7hometours

entertaining, gardening, and antiquing tipsfrom our favorite experts

174 pages of decorating ideasfind your style!

Kate Townsend-Simpsonfrom editor to motherInside her Connecticut home

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FALL2009

1 Lonny premiere westelm.com

GOOD DESIGNGREAT PRICE

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In a time when shelter publications

are turning their last pages...

OUR MISSION is to reopen the doors of accessible design.

By embracing an online platform we provide inspiration at

the click of a finger, directly connecting our readers to their

favorite products and resources. Our freedom from page

limits means that we can share more content in each issue,

delivering an intimate look into the way people really live.

At Lonny, we value independent thinking and believe not

in following trends but rather in making choices that lead to

happiness. We believe that good design and affordable design

can coexist and that true inspiration can be found in the tee-

niest of homes or in the grandest of spaces.

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features

in every issue06 Editor’s Letter08 Meet Our Team11 Contributors191 Blogger Style

arts and culture27 Caitlin McGauley The work, expressions and undiscovered talent of a Manhattan watercolorist

fashion32 Doucette Duvall Eco-chic fashions fit for mother earth

market15 Spotted17 Ivy League19 4 Easy Pieces22 Budget Style23 Dear John26 Eco-Style

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features

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Key Largo comes home with Kate Simpson

Eddie Ross bids adieu to Manhattan

Ron Marvin expands his talent

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The cultured interiors of Carolina Irving

Grace Bonney uncovers her life off-line

Laurent Girard and Leonora Mahle’s restoration transformation

Deborah Needleman gets back to her roots

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WILLIAMS SONOMAH O M E

wshome.com

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edito’r”’’’’s letter

Wow! As I flip through the pages of our premiere issue, I feel both pride and excitement in sharing our grassroots project with you. What started in June as a concept (a planned sur-prise for my blog readers), has since unfolded into one of the most challenging and rewarding projects that my partner, photographer Patrick Cline, and I have ever undertaken. Saddened by the loss of our favorite shelter publications and determined to fill the void with something spectacular, we spent the summer scheming ways to execute our vision. Ultimately, our goal is to bring inspiration and ideas to read-ers worldwide who, in spite of the tough economy, still want to make their rooms, apartments and homes feel special.

At each stage of our process, we discovered many others who were compelled by our idea, and eager to donate their time and expertise to turn our vision into a reality. Without a dollar to our name, Patrick and I were fortunate enough to have photography film donated by close friend Ryan Dixon, a summer’s worth of equipment rentals given to us by Foto-care, and film processing for every shoot donated by Digital Media NYC. Patrick and I also recruited a team who, like

My partner in crimephotographer and Lonny co-founder

Patrick Cline

ourselves, have full-time jobs, yet spent their summer nights contributing their creativity, skills and time to bring you this inaugural issue.

Inside our pages you will find an intimate look into the lives and homes of some of your favorite tastemakers, and learn what it took to develop their own personal styles. We round-ed up experts to offer you tips on decorating, entertaining, gardening and more, ensuring that the looks on our pages easily translate into real ideas that you can use in your own

homes and everyday lives.

But the cherry on top is the creative freedom re-sulting from our new online format. By embracing

an alternative method of publication, we are able to share with you an endless amount of inspiration (our longest fea-ture is a whopping 35 pages!) as well as to show you exactly where we find our favorite resources, linking you directly to them so that you can literally shop our pages.

So go ahead and kick back, play around with the toolbar op-tions (I dig the fullscreen, while Patrick prefers the normal view), and be sure to send us your feedback. We’re excited to integrate your ideas as together we grow and change. Happy reading.

Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline

michelle@lonnymag.com patrick@lonnymag.com

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Patrick Cline never wanted to be a photographer.

Raised in England, he attended college in the country and studied computer science. Intending to develop a fervor for the intricacies of the hard drive, he instead found himself developing an ardent dislike. Realizing the major was not for him, he bid adieu to the country side and moved to London.

In an effort to make ends meet, Cline stumbled into a job as a black and white printer. He spent his days hand pro-cessing and printing in the darkroom, yet still remained apathetic toward photography. Interestingly, his indif-ference as well as lack of formal education in the field intrigued photographer Dan Burn Forti, who took Cline on as his assistant. It took a month under Burn Forti’s ap-prenticeship before the art invaded Cline’s system.

Since then, his life has become photography. He moved to Manhattan, working at a high end color lab and print-ing for the likes of Tom Munro and Annie Leibovitz. Real-izing he wanted to take business pursuits into his own hands, he created Brand Arts; his company which com-bines digital retouching and photo production. Meeting Michelle at a domino shoot in 2007, he saw in her the same entrepreneurial drive he had in himself, and the two became instant friends.

Two years later, he calls Lonny the most challenging yet rewarding project he’s taken on yet. He’ll never forget when Burn Forti, casually sorting through his own pho-tographs the day before Cline left for New York, looked at him and said “You know, you should keep doing this, you’re rather good at it.”

The proof is in the pages. Enjoy.

A former colleague once told Michelle Adams that some-day, down the road, she would become the editor in chief of a magazine. Honored but mostly humbled, she had graciously thanked her for the compliment. She adored magazines, calls herself an addict even - but at the time, her drive was in starting her own textiles company.

Enamored with home décor since childhood, Adams soon launched Rubie Green, an organic textiles company that concentrates on classic style created through sustainable design. Between her naturally intrinsic knowledge of décor and her degree in textile and interior design, Adams knew her stuff; but like all of us, looked to shelter magazines for inspiration. Then the economy took a hit, the shelves began thinning, and soon shelter magazines were few and far between.

An eternal optimist and an entrepreneur at heart, Ad-ams understood how important these magazines were to their readers, and also knew she had the knowledge, drive and motivation to develop a solve. She and busi-ness partner Patrick Cline sat down to coffee one day, discussed a mountain of ideas, and Lonny was born.

Four months and many Starbuck’s soy latte’s later, and the vision has become a reality. Anyone who knows Ad-ams will not be surprised by the comprehensiveness, de-tail, stylization and content this issue provides. Adams herself still has trouble calling herself by her new role.

Michelle Adams, Editor in Chief, Lonny. Welcome.

meet our team

patrick cline

michelle adams

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meet our team

Growing up, if Shawn Gauthier went missing, check the library. There she could be found, tucked away with an armload of books. An avid reader, she absorbed stories, adored the imagination behind words, the places they created in her mind.

Words have not left her since. Fascinated by authors such as William Faulkner, Sylvia Plath and EE Cummings, she admires their disregard for the rules, and their distinct, unique, outside-the box grasps on language. Creative most instinctively, Gauthier herself has a similar knack for marrying words in clever arrangements, and a beau-tifully written sentence has been said to take her breath away. Decades down the road, she sees herself in a cozy little attic space, writing her days through and through. And if that cozy little attic space is by the sea, she’ll have nothing left to ask for.

When asked to participate in Lonny, she didn’t hesitate, despite the long hours and demanding schedule it re-quired to write an entire magazine on her own. Like her belief in the written word, she believed in the hope of this magazine. And like her parents have always taught her, your life is what you believe in.

For Gauthier, writing comes as naturally as taking a breath.

Take a breath, and absorb the words she has thoughtfully created for our pages.

shawn gauthier

Check out Caitlin’s illustrations in our Arts & Culture section on page 27

shawn@lonnymag.com

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As a kid, Michelle Roque saved all her allowance money for Crayola cray-ons. Meticulous about keeping them sharpened, she hated nothing more than a trail of color leaking outside the lines. A decade later, her parents urged her to pursue business finance in college; one macro-econ class later, and Roque secretly changed her major to graphic design.

Roque blossomed, and her parents (eventually) understood. Landing an internship in New York the summer before graduation, she fell in love with the city; when she left in August, she promised herself she’d return within a year. She applied to Parsons, earned a scholarship, and 364 days later permanently moved from the Bay Area to Manhattan to pursue design.

Six years have lapsed since the fateful move, and Roque’s passion for de-sign has anything but dwindled. Hoping to someday open her own multi-disciplinary design studio, she’s built an impressive resume, determined to learn the ropes. She joined the Lonny team in early September, taking on a 175+ page layout project in under a month’s time.

Roque has always firmly believed that if design was what she wanted to do, she’d be a success.

She was right.

Studying art at Syracuse University, Caitlin McGauley once created a line drawing of a woman in black ink on craft paper. Her professor, so impressed with her work, asked if he could frame it for his own home. For the first time, a flattered McGauley realized her favorite pastime had serious merit.

An artist most inherently, rarely a day goes by that McGauley’s paintbrush does not grace a canvas. Her world feels calm, muted, surreal when she paints; the borders around her melt, and she feels totally focused. It’s her outlet, her method of relaxation; she hopes to still find herself in the same state of peace in her 60’s, in her wake a portfolio of work that spans many different genres.

Her collection reflects happy moments with her family, and re-invented scenes she captures from the streets of the city. The best feedback Mc-Gauley has ever received was to find her own style. She used to have sev-eral different styles; now she understands it’s important to have a style that people recognize as yours alone. It’s why Lonny found her work ir-resistible, and why the pages with her art have a certain light.

McGauley knows her heart is most innately in her painting.

She’s prepared to follow it.

caitlin mcgauley

michelle roque

michelleroque@lonnymag.com

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eddie ross && jaithan kochar

Warning: home décor expert Eddie Ross’s resume (not to mention talent) is fascinating to say the least, and may

entice feelings of uninhibited design envy. Good news: he is all about sharing his knowledge, including tips galore on

how he and boyfriend Jaithan Kochar recently, and cost-effectively, redecorated their new country home in upstate New York. “I call my style traditional with a twist, or maybe

vintage modern,” says Ross. “I think it’s eclectic and unique.”

kate townsend-& - simpson“I found decorating a home to be quite similar to planning a wedding,” says Kate Simpson, whose beautiful Key Largo wedding in 2004 was featured on Brides maga-zine. Eager to utilize the tricks of the trade she learned back in her editorial days at domino, Simpson recently redecorated her Rowayton, CT home, made complete by her own very natural, very talented eye for style. “There are entertaining and deco-rating aspects [to both],” she says. “And both were so much fun!”

features

ron marvinHis industry niche is small spaces, but Ron Marvin is not about to let the stigma define his ability. “I like my reputation, and it’s great to be known for something, but it’s also good to break out,” he says. Stereotype need no longer apply; mosey through his friend Rick’s Manhattan apartment, post-Marvin-makeover, and it is evident Marvin’s talent well exceeds the boundaries of cramped square footage.

carolina irvingAn avid traveler with an eye for distinguished design, textile designer Carolina

Irving’s Manhattan home features a collection of beautiful objects and authentic paintings, not to mention a library rich with literature. Although busy with her two businesses, Irving & Fine and her own textiles company, Irving still thinks ahead to the future. “I’d love to design a table cloth collection down the road.”

