Hardware in the Christopher Peacock Kitchen

The Christopher Peacock Kitchen continues to be ever popular. For the elite few who can afford these kitchens they embody a classic, old world style. Popular among the rich and famous, Christopher Peacock has clients world wide and many in NYC and the Hampton's.

For the rest of America copying these kitchens seems to be a popular topic among many kitchen designers, clients and blogs. I have posted twice on Christopher Peacock. The first Elements of Christopher Peacock Kitchen remains my most viewed post. The second, Lighting in a Christopher Peacock Kitchen, is also very often frequented.

Recently I received a request to find this lighting fixture above in the most recently designed CP Kitchen. The result proved the power of the Internet when Velvet and Linen and Kitchen and Residential Design were able to work together via Willow Decor to locate it!

I get emails weekly from my readers for help copying Christopher Peacock hardware. After months and months of research, and the help of my readers who also have undergone relentless searches, here are my best suggestions for recreating this look in your kitchen.

The Peacock Cabinet Latches: There are are two types of latches,

the "ice-box cupboard latch" and what I call "solid cupboard latch".

The ice box cupboard latches above, that are almost an exact duplicate, are from Cliffside Industries. They are very high quality and well made. I have these in my own kitchen and I love them.

The CP solid cupboard latch is more common and available from many retailers including Restoration Hardware and several on line dealers.

Resotration Hardware

My readers have commented and I have read lengthy discussions on the range of quality of this design. Some are difficult to twist and, as such, become cumbersome for active kitchen use. Two manufacturers who consistently have rave reviews are Rejuvenation Hardware and Cliffside Industries. These products are very high quality, and are easy to manipulate. Other readers have mentioned that they order several extra latches from Restoration Hardware and return the ones that are hard to open.

Cliffside Industries

The Ice box latches on the Christopher Peacock Refrigerator panels and wall units proved harder to recreate.

Eventually we found the Roseland Ice Box Company. They make a series called the McCray which are reproductions of the 1900's Ice boxe latches. The quality and look were exactly what were needed.

Roseland Iceboxes

The range of pulls available are staggering. Many have the feel of the Peacock kitchens and can be found in several sizes from smaller cabinet to larger door pulls.

We have found that Van Dyke's, Merit Metal,  Rejuvenation and Restoration Hardware had the best selections to emulate this look. I love the RH Aubrey and Bistro Pulls. I personally put the RH Bistro Pulls in my pantry. Other readers have had luck with Kennedy and Natz. This is an area where you can add a bit of your own personal taste to your project.

Rejuvenation

Van Dyke's

Locating the CP-like Bin Pulls were much easier, though personally time consuming.

In my own kitchen quest I bought 8 different bin pull look alikes. I mounted them on a board and had my family try each one to get an idea of how they would feel in day to day use. Hands down for quality and ease of use, as well as great design, I recommend the Bin pull from Restoration Hardware.

Last September Christopher Peacock Cabinetry was purchased for over 12 million dollars by Smallbone, a British company who has their own high end cabinetry line as well an umbrella company for several other lines, including Paris Ceramics. Smallbone recently filed for bankruptcy and its rumored that Christopher Peacock, himself, is trying to buy it back. It has even been rumored that he has tried to re hire his craftsman to avoid having them lose their jobs.

Sotheby's

We can only hope that Peacock is able to help keep the cabinetry business alive. Otherwise, we will need to find someone new to turn to for inspiration. All the links highlighted bring you to the exact product mentioned under each heading. I hope this helps my many readers who continue to use Christoper Peacock as a source of inspiration for creating their own beautiful interiors. If anyone else has a good source do let me know so I can share it.

All photos Christopher Peacock Designs unless otherwise noted

Coffey Creek Farm

All photos Robin Sutbbert

Searching for a weekend home in countryside north of Toronto, the Oligvie family found 116 acre Coffey Creek Farm. Having fallen in love the country homes of Europe and unable to properly renovate the 1970's house which stood on the property, the Oligvies enlisted the help of architect, Wayne Swardon and designer, Sharon Mimran. Together this team started from the bottom up and recreated an old/new home reminiscent of turn of the century English and French country villas.

To create this look the architect used heavy timber and stone. He left exposed stone and stucco and featured all these elements prominently inside and out. Landscape architect, Curr Didrichsons, created landscape of ivy and shrubbery that mimics the grounds of an authentic villa. These details created a home the would look perfect in meadows of Provence, on the English countryside or on Coffey Creek Farm in Canada.

