Elle Decor Showhouse 2010: Master Bedroom by Jay Jeffers

 What can one say about Jay Jeffers?! Great style, always a sense of humor, elegance, and wit.....in his own terms, "sophisticated fun". Jay manages to brighten up a space just like his smile can brighten any mood.

Jay's Master Bedroom at the Elle Decor Showhouse is no exception. Jay used a backdrop of soothing dove grey in this room and added touches of color to add a bit of drama. Notice all of the details: the gilt nightstands with the hanging lamps above....

The dramatic marble fireplace surround softened with luxurious curtains on either side....the fantastic geometric patterned ottoman with the modern ivory covered chairs...

... Jay even mirrors the ottoman fabric pattern with the tile in the Master Bath. Always thinking, always thinking.

Sigh....I am a fan, it's true. So of course I hopped over to the Elle Decor Website to get every bit of information. You can see a virtual tour of each room, the designers' inspiration sketches, and lots of other fun Showhouse "stuff".

For example,here is a virtual tour with Editor-in-Chief, Michael Boodro:



I hope you have a chance to hop over yourselves!

Oh! And do not forget to enter my fantastic

HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY

HERE!


For a Beautiful Bodmer Baby Alpaca Throw.
I will be announcing a winner December 16th!


Good Luck!!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Guestroom by Tucker & Marks

Guest Bedroom by Tucker & Marks. Twin Beds: Hand carved and turned pickled ash. Designer's own collection. Bed Linens by Scheuer Linens. Night Table by Bungalow 5. Cashmere Throws by Sandra Jorden Collection

There were so many beautiful rooms at the Elle Decor Showhouse this year. One of my very favorites was a Guest Bedroom designed by the talented Suzanne Tucker and the amazing staff at Tucker & Marks. Sunny and fresh, cozy and luxurious, this bedroom invites us to come in a stay awhile. I was thinking a permanent move might be in order. 

Guest Bedroom, photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks.
Area Rug by Dash and Albert. "Wallpaper" is actually fabric from Suzanne Tucker Home. Pillow Fabrics by Madeline Weinrib care of ABC Home.

 There is a very touching story connected to the extraordinary beds in the room: " Michael Taylor made them for Nan Kempner in 1951 because it was between graduating from College and marrying Tommy Kempner in 1952. Nan's "step-mother" felt Suzanne should have them given her connection with Michael Taylor and that Suzanne knew Nan. So she graciously gave them to Suzanne a few months ago, right before the Elle Décor Showhouse opened."

This little bit of history makes the room all the more interesting. 

19th Century Craftsman Style Bleached White Oak Chair is from Tucker & Marks. Baluster Drinks Table is Clear Murano Glass from The Wicker Works.

Suzanne's work has always struck me as some of the most beautifully detailed in the industry. This room is no exception. I was very impressed by the attention to the smallest details, like the tiny leather welting on the bed pillows that was overlaid with a little whip-stitching. Just lovely.

Vintage Murano Galss Lamps  through DWM Maloos. Mirror by Made Goods available through Mecox Gardens. Blue Shagreen Box through John Nelson Antiques in LA.

 So here are a few more details I thought you might want to see.

Suzanne's Hatley fabric makes a beautiful wallcovring in a custom colorway made up just for the Showhouse!.....from Suzanne Tucker Home. Photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks.

Guest Bathroom by Tucker & Marks. Photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks. Corner Etagere by Artasia. Matelisse Vanity Fabric by Suzanne Tucker Home. Wallpaper by Sister Parish Design.

Glass Mosaic Floor Tile by AKDO.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Sexy Basement by Erin Martin

Elle Decor Showhouse Basement by Erin Martin

What can I say about Erin Martin? Brilliant? Playful with a evil sense of humor? Provocative? She is all of these things, but perhaps most importantly, she is a designer who pushes envelopes and creates spaces that are truly unique. Super talented Erin Martin designed the large basement for the Elle Decor Showhouse, styling it as a party pad that seems to cross 70's groove with a bit of Boho chic,shaking it all up with some 007 Bond coolness.

Erin has pulled together some vintage mid-century pieces and Moroccan accents like the coffee table and area rugs, and added custom light fixtures and Victorian portraits ( with irreverent additions) in a way that made me want to stick around til Happy Hour!

 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did....

Basement Personality, Erin Martin

A Master at Shelf Display



Mid-Century Swivel Chairs, African Coffee Tables and Moroccan Area Rugs. Custom Light Fixture made from what was originally a Table Base...wicked!



Back Painted Glass Panels with Gold Medallions, Victorian Portraits with Added Embellishments.

Crazy Cool Art

Metal Mesh Screen Stair Rail. I loved this idea!



Custom Wall Sconce made with Common Electrical Socket Parts.



Erin Martin is nothing if not full of gutsy imagination. I hope she never stops.

