Archive for the ‘Curb appeal’ Category
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Jasper and Weenie loll about the front yard at Adamsleigh, the site of the 2013 Junior League of Greensboro showhouse. The 14-acre estate was built by High Point textile magnate "Hamp" Adams and boasts amazing details and stunning architecture. Jasper and Weenie approve.
Gang:
Morning!
John and I have been down in the High Point, North Carolina area for the past week preparing our room for the Junior League of Greensboro showhouse. We have designed the breakfast nook in the amazing, circa-1930 Adamsleigh estate, and we have been hanging curtains, steaming, scrubbing, and propping.
John and I are thrilled to be working with our dear pals at Thibaut, and we employed their fabulous fabrics, wallpapers, and upholstery in the room. Plus, we added loads of vintage case goods and “props” to add a layer of dimensionality to our room and take it from looking like a showroom.The showhouse opens tomorrow night with a Gatsby-themed gala, and we are so excited to show off our wares.
Here are a few photos from our room in progress.
See you at High Point Market!
Here's the exterior of the breakfast nook... The fabulous leaded-glass windows let in loads of light and make the breakfast nook airy and delicious.
The breakfast nook at Adamsleigh “before”… I can’t wait for you to see the “after” shots.
Here's the fabulous jute rug that we picked up at a World Market in Florida and drove up to the showhouse. There's a World Market just down the street from the showhouse, but it did not have the rug that we needed. Happily, we were in Florida, so it was easy for us to swing by the WM outpost near Orlando. John and I just love World Market!
Our workroom in Iowa crafts a stunning valance in Thibaut fabrics...
So what does our room look like now? Come to the Junior League of Greensboro showhouse, and pay us a visit. The showhouse opens this Saturday... See you there!
Tags: Adamsleigh, High Point Market, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Junior League of Greensboro, Madcap Cottage, Thibaut
Posted in Antiques, Before and After, Carpets, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Fabrics, Flooring, Hanging artwork, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Paint, Renovations, Road Trip, Tastemaker, upholstery, Wallpaper, Weekend warrior | No Comments »
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
John enjoys a late lunch at Terrain's amazingly chic Garden Cafe, housed within a vintage greenhouse that spills over with flowers and candles. Terrain really "gets" the details. The bread, for instance, arrives in a terracotta pot. Divine.
Gang:
If you follow this blog regularly (and God help you if you don’t!), you know that I am obsessed with the nursery-cum-lifestyle store Terrain located outside of Philadelphia. Last February I did two blog posts on this amazing spot, and I am here today to write yet another installment.
John and I were in Philadelphia last week to do some antiquing, and we made a pilgrimage to the Urban Outfitters-owned Terrain outpost in nearby Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. The first of the two Terrain outposts–the other opened last year in Westport, Connecticut–sits on the busy Baltimore Pike and occupies what was once the Styer family farm. Surrounded by urban sprawl–including several big-box stores–Terrain is a gem-like sanctuary that will wow you and definitely provide heaps of inspiration.
Here are some images from our visit.
It was a cold and damp afternoon when John and I arrived at Terrain, but the whimsical decor quickly transported us to far warmer and more inviting climes. Look what some outdoor curtains and a Moroccan-styled lantern can do to take a space from nice to knockout.
While Terrain boasts incredible plants, it also stocks gorgeous furnishings and lighting. Soak up the wonderful displays, too, such as this wonderful shelving unit that houses firewood. Why not bring this idea home?
Check out this genius espaliered tree that has been trained to grow in the shape of a heart. What a fabulous Valentine's Day gift for the plantsman/woman! And FYI: Espaliering is the horticultural practice of controlling woody plant growth originally for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame so that they grow into a flat plane, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis.
Tags: Glen Mills, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Landscaping, Madcap Cottage, Morocco, Nursery, Terrain, Urban Outfitters
Posted in Antiques, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Gardens, Interior Design, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, Road Trip, Tastemaker, upholstery, Weekend warrior | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
The La-Z-Boy truck arrives at Chester Court in Brooklyn. The delivery men were so lovely and nice and accommodating... They must not be from New York.
Gang:
Morning!
As I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, John and I were invited to design our own La-Z-Boy chair when we were in High Point, North Carolina in the fall for the twice-annual furniture market. And we were thrilled to create something fresh and fun, with a dash of the Madcap Cottage flair.
Frankly, John and I were surprised by the range of La-Z-Boy products… I had always thought of La-Z-Boy as being stuffy recliners that maybe my grandparents owned and that sat in front of their honker-sized stereo-cabinet television set in Sarasota, Florida. Actually, this is an exact portrait of my grandparents in Florida, ha!
