Inspired.talk

Thomas O’Brien for Groundworks

In his fourth collection for Groundworks, renowned designer Thomas O’Brien brings his signature masculine, tailored look to an assortment of lush and saturated silks and velvets. O’Brien’s fresh take on classic patterns conjures images of a sleek Manhattan townhouse or a posh bachelor pad, where layered texture and tone create a look that is rich and sophisticated.

To provide some context for the collection, we’ve included a few shots from the 2011 Hearst Designer Visions show house, which O’Brien designed for Veranda magazine. Taking inspiration from the film Someone to Watch Over Me, his design, inspired by the character Claire, exudes the classic and timeless glamour that is his signature.

In the new fabric collection, hues of ivory and bisque, dove and taupe, and his signature misty blues work in harmony with deep saturated claret and viridian. These fabrics will add a touch of flair and originality to the rooms that O’Brien’s engaging vision has already helped to create. The collection includes refined chenille with a retro flare, rich and decadent velvets with classic motifs and elegant silks offered in varying tones of rich spices to cool neutrals. For more information, visit www.leejofa.com.

Chair: Corby Straight Back - H4323-20. Fabric: Matthew Velvet in Grey - GWF-3224-11

Fabrics top to bottom: Mylene Silk in Viridian - GWF-3225-53, Thomas Velvet in Bog - GWF-3230-316, Roberto Velvet in Mist - GWF-3228-15, Bresson Velvet in Latte - GWF-3223-116, Hugo Velvet in Bisque - GWF-2586-611, Fiona Chenille in Cocoa - GWF-3222-68, Matthew Velvet in Camel - GWF-3224-16, Parris Velvet in Blue/Brown - GWF-3227-568.

Room images via Veranda, product credits here.

Fabric credits for top photo: Left row top to bottom: Thomas Velvet in Pewter - GWF-3230-311; Welt: Mylene Silk in Slate - GWF-3225-5. Bresson Velvet in Onyx - GWF-3223-8; Trim: Olivia CD W/Flange in Blk - TL10047-8. Matthew Velvet in Grey - GWF-3224-11; Trim: Olivia CD W/Flange in Blk - TL10047-8. Right row top to bottom: Vivian Silk in Mist - GWF-3226-13; Trim: Mylene Silk in Dove - GWF-3225-11. Parris Velvet in Taupe/Grey - GWF-3227-11; Trim: Olivia Cut. FR in Ice - TL10039-515. Ground fabric: Mylene Silk in Mist - GWF-3225-13

Year in Review – 2012 Show Houses

Ralph Lauren/ DIFFA Dining by Design

The concept of a show house is simple: showcase the work of various interior design talents to sell a house/ promote the designers/ raise money for charity/ promote the sponsors/ throw great parties/ all of the above.

Often, the selfless process of being involved in a show house on any level reaps many rewards, and that’s especially the case for the show houses created to raise much needed funds for a good cause.

At the year’s end, it’s important to reflect on the good work done and the dollars donated to further the cause of helping others. Here, we’ve created a round up of the show houses we’ve featured throughout the year that cast light on charitable organizations doing great work in our communities.

As we prepare to welcome 2013 with open arms, let us continue in this generous spirit, and do even more in the year to come. We hope you enjoy the holidays, and have a very Happy New Year.  

Jonathan Adler/ DIFFA Dining by Design

Dining by Design

This annual tabletop showcase raises money and awareness for DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

 The view from Kips Bay, 2012

Kips Bay Decorator Show House

This New York City show house brings in top talent and funds the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.

Claudia Giselle Design/ Holiday House

Holiday House

By celebrating various holidays through room design, Holiday House raises money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Mabley Handler Interior Design/ Hampton Designer Showhouse

Hampton Designer Showhouse

The design community loves making the annual pilgrimage to the Hamptons to attend the Hampton Designer Showhouse, benefiting Southampton Hospital.

Here are a few more we didn't cover this year on our blog, but deserve recognition:

Junior League of Hartford Show House, benefiting community projects such as Freshplace, The Backpack Program, Kids in the Kitchen, Souper Sustainers, and more.

Junior League of Boston Show House, benefiting the mission of the Junior League of Boston.

Pasadena Showcase House of Design, benefiting three annual music programs, plus award gifts and grants to nonprofit organizations that provide musically oriented programs including music therapy,
music education, scholarships and the underwriting of concerts.

