Velvet & Linen

new favorite book: reflections on swedish interiors by rhonda eleish and edie van breems

 

 

I hope the first few days of Autumn have been beautiful ones for you all! This is actually my favorite time of the year, as the shadows start to get longer and the colors of the foliage begin to change.  

I've been spending the last couple of  warm Fall evenings outside, enjoying my new favorite design book, Reflections on Swedish Interiors by Rhonda Eleish and Edie van Breems. 

 

I am a long time admirer of Rhonda and Edie's elegant and clean interior designs and share their love of  the Scandinavian aesthetic and Swedish anitques.

I already own their first two books, Swedish Interiors and Swedish Country Interiors  and often use them for design inspiration, but their new book may very well be the best so far...

Rhonda, Edie and their photographer, Neil Landino capture the lightness and calm that exists in Swedish interiors... 

 

In Reflections on Swedish Interiors, Rhonda and Edie share many of the fundamental design concepts that are used by some of the premier Swedish designers and shop owners here in the United States.

Warm wood and painted furniture, as seen here in a vignette at Lief,  are classic elements in Swedish design. 

 

During my visits to Lief, I always admire the contemporary art of French artist, Anne Delfieu. This piece hangs in the home of Lief owner Mick Aarestrup and his wife Paula. The mixing of old and new is another prevalent element in Swedish interiors.

 

Landscape architect, Barbara Paca, knows how to "bring the outdoors in", a common Swedish interior design concept that I adore.

 

Shop owner and Interior Designer, Tara Shaw, artistically mixes leather and linen in this elegant room filled with antiques from around the world.

 

 The beautiful simplicity of  Linda and Lindsay Kennedy's home is the definition of Swedish design. Linda understands the importance of breathing room...

 

I was excited to see that Rhonda and Edie included the home of Jill and Daniel Dienst in their book. I visit Jill's magical shop Dienst + Dotter Antikvieter NYC whenever I travel to New York. 

 

Jill Dienst embraces the patina of her antique pieces, in this wonderfully color saturated room. 

Thank you to Rhonda Eleish, Edie van Breems and Neil Landino for giving me permission toshare these images with you.

To learn more about Rhonda and Edie, please visit their website.

You can enjoy more of Neil Landino's work on his website.

You can purchase your copy of Reflections on Swedish Interiors here.

I plan to share a few more of my favorite things during the next couple of weeks.

Until then, I'm sending you wishes for Autumn days filled with dramatic, long shadows and a crisp chill in the air!

xo

Brooke

thanksgiving and a special book from the house of edward...

When I began writing Velvet and Linen a little over four years ago, I wanted to create a place where I focused on the positive and beautiful parts of my life. I wanted my blog to be a place where people could visit to get away from the more complicated aspects of every day life. 

 I also searched for other blogs written from a positive point of view. One of my first discoveries was From The House of Edward, written by Pamela Terry.

Pamela is a multi-talented woman (designer, writer, baker...) who lives with her song writer husband and their two dogs, Apple and Edward. Pamela's blog is filled with her essays about the wondrous lessons to be learned from the smallest and most ordinary life events. Her stories are not always happy, but Pamela's unique perspective always opens my eyes to a new way of viewing the day to day. 

 

 

A couple of years ago, I met Pamela for the first time during her visit to Los Angeles. She told me that she was in the process of selecting her favorite essays to create a book. Well, I've been waiting impatiently since then. Finally a couple of weeks ago, a signed copy of the book , From the House of Edward: Essays by Pamela Terry, arrived at my door! 

 

Pamela put thought into every inch of her book, from the soft lavender binding to the beautiful drawings of Edward and Pamela, by artist Amber Alexander.  The book is divided into four sections: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. For the past couple of weeks I have been enjoying "Autumn" one essay at a time. 

I know I will be sending copies of From the House of Edward to many friends and family members for the Holidays. Please visit Pamela's website to order your signed copy or to share Pamela's beautifully written book with those you love.

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I also wanted to mention that I am going to be taking a small bloggy break over the holidays. Leila had a nasty horse back riding lesson last week that involved a galloping horse, a run-in with a tree, an ambulance ride, a night in ICU and a lacerated liver. Although Leila will fully recover, her accident was a reminder to me to slow down and spend as much time as possible with my children. 

Our little Leila and her friend, Justin (not the horse involved in the accident)

I believe Pamela's essay, And Now, November, describes my mood more eloquently than I ever could...

 

All down through literary time, poets have turned to the seasons of the years as the perfect metaphor for life.

Who could blame them? With innocent lambs frolicking in new green meadows, what could Sprintime be but crystalline illustration of youth?

The juicy ripe abundance that is Summer is such an obvious representation of mankind at the peak of his power, 

It seems almost prosaic to draw the parallel. 

And now, November...

When the clocks are turned back and the days become shorter.

If one follows the poet's well-trod path, this is to be a month of gathering in, of reaping what has been sown, of thoughtful contemplation of what has gone before and preparation for the colder days to come. I have always considered November the more serious of all the months; when conclusions are drawn, decisions are made and, if one is fortunate, contentment settles round the bones like down. It seems much more temperate of spirit than May or September, certainly. It is fitting, therefore, that we as a country make a most momentous choice every four years in November. Fittiing also, that at the end of this reflective month, we observe a day of Thanksgiving for the gift of the year past.

No matter what month we happen to be in as we move through our year, November is always there, on everyone's calendar, with his hands folded under his chin, patiently awaiting our arrival. 

