Something Beautiful Journal

Decorate A Dreamhouse - Manhattan Brownstone

In my current SB Journal entry "Decorating A Dreamhouse" - - - I'm imagining I'm living in a Manhattan Brownstone in the Upper West Side Of New York, like the one above.

I record in my Journal that the Brownstone is among New York's finest neighborhoods, with its charming, brownstone facade and classic styling; the neighborhood is favored for its historical value, dating back to the nineteenth century. Its wonderfulness includes:

* My Brownstone has been tweaked a tad - I painted every inch of the exterior of my unit a beautiful enamel white. The detail of the stair rails appears even more stunning in white.
* It is flanked by the East River so in addition to the beauty of living on the waterfront, I can enjoy the amenities of living in a beautiful urban downtown such as world renowned museums and parks.
* The interiors are a fresh, sophisticated cottage look, with a mix of Swedish and French antiques. The color scheme is subdued; my unit is open and airy and full of light helping to provide a feel of endless space - enhanced by 12' ceilings.
* Although it is fresh-looking and on the side of contemporary, there are unexpected accents throughout the house that are antiques or that have been painted and decorated in a way that lend intentionally to the drama of agelessness.
* Ensuring that wonderful quality of comfort, I have purposely made it welcoming and romantic through the combination of color and texture (including provision of monogrammed bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets and wonderfully soft blankets and throws).

We're going inside now so please join me as I write in my SB Journal on decorating the interiors of my sophisticated Manhattan Brownstone.

My Formal Entryway:

When you enter my Brownstone there is a small formal entryway and here you are greeted by the resonance of this significant Swedish late Gustavian Grandfather Clock as it chimes in the new hour. The warmth of its sound brings life to my house.

It is one of the many beautiful antiques available from Talisman Antiques of London.

My Manhattan Brownstone Living Room:

Windows in my Brownstone are significant - they are numerous and oversized owing to the 12' ceilings.

The window coverings are simple but elegant, also a nod to a more contemporary look. I've avoided ornate valances, cornices, tiebacks and tasseles. They are a simple silk drapery style that just slightly forms a "puddle and poof" on my floor.

Hanging in the center of my Manhattan Brownstone living area is this dramatic 31" black Murano Chandelier .

The chandelier's style is a reproduction 17th-century Venetian-style chandelier, with scrolling leaf and flower motifs, and it repeats other designs throughout the room. Made in Italy, it is available from Design With Reach.

Fell in love with this white linen Swedish settee From Tone On Tone Antiques. The curbed backrest and cut outs are delicate and a perfect backing for the detailed embroidered and pearl decorated lumbar pillow. The frame includes laurel leaf trim, applied lion masks & flowerettes, front turned fluted legs & rear sabering legs.

The coffee table measures 58" x 33"

- and is definitely 'art as furniture.' By Eva Zeisel, this piece is one of my home's favorite unexpected accents.

Born in 1906 and still designing today, Eva Zeisel is known world wide for her work with clay but it was not until she was in her 80's that she began designing coffee tables. Zeisel is a recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award For Lifetime Achievement. The Eva Zeisel Coffee Table is available from Design Within Reach.

Again I chose muted fabric color tones on these upholstery pieces, my Club Chairs, French Napoleon III, dating back from the 1870's to 1880's. From Tone On Tone Antiques, the chairs are covered in a heavy Belgian linen and each chair holds a very soft-colored, floral decorative pillow.

With classic baroque style and innovative modern design, the Louis Ghost Transparent Chair is both enchanting and comfortable.

In a short time this chair has become an iconic piece in the canon of Philippe Starck for its instantly recognizable Louis XVI chair shape pared down to an essential form and boldly reinterpreted in plastic.

And ..... it is sitting in my living room - - a-hem, just a cute little sidechair.

The "Manuscrit Rug" is my choice for underfoot - Joaquim Ruiz Millet is an architect and designer, and a writer, filmmaker and gallery directory. His Manuscrit Rug is an expression of all of his passions and features a romantic poem that he wrote in his native Catalan. It features the actual handwriting of the designer, the rug is an enlargement of a page in a novel Ruiz Millet is working on. It is available from Design Within Reach.