Well, La-Z-Boy has come a long way. John and I chose a lovely spindle chair and selected fabrics from the La-Z-Boy range. Sadly, we couldn’t add different weltings or tweak other elements of our chair, but we are still deliciously happy with the results. We had hoped to customize the lumbar pillow on the chair to match the ottoman fabric, but that wasn’t possible… We should do a pop-up collection for La-Z-Boy, n’est-ce pas? It’s all about the details, folks.
The chair? The Caroline Stationary Occasional Chair.
The ottoman? The Caroline Ottoman.
The fabrics?
Chair upholstery: Bronze Q959148
Ottoman: Raja Q974107 Zamira
What do you think of the results? Chic, comfortable, and a great price point!
The La-Z-Boy delivery gents carry our new chair and ottoman into our basement office on Chester Court. We couldn't wait to see our creation.
The very nice delivery man from La-Z-Boy unwraps the Caroline chair and ottoman. Note the photo of me and John with design editor Tori Mellott in the background.
Here's our brand-new La-Z-Boy chair with the Madcap Cottage "tweaks." Apparently, John and I are the first people ever to create a La-Z-Boy product where the chair fabric and ottoman fabric don't match. Go figure! The black finish on the frame provides a bold, but works-anywhere neutral tone.
Tags: furniture market, high point, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, La-Z-Boy, Madcap Cottage
Posted in Before and After, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, DIY, Fabrics, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Painted Furniture, upholstery | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 12th, 2012
Pantone might have declared 2013 to be the year of emerald green, but John and I will be pushing eau de Nil. To appreciate the eau de Nil hue in all its splendor, pay a visit to London's fabulous Fortnum & Mason department store. Here, F&M decked out for the holiday season. F&M even has eau de Nil-colored beehives upon its roof. Genius!
Gang:
As you know, John and I are simply crazy about employing shades of green in our design work. There’s nothing more soothing than splashes of green in a home.
Pantone has just announced that emerald green is the color of 2013. And while the Madcap Cottage gents do love emerald green, we are committed to another shade of green for the year ahead, eau de Nil.
Eau de Nil? Doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps. Water of the Nile. Think a pale yellow-green color… John and I are simply mad for eau de Nil and plan to use it extensively, including painting our front door this kick-ass color.
Here are a few images of eau de Nil-ish creations to inspire you to employ this marvelous hue in your own home.
The absolutely gorgeous Golden Step dining room at the stunning Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This room is one of my top ten favorites.
The delicious Un Jardin sur le Nil fragrance from Hermes. Bliss. John and I always spritz ourselves with this scent when we pass a duty-free shop in the airport.
An eau de Nil-ish notebook from the color-crazy crew at Smythson of Bond Street. Such fun!
Jasper Conran's Chinoiserie Green 9" dinner plate from Wedgwood. Perfection!
Cooking Apple Green from British paint company Farrow & Ball is pure heaven.
Tags: Beauport, Eau de Nil, Farrow & Ball, Fortnum & Mason, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Madcap Cottage, Sleeper-McCann House
Posted in Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Paint, Tastemaker, Weekend warrior | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
John and I lapped up the cheap and chic holiday decorations that we spotted at the Conran's lifestyle store in London that is housed within the historic Michelin House, the French tire company's circa-1911 former headquarters. Next time you are in London, be sure to wander through the Art Nouveau-styled building with its shop, Bibendum restaurant (Bibendum being the name of Michelin's iconic mascot who is crafted of tires), flower store, and amazing cafe.
Gang:
John and I are just back from our amazing trip to London, and we are not stopping to take a breath. Oh, no! There is too much fabulous work to be done. Who needs sleep when the world needs prettying-up, n’est-ce pas?
Today I strung Christmas lights in our Brooklyn front yard and hung a now-vintage Martha By Mail wreath on our front door.
But how do you feel about your holiday decorations?
Don’t even think you have to spend lots of money to make your home look fabulous at the holidays… Mais non!
John and I were so inspired by the tissue paper decorations that we spotted at Conran’s in London. Tissue paper is all the rage, and it’s cheap, cheap, cheap and so multi-faceted! One of our favorite sources for tissue paper decorations is Party Cheap, so check out their bells and balls and whatnot then get to decorating your home.
And be sure to send us photos of your holiday handiwork!
Inexpensive tissue-paper decorations create a magical moment in a window display at Conran's. Bring this look home: It's cheap and very glamorous!
A gorgeous assortment of colorful tissue-paper decorations hang over a table at Conran's. Stunning, n'est-ce pas?
Another view of the simple-chic dining table at Conran's with the assortment of tissue-paper bells and balls hanging overhead. What an easy holiday decoration, and yet so chic!