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features

laurent girard & leonora mahle

It is not always the inner décor that makes a house a home; sometimes it is what leads the way. “The front and rear doors were small with transoms

above, so we installed tall, solid doors instead,” says distinguished black and white printer Laurent Girard, noting one of the many projects he and girl-

friend Leonora Mahle, interior designer, undertook in the complete renova-tion of their home. “Once they were in, the whole house felt different.”

deborah needleman && rita konig“You must train your eye by looking at wonderful things,” says Deborah Needleman, who is busy redecorating her up-state home with good friend Rita Konig. It’s an adage that resonates well with both her former role as the Editor in Chief of domino magazine as well as her life as a gardener. After she read Edith Wharton’s “Italian Villas and Their Gardens,” she went to Italy and followed Wharton’s itiner-ary, visiting 15 gardens. “It’s the best thing you can do.”

grace bonneyIn an ideal world, Grace Bonney, mastermind behind décor blog Design*Sponge, would have several dream houses. “I’d love a crazy southern cottage that is cozy and cluttered, and at the same time I want a tree house that is big and open and simple,” she says. In the meantime, she and husband Aaron Coles are happily making do in their Park Slope apartment, which is, interestingly, literally on a slope, and also showcases several of Bonney’s own DIY projects.

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THANK YOULonny would like to give a very special thank you to:

Our interns: Rabeika Messina, Vanessa Garver and Kathryn Worsham

FotocareDigital Media NYC

Ryan DixonMarv and Lynn Adams

Elizabeth BlitzerTori MellottDeb Willis

Michael RobertsJosh Stevens

Women’s Wear DailyMelissa Davis

Angela SwindermanAnthony Gianacakos

Ochre

And last but not least, the blogging community, without whom our magazine would have never seen the light of day.

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spottedFall ‘09 breathes a playful sophistication into the classic leopard print

market

*Style tidbitView leopard print as neutral, and don’t be afraid to mix it with

other patterns! It looks fab with anything from florals to tartan plaid.

Spots under your glass Beaded Coasters $38/set of 4, Williams Sonoma Home (available late Oct.)

Rosettes over the couch

Shine comes in handy Amanda Leopard Sequin Clutch $328, Coach (available late Oct.)

Speedy paws Out and About Plimsolls $78, Boden

1

2

3

4

1 2 3 4 5Like second skin Leopard-Print Me-rino Sleeveless Sweater $790, Oscar de la Renta

Safari Printed Cash-mere Throw in Leop-ard: $268, Williams Sonoma Home (available late Oct.)

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For catty comments (or not)

A powerful cinch Cheetah Calf-Hair Belt $68, J. Crew

Beauty on four legs Courtney Side Chair $1,225, Oly

Seeing spots for yards and yards Jackie Fabric: $90/yard, Rubie Green

Feline flair Kenya Pillow Cover $39, West Elm

5

6

7

8

9

10

6 7 8 9 10Leopard Pattern Lug-gage with Racing Stripes $68/set of 20, Iomoi

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Through gold-colored glasses Gold Spectacles $75, Beckerman

market

ivy leaguestyle

There’s more to imitate from the academic elite than their thirst for knowledge: How about their look?

Letters from the North Vintage Scandinavian Books $40, Jayson Home & Garden

Jersey close to the heart Princeton Univer-sity Badge $95, J. Press

Beating the New England cold Tippi Coat $495, Steven Alan

For décor showoffs Hockaday Brass Trophies $55, Haus Interior

21 3

4 5

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Under the light of erudition Pimlico Boom Arm Pharmacy Desk Lamp $378, Circa Lighting

A vault for trivia Radcliffe Mirra $245, Kate Spade

The cozy reading spot Colin Chair $1,395, Jayson Home & Garden

Time to horse around Horsehead Bottle Opener $14.95, Fishs Eddy

From the secret society

6

7

8

9

10

6 7 8 9 10Madison Square Barware: $25-$125, Bloomingdale’s

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market

Piazza Sofa $1,299, CB2 Fishnet Pillow $110, Ortolan

Wingback $5,200, Montauk SofaFlock by Thomas Paul $80,

PillowsandThrows.com

Templeton Apartment Sofa $4,000, Jonathan Adler

Waterloo Pillow in Zig Zag $98, Anthropologie

Amalfi Sofa $2895, Jayson Home & Garden Folk Crabtree Bolster $107, John Robshaw

++

+

+

+

+

+

+

Four fun yet simple pieces + one lifeless room = A whole new look

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Bridge Coffee Table $299, West ElmLarge Rectangle Hanging Capiz

Pendant $259, West Elm

Vandyke Stone Side Table $995, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams A46-Black $297, Gallery67.com

Tulip Marble Table $495, Regency Shop 18 Arm Brass Sputnik Lamp $399, inmod

Lack side table $7.99, IkeaSuperordinate 12 Antler Chandelier

by Jason Miller $5,900, Matter

Neutral simplicity=+

+

+

+

=

=

=

a wink toelegance

tailoredmod

vintagemodern

Four fun yet simple pieces + one lifeless room = A whole new look

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how--to

budget styleFree your home’s nooks and crannies and instead turn your storage into unique, stylish dispalys with the help of these budget friendly pieces

Books and magazines crowding your space? Back issues of Vogue should en-hance your look, not cramp your style. Turn them into a chic display by pairing like colors and sizes and topping them with fam-ily photos, jewelry dishes and artsy flea market finds. Lack Bookcase, Ikea

$129

Ladies, let’s be honest, shoes deserve to be a focal point of your closet, not collecting dust beneath your skirt hems. Showcase your hard-earned collection in a handy shoe rack, like this affordable option from Lowe’s. Somewhere Carrie Bradshaw is smiling.ClosetMaid Over the Door Shoe Rack, Lowe’s

$19

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dear johnPour a cup of tea and channel your late Aunt Betty; the digital age may have speed, but it lacks that personal touch(Besides, did we ever stop loving an actual letter via snail mail?)

Born out of a love for classic typewriters, Charles Gu founded MyTyperwriter.com to restore both the physical beauty and the functionality of vintage type-writers. Charles collects models ranging from late 19th century antiques to the classic IBM Selectric, and carefully re-furbishs each to their original condition and typing accuracy.

market

1 2

3 4

5

3 Bamboo Border

5 Bamboo Pens$10/set of 3, iomoi.com

1 The Little Skull Stationery$50/set of 12, D.L. & Co.

2 Chevron Pattern note$11/set of 5, MadeByGirl

4 Pink Scallop Flat Cards

1950s Royal Quiet DeLuxe, $525-$625 1950s Hermes Baby/Rocket, $425

$65/box of 10, Celerie Kemble for Dempsey & Carroll

$10/set of 10, Waste Not Paper, redstamp.com

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ecolivingstyle

hand-carved twisty stool $195 set of 2 $349

the finest in artisan and earth-friendly goods

To order or request

a Free catalog call

1.800.233.6011 or visit

www.VivaTerra.com

save on comfy bamboo

bedding p47

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Random Acts of Gardening

Green Your Home

green \market

5 easy ways to live more

sustainably this fall

eco--style

1

2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5Arrive in Style

Educate Yourself

Tote your Taters

You’ll be hard pressed to find a ride more sleek than this city cruiser. Simple City 8W $970, Fisher Bikes

Toss a gumball sized “seed bomb” into a vacant lot and watch wildflowers grow where there once were none. Seed Bombs $9.00, Jayson Home and Garden

On easy ways to live a more sustainable life. “The Self Sufficient-Ish Bible: An Eco-Living Guide For The 21st Century” $34.95, An-thropologie

Sales of these burlap totes support families in the post swine flu tourist deprived Yucatan region of Mexico. Rescue Bag $65, dutzidesign.com

Bring your garden indoors with this chic terrarium. Roost Copenhagen Ter-rariums $130, Velocity Art and Design

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Take a glimpse back to Caitlin McGauley’s young-er years, and few restaurant placemats can be found in her wake that are not littered with her streaming, unique and talented illustrations.

“My parents would give me notebooks in church to distract me; I would just draw and draw and draw!” McGauley laughs.

For McGauley, the love of a pencil in hand did not stop post childhood; today she continues to harbor a passion for her art, as well as a very evident gift. Presently concentrating mainly on watercolors, she sets aside time almost daily to paint, bringing everything from fashion and floral arrange-ments to cupcakes and Cadbury cream eggs alive on her can-vas. Her inspiration? New York City, both her home and the fire behind her paintbrush.

“There is such energy throughout the city,” says McGauley, who often walks through Manhattan, cataloguing inspiration with quick sketches or written de-scriptions in a notebook she never goes anywhere without. “I love that I can experience a certain feel in the West Village, and then something totally different in the Lower East Side.”

arts culture

“I love men’s watches for wom-en, but sometimes they can look so huge on a small wrist. But this Hermes Men’s watch looks so elegant on both men and women.”

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“I am inspired by colorful unique pack-aging, so when I saw these tea tins at Pearl River I wanted to paint them im-mediately! I have been going to Pearl River since I was a teenager and every time I go I find some new treasures.”

“More often than not, I find myself walking in NYC vs. tak-ing public transportation or a cab. I routinely walk 50 blocks or more. I saw this townhouse on one of my walks and did a quick sketch which I later turned into a little painting. Everything about it was so whimsical but also so New York, from the lavender color, to the overflowing window boxes, to the striking red door.”

Check out more of Caitlin’s illustrations

“I like Thom Brown’s style. It’s much easier to be in-novative in womens-wear than in menswear, but with a subtle twist he has managed to do so.”

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“Leopard and orange is one of my favorite combinations- in fashion and in home. I wanted to incorporate that combination in an illustration of a girl who looks modern, but could also be right out of another era.”

arts culture

“I like when product designers take the time to make something that is highly functional also very beautiful. The definition of that principle is the Francis Francis espresso machine. For some reason I have an affinity for colorful appliances- kitch-enaid mixers, Aga stoves, and I love to paint them.”

A graduate of Syracuse Uni-versity, she studied textiles, art, and fashion, finding il-

lustration the most compelling. Specifi-cally, she adores the funky, clever and playful illustrations found in children’s books such as Roald Dahl, as well as artists who capture color in vibrant, ex-pressive ways. Distinct in her own color choices, her paintbrush most often finds itself streaking saturated shades of deep indigos and peony pinks across the page, layering reds and yellows amidst the pastels.

When not poised at her own easel, af-ternoons are often spent thumbing through fashion magazines, or mean-dering art galleries, always her inspira-tion notebook in hand. “[My goals with my work] are simply to keep painting, and to keep feeling inspired,” she says. “I love to paint for my family, my friends. It’s such a wonderful gift to give.”

Visit Caitlin’s

print shop here

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The eco-chic fashions of Doucette Duvall

fashion

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It’s time. It’s long overdue in fact– We need to think about where things are made and what resources are used to make them, In addition to what we’re wearing.

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Thanks to Doucette Duvall, it’s become fashionably and appreciatively evident that stunning style can be achieved without bruising Mother Earth. The brainchild of designing duo Stephanie Doucette and Annabet Duvall, the dress and coat line features whimsi-cal, fresh and unique looks, all while maintaining a devoted respect to the air we breathe. Combining an assort-ment of patterns, prints and textures aplenty, each piece is comprised of 70% “rescued” material, shipped in recycled boxes, and manufactured in New York City’s historic garment district.

“We need to think about where things are made and what resources are used to make them, in addition to what we’re wearing,” says Doucette, adding that this awareness in thought is long overdue.

To date, their designs have been seen on the likes of Eva Longoria and Liv Ty-ler, not to mention cameos in the “Sex and the City” movie; the latter of which

came as a complete surprise when the two caught the film on the big screen. Not interested in the mass production of look-a-like garments, Doucette Du-vall believe instead in creating one-of-a kind pieces that are open to personal interpretation, even if that means cre-ating only a handful. Each line includes a newly designed, seasonal version of a “little green dress;” a portion of all pro-ceeds donated to non-profit Build it Green, who share the same reuse ideal.

