Veranda Magazine

 

Cover story:  Magnificent Swedish clock/desk combination.

I love when a magazine's cover is beautiful.  I'll spy the new issue on the stands and my heart skips a beat while I rush to the checkout counter.  If the cover is especially pretty, I won't scan the magazine on the way home.  Instead, I'll wait until I can take the article all in, with no distractions.  The new Veranda magazine has such a cover!   The story centers around a gorgeous, remodeled Dallas home owned by a young Texan couple, both of whom have ties to the design world.  The Newsoms started and own the wildly successful Wisteria catalogue, a favorite source for designers and design lovers everywhere. The wife, Shannon, is the daughter of one of Houston's great interior designers, Jane Moore - who also owns the shop Jane Moore, Ltd. which specializes in Swedish and French antiques.  And, as if that isn't enough design pedigree for one couple -- Andrew, the husband, is the son of Veranda's founder and editor Lisa Newsom (a fact which was news to me.)  No wonder Wisteria is as fabulous as it is!!  With genes like these, how could Shannon and Andrew go wrong? 

Have I told  you yet just how fabulous their home is?  Filled to overflowing with painted Swedish and French antiques, it is a vision in soft, muted colors.  Gustavian furniture is a close cousin to French furniture and they mix well together.  Plain and checked linens cover the peeling painted wood frames of the chairs and sofas.  Walls throughout are painted white and the wood floors are just as light.  No fussy drapery here, instead wood shutters cover the windows.  Sprinkled throughout the house are pieces from the Wisteria catalogue, but mostly the accessories are one-of-kind antiques, some of which will serve as inspirations to copy for the catalogue.  Veranda magazine is based out of the deep south and thus, isn't available everywhere, so for those unable to buy it, here are a few highlights from the Newsom house:

 

One side of the living room, Gustavian chairs, French console.

Gorgeous antique mantel, french chairs.  I love the old books on the mantel.

The dining room with new steel table from France, antique French chairs and chandelier.  Swedish Moro clock in the background.

Living room with Chelsea Editions check on custom sofa.  Swedish chairs and center table.  Modern lamps are an unexpected touch.  Wisteria green jug on table.

My Design: Library

Recently, I completed a library for a client. Previously, the wood paneling was painted a dark gray, which appeared to me to have a purplish undertone. When talk of redoing the room first started, the client was extremely reluctant to have her walls repainted. Eventually I wore her down and we had the paneling antiqued in this gorgeous cream color with the ceiling painted a pale green shade. The old upholstery was dark gray and the window coverings were Roman shades of big black and white buffalo checks. The two chairs were traditional clubs. The rug was a black sisal with a patterned border. Today, this library couldn't look more different than the original decor. It's a complete and total transformation.

Originally, the client wanted taupe upholstery with pale pink pillows. She was very reluctant to pick out a printed fabric. She was torn between playing it safe and maybe going a little more daring for her with some pattern and bolder colors. After many weeks, the scheme was changed to pale celery green linen on the upholstery and a beautiful Bennison print for pillows and draperies. A Chelsea Editions check was chosen to be the third fabric.

The chairs are reproduction French and the stools are Swedish antiques purchased on 1st Dibs. The sconces, mirror, and framed botanicals are from M. Naeve in Houston. The coffee table came from Neal and Co. Note: The pillows are temporary, fabric shortages held up production of Bennison pillows and Travers linen pillows in dusty pink. After the installation, the client was thrilled that she chose the more vibrant color scheme as opposed to the "safe" taupe and light pink.

TV sits on a Chelsea Editions chest. Shelves are filled with gold antiques, porcelains, and concrete garden statuary.

Bennison fabric was used for drapery.

Framed botanicals from Houston's M. Naeve.

Pale celery green linen was used for upholstery fabric. New seagrass matting covers wood floors.