The entry way has wide pine floors. The enchanting stone arch and curved door, fitted with period latches is charming.

The living room reflects the interesting architectural elements including the timbered ceiling, exposed stone walls and stone mantel. Fabrics are warm and tactile including linens, velvets and sisal rugs. These elements are set off by iron occasional tables.

The formal dining room includes many interesting details. Notice the timber framing over the double doorways which bring you into the kitchen/ keeping room. Again natural materials dominate the space including leather, sisal and iron.

A great back entry! Take notice of the antique artillery basket on the right used as an umbrella stand. These were popular about 6 or 7 years ago at Brimfield Antique Market where they were stacked in huge piles from several dealers.

The arched entry adds addtional charm and interest to the home. I love the ivory covered ram above the archway.

Such wonderful new home that captures all the detail of an aged antique home. This is a great example of how architect, designer and landscape architect cam come together to create amazing work. Its hard to believe the home is only ten years old.

Ana Ros

Ana Ros is a very talented Interior Designer in Barcelona. With 25 years of experience as an antiques dealer, Ana tried her hand at interior design 6 years ago. She has had great success; winning the Andrew Martin Award for Interior Design in 2005. Since then she has launched her own line of furniture, lighting and accessories. Let's have a look at an apartment she recently completed in an affluent enclave on the Maresme coast, a few kilometres north of Barcelona.

This stately building, which houses several apartments, has wonderful mountain and sea views. Ana, inspired by the neoclassical style of the facade, designed the interiors to be formal and glamorous. Ana is often quoted as having “a classical reinvented style, very timeless and that in spite of the time passing by, it never goes out of fashion".

Inside the apartment, we discover the very image of glamour. Ana Ros' philosophy is: after a careful study of her clients needs she likes to incorporate the glamour of the forties and apply it to her clients lifestyle and taste.

At a first glance, we feel as if we are in the house of a Hollywood star from the forties, although small nuances remind us of Gianni Versace, a favorite of the owners. Ana's preferred colors are golds, silvers and rusts, highlighted with a patina. For the furniture, the designer relies on pieces from the forties and fifties mixed with French antiques, accompanied by silks, velvets and thick linens. Areas in this room which I think are worth noting are the airy, ethereal window treatments, which enhance, rather than overpower the view and the limestone flooring set on the diagonal.

The owner of the apartment wanted to give his master bedroom suite a different feeling, but seeking a Versace touch too.

The jellyfish, a favorite sea creature of the owner, was reproduced on the floor of the bathroom, made of a single piece of travertine marble.

To achieve the elegance the owner wanted, Ana included rich tapestries. In addition, some gold was added to the walls, which were elaborated with decorative paint. This process was also done on the doors, cabinetry and cornices in order to achieve a richer look.

The owner also wanted drama and elegance in the guest bathroom.

Here marble is mixed with gilded mirrors and faux painted columns add even more drama to the spectacular tub. Notice that "carpet"which is actually an intricately patterned travertine floor.

To see more of Ana Ros' work visit her website. It is filled with many fabulous interiors, as well as her new line of furniture, lighting and accessories!

Decor Medley Interview

I wanted to thank Giorgina Devereaux of Decor Medley for so kindly taking the time to interview me about Willow Decor. Check out the interview here.

Since the interview the paparazzi has been going crazy! So if you're looking for me I'll be in my usual disguise!Thanks Giorgina!

xxx-Gina

Slettvoll Summer

all photos from Slettvoll website
To kick off the weekend I wanted to share are the most recent photos from the Slettvoll Summer Catalogue. As you may recall Slettvoll is a case goods and upholstery company that has several locations in Norway and has recently opened 3 new stores in Sweden. They have over 23 stores and have been in business since 1951. It's sort of Norway's' equivalent to Design with In Reach. Lets have a look! Their furniture has clean fresh lines and compliments antiques.
Upholstery uses all natural materials like cotton and linen.
Many pieces are offered slipcovered.
Notice the contemporary lines of the coffee table mixed with the the texture of the aged walls and sisal rug; it looks great with the antique ladder back chairs. They have recently launched an outdoor furniture line with weather resistant fabrics.

Isn't this a lovely garden room? Notice the pattern of the tile floor and the addition of the free standing antique architectural columns.