Rare that eco-friendly companies suc-cessfully combine flattering fashion with environmentally aware construc-tion, Doucette Duvall feel excited and proud of their niche position. Know-ing that the fashion savvy are a tough crowd to please, they remain faithful in their direction and stern in their ide-als. Plus, they know they’ve received a wink of approval from the biggest critic of all; a very grateful Mother Earth.

Five tips when

shopping for eco-fashions

oneAlways check care tag

for country of origin.

twoAlways check care label

for fabric content.

threeThrift/shop second-hand when you can. For denim especially... better quality,

hands down.

fourThink about where you are buying something:

garments sold in big box stores/franchises are made by the thousands; whereas

boutiques provide much more special pieces and

support smaller designers.

fiveBuy local. Support smaller shop owners: from farmers

markets to flea markets to your local

hardware store.

Doucette Duvall

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The evening news has wrapped to a close, and the moon reflects its honey gold

glare against the backyard pool. Indoors, 15 month old Ellie has been tucked

comfortably into bed, and the gentle quiet of day unwinding settles welcom-

ingly throughout the house. Kate Simpson, Ellie’s mom, can be found propped

in bed, nestled contentedly in her nightly routine – combing meticulously and

insatiably through a stack of home décor magazines.

“I love tearing out inspiring photos and sticking them in my idea binder for reference when I’m decorating,” Simpson says. “It’s be-come my ritual, and it lets my mind relax.”

After a long day on the job, Simpson greatly cherishes these moments of relaxation, even if her working title has taken on a completely dif-ferent role. Enthusiasts of the late domino mag-azine may recognize Simpson’s name; a former Senior Market Editor, she populated the pages with ingenious décor pieces at affordable pric-es, helping the reader design her space in a chic, trendy, yet perfectly economical fashion. Simp-son has since stepped away from the beat of the fast paced, unpredictable world of publishing to

a beat of a slightly different kind – that of the awkward, toddling first steps of her first child Ellie, also known as a full-time mom.

“My days have taken a complete 180 degree turn in the opposite direction,” laughs Simpson, who had spent a decade working in publishing. “Back then, my worries were picking out the right fabric for a story. Now I’m up to my eye-balls in diapers and Elmo.”

Simpson is certainly not complaining; it is evi-dent she treasures her days at home with Ellie, who she calls a “good combination” of both she and her husband, Bill. Plus, greeting mountains of diapers is not so bad when they are found in

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

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the beautiful, beach-inspired home the family shares in Ro-wayton, CT. Light and airy, clean and crisp, it is a mixture of things contemporary and antique, sophisticated and per-sonal. Decorated by a very talented Simpson herself (which she so very humbly admits), the home is a makeover in every sense of the word, and has been a project the couple have tackled since they purchased the home in 2006.

Looking for a change from the noisy, chaotic island of Manhattan, the couple stepped on the property of their now owned Rowayton home, ecstatic with their find. The décor provoked a slightly less than

ecstatic reaction – straight out of the ‘70s, the home featured dark wood paneling and floral wallpaper galore, not exactly the decorating scheme the couple preferred. Yet, working at domino at the time of the purchase, Simpson had the world of design under her belt (and her idea binder full of inspira-tion), and decided to take on the challenge.

The wallpaper suffered the initial blow; the couple bought a steamer immediately, peeling off every last inch, bidding grateful adieu. They disguised the deep brown paneling with fresh shades of white, creating a clean, updated feeling throughout the home. Instead of considering the house as a whole when it came time to decorate, Simpson chose to tack-le the project room by room, allowing patterns, colors and unique textiles to lend inspiration in their own unique ways.

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“Generally, I chose a color scheme for each room, and built off of that,” ex-plains Simpson. “I love fabrics that cre-ate a visual interest, so often I started with a crazy fabric and that would in-spire the entire room.”

The result is a beautifully effortless, comfortably chic, savvy yet approach-able space that looks anything but the set of the Brady Bunch. While stimulat-ed by perfectly placed eclectic patterns

and engaging fabrics, Simpson smartly balanced the look with a calm, serene color palette and a relaxed, family feel. White, like the refreshed shade of the previously brown paneled walls, is a very prevalent theme throughout the house. Quite appropriately, it happens to be Simpson’s favorite color.

“White acts as neutral to me; it’s so clean and goes with everything,” says Simpson, adding that she would make

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The faux topiar-ies were a gift from Simpson’s mom. “She knows I can’t keep a plant alive for more than five minutes,” she laughs. “I have the worst luck!”

everything white, if only her husband would allow. “He argues that it’s impossible to keep it up with a baby and a dog. I would still do it if I could!”

In one particular instance, Simpson’s hus-band may have had a point – eager to dress the family room in black and white, she insisted on covering her Mitchell

Gold sofas (hand-me-downs from her father) in white slipcovers, accented with black piping. He scoffed at the danger of white sofas, but she pressed on, reminding him that slipcovers can easily be washed if anything were to spill. When that dreaded stain finally showed face, Simp-son, as predicted, threw the slipcovers in the wash, only to be greeted with an unappreciated surprise post-cycle. “Word to the wise; think twice about getting a contrasting pipe color if you plan to wash the slipcovers,” advises Simp-son, who pulled the slipcovers from the wash, only to find the black piping had bled all over the white fabric.

To avoid that stuffy, assembled, pg. 24 catalogue feel, Simpson cleverly mixed and matched piec-es of different genres throughout her home. One of the many valuable lessons she learned from

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Five Tips on Decorating1

Stick with the clas-sics in a kitchen or bath. It is not

the best place to make a decorative statement, and the tried and true like subway tiles will

always look more polished.

2Keep a list of paint colors you’ve used or seen elsewhere and loved. When it comes to picking out a paint color, anything to make

the decision easier helps!

3It always helps to live in a space for awhile before you make decisions.

You’ll come up with much better ideas.

4If your room has bold colors and

patterns, bring in something made of wood, like mahog-any or French oak.

It helps to keep things grounded.

5Hang curtain rods as high above the window as pos-sible. It will help make the ceiling

feel taller.

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This table is the first thing I ever painted white, which kicked off my obsession!

her domino days, it creates more engaging visual interest throughout a space and allows the homeowner to express her individuality. The table, buffet and mirror in Simpson’s dining room are all antiques, yet the table is adorned with a ceramic chain bowl from Bergdorf Goodman, the side table bar hosts a Pier 1 Seagrass pitcher and tumblers and the chandelier a recent purchase from Arteriors. All together, the different pieces work in unison to display a distinctive space as opposed to reflecting one singular era.

Incidentally Simpson’s favorite room, the dining room walls easily prove to be the most visually stimulating; covered in cedar garden lattice pur-chased from a lumber yard, Simpson spray painted it white before attach-ing it to the wall with a nail gun. Inspired by a similar design she had come across in a magazine, it took several months of convincing her hesitant husband to agree on the unique idea.

“Nowadays he will admit he was wrong, and that the room looks good,” Simpson says. “It adds such a great texture, a really interesting element. But it took a long time before I was allowed to go through with it!”

Married in Key Largo, the couple has an avid love for the sun and surf; Simpson was born in Miami, and together they enjoy annual spring getaways to the Bahamas. It comes to little surprise that they chose to live in Rowayton; located

on the Long Island Sound, it has a very beachy, community feel, which very evidently inspired many of the décor choices in their home. During

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An impulse buy from Ikea, the throw on the chair creates a comfortable hangout spot for Kingston.

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two antique Staffordshire dogs, eBay finds that reminded Simpson of Kings-ton, the family’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, often found snoozing on the aforementioned family room couches. In the same room, shelves showcase a variety of bits and pieces Simpson has accumulated over the years, inter-mixed with a laughing photo of Simp-son, showing off her impressive catch on a trip to Key Largo.

“I love to go antiquing, seeking out in-teresting knick knacks, old antiques and one of kind accessories,” she says. “I think the older the better. Antique pieces hold so much more interest in a room.”

one particular trip to the Bahamas, the pair stumbled upon a mountain of discarded conch shells during a walk along the beach. Thrilled with the find, they scooped up as many as they could hold; Simpson’s eye for design knew such treasures should not be left to the wayside. They are now prominently displayed on the family room mantle; acting as both decorative pieces and a remembrance of a fond memory.

Knick knacks such as the shells are something Simp-son loves to collect; when time allows, she often finds

herself navigating through eBay, look-ing for the perfect accent pieces. The mantle in the living room is home to

Simpson’s aptitude for seeking out unique pieces does not stop at solely antiquing, and certainly goes beyond the search pages of eBay. Often spend-ing her days at domino scouring piles of product magazines, she honed her eye to find the ideal feature items for particular stories. Combing through a wicker catalogue, her finger stopped turning when her eye caught a wicker table shaped like an elephant. Adorably distinctive, she knew exactly where she wanted it featured; in her own screened-in porch. Clever, inimitable and a perfect fit between her bamboo couch and chairs, it falls in the shadow of Simpson’s Areca plants, centering the seating area and playing along with the earthily themed vibe of the room.

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S impson outfitted Ellie’s room with Lulu DK for Matouk, which launched its line when Simpson was pregnant. “I had to have it!” she says.

DovecoteWestport, Connecticut

Antique & Artisan CenterStamford, Connecticut

Shell WorldKey Largo, Florida

Matouk Factory StoreFall River, MA

www. eBay.com

Favorite Stores

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“This room actually came about as a bit of an accident,” says Simpson. “I didn’t love the pale pink on the walls but didn’t want to re-paint, so instead we just went with it, creating a soothing guest room by adding pale greens, greys and white.”

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T oting Ellie along on her hip, Simpson notes that there is still plenty to be done on the home, but right now the couple is happily focused on bringing

up baby. When Simpson became pregnant, they were eager to find out the sex of the baby, but wanted to keep the reveal personal. They had the ultrasound technician write it down and stick it in an envelope, which they later opened at dinner. “It was such a fun surprise for both of us to share,” Simpson remembers.

Weekends are now spent barbequing with friends on the back porch, a giggling Ellie splashing playfully with Simpson in the pool. As for future career plans, Simpson is open to potentially returning to an editorial position in publishing, but is also toying with the thought of pursuing an interior design business with her sister. Not a bad idea, considering the décor she created for her own home is now splashed across the pages of a design magazine, much like the ones she peruses for inspiration every night.

“Honestly, I feel like other people’s homes are more interesting to look at than mine!” she says, always self-effacing when speaking of her own design. “But I do hope it gives someone inspi-ration, much like what I look for when flipping through magazines. It’s quite flattering!” p

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

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Millerton, NY does not have a 24 hour Starbucks on every corner, and one will be

hard pressed to find a lemonade stand with a “sugar-free” option for the health con-

scious. Haute couture is found only in the stylized photos of Vogue magazine at the

local convenience store, and a comforting quiet settles around 9 pm when most of

the stores close their doors for the evening. It’s safe to say the town runs at a slightly

different pace than the island of Manhattan, and for Eddie Ross and boyfriend Jaithan

Kochar, that fact came as a very welcome reprieve.

