COTE DE TEXAS

READERS HOUSES SERIES #1/Part 2

92 comments

 

image

Remember this Readers House that started the series?   Located in Michigan, near the Great Lake, the owner decorated it in white walls, dark hardwoods and white slipcovered furniture. 

 

image

The house received almost all positive comments – which might be a first!  This is the long back hall that runs from the kitchen to the master bedroom.

 

image

Angie Gren, the owner, is a gourmet chef who wanted a big kitchen to cook in. 

Why am I showing her house again?  Well, there are two reasons.  First, in addition to this country house in Michigan, the Grens also have an apartment in New York!  Must be so much fun!!  The family just finished moving into the apartment and Angie agreed to let me show it to you.  Judging by your reaction to her Michigan house, I thought  you would love to see the NYC apartment too. 

The second reason for showing this again today is that many people asked about the swimming pool and the the backyard of the Michigan house.  AND, Angie mentioned in a comment that in the living room she has a black armoire – which was not visible in the original photos.  So, after looking at the NYC apartment, we’ll see her new pictures of  the country house.  Enjoy!!

 

image

BEFORE:  The living room/dining room of the New York City apartment

Angie told me that originally the apartment was a one bedroom and two bedroom unit that were joined together before they moved in.   Both the kitchen and the bathrooms were already remolded.   The apartment had just been painted Benjamin Moore’s Linen White, which wasn’t really Angie’s first choice, but she kept it and decided it warmed up all the putty and gray colors of the interiors.  She wanted to give the apartment  a “French Meets Gustavian” look (who doesn’t?) with whites, metallics, plums, platinum and putty accent colors.  She tried to avoid the casual Shabby Chic look, opting to make it more sophisticated.    Since, the family just moved in, some decorative items are missing:  chandeliers in the master and daughter’s bedroom, bell jar lights in the halls and the dining area (just like in Michigan) and some key pieces of art.   Maybe after she gets it all in place, she’ll send updates with the finishing touches.   Actually, to me, the apartment looks complete.   

 

 

image AFTER:  Looking from the bar area, the long room is divided into the dining room and living area.

 

 

 

image

BEFORE:   And looking the opposite direction, the front door opens to the long room.  Past the dining area is a bar area, then the kitchen.

                                     

 

                                                                                image

After:   The dining area leads into the bar area, then the kitchen. 

 

 

image

Close up of the dining area.  The banquette is slipped in oyster linen.  Chairs are Shabby Chic, slipcovered Darcy.   The pillows are by Michele Varian.   Sconces by Oly.  The table is from ABC Home – when company comes, the leaves are put in making it bigger than the way it usually is.

 

 

 

image

Closer view of the banquette.

 

image

BEFORE:  The bar area has a wine refrigerator and the Sub Zero which also serves the kitchen behind it. 

 

image

AFTER:  In the bar area, a collection of Juliska plates hangs above a Metro shelving rack.

 

 

 

image

BEFORE:   The kitchen is tiny compared to the Michigan house.  Angie calls it her kitchen closet.

 

 

image

Although small, the appliances are luxe – Wolf range and microwave.

 

 

image

The opposite side of the kitchen - Graber woven shades.

 

image

Back in the living area, Angie says there is usually her son’s large high chair at the left of this table.  Once he outgrows it, she will probably have a potted moss tree from ZeZe in that area.

 

 

image

AFTER:   The living area.   Above the sofa is a vintage map of Sweden, which is temporary.  Angie has commissioned a large abstract oil painting for this spot.  The pillows are all from either Michele Varian and ABC Home.   The curtains are custom platinum silk and the blinds are from Graber.  The ottoman and slipped sofa are custom.

 

One interesting note from Angie about the “God awful” a/c units found throughout the apartment:   Most buildings in Historic Districts in NYC do not allow a/c units to be punched through the walls, so you have to have window units in the pre-war apartment buildings.  Additionally, if you have children under 12, you must have black window guards on any windows without a/c units.   She says in magazines that show NYC prewar apartments without the a/c units or window guards showing, these are photoshopped out.    Wow.  Sorry I am lacking those skills to photoshop these out.

