lmsd1963's Profile

Ceremony at the 17th century Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow - a magical , intimate historical setting; reception at another historic inn nearby with chef-prepared (NOT HOTEL) cuisine. My dress was the palest shade of pink, colors were unusual, unique touches all around. Barely 100 guests. Husband hand-picked all the music to exclude all the horrid wedding DJ STUFF.

I love this look and in small doses do not consider it "trendy" - brass, like other materials, has been around forever. My question is, can or should I use it if I have all stainless steel appliances? Will that look odd or nicely varied?

Your instincts are right: NO MORE brown wood in that room. Painted white or gray Bertoia chairs or lacquered Wegner chairs (a light color again) would be great. Or the Eames. :)

Hi there,
I'd seriously consider switching to BM colors - they are way more subtle and beautiful than SW or anything else out there (short of DKC of course). BM makes two colors that have that watery blue color I'd recommend: Healing Aloe and Gray Cashmere. I have the former in my hallways (dark, no light) and the latter in the bathroom (some light). They are a lovely blend of blue-gray-green. Very appealing. Do all white linens perhaps too.

I'm an art historian, so I "should" love gallery walls, but I just don't usually. Most of the examples I often see have the that sort of hodge-podge, kitschy look that just isn't to my taste. Like @Lynell I prefer to buy and display art works that are strong, "stand-alone" pieces. But even so, I'm beginning to think about hanging them in small groups, but not all-over. FWIW, the term is actually "salon style," not "gallery wall," and originated in the 17th century. :)

It's all about the scale, space, volumes, light, etc. Some rooms do look larger with darker paint, some look more spacious with paler neutrals. As a rule, I eschew white walls, but enjoy pale, pale versions of blue-grays, yellows, greens, grays. I do not like bright color on walls because I often find it reads as "cheap," or juvenile. But of course to each her own. My way is only one way. :)

I'm not sure the "New Prettiness" that Merkin describes is all that new. Isn't that Shabby Chic nonsense a good ten years old? While I think there is definitely some connection between conservative politics/culture and more traditional expressions of gender in fashion and design/decor, other elements are at play too. Pinks and turquoises and lavenders and yellows go well with grays, blacks, and other neutrals, so contemporary designers are, in my mind, just exploring with building different color palettes. Ruffles and sequins are tempered with leathers, piping/tailoring, and ethnic prints. So unless we're talking about a return to doilies and flowered slipcovers, the "New Prettiness" seems too narrow a description.

Agreed the yellow was a bit dated/tired, but instead of pure white, why not do a a lovely gray with a hint of blue or lavendar, or even a pale greige, and do moldings and beam gloss white. Do a glossy white credenza maybe. Green lamp is very groovy - leave it be. Stark white walls rarely look good to me unless it's a huge loft.

Agree with others that dining room is probably not a life priority right now (assuming no kids?), and that back room is tiny. I have a small square DR (11x12) and all I can fit is a round 52" table, four chairs, and two extra chairs in two corners. No other furniture. It's tight. Set up a sideboard or wide-ish console table in your LR that you can pull up chairs to for eating. Make the back room an office with storage so you can hide the computer/office clutter and have room to add den-like seating. Make it cozy with textures, fabrics, etc.

While I picked the "unique/artisanal" quality, Lisa (Montreal) is correct - I hadn't thought about it that way, I had the prototypical images in mind. I think today, quality original pieces aren't' so common, hence the special quality. I also don't understand people who hate it for being "trendy" - it cannot possibly be trendy; it's historical. It's popular again, that is true, but that is different.