Velvet & Linen

time to study

One of my New Year's resolutions was to get all of our projects photographed.

Being able to have those permanent memories of our hard work is really worth spending the time to have the homes professionally photographed. 

Yesterday, Steve and I spent the day shooting a home that we completed a few months ago. Although I don't have our photographer's images yet (the great Tracey Landworth) I thought I would share a few of the very amateur photos that I took of one of my favorite rooms.

This is my client's study. He wanted it to feel like an English gentleman's library.

The camel, red and black rug from Mansour was perfect for the room. We used camel mohair wing chairs from Oly. The black tufted ottoman  is made out of the softest leather I have ever felt. I love the nickel nail head detail. Steve designed the desk with leather inserts.

We wanted clean light fixtures with a bit of a modern yet traditional feel (I know that sounds confusing, but the picture helps explain what I mean).

The gray and cream alabaster bowl is from Urban Archaeology. The desk lamp is a wonderful Ralph Lauren light in polished nickel.

The painting above the mantle is by Gregory Hull. You can see more of his work here

We filled the shelves with old leather books, our client's globe collection, and antique store finds. The quirky tufted Ralph Lauren chair is upholstered in a Travers paisley.

The shelves are lit with Circa lighting's Frame maker's picture lights in polished nickel.  Magnifying glasses, binoculars, vintage cameras and vintage paintings were arranged on these shelves.

I'd love to hear what you think of my client's study.

xo

Brooke

rosa angela greco

This is a post for a new visitor to my blog, Michele K.

She left me a lovely comment about my shades on my sconces above my tub in my bathroom.

They are one of my most sentimental furniture pieces. 

We took my children to Italy for my oldest son's 13th birthday to teach them about the history of their father's family.

One of our favorite cities that we visited was Venice.

It is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Of course, we were there with our children,

so perhaps it wasn't as romantic as it could have been, but we did have an amazing time exploring 

the city.

While we were walking up and down the canals we found this charming tiny little shop called "Angela Rosa Greco". It is named after one of the owners, Angela Rosa. She and her sister have owned the shop and  have created light fixtures and shades in their small shop since the 1960's.

Most of their shades are created with beautiful Fortuny silks.

If any of you happen to be in the neighborhood, here is a map of Venice that

will help you find Angela Rosa. 

Just in case you thought I was joking, Here we are posing with Angela Rosa and her sister in

their fabulous shop.

xo

Brooke

ships ahoy

This chandelier is such a fun whimsical fixture.

I found it interesting how four different designers used the same chandelier and 

made it their own.

Muriel Brandolini used this chandelier in her gorgeous New York home. 

I love her exotic style. This unique piece is a wonderful complement to her slipper

chair. Look at all of that amazing trim on that chair! I also love the yellow moulding

around the ceiling.

photograph by Tim Street-Porter 

Nanette Lapore hung a similar ship in this dark wood paneled room.

She did a great job mixing unique pieces like her burnt orange chair, her

turquoise drapery and inlaid Moroccan side table.

Elle Decor

Jennifer Nicholson mixed it up in her dining room Love her leopard print chairs

and the gilded mirror, table and frames.  Over the top elegance!

I pulled this image out of a magazine a few years ago. I think it was Country Living.

I saw this beautiful dining room on Joni's Cote de Texas.

I thought it was so interesting that this same chandelier worked so well

in a more traditional neutral setting. 

xo

Brooke

that was illuminating...

There are three different types of lighting: ambient, task, and source.The purpose of ambient lighting is to make a room have an over all glow. This can be achieved by using a combination of  surface mounted ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, wall sconces and table lamps.

We used chandeliers, wall sconces and low hanging lamps near our bed 

to illuminate our bedroom.

A combination of surface mounted school house lights on the ceiling and two industrial holophane lights over the island really makes my kitchen feel bright and sunny.

These pendant lights are paired with under-counter lights to make this kitchen light up.

Image from Cote Sud

 Task lighting is used to light up a small area like a kitchen island or a desk. For kitchens, I usually use pendant lights or chandeliers to light up an island.

We used two chandeliers to  light up this island.

These large industrial pendant lights work wonderfully over this island.

  A small desk lamp is the perfect way to light up this beautiful work space

Domino Magazine

Source lighting is used when the actually lighting fixture is a focal point in the room. Usually chandeliers are source lights.

This magnificent chandelier used by Muriel Brandolini is a fantastic example of a source light. 

Image from Rooms to Inspire

This elegant lantern from Dennis and Leen is a wonderful feature in the entry of this home.

This gorgeous beaded chandelier adds to the romantic setting in Nanette Lapore's closet.

Elle Decor

The problem with canned lighting in the ceiling is that they are supposed to be ambient lighting,

but really become source lighting. Because they become such bright spots in the ceiling, your eye is automatically drawn to them.

If you do have canned lighting in your ceiling the best way to use them is to light up walls rather than having them point straight down. 

In this room we aimed the canned lighting onto the walls and artwork.

 

I much prefer seeing these surface mount fixtures in this ceiling than a bunch of down lights. Unlike canned lighting, these fixtures illuminate the ceiling rather than the floor.

Kitchen by Wayne Good

If you do have canned lighting, you can alleviate some of the dullness by adding other sources of light like a chandeliers and lamps.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any images that showed canned lighting in a ceiling, because even those who don't want to admit it know that they are not very attractive.

xo

Brooke