“Living in the country is amazing,” gushes Ross, speaking to the 1760’s farmhouse he and Kochar have been happily nesting in since February. “It’s so nice not hearing sirens constantly; it always feels great to be home. And I have so much room to be productive here.”

Space for productivity is definitely something that works to Ross’s ben-efit. A powerhouse of immeasurable talent, there are few design-related do-it-yourself projects he shies away from, and a mountain more that he will tack-le head on. Made a household name on the recent season of reality show Top

Design, he is the kind of guy who dis-appears with a tarnished, dented silver tea samovar, re-emerging a few hours later with a completely re-created samovar-turned-lamp that looks like it came off the shelf at Bergdorf. He has tried his hand at interior design, floral arranging, styling, cooking, the list goes on – and has found acclaim in all. In the midst of launching his own business, Eddie Ross Inc, with Kochar, an RISD graduate with a background in design, it comes to no surprise that Ross could use a little extra elbow room.

With a humble country abode the ul-timate goal, the duo set out to track

down the perfect home, Ross engag-ing his blog followers throughout the experience. After visiting several po-tential homes without any proving a fit, the couple stumbled across an intriguing listing on Craigslist and im-mediately drove out to see it on New Year’s Day. 28 days later, a shiny new set of keys in pocket and not a hot dog stand in sight, they found themselves in lone country, attesting a battle be-tween their queen-sized mattress and the less-than-accommodating second floor staircase. “The house has charm, history, 75 acres of property. We knew instantly we wanted it,” says Ross.

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Not to mention space for Ross, who be-gan his career in catering at the age of 15, to finally stretch his arms. Interest-ed in entertainment and design even in his teens, he spent his free time delving into stacks of Martha Stewart Living, mentally pocketing every tip his hun-gry curiosity could stomach. Growing up in Greenwich, his early stint in ca-tering opened doors, literally, to the ar-ea’s many affluent homes, where Ross began to develop an eye for beautiful, elegant, and tasteful design. The only thing stopping Ross from achieving this look for himself; that often inhibit-ing four-letter-word: cost.

Regardless, Ross did achieve inspira-tion, motivation and a quickly growing passion, kicking off a roller-coaster of experiences that now all work togeth-er like a well-oiled machine. Culinary school landed him his first job as a food editor at (where else?) Martha Stewart Living, and in a whirlwind he found himself climbing the corporate ladder

through several design (both food and home) and decorating positions at the likes of the Food Network and House Beautiful, where he developed his ac-claimed column, “Weekend Shopper”. Rounding out his décor career in publi-cations, he found himself back at Mar-tha Stewart Living; a Senior Decorating Editor at the impressive age of 26.

“I’ve worked non-stop since I was 15, and extremely hard,” says Ross. “I’ve al-ways been hungry for this life. I feel like I’ve made all the right decisions and have created a respected reputation [ for myself ].”

A reputation that continues to sing its praises in the quaint, traditional yet modern, com-fortable yet chic space Ross has created for himself and Ko-char. Made picture perfect with

Irish hand pulled linens clipped to the backyard clothesline, bending lazily against the afternoon breeze, the home

is the perfect mixture of contempo-rary pieces intermixed with antiquated finds. More-so, it is acutely reflective of Ross’s now widely quoted mantra; “it does not need to be expensive to be beautiful.” Needless to say, Ross found a solution to the aforementioned prob-lem of costly design; flea markets, thrift stores, a limitless imagination and oc-casionally some chicken wire.

Greeted by barber jackets and cowboy boots lining the wall of the mud room as one enters the home, the space opens into the living room to the right and the dining room to the left. The former is home to a cozy fireplace, the mantle adorned with a collection of lithographs Ross has acquired at flea markets throughout the years, which he framed in all the same way to make them feel like an important collection as opposed to random pieces of art. Beside the lithographs is a convex mir-ror, outlined with an intricate design and an eagle resting atop, which Ross

It does not need to be expensive

to be beautiful

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snagged inexpensively at a thrift store. In actuality, the piece is plastic, much like a beaded mirror found across the room; Ross simply painted both white to give them a fresh feel and to delin-eate their cheap origins.

Always one to spice up a space, Ross put a Roman bust in the back corner to create an interesting mix and, quite frankly, because it is atypical to find a bust as an accessory in a farmhouse. As with most of Ross’s choices, this works; giving the room a modern edge, if not a conversation piece. Perhaps the most striking element in the room is the ze-bra rug covering the floor, one of the few pieces in Ross and Kochar’s home that did not begin as a flea market find; Kochar’s uncle actually brought back the rug from an African safari. When asked whether the character behind the wear and tear in the rug was added intentionally, Ross laughs and shakes his head, “I think it was just a very old zebra,” he quips.

FAVORITE SHOPSNYC Flea Market

Creative Candles

Etsy (for vintage finds)

Eddie Ross Etsy Shop

Angel Thrift Store118 West 17th St, NYC

Some w

hite paint

turned a

plastic

thrift sto

re find to

someth

ing chic

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Eddie’s Style Tidbits*Mix and match: “Dress your table like you’d dress yourself; think of it like mixing a different top with a different bottom

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*Keep flower arrangements low so you’re not peeking around to see your table mates

[ Look for these pieces in Eddie’s Etsy shop ]

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T he dining room showcases a beautifully styled table, adorned with an eclectic mix of modern flat wear, Vintage English glasses, china and an adorable salt and pepper set in the form of little chicks. As is made apparent by the spread, styling

is one of Ross’s fortés, and he does it with the precision and ease that would make any Suzy Homemaker sigh with envy.

“The key is to mix and match,” Ross explains, ad-vising to always style the table the night before when entertaining so the guests are greeted by the “wow” factor when they arrive. “Dress your table like you’d dress yourself; think of it like mixing a different top with a different bottom.”

Ross added this 1960’s bar cart

with Lucite handles to the dining room

because of it’s “modern, unex-

pected” character.

FIVE TIPS ON ENTERTAINING WITH STYLE1

Keep things sim-ple. Don’t feel like the food needs to be over the top.

2Know the mea-

surements of your house or rooms

you’re working to decorate. Al-

ways carry fabric swatches or paint

chips with you that you’re trying

to match.

3Preparation is

key; always plan ahead.

4Go to Bergdorf

Goodman to edu-cate yourself on styles. Go to flea markets and thrift stores to find and purchase afford-

able replicas.

5Set the table the night before so that guests see the “wow” factor when they arrive.

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*Always polish your silver – your house can be beautiful but unpolished silver

can instantly make it feel dirty

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Ross has always admired Julia Child, whose kitch-en showcased her copper in a similar fashion. The eggs were hatched by a nearby neighbor’s chicken.

R oss certainly does not suffer from lack of choices when it comes to mixing and matching – take a glance at his butler’s pantry, which Ross recon-structed and painted an eggshell blue after being in-spired by the church nearby. These shelves are home to a plethora of pieces Ross has devotedly collected

for 16 years; china, glasses, silver, and serving plates, many of which Ross refurbished himself. In his Manhattan apart-ment, these were relinquished to the tops of his cabinets due to lack of space. Now, he can display his cherished finds and keep them easily at hand.

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U pstairs, Ross and Kochar’s bedroom has a very calming feel, kept simple yet chic in black and white; the embroidered tapestry above the bed contemporizes the room, creating a focal point within the space. Against the back wall is the

couple’s dresser; a $25 find from Goodwill, as were the lamps. The bedside tables were found on the street, as was a shelving unit that settles on top of the bathroom toilet. Seeking out such discoveries is something Ross now teaches at his nationwide flea market tours, navigating bargain hungry shoppers through the markets to help them discern the junk from the undis-covered treasure. “Knowledge is power; you can get so much great stuff and not break the bank if you just know what to look for,” he says.

Eddie scored this dresser for a mere $25 at Goodwill,the lamps too!

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*Always have fresh flowers in your home

Eddie found these

bedside tables on

the street!

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* Eddie cut fabric from a 1960s dress to create this one of a kind beaded pillow.

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C hatty by nature, Ross also uses the tour time to give further advice on home dec-orating while staying well within a bud-get. Take for example the sink in Ross’s bathroom; in order to hide the piping, he crafted a skirt with dish towels that cost

a dollar apiece, finishing them off with a gros-grain ribbon trim across the hem so they ap-pear seamless. For the decorative pillow in his guestroom, he reused fabric from a 1960’s vin-tage dress, creating a beautiful beaded slipcover that looks anything but recycled.

It is rare that Ross will mosey into upscale fur-niture stores, but he does find himself combing the aisles of places like Ikea, where prices are still considerable. The table and chairs on the couple’s porch are Ikea finds, which pair per-fectly with the breezy, outdoor space, home to hanging flowers and a grassy view that was no-tably absent from their Manhattan apartment. Describing his aesthetic as “traditional with a twist,” or “vintage modern,” he explains that finding the right bargain pieces requires a vision and the ability to be creative.

Uniquely situated, Ross added the black and white

transferware plates above the sinks to pull the black from

the tiled floor.

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In order to hide the piping, Ross crafted a skirt with dish towels that cost a dollar apiece, finishing them off with a grosgrain ribbon trim across the hem so they ap-pear seamless.

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Only Ross would throw caution to the wayside and adorn an outdoor wall with framed lithographs. “I had nowhere else to put them!” he ex-claims. Framing by Larson Juhl.

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“It’s all about having ideas, and knowing what to do with them,” he says. “Decorating a home requires trial and error. You just have to play with things; work them into your space.”

It is simple advice like that which Ross and Kochar hope to express and communicate through Eddie Ross Inc., while also enhancing people’s lives by teaching affordable ways to achieve stylish décor. Both quit their jobs to pursue the en-deavor full time (Kochar had been working in hotel and res-taurant design), and have goals of writing a book, developing unique, one of a kind products, as well as potentially creating a TV show. They are men with a design mission, and the tal-ent, motivation and energy to make it a reality.

A lthough the house is still a work in progress, Ross and Kochar are especially pleased with the coun-try home, excited about the continuing venture of perfecting the space. Even with all his individual tal-ents, Ross says he feels the most satisfaction from a project when the end creation comes into fruition,

and all the individual pieces come together to form the big picture. Considering Ross spends even his days off scaveng-ing objects to populate his home, he can probably count on the big picture coming soon enough; as long as it does not require a midnight Starbucks to keep the wheels turning.

p

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BACHELOR

PAD“I had no clue where I was going, although I felt so incredibly at peace,” Marvin recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘Ron Marvin, you are going to start tak-ing trains to work, not planes back to California.’ And with that, I decided to quit my job and move to New York.”

Lo and behold, that faith in direction brought Marvin much further than simply home to his friend’s place on Wall Street. A former visual merchan-diser for the likes of Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and the now defunct Hold Everything, interior design had always been his most innate passion; remain-ing an itch he had yearned to scratch since childhood.

“I used to lie awake at night, mentally rearranging my parent’s house, trying to come up with an argument to con-

New York City has a reputation for magical moments. Most commonly, they

are exemplified on the big screen in the vein of romantic music and a hand-

some couple against the landscape of Central Park, misty in the haze of early

evening’s dusk. For Ron Marvin, visiting Manhattan from his main-stay of San

Francisco, his moment unfolded in a quiet walk home from a dinner in Tribe-

ca, unfamiliar in his whereabouts and trusting a faith in direction.

vince them to put in a waterfall,” Mar-vin says, noting that at a time when his peers had spreads of Farrah Fawcett on their bedroom walls, he snoozed com-fortably against a headboard covered in Marimekko fabric.