 

 

image

Across from the sofa are the Stella shelves by Oly and the antique Swedish armoire where the flatscreen is.  The Oushak rug is from the Midtown rug district.    

 

 

 

image

The floor lamp in the corner is by Visual Comfort.  The shelves are still being filled with magazines and books and a collection of botanicals which are on order.    The  silver leaf tray is from Ankasa and the candle sticks are from ABC home

 image

Across from the dining table is this antique Swedish desk and chair.  The lamps are from Visual Comfort.

 

 

 

image

By the bedrooms, there is a light painted antique Swedish clock.  In Michigan, the same type of clock is painted black.

 

 

 

image

The hall leading to the bedrooms is filled with family portraits in black frames, similar to the Michigan house.

 

 

image

In the master bedroom, the headboard is from Rachel Ashwell in her floppy damask fabric.  The lamps are from Visual Comfort.  Above the Swedish sidetable is an oil by Laurence Amelie.  Rug is from the Midtown rug district. 

 

image

On this side of the bed is a small Swedish desk and chair.  The wood blinds are from Hunter Douglas.  The custom curtains have yet to arrive. 

 

. image

Slipcovered chair and ottoman sit in the corner of the bedroom next to the dresser.

 

 

image

The dresser is a Swedish antique from The Lone Ranger.  The jade lamp is from William Wayne. 

 

 

image

A large silver leaf mirror reflects the bed.  Through the door is the master bathroom.

 

 

image

BEFORE:  The marble bathrooms had all been updated when Angie moved in.

 

 

image

AFTER:  all it needed was a few touches.  Extra Darcy chairs from Shabby Chic were purchased and placed around the apartment.  When needed for company, they are easily moved into the living room/dining room.

 

 

image

Just a few accessories and monogrammed towels go a long way!!  So pretty!

 

 

 

 image

The daughter has the pink cupcake room she asked for.  Custom trundle daybed is slipped.  Taylor linens are on the bed.  The curtains are custom peachy silk.  The table is from PB Kids and the shelving unit is from IKEA.

 

 

 

image

The paint color is Benjamin Moore’s Pink Elephant.

 

 

image

The fabulous tutu oil painting is also by Laurence Amelie.

 

 

 

 

image

The children’s bathroom has the same classic black and white basketweave tiles and Carrara marble.

 

 

image

Angie’s daughter’s framed art work in her bathroom!!

 

 

 

image

Angie says her son’s room and the guest room are not ready yet – hopefully, we’ll get to see them when they are finished one day.  The NYC apartment has such a different look than the Michigan country house.  The apartment is a bit more contemporary, yet both homes do share some common elements.  For instance, both use light slipcovered upholstery.  Here in NYC, the fabric is oyster linen, while in Michigan it is white linen.  The floors in NYC are not nearly as dark as in Michigan.  Both homes seem very comfortable for both adults and children.  All I can say is it must be great to have such a large, beautiful apartment in NYC and also have a place in the country with a large kitchen and great pool and backyard!!

 

 

 

image

As promised, here a few new views of the Michigan country house.  The pictures of the house we saw were taken in the dead of winter.  Here is how it looks in the summer when it’s all green and flowering. 

 

 

 

image

And from the back.  Although there property extends much further out, they chose to fence in the swimming area.   Remember, the pool sits just outside the long back hall between the kitchen and the master bedroom.  You can see the master bedroom at the right – where the fireplace is.  The kitchen is at the left and the garage is at the far left.

 

 

image

To reach the pool area from the kitchen and garage, there is a large design element – a free standing series of gazebos that lead to the swimming pool. 

 

 

image

The area behind the back hall is set underneath another gazebo structure.  The windows here are off the back hall.  The master bedroom is to the right.

 

 

image

Underneath the kitchen window where the sink is, there is a built in outdoor kitchen.  I’m so glad Angie sent in these pictures because they really complete the story of her house!

 

 

image

And finally, responding to questions about the layout of the house and questions about how people reached the kitchen from the entry hall, Angie mentioned she had a large dark armoire in the living room.  When asked about it, she promised to send in the picture.  The armoire sits right behind this console table and sofa.

