Rethinking the Look of Things No. 38 - The Partners' Desk

I'm rethinking the look of the Partners' Desk.  Traditionally the partners' desk is one with carving, inlaid tooled leather and of the finest of woods polished to perfection.  But the take on the idea of a partners' desk can have a more relaxed, transitional feel.  Said to have originated in the UK, the partners' desk is a freestanding mirror image design with matching drawers on each side where business partners facing each other could both work.  

I'm loving how the idea of the partners' desk can be translated into a great work area in almost any area of our home.  That the vision of the cigar-smoking stodgy business-type is a thing of the past and that the concept of having a great work space shared with someone else can be fun and with personality.

The ability to mix seating or let our amusing side show in our work space can only cultivate production.  So those thank you cards get written, the letter to the editor gets accomplished, our 30-day novel comes alive, and we are catching a glance from our greatest fan across the desk.

I'll never forget when I started my career at an interior design firm I was working in an office with the Senior Designer/Owner and our desks were pushed together facing each other totally out of lack of space, but it was one of the best learning experiences of my years there.  To work so closely to someone I would learn a great deal from was invaluable.

This idea of facing our biggest encourager aka critic can be so important to dream accomplishment.  And the fact that rethinking the look of the partners' desk can open up so many possibilities on which to make those dreams come true.  Excuses for not setting out to conquer our goals are all but diminished.

So rethink the look of things when it comes to your home office.  Capture a work space that welcomes input, embraces sharing your work, and opens up buckets of possibilities for what comes across your desk.

Image Sources:  Elle Decor, Atlanta Home, Design Sponge, HGTV, Trove Interiors, Apartment Therapy, Materialious

Well Dressed Home No. 38 - The Artist's Easel

There are things I wish I had the talent to do and there are talents I have that I forever remind myself to not take for granted.  So I use the talents I have and admire those who have the talents I do not possess. Painting is one such admired talent.

I am all for repurposing, with some exceptions.  It is the admiration of the talent of a painter that is cause for one of these exceptions.  This is the use of the artist's easel for anything other than to hold something of beauty and that does not include a television!  Under no circumstances should a television be considered art. So the repurposing of the artist's easel as a TV stand is something I cannot appreciate.

On my dream list of things I would give placement in my home is a vintage Arredoluce lighted easel.  I adore the understated and slender design and the angled light that allows that favorite painting to be the center of attention.

The wooden artist's easel gives such strong presence to a painting allowing you to truly appreciate the painting at eye level.  To study each brushstroke and, if you dare, follow the path of that brushstroke with a reverent hand.

The table top easels are wonderful too.  What a fantastic way to show a treasured letter, or black and white photograph, or an artist's sketch.

I don't think that finding the best location in one's home for an easel is the challenge, no I believe finding the right art to display will be the ultimate challenge.

This challenge of finding just the right piece of art could take time.  But don't settle for a substitute, I'd rather a blank canvas than a stand in.

Image Sources:  Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Houzz, Lonny, First Dibs, Restoration Hardware, Mr. and Mrs. Howard, West Elm

Rooms I Love No. 9 - Simple, Yet Dramatic

This Rooms I Love edition is all about simple design that is dramatic.  It's not about the bells and whistles. It is about celebrating the ability to create a room that is dramatically simple.  Indeed a celebration, because accomplishing such a room is not easy.  In the words of Leonard da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication."

It requires restraint.

The ability to recognize the value of less is more, takes talent.

It asks for the vision to know understated sophistication.

It is necessary to have an appreciation for a neutral backdrop.

It is a learnt equation of subtle equals dramatic.

It is very fine in texture and structure

One has to understand the meaning of delicately complex.

 Image Sources:  VT Interiors, Verandah House, Pawley Island Posh, I Love Decoration, Trina D. Lambert, Tariqmcom, Words on Images

Translation Fashion to Home No. 16 - Zac Posen Fall 2014

The color combinations of the Zac Posen Fall 2014 Collection are amazing.  I am loving the combination of a traditional Fall-inspired color palette with the surprise of a pastel, such as lavender.

This room is truly a translation.

The sleekness of the color palette and furniture lines is a great translation

in a transitional form.

A fireplace, velvet chairs, carved wood, leather.  All with

just the right amount of light coming in the windows.

Fashion translation even in the mudroom!

Like taking in the peak of Fall foliage!

Fantastic, everything.  The ceiling, the rug,

the mouldings, the simplistic art...everything.

Just like the first hints of Fall season.

The layering of textures in the room are brilliant.

The color palette doesn't have to dictate a dark room.

Great combination of pastel, dark woods, and chocolate brown rug and

drapery banding!

I love animal print with this color combination so much!

(And you know you'd put on a pair of leopard print heels with

either one of those suits!)

Image Sources:  VT Interiors, Design Chic, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Pinterest, Laura Casey Interiors, Ruth Burts, Steven Gambrel, Your Nest Design, Timothy Whealon, Mark D. Sikes, Fashioniers, Bunny Williams

Rethinking the Look of Things No. 30 - It's Your Library!

For the bibliophile it either starts this way or is a continuation.  Either the books are overflowing from the intended-to-be-neat and tidy library shelves or it is the beginning of our obsession.  This is your library.  

li·brar·y  

/ˈlīˌbrerē/

Noun A building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for people to read, borrow, or... A collection of books and periodicals held in such a building or room.

Others call it a stack of books, to the bibliophile, or "reader" (to those who haven't come to terms with their position); it is our library.

A different kind of "Nook".

Your library can be anywhere in your home.  Numerous places for that matter.

The rethinking of the look of the library in our home does not include those utilitarian coffee table books. This rethinking is about how your library is defined.  Because with this change in thought comes the delightful realization that your library can be anywhere you want to put it.

So look around at all those open "shelves" in your home that you didn't think you were "allowed" to use as library space.  And you will probably find that your dream of wanting to devote just one room as a library is just plain silly.

Just plain silly indeed!

 Image Sources:  Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Mark D. Sikes, La Dolce Vita, Pinterest, Houzz, Design Sponge, Cote de Texas, Loft and Cottage, Zsa Zsa Bellagio, The Colonies,