Fast forward to current day and the modern, chic design he created for friend Rick’s apartment in the trendy Meatpacking District. Infused with Marvin’s now known and well respect-ed aesthetic of a classic, masculine ap-peal, tailored lines and deep, muted colors, it proves testament to the ex-tent of Marvin’s talent, his keen eye for styling, and the fact that fate has a funny, marveling way of materializing childhood dreams.

Rick, a long time friend of Marvin’s, employed him to design his newly con-

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PADWritten by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline

Styled by Michelle Adams

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structed apartment after he had worked on Rick’s previous place in exchange for a free couch to sleep on when Marvin first moved to the city. Not a bad choice for hire: Marvin’s re-sume now boasts his own interior design firm, features in Met-ropolitan Home, a spot as a reputable expert on HGTV’s “Small Space Big Style”, and his own award-winning studio apartment in Chelsea. Known for his unique and versatile ability to bring small spaces to life, his 250 sq. foot apartment has received many accolades, including a highly received entry in Apart-ment Therapy’s contest “Smallest Coolest Apartment”.

But do not be misguided (and Rick’s apartment is visual truth); Marvin has a pristine ability to revitalize any size space, not just the small quarters often reflective of a classic Manhattan apartment. He sees a project as a project, whether big or small, and prefers to interpret each individual space as it plays into the overall environment.

“A home, once finished, should reflect a sum of all parts,” says Marvin, adding that it should be exemplified through a cohe-sive, unified design. “In fact, Rick’s apartment is the caliber I want to be known for.”

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Understand what makes you feel comfortable and

recreate it in your own home

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Use mirrors

Create zones by making clear areas with rugs, col-ors and furniture

Don’t be afraid to fill the space as it helps to add visual interest

Use lamps and lighting to define spaces and allow the eye to move

Use bold/dark colors

tips on decorating

12

3

45

5Understandably so. De-picting Rick as “ur-ban gentleman chic,” (Marvin chooses three

words to describe each of his clients when interpreting their style), his place is just that: contemporary, dramatic and styled precisely to reflect Rick’s personality. Initially directed to create a lofty, open, “spa-like” atmosphere in light, calming shades, Rick had a change of heart after seeing a neighbor’s place, bathed in striking, deep colors that created an intimate, calming warmth. Fortunately for Rick, Marvin is a king of dark colors; he changed paths, pre-sented his new direction, and received an approval from an awed Rick in 10

minutes. Rick’s boyfriend described the presentation in one word: stunning.

The apartment opens to an inviting entry way, with a console featuring the first of many vignettes, one of Marvin’s signature staples. A design element he mastered back in his visual merchan-dising days, he uses them to create van-tage points, explaining that every space should have unique and attractive objects to steer the eye. Styling is one of Marvin’s gifts; in fact, a client once asked him to “find him a job that paid him to simply stare” at Marvin’s expert-ly styled shelves, he was so impressed with the work.

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Layer by creating vignettes

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Marvin describes the living room as a “sexy, tailored” space, with walls

washed in grey tones, inspired liter-ally by a cashmere sweater he had been wearing the day he determined the color. Unusual for Marvin’s typical color coding, the room also features splashes of orange to accent the grey; generally he works solely with bold, muted shades, but this palette fused a little added luster. And as if Marvin’s natural talent does not already exceed expectation; when he had trouble lo-cating the perfect piece of art to hang above the sofa, he simply pulled out a canvas and painted one himself.

The room is centered with a Williams Sonoma glass coffee table, which is not only home to another beautifully styled vignette, but also represents one of Marvin’s acclaimed finds in terms of price. His eye is not tailored only for design; he also has a keen sense when it comes to seeking out great deals, often sifting through flea markets to uncover hidden gems. Desperate for his own buffet when he first moved to

New York, he stumbled across one in mint condition for a mere $55 at Hous-ing Works. Still squatting at Rick’s old place at the time, he had no choice but to mark his apartment as the destina-tion for delivery.

“He came home and I told him I had funny news and I had good news,” Mar-vin laughs, recalling the story. “Funny news is I moved to New York four days ago, I don’t have an apartment, just bought a huge piece of furniture, and it’s being delivered here in a week. Good news is now you’ll have a place to put your big screen TV!”

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Marvin, master of vignettes, claims this particular collection on the living room coffee table to be his favorite of the home

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Custom made, this leather chair took so long to arrive, Marvin nicknamed it the “Christmas Chair,” joking it would not make it home until Christmas.

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When Marvin meets with clients, he has them articu-late what they love as well as what they hate. “It’s equally important to know both; keeps you from going down the wrong road.”

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The lamp on the desk came from Marvin’s personal collection, which he sold to Rick. It has since become one of the most talked about pieces in Rick’s apartment.

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Rick’s television no lon-ger rests on Marvin’s buffet (and thank-fully Rick had shared

the laugh with Marvin concerning the situation), but now resides in the den off the main entry way, where wooden blinds open to reveal the Empire State building in the midst of the Manhat-tan skyline. Above the sofa hangs a grid of nine Richard Serra-inspired ghostly images, originally framed and matted in white, but re-painted by Marvin the same color as the ceiling to avoid ap-pearing stark. A self-confessed “lamp tramp,” Marvin placed lamps strategi-cally around the room, creating depth via auras, shapes and layers of light that shift not only shadows but moods come nightfall.

“Lamps are definitely one of my tricks,” remarks Marvin, adding that visitors to his own home are always stunned to hear he has 13 lamps, yet never ques-tion why they feel so comfortable. He commonly uses lamps to illuminate and enhance small spaces; layering the light to route the eye throughout the room and call attention to points of interest. Or, more playfully, to make everyone appear “glamorous,” Marvin adds, a boyish grin edging his cheeks.

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style tidbitShop flea markets, and if you

see something you like, even

if there is no initial need, buy it

anyway. You’ll figure out how

to use it, and you’ve scored a

great bargain.

and...

Don’t be afraid!

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The man who installed the

custom-made mirror questioned Marvin’s paint col-

or choice, and was then blown away when he saw the finished product.

“When he first saw [the color], he was

so shocked he asked if

I’d actually cleared

the choice with my client!”

When asked which room is Marvin’s favorite, he responds imme-diately with “the bedroom,” not a second of hesitation between question and answer. It showcases Marvin’s three favorite design elements; dark, bold walls, lighting specifically articu-

lated by lamps throughout, and a custom made mirror above the bed, which cap-tures the room’s essence and reflects the abstract piece above the dresser. With its hushed depth and masculine strength, this room exudes the “wow” factor Marvin was gunning for.

“This room, it just feels exciting,” said Marvin. “There is always that moment when you’re putting a room together that you feel a bit nervous. But then it came out and it was picture perfect, and this unbelievably dramatic bedroom just came to light.”

Like lamps, Marvin utilizes mirrors to reflect and play up the light, bouncing it around the room and widening the space. The right frame can make the mirror feel more like an additional piece of art, and if it is a smaller area, relieves the space of that potential “claustrophobic” tightness. Mirrors should not be mistaken for nar-cissism; simply a smart, tactical design component.

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Favorite SHOPS

Aero

Flair

Any flea market

Williams Sonoma Home

Global Table

When Marvin compares Rick’s new apartment to the design he applied to the old, it is remarkable not only in the vast differ-ence but in how much more “Rick” this space feels. Before, Mar-vin worked with many pieces Rick already had in the home;

this time around, Marvin started completely from scratch, with the exception of clothes, dishes, a few pieces of art and Rick’s two cats (Beja and Macska, and yes, they’re allowed to enjoy the new furniture). Otherwise, Marvin used a perfectly blended recipe of his many mastered techniques, creating a home from the bones of what he originally described as a very empty “white box.”

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Painting pinstripe walls and hanging art were the only changes Marvin made to the bath-room. Even the most minimal touches can transform a room into a gentlemanly, tailored space.

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Without a doubt, this apart-ment reflects what many now call the “Ron Mar-vin” touches; the little de-

tails he so precisely and instinctively provides his clients that instantly give away the man behind the design. Though only six years into his “new life” as an interior designer, Marvin is already enviably accomplished, and for ob-vious reasons exhibits no regrets about his decision to drop everything and pursue his dream. And his past days as a visual mer-chandiser? Chalked up to a distant memory, and about as history as that once cherished Marimekko headboard. p

Rick’s apartment is

outfitted with sustainable

materials such as bamboo

flooring and cabinets, as well as sea-

grass wallpa-per in the office

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

Décor, generally speaking, appreciates well-calculated thought and consideration. Things like, for example, ensuring that the wall color blends with the sofa up-holstery, or the dining room sconces properly illumi-nate the acutely chosen tableware. But for some, such

specificity and precision results in an overload of decorating perfection; and in the end, for them, less is more.

“To me, a house becomes a home when you are surrounded by the things you like, not a ‘matchy’ decorating scheme,” says Carolina Irving, textile designer. “I simply use the things I already own, it’s rare that my look ever varies.”

And for good reason; her collection of “things” already owned is dis-tinctively impressive, comprised of beautiful antique paintings, Turkish trinkets, ornate textiles and mountains of books filling shelf after shelf throughout her Manhattan apartment. With a background in art (she studied art history at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, specializing in 17th century Italian art), Irving has developed a keen eye for exclusive trea-sure, habitually combing auctions, catalogues and showrooms to add to her repertoire.

Textile designer and art aficionado Carolina Irving opens the doors to her Manhattan treasures.”

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Born to Venezuelan parents and raised in Paris, her interests have always fallen naturally to the artis-tic realm; her fascination with tex-

tiles, particularly patterns and colors, is one of those unexplainable allures that seemed simply woven into her DNA. Post university in Paris, Irving moved to New York, setting up shop as an art dealer at Sotheby’s. She spent her days immersed in art from around the world, culti-vating her knowledge and adding to her collec-tion by bidding herself on gems to take home as keepsakes.

Next, Irving found herself as a style editor at House & Garden, where she spent the next ten

years. While her days at the publication were enjoyable and gratifying, this obsession for tex-tiles continued to consume Irving’s thoughts, and she longed to delve more deeply into this area of interest. Making the best of her cur-rent situation, she began to kick into her in-nate entrepreneurial spirit, launching a new column under House & Garden called “Fabric Obsession.” Created to help satisfy her desire, it instead increased her wish to be immersed in textiles, and her hunger still craved. In 2006 she gave in, launching Carolina Irving Textiles and finally calling herself an official textile designer.

“I always knew I wanted to have my own line,” says Irving, who often taps into her younger

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“Ialways knew I’d end up in New York, I loved it instantly,” says Irving, who has now lived in the city for 24 years.

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years engrossed in the Parisian culture for inspi-ration, “and it came to a point where the market seemed open for it.”

Europe is one of many places Irving looks to for inspiration for her de-signs; an avid traveler, she brings ideas home from India and the

Middle East, soaking in new avenues of thought from Greece and Turkey. Colors are extremely important in her creations; she most often works with faded yet saturated shades of greens and reds to enhance her colorways, generally avoiding pastels, beiges or anything aggressive or harsh. For a woman who literally had no for-mal training in textile design, only heart, desire

and motivation, she has created an incredibly authentic, unique and beautiful line, as well as a devoted following.

