Banquette Seat

Banquette Dining

This is a picture of the new banquette which was recently installed in the Breakfast Nook in my own kitchen. When I moved into my new home I decided to keep these antique Georgian chairs (which I have had for years and had previously used in a bedroom and a den) and reincarnate them in the kitchen. I wanted to use white for the upholstery, and deliberated on finding the right fabric that would be user friendly and easy to maintain. I choose a soft washable leather and finished the bottom edge of the chairs with a antiqued nail head trim to keep with the period design. I paired them with a contemporary Saarinen table, which highlights the backs of the chairs and makes them stand out like pieces of sculpture. The custom banquette seat was designed to fit into the alcove and it is covered in the same washable leather. The top corners of the banquette are scalloped to match the back of the chairs. I like mixing different chairs around dining tables and not having them all match. The trick is to find a common element that ties them together. In this case it is the dark wood color that unifies them. I also have Phillipe Stark Ghost chairs that I use when I need more seating around the table. Ghost chairs are like a chameleon and work anywhere. Banquette seats are very comfortable and they encourage lingering. Already this is a place everyone gravitates to and wants to sit and talk long after a meal is finished. It is also one of my favourite spots to sit with a coffee and a good book.

What about you – do you always choose to sit on the banquette when going to a restaurant?
And do you tend to linger longer than usual?

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and WHAT'S HOT
in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Elica Hood Fans

 

One of my pet peeves is ugly hood fans. They are such a large element in a kitchen and if not handled properly can distract from the design of the kitchen, especially more so in contemporary kitchen design, as I am tending to not use overhead cabinets. The cooktop and back wall then becomes the focal point. So when I saw these innovative new designs from Elica I was pleasantly surprised. They are designed to look like a beautiful pendant handing over the cooktop and include ventilation, filters, lighting and controls.  They are now distributed in Canada and the USA.The fan in the middle row right is stainless-steel Platinum and packs advanced technology into a sleek lampshade diameter that works with any 24" - 36" cooktop and costs $1,600.00.

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Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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Louis XV Commode

Designed and manufactured by Axis FormLAB this Louis XV commode offers modern twist on period furniture. Made in MDF with white gloss enamel or rainbow coloured veneer, furniture grade plywood with an oak veneer surface or acrylic it provides an unusual and stylish way to display wine and serve drinks.

Louis XV commodes are traditionally flamboyant and ornate wooden cabinets with doors or drawers which are adorned with inlays, gilding or elaborate carving. Axis Form LAB have taken the overall basic shape and included the curved lines to produce an stylish and practical piece of furniture. The classical style and chic appearance make this commode perfect for ‘des res’ (desirable residence) homes of both traditional and contemporary design depending on which material is selected. The MDF and plywood versions are more in keeping with traditional or modern homes, while the transparent acrylic model is the ideal choice for contemporary homes.

Wine cellars are definitely a thing of the past, with the ‘in vogue’ custom of showing off your wine stock this Louis XV commode serves the purpose wonderfully, while also incorporating a much needed serving surface for informal snacks and nibbles. The one open side is ideal for storing glasses or displaying unusual shaped and coloured bottles of liqueurs or adding personal touches by displaying ceramic or glass dishes.

I am somewhat amused by the term ‘commode’, although it does refer to a chest of drawers, in the UK a commode is also the term given for a lidded seat which houses a chamber pot underneath!

Image source: www.axisformlab.com

Mirror Magic

Not much has been written about the merits and sheer magic of using mirrors as focal points and works of art in rooms. So I would like to dedicate this post to the beauty, genius, and magic of mirrors. Everyone has either seen or heard of the famous Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIV in 1678. The principal feature of this famous hall is the seventeen mirror-clad arches that reflect the seventeen arcaded windows that overlook the gardens. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors for a total of 357. In the 17th century, mirrors were among the most expensive items to possess and at the time and the Venetian Republic held the monopoly on the manufacture of mirrors. The expense in manufacture of mirrors has come a long way since those days.

Mirrors over fireplaces:
One of the places in a home most adorned with a mirror, other than the bathroom, is over the fireplace. It is the perfect focal point in a room to strategically place a mirror. Depending on the room and the orientation of the fireplace, a mirror hung over the fireplace can reflect other important areas of the room and create drama and atmosphere. In the living room below I used a laser cut mirror above the fireplace, which echoes the filigree pattern in the framed wallpaper panels on either side of the fireplace. I painted the wall behind the mirror a deep chocolate brown to further define the edges of the mirror. The curtains are the same rich chocolate brown color and are made of silk taffeta which further adds to the shimmery effect at night.

 

Mirrors in Bathrooms:
Bathroom mirrors come in every size and configuration. In my designs I try to come up with something unique, while still being very functional. In this bathroom my client wanted a 3 Way mirror. So handy if you want to get a 360 degree view of yourself. The mirror over the vanity is double sided circle, that echoes the shape of the matching back to back sinks. The mirror is attached to the ceiling and to the vanity at the top and bottom with clear glass.

 

What do you do if you have a window in front of your vanity? Below in my own bathroom I used California shutters for the window covering. I love the look and feel of California shutters. I designed the room so that the sink was centered on the length of the window. I had the stile of the shutters made to line up perfectly with the center of the sink, then I had my glazier design a special mounting that would allow the mirror to be attached to the stile, while still allowing the shutters enough space behind the mirror to open and close. The mirror appears to be floating in front of the shutters. 

 

Mirrors in Dining Rooms:
This is a picture of the breakfast area in my own home. The mirror helps to enlarge this small space and bring in the view of the garden. By placing a lamp on the table in front of the mirror it creates the illusion that the room continues. The lamp also creates some drama and makes it a cozy spot to sit and linger in the evenings. You can read more here, where I talk about my Lucite lamp and mix of chairs.

 

The mirror I designed and had built for my client's dining room. It perfectly reflects the magnificent Murano glass chandelier hanging over the custom built large square dining table. It also captures views of the adjoining living room for people that are sitting with their backs to it. When you are making mirrors this large make sure that they will fit through the front door. I made that mistake once and that was enough to learn a very valuable lesson: check and double check every detail!! If it still won’t fit, I have the mirror made on-site. The draperies are made of chocolate brown silk taffeta with a padded valance, the ceiling inset is lit around the perimeter and painted with gold leaf.

 

Mirrors in Bedrooms:
In this bedroom I placed a full height mirror for the client to use as a dressing mirror.

 

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Ink Art Work

I firmly believe that the most successful interior designs are those which not only work extremely closely with the client in terms of finished appearances but also include personal preferences and interests to ensure that individualism is incorporated skilfully within the agreed designs and styles.

For me this piece of intricate ink work displays a passion for using tattoo artistry which clearly demonstrates the ability of the artist to the full. Hand tattooed by Mama Tried studios directed by Scott Campbell, the team at Mama Tried has adopted a ‘why didn’t we think of that’ philosophy in producing exciting and unorthodox approaches to visual media.

The new series of the successful TV programmes London Ink and Miami Ink shows that many, many people are using tattoos to decorate and bring art to life on their bodies. This striking chair with its retro black ornate frame, cream leather seat and back rest tattooed in black ink will bring much pleasure to those who adore this type of artistry and a bold way of life. The trendy skull design used as the main focus has a haunting appeal, daring someone to take a seat!

Undoubtedly this chair will not appeal to everyone’s taste, however, I do feel that it would make a striking focal point when incorporated within a room which has taken client personality and individualism seriously. I’m sure many a discerning tattooist would jump at the chance to include this unorthodox chair in their workplaces to provide an unusual and unique method of promoting their profession effectively.

Image source: www.decojournal.com