Tuesday's Top 10- Doors of Ireland

Tuesday March 16, 2010

St Patrick's Day is just around the corner and today's Top 10 is in celebration of the holiday! The Irish are well known for their colorful doors and today I am showcasing the unique characteristics of them. The door to your home is often overlooked but the Irish know how to truly make a statement!

10) Double Black Doors

9) Red Hotel Door

8) Double Doors

7) Turquoise Door

6) Yellow Door

5) Blue Door

4) Red Door

3) Cottage Church Door

2) Blue Door

1) Black & White Door

Photos: LornaMck, Jessie Moore, Fotothing, Alkemade Photography, Robert, Nico de Brun, Birds Eye View,

Tuesday's Top 10- Ottomans

Tuesday January 19, 2010

Today's TOP 10 list is one of the most versatile pieces in the home, an ottoman. I love ottomans because you can tuck them into so many different areas. They are very multifunctional as you can use them to put your feet on or top them with a tray and set a drink upon them! Here's my picks for the Top 10 Ottomans:

10) Drum Ottoman, Lee Industries

This circular ottoman makes for a great cocktail ottoman as it's size is really nice. I love the nail heads, I think it is a nice detail. This ottoman comes in a few different sizes which is always great for a designer who needs options.

9) Ottoman, Century Furniture

This 3 cylinder ottoman makes for a beautifully shaped stool! The wood base really makes for a nice platform!

8) Storage Ottoman,

This beautiful ottoman is also very functional as a storage ottoman! It's always nice to throw some magazines, kids toys, or blankets in the inside!

7) Topkapi Ottoman Baker Furniture

This large cocktail ottoman beautifully adorned with decorative bouillon detail and yet very functional. It's really nice because it can fit really nicely between 2 chairs, especially when your tight on space!

6) Rolland Ottoman, Hickory Chair

I love this ottoman because of it's clean transitional lines. I think the tufting on this ottoman is really quite wonderful! The other reason I really like this ottoman is it is part of Hickory Chair's Made to Measure line, meaning we can make this ottoman any size! It is just as beautiful small as it is large!

5) Italian Ottoman, Baker Furniture

I love the unique shape of this little ottoman. These are so versatile and look wonderful as a pair! They work great to pull up into a room when you are needing a little extra seating!

4) Regency Bench, Baker Furniture

A great ottoman to use with a lounge chair. It also works as a nice accent in other areas of the home. The Regency bench is inspired by the early Egyptian okladias or folding stool with a leather seat, both well-born Greeks and those of humble beginnings, favored a simple stool with cleverly crossed legs.

3) Star of India Ottoman, Pearson

This ottoman can make for a great statement in the center of a room! Not only is the shape very interesting but it has the capability to really be interesting with a bold fabric! This ottoman is a star in my eyes!

2) Cocktail Ottoman, Pearson

Just like the name of this ottoman says it makes for a awesome cocktail table! The shelf below is very functional and the fretwork adds to the beauty of the piece.

1) Anatasia Bench, Hickory Chair

This ottoman was introduced last fall from Hickory Chair and I have loved it ever since! The bench was designed by Suzanne Kasler and was found on one of her trips to the Paris Flea Markets. The beautiful carving & unique scallops make this a very unique bench in any room!

Photos- Hickory Chair, Century Furniture, Pearson, Lee Industries, Baker Furniture

All ottomans are available at The Mansion

Top 10 Turquoise Products

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Today's Top 10 is featuring my top picks for Turquoise Products. As you know this Top 10 list is a new series for me and over the last week my oh-so-observant husband pointed out to me that my first top 10 list was oh-so-backwards. So please enjoy as this Top 10 list will begin as a countdown instead of a count up! Be Inspired by this beautiful color!

10) Arm Chair, Century Furniture

This chair has so much style and I think the bold color of turquoise makes it even more unique!

9) Angle Mirror, Global Views

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall can this be the prettiest mirror of all? This mirror could make a grand statement and if you grouped a number of them together it could be quite stunning!

8) Regence Style Commode, French Heritage

What a great accent to a room! I think the hardware on this piece is quite lovely!

7) Glass Vase, Global Views

This blown glass vase is so artistic, sculptural, & beautiful! This is a great way to bring a little bit of turquoise into your home if your scared to make the commitment!

