, to keep out wildlife and to reduce back stress. They also employ winter covers on certain nights to extend the growing season. First up is the fire pit and seating. Next is the walk around to the front of the house, where you cross a bubbly stream. Take a look:

 

Another, different lake-side manse, below. And I am sharing a photo of the garage apartment, too:

  Also on the tour, the original homestead of Chester Priest. It was built in 1895, and resides beside a "newer" home. I am also including a photo of the interior. Can you imagine living here back in the 19th century? During the winters, I read, the residents relied on snow skis to meet some of their transportation needs.

The "newer" house:

 

What a sweet home! There were flowery surprises everywhere, in addition to a special cowboy retreat. Plus, the owners invite members of the community to work their own plots in their extensive garden. The docent told me this garden, once much larger, supplied all of the cabbage for Safeway at one time.  The garden includes a bunch of raspberry bushes that are over a 100 years old. As you will notice, I photographed their dogs slumbering under a hammock. And when the homeowner set down her watering can, one of the dogs came running over to steal a drink. Take a look:

 

Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

If you have a moment, leave a comment or say hello.

Your words mean a lot to me . . . . 

Where You Live: Welcome to Interior Designer Kara Childress' Boudoir

I Always Like Seeing How Designers

Decorate their Own Spaces . . .

. . . Don't you? 

This was a space that was selected as a feature by a national magazine, but it never ran. And I doubt it will. At least that's the last word I got about it. I don't know why. Things happen in the ever-changing business of publishing . . . . But, it is such a lovely and very feminine space that I thought you might like to see it. Plus, Kara is such a sweet and gracious woman; I think this space reflects who she is at heart.

All the photos are by Dallas photographer Gustav Schmiege.

Kara and her husband have their own bathrooms and dressing areas. Isn't that the best idea?! His is masculine and more directly appointed. Nice and functional. Hers is personal and pretty. You can tell it's a relaxing retreat for her. Her home, overall, reflects a country French and European feel. Included in the house mix are longhorns and other Texas flavors, of course. Architect Ed Eubanks designed the home. I like details such as the inset shelving above the tub.

And I love the tile, hand-painted cabinets, antique silver pieces . . . 

She had tiles used on the countertop sporadically placed on the floor. See below. You know, just here and there:

Kara's kitchen was featured in last fall's edition of Kitchen and Bath Ideas. I will find it and share it, too. Stay tuned.

I enjoy hearing from you! If you have a moment, please take a moment and say hello or share your thoughts below in the Comment Section.

Gus photographed another site -- a beautiful and inspiring red and white kitchen.

If you'd like to see it, just click here.

One of Galveston's "Most Artistic" Homes

I nearly didn't see this house

for all the detail . . .

I enjoy a good home tour, especially when there's one that reaches out and grabs me -- like this 1929 stunner did. When I walked through the street-side iron gate, my eyes began to dart around . . .to the clay roof tiles, patterned brickwork, charming chimney, the colorful but time-faded tiles embedded in the steps and stucco, quaint green-painted wood windows and then to the fabulous heavy leaded-glass front and side porch doors. A little French influence, oui?

 Side porch where the homeowners enjoy morning coffee.

The construction of this house began just weeks before the Great Crash of 1929. It was completed for the grand cost of $25,000. It continues to be recognized as a fine eclectic example of the American Aesthetic Movement. If you'd like to read the story I did for  

Coast magazine, published by the Galveston Daily News, this link will take you there.

 The windows and doors from the inside. The furniture is Mission.

This house was on the Beachside Kitchen Tour sponsored by the Junior League of Galveston. The organization was hosting the tour to kick off sales of their cookbook, Beachside to Boardwalk cook book. Take this link for more information about both -- the organization and cookbook.

 Early newspaper articles describe the architecture style as a Spanish airplane bungalow.

Tile work in between the steps. Note those embedded in the stucco the photo above.

Additional details that caught my eye:

And here are a few interior details, such as the original tile around the fireplace and a built-in telephone niche:

And note the original thermostat above.

So, do you ever notice such details?

....would love to hear from you; please take a moment and leave a comment.