Decorating Day

I'm off looking for carpets (that don't cost a million dollars) and running around for my clients today so you're going to have to wait until later for a proper post. Don't miss me too much! XOXO!

Chairs Before and After

I had a lot of readers ask me where to find the chairs in my last post. They were actually already owned by my client and are from Lee Industries. The chairs are a nice small size for New York apartments. You can see from the before photo below what a difference new upholstery and fabric can make on an old chair! The new fabric is a small neutral herringbone from Travers called Warwick which is available from Zimmer + Rohde. I also had my upholsterer remove the nail head trim so they would look clean and simple. So they next time you think about getting rid of an old chair, just remember that it can be given new life with new fabric!

Chair Before

Lee Industries Chair 1935-01

Project Peek

Everyone keeps clamoring for me to post more about my projects so I'm posting one sneak peek photo and it's before incarnation. This living room is located in a three bedroom family apartment uptown. Please keep in mind that this is a during photo so it has not been completely styled because it's not even finished yet! The draperies that were hung recently need another steaming and there is no coffee table. The artwork above the sofa has not been hung because we need to wait the side tables that don't arrive until possibly June on which lamps will be placed and then will dictate the art placement. See why I don't usually post during projects now! There are so many elements that need to come together that they take months to complete. I hope you enjoy this little peek and will continue to bear with me as I work to complete this project and a few others!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Mellow Yellow and Grey

I've been hearing from a lot of readers that they miss hearing about my design projects. I completely understand and will definitely be posting about them again but not until after they are finished. A top design magazine editor just warned me again last week not to post any photos if I hope to get them published. Not sure if that will actually happen but I'd like to at least try so for now, I'm listening to his advice. But from the beginning, my blog has always been an online version of my inspiration board and right now, I'm inspired by grey and yellow. These are just some of the images that are currently the inspiration for a guest room for one of my projects. I especially love the look of yellow draperies. Enjoy!

Canadian House and Home Magazine

Tibi designer Amy Smilovic Living Room by Bruce Shostak

Willem de Kooning

Deborah Needleman's Bedroom

Fawn Galli

Celerie Kembel

Dries van Noten Store in Paris

Steven Gambrel

Will Wick

Elizabeth Peyton

Once in a Blue Room

I've been busy working on a new project and I thought you might enjoy taking a look at the inspiration images for the blue media room. I don't think it's any surprise that most of them are from the master of lacquer, Miles Redd. Enjoy!

Ashley Whittaker

Amanda Nisbet

Todd Romano

Nate Berkus and Anne Coyle in Elle Decor, Off Black by Farrow & Ball

Miles Redd in House Beautiful, Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Miles Redd in Elle Decor

Miles Redd, Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Blue Upholstery in Canadian House & Home

Miles Redd in Elle Decor, Wallpaper by Farrow & Ball

Antony Todd

Steven Gambrel

Bachelorette Pad Update

We interrupt our Hampton Designer Showhouse coverage to update you on what 's been going on with my bachelorette pad. I was there today to accept delivery of the new faux-bamboo etegere that I found last week at Elizabeth Bauer. The original plan was to replace her existing short bookcase with a taller one and we discussed the Oly Stella Shelf but this one was less expensive and works perfectly with the artwork. Sometimes it pays to wait until you find the right piece.

A few people have been asking me to post more about my work and I'm going to make more of an effort going forward but it's hard to show photos if you have any hope of getting a project published. Someone actually stopped by the bachelorette pad today to scout it for a photo shoot so hopefully you will be seeing the entire finished apartment published in a few months. I don't think this photo will ruin anything though because we still need to buy accessories and I will restyle the bookcase. A decorator's work is never done!

bachelorette pad before

Oh Baby Update

The best part of any project is when it all finally comes together and we're almost finished with the baby's room that I decorated! I won't be able to show you the completely installed room until after the baby nurse leaves but you can get an idea of what it will look like from the scheme below. The plan was to choose pieces that wouldn't look too "baby" and could grow with the child or be used elsewhere in the the apartment and most importantly, wouldn't cost a million dollars! The apartment is very traditional so that was also something I had to work around and since they didn't want to know the sex of the baby before the birth, a non-gender specific color palette of green and yellow was the jumping off point.

Paint - Lancaster Yellow from Farrow & Ball was chosen because the paint is classified zero VOC and environmentally friendly.

Carpet - Broadloom ZG Caney in color Essex from Stark Carpet. We chose wall-to-wall so the baby would have a soft enclosed area for crawling when the time comes.

Chair - I wish I had visited Hickory Chair before we chose the glider chair from another retailer who shall remain nameless because then the beautiful Meredith fabric from Schumacher we chose for the slipcover would definitely have matched on all sides! It still looks great though and can be moved to the living room in the future.

Crib - The Sutton Panel Crib from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child can be converted to a toddler bed with a conversion kit.

Dresser/Changing Table - The Kendall Dresser and Changing Table Topper was chosen from Pottery Barn Kids because it was the smallest option available. The room is not very large and has one entire wall of closets so there is not a lot of floor space for furniture. The topper can also be removed once the child is older and just needs a dresser.

Bookcase - The Wyndham Bookcase from Crate and Barrel was also chosen for its slim size. All of the furniture was ordered in white so it could also grow with the child and would complement any room color scheme.

Chandelier - The Peyton Chandelier from Pottery Barn Kids with green gingham shades matched the room perfectly and was a great bargain!

Bedding - The inspiration for the color scheme for the room came from the fun crib bedding at The Gordonsbury Company, especially the On Safari collection. It can be mixed and matched with embroidery or without to create a myriad of options.

I still think it's funny that a single interior designer decorated the baby's room but I guess that just means I'll be prepared for when my time comes!