Media Talk: The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine Story!

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I was so thrilled that the story of my Boston South End Living Room design project was showcased in the January 17th edition of the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine.  The story by Jaci Conry, called Strategic Splurges , was about how I mixed high end furnishings from an antique French chandelier and sconces and a custom designed Baker sofa with more reasonably priced retail finds from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Restoration Hardware and Homegoods. 

You should be able to click on the image to see the full size version, or click here for the online version.


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Travel Tuesday: The Inn at St. Botolph, Boston

 Located on the border Boston's historic Back Bay and eclectic South End, the Inn at St. Botolph (who was the patron saint of travelers) is an upscale boutique hotel decorated by New England Design Hall of Fame honoree Celeste Cooper. The hotel is less hotel-y and more like your own little rented pied-a-terre in the city. There is no check-in, no bell hops or concierge and few standard hotel amenities. However, it does boast beautifully decorated and spacious suites complete with kitchens. The New York Times gave the hotel a mediocre review for amenities, but high marks for the interior design which it described as "Modern Male".

Two Bedroom Executive Suite floor plan

 

Two Bedroom Alcove Suite Sitting Area - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

Two Bedroom Alcove Suite Bedroom - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

Two Bedroom Alcove Suite Alcove - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

Studio Suite floorplan

Studio Suite Bed - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

Studio Suite floor plan

One Bedroom Suite Bedroom - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

One Bedroom Deluxe Sitting Area - image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

Image courtesy of Michael J. Lee

 

I really like the mix of strongly patterned woods and graphic materials. The hounds tooth check chairs are my favorite!

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Linda's Kitchen - the penultimate update

Once upon a time (okay, about six months ago), I had a kitchen that looked like this:

And over several months - mainly on Sunday afternoons - my great pal Rob O'Connell and I have transformed this drab and dated little kitchen with the help of a lot of paint and hard work.  As part of my ongoing partnership with New England Home magazine, I was lucky enough to receive all new Whirlpool stainless appliances courtesy of Ferguson in Franklin, MA. 

Outside of the appliances, my budget was very small. Originally, I wanted to spend no more than $300.  Well, I've spent a little more but not much. I still need to add up all the receipts so maybe I'll be surprised. We'll see.

Meanwhile, I wanted the share the last major items that I just installed today.  I discussed last week how we installed the new counter along the long wall entering into the kitchen and I've been debating a long time what kind of counter skirt I wanted - tailored and smart looking or a gathered girlie looking thing. I'd decided to use burlap which is environmentally friendly, trendy (not something I'm normally big on) and at $1.99 per yard, also trés budget friendly.

As you can see below, I went with a simple gathered skirt attached along the edge of the counter with Velcro. I ended up using shirring tape to gather the skirt, as the burlap was so heavy, bulky and long that my normal method of doing gathers just would not do. I had some problem with attaching the skirt as I wanted to use Velcro so it would be removable. However, the skirt would not stay stuck to the sticky side of the Velcro so I tried sewing it. Which resulted in 3 of the 5 broken sewing machine needles I experienced today. In the end, I had to resort to semi-discreet stapling. Oh well, live and learn.

And today I made a new roman shade made from the burlap. I used my original toile shade as the template to follow and even reused the cording and wooden rods in the top and bottom.  I've never made a roman shade before (I usually stay away from mechanical things and stick with pillows that just sit there looking pretty and aren't expected to do much of anything).  For my first foray, I don't think it's too bad. I'm hoping the folds will settle in.  I am happy to have something up in the window again, it feels finished.

And so, I've pretty much come to the end of my kitchen makeover. I have a couple of decorative items to attend to and then I'm thrilled that photographer Michael J. Lee will be photographing it. So, stay tuned for the "big reveal" in a few weeks.

And meanwhile, speaking of Michael, I'm very excited to share that The Boston Sunday Globe magazine ran a feature on my Boston townhouse living room project that Michael shot for me this summer. It's truly because of his amazing photography that this project was able to be published so quickly. So check out "Strategic Splurges". 