More photos of the garden room

Slettvoll also offers a sleeker, more masculine line

I find the swivel chairs very interesting. I would love to use those in a porch or sunroom project.

Five simple sectional chairs create an inviting conversation area. Again these pieces are covered in the new weather resistant fabrics.

Slettvoll style is clean and easy on the eyes -I wish they would open a store in the US.

Bridges

Brugge

Blogging is one aspect of technology that has made the world smaller. Yesterday a reader asked another blogger to help locate a pretty light. He asked me and I, in turn, asked another blogger. She posted the picture and her reader located the light.

We have built such fantastic bridges of all of us; and I am proud to be a very small part of that network.

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Read more about it on Paul Anater's Kitchen and Residential Design and Brooke Giannetti's Velvet and Linen.

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Little steps taking us over so many bridges. Wonderful!!

Catalano Architects' Oyster Harbor Home

(all photos by Eric Roth - used by permission)

I have always loved the Shingle style and Clapboard homes of New England and especially Cape Cod. So imagine my delight when Catalano Architects, whose firm has been has been widely published, including features in Metropolitan Home, The Boston Globe, Better Homes and Gardens, Custom Home and Down East Magazine; offered me a sneak peek into their one of their spectacular projects in Oyster Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It is a large home but Catalano Architects kept this sprawling house from appearing huge by introducing a variety of roof lines and shapes. This gives the impression that the house has grown over the years, a piece at a time. They tend to design a home that is "traditional" without being specifically historical. Creating a house like this for their elite clientele usually takes close to 24 months from design to finish build. Let's have a look inside.

A wonderful classic white kitchen with subway tile and dark wood floors. This is a classic! I like the texture of the counter stools and lights look like Circa lighting. Notice how the crown molding of the cabinets goes right up to the beadboard ceiling and wraps around the space.

A pretty breakfast nook! I love the built in banquette seating. Notice how the windows are a bit higher to accommodate not only the bench but also the cushion on top. Catalano makes sure that during the design phase the landscape architect and interior designer have a voice in the project. The results are obviously beautiful and very well planned. Right down the seat cushion! Sconces with checkered shades echo the checks on the seat cushions.

The color scheme in the family room is so soothing and classic New England Beach house! It highlights the water views from the expansive windows. Notice the architectural detail in the room - wainscoting, built in benches and ceiling mouldings all add a level of detail that adds a richness to this project. Sconces on either side of the bench and a hanging lantern are also nice touches.

Though the house is large the room scale is perfect. Here the sitting room feels cozy with the addition of a spectacular stone fireplace. Again notice the details: Built ins, wainscoting even a small niche for an antiques. Also notice how the designer adds textural interest in this room with the wicker chairs, bench, heavy fringed ottoman and carpet. Another lantern hangs above.

The house was obviously built for fun - here is a wonderful pool room. The departure from blues to tans and beiges give this room a more masculine feel. Notice the archway to the front hall - not only are the moldings wonderful but the depth of sides of the archway adds a feeling of heft and subtlety give the home a feeling of significance.

The upstairs entry hall is so pretty. The windows flood the space with incredible light. I also admire the railing detail. Again wood finish work detailing abounds. The sunroom is a wonderful space. Notice the hardware on the doors - a really fabulous touch. Of course the decor is beautiful and a wonderful transition to the outdoors. I love the pine garden table and wicker chairs. Notice the windows - here you see them from the inside.And now from the outside. I love the eyebrow window in the sunroom. I love the interest it adds inside the room, but also to the roof lines. Here you see the bluestone patio and infinity edge pool. This is also a wonderful example of how the landscape architect, being involved from the early phases was able to create such a beautiful area.
Another photo of the pool from a different angle. I really love the softness of grass/stone pathway. Also notice the iron railings and the way the small annual beds create softness in what could be hard corners on opposite sides of the stairways.

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The work of Catalano Architects has been recognized and has won several design awards from Metropolitan Home and The Boston Globe. Metropolitan Home magazine observed, "Architecture doesn't get any better - or more satisfying - than this."

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Still want to see more? Pick up Better Homes and Gardens Beautiful Homes Summer 2009 issue to see more of their work featured on the cover and inside! I also encourage you to visit Catalano Architects website to see more of their beautiful projects.

Many thanks to Thomas Catalano and his staff for sharing this wonderful project.