Velvet & Linen

a studio design in progress, an all the best interview, and a friend's new blog...

Recently Steve and I have started to develop a design for our client's studio. Blake is a composer, and this computer/music station is a prominent feature in the room.

 

Since Blake's mentor gave him this cool piano, we will be finding a  home for it in our re-model...

 

Speakers need to find a new home as well...

Although Blake's studio is a nice space, it lacks a cohesive idea. During our meeting, I showed Blake images of some spaces created by Roman and Williams. Blake really liked the timeless design of this room...

 

and the hint of vintage industrial in this space.

 

 

Steve started doodling the ideas on his ipad (noteshelf is his favorite app).

 

 

Back at the office, my design associate, Gwendolyn, and I started pulling together an inspiration board:

 

 

Based on our selections, Steve drew a perspective sketch of the room. 

 

Steve's floor plan shows the new cabinetry and the removal of the wall, creating one big space out of the two smaller ones.

 

Steve's elevations flesh out more of the details...

We're painting the walls Farrow and Ball "Pavillion Gray".

The trim, windows and doors will be painted Farrow and Ball "Off Black".

 

All of the cabinetry will be painted Farrow and Ball "Off Black" as well. The shelves will be made from a weathered White Oak to match the new floors.

Black matchstick shades will add texture to the windows.

 

A few more of our selections...

 

The Boston Library light by Circa Lighting.

 

Some great pendant lights from Arteriors.

 

The Tassa Rug from Restoration Hardware.

 

A pair of Jensen chairs in Distressed Wiskey leather.

We've also chosen a beautiful sofa (similar to this sectional) from Verellen, one of my favorite upholstery lines that we now carry at Giannetti Home. The linen color compliments the walls beautifully!

The other pieces: the coffee table from Big Daddy's Antiques...

the side tables, other lighting as well as the accessories will be one of a kind items.

I'm looking forward to sharing the progress of Blake's studio with you over the next couple of months!

_______________________________________________________________________________

A couple of other things to share...

I was so excited when my friend Ronda Carman asked if I would be interested in doing an interview on her beautiful blog, All the Best.  ATB was one of the first blogs that I started to follow and it has now become one of my "go to's". Please visit All the Best to read my interview. Thank you Ronda!

 

I also want to tell you about a new blog! Many of you already know about the Amy Howard Collection. I have been an admirer of this company for quite a while. Their gorgeous designs and attention to every detail have made the Amy Howard Collection a favorite among designers and their clients.

When I look at the pieces Amy Howard creates, it's hard to believe that they are new!

 

All of their furniture is created in the United States by true craftsmen.

 

Today I received an email from Amy telling me that she has started blogging (in her spare time... LOL!) and is loving it. 

Please visit Amy's Blog, Amy Howard Daily. I know you will enjoy getting a glimpse into the creative mind of this inspiring woman.

 Happy Weekend!

 

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.

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

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

 

modern mediterranean house...

Recently our clients have been requesting traditional house designs with a modern twist. A few months ago, I shared Steve's design for his client's Modern Italian Villa, today my post is about another one of Steve's house designs, a Modern Mediterranean house here in Santa Monica.

 

Our clients' house is nearing completion and the Owner has been kind enough to let us share it with you.  The interior and exterior color palettes are very cohesive. The shutters on the window above are coming soon..

 

The exterior wood has been stained to look similar to the white oak that you will see inside. 

 

The hedges and trees, which are the formal structure of the landscape design, are being planted this week. 

You can catch a glimpse of the garage through the port-cochere. It will actually be used as a yoga studio and the owner will park next to the side door that leads directly to the kitchen. Steve designed the driveway hardscape in strips that will be softened by groundcover planted between them.

 

Here is one of Steve's drawings of this area as well as a sketch of the  front and back facades.  Steve always starts with these small 8 1/2 x 11 sketches to work out the scheme.

 

This picture taken from the Master bedroom gives you an idea of the garage. There will be grass planted in front of the garage allowing the yard to extend all the way across.A mature Sycamore tree will be placed at the end of the barbeque counter that you see being contstructed in the middle of this image.

 

This is the view from the inside back toward the entry. The door has changed from this first sketch.

 

The vaulted ceiling gives an intimate entry feeling and the house opens up as you move toward the back.

 

Off the Entry is the Study. We thickened up the walls rather than build it with traditional paneling. 

 

 

You can see how the white oak on the walls tie into the white oak floors. The door beyond is stained to match.