“I completely threw myself in [to this business],” she says, humbled by the overwhelmingly posi-tive reaction her textiles have garnered in the design world. “I know what I like and I under-stand patterns; I suppose I just have an eye for it.”

And an eye for utilizing textiles as accessories throughout her home, where they hang beau-tifully on the walls and are found draped lazily across armchairs. A mixture of her own designs as well as her favorite antique pieces, she uses them to add a balanced assortment of color,

In a home full of beautiful objects, it’s difficult to articulate a favorite, but Irving loves her Celtic stone heads. “They’re mas-sive,” she says.

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An ode to Irving’s late cat Mushki, a close friend and artist created this piece from Mushki’s real fur after he sadly passed.

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and an element of coziness, warmth and indi-viduality to her space. In fact, fabrics are about the only thing that ever changes in her “decorat-ing” scheme; she often uses her home as a land-ing base to test out her new designs to get a feel of how they blend into an overall environment. “Sometimes it’s as little as changing a slipcover on an armchair; it can give the room an entirely different air,” she says.

The apartment itself had a very different air when Irving first moved in 15 years ago; she had actually been living on a different floor of the building, and snagged the larger space as soon as it opened for grabs. Spacious, yes, but within a cramped layout; what is now her overall living area had been broken into three tiny rooms, not ideal for a woman who wanted to spread her wings and create. Yet, Irving knew the apart-

*Irving recommends using craft paper lampshades throughout the house.

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Above the bed hang silhouettes of Irving’s teenage daughters. “I can’t live without them,” she says.

*Who needs a jewelry box? A few simple nails in the wall creates the perfect, tangle-free place to hang Irving’s favorite pieces.

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Irving doesn’t necessarily collect perfume, but she loves having several different kinds in her home. “I always stop by and smell them,” she says.

ment had potential, and immediately went to work tearing down the walls to open the space. With a self-confessed “obsession for books,” Ir-ving had the perfect solution; installing three shoulder length bookcases where the walls had once imposed.

“I made the bookcases just high enough so that when you’re sitting in each space, you feel separated, but when you stand up, it feels more open again,” explains Irving. “Now I have three areas that feel cozy, not constricting.”

Her textiles and their colors usually carry a room, and are often the starting point of how she approaches a space. Outside of her textiles, she relies on her objects, paintings and wide array of personal accessories to populate further

color; she tends to keep her walls white, as well as most of her furniture, unless it’s been reupholstered in one of her fabrics. Color has grown to become such a significant influence in both Irving’s home and fabrics that she’s taken the creation of it into her own hands, mixing paints for her fabrics herself at her dining room table. “I look at a lot of books, anything

FIVE FAVORITE SHOPS

John DerianNew York

My Sister’s Shop Paris

Maria Luisa Bungalow 8

Bombay

Hollywood at Home Los Angeles

Cottage Industries

Delhi

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To me, a house becomes a home when

you are surrounded by the things you

like, not a ‘matchy’ decorating scheme.

I simply use the things I already own,

it’s rare that my look ever varies.

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I find inspiring, and cut, paste, and put things to-gether until it’s what I want,” she says.

Painting has not been the only activity with which Irving has kept her hands busy. With her textile business up and running, she soon found herself on board with the launch of Vogue Living, the short lived shelter spin-off, which she helped develop under the guise of Hamish Bowles. Al-though the magazine did not last, her entrepre-neurial spirit still thrived, a new pursuit biting Ir-ving at the heels along with close friend Lisa Fine. Joining Irving on her many trips to India, the two could not get enough of the beautiful fabrics and colors native to the Indian culture, and began having blouses custom made. Upon returning to the states, these unique, intricate and colorful blouses garnered a quick turn of attention, and the duo saw an open opportunity.

Irving generally designs new textiles at her dining room table, pinning up pieces of inspiration to her bulletin board to encourage fresh ideas.

*Avoid overhead lighting by using reading lamps instead

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Together, they began Irving & Fine, designing handmade blouses, tu-nics, caftans, dresses and coats with inspiration from India, Central Asia

and Turkey. Finished with detailed embroidery and precise stitching, they’ve produced one of a kind pieces with impeccable quality. Provid-ing another outlet for Irving’s creativity, it has allowed her to fuse her passion for textiles with her love for traveling. “Irving & Fine and [Caro-lina Irving Textiles] are two totally separate businesses,” says Irving, “but both are equally as important [to me].”

Between two growing businesses and two teen-age daughters, it’s rare that Irving can steal a few

moments to wind down. When she does, how-ever, she prefers to curl up in her library, one of the areas she created with the bookcases, or her bedroom. In the former, she breathes in the at-mosphere of the books (“I love to be surrounded by books, it’s such a warm feeling”), and calls the latter her “little cocoon,” where she relaxes in its intimacy. Even if her home doesn’t fol-low any type of articulated décor scheme, she’s perfectly happy within its walls, and knows it’s suited just to her style.

“I’m so lucky to work from home,” she says, “be-cause I absolutely love staying home.” p

Irving & Fine

*Couches with white slipcovers and lots of cush-ions made of antique textiles are the best

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia is legend-ary for its décor, and Grace Bonney remembers acutely her visit there as a child. A special stop arranged for her on the way home from camp, the memory is bittersweet; her grandfather had passed while she’d been away, and her parents hoped the overnight stay would help lift her spirits. Blown away by the bold stripes, bright colors and extreme luxury that made the hotel famous, it did

more than just lift her spirits; it planted a seed.

page

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“The color palette was so over the top while still being sophisticated, and it seared itself into my brain,” Bonney says. “I didn’t really understand design yet, but I remember being amazed that one woman (Dorothy Draper) was in charge of making it all happen. It has stuck with me ever since.”

The eye-opening moment is one of many step-ping stones leading Bonney to the creation of Design*Sponge, her home and product blog that now boasts over 50,000 readers a day. Hon-ing her passion and knowledge for all things de-sign related, she’s developed an easily accessible and engaging online platform for design enthu-siasts worldwide. The site, launched in 2004, has evolved from an exclusively furniture based focus and has since expanded into home interi-ors, DIY projects, furniture makeovers and city guides, not to mention daily expertise columns penned by her ten editorial staff members. De-clared a “Martha Stewart Living for the Millenni-als,” Bonney tapped into something resounding, and has been called an “invisible influencer” on the New York design industry.

“I focus on original content and try not to re-cycle what other bloggers are doing,” says Bon-ney, explaining why she believes her site has become so impactful. “I also make sure I blog about the things I’m interested in, not just what’s out there, otherwise my entries wouldn’t have the soul.”

A professional career in blogging isn’t exactly what danced in Bonney’s daydreams growing up. Raised by parents impassioned by architec-ture, photography and interior design, she natu-rally absorbed the creativity they released, most innately responding to the written word. Peer-ing over her father’s shoulder as he read the New

York Times, she remembers idolizing the editors, fascinated by their names displayed prominent-ly in bold typeface under their respective sto-ries. She signed up for the journalism program at NYU after graduating high school, eager for her name to fall privy to the same established ink treatment.

Unfortunately, journalism school did not prove to be the romanticized, beautiful notion of writ-ing she had imagined; changing courses, she transferred to William & Mary and enrolled in the art program. Even at this point, Bonney, who spent her free time revitalizing drab dorm rooms and building her own furniture, had no idea that design as a profession existed. She re-mained in the dark until a significant conversa-tion introduced to her to the possibilities of a career in interiors.

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“I had this great professor who taught me about furniture design, I literally had no clue it was an option [ for a career],” says Bonney, who was a studio arts major. “They didn’t have an interi-ors program [at the school], so instead I began reading about design, watching shows, attend-ing fairs and basically educating myself in any way that I could.”

It wasn’t until her then boyfriend, now husband Aaron Coles casually suggested Bonney start a blog that Design*Sponge materialized. Working in PR but eager to get into magazine editorial, he thought it could help warm up her writing and act as an addition to her resume. She initially resisted, associating blogs with the musings of “angsty, 12 year old girls,” but soon succumbed to her boyfriend’s advice and gave it a try. “I just started writing about the things I was interest-ed in, which at the time was the growing design district in Brooklyn, and it resonated.”

Five years later and a sweetly smug husband to thank, what started as a resume builder has become her career, and now she couldn’t imag-ine it any other way. She and her staff follow a very “loosey goosey” editorial calendar, as she puts it, but generally the day’s posts and con-tent come together naturally. Originally created on Blogger, Bonney recently relaunched with a brand new navigation system, improving both function and aesthetic appeal. “The site is un-abashedly feminine,” she says, smiling, “which I love.”

Surprisingly, the last place Bonney feels like de-signing at the end of the day is her own Park Slope apartment, which she shares with Coles. Steering through a sea of décor choices on a daily basis, she finds it can be tough to make a decision. Yet, when she and Coles moved into the apartment two and a half years ago, deci-sions needed to be made; abandoned for a year before they moved in, the space featured dingy walls in musty yellow shades, among other dé-cor atrocities. This did not prove to be an ideal situation for Bonney, who works most days happily propped atop her Pottery Barn bedding.

When Bonney and Coles first moved into the apartment, they re-painted the entire place, only to realize there wasn’t enough sunlight to support the bright colors they chose. “This is the only wall that remained,” says Bonney.

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“We’ll set the table for special oc-casions, but sadly the table doesn’t get as much use as our living room couches in terms of regular dining,” says Bonney, referring to she and Coles as a “tv-dinner” type of couple.

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In a “red” phase, the vintage horse head lamp on the side table is currently one of Bonney’s favorite pieces.

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“Aaron actually doesn’t listen to his records as much anymore; he’s since discovered that digi-tal sound trumps his records, but he still loves the collection,” says Bonney.

The couple took it upon themselves to re-paint, add wallpaper, change the lights and create a space they could comfortably call home. A big DIY-er herself, Bonney created several pieces for their apartment; it’s important to her that her home be filled with objects that relate to herself or her family. Most recently, she tackled the breathlessly beautiful headboard in her bed-room, completed with a distinct fabric choice from Jacaranda Home, after being inspired by a photo years ago.“My favorite room is always the one I’ve just finished a project in, so as you can guess, it’s currently my bedroom,” she says, who also papered the inside of her closet door, add-ing a little décor delight when she dresses each morning.

As any New Yorker knows, city apartments are rare to come by without their share of surprises, and the couple’s Park Slope abode proved no exception. About a month after they moved

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Bonney loves nothing more than a good old-fashioned

DIY project, like this headboard she

created herself after finally tracking down the right color fabric.

“It looks so lovely now that it’s done,” she says, adding it was well worth the

hours of stapling.

in, they discovered a problem that couldn’t be solved with a fresh coat of paint; the entire apartment is angled at a 10% slant. Down-to earth in nature, Bonney laughs about the pre-dicament, but admits it would be nice to be able to eat at her dining room table without feeling sea-sick.

“It’s so uneven, things are always falling apart and there are huge, obvious spaces between the actual door and the frame,” she says. “We’re al-ways anchoring things into the walls. But the neighborhood and size [of the apartment] is great, so ultimately we’re happy.”