Tags: Bibendum, Christmas, Conran's, Holiday decorations, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Michelin House, Tissue paper
Posted in Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Weekend warrior | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 16th, 2012
One of the stars of our HGTV television shoot for the program "You Live in What?" was our brand-new Sofa.com Descartes two seat sofa in Cookie House linen-cotton. If you don't know British import Sofa.com, you should! Newly arrived in NYC, Sofa.com crafts the most gorgeous and bespoke sofas, chairs, and footstools in wonderful fabrics--and at a delicious price point.
Gang:
Happy weekend!
John and I were lucky enough to have HGTV film our home upstate last weekend for their fabulous show “You Live in What?.”
Madcap Cottage was once an 1840s-era schoolhouse, so the home perfectly fit the show’s concept. The day went swimmingly… Thanks to producer Toni Donaldson and her terrific team for making the shoot a lot of fun.
Apparently, Madcap Cottage will appear on HGTV in early 2013, so stay tuned!
Weenie snoozed during the entire HGTV shoot upon her custom Madcap Cottage dog bed while Jasper ran about and caused a bit of a ruckus. Did you know that John and I craft custom dog beds? Well, now you do!
Here's another view of our Sofa.com two-seat sofa that John and I adorned with custom Madcap Cottage pillows.
Tags: HGTV, Hobart, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Madcap Cottage, NY, Sofa.com, You Live in What?
Posted in Antiques, Before and After, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Fabrics, Interior Design, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Paint a front door, Paint the ceiling, Painted Furniture, Renovations, Road Trip, Sustainable, Tastemaker, Television, Tips for Design Small Spaces, Weekend warrior | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 13th, 2012
John and I paid a visit today to Jayson Home, a terrific--and inspiring--shop in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Gang:
Whew! It’s been quite the week… HGTV filmed Madcap Cottage in upstate New York on Saturday then John and I zipped back to NYC and then on to Chicago on Sunday. And then our fifth One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale kicked-off this morning. Have you scoped our fabulous wares? Honestly, I think this sale has the best selection of merchandise that we have offered yet. Our sale ends on the 16th, so go do some shopping! We have loads of holiday-ready gifts…
But back to Chicagoland!
This morning, John and I visited Chicago’s very chic Jayson Home, a retail outpost that mixes vintage finds with contemporary goods… And we were both quite impressed. Magical retail spaces that inspire seem to be something from the past, but, happily, Jayson Home really gets it and challenges the consumer to craft environments that are unique and bespoke.
Jayson Home is known for its whimsical displays, including vignettes such as these chairs that seemingly spill to the floor.
There's nothing better than some faux bois paired with cement mushrooms! I just love a wondrous woodland vignette!
John peruses the terrific book selection at Jayson Home. We just love a good coffee table book about fabulous interiors.
Tags: Chicago, HGTV, Holiday gifts, Jason Oliver Nixon, Jayson Home, John Loecke, Madcap Cottage, One Kings Lane, Tastemaker Tag Sale
Posted in Antiques, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, DIY, Gardens, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Road Trip | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 31st, 2012
Our our recent trip to India, John and I were lucky enough to take a Jeep tour through the Thar desert near Jodhpur. We loved being in the middle of this incredibly arid landscape and seeing native villagers dressed in every color of the rainbow. The Indian color sensibility is revelatory.
Gang:
Our heartfelt wishes to friends who are combating the devastation of Hurricane Sandy… We are thinking about you!
John and I made out A-OK in Brooklyn, and we were lucky enough to not have the power go off and there was no damage to our home. We are very thankful…
Today I needed a little color-packed pick-me-up, so I turned my sights upon the sights and smells of India. As you may remember, John and I visited India last year, and we immediately fell in love with the country. It’s a heady mix of extreme contrasts, but somehow it all works. We were completely transfixed. And transfigured.
One of my most favorite afternoons in India was a Jeep tour that we did of the Thar desert outside of Jodhpur when we visited native villages and viewed local wildlife. John and I were especially moved by the juxtaposition of the arid desert and the wonderfully rich hues worn by local villagers. We would turn a corner in the middle of nowhere, and there would be a woman in the most stunning pinks, greens, and blues with a jug perched atop her head. The sky was exceptionally clear, and the colors stood out like a Technicolor film clip against the dry, dry landscape.
Here are a few snapshots from our visit.
Here I am in the Jeep during our wonderful tour of the beautiful Thar desert.
Check out this elegant gentleman trimming his tree in a stunning white get-up paired with a bright red turban. What a gorgeous contrast against the very arid landscape!