Throughout the days of every month may we endeavor to sow kindness and compassion so that we may reap contentment, thoughtfulness and tolerance so that we may reap wisdon, and love so that we amy reap more love. 

And may this November be a thankful one indeed.

-Pamela Terry

From the House of Edward: Essays by Pamela Terry

 

 

This Thanksgiving I will be giving thanks for all of my blessings, including your friendship and support. 

I hope you all have a beautiful Holiday Season, filled with memorable moments with those that you love.

xo

Brooke

 

 

 

 

new book love: the great american house by gil schafer...

 

I just received my copy of Gil Schafer's new book: The Great American House, and I had to share it with you!

 

Yes, Gil Schafer is a trained classical architect, but that's not why I love his book...

 

Yes, Gil Schafer is one of the New AD 100, but that's not why I love his work.

 

Yes, Gil Schafer is a winner of Veranda's "Art of Design" award, but that's not why I feel connected to his designs.

 

Although I am married to an architect, my reaction to houses and spaces is emotional. Gil Schafer's work touches my emotions.

When I am in a house designed by Gil Schafer, I feel connected to the outside.

 

The minute I walk in the door, I feel a comforting connection to history.

 

Although every inch of Gil Schafer's houses are classically detailed..

 

His houses are designed to work for a modern family lifestyle. 

 

Gil Schafer's house designs reflect the way we live today. He creates open kitchens that have a flow to other living spaces.

 

I can imagine cooking with friends and family in this kitchen. I'd probably even be a better cook!

 

I can see myself making a delicious breakfast for my family or guests in one of Gil Schafer's sun lit kitchens....

 

Gil Schafer shares my love for natural and antique building materials, like antique wood beams and Carerra marble.

 

Gil Schafer's collaborations with world class interior designers, like Michael Smith and Bunny Williams, result in spaces that feel timeless.

 

 

Who wouldn't want to start or end their day in this bathroom?

 

 

or this one?

 

And his detailing? Stunning!

 

Those are just a few of the reasons why I found The Great American House to be inspiring.

 

Would you like to meet Gil Schafer and buy your own signed copy of The Great American House?

 

I plan to get my copy signed by Gil Schafer on October 2nd at Hollyhock in West Hollywood. I hope to see you there!

 

Thank you to Rizzoli for permission to use all of the images in this post.

 

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

To Subscribe to Velvet & Linen via email click here.

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Please visit the Patina Style Barnes and Noble page or Amazon page  to order our book.

book review: "be your own decorator" by susanna salk...

I always appreciate the generosity of other designers and homeowners who share the knowledge they've gained during their own design projects. Having never gone to interior design school, learning from others who have been "in the design trenches" has been an invaluable resource in my "design education". So when author Susanna Salk asked me if I would be interested in sharing some of our work and design experience in her latest book, Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Inspiration and Cues from Today's Top Designers, I enthusiastically said "Yes!".

 

 

Be Your Own Decorator is filled with gorgeous images of interior spaces that have been created by 75 acclaimed designers and photographed by some of the top photographers. Each of the chapters includes practical advice from the designers that is aimed at giving all of us the confidence to design our own spaces.

 

In the first chapter on Color, designer Carol Bokuniewicz explains why she and her husband, John Smallwood,  chose to paint the walls of this room in their antique Connecticut farm house a dark gray. How did they select the color for their floors? It was interesting to learn the design intent behind the decisions that they made in order to create this beautiful space. 

photography by John Gruen

 

The Color chapter includes advice from some of my favorite designers, including Rose Tarlow, Peter Dunham, Betsey Burnham, and .... 

Bunny Williams.

photography by Thomas Loof

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the words of design wisdom in the next chapter, titled "Mix". It was such a treat to be able to gain insight into designer Darryl Carter's design process. How was he able to create this gorgeous space that makes both his clients happy when the wife is a modernist and the husband is a traditionalist?  

photography by Gordon Beall

 

Nobody can mix it up better than my friend, designer/design blogger Valorie Hart (aka The Visual Vamp). I was excited to see her work included in Be Your Own Decorator.. along with other fellow designer/design bloggers, including Brad Ford, Tobi Fairley, and Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan Kochar.

Valorie Hart's eclectic living room is a wonderful mix of colors, styles and textures.

photography by Sara Essex Bradley

 

Most of us realize that "Balance" is an important element in every well-designed space, but how does one go about achieving a harmonious room? Imagine getting advice from fantastic designers like Jan Showers, Charlotte Moss,  Diamond Baratta, Gil Schafer, Miles Redd, and...

Windsor Smith.

photography by Michael Wells.  

 

In my opinion, a bit of "Whimsy" should be present in every room. In Be Your Own Decorator,  Susanna Salk devotes an entire chapter filled with ideas from designers, like Kathryn Ireland, on how to infuse a space with a dash of the unexpected.

photography by Victoria Pearson

 

The final two chapters on "Accessorizing" and "Breaking the Rules" are equally informative and inspiring. 

If you are a designer or a homeowner with the desire to create a beautiful home that reflects your own personality, I highly recomment Be Your Own Decorator! Please visit the Be Your Own Decorator Amazon page to order.

You may even recognize a couple of rooms :)

photography by Steve Giannetti

 

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

To Subscribe to Velvet & Linen via email click here.

To follow Velvet & Linen on Facebook click here.

To follow me on Pinterest click here 

Please visit the Patina Style Barnes and Noble page or Amazon page  to order our book.