If you are hoping to get to the Elle Decor Showhouse to see all of the amazing talent...be quick! This is the last weekend!

For ticket information, check the Junior League of San Francisco Website HERE.

Have a great weekend!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Kitchen and Breakfast Room by Palmer Weiss

Palmer Weiss' Breakfast Room

More Elle Decor Showhouse! What could be better? As promised, here is the beautiful Breakfast Room and Kitchen designed by Palmer Weiss. Full of fresh ideas and beautiful fabrics and materials, this space shows us there IS a new way to look at blue, white and yellow that is sophisticated and unexpected. 

Kitchen by Palmer Weiss showing Ann Sacks tile

Palmer Weiss used gorgeous Ann Sacks back splash tile above the range, and industrial chic Circa Lighting pendants over the island. Brass IS on it's way back! And this proves that one needn't worry about mixing up metals in one room. It looks beautiful.

For those of us that wan to use Carrara marble but are afraid of the maintenance...try this! Use marble subway tile on the back splash and Caesarstone for the counters. Caesarstone feels just like stone and has no maintenance issues. The look is fresh and easy.

Palmer has a way of putting in refreshing accents that keep things updated and give what could be another white kitchen character and charm.

And a little touch of wallpaper in the little hall to the back yard doesn't hurt one bit!

Rear Foyer by Palmer Weiss

For more information about the ongoing Elle Decor Showhouse and a virtual tour of the Palmer Weiss kitchen, don't forget to hop on over to Elle Decor HERE!

Next up...Erin Martin's sexy Basement Bonus Room!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 II - Den and Dining

Elle Decor Showhouse Den by Will Wick

The Elle Decor Showhouse was full of designers that are up and comers. You will be seeing much more of them in the years to come. Will Wick is just one of these designers. Mr. Wick took on the Den off the main hall creating a chic Mad Men atmosphere with a bit of Old English Club thrown in.

Den Bar, Will Wick

There is the obligatory dry bar, ready at all times for shaking up a martini. The papered sliding doors look like they are covered with chips of old ivory or bone.

Den by Will Wick

The brass Klismos chair stole the show in this space...a piece of art. The whole space spoke of the owner's love of travel, art and creature comforts...a good place to lounge, a cocktail, a book about far away places, and souvenirs of places visited...it's all here.

Mr. Wick also designed the Den Bathroom using stone tile to create this gorgeous pattern on the wall. Very handsome! And I do believe brass is making a big comeback! Aged brass if you please.

Den Bathroom by Will Wick

Next up, Steven Volpe's  handsomely moody Dining Room. The wall color is as comfortable as washed  denim, but with a much more sophisticated edge. Comfortable minimalism serves to highlight each piece of furniture to it's best advantage.

Dining Room by Steven Volpe

I particularly like the cabinet with the basket weave carved doors. It was a standout! The art depicting ocean waves casts a spell on the room as well.

Dining Room by Steven Volpe

 My mind was reeling with creative thoughts after these rooms, and I was anxious to see what else lay ahead!

Next up....the gorgeous Kitchen and Breakfast Room by Palmer Weiss. You are going to love it!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010



Elle Decor Showhouse Living Room by Gary Spain

 Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful day at the first Elle Decor Showhouse which is located in the historic St. Francis Woods neighborhood of San Francisco. Stellar lighting retailer and Showhouse sponsor, Lumens Light and Living, hosted an eventful day in San Francisco for a number of Interior and Lighting Designers from Sacramento. We started our day at the Showhouse!

It was a beautiful day and a spectacular Showhouse! I will start at the beginning with the Living Room which was designed by Gary Spain.

Gary used natural tones in charcoal, taupes and whites and lots of texture in this elegant, yet "put-your-feet-up" room. Sisal, lots of linen, wood, plaster and blackened steel all converge to make this a very industrial chic space that is also very livable.

        

Gary's expertise as an art director and photo stylist is front and center in this space. You may even feel like you know his work from some of your favorite catalogs. Be sure and visit his website to see what I mean. 

 This Living Room is just the beginning of a house full of ideas. There is much more to come!



Mr. Gary Spain



Have a wonderful weekend!

Well THIS is Exciting: The First Ever Elle Decor Showhouse

Just in case you did not flip through every page of the latest Elle Decor ( I know most of you must have, just like I do! But just in case....), I wanted to draw your attention to the newest Showhouse on the scene. Elle Decor is partnering with the Junior League of San Francisco this Fall to create their first Showhouse in the historic St. Francis neighborhood. The Showhouse will be open to the public starting November 6.

The line up of designers is studded with stars! I am expecting a stellar event. Our blog friend, Grant Gibson has a peek at his design on his blog HERE.

I have already marked my calendar. I hope you are doing the same!

More info HERE and HERE.

You can bet I will keep you posted along the way.