 

 

image

And behind the sofa is the dark armoire.  This one picture really illustrates the layout of the house that was hard to understand before.  Here, you can see the entry hall and the stairs on the right and on the left, the kitchen and breakfast room with its fireplace. 

image

A huge thank you to Angie Gren for sharing the pictures of her new apartment today!!!  To read the original story about her Michigan house, go HERE.

To contact Angie for interior design work, email her:  angi231700@aol.com

To contact Angie’s landscape architect, Richard Haas of Stewart Hass & Associates, email:  info@stewarthass.net

 

image

Remember, send in your houses and kitchens for the blog to me at:  mrballbox329@aol.com

 

Happy Valentine’s Day from Mrs. Phoebe Howard!

67 comments

 

image

I am so thrilled to have been asked to announce the publication of Phoebe Howard’s book  - “The Joy of Decorating – Southern Style” by Phoebe Howard.   I’m sure you are all familiar with Phoebe Howard since over the years, pictures of her interiors have been in almost every design magazine published.  She has such a lovely style, her interiors are so soothing and comforting, they are hard to resist.   They are tranquil.  In fact, one of her chapters is even called Tranquil.   Her aesthetic is classic and traditional, yet she doesn’t shy away from trends which keep her rooms looking up to date.  She uses the finest of fabrics and furniture.  Her curtains are always perfectly executed, and her paint choices are heavenly.  Nothing is ever jarring or out of place.  A Howard interior is perfection, plain and simple.  Don’t ask me which is a favorite project, because there are too many to name.  Don’t believe me?  Peruse her web site and you’ll be lost for hours in the beauty of it all.   The book is a wonderful compilation of Phoebe’s work.  Finally, a collection of her favorite projects in one easy to reach location.

Phoebe Howard is one of those women I am so in awe of.  Not only does she run a very successful interior design business,  she also, along with her husband Jim, operates several design shops:  Mrs. Howard and Max and Company in three different states.  I’m not sure how she does it all, but she does.  And now, on top of everything – there’s the book, written with Susan Sully, and the book tour!  I’m exhausted just thinking of it all!  Her tour starts today in Jacksonville, then on to Atlanta and Charlotte.  Check her blog for more upcoming dates and the list of the cities she’ll be visiting.   Oh yes, she has a blog too!  It’s a great one and I read it regularly, HERE.  Each week she shows a before and after and on other days, Phoebe answers design questions from readers.  I’m always perusing her blog for ideas.   Actually the first time I became aware of Phoebe is when a client brought me a picture of her work from a magazine, using it as an inspiration.   I can only imagine how many others have used her work as inspiration.   Phoebe’s portfolio is incredibly prolific and they are all winners.  Now, with the book, it will be such a useful tool to study and learn from, gain ideas and insight into the process of interior design.    Along with each image, Phoebe opens up on how she came upon the design and what inspired her.  It’s a very rich and rewarding read.

Read this part of the introduction to the book – it gives you such a great insight into Phoebe and her love of design:

“I am not an interior designer. I did not attend design school and have no formal training. I have never even worked for another designer. When I reflect on how I happened upon this career, I realize that I did not choose it. It chose me.  I was lucky enough to have an incredible mentor in my life—my aunt Myra Thompson from Montgomery, Alabama. Aunt Myra touched many people in her life, and the world is a better place for having her in it. She was poised and ladylike, but also acutely observant and intuitive.

I always loved to listen to stories of Aunt Myra and the house she decorated as a newlywed. The floors were stained a deep shade of ebony and waxed until they gleamed. White cotton-duck slipcovers so tight you could bounce a quarter off them covered all the furniture. Large vases filled with fragrant white lilies from her husband’s floral business stood in nearly every room. I was intrigued by this vision of dark floors, white slipcovers, and lilies. It seemed so basic and simple, yet so elegant. I realized that anyone could live surrounded by beautiful style if they chose to do so.

