We released this chair design in 2003 when we launched Plush Home, and the St. Denis has consistently been one of our best sellers - it's a virtual chameleon that changes its look with every fabric selection and works with many design styles. The chair comes in standard and occasional versions (the occasional has a slightly wider back for taller people....and also works well as end chairs). Like many of the names in our line, I named The St. Denis collection after a street name in Montreal (where I spent much of my childhood). Here's a look at the latest custom group for a dining room that's being shipped out this week.
Thanks to Erika Heet for writing such a kind article on us in 1stdibs. If you're not familiar with 1stdibs it's an amazing resource (marketplace really) for antique, mid-century modern furniture, estate jewelry, vintage watches, haute couture and vintage luxury. They also feature weekly articles on all things that are style and design.
I normally talk about the products I love and the key interior design DOs you should follow. But on this post I thought I'd start with a major DO NOT.
Do not make your child's room into a theme park - Please do not do this.
I know the temptations are right there in front of you. You walk into a store, see a completely pulled together Pirates of The Caribbean room and consider how nice it would feel to end your weekend shopping searches by proclaiming loudly to the salesperson, "We'll take it all...AS IS."
First of all I don't really believe in "baby/kids" rooms. Yes, a child's room should be fun, playful, colorful and inspiring. However, it is possible to stretch beyond the obvious Saturday morning tv themes and use different "non-kid" resources in a design scheme.
Go ahead and buy Yo Gabba Gabba bedding. That's fine, but if you get dresser modeled after that weird fuzzy orange guy with one eyeball, it's probably going to wear on your nerves before the end of the year.
TIPS
A tip to consider when you're designing a child's space is to make certain that the room flows well and has a gracious transition with the rest of the house. Another word of advice is to make sure that your major components (drapes, area rugs, dresser, night stands) are fairly basic so that they won't be affected by your mood swing next year....oh, and you will. After all, wouldn't it be nice to that what you end up purchasing today will last longer then your kid's terrible twos?
Referring back to my previous Kids R' People 2 post, here are some final project photos of a recent child's room I just completed.
For this project, I specified a custom version of our Plush Home customCarlisle Dresserby removing the breakfront and finishing the piece in a white lacquer. It's a classic piece that won't age itself like a Captain Jack Chest of Drawers will.
This is probably the most used accessory in our house - my husband and I each have one and roam from room to room with our wireless Google machines atop them. After all, who says that a laptop tray has to be made of faux wood with one of those strange, fluffy cushions glued on the bottom? I like these guys because they also double as serving and display trays....so when they're not being used to check email, they're ideal for magazines, books, drinks, etc...
Plush Home Lacquer Laptop Tray: High gloss lacquered tray with black borders, black bottom, and white interior.
Dimensions:1.5"H x 14"W x 20"L
TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch.Kristie Streicher first introduced me to this product at our last photo shoot for my interior design site and I've been hooked on it ever since.
What it is:
A luminizing pen that brings light and radiance to the skin, immediately erases signs of fatigue, and brightens the complexion.
What it does:
Loved by models, makeup artists, celebrities, and women everywhere, the award-winning Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch is like eight hours of sleep and an instant pick-me-up in a magic wand. With a few strategically placed strokes of TOUCHE ÉCLAT, the complexion immediately looks rested, rejuvenated, and radiant.
If you're from the East Coast and miss Dean & Deluca, Bottega Louie certainly offers to fill that void. With Chris Goosen as their Executive Chef and a designed space worthy of accolades from even the most discerning eye, I've been hooked on this spot since I first discovered it.
Coincidentally I've known Chris for many years. He's catered a handful of events for us including our Plush Home opening party in 2003. His dishes are always nothing less than exquisite.
More than three years in the making, Bottega Louie is located in the old Downtown bank district (former Brooks Brothers building). The eatery has 20-foot ceilings, more than 2,000 feet of brass millwork, marble-tiled floors, custom deli cases and tables, and about 200 employees.
From the moment you walk in, you'll feel like you've transported to the East Coast or even Europe. They've done a great job with lifestyle branding this restaurant and the mid-price point makes it accessible for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
The kitchen handles 600 recipes for the Italian menu and the prepared dishes for the market. The bakers turn out 800 pastries a day; stacks of pastel boxes tied with silk ribbon decorate the windows along Grand Avenue.
There's a full bar, a counter devoted to 20 kinds of breads, a brick oven churning out pizzas and a carving station. A bevy of managers stroll the floors; at times it takes three hostesses -- armed with a laminated map of the tables and stationed at a gilt Baroque-style, curve-legged console in the middle of the restaurant -- to greet and seat patrons.
My only warning is that the noise level is loud and there are no reservations....so there's often a wait for a table. But, the complimentary bottled water (flat or sparkling water) is a definite plus.
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(866) 418-9162
Choosing white is anything but vanilla. I thought I'd continue from yesterday's blog entry and go on about my love for white lacquer. Here's another new item that we'll be releasing next month for Plush Home. This Ming Entertainment Unit was designed to hold your tv & cable equipment, gadgets, wii games, nunchucks, and all unsightly tech wires. You can mount your screen above, on, or even run wires inside the walls to another area of your home.
This item looks rich and substantial in a traditional wood finish, but I really appreciate the clean feeling it offers a space when it's finished in white lacquer. This particular piece was made for a playroom where we wanted to encourage a soothing and creative atmosphere for the kids.
If Coco Chanel were alive and I had the good fortune of designing a desk for her, what would it look like? That was the inspiration that I carried through the process of creating this new design. From sketches, to CAD renders, to prototype after prototype..."What would Coco want?" was my through line for the Lexington Desk.
Here’s a first look at a Coco-inspired, new desk that I am introducing to our PLUSH HOME line next month. With the same fluted details that are consistent with our Lexington Collection, this piece was designed to be used as a vanity/desk for a client in London who is working with limited storage space and overall floor plan. The lacquer finish was selected from Farrow and Ball paints and was hand applied six times in order to achieve a flawless look and the perfect level of sheen.
While florals for Spring may not be so "groundbreaking" (see: Devil Wears Prada), I do really love the new Sonia Rykiel collection for H&M. Sonia has designed a very chic, yet playful line consisting of the colors; black, yellow, hot and baby pink. I picked up a couple of pieces on my last trip to H&M which I plan on mixing in with some less budget conscious items in my closet. I love the patent black platform shoes, paired with a super sexy pair of straight leg JBrand jeans. The shoe actually has a very architectural look to it and a sleek jean helps to highlight that.
Sonia is an amazing talent in the world of couture, and I think her color palette would make for a really fun scheme for a little girl’s room. I would use the yellow, hot and pink as the key colors and do all the accents in black.