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[Spare] Change for Hope: Haiti

Of course, we've all been devastated this week by the terrible stories and images coming out of Haiti. And we hear of stars making large donations and good for them.  Design star Charlotte Moss has donated $10,000 and reminds us that we can all give something and anything will make a difference.  Now, we can't all be million dollar donors like Brad and Angelina or even ten-thousand dollar donors like Charlotte. But she's right, we can all give something.

How about your spare change?

This has been a tough couple of years for many of us in the design industry, especially for the self-employed. When your industry feels like it's drying up but it's your only source of household income, it can get a little scary.  At times of crisis and great suffering, when you want to be able to give like the big guys, you just know you can't.  And there's no dishonor in giving five or ten dollars, or even one dollar. Let's face it, that's more than many in Haiti and others in the world would be able to give on a good day.

I wanted to share with you my crisis donation jar.  We all have spare change hanging around in cups and on dressers. I keep mine in this plexiglass and metal container that feels very vault like. In 2005, I was able to donate $60 to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. And today, I emptied my pennies and quarters out into a large plastic ziplock and dragged it over to my local Coinstar machine and guess how much it came to? $60.00. Take away $5 for the Coinstar Machine and I have a nice $55 donation all set to go to the Catholic Charities of Boston for their relief efforts. Boston has one of the largest Haitian communities in the U.S. and Catholic Charities is not only sending relief funds to Haiti, but is also helping those Haitians here who will need help dealing with the loss of family and the financial burdens of bringing family members here for burial.

There is no shortage of places to donate to as there is no shortage of need. I encourage all of you to check under the sofa cushions or in the back of your closet for any spare change - it adds up! And I encourage you to start your own crisis relief jar. After all, just having spare change means we're better off than 92% of the world's population.  As they say "If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, spare change in a drawer, a pocket or somewhere you are among the top 8% of the world’s most wealthy people."  The least we can do is put it to good use.



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The Skirted Roundtable - Chatting with set decorator Beth Rubino

If this room speaks to you, then you MUST run over to The Skirted Roundtable. This week, Megan, Joni and I chatted with the amazingly talented Beth Rubino.

Something's Gotta Give has become the #1 most popular movie set of a house and we chatted with her about her "method decorator" style and how she helped make this amazing set into the fourth main charachter in the movie. We also discussed with Beth why the paint colors used in movies cannot be replicated at home "You couldn't live with them" she said.

So please, join us!



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Travel Tuesday: Hotel Palazzina Grassi designed by Philippe Starck

Iconic French designer Philippe Starck's new Italian hotel project - The Palazzina Grassi - has opened and we've gotten a sneak peak into this palace of sparkling mirrors and glass.  Located along the Grand Canal the building's shell dates to the 16th century, in which generations of noble and "haute-bourgeois" families lived. Mr. Starck has incorporated loads of murano glass chandis, Ventian mirrors and a few touches of Italian design icon Piero Fornasetti.  This hotel is seriously romantic and sexy.

The goal of the hotel is to give its patrons the most Venetian experience it can. Check in happens on the 1960's Celli boat that brings you right to the private hotel dock. Check-in happens on the boat and there is not hotel "desk" in the lobby. 

 

Breakfast can be served at any time of day and anywhere in the hotel. I'd truly never leave!

 

The whitewashed beamed ceilings ad a rustic counterpoint to the slick mirrors and Starck's signature aluminum furniture.  The rooms range from a small 215 sq. ft. (approx. 15'x15')  to a large 750 sq. ft.(approx. 35'x20').  Prices range from approximately $420 to $1,310. Not budget, but maybe for a splurge?

 

 

 

The masks are a signature design element in the hotel - very Carnevale de Venizia.

 

Note the spectacular Venetian mirrors mounted on the glass walls, or perhaps they are mirrored walls? It's hard to tell!

 

The hotel restaurant is filled with spectacular Murano glass chandeliers and artworks by Aristide Najean.

 

Doesn't this chandi look like a mass of seaweed and coral? The fish bone rug adds a touch of whimsy and humor. 

 

 

Can you just imagine sinking into these lush sofas and the dark and romantic atmosphere, sipping a little grappa? 

 

 

The hallways are lit in different dark and gorgeous colors. 

 

Boo.

 

  I've never been to Venice, have you? This one is on my list!

Images via DeZeen, DesignHotels.com, 

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