Aunt Myra affected my life more directly when I was the delicate age of thirteen. My parents had divorced, and we’d moved from Florida to Alabama for a year. I was having trouble adjusting to the move and fitting in at my new school. My sweet Alabama relatives could see that I was struggling and did what they do best: They fed me! Chicken and dumplings, fried green tomatoes, ham and gravy, biscuits—the food was incredible, and I consoled myself with it. I also gained thirty pounds almost overnight.  I was struggling and everyone was at a loss about what to do. But not Aunt Myra. She decided to decorate my room. She painted the walls pale blue. She found an iron bed, which she had sandblasted and lacquered white. She made café curtains from floral sheets, scalloping the top hems and hanging them with light-blue grosgrain bows. She cut off the sheets’ borders and appliquéd flowers around the edge of an aubergine skirt for the bedside table. She painted an old dresser with an attached mirror in sage-green strié. A white wicker desk appeared. The final touch was a satiny-blue quilted bedspread.

I can still close my eyes and recall every detail of that room. It embraced me and allowed my wounds to heal. When I think back to the impact the room had on me, I realize how powerful our environments can be. They affect us far more profoundly than we realize. In every room I decorate, my goal is to re-create the same sense of inspiration and comfort I felt in that bedroom. I want to make a difference in my clients’ lives—to give them what they hope for and dream of in their surroundings.”

From her words, I can see her Aunt Myra’s house with its dark hardwoods and white slipcovered furniture.  And I can also envision her own bedroom with its white lacquered bed and floral curtains made of sheets.  It all sounds so lovely, and exactly how Phoebe decorates today.  Here’s a peek at a few images from the book.  Enjoy!

 

image

One of my favorite bedrooms by Phoebe has been this pink confection.  Could you just die from the serenity?????  The story behind this design as Phoebe tells it, is quite sweet too.

 

image

And notice this darling sofa and slipper chairs from across the room.

 

image

I love the back of the chairs with the ribbon trim – and the pink lining peeking out from the skirt.

 

image

This house in Bermuda became special when the stone walls and wood ceiling were washed in gray giving the house a different color scheme than most pastel Bermuda houses.

 

 

image

In the dining room of the same Bermuda house – Phoebe used paint instead of wallpaper.  The talented Bob Christian created this beautiful mural.   I love the chandelier here and the mixture of the white chairs and dark wood furniture.

 

 

image

Have you ever had the pleasure of visiting one of Phoebe’s shops? This is not a house! It’s actually a room in her shop. I wish they were in Houston!!!

 

 

 

image

Serene and tranquil – two adjectives that describe her work perfectly.  This living room is in the Howard’s high rise apartment in Atlanta.  That mirror! That pillow!

 

 

image

An all time favorite dining room with the Peter Dunham wall covering. I love the mix with the zinc lantern.

 

 

 

image

In another coastal house, Phoebe used blues and whites.  I love the fabrics here. Notice her gorgeous curtains.

 

 

image

Phoebe loves to use canopy beds.   Soft blue is such a soothing color for a bedroom.

 

 

image

And, finally, she is a big believer in white marble kitchens and bathrooms.   Notice how the walls are slabs, not tile and the sinks are marble!!  I’ve always loved the antique bench which is just the perfect touch!

 

 

image

One of the neatest things that comes with the book is a pocket sized paint chart showing Phoebe’s favorite colors and brands for walls, trims, and ceilings.  This is a great tool to use when trying to obtain the serene and tranquil look of a Phoebe Howard room.

To Order “The Joy of Decorating”

Phoebe Howard has agreed to generously offer Cote de Texas readers a discount when buying her book.  To purchase the book, please go HERE.   The price is $50.00 but for CdT readers there is a 20% discount, reducing the price to $40.00  To get the discount, enter this promotional code:  CDTJOD.  Don’t forget, you will also be getting the handy paint chart with each book you purchase!! 

 

Phoebe will be traveling around the country and would love to meet you! Here are some cities she will be visiting ... details to come! Let us know if you would like us to come to your city:

Jacksonville (Feb. 14)
Atlanta (March 7)
Charlotte (March 8)
Los Angeles
New York City
Long Island
Little Rock
Montgomery
Birmingham
Savannah
Charleston
Chattanooga
Dallas
South Florida

 

And finally, to visit the Howards’ stores, go here:

Atlanta
425 Peachtree Hills Avenue Suite #23
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
404-816-3830

Jacksonville Beach
2400 Third Street South Suite #304
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
904-241-1980

Jacksonville
4128 Herschel Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32210
904-387-1202

Charlotte
1001 East Morehead Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-376-8900