When not perched at her laptop, Bonney spends afternoons running around the neigh-borhood, her recently purchased Nikon camera swinging playfully around her neck. She’s taken

the photography for the site into her own hands in an effort to save money, not to mention expe-rience the city. Usually staying within Brooklyn, she sets out with one intention, only to often find herself off track, following random inspira-tion throughout the city as her pursuit unfolds. The quest is made perfect if Coles is free to tag along; the couple hop on their Vespa, their new favorite thing, and together embark on the hunt.

“Sometimes we just get on [the Vespa] and ride and ride,” she says, adding that she always feels very European, very Amelie when on the Vespa, the wind tangling her hair on the backseat. “There is something so romantic about holding onto your husband, scooting around town.”

Married in April, the couple has been together for six years, and Bonney remarks she is ex-

Think paint: it’s the easiest and most

inexpensive way to make a huge differ-

ence.

Measure twice, cut once: the old adage

is true, when cut-ting, wallpapering or painting, always be sure to measure

several times to make sure you’re on track. It will always make a difference

to evenly apply two to three thin coats

of paint as opposed to one fast, heavy,

gloppy coat.

Upcycle: craft projects built from scratch are great, but so is saving money by using found materials.

Hop in your car on trash day and keep your eyes peeled for furniture with

good bones, some-times all you need

is a little sand paper and paint to bring something back to

life.

Roll with the punch-es: it’s easy to end up off mark on a

DIY project, and a lot of people give up and throw in

the towel. Instead, keep your hammer going- even if it’s

not perfect, projects completed by hand

will always carry more significance.

A is for architecture: so many apartments

and homes can benefit from inex-

pensive molding you can buy at your local

hardware store. Adding architectural

details like crown molding shapes a

room, instantly giv-ing it character and

strength.

5432

ive tips on DIY

1

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tremely lucky to have a husband who is so patient with her constant curiosity to rearrange their apartment. Recently taking a liking to antiques, Bonney has been slowly working to replace their many Ikea pieces with classic, vintage fur-niture. Coles takes it in stride; an avid music fan, their liv-ing room boasts Coles’ record and guitar collections, and as long as those stay intact, he’s a happy camper. Bonney herself used to play guitar as a teenager (“Thanks, grunge era!” she laughs) and didn’t play again until she met Coles; the two would occasionally play together, singing songs.

Both extremely busy with their careers, they usually meet up again at night, relaxing with their guilty pleasure; cheesy reality shows and the UFC. In an effort to improve more of a balance between life and work, Bonney limits her surf time on the weekends to spend more time with Coles. Although, as of late, Bonney’s free time has taken a hit altogether; she’s been working tirelessly on a Design*Sponge based book, due in Fall 2010. Aimed to inspire and provide practical advice for home design, the 400+ page guide will offer home tours, DIY projects, before and after guides and more; the intention to make the task of decorating seem a little less daunting.

“I don’t use many of the design books I own,” says Bonney. “They’re very aspirational, but I don’t feel like I could create any of it. I want to make a book that can be used as a jumping point; that people can look at and think, ‘I can do this too.’”

It’s always been important to Bonney to create more tan-gible things for her readers so they’re not simply scrolling through web pages. Down the road she plans to introduce more videos to Design*Sponge, helping readers follow steps easily and making the design that much more accessible.

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The blog has evolved much like a magazine, growing with added topics, niche columns and pieces of interest as Bonney becomes in tune with them.

In those moments she finds her mind wan-dering toward the future, she also dreams about what she’d do with an office space. Even though she admits it’s certainly not a bad gig to work from her bedroom, she can’t help reverting back to the Greenbrier hotel, the oversized floral, and the incred-ible beauty of the overall design. “One day, I’d love my own office where I can recreate that look with a modern spin,” she sighs. “All those stripes and florals, what girl can re-sist!” p

Bonney knows her favorite purse from Hayden Harnett is slightly dispro-potional to her tiny frame but loves it anyway. “I love the silhouette from the side when you wear it, it’s so chic!”

FAVORITE SHOPSABC Home

I love Cursive inside their shop, fun stationery and small accessories

Hable Construction Storewhich has since closed,

but will ALWAYS be my favorite

Laylafor great textiles

The Curiosity ShoppeI’m a bit biased, but they have such

a fun collection of items

Zarin FabricsI could sit around upholstery fabric all day

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Always treat your house like the famous Coco Chanel quote; “Before leaving the house, a lady should stop, look in the mirror, and remove one piece of jewelry.” I always take something off a surface before I leave a room; less clutter means a more relaxed mind.

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Major leaks, poor wiring, aged pipes, a “stuffy” feel; generally,

these qualities would not classify as favorable accessories to a

dream home, propelling many a dismayed buyer off to discern the

next hopeful query. Yet, situate these qualities inside promising

architecture, nestle the space in a sought after neighborhood, and

present them to an eye skilled in design and renovation, and sud-

denly lead pipes transform into something only the trained mind

can see - great potential.

PROJECT:

Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick Cline Styled by Michelle Adams

Designer Leonora Mahle and black and white printer Laurent Girard get rid of the old and create their own new

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two years ago, photographer and printer Laurent Gi-rard and girlfriend Leonora Mahle, interior designer, toyed with picking up a hand in the ultimate New York real estate game – the decision on whether to buy. Both having rented in the city for years, it seemed like an advantageous move both financially

and personally; they were planning on adding a fourth addi-tion to their already tight-knit family. The greatest task lay ahead – seeing what Manhattan had to offer. Unfortunately, Girard and Mahle were left unimpressed.

“We were so disappointed with what was out there,” recalls Mahle. “Lots of overpriced cookie cutter apartments with ‘modern’ finishes with were just really ugly, as well as bad quality and poor installation.”

Discouraged but not without hope, the search ensued, find-ing Girard, Mahle and Clayton (Girard’s nine year old son from his first marriage) led astray after another disappoint-ing condo viewing. On a whim, the threesome found them-selves standing on the disheveled first floor of a home that had been on the market for months, and for obvious reasons – the place was not exactly up to par. The realtor, holding an open house, explained the price had dropped signifi-cantly due to its existing poor shape; incidentally, to a price that proved not only affordable, but a steal in that particu-lar neighborhood. With a shared vision and an exchange of glances between Mahle and Girard, interest quickly piqued.

“Between Laurent and I, we had lots of contacts in the build-ing/renovation trade, and we thought this could be a great

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“Both Laurent and I are avid readers, and each brought lots of books to the relationship,” says Mahle, adding that as soon as they saw the house, they knew exactly where they wanted to construct the bookcase. “It was the first thing we thought about, and the first thing that was built after the demolition.”

Besides holding the couple’s extensive collection of books (many of which are photo books that Girard himself has worked on), the bookcase also played a notable part in pro-viding inspiration for the living room lighting. Wanting it to stand out as the focus, the couple ensured the lighting would enhance and concentrate on the piece; something they had to understand as the approached the overall design of the room. Elsewhere, they reused light fixtures from previous apartments, and purchased a ceiling fan with a light for their bedroom to help cut down on air-conditioning costs.

project to take on,” explains Mahle. “Plus, tearing a place apart and starting totally from scratch can be a lot of fun, not to mention it was half a block from the park and a five minute walk to the subway.”

Sold. Renovations began immediately, and they were extensive; the dire condition of the home left little to remain untouched. Energy efficiency important to both Mahle and Girard, they replaced the oil boil-

er and all radiators with an HVAC unit while the house was being gutted, which in turn led to replacing all windows to ensure efficiency. Future décor of the home was taken into consideration as well; they added blocking to the living room wall during construction so they could later create a leg-less built-in desk. Their favorite addition during the renovation? The prominent floor to ceiling bookcase, which became the focal point of the living room.

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Photos Gi-rard printed and framed. Left to right: Jackson Pol-lock, John Lennon, Lou Reed and Bob Dylan.

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“Laurent only collects cameras he can use,” says

Mahle.

Of course, lighting is only one of the many detailed decisions to determine when renovating; color

scheme is another, particularly for the walls. Girard and Mahle used furni-ture and pieces they already owned to inspire their choices, including a gor-geous 10’x13’ Persian rug Mahle bought in France ten years ago and has schlept around through five NYC apartments. She pulled shades of blue from its in-tricate design, resulting in Benjamin Moore’s Normandy Blue as the back-splash behind the bookcase, and the

gray walls in both the living room and dining room (Benjamin Moore Ston-ington Gray) mixes seamlessly with similar hues woven in the rug.

Another source of color inspiration in-cludes Girard’s impressive collection of prints, which features pieces he has printed for photographers as well as his own work. A photographer since the age of 12, the art has become his career; most recently, he printed pieces for “John Lennon: The New York City Years”, an exhibit featured at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho.

Pieces of his collection can be found hanging in both their living and dining rooms.

“[Something I love] about the new place is the ability to display prints I have made through the years for dif-ferent photographers, as well as hang-ing some of my own work,” says Girard. “Choosing what to hang turned out to be more difficult than I had antici-pated,” adding they may simply rotate artwork over the years.

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Before

After

FAVORITE STORES

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Upstairs, the couple renovated all three bedrooms as well as the bathroom, creating a master bedroom, a room

for Clayton, and one for the newest addition - Inés, the couple’s daughter who is now 3.5 months old. In the master bedroom, they installed new closets, making the tops of the doors flush with the ceiling, giving the wall a clean, modern look. They re-tiled the entire bathroom, including the ceiling, and replaced the sink faucet, hooks, and towel bar with chrome fittings, completing the look with a chrome medicine cabinet above the sink.

The kitchen is the only room that did not receive a full makeover; it had been redone two years before they had bought the home, and Girard and Mahle felt it wasteful to replace any-thing. Not to mention kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the most costly in terms of renovations, and they were already full-steam ahead with tearing down the latter. Instead, they gave it an upgrade by adding their own personal touches, such as painting the cabinets blue and changing the pulls and back-splash using leftover tile from another job.

Ensure that all work to be completed by contractors is spelt out in detail on both the request for pricing and the signed estimate/contract

Always budget an extra 5-10% for contingency issues, in addition to all the shipping/delivery costs for furni-ture and materials.

If your contractor is supplying stone, millwork or hard-ware, request samples for approval before it’s installed to make sure you’re satisfied.

At the end of a project, prepare a punch list by room of all issues your contractor needs to address before final payment is made.

If you’re managing your own project, be meticulous about keeping all product receipts and vendor esti-mates in a binder. Also keep a paint schedule, listing both color and finish for the paints and stains for future reference.

Before

TIPS ON RENOVATING

“Eventually, I would like to redo the kitchen,” says Mahle. “Do something modern, maybe with poured in con-crete, but that’s several years from now.”

In the meantime, Mahle and Girard feel extremely pleased with the outcome, some of which they have affected themselves (painting and the millwork in the basement, as well as the afore-mentioned kitchen additions). Step-ping into their home from the noisy streets of Manhattan, it feels like an instant getaway from the city; they of-ten find themselves relaxing together

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After

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Avoid the urge to accessorize a place all at once, which can lead to a look that feels contrived and impersonal. Instead, add mean-ingful items over time.

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A gift from Girard to Mahle,

the Günter Grass lithograph rep-

resents a sweet joke between the

couple. “While I was pregnant with Ines, I had

a very hard time sleeping,” explains

Mahle.

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Mahle, born and raised in Brazil, often travels back to visit family with Girard, return-ing with keepsakes such as this ham-mock.

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in their open, spacious living room, thumbing through their bookcase for the next read.