Inson Dubois Wood/ Holiday House

Ralph Lauren/ DIFFA Dining by Design

Tobi Fairley/ Holiday House

Happy Thanksgiving from Kravet Inc.

Holiday House NYC, now in its fifth year, raises much-needed funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which was founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993. Top designers and vendors donate time and product to create an inspiring tribute to the various holidays throughout the year. This year, Inson Dubois Wood devoted the dining room to Carnivale, as shown above. While most of us will not enjoy such a whimsical setting for our Thanksgiving feast, we do hope you all enjoy the essentials: family and friends, laugher and love.

This morning we continued our annual tradition of giving a turkey to each of our employees. This year, we will be giving thanks for our health, the health of our families, and we will be thinking of all of those still struggling in the wake of the storm that affected so many in our area. We encourage you to visit our previous post which includes a list of local charities in need this holiday season. Gratitude and generosity go hand in hand.

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

The setting for our annual employee turkey giveaway.

Our holiday breakfast in Bethpage, NY.

Kate Singer Sitting Room at the Hampton Designer Showhouse

Last week we brought you some of our images of the dining room in the Hampton Designer Showhouse, sponsored by Traditional Home. This week we’re back with the sitting room, designed by another talented Long Island designer, Kate Singer.

Kate Singer, who we’ve featured before on this blog, is known for layering sophisticated neutrals to create beautiful, serene interiors for her clients. For her room at the showhouse, she took inspiration from the Hamptons landscape.

"I wanted the room to feel directly connected to the outdoors, and to the incredible colors and textures of the sea, the sand and the sky," said Singer. The large picture window offers a fantastic vista of the property, which she mimicked with a lot of linen and a color palette of ocean and sky blues combined with grey.

Singer relied on several fabrics from Kelly Wearstler’s latest collection for Groundworks to bring her vision to life, including Bengal Bazaar, the modern and vibrant ikat she chose for the draperies, as well as several pillows for the sofa. The ottoman, which doubles as a cocktail table, is covered in a denim-blue cotton herringbone weave.

The room has only two walls and serves as a connection between the great room and the kitchen, so the furniture layout proved to be a bit tricky. It needed to be open while providing plenty of comfortable seating. In addition to the sofa and club chair, a pair of vintage iron cricket chairs, a comfy wicker chair, and square benches tucked under the console provide additional seating. Rather than a pass-through space on the way to another room, Singer has created a calm and welcoming room in which to lounge, relax and entertain.

The showhouse will be open through Labor Day, and proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Southampton Hospital. For more info, visit www.hamptondesignershowhouse.com.

Image via John Bessler

Image via John Bessler

Image via John Bessler

Image via quintessence

Image via John Bessler

Image via quintessence

Image via John Bessler

 

 

Mabley Handler Dining Room at the Hampton Designer Showhouse

This weekend marked the opening of the Traditional Home-sponsored Hampton Designer Showhouse in Water Mill, NY, featuring the work of prominent designers from across the country.

In this year's house, the dining room was designed by Jennifer Mabley and Austin Handler, designers from the prominent Hamptons design firm Mabley Handler, located less than a mile from the showhouse location. While they are known for a style that is subdued and serene, for the showhouse Mabley and Handler decided to take it up a notch. The bold, beautiful room is the talk of the house, and a true standout.

The duo got their hands on several fabrics from the Jonathan Adler for Kravet collection, which is due in showrooms this fall. Working with the bright aqua color scheme, they combined Adler’s fabrics with pieces from the Kravet Modern Dining collection. The result is a chic, colorful representation of a classic Hamptons palette, with exceptional attention to detail.

Bright blue walls and navy grasscloth highlighted the coffered ceiling and wainscot shadow boxes, which were trimmed in white. Dining chairs upholstered in turquoise linen with a signature Adler chevron coordinated with the drapery panels. Finishing touches included several unique sculptures and vases from Jonathan Adler's accessories collection. The overall effect is a space filled with energy, perfect for entertaining.

If you find yourself in Water Mill this summer, you should make a plan to see the dining room in person, and tour the rest of the house. Tickets are $30, with proceeds benefitting Southampton Hospital. For more info, visit http://hamptondesignershowhouse.com/.

Designer Austin Handler from Mabley Handler.