 

The owner selected these wonderful light fixtures  for picture lights above the cabinets. A sofa will be placed in the middle section, in front of the Oak paneling.

 

Looking from the arched Entry toward the back of the house, you can see how the house opens up and the stairway becomes part of the great room. The original idea of French doors along the back becomes...

 

Nana doors that open the house entirely to the outside.

 

Here is an image looking back toward the front door...

 

You can see the beams above.. Since this job was built on a tight budget, we used scaffolding planks for the beams that were mitered to look solid. The chalky gray Patina is just right. You can also see a steel beam beyond that Steve thought looked cool and decided to leave exposed.

 

Here is a sketch looking towards the fireplace. 

 

To the right of the arched window is the gently curved stairway. It took a lot of hard work to  make these lines flow together. 

 

Our fantastic Superintendent, Anthony Garcia and the Contractor Roy Abbott of  RT Abbott Construction did a great job working out all of the details and building this house at a reasonable cost.

 

The iron hand rail finishes directly into the plaster. 

 

We selected a  hand hammered iron for the hand rail. We're using an acid finish, so we don't need to paint it. You will also notice there there are no baseboards any where, even at the stairs.

 

The kitchen opens to the Great room with a Breakfast room beyond, that connects to the porch..

 

Here you can see Steve's steel beam again... The beam will be stained bronze to look similar to the  stair handrail.

 

At the top of the stairway, Steve designed an operable skylight to give cross ventilation. He ran beams thru the skylight  to support the chandelier.

 

The Master bath is very simple, just a few materials. In fact ,all the baths use the same travertine tile, and slab. 

 

 

The tub will fill the Window bay..

 

Here is a sketch of the Master bedroom, with Nana doors that open to a balcony and a lovely vaulted ceiling. Stay tuned for more photos as this room comes along...

 

 

In the next couple of weeks I will be sharing the progress of this house. I'll also update you on  Steve's clients' Modern Italian Villa,  as well as two Traditional Modern houses that are also under contruction (one is on the beach in Malibu). 

In the meantime, we are also moving ahead with our own Patina Farm. I hope to have more images of our finish palette and refined plans soon.

Happy Week to you all!

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.

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

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

 

happy thanksgiving, a chicken update, and a book recommendation...

For those of you who have been asking for a chicken update, here it is!

Unfortunately Lola and Lucille did turn out to be roosters. So we had to take another trip to the farm, and we now have two new little ones. Until we find out if they are roosters or hens, we plan to  just call them both "Pat". For those of you who are long time Saturday Night Live fans, you'll get the joke.

 

Michelle and Prudence have welcomed "The Pats" into the family with open wings. As for Henrietta...

 

She started getting "broody" a couple of weeks ago and is spending most of her time sitting in her nesting box. Hormones! All of us girls have to deal with them.

 

We are off to see my parents for Thanksgiving. I hope that you get to take some time off to enjoy the people and pets that you love.

 

If you have some time to read, I highly recommend Daniel Pink's  A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers will Rule the Future. Although it was written 5 years ago, I just read it last week. It changed the way I view my future and the way I talk to my children about their future. 

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.

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

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

 

a beautiful neutral master bedroom design in process...

As many of you who have followed Velvet and Linen for a while know, I've been working with Beth and Blake for quite a while. Last year we warmed up their Living Room, Dining Room, Entry, and Family Room. This year, we have moved upstairs...

This was what Beth and Blake's Master Bedroom looked like when we first met:

 

We are still in the middle of the design, but this is what it looks like today. 

 

Beth and I both love antiques, so we used different antique tables on either side of the bed. This beauty is on Beth's side. 

 

 

You can see a hint of Blakes more masculine table in this picture. It's not quite ready for its close-up. In the forground the linen slipcovered Nick sofa is embellished with cozy hand knit sweater pillows and one pale blue linen pillow. 

 

 

The ottoman is custom piece. We left the legs in unfinished Alder. The edge of the natural linen is left raw just below the upholstery tacks. We added one of our vintage French breadboads for a place for Beth to put her morning coffee. 

 

We also added a chandelier in the center of the room. As you can see from this image, we are still waiting for draperies, two Swedish barrel chairs  and  an area rug underneath the seating area (think neutral with hints of blue).  I'm also thinking of placing a mirror on the wall above the bed...

 

Stay tuned for the next layer...

Thank you to Beth and Blake for letting me share your bedroom with everyone!

 

xo

Brooke

I also want to thank Canadian House and Home Magazine for including Patina Style in their December Top Titles feature! Steve and I are so honored! xo xo

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.

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

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.