Last but not least, artwork for my living area's walls:

I have chosen this one oversized artwork by Pablo Picasso, "Evening Flowers".

I find that my living room area is dynamic with its tall, elegant drapery presentations, beautiful but subtle Swedish pieces, the explosively-black chandelier, overhead, the artwork-as-furniture coffee table by Eva Zeisel and then, of course, the Manuscrit Rug. It is lovely and complete and I rest at the selection of this one piece.

My Dining Area:

This beautiful collection is from Maison Home Interiors which is located in Richmond, Virginia. I love the tall global candleholders and how they play off the glass reflections in the crystal chandelier and off of the tall cabinet's

glass fronts.

On the opposite wall I have the Ballards Canterbury sideboard in cream, and also from Ballards, the Lemon Topiary Tree.

My Master Bedroom:

My bedding is romantic with its scruptious feeling, goose-down insert duvet, monogrammed pillow shams and embroidered bedding. Both the bed and bedding are from Pottery Barn.

I like comfy places to sit and read. I like to put my feet up, I like a nice view. These two pieces fit my needs and I like the tactile feel and look they offer my bedroom - the natural woven Seagrass Wingback Armchair and Ottoman, are also from Pottery Barn.

I love waking up and seeing this Anastasia Mirror - it is graceful while the shelf with its contents allows it to look as if it is a functional piece.

This has been so much fun, writing my "Decorating A Dreamhouse," this time as a Manhattan Brownstone. Of course I just imagined decorating it, but I desired to create an inviting, sophisticated but enchanting home.

I could so live here. Couldn't you?

Want More? Click to read "Decorate A Dreamhouse - English Country Cottage" or "Decorate A Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island."

If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our Directory of Designers can help you locate a professional in your area. Working with an interior designer helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Decorating For Serenity, Less Things, More Life

The little country of Norway is known for furniture styles that are sleek, clean and minimalistic. I recently learned a wonderfully-interesting fact about this Country. "The people" who study on country's citizens' contentment levels in life and lifestyle report that Norway tops these scales..... Hummm .......

A lovely Norwegian woman (sorry, didn't catch the name), said, succinctly, "Less Things, More Life." Ahhhh . . . . . it makes my back and shoulders relax!

I will use this lovely quote as an example of an important design rule. A cluttered environment can greatly affect one's serenity and sense of calm. The more stuff we have that clutters our lives literally and figuratively = the less actual space we have to enjoy our lives.

Here are some beautiful yet comfortable - sleek, clean and minimalistic looks.

This furniture line is by Motif Designs of New York and I love it - the Colony Chest Ocean with polished nickel drawer pulls has a seventies modern shape (available in four lacquered finishes: Ocean, Creme, Cinnabar and Java. Framed in Cherry wood.)

By Motif Designs also, the Empire Table Lamp is conical-shaped crystal on a finely detailed, crystal-faceted base (topped off with a simple, natural, parchment shade. )

This is good design. The "solidness" of the chest and headboard paired with the transparent effects of the Empire Table Lamp and flower vase are exquisite. The photo frames are simple, not dark, heavy or ornate and it also helps that the photos are more lite than dark. The pairing of items - especially the crystal ("spaceless") vase and lamp - allows for four items on top the chest with no appearance of clutter. Viola! This is good design. The furniture pieces are pretty and they are presented keeping with their style.

This one is beautiful and fun - this is a very,
very traditional chair style, of course, but it has been tweaked.

This chair sashays a contemporary fun feel with its chic clean leather look. This is the Jonathon Chair, also by Motif Designs. It is a delight to the eye . . . clean and sleek. The vignette with the chair, the glass blocks - instead of a window pane, displays no excess. But it does display beauty and serenity. Note the base of the floor lamp's design, it is almost invisible and yet draws your eye up to the lovely floral arrangement. All of this is easy on the eye and again, we have a winner in good design!

The fun catalog Frontgate has a couple pieces to help keep the clean, sleek organized look. These two organizing units from are au currant - check them out! Clean, sleek and of course the ultimate, one of them has a surge protector! Super wow!