After such an extensive project, one must ask, would they do it again?

“Absolutely,” Mahle instantly replies. “We had a good time, and we’re so happy in the house now.” p

Hide the unsightly AC behind some pretty planters

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Written by Shawn Gauthier Photography by Patrick ClineStyled by Rita Konig

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Former domino magazine Editor-In Chief, Deborah Needleman, unearths her passion.

ature’s nurture

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ardeners are no strangers to the seasons; the potential of spring, the lush vibrancy of summer, the peaceful, winding down of fall. And one can’t ignore winter; the break, the rest, the planning of the upcoming year and what to do differently.

In a way, the cyclical nature of the gardens is reflective of ev-eryday life with the ups and downs, the anticipation, surprises

and change. In the garden, not everything always goes as planned; like life, there is the unavoidable certainty of the unexpected.

For a gardener, this is simply the way life moves.

“I had this sudden break, this change, imposed on me when domino was shuttered,” says Deborah Needleman, former Editor in Chief of the in-stantly popular shelter magazine, and most innately, an avid gardener. “The closing [of domino] was a shock, and the break-up of the group was terrible, it was such a magical collection of people. But for me it was a mix; even though I had no choice in the change, I found the break to be liberat-ing. It’s not unlike the seasons.”

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or Needleman, the past eight months since the closing of domino could be called the winter of her professional

life, a sudden freedom from years of suc-cessful, ambitious career devotion, a break in what Needleman does not necessarily define as a career “path”, but more the following of her many personal interests. Although she genuine-ly loved domino, felt inspired by its mission and greatly humbled and appreciative of its success, she began to long for the things that satisfied her most deeply, and felt herself drifting from the “urbanite” she had, for years, thought she was. For a woman who is made happiest by a meadow, who would rather spend money on plants than clothes, she knew this sudden

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change of events, and the free time it allowed, meant only one thing; an opportunity to im-merse herself in her garden.

Growing up in a New Jersey suburb, Needle-man found herself surrounded by lawns and landscaping, not gardens; she discovered them through literature, late nights absorbed in the beautiful, fantastical images in books, and somewhere, instinctively, she knew she wanted to create those images herself. Gardening had never been something she learned from her mother or grandmother; rather the infatuation grew inherently, emotionally, a naturally born desire of which she calls the most “all-consum-

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The flowers Needleman plants in her vegetable garden are specifi-cally for cutting to use in her many arrangements. “They’re all types of annual flowers, and the more you cut them, the more they produce.”

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It’s amazing to have things that are alive in

your house... It keeps the house from

feeling static; it says ‘someone was here,

someone cares.’

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ing passion” she has ever had. Interestingly enough, it was not until her late 20’s that she actually got her hands dirty, when she finally could not ignore the need to garden any longer.

“I told a friend of mine that all I wanted to do was be a gar-dener, and he literally gave me his garden in Westchester,” she says, shortly after she had moved to New York from Washington and was taking classes at the New York Botani-cal Garden in the Bronx. “I was spending all my time reading and thinking and fantasizing about gardens, yet I had never actually done it.”

As fate would have it, her friend’s ex-wife worked at House & Garden, and soon Needleman found herself at the publi-cation working as a photography editor (she had previously held the same position at the Washington Post directly out of school). Though she left after a year to design gardens, House & Garden knew they’d had a talent on their hands, and

For Konig’s birthday, Needleman brought several mason jars filled with wildflowers and put them all over her Tribeca apartment. “It looks so beautiful and sophisticated to have all these sweet, innocent wildflowers in an urban setting.”

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It’s fascinating to watch things

come into bloom, and bringing them into the

house is such a domestic pleasure.

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Deborah’s Style Tidbits*Don’t just pick flowers for arrange-ments, instead look in unusual places for materials – trees, shrubs, weeds, etc. There is no reason a bunch of dandeli-ons wouldn’t look perfectly charming clustered in a vase.

“I like things wild but within structure, I can’t stand things too perfect,” she says. “I’m laid back about my garden, but can become admittedly obsessed. I’m sure my children think I garden too much.”

The children, however, have proved inspiration for certain aspects of the garden; Needleman began growing vegetables to help teach them where food comes from. Now, the kids often help pick food for supper; Needleman letting the garden, and season, inspire what she and her husband cook each night. Besides vegetables, Needleman’s garden is filled with a wide variety of flowers depending on the season and year; currently, she has blue cornflow-ers, white love-in-a-mist, chamomile, sunflowers and zinnias, to name a few, which she often cuts and places in ar-rangements for display throughout her home.

“It’s amazing to have things that are alive in your house,” says Needleman, who sees the potential for beauty in everything, and is not above adding weeds or vegetables to her arrange-ments. “It keeps [the house] from feel-ing static; it says ‘someone was here, someone cares.’”

n fact, her arrangements are about the only accessory that can be found in both Needle-

man’s Garrison home as well as her apartment in Tribeca, two com-pletely different spaces in terms of decoration and feel. Whereas Tribeca acts as more of a respite away from the noise and uproar of the city, calm-ing in muted tones of grey and cream, Needleman had an entirely different idea for Garrison, craving patterns and

quickly offered her a subsequent posi-tion as a garden writer. She spent the next eight years traveling the world, visiting gardens, learning all she could consume and describing the experi-ence as “amazing.”

Meanwhile, she began depositing all her learning’s into her own garden, watching it blossom at her upstate home in Garrison, New York, which she shares with her husband and two children. A product of her growing knowledge as well the much appreci-ated advice of expert friends and col-leagues (her “gardening girlfriends”), it has become a lush, fragrant expanse of greens, vegetables and flowers; an oa-sis and composite of nature’s wonders, loved and coaxed by Needleman’s pas-sion. She calls herself a “messy person but meticulous gardener,” very much like her own personality.

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*Use your best things everyday, don’t wait for special occasions. This is your life; enjoy your good silver, china, fancy soaps and bath oils, these things aren’t for decoration, they’re for using.

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Needleman obeys no limits when it comes to creating ar-rangements. “This [arrangement] has weeds and vegetables among the flowers,” she says, as well as strawberry and raspberry stems, watermelon vine and Queen Anne’s Lace from the side of the road.

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At Domino, we wanted to be like a reliable friend; honest, smart, amusing, helpful. Yet we were also the experts; creating, sifting, scouting, editing, trying, weighing, inspiring, finding.

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colors, a “kooky feeling English country feel,” as she puts it. In or-der to achieve it, she enlisted the help of close friend, and also another former domino editor, decorator Rita Konig. “[Konig] has such an amazing sensibility,” gushes Needleman. “She is so won-derful to work with. She just gets it.”

A one room inn in its past life, Needleman and her husband instantly fell in love with the 18th century “tiny, rickety and weird” home (as she affectionately describes it) when they moved in 14 years ago, despite the plastic shower stalls,

cork ceilings and avocado green appliances. Located on the Hudson Highlands on the Hudson River, the couple loved the history of the home, and the fact that they could cross country ski right out the backdoor. Although the plastic stalls and shades of avocado were a part of the original character, they only had so much love for the dated décor – and after living with it for years, decided it was about time update the interior.

Konig stepped in, putting her sensibility, creativity and talented expertise to work, transforming the home by utilizing layered, colorful fabrics and creating the English inspired home Needle-man desired. The space is comfortable and relaxed but in a very thought out manner; the type of home where the kids are often found at the dining room table doing art projects, the adults on the back screened-in porch with cocktails, watching as the sun

*Always con-sider family and

friends when decorating your home – it’s what brings the house

to life, and mak-ing yourself and them comfortable

is what makes a house a home.

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*Scent is an essential part of decorating; utilize potpourri and fresh, fragrant flowers throughout your home, or simply throw open the windows!

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sets through the leaves and the light falls through the flow-ers, highlighting perfectly evening’s garden.

Not afraid to take risks, Konig went as far as to mix a deep slate for the walls of Needleman’s study, so dark it almost appears black. A tiny room, Needleman did not want the sense of trying to work against the size; so instead Konig embraced it and created a space that feels cozy, intimate and warm. As with any area that Needleman spends a lot of time in, on the desk she has a fragrant arrangement of hon-eysuckle, creating an aromatic, calming office space. “It’s so nice to be working and get a whiff of something fragrant,” she says; by her bed, she often keeps sweet peas.

Everything in this arrangement originated in the

vegetable garden; cherry tomato vine, pea vine,

dill, mint, nastur-tiums, chamomile

and strawberry. “Choosing a vase is about matching

what goes with what; the vase

should be suited to the arrange-

ment or flowers,” says Needleman.

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favorite storesGalerie Olivia Lamy in Paris

for antiques and objects

John Derian Dry Goods in NYCfor furniture, linens, lightings and rugs

Kirna Zabete in Sohofor fancy frocks

Kalustyans International Food Market in NYC for spices and cooking

Bergdorf Goodman, 7th floorfor decorative accessories

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Summers in Gar-rison are comprised of hiking, swimming, fires on the lawn at night and many a lazy afternoon reading in the hammocks.

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Deep slate for a wall color is slightly un-usual, but it gives the room personality, much like the fabrics, patterns and col-ors throughout her home. A classic base with a bit of personality is something Needleman seeks in décor and accepts as part of her style, which she continu-ously works to define. In fact, the yearn-ing to understand her own style is what drove her to start domino; with so many available styles out there, how does one choose, and where does one go for help? Needleman knew she had good taste but had trouble deciding on how to express it; the wheels began turning and domino was born.

“I wanted to make a magazine to help people, like myself, who wanted knowl-edge, understanding, and access to great style,” explains Needleman, who adds that in the general scheme of publishing, she was an outsider, and unconvention-al choice as an editor. “I was not on an editor career track. I was a garden writer who loved interiors and style. But people responded to the magazine; I think be-cause we spoke to our readers like the real, smart, individual people that they were.”

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“Every plant person has their thing,” says Needleman. “I love roses and peonies, bearded irises and old fashioned flowers, but I’m not a big fan of black-eyed Susans.”

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FiveGardening Tips

Think about your garden as distinct rooms, no matter how tiny it is, and “decorate” them.

Use white flowers in the areas you sit at night. They glow in the evening, and are often most fragrant during that time.

If you like a plant, buy at least 3 or 5; gardens look funny with a one-of-each approach. Plus, odd numbers look more natural.

Everyone should plant bulbs; they are fool-proof, beauti-ful, satisfying and available in a wide range of gorgeous varieties.

There is no such thing as a green thumb. Every gardener suffers countless disasters in the garden, and good gardening is simply learn-ing what conditions different plants need.

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As the seasons begin to turn and nature’s real winter approaches, sending her garden into hi-bernation, Needleman will surely not be bored. Reinvigorated and ready to launch her next move, she has several things up her sleeve, in-cluding a new online business venture. Eager to embark on the next chapter, it will bring togeth-er everything she’s learned at domino, as well as her love for style, interiors and gardens. Knowing the energy, passion and dedication she exhibited while leading domino, it’s safe to say Needleman is teetering on the edge of the next exciting ad-venture.

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n life, like gardening, there is always potential

and prospect, room for something new. Spring

always follows winter, and the earth appears

again, ready for bloom. And for a gardener like Needleman,

even when life throws the unexpected, at the end of the

day it’s rare that anything happens which can’t be made

better by a simple vase full of fragrant peonies. p

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