Georgian Revival-style home

Georgian Revival-style is focused on detailed architecture. Photographer: Gordon Beall. The marble fireplace surround is original to the 1930's era home but was restored. A 19th century American oil painting is the focal point of the living room.

This is a 19th century antique Regency bombe chest.

              Note the English Regency-style settee set against the ornate woodwork of the staircase.

The George lll sideboard is from the early 19th century and the English oil painting is from the 18th century.

                                          The dining room is furnished in the color salmon.

The original kitchen was gutted and enlarged to make room for modern convieniences. The large-scale island visually balances the commercial-grade rangs area. Note the wrought iron pot rack.

The homeowners and their guests can enjoy views of the Chesapeake River from this renovated outdoor room.

  
      An unused attic was converted to two guest suites and this one features a 19th century antique bed.

European Style

Weekend interior designer, Michelle Bedard's home was featured in 2004, Better Homes and Gardens' Beautiful Interiors magazine because of her European flair. The photographer was Dominique Vorillon.

  

"French Lessons"

In House Beautiful's 2004, Special Interest Publication, Beautiful Interiors, artist and interior designer, Lucinda Lester, shared her knowledge of what constituted a French accent in a home.

1. The French style reflects a not too perfect life.

2. Select furniture that is over scaled like an overscaled mirror with a bulky mantle and large tables. One large piece reads better than a lot of little pieces.

3. Juxtapose several textures and colors to create warmth. Use topiaries in urns, 2 different tablecloths for fullness, chairs with silk cushions and rough caned backs and free standing wood shutters lining a wall.

4. Add whimsy using garden scultures inside the home.

5. Use pattern in stone, tile or wood floors.

6. Sisal rugs can identify seating areas.    

"french flavor"

Better Homes aand Gardens, special interest issue, Beautiful Interiors 2004, had an article called "french flavor", yes that is right no capitalization that epitimized the essence of France. Artist and Interior designer Lucinda Lester turned her home into a French home with antiques collected over a number of years. The photographer was Michael Garland.

In a corner of the dining room you will see a reproduction chair next to a salvaged porch column with a 1920's garden sculpture on it.

A concrete garden sculpture holds a olive jar with a floral arrangement in it next to 18th century French shutters.

Ten foot high iron gates fitted with glass panels create a front door. Lucinda designed her sofa and the pillows came from antique fabrics. The coffee table has a tole tray on top.

Note the two slipper chairs with sassy little skirts on them.The corner table was originally used in a garden.

The curving shapes of the coffee table and the terra cotta floor tiles are French in design.

  

Two triangular tables were placed on each side of a French walnut table. The lamps and the figurine on top of the table are Italian. Underneath the table is a French field basket that contains architectural pieces.
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Over the mantle is an 18th century gold leaf mirror and lead half planters. The 18th century chair is upholstered and the other chair is covered in leather.The small table can be re-placed with a larger one for intimate meals in front of the fire.

The chairs are covered in silk cushions. The two layered cloths give the table a dressy look. Antique shutters are leaned against one wall in the dining room. The free standing art work of three standing topiaries from Paris was re-created by an artist.

A seating area in the bedroom is furnished with a metal garden bench along with two 18th century chairs covered in a floral fabric. The floor is painted a creamy white. A sisal rug gives the area texture.

The headboard is 18th century French with carved ribbon detailing and caning on the footboard. The bed linens are antique. The side tables are oversized with a basket to help organize small items.

Another seating area in the bedroom has an armoire purchased in France. Lucinda put toile behind the glass doors to hide the TV. The antique French chairs are covered in gold floral suede.

Un-doing a re-do....my kitchen

When you live in a duplex, you can't just paint your kitchen because you hate the way it looks. Well, slapping shelving paper up may have worked well in the breakfast room but not on the kitchen doors. So off with the shelving paper. I had purchased a coffee table book on Italy with the intent of taking some of the pictures I liked best out to mount on that shelving paper. I didn't get rid of the whole idea, just the shelving paper.

I forgot to take a picture of the cabinets plain but it does not take much imagination to visualize what they looked like. So here is my final "after".
 

No more shelving paper, just pictures.

GRAND MASTER

In that same September 1999 issue of House Beautiful magazine, there was an article featuring John Rosselli's 1880's farm house and outbuildings. He is the antique dealer who also owns Treillage, a garden shop along with interior decorator, Bunny Willliams.  At that time he had converted his cattle barn into pool house and his chicken house into his own three room home.

This is the pool house, the former cattle barn. The carved wooden ram belonged to the famous interior designer,Sister Parish, a friend and one of his clients.  

 
                                 The way he places small objects shows his appreciation for symmetry.

This is my favorite picture. My mom had a love for gateleg tables and passed it on to me. Joni Webb of COTE DE TEXAS has one on each end of her couch.

He has a wonderful collection of blue and white porcelain and a perfect place to display it.

This is his William the IV table and chairs that are wearing white slipcovers for summer.

GLAMOUR

In September of 1999, House Beautiful magazine published a special issue devoted to Glamour. The photography was by Susie Cushner. No one designer is responsible for the designs, instead it is a complilation of designer's pieces put together to create the look of glamour. So let's hope I give credit where credit is due.

The first picture features a Christopher Norman chaise and a chair in a Grey Watkins fabric with a ballgown train.The commode is from Julia Gray; the moongold mirror, Maureen Fullam, Ann Gish fur faux pillow, purple murcury glass bowl, Barneys; Cote de France glass; Malmaison 1940's vase, lamp with Venetian glass base , Dongia

The diningroom is comprised of a Nancy Corzine acrylic table and chairs, Donghia  Murano-glass and Lucite chandelier, Venetian style mirror from Lorin Marsh, Aquamarine damask curtains, Nobilis, Chinoiserie wallpaper, Fonthill, Lalique glasses; silver tureen, Sentimento. 

"In the boudoir, Old Hollywood elegance meets Prada Chic: Nancy Corzine's Harlow mirrored vanity'; leather chair, Marshall Watson; rug, Odegard. Silver-leaf tea paper, Roger Arlington. Lush silk curtains, Hinson. Mirrored pillow by Kim Seybert. Melrose House palm lamp and bronze statue, Holly Hunt. Buccellati crystal clock, Chrome lamp, Boyd." 

"The study has a Albrizzi chrome trestle table re-introduced by Hinson. Desk chair, Domus, leather fauteuil, Randolph & Hein. Scalamandre embroidered curtains, Stark leather rug. Iron chairs from Amy Perlin. Mirrored picture frames, J. Pocker & Son. Sculpture, Troy. Silver ram, William Lipton, Bronze star, J.H. Design."