The Wood Burl, Solid Mahogany Charging Station from

Frontgate is so just what everyone who wants to be organized needs. It's quietly, superbly efficient - a cool way to rid yourself of that typical desk or countertop clutter - you'll now be organized and your cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, or games, electronics, fully charged. Its surge-protected power strip is concealed inside charging station,

hidden from the public eye -powering up to four electronic portables at once. The charging station boasts drawers and slots to hold mail, keys, and miscellaneous items .

And another organizing tool . . . .

The Burled Desk Caddy is equally beautiful open or closed, and is a stately, yet practical addition to any office. Neatly fitted with drawers and cubbies, the tabletop caddy conceals and organizes checkbooks, stamps, keys, pens, and correspondence.

When we are furnishing our homes we have a certain look that we're hoping to achieve, i.e., decorating for serenity, less things more life. Its often important to consider certain rules of design to assure we do achieve that look that we seek. As seen here, if you are careful in the selection of the exact furniture and accessories and in their placement in your home, you can still have many items as necesssary and desired and still achieve that beautiful, serene feel.

Motif Designs is available through interior designers - - if you are interested in this furniture or in need of some particular interior design assistance, our Directory of Designers can help you locate a professional in your area. Working with an interior designer helps assure you get the look you desire while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Omvivo Bathroom Products Wow!

The intention was to create a complete suite of luxury pieces that combine beautiful yet simple aesthetics with flexible design, suitable for a varied range of bathroom environments.

Was it a success? Beyond a shadow of a doubt. "Latis" by Omvivo is an opulent and sculptural range of bathroom products that compliments both modern and traditional spaces. In the industry we call that a classic.

The Omvivo designer is said to have been inspired by the fundamentals of tradition and quality. Uncomplicated, elegant forms combine with beautiful materials such as natural stone to create a luxurious contemporary range with eternal appeal. Named after the Celtic Goddess of Water, the Latis range includes basins, the trestle vanity and a remarkable bath. The basins are available in round and rectangular designs with soft curves, in a variety of finishes. The deep bath features an optional timber end with practical open shelves. The bath and trestle vanity both have clean angled lines that contrast and compliment the sculptural form of the basins.

The elegantly-minimalist Le Cob Bath pays homage to Le Corbusier’s famous chaise lounge. This bath tub is not something you see everyday.

The "Le Cob" bathtub is designed by Omvivo CEO & Chief Designer Joseph Licciarsi - this bath tub creates a unique bathing experience. The soothing cascade overflow is naturally therapeutic, reminiscent of a river, as the water falls onto the pebbles below. The Elegant Le Cob bath is handcrafted from a combination of Corian® and glass. It has everything, it arrives supplied complete with overflow tray and pebbles.

Washplane Basins - Check These Out!

The Omvivo Washplane - Omvivo offers an truly original range of bathroom sinks – Washplane. Its name perfectly reflects the best feature of its models – slimness. These bathroom sinks almost haven’t any hollow for the water. If you needn’t to hold the water then these sinks could become an interesting choice for you.

Behavioural changes over the years indicate that we are now using a continuous flow of clean water, rather than using soiled water in a plugged basin. This observation allowed Omvivo to change the whole design approach to a ‘washing vessel’. Without the need to hold water, a basin could be slim, elegant and sculptural, and at the same time use considerably less water through the utilisation of a restricted water outlet, such as the Omvivo Ulisse outlet.

There are a lot of models which are differs by materials and a little by shapes available. One of the most attractive models of this company is a wall-mounted sink made of seafoam glass. This material adds a natural and unique touch to this sink and makes it refine and sculptural. Supporting elements are made of high-quality stainless steel which perfectly combines with glass. These bathroom sinks are available in different sizes and can be comfortable as for one as for two or even for three persons. Above are shown two of these new sink basin styles, the elegant Linea Washplane Seafoam Glass and the Geo Washplane Stone, which is made of Carrara marble.

Omvivo Bathroom Products are available through interior designers - - if you are interested in this furniture or in need of some particular interior design assistance, our Directory of Designers can help you locate a professional in your area. Working with an interior designer helps assure you get the look you desire while helping eliminate costly mistakes.