Check out this frisky lady en route from the well with a big plastic jug upon her head. Did this woman choose to wear beige? Hell, no! Kudos that color plays such an important role in India. Would you have worn such eye-popping hues to visit your local well?
I loved this gigantic pile of pale green melons sitting by the roadside. The sudden "pops" of color that we experienced during our Jeep tour were simply gorgeous.
Tags: Color, india, Jason Oliver Nixon, Jodhpur, John Loecke, Madcap Cottage, Thar desert
Posted in Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, india, New York Interior Designer, Road Trip | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 29th, 2012
Here's the former garage at Madcap Cottage in upstate New York when John and I purchased the property. The garage was a mess and was totally shrouded with out-of-control greenery. Our goal was to take this forlorn folly and make it fabulous. Hopefully, you can pluck ideas from our plan of attack to employ in your own home.
Gang:
John and I are hunkered down in Brooklyn as Sandy terrorizes the East Coast… We have wine and I made tacos, and I am cleaning out my closet and am still wearing my pajamas at 1:30pm so it’s not all bad… John is listening to Christmas carols on Pandora for some reason. Curious, n’est-ce pas? Weenie and Jasper are snoozing.
As the day is totally drab and dull, I thought I would offer some color, a Technicolor-hued punch…
Here’s a photo tour of our former garage at Madcap Cottage in upstate New York that John and I transformed from a tumbledown structure into a rainbow-hued screened-in porch.
I hope you enjoy the journey…
Stay dry, and stay safe!
New roofing, screened doors, and a cupola that John and I purchased online take the exterior of the garage and make it gorgeous. The cupola is vinyl-clad, so it will never need painting. I am not a fan of vinyl siding, but here it makes total sense.
John and I had the interior patched and a new cement floor poured. And we carved-out screened windows that look onto our backyard. A pale blue ceiling helps open up the space.
John and I found some beat-up old garden furniture and had it powder coated a bright lemon yellow. The results are perfectly sunny and delicious! Find garden furniture at a yard sale, and have it powder coated to give it new life.
John and I came up with a fun fabric scheme that mixes lots of easy-to-care-for indoor/outdoor fabrics in big, bold hues.
Jasper eyes the work in progress. Almost complete!
And here's the finished product... John and I were lucky enough to have the screened-in porch appear in the magazine DIY. Jasper makes himself right at home in the finished screened-in porch, now renamed The Little House. Floor paint transformed a cement floor into something fabulous. John crafted the window treatments from Ikea using a stamp that he picked up at a flea market with fabric paint.
Note the inexpensive Chinese lanterns that dangle overhead, an inexpensive way to add "punch" and "pizzazz" to any space. The cupola adds further "architecture" to a roofline that was sorely lacking interest.
Tags: Color, DIY, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Little House, Madcap Cottage, renovation, Sandy, whimsy
Posted in Before and After, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, DIY, Fabrics, Flooring, Gardens, Interior Design, Landscaping, Lighting, New York Interior Designer, Paint, Paint the floor, Painted Furniture, Pets, Powder coating, Renovations, Tastemaker, Tips for Design Small Spaces, Weekend warrior | 2 Comments »
Friday, October 5th, 2012
John heads into London's verdant Battersea Park to pay a visit to the thrice-annual Decorative Fair. The Fair is truly a treasure trove of delicious finds!
Gang:
This past week John and I made a pilgrimage to the fabulous Decorative Fair that takes place three times each year in London’s stunning Battersea Park on the south side of the Thames.
And, wow!, we were so inspired, and not only by the fabulous goods but also by the very approachable prices. I am not one for “important” antiques unless you inherited them, so it was great to see that there were so many pieces at the fair that John and I could actually afford.
Here’s a little tour…
A pair of floral-patterned armchairs that felt very "Madcap Cottage," n'est-ce pas? There's nothing like multiple fabrics and delicious details to take furniture from ho-hum to super-ho.
A gorgeous Chinoiserie-styled lantern. Swoon!
John and I adored this oversized concrete basket, one of a pair. These baskets would be perfect for sitting atop pilasters at the back of a yard.
A stunning tole metal palm tree! If John and I could have carried this back to NYC with us on the plane, we would have snapped it up!
A very yummy pair of green chairs with terrific nailhead detailing.
There were lots of dogs at the Decorative Fair. We wished that Weenie and Jasper could have been in attendance, too.
Tags: Battersea Park, Decorative Fair, Jason Oliver Nixon, Jasper, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Tole, Weenie
Posted in Antiques, China, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, Fabrics, Furniture Recovering, Gardens, Interior Design, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Painted Furniture, Pets, Road Trip | No Comments »
The breakfast nook at Adamsleigh “before”… I can’t wait for you to see the “after” shots.
