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.

My New Bench

My new breakfast room is almost finished. After searching for several months I found a wonderful nine foot long antique Belgian Table with an incredible iron base. The iron work is so interesting that I didn't want to hide the front of it with traditional chairs.
(I know the photo leaves a lot to be desired - taken on my cell phone)

So imagine my surprise when I saw this great bench at Wisteria and it was covered in a vintage grain sack like linen! The perfect size too!! So I ordered it!
It just arrived this morning and its perfect!!

I chose the red stripe versus the blue; but I really like them both!
Still waiting for my chandelier (Niermann Weeks) before the big reveal!
But wanted to share what I think is a wonderful find at a great price!
(and did I tell you I also had a 20% off coupon?)