6) Wallpaper, Harlequin

A great way to make a statement in your home is a beautiful, bold, wallpaper in turquoise! I especially love the large print of this paper. The wall almost comes across as being a solid color until you look closely you can see the pattern & depth of the paper!

5) Artwork, Soicher Marin

I really like this artwork because it has a beautiful graphic pattern in it! The size of it is wonderful and can really ground a space!

4) Lamp, Arteriors Home

Lamps make a great accent in a room and can really add color to a space. A pair of these lamps on a credenza would add amazing color & shape!

3) Fabric, Osborne & Little

The combination of these turquoise fabrics adds a great touch to a modern sofa! I also love cut velvet fabrics and the turquoise color is amazing! If you aren't comfortable with doing a whole sofa you can add fabrics in turquoise to add the color into your home!

2) Foster Chair, Hickory Chair

This chair has beautiful, clean lines, & even more important it is very comfortable! I think this is a fantastic example of a basic chair in a beautiful color. The color takes this chair from ordinary to extraordinary!

1) Thomos O'Brien Rug, Safavieh

A great way to bring color into a room is by adding a beautiful layer of color in your area rug! This classic rug has beautiful color, pattern, & texture! It is a wonderful foundation to a room!

Photos: Century Furniture, Global Views, French Heritage, Harlequin Fabrics & Wallcoverings, Soicher Marin, Arteriors Home, Osborne & Little, Hickory Chair, Safavieh.

Tuesday's Top 10

Tuesday January 5, 2010

I've decided to try something new with Living in Style and that is to feature a new stylish list every Tuesday. A top 10 list seems appropriate! Working in the design business I have so many wonderful resources at my fingertips and I don't think many people really realize the unique, beautiful, and stylish items out on the market. So, every Tuesday check back for my feature of a Top 10. This list might include small items like hardware, pillows, or mirrors, but it might include bigger things like my 10 favorite Sun rooms, or kitchens. For my first feature I am highlighting a item that can totally change the mood of a room & that is a chandelier. The history of the chandelier is quite unique and the earliest ones date back to medieval places of assembly. The high cost of illumination made the chandelier a luxury symbol of status. Which might be why many people have this idea of very ornate crystal chandeliers in their heads (which some of the most beautiful ones are) but you can have an equally gorgeous fixture that is very simple. I am currently working on a project where I'm selecting all the light fixtures for my clients new home. It's fun to coordinate them all and to find the exact perfect fixture for the space. Since I've spent countless hours scouring our resources for the perfect fixtures for this family I have been eyeing a few that have made the list! So here you go my Top 10 List of Chandeliers!




1) Kevin Reilly Chandelier, Holly Hunt
This classic chandelier is one of my favorites and has been knocked off by so many companies but the original design & detail is truly remarkable. Renowned for its innovative cnadle and metal lighting, Kevin Reilly fueses the rustic, architectural, romantic, industrial, into modern design. What is even better is it has an array of fixtures that coordinate wonderfully with it!


2) Signature Chandlier by Baker Furniture, Barbara Barry Collection
This elegant fixture is created using cristallo oro, a combination of clear crystal fused with 24 karat gold leaf. Each Element of this chandelier is hand-blown using centuries old techniques.


3) Chandelier, Visual Comfort
This petite Paris Flea Market chandelier is one of my favorites! The size, proportions, & design are perfect!


4) Mansion Chandelier, Curry & Co
I picked this one because of it's name. Just Kidding but I think the richness and depth are the hallmark of old French and Italian pieces!


5) Southhampton Shell Chandelier, Arteriors Home
I have loved this fixture for awhile now and I think it is my need to live by the water. I think the design is beautiful but I also love the shells in this fixture.


6)Bronze Veil Chandelier, Fine Art Lamps
I love the warm bronze finish of this fixture and the contemporary feeling of it!


7) Crystal LIghts Chandelier, Curry & Co
The perfect proportions of this chandelier satisfy both the traditional and the contemporary.


8) Dauphin Chandelier, Curry & Co
This large wooden chandelier features a pleasingly simple shape made with fine hand-carved details. I love the distressed antique gold leaf.


9) Iron Beaded Chandelier, Arteriors Home
I think this fixture is stunning and could really be beautiful in the right space! The graceful lines are wonderful!


10) Sillicate Chandelier by Baker Furniture, Lexicon Collection
Reminiscent of graceful waterfalls, this chandelier is created from cascading tiers of cloudy Murano Glass folds.

All fixtures are available for purchase at The Mansion.