New York City Abodes - A Sampling of Blue & Green Diamond Baratta Designs

Diamond Baratta Design is a fantastic interior design

firm based in New York City.  This post shows selections

of their work in New York City from the magazine New 

York Spaces.  For those of you Turquoise, Teal or Blue

lovers, this is a great post for you.

Such a gorgeous rug and carpet!

Beautiful blues.

Pattern on Pattern.

Perfect way to match wall art to hardware 

(in this case the pendant light fixture.)

A pop of turquoise with brown.  Not a color combinaton

one would normally think of but it definitely works.

I'm a big fan of using photography as wall art.

This could have been such a drab space but 

Diamond and Baratta did no neglect it - 

instead they really dressed it up with glass

panel walls in blue.

Diamond Baratta Design

If you like the aesthetics of Diamond Baratta designs,

you'll really enjoy this book that has great samples of

their work.

So what was your favorite item or room?

Photos from New York Spaces magazine

Displaying Collections in the Home - Ben Brougham's New York City Studio

Isn't that a wonderful collection on the wall with a fantastic paint color for

the background?  This is Ben Brougham's studio in New York City.  Ben 

is from over the pond (the UK) and is a prop stylist who moved to the Big

Apple 5 years ago.  He now also helps curate for Jonathan Adler stores.

Wall Paint = Benjamin Moore's Surf Blue

Notice that he did not paint all the walls in the room Surf Blue.  This

is the other side to the bedroom.  As you can see Ben is quite the collector

with all sorts of collections from pillows to wall art, glass and much more.

You can see his mirror collection on this wall.

A wonderful image of the opposite wall 

through the view of one of his mirrors.

Ben also collects all sorts of rugs which he uses to completely cover

 the floor of his studio.  He scours Ebay among other sources to purchase

his rugs.  Exceptions are the Union Jack and Zebra rugs which are from 

Jonathan Adler.

Ben has some fantastic tips for collecting that he follows.

I love that the kitchen and hallway are painted in a dark color.

It really brings out the color of the paintings and other items

and fabric in the room.

Ben hangs his prized Liberty print bike on the wall.  You'll notice that his drapes

are from IKEA but customized with vintage fabric.  That's a great tip right there on

 a super economical way to dress up any window on a budget.

His collections are curated and displayed in groups.

Midcentury Modern Glass (which I collect as well)

Colored glass bottom vases and a vintage yellow straw phone.

Just a few of the types of items that Ben collects.

I love the different tiered night

stand and portraits on the wall.

My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living
Jonathan Adler

I hope you enjoyed Ben's apartment and gleaned some 

ideas for collecting and displaying collections.  I do 

recommend Jonathan Adler's book if you like interiors

that have a bit of whimsy and eclectic flavor.  Adler's 

interiors or chic but fun at the same time.

So do any of you have collections?  I think I'm addicted

to collecting things (not good since I'm probably a hoarder.)

What sort of items do you collect?  I've dabbled in everything 

from vintage Christmas ornaments to mercury glass, midcentury

modern glass, vintage costume jewelry, tea cups, Fireking... I 

wonder of shoes, clothes and books also count as collections...

Photos from Lonny Magazine

5 Inspirational Images to Carry You Over the Weekend

I just fell in love with this image.  What a way to make 

the outdoors like a fantastical and wonderful place! 

Dining outdoors under stringed lights and candles?  Can 

it possibly get any more beautiful and romantic?

The countryside in England and the Cotswolds are definitely not overrated.

Who can resist the gorgeous country side and quaint villages that come 

straight out of history?  Many of the wealthy and stars like Madonna have

homes in the Cotswolds.

What a wonderfully plush and feminine room.  Beautiful

lighting in the room with gorgeous hardwood floors.

Who can resist a bed in a nook?  Not I...  When I was young, I loved

building tents indoors to sleep in.  This bed in a nook is absolutely

gorgeous.

Photos:  1.) Space For Inspiration via Just Splendid 2.) Everything Fabulous 

3.) Conde Naste Traveler 4.) Domino via Plush Palate 5.) House of Turquoise

Antiques and Flea Market Shopping in London England

Continuing off inspiration from Lonny magazine, there

is a section in their latest issue on flea markets and

antiques.  I don't know about you, but I am totally a 

self professed flea market, antiques and thrift shop

addict.  I can spend literally hours or a whole day 

shopping at an antiques or flea market. 

If you're in London, there are some famous streets for 

antiques shopping.

Cath Kidston's suggestion above which names the

most well known antiques shopping arcades and

open air antiques and flea market on Portobello

Road.

Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic gives

her tips for shopping on Portobello Road.

It seems to be a unanimous tip to shop 

there on Friday and to avoid Saturday.

Rachel Ashwell navigating Portobello Road.

The London Antiques Guide
Street by Street - Style by Style

If you're going to be in London any time soon and 

you're interested in visiting antiques stores, this book

is a great book that gives good details to the flea and

antiques market in London.

Any of you have gone antiquing or flea market shopping

around the world?  If so, where have you gone and where

are your favorite places?

All photos from Lonny magazine

Cath Kidston's London Home

Cath Kidston is a textile and home accessories mogul from London. 

She is well known for her vintage inspired floral prints and polk-a-dot

textiles and accessories.  In the most recent issue of Lonny magazine,

she opened her London home up and it I must say that it is a very fun

home filled with all the items she loves.

She is not shy when it comes to using bold colors.

I love the chartreuse fabric on the chair.

Her home is very much a home that is lived in.

Classic Cath Kidston styled pillow.

You can tell that Cath loves to scour flea markets

for many of her treasure and inspirations.

Cath had a small toilet room done up in a collage. I 

suppose one certainly wouldn't be bored in this bathroom...

Cath Kidston started her line with exactly this type of floral

designs and motifs - around the door and inside the room.

The floral pattern is not dense and it is tempered 

by a white floor and white accessories.

The bathroom is classic white and has a 

very clean and comfortable feel to it.

Of course paired with Cath Kidston toiletries...

Cath Kidston plate.

Now that is one expansive dining room - 

one could definitely hold a party here!

She has a gorgeous backyard and a large one at that for being in town.

Cath Kidston's In Print
Brilliant Ideas for Using Vintage Fabrics in Your Home

Cath Kidston has a number of books in print but I think

this book of hers fairs better in my humble opinion. 

Here' a sneak peak into her book.  She has great ideas

and inspiration for what to do with vintage fabric.

I personally would have trouble doing up an entire room

in floral patterns, however I do love having a touch of

floral here and there.  Cath Kidston has a wonderful and

fun home.  I hope you enjoyed the tour of her home as 

much as I did.  

Thoughts?  Opinions?  Could you do an entire room in

floral patterns?  